davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1956-12-27
Rat Race to Town

The anonymous "Horatius"
notes with sorrow that Chain
Bridge is quite adequate for
traffic except for the rush hour
period. He suggests that
Northern Virginians be
charged a toll to cross the Po-
tomac into and out of the
District of Columbia. He ap-
parently believes that such a
toll would increase the reve-
nue. of the District and that
Northern VirginlanS would be
happy to pay it.
1t is my observation that in
creasing numbers Of my fellow
residents are asking them
selves, rs this trip to WASH
ington really necessary? Must
I get in that rat race to cross
the river again? Must I fight
my way about the obsolete
traffic circles of Washington?
Must / cruise several blocks
from where 1 want to go in
order to park? Must con-
tinue to pay exorbitant park
ing fees COR chance a parking
ticket in order to carry out a
simple business transaction in
this area?" If "Horatius"
ever overcomes his distaste
for the south bank of the
Potomac sufficiently to drive
to Seven Corners, Virginia, in
Fairfax County, he will see
undisputable proof that quite
a few downtown Washington
businessmen are in severe dis
agreement with his ideas.
Roland Bieren, MD.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
THE POLITICAL MILL
Nixon Has Another Successful Mission
BY GOULD LINCOLN

tial candidate for the Republi-
can presidential nomination
in 1860. Indeed, today he Is
looked upon as a leading con-
tender. although he has scrup-
pulously avoided any reference
to his future political plans.
AS Vice President, under the
Constitution his only speci-
fled duties are to serve as
president and presiding off,
Ger Of the Senate--and to
serve as President should the
Chief Executive become in any
way incapacitated. The office
often has been the burying
ground of political aspirations
in the past. Vice Presidents
who have served out their
terms have not been nomi-
mated for or elected President
since the national party con-
vention system was adopted in
the days Of Andrew jackson,
except Martin Van Buren,.
A Controversial Figure
Nixon, however, is different.
He has seen service in the
House of Representatives and
in the Senate in the space Of
little more than a decade. He
has been a controversial fig
ure. His name is as well known
TO Americans as have been the
names of many of our Presi-
dents. He leaped first into the
limelight when he, as a mem
ber of the House Un-American
Activities Committee, was able
to bring out the facts in the
Alger Hiss case so that Hiss
eventually was tried and con-
victed. From that time on, he
has been almost constantly in
the news. His selection to run
with Eisenhower as q vice
presidential candidate in 1852
was in itself spectacular. And
one of the major news stories
for months this year revolved
around Nixon and the likeli-
hood of his denomination.
II the nomination of a Re-
publican candidate for Presi-
dent four years hence should
be left to the party leaders
generally, Nixon would be a
front runner. He has made
many friends among them
as evidenced by their support
of him for denomination last
August. The results of the re-
cent election have left HIM in
an even stronger position. The
predictions he would lose votes
for Eisenhower. If again placed
on the G. o. P. national ticket,
proved SO incorrect that the
only wonder is they ever were
made.
Evening star., 1956-12-27

study would be helpful in formulating
legislation by Congress, perhaps in con-
junction with the Maryland and Virginia
General Assemblies. looking toward re-
gional cooperation in dealing with all
the problems affecting the Metropolitan
Area
This is large and difficult field, as
experience Of Federal and local authori
ties in trying to work out their mutual
problems has shown. But the need for
coordination has become so acute that
Congress and the State legislatures ought
to give the situation more attention than
they have been willing to give it in the
past.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
BeIoted Thanks

