davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
DORIS FLEEsON

Former President Truman,
In his remarks at the Rayburn
testimonial dinner, revived his
attacks on the press. Prin-
cipally, he grumbled about the
CLOAK of protection" thrown
about this administration by
so much of the press" But
when he talked with friends
in his Mayfiower dogel suite
Sunday. he got at the real
meat of the coconut. u have
got tired a long time ago" he
said, "of some meaiy-mouthed
Senators who kiss Ike On both
cheeks"
1t is, of course. manifestly
impossible for the press to adj
vertise charges against Presl-
dent Eisenhower and his adj
ministration which Democrats
do not make. When they get
around to mentioning just
why they think the man they
admired as a general of the
armies is an incompetent
President, their remarks will
be printed exactly as Mr.. Tru-
mans were.
The difficulty Democrats
have in learning to say Il don't
like Ike" has been political
phenomenon. Few Presidents
have ever had SO long a honey
moon by grace of SO powerful
an opposition.
The Democratic leaders in
Congress are concededly ex-
pert political technicians. If
they had to rate the President
as administrator of the great
bureaucratic complex here they
would funk him. Their public
bashfulness about saying so
was initially influenced, of
course, by the fact that the
President was demonstrably
popular with the people. They
also seem to retain a feeling of
proprietorship in him since
Democratic Presidents gave
him the great military posi-
lions which started him on the
road to the White House.
The fact is before he became
a candidate for President, Mr..
Eisenhower's relations with
Democrats were beautifully
harmonious. If he had any
political criticisms of them, in
the best tradition of the United
States armed services, he kept
quiet. Democrats also have a
heritage through 20 years of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
DAVID LAWRENCE
WHY'S Eisenhower So Popular?

Of materials for manufacturing
purposes is restricted. War
means a CONFUSION in the eco
nomic life Of the country and
only the irresponsible radicals
cry out that munitions maxi
ers" make war or that capital
ism needs a war to sustain it
self.
The peace sentiment In
America is as strong today as,
if not stronger than, it has
ever been. and exactly because
a man with military expert
ence and knowledge Of war is
at the helm the people have
an abiding faith that their
Chief Executive will do ali
in his power to avert it.
Charges that there is a war
party" in America have a hol-
low sound. There are those like
Senator Knowland, Repuh-
lican leader, who fear that
weakness and vacillation on
our part at critical moments
may lead to a miscalculation
by the enemy and bring on a
war that cannot be averted.
But those who demand firm
ness contribute as much. if
not more, to the maintenance
Of an equilibrium in interna-
tional policy that can mean
peace as those who constantly
insist America must retreat
so as not to offend either her
allies or her enemies.
Public discussion by legls-
lators and others cannot pro-
woke a war. The world has
learned to discount talk on
both sides of the Iron Curtain.
Both World War I and World
War II came about because the
aggressor thought the free
world wouldn't fight or that a
pacific -minded people would
approve OF war. To prevent
World War III, the policies of
the President today are care
fully balanced to avoid either
extreme-the buster that calls
for the use of military force
before it is necessary or the
pacifism that is willing to take
peace at any price.
Reproduction Rishts Reserved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
They Find 1t Hard to Say, 7 Don't Like Ike
An Attitude That Disgusts MI. Truman

deep resentment against the
personal attacks and ridicule
which some Republicans
heaped on Presidents Roose-
welt and Truman. Having been
so resentful. they were reluc-
tant to appear to emulate the
men and women whose be-
havior disguised them.
Resentment which Mr..
Truman voiced against the
''mealy-mouthed" is largely
shared by Democratic Cover
nors and others outside Con-
gress. There will be increasing
pressure on Senate Leader
johnson and Speaker Rayburn
too to hammer Mr.. Eisenhower
and show that party spirit
which appeared last week in
the tributes to Roosevelt on
the 10th anniversary of his
death.
While the press cannot
report what does not happen.
it is true that the majority of
newspapers in this country
are Republican and naturally
like Ike. Their watch over
him is more relaxed than that
maintained over Roosevelt and
certainly over Truman. To
mention one example, very
little has been said about
'Mamie's cottage" the house
built near the Augusta golf
course for the Eisenhowers by
friends. 1t is not sumptuous
but it represents a very sub
stantial gift. Had Mr.. Truman
accepted one of like proper
lions from, say, his friends
among labor leaders, there
would have been an immense
cutlery. Nor has much been
said about the fact that about
80 per cent of the Presidents
guests at his famous stag din
ners come from the top level of
the business community. Had
Mr.. Truman given such din
ners weighted to anything like
that degree with labor spokeS-
men he would have been III
trouble.
But there are always leaven-
ing processes at work in Amer
lea. Mr.. Truman was certainly
the favorite President of the
working reporters of this gen.
Grafton. Their stories about
him put over the flavor of his
personality. Mr.. Eisenhower is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
Appeosement Starts on the InstolIment Plan
And Climoxes With Surrender or War
CONSTANTINE BROWN

