davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
The Early Years

Will Gerber is a Russian Jew, a
rarity in the Midsouth. He was
born at Kisheneff, SO miles from
Odessa. in Southern Russia. His
father Max and mother Rebecca
brought him here when he was
8 years old. They were desperately
poor. Although they wanted the
boy to be educated, he had to help
support the family. too. So, Willie
got up before dawn to sell the
morning newspapers, attended
classes and then worked until night
selling the evening newspapers.
Like all boys, Willie was beset
with growing pains. He used to
mix it with the neighborhood kids
and sometimes had to defend him.
self against cutting taunts of those
who resented the intrusion of q
foreigner and a Jew.
He finished high school, did a
hitch in the Army and got a job as
a newspaper circulation man. Later
he worked as railroad clerk. Am
bition pushed him into night
law classes at the University
of Memphis. where he obtained his
degree. After practicing a couple
OF years he gladly accepted appoint
ment as an assistant prosecutor for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
BY FRED THEROUx

Ten years ago, on August /, 1916,
the Fulbright educational exchange
program was launched when Con-
greSs enacted Public Law 584. Since
then, nearly $4,000 students and
teachers of 81 different nations have
taken part in this new venture in
International understanding.
The total cost to the American
taxpayer has been less than the
cost of fighting just a few hours of
World War II; the benefits after
10 years in good will and basic
understanding have been apparent
enough to assure the continuation
of the program.
The sponsor of the trail blazing
legislation, Senator j. w. Fulbright,
Democrat of Arkansas, recalls his
early efforts to achieve, through the
exchange program, a better post
war relationship between the United
States and her wartime allies than
that following World War I.
Exchange Expert
An Ozark mountain boy, he had
learned the advantages of educa-
tional exchanges himself as a
Rhodes scholar. With millions of
dollars worth of American military
equipment scattered throughout the
world. why not put its value to work
in constructive way, rather than
add a debt problem to the war
wracked world?
American locomotives, bulldozers,
cars and trucks. food and clothing
we're idle in warehouses wherever
the United States forces had
operated. The host countries had
no dollars with which to buy these
invaluable tools for rebuilding.
Senator Fulbright proposed that
this equipment be sold to other
nations for payment in their own
currencies, provided that part of
these funds be set aside for an
educational exchange program.
Thus, instead Of impossible war
debts. both the Unitec States and
the foreign nations involved could
be paying the debt in profitable
terms Of good will and improved
international understanding.
Fear of 'Isms'
Perhaps inevitably. there was
some determined opposition to the
exchange proposal in Congress
Senators McCarran of Nevada and
Mcclellan of Tennessee led a small
group of foes who expressed fears
that the program might expose
American students to foreign
'fsms." But bipartisan support
won enactment of the Fulbright
Act. and by the fall Of 1947 the
program was IN operation.
The overall direction Of the ex-
change program is in the hands of
a Board of Foreign Scholarships,
whose 10 members are appointed by
the President. Except for one
member from the Veterans Admin
istration and one from the United
States once Of Education, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
Hostility in Nashville

Mr.. Gerber, a man with iron
gray hair and steely gray eyes, is
less popular in Nashville, the State
capital. than on his home grounds
here. This is due, obviously, to his
missions for Mr.. Crump. From 1910
to 1948. he was the one lieutenant
closest to the boss. Customarily the
machine sent a delegation of young
men to the Legislature. Mr.. Ger
Der was assigned to go along to
Nashville, keeping tabs on the boys.
advising them like m old pro and,
II need be. cracking the whip.
One day in the excitement of a
hot debate. with a lot of political
maneuvering in process, Will Ger
Der ran onto the floor of the
House to huddle with his delega-
ton. That annoyed some of the
legislators and brought new de-
nuncfationS from the newspapers.
THE Nashville people see only
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
BY JOHN v. HORNER
Star star Correspondent