Thanksgiving has gone but
! would like to give thanks to
some unknown District traffic
engineer.
1 am a Connecticut avenue
commuter and going to work
the past week I received one
Of the most pleasant sensa-
tions Of my life. After years
Of trying to keep in time with
the traffic signals IA virtual
impossibility) ! found that by
gliding along around % m m.p.h.
each light turned green upon
approach. Porter street Is
still not perfectly syncronized
but by slowing way down even
this can be navigated nom
stop. Progress is wonderful
Robert II. Thompson.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

not eaten as well as IL they
had been put there, in the
first place.
Why is this?
4 ~ 4
The explanation may be as
follows:
If food is spread out on the
ground, over a space say S
feet in diameter. or in a long
line, the hungry creatures
rustic and jostle each other,
always finding some food.
II pushed one way, they
grab a seed from under an
other feeders very feet. and
this pleases them, just as it
would please a human being
under similar circumstances.
The longer one watches wild
creatures. both feathered and
furry, and even 'finned, the
surer he is to come to see that
all living things have a re-
markably similar psychology.
1t is not possible, after
watching birds outside the
window for years, to continue
to think of man as unique.
Man is not unique, in any
real sense. He is one creature
in a chain, and all Of the links
in the chain act In much the
same way. though at times it
may take a good deal Of hon.
est observation to determine
1t.
This, perhaps. is the best
thing feeding the birds does
for the home owner.
There are many gains, Of
course. such as an interest in
beauty, the pleasure Of watch
ing the hungry things eat. the
scientific aspects of marvellous
forms and flying ability. and
so on.
But perhaps the best we draw
from bird watching is this
realization Of the oneness Of
all living things, the perfect
idea Of the Creator, that in one.
we see all; and that in all.
we see one.
This is the idea. become
Ideal. which must prevail In
the world Of men before per-
feet peace and happiness can
come, not only to Gods idea,
called man, but especially to
Gods ideas, called bird. and
beast and fish and insect.
There must be some reason
for this chain OF life, aside
from continuance. Man. the
seer. can never see II until
he wipes from his eyes the
ugly clouds Of suspicion. hate
and killing which now be-
cloud them.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
Nehru's Expediency

Mr.. Nehru. the prime min
lister Of India, is a well edu-
Gated man, a good diplomat,
and has conviction, as it ap-
pears, more on expediency
rather than on a definite line.
But his political education
enables him to understand the
reality Of the strong existence
of Pakistan. He saw the fu-
ture of Pakistan was dark and
it did not come to exist. With
this belief. mingled with emo
ton. he is taking all the
measures under his command,
with smoke of diplomacy, to
discredit Pakistan. But to his
utter bewilderment, he is see
ing that Pakistan has come to
stay. Yet he is unable to curb
his emotions.
He breaches himself to be
a guide of peace which he
never practices when it is con-
cerned with him. He con-
quered Hyderabad, Junagarh
ana part of KaShmir by mill
tary might. He poses as a be-
lever In the peaceful settle
ment of international disputes,
but never pays heed to the de-
cisions Of the U. N. as regards
Kashmir.
He tries to create a smoke
screen between the Commu-
mist bloc and the free world
in order to get benefits of any
kind. And the result is, he is
getting material benefit. espe-
cially from America, and moral
support from the Communist
nations regarding his action
in KaShmir. He is hardly to
be believed as a neutral. Neu-
tralism has got no meaning
where there is clear-cut line
to choose. He poses to be
neutral only to get material
benefit from the free world.
These are evident from his
policy Of often abusing the
West but reluctant to utter
anything which may displease
the Communist bloc. To some
extent. he is similar to Tito
of Yugoslavia. who got ma
terial benefit from the United
States but made a grand show
of friendship with the Krem-
lin sometime ago. But the
people Of the free world are
intelligent enough to under
stand his moves.
M. M. r. ChOwdhury.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
First Snow

Now every cottontaa NTH no
Experience OF feathery snotO
In his entirety OF days
Must tremble. finding Uood-
land trays
So rdstiv different, and lDhite.
A ouiyertRO OF half delight,
Halt fear must grip him az he
hops
By unfamiliar trees, nor stops,
And nou goes foTuard ipno-
rant
His iadecisipe footsteps plant
A fragile pdtterHfno tor some
Men to fnd lorelv. uhen they
come.
EIeins v. Emans
Evening star., 1956-12-27
Vietnom

