davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11

BOGOTA (By MaiD There
are Colombian earthwormS
3 feet long and almost an inch
in diameter.
Allegedly there are some 10
feet long. II so, apparently no
reputable naturalist has seen
one. Existence of the 3-foot-
long giants. however, is con-
firmed by DR.. Leopold Richter,
professor Of biology at the
Colombian national university.
The longest he personally has
measured was slightly more
than 30 centimeters - about a
yard.
They can be found in con-
siderable abundance, he says,
in the State of Santanderre,
east of the Magdalena River,
but since they live buried sew
eral inches in the earth they
seldom are seen. They come
to the surface only after a
heavy rain which lasts three or
four days. Then their burrows
are flooded and they must
come UP for air.
Ten-FO0ter Doubted
Earthworms 18 inches long.
however, are not uncommon in
the neighborhood of Bogota.
They are about a half inch in
diameter. They are about the
color Of ordinary earthworms
in the United States. except
that some have a faint metal
lie purple tinge.
Biologists frankly doubt the
existence of the 10-foot crea-
lures. If they exist at all, they
say. it is probably in the deep
and little explored jungles OF
the Choco country close to the
Panamanian border. 1t is not
impossible. Earthworms nearly
as long have been described
from both Australia and South
Africa. They might also exist
in some of the lost worlds"
which now are being found
throughout the jungles and
where unique life forms have
developed over milleniums in
which ancient mountain
masses have been isolated
from the rest of the world.
Such an earthworm, it is ex-
planned, would be unlikely to
show up in collections unless
some naturalist deliberately
looked for it. 1t would appear
so much like snake that
natives probably would leave
it strictly alone. 1t would be
larger than some of the most
venomous of the burrowing
snakes. 1t would be distin-
guished, of course. by lack Of
a backbone. if anybody cared
to investigate to that extent.
Not very much is known
about the snakes of the deep
Choco jungle. There is one,
for example, which is about
four feet long and brilliant
scarlet in color. 1t is known
to natives as the condelilla
and listed by biologists as re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11
Death March

News reports about the tragic death
march which cost the lives of six
Marine recruits at Paris Island last
Sunday night have been conflicting.
All the reports agree, however, that
veteran Marine sergeant took his pla
toon of IS basic traineeS on an un-
scheduled night march that ended dis
astrouSly in tidal swamp. The sergeant,
through counsel, explained that he was
trying ito teach them discipline
General Randolph Pate, commandment
of the Marine Corps, has described the
march as most unusual" and one that
the sergeant had no authority to order.
STAFF Sergeant Matthew McKeon, the
leader of the Inflated platoon, has had
little to say publicly, beyond the state
ment given out by his counsel and an ex-
preston of deep regret for what hap
pened. Several survivors of the march,
however, have defended the sergeant,
asserting that he was the first to enter
the water in the darkness and the last
to leave, after making heroic efforts to
get all his men out.
Under the circumstances, it would
be better to withhold judgment in this
case until all the facts are known Gen
eral Pate and his staff have evidenced
determination to investigate the trag-
edy thoroughly. All the data should be
a"eembled, not only for the information
of the PenJagon but of the public at
large. The worst thing that the corps
could do now would be to try in any way
TO whitewash this tragic affair All Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11
Civil Riqhts and November

1t is easy to understand why all
Democratic elements in Congress, not just
the Southern members, have reacted hos
tilely to the civil rights program pre-
Sented by Attorney General Brownell
Representative O'Hara of Illinois has
spoken for most of them in declaring that
the whole thing-suddenly introduced as
a sort of partisan competitor to similar
measures already proposed in both the
Senate and Households SuSpiciouSly like
mere politicking by the administration.
And the suspicion is certainly not i'm
plausible