MEMPHIS.-The people Of Mem
phis think their Washington friends
will witness quite a show when the
House opens its investigation Of
the District public school system.
and the effects of indignation.
Memphians expect this because
the chief investigator. Will Gerber.
is one of their own. Not that every
one boasts about that, for many
persons here cannot abide Mr..
Gerber. But everybody knows the
57-year-old lawyer as a resourceful,
thorough-going, tough and some
times provocative interrogation. The
Capital. say his neighbors, may be
showered with unseasonal fireworks.
Mr.. Gerber today is a more con-
troverSial figure in Memphis than
his old tutor. idol and master, the
late E. H. Crump, if such thing is
possible. For one thing, Mr.. Crump
is dead. Furthermore. as chief lieu
tenant for the boss. Mr.. Gerber was
the fellow who actually executed
the Crump orders which executed
the political opposition.
Many Memphians who were ag-
grieved or disguised with Crump-
machine tactics professed shock
when the House District subcom-
mittee selected Will Gerber as
counsel Their criticism was di-
rected less at Representative James
Davis, chairman, than at Repre-
sentative Clifford Davis, their fell
low townsman, who isn't even a
member of the investigating COM
mittee. They have heard it was
the Tennessee Davis, who first sug-
gested Mr.. Gerber's appointment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29

these. however, brought bristling
rebuke from the United States Su-
preme Court, both for him and the
lower courts. 1t involved the case
of a white man and a colored
man. The pair were charged
with numbering the white mans
wife. They were convicted in 1941
and given 50-year sentences. The
verdict was reversed by the Ten
nessee Supreme Court.
The men were convicted again
in 1912, This time the case went
all the way to the United States
Supreme Court, which also reversed
the verdict Mr.. Gerber had OBJ
tanned.
A third trial was conducted. with
similar results. On a fourth at
tempt, both defendants were ac-
quilted at trial.
In one reversal, the United States
Supreme Court rendered an opin-
ion containing this scorching pas
sage:
II is inconceNoble thot ony court Of
justice in the land, conducted as our
courts ore, open to the public, would
permit prosecutors serving in relays to
keep defendont with them under con-
tInuous ss-exominotion for 30 hours
without rest or sleep. in on effort to
extroet o voluntary confession. Nor
con we, consistent with constitutional
due process Of Law, hold soIuntory q
confession where prosecutors do the some
thing owoy from the restroinobIe in
tluenes Of public trial in on open
courtroom.
The Constitution Of the United Stotes
stond' as q Dor against the conviction
OF any individual in an American court
BY meons Of eoereed confession. There
were then and there ore now certoin
foreign notions with governments dedi-
eoted to an opposite policy; governments
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29

precise measurement of the values
Of the exchange program is i'm
possible because those values are
in the intangible realm of human
needs and responses. But the
easily discernible benefits stemming
from the interchange of ideas, the
loss of prejudice and misunder-
standing among the peoples of the
world through the operation of the
program is immensely encour-
aging to most men on Capitol Hill.
The golden promise inherent in
the opportunities under the ex-
change program has been illus
trated again and again in the
enthusiastic praise and gratitude
Of scholarship recipients, both for
eign and American. But perhaps
the most moving testimony to the
meaning of the program was re-
ceived from Nigerian boy, the
son of a miner, who closed his APP
plication with the plea: IF my
qualifications do not entitle me
to a Fulbright. then please grant
me a Halfbright."
In eagernesS such as this is the
American way being reflected IN
the scholars Of the world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
With Crump

AS one of Boss Crumps more en-
thuSiastic disciples, Willie OCCASION
ally engaged in flsticuffs. He made
headlines for physical brushes with
reporters and photographers who
covered the 1926 and 1928 election
campaigns for crusading, anti
Crump newspapers. Willie beat I'D
2 reporter. jailed few others. He
was accused of smashing q news
camera after pictures were taken
of the same group of farm, hands
voting in several different polling
places.
The reporters fled civil damage
suits. They never collected a penny
but when one case was called to
trial, Willie Gerber got into hot
water. He made an insulting re-
mark to the plaintiffs attorney,
had Scuffle in a courthouse cor
ridor and was convicted of con-
tempt of court. An appeal saved
him from spending five days in Jail
but he had to pay a $25 fine.
Mr.. Gerber's star had set with
the press but it was rising with the
Democratic machine. He became
Memphis city attorney and in
1910 was appointed to an unexpired
term as attorney general (chief
prosecutor of Shelby County. Two
years later he was elected. in his
own right to an eight-year term.
He did not serve it out, however.
In the bitter Tennessee election
OF 1948 some ugly charges were ex-
changed. Gordon Browning, run
ming for Governor, pledged he
would "impeach" Will Gerber if
he was elected. Mr.. Browning and
Senator Kefauver administered a
decisive defeat to the Crump or
ganization and not long afterwards
Mr.. Gerber resigned. He said he
did so to keep a promise to begin
practicing law privately with his
son after the latter passed the
Tennessee bar.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
Widely Acclaimed Ability