Republican Senator Know
land. called by some of his
colleagues the "one-man task
force" against appeasement.
has warned again of the dam
gers to the free world in any
move to Induce" the Chinese
Nationalist on Formosa to
abandon Quemoy and the Mat
Sus to the Reds.
In speech at Indianapolis
last Saturday. the COP. Sem
ate leader recited the sorry
history Of appeasement before
World War II, in the desper-
ate efforts of some European
leaders to buy of Hitler from
his schemes of conquest.
Appeasement starts on the
installment plan and ends in
surrender or war. The United
States vocally opposed the sur
render of the Sudetenland to
the Nazis in 1888. although we
took no action. since at that
time the United States was
pursuing an official policy of
noninvolvement in European
affairs.
There is far less reason to
support appeasement in the
Quemoy-Matsu crisis than
there was at Munich. Actually.
the Sudetens were Germans
and desired union with Hitler's
Reich. They were Germans
with no ties of blood or Ian
guage with their Czech mas
tiers. And the Prague regime
had been guilty of some abuses
in their treatment of this Ger
man minority.
No such situation exists in
the offShore islands held by
Chang Kai-shek. American
observers there report that a
plebiscite would be overwhelm-
ingly in favor of Chang
against the Communists.
Two years ago, Chang
placed little Importance in the
continued holding of Quemoy
and the Matsus. 1t was finally
at the insistence of American
military advisers that the Ma
tionalists strengthened their
garrisons on the islands. The
United States also provided
the needed ordnance and tech
nical advisers to make the
islands "impregnable." Only
a few months ago Chang was
given definite guarantees that
United States military and
naval power would defend the
islands il the Reds attacked.
1t may be that recent stories
in the American press to the
effect that we would join in
the defense Of the islands only
in the event that American
naval or air forces were wan
tonly attacked by the Reds
constitute trial balloons" in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
DORIS FLEEsON
The Democrats and Eisenhower

no such favorite of the working
press. though they respect him
and many wanted to see him
elected.
There is nothing mysterious
about this. It is a case of the
old saw why does the lamb
love Mary so? Cause Mary
loves the lamb" Mr.. Truman
felt an affinity with working
reporters. After all he was once
an obscure haberdasher him.
self and a failure to boot. He
liked the reporters society and
conversely he feels no pull
toward the rich and important.
Mr.. Eisenhower obviously does
and so do most generals and
admirals.
There is nothing in Mr.. Eli
senhower Of the arrogance
which the public associates
with the phrase "the brass"
used to describe the high
ranking officers Of the armed
services. Nevertheless, he is a
professional Army man. He
thinks and acts through chan
nels and he was never a pri-
vate. His contacts with re-
porters. even those he knew
well during wartime. are
greatly restricted and formal.
Roosevelt and Truman also
knew that. however distaste-
full it might be to them per-
sonally, in the give and take
of politics much would be said
and written about their per-
sonal lives. Through long ex-
perience they could distinguish
between an affront to the high
Office of the presidency and
the kind of news that Ameri-
cans have always liked to read
about their leaders. Mr.. Eisen-
hover is apt to take person.
ally things which his imme-
date predecessors would
scarcely notice.
The late Steve Early, the
outstanding White House press
secretary of the Roosevelt era.
once testified in a libel suit
in behalf of a reporter Bit
terly hostile to the Roosevelt
administration. When the de-
Tense lawyer croSs-examined
him about the reporters at
titude toward Mr.. Early's boss.
Mr.. Early. a former reporter,
replied. 1T is true that he is
often unfair to US. but then
very often others are more
than generous. Under the
American system of a free
press. figure it all evens out
in the end"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
President, Though a Military coreerist.
Is Yet q General Devoted to Peace
DAVID LAWRENCE