Recent press dispatches
from Southeast Asia indicate
that the Soviet empire is
crumbling not only in East
ern Europe, but in Commu-
mist Vietnam as well. The
totalitarian regime Of Ho Chi
Mimi is faced with serious
difficulties as evidenced by the
following new developments:
The disciplining of three
highly placed Communist
leaders, Truong Chinh. Ho
Wet Thang, and LIE Van
Luong;
The bloody repression OF
several large scale peasant re-
volts, particularly in Nghe An
Province:
Virtual admission of failure
Of the Communist LAND re-
form" program:
Promises of sweeping liber-
alization Of the regime, in
cluding proposed free elec-
tions. new laws guaranteeing
civil liberties. and improve
ments" in the wage system;
A decree ordering full free
dom Of religion.
To what extent these prom
ises will be fulfilled one can
only guess by observing the
endless lists Of broken Com
munist promises Of the past.
These ominous rumblings in
North Wet Nam present an
enormous opportunity to the
free world, particularly TO the
United States. Our courage
Gus South Vietnamese allies
have. in a miraculously short
period, established security by
building a strong. modern ma
tional army; by eliminating
the divisive sects. and by re-
moving the organized Com
munist menace from within its
borders. At the same time,
since its proclamation a little
more than q year ago. the Re-
public Of Wet Nam has held
two free elections--one TO
choose a head Of state and one
to elect a Constituent Assem-
bly, to draft a constitution.
Nov that constitution has
been approved and promul-
gated.
These notable beginnings in
constitutional democracy are
being watched carefully BY all
Of Asia. Now. It Is necessary 70
assist this brave ally in the
building Of . sound and viable
economy upon which real
Evening star., 1956-12-27

dem ocracy can flourish.
Toward this end both private
Americans and the United
States Government can per-
form indispensable assistance.
With creative leadership and
imaginative planning. we can
aid Wet Nam in becoming the
example for democracy in
Southeast Asia. And as the
Republic of Wet Nam demon
strates that it can deliver a
decent way of life to its people
under freedom, SO 1t will has
ten the day when the Commu-
mist tyranny of Ho Chi Mini
will disintegrate under the
pressure of its own injustice.
John w. O'Daniel,
1t. Gen.. United States Army
(retD,
Chairman, American
Friends of Wet Nam.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
Sir Izook Oft the Hook?

Your editorial on the Com
pleat Angler" recalled to me
that. among other things to
his credit, Izaak Walton is
the writer responsible for pre-
serving Sir Henry Wotton's
pleasant definition Of an am
bassador. Walton records the
incident in the life of his
friend Wotton, sent by James
I as Ambassador to Venice.
En- route to take up his post,
after an evening Of merriment
at Augusta, Germany. he was
asked to write something in a
book of white paper and wrote
in Latin what he in English
would have said: "An ambas-
sador is an honest man. sent
to lie abroad for the good of
his country"
IZaak Walton explains that
the word for lie. being the
hinge upon which the conceit
was to turn-was not so ex-
pressed in Latin, as would ad-
mit-in the hands of an enemy
especially: so far a construc-
ton as Sir Henry thought in
English"
The quotation slept for eight
years and then fell into the
hands of Jasper Scioppious, "a
man with a malicious pen,"
who was attacking King
James. 1t suddenly appeared
that the King had sent an
envoy who thus defined his
job: IAN ambassador is an
honest man, sent abroad to
tell lies for the good of his
country"
Walton reports that Wotton
became much clouded" in the
Kings opinion by the incident
but he finally was restored to
favor.
Izaak Walton's reputation as
a gently persuasive writer rests
on his series Of Lives" as
well as upon the "Compleat
Angler" ! await more evidence
before accepting your dictum
that now he has slipped into
the waters Of disrepute with
a great splash"
r A. Earnmharson
Evening star., 1956-12-27