His critics call Willie Gerber
ruthless. Some think him I'M
scrupulous. They say his court
room manner is too brusque, his
voice too loud. They think he may
enrage witnesses in Washington or
members of the House Committee.
But even they agree with Willie
Gerber's admirers on several points.
They recognize his ability as a
lawyer, his diligence and his
shrewd investigative techniqueS.
Despite his reputation as. tough
henchman of tough political boss,
there is no evidence of skulldug-
gerry. The most serious claim made
publicly is that he never prose-
cuted any political fraud charges,
though the accusations were nu-
merouS.
Mr.. Gerber says he has never
made q statement on school deseg-
regation and that he enters the
District inquiry without bias or
prejudice. No one has challenged
the remark.
Hes going to show you fellows
something" said an admirer. HE
will really dig in; he's a thorough
researcher. If. as they say, there's
anything wrong with the District
schools, Willie Gerber will find out"
One Of the most striking assess
mentS comes from leading citizen
who frankly detests Mr.. Gerber.
He says:
He is INSCRIPTIONS, ruthless,
and, of course. UNIT. His record
of beating reporters, smashing
cameras. contempt Of court and all
those things clearly show that.
And since he is unfit, he should
never have been selected for the
House investigation. But now that
he is appointed, it may well be that
he will do a fine. thorough job. He
has the ability and he could have
the motive to do something that
would offset that record"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
By JOHN A. KENNEDY


Schools and colleges-not jet
planes nor H-bombs-are the
greatest Russian latent threat to
America and the West.
The Soviet Union has approxi-
mately 70 per cent more students
in colleges and universities than
we. tuition is free and they pay
their college students salaries.
They claim to have more doctors
--one to every TOO population and
will graduate $4,000 engineers in
1856 against our estimated $4,000.
And the Soviet Union has the
stif1est primary secondary system
OF six-day-per-week, l0-months-
per-year schooling In the world.
We visited with the directreSs and
several teachers in three hour ses-
sion in one of the oldest schools in
Leningrad which in years gone by
had emphasized musical training.
1t is one of the 500 schools in the
Leningrad area operating under the
Upgrade system, which covers the
ages OF 7 to II and which this year
became the mandatory attendance
ages in the Soviet Union.
This school, a rebuilt structure
from the ruins of war damage, has
l,499 students divided into 40
groups, with lao more boys than
girls.
There are "a teachers in this
particular school.
In the first four grades, the
pupils are advanced on the recon-
mendation of the teacher, which
is a not too unfamiliar plan based
on the grades they receive in their
studies.
Sitter Curriculum
In the first four grades, their
subjects are not too much unlike
what We have here, although I
should say considerably sitter than
even the schools of France, Swift
yerland, Germany, Holland, Scandi-
navian countries, and England.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29

If they do not pass, they can
stay for an additional year-that's
true right straight through.
AS they move from the 5th grade
forward, their work becomes harder.
From the 9Th to 9Th grades in
elusive, the student at the end of
the year goes to his examination
room. Twenty minutes before he
is to go to the front of the room
and demonstrate his knowledge in
the particular course for which
tests are being held that day, he
draws a slip from bowl. The slip
has two questions on it, one gener-
ally requiring blackboard demon
Stration and the other oral pres
entation.
His own teacher and at least one
other teacher hear the examina-
lions and jointly do the grading,
passing their recommendation on
to the director of the school.
In the 10th grade the same proc
ess is followed, except the students
own teacher. some two to four
additional teachers and the director
OF the school make up the examin-
ing board.
Languages EorIy
The courses, starting in with the
5th year. include language and
many of the subjects we have.
Also, in addition. some subjects
that our 9Th. 7th and 9th graders
seldom, If ever, hear about at that
stage, Of their learning.
They have to take two languages
Russian, Of course-and have an
option on which other they will
take.
In the particular school we
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
Impressive Prosecutor