What is the source of the
great popularity of President
Eisenhower in America today?
Is it Just his personality-an
affable, congenial attitude
toward everybody?
Person characteristics
would hardly explain it. There
is something deeper and far
more significant in the political
popularity of the President. 1t
is the unbounded trust and
confidence that the American
people have in his devotion to
the idea of keeping American
boys out of war.
Despite the fact that Mr..
Eisenhower has spent the
greater part of his life in
military service, and contrary
to the oft-expressed but
erroneous idea that all mill
tary men are eager to get into
a war, there is something so
inherently pacific about Mr..
Eisenhower's attitude toward
an avoidance of war that he
has already run into the
criticism that he is willing to
maintain peace at any price.
No bigger mistake could be
made by the Communists than
to imagine they could harass
the American Government and
pursue their pressure tactics
III the cold war" on the as
sumption that there never will
be any retaliatory measures.
Precisely because Mr.. Eisen-
hover has the confidence of
the people that he will not
engage in war unless American
interests are directly attacked,
there is likely to be a unani-
nous sentiment for prosecut-
ing a war as vigorously as
possible if the United States
should unfortunately be forced
into a conflict of arms.
History might repeat itself
in this respect. For President
Wilson was a man of peace,
and all through the campaign
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
Schiff Named Head
OF Social Workers

The Washington chapter Of
the National Association Of So
cial Workers, holding its first
meeting last night in the Con-
gressional Hotel, elected Philip
Schiff chairman.
The organization has just been
formed after five years of plan
nlng by sever separate profess
sional social work organizations.
The new chairman, Mr.. Schiff
is Washington representative of
the National Jewish Welfare
Board.
Other officers elected last night
were Marjorie Murphy of Cath
Ollie University, vice chairman:
Alice Dodge of st. Elizabeths
Hospital, secretary, and Ray
mond Clapp of the District We'll
fare Department. treasurer.
The parent groups which
founded the new organization
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
Refreshing Warmth in National Politics
Seen in Former Presidents Visit

tional politics. which has been
so full of high-minded talk
about "bi-partisanship" and
Cooperation" and good will"
that IL became chilly and
cherries and boring.
Not until Harry Truman
came back, and got himself a
platform, and made one of his
bristling speeches full of stout
adjectives and burning indig-
nation and honest concern for
what Government ought to do
about plain folks--why, you
wouldn't know we still had the
two-party system in this
country,
In just one speech he brought
the two-party system back
but 1t probably left town again
with him. Always amusing is
the way he stirs up Repub-
licans whenever he opens his
mouth. and ther are crying
now to high heaven about hts
criticism Of the Eisenhower
administration as If it were a
crime. Then you remember
the names they used to call
him. But he could take it.
He seemed hale and hearty
again. and maybe he can take
, the two-party system on tour
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19

It was nice to have Harry
Truman back in town for a
few days-and how refresh
ing!
Since he went away two
years ago Government has
become aloof and stuffy. and
sort Of exclusive, lacking the
human warmth he gave 1t.
It's become more of a private
affair, like a board of direc-
tors meeting behind closed
doors. or a session Of the Joint
Chiefs of staff. very hush
hush. Government doesn't
seem SO close to people any
more. VI
It's funny that you don't
realize what has happened
often, what is missing. until
1t suddenly becomes very clear,
Just as when Harry Truman
came back. and moved about
our city and among the folks.
friendly and smiling--and then
you could understand.
You wouldn't think the
spirit Of one man could so
permeate something as big as
q whole Government.
You suddenly realized, too.
what is missing from our Ma
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
POTOMAC FEVER
FLETCHER KNEBEL