NEW YORK.-Vice Presi-
dent Richard M. Nixon has
completed successfully another
mission abroad for President
Eisenhower. His place in the
administration promises to
grow in importance, as he is
given new tasks to perform.
If his assignments in the past
are any criterion, Nixon's use
fulness will be in the field of
foreign affairs and foreign
policy. He has demonstrated
again and. again his value as
a goodwill ambassador in many
lands-and most recently by
his visit to Austria and the
refugee camps Of the Hun
garianS.
He has brought back to the
President a full report of the
situation as it exists in that
troubled area, with a statement
of the facts which will aid the
Chief Executive in making his
recommendations to Congress
for assistance to the Hun
garians, including the admiS-
sion of additional refugees to
this country, and aid to Austria,
which has had to meet the
emergency created by Soviet
RuSsia'S harsh and brutal in
tervention in the affairs of
Hungary.
Target Of Democrats
For years now, the Vice
President has been a target
of the smear attacks of the
New Deal-Fair Deal Demo-
Gratis. They have accused him
Of being guilty of most of the
crimes in the book. They have
resented particularly his
charges that the Democrats
in the Roosevelt and Truman
administrations were too soft
in dealing with the Commu-
nists, both in this country and
abroad. They have said he
accused the Democratic Party
and its leaders Of disloyalty--
which they have never been
able to prove. So violent and
constant were the charges
levelled by the Democrats
against Nixon that they
aroused doubts of Nixon in
many minds. Nixon, however,
instead of being submerged,
has continued to advance,
through his own abilities and
the manner in which he has
met these attacks.
During the next four years
Nixon will be constantly in the
spotlight, unless all signs fail.
His every act and word will
be>scanned for the simple rea-
son he is regarded as a poten-
Evening star., 1956-12-27
Russio's S New PIonner

The Central Committee of RuSSia'S
Communist Party revealed on Monday
that all has not gone well with the sixth
five-year plan. A day later came word
that Deputy Premier Maxim 2. Saburov,
director of economic planning, had been
replaced by Deputy Premier Mikhail G.
Pervukhin, an expert on heavy industry.
The West would like to know the connec-
tion between these two developments and
their real significance.
The superficial explanation, offered
by the Central Committee, is that the
planning has been bad; that the planners
failed to appreciate the proper relation
ship between the available supplies of
materials and manpower and their own
economic goals. And it may well be, of
course, that the Soviet planners, as has
been the case with other planners, slipped
up on such details as these. But why the
choice of Pervukhin to replace Saburov,
both respected and trusted members of
the Soviet hierarchy? Saburov prepared
the sixth f1ve-year plan, which was pre-
'sented to the Goth Congress of the Soviet
Communist Party last February by Pre-
mier Bulganin. And Pervukhin indorsed
1t that time. Did Pervukhin subsequently
see the light, or is Saburov merely serving
in the familiar scapegoat role?
Whatever the fact as to this, the evi-
dence seems clear that the Soviet econ
omy Is in some trouble. For the Central
Committee called for decrease in capi-
tai investment" and that spells trouble
in the language of any economist But
it does not reveal the precise nature or
extent of the trouble, and these are the
critical questions.
It may be assumed that the difficulty
with the satellites, especially the unan-
ticipated need to extend assistance to
Hungary and Poland, has cut into the
reserve OF material resources which the
planners had expected to draw on in the
future. This same difficulty may also
have affected the reserves of useful man.
power-a chronically scarce commodity
in the Soviet Union. Not long ago, the
Russians were talking about reducing
their armed forces by IL million men,
Had this been done, the men released
from military service would have been
available for more economic work, and
the planners may have counted on them
1t is entirely possible, however, that the
Kremlin, noting the turmoil in the Satel-
lites and the fiare-up in the Middle East,
has concluded that it cannot safely re-
lease 1.2 million men from its armed
services. Much the same thing applies
to material resources. reduction in
capital investment and curtailment of
construction could signify that materials
which the economic planners had counted
on will be diverted to the military.
No one can be sure, at least at this
time, with respect to any of these con-
Siderations. Perhaps the Soviet Union
can cut back on capital investment and
still increase production by more efficient
organization and ALLEGATION of resources,
and this may be why Mr.. Pervukhin has
been moved up to the top planning spot.
But we can hardly afford to overlook the
other possibility-that Russia, while un-
doubtedly in some economic trouble, is
primarily concerned at this time with
strengthening its military posture.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
Greetings From a Queen