Even those who dislike Will Ger
Der concede he compiled a most
impressive record as a prosecutor.
In the period from 194l to l947.
his Office handled 303 homicide
cases and obtained 255 convictions.
1t had 1926 convictions for assault
to murder against IS acuuittals.
He obtained 81 convictions to Is
acquittalS in rape or attempted rape
cases. and 222 convictions against
81 acquittalS for robbery and at
tempted robbery. The score for
larceny and receiving stolen goods
was 1858 to 1877. The pattern ran
heavily in his favor in other cate
gorieS.
Mr.. Gerber participated in nu-
merouS sensational trials. One of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
MARYLAND
By GENE GOODWIN

Is Millard E. Tydings going to
be able to climb out of his sick bed
in time?
That question was causing great
concern among Maryland Demo-
Gratis last week despite assurances
from the Tydings family that he
would soon be back in campaign
harness.
Mr.. TydingS, who at Sc is trying
to regain the United States Senate
seat that he held for "a years until
Republican John Marshall Butler
defeated him in 1850, was released
from the hospital last Tuesday
night. but he still is suffering from
skin ailment of nervous origin
known as shingles.
Illness and fatigue have kept Mr..
Tydings out of political circulation
ever since the May 7 primary when
he barely won the Democratic SEN
atorial nomination from George P.
Mahoney after a grueling campaign.
Only his family. his doctors and a
few close friends were allowed to
visit him during his month and a
half confinement in Baltimore's
Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Rumors Circulate
Mr.. Tydings has made no public
appearances to speak of since
primary election night. This fact,
plus his isolation in the hospital,
has led to all sorts of rumors that
he has suffered a stroke or some
thing more serious than shingles
and might have to withdraw from
his much-publicized rematch with
Senator Butler.
1t didn't help matters any when
Mr. Tydings announced from his
hospital bed a week ago that, on
his doctors advice. he was resign
ing as a delegate to the Democratic
National Convention opening Au-
gust Is in Chicago to give himself
more time to recuperate.
Actually, however, there seems
little doubt that Mr.. Tydings was
laid low by a bad case of shingles,
which is a very painful but not
serious skin infection. Because of
the pain, he was kept under heavy
ISOLATION, which is one reason his
family and political advisers de-
cided to bar all but a few visitors.
Another reason, undoubtedly, was
the fact that Mr., Tydings' infec-
ton was conferred around an eve.
tending to paralyze one side of his
face and giving him the appearance
Of a person who has suffered a
stroke.
Reports are that he has lost con-
siderable weight and is in a gen.
orally run down condition. Although
he is at his Harve de Grace home
now, the mo Visitors" sign is still
out and doctors say he must have
complete rest.
Slow Recovery
What seems to be worrying some
OF his political friends is the slow
ness Of his recovery.
They wonder whether Mr.. Ty-
dings' own anxiety about his in
ability to carry the standard he
fought so hard for in the primary
isn't aggravating his condition to
the point that his only hope of
achieving recovery in a reasonable
time might be to withdraw from
the race.
In that event-which grows more
likely each day that the former
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
SOVIET SCHOOLS
Young Ivan Finds Little Time to Loaf

visited in Leningrad, 30% took
French; $50 English and $50
German.
Their other courses include BIZ
ology. astronomy. chemistry, physics,
history, mathematics and a sort
OF civics which actually is Russian
political thought. OF course, all
OF these are mandatory. There
is no election on the part of the
student.
In teaching history, the 5th-
graders get Greek, 9Th get Rome;
7th Middle Ages-that is. the
Sth to 10th centuries; 9Th to
10th get modern history. with the
9th and 9th up to World War
! and the 10th the more modern
history. together with economics
and politics mixed in.
Crisis in History
Their problems of history at the
moment are somewhat complicated.
In fact, We were told they had sus-
pended the history examinations
this year because of the little mat
ter OF disqualification of Stain.
The directress told us that
homework averages at that par
ticular school from two and one
half to three hours but in other
schools we found the homework
runs from three to four and five
and six hours.
In the 9Th grade they get physics.
algebra, history, biology and Ian
guage. Chemistry starts in the 7th
grade, and mathematics, of course,
all the time.
Take the question of physics.
They start out with 2 hours in the
9Th grade, in the 7th, 3 in the
9th, 4 in the 9th and 4 in the 10th.
In the 9Th grade, there is elemen-
tary mechanics, heat and electric
lty. continuing through the 7th.
Here is an example Of what they
get in the 9Th: Mechanical move
ment. the laws of movement,
mechanical energy, kinetic energy.
the principles Of weights.
Waves and Acoustics
In the 9th: Circles; revolv-
ing movement, waves, acoustics.
movement Of liquid and gases
hydrostatics. aerodynamics. UNDER
standing Of molecules, heat and
work expansion of heat, study of
molecular action, change of state.
that is, melting and vaporizat ton.
turbines, electrical engines and re-
acting engines.
In the 10th grade, they continue
with physics, electrostatics, laws of
electric current. studies Of the works
OF Volta and Ampere, electromag-
netism, direct and alternating
current, optics, speed Of light, refiec-
ton and refraction. the construc-
ton OF glasses and lenses and other
phases Of optics. the wave quality
OF light. the action of light, atomic
theory, the construction of the
atom, explanation Of atomic power
stations and, We we're told, the use
OF the atom in peace.
Apparently there is no corporal
punishment. and individual cases
OF unruliness are taken UP directly
with the parents. The Parent Or
ganization elects its own commit
tee and chairman.
II a youngster gets too far out
OF hand, instead Of using the rod,
the child is ordered to the front
OF the classroom and scolded pub
licly before the class.
LooOyrIsht 1885. aleux Kalla Arsu..I..aasr,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29

The most significant development in the
Soviet Union hos been the school system,
Publisher and Editor in Chief Kennedy
Of the Sioux FoIIs IS. Dok.l Arous-Leuder
decided otter month long tour Of Rus
sion cities and towns. Here are excerpts
from his report.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29
Controversial Figure
In Memphis Politics
Heads School Probe

Shelby County. That was In 1925
and that was the start Of Willie
Gerber's tempestuous career in pol
itics.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-29

the worst side of Willie" said one
veteran Memphis newspaperman
one of those Willie helped to
jail 80 years ago. I'm Memphis,
We see all sides of him because we
live in the same community. He
isn't as tough as he was"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-14
Ups Pay Fine
OF Iowa Sailor

HUTCHINSON, Kans., June IA
(R.-Riley Dietz, tr., a sailor re-
leased from a Concordia, Kans.
jail Tuesday night after being
confined three weeks for nom
payment of traffic fine, must
appear at a captains mast to-
morrow.
Dietz, son of an Iowa legisla-
tor, was freed after a fine of
$3.50 for reckless driving and
driving without a valid license
was paid by two officers of the
Iowa Justices of the Peace and
Constables Association. They
flew to Concordia from Des
Moines for the purpose.
The 23-year-old sailor. based
at Hutchinson Naval Air Station,
will appear before Capt. Hayes
E. Irons, base commander. Capt.
Irons will decide what, if any,
punishment to impose.
Dietz' long stay in jail kept
him from the base long past his
leave time.
The sailor. son of State Repre-
sentative Riley Dietz, ST., of Wal
colt, Iowa, was not confined
while awaiting appearance at the
mast.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-14

The Fomily Council consists Of q Judge,
q psyehiotrist, newspaper editor, q
women's poss editor and two news
poper writer's. These consult with
clersymen Of oil foiths ond denomi-
notions. All letters ore held in COM
plete confidence.