Harry Truman testihes before Senate committee
pucans paid close attention their first hang
Harys words without getting their fingers chopped
AFL President Meany asks Congress fix minimum wage
of s125 hour The big this country that the
labor leaders viii high that the
start earning it.
Communist Hungary Premier Macy making con-
goods The couldn't follow script
and started making ceboxes.
United the bill expansion of
Japan armed forces Republicans have sound dollar
1t sounds just good in Asia 1t does in Europe.
Harry visits and speaks from
his old desk Harry happiest in the
things the he wanedwhout having preacher
in the country after him.
Chicago Republican club to take leadership
from the Eisenhower wing That would
pubcans Knowland Brdge-and that excitabe
Senator's name from Wisconsin?
Republican Chairman Hall calls Harry Truman and Ada
Stevenson New Deal shooters Hall has ayegetabe
slogan for the campaign Help beat the
lettuce"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19

of 1916, though he himself
never made the comment. his
followers boasted with an in
nocent pride that he had kept
us out of war" Only a few
months later, when the mill
taristS in Berlin decided on
unrestricted submarine war
fare and began sinking Amer
lean ships despite their pre-
vious promises not to do so,
the people Of the United States
rose to a man as all political
leaders gave unstinted support
to the resolution where
America entered World War I.
The confidence of the cleo
torate at the moment in Mr..
Eisenhower's unremitting eff
fort to avoid war is so strong
that, if he were a candidate
for reelection and the votes
were cast today, he would have
almost as big an electoral vote
as he had in 1852. The dis
affection of the South for
purely local reasons might cut
the popular total down. but
in the Northern States the
vote would be overwhelming.
This is not to say there is
no disaffection in the North.
For the truth is inside the
Republican Party there is dis
sension, and it could mean a
loss of votes. But today such
disaffection can be regarded
as negligible in political guam
titles because the peace-or-
war issue is SO penetrating
that it cuts into both political
parties.
The question of war or peace
enters nearly every home. For
the military draft of those
Is years of age or older is
one thing in time of peace and
quite another when the bullets
begin to fly. Also, there isn't
a businessman who would want
to see a war for any selfish
reason. Excess-profits taxes
are Immediately imposed. Con-
trolls are fixed and the supply
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19

bask for a moment in his
smile. So great did the con-
gestion become there that the
chairman had to plead with
the people to clear away so
the walters could get through
to serve the 500 dinner.
So it was wherever he went.
He packed the Senate caucus
room when he appeared there
to testify about the United
Nations. 1t was very plain
from the rousing, standing
ovation he got when he en-
tered the big room that the
audience had come to see him
and not to hear about the
United Nations, though he had
some very sound sense about
that international institution
which was created at San
Francisco early in his admin
iStration.
He arrived early and took
the witness" seat on the side
of the long committee table
across from the seat he had
occupied for so long as chair
man of the famous Truman
committee" that had investi-
gated various aspects of our
defense and Second World
War program when he was a
Senator from Missouri. AS
various Senators would come
over to speak to him and he
would rise to greet them, the
audience would break out IN
applause again.
What must have warmed
his heart was the spontaneous
and noisy ovation he got from
crowds in the Senate gallery
Tourists from everywhere
when he entered that chamber
and took the seat on the back
row which had been his for 10
years. When he rose to speak
briefly, he got another bolster
GUS round of applause from
the gallery. as well as from his
colleagues on the floor.
About the only place this
VIP tourist" did not visit
was the White House. He
mas not been invited there
since he left. though he has
been in the city before. The
present occupant of the man
sion was not in the city, but
down at Augusta. Ga.
But Harry Truman did not
seem to mind not going there.
He knows how it looks inside
and his old friends who worked
with him are not there any
more.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
All Asia Watches Our China Policy

on the $4,000 Nationalist SOL
diers defending them. and on
all of Asia.
The Quemoy and Matsus
situation is of especial sig
nificance to tens Of millions Of
Chinese on the mainland. Re-
liable intelligence reports, par
ticularly from areas south Of
the Yangtze River. disclose an
eager. optimistic hope burning
brightly In the hearts of mill
lions that their day of deliv-
erance is near.
Such reports are played
down or suppressed in WASH
ington since the painful indis-
cretions that followed the quiet
dinner arranged with Admiral
Carney by a select group of
Washington newsmen. But in
formed sources know that our
abandonment of the offshore
islands would destroy what few
shreds of prestige we have left
in Asia.
Our allies. especially the
British, are urging us to re-
main on the sidelines while the
Reds take the islands. We are
reminded almost daily that
British public opinion is over-
whelmingly opposed to any in
reference with the Red de-
signs. Since Britain is facing a
general election on May Is,
the Eden government fears
that United States defense of
Quemoy and the Matsus in
the event of a Red attack
would sweep the Labor Party
back to power, with the radi-
cal element under Aneurin
Bevan in the top spots.
President Eisenhower and
Secretary Dulles must weigh
this added danger against the
plain need to defend our
national interests.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19

spired by a few appeasement-
minded advisers within the
Eisenhower administration. II
this is true. the cause Of peace
has been done q disservice,
for the Reds must be strength
ened in their belief that Amer
lean support for Chang is
only a paper tiger"
American military leaders
must in the end determine
the strategic value of the off,
shore islands blocking the Red
ports of Foochow and Annoy.
But already, because of the
build-up the islands have re-
ceived here and abroad. their
psychological Importance can
not be exaggerated. The Ber-
lin airlift in 1913, breaking
the Soviet blockade of the
city was a psychological mis-
sion and q tremendous VIC
tory for the free world Our
military chiefs knew and adj
mitted that Berlin was inde-
feasible If the Reds attacked
in force. But we undertook
the almost impossible task of
supplying the city. and there
by saved an island of freedom
behind the Iron Curtain and
won a great victory for the
morale of the West. 1t was
our only diplomatic triumph
Of the cold war.
The offshore islands case is
strikingly similar in it's vital
significance to the worlds es-
innate of our will to defend
our freedom. Their evacua-
ton, or conquest if they are
attacked, would have a dew
astating effect on the 9 mil
lion inhabitants of Formosa.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19
Panels Report Urges U. S.
TO Ease Transport Curbs

committee suggested stripping
the Interstate Commerce Com
mission of its authority to fix
precise rates for common car
riers, leaving it to fix maximum
and minimum rates. The car
riers could then set their own
rates. within those limits. and
they would be subject to ICC re-
view on complaint.
Would Limit Power
It suggested also that the
ices power to suspend proposed
rate changes should be modified
SO that it could so so only on
a finding that the proposed new
rates would be unlawful and
would result in injury to a COM
plainant. The period in which
a suspension could be ordered
would be cut from the present
seven months to three.
The report suggested limiting
Of private truck operations to
distribution of the owners prod
ucts and the return haul of ma
terials used in his business. It
said this would abate infringe
ment of private carriers upon
common carriers"
Contract carriers would be re.
quired to post their rates pub
licly, and they would be required
to become common carriers if
the ICC found that they were
performing such services. A
common carrier is one whose
services are available to the pub
lie generally.
Views Conflict
Spokesman for the railroad
and trucking industries took
sharply opposing views Of the
proposals.
William T. Farley, president
of the Association of American
Railroads, said he had not read
the report but hoped that it
marks step toward greater
equality of treatment and OPP
portunity for an forms of trans
portation."
Neil J. Curry, president of
American Trucking Associations,
Inc, said if the recommended
tions are followed ut will be
the biggest step backward in
American transportation his
tory"
The report will be reviewed
by President Eisenhower, and it
will be up to him to make any
recommendations to Congress
which are needed to put the
recommendations in effect.
Careful Study Planned
Senator Smathers. Democrat,
Of Florida said a Commerce SUBJ
committee on transportation
which he heads will make a
careful study of the new policies
recommended.
Senator Magnuson, Democrat.
OF Washington. chairman of the
parent Commerce Committee.
said short study" gave him
the impression the report SIS
weighted in favor of the rail-
roads,"
Senator Bricker. Republican.
of Ohio. senior Republican on
the Magnuson committee. hailed
the report as very construc-
tive"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-19

are the American Association Of
Psychiatric Social Workers, the
American Association of Medical
Social Workers. the American
Association Of Group Workers,
the American Association for the
Study Of Community Organiza-
ton. the Social Work Research
Group and the American Assoc
citation of School Workers.