Queen Elizabeth has sent warm and
understanding holiday greeting to her
people around the globe. In likening the
British Commonwealth to a family, and
the differences within it to those which
arise in every normal family, she was
choosing an apt and timely sinile. In
deed, the simile becomes more apt when
the Commonwealth Is thought Of as a
family in which the younger generation
has reached, or is fast approaching, ma
turity-a generation disposed to lead
their own lives, while retaining voluntar-
lily the bonds of kinship which have been
tested so often in earlier years. So it is
that Canada long ago, for example, chose
independence, but not full departure
from the ranks. And so it is that India
and Pakistan, coming Of age in this post
war decade, have made similar choice.
The roll is long, the family varied in both
race and age Even in behavior there are
differences as well as similarities, and 1t
was to these particularly that the Queen
appeared to be addressing herself-point-
edly but with "a tolerance that is not
Indifference"
One may also note what probably was
a reference to Anglo-American relations
In Elizabeth's comment on "the excep-
tional value Of friendship in times of
stress and disagreement" The past few
months have brought stress and disagree
ment between London and Washington
over Middle East policy. But they have
also brought opportunity for renewed
demonstration of the friendship which
has proved its exceptional value" in so
many critical instances. Finally, 1t was
with hitting compassion at this time that
the Queen appealed to her people to
remember those who have been driven
from their homes by war or violence.
Let u.s. she said, give them a true
refuge. Let US see that for them and
their children there is room at the inn
From all those to whom she wished
"a happy New Year" there surely must be
a response in kind.
Evening star., 1956-12-27
Coordination Study

Another approach to the problem Of
bringing about better teamwork among
Jurisdictions in the Washington Metro
politan Area will be made through a bill
10 be introduced when Congress convenes.
The bill would create regional CO.
ordination commission" to study inter-
jurisdictional confusion and conflicts and
recommend remedial measures. Such a
Evening star., 1956-12-27
"Hyattsville. Md.
"Dear sir:

dyaCtSVllie, Mu.
Dear sir:
LET me know about the ad-
visibility of using a bird feed
ing station during the cold
weather.
IT have several, and use them
all summer, but it seems to me
that when it gets cold the birds
like their seeds and grains bet
ter of the ground.
"Is this just imagination on
my part, or. is 1t an accurate
observation?
II am always doubtful about
my own observations in such
matters. l am never quite sure
that l am not seeing a special
case.
'I also find that my birds do
not care for cottage cheese.
and it seems to me they ought
to. What do you think about
this?
II tried various odd food
stuffs, and mostly they were
a loss to the birds. They either
did not eat them at all. or
seemed frightened Of them.
Here again I didn't know
whether this was a general
truth, or it Just was something
that happened to the flocks
at my stations.
VERY truly yours, M. g. j."
-
It is not imagation that most
Of our winter birds like to eat
of the bare ground.
More natural!
What dinner table has a more
beautiful cloth on it than the
good earth?
So the birds find it whole
some to eat there.
One thing most home bird
feeders have noticed is that
the hungry folk Of the air,
when they come to ground.
clean up the food better.
From a bird service station,
as it were. they tend to pick
and chOose
Squirrels, especially. birds for
our purposes, reject much food
to get at the sunfiower seed
they like best.
From the ground. even the
rodents eat greater variety.
The grand result. in most
yards, is that very few seeds
60 to waste when q spot Of
ground is used as the birds
table.
Whereas, with feeding de-
vice Of any kind, there is al
ways some waste, as seeds are
kicked out and not eaten.
The curious fact is that
these seeds are on the ground.
but they for some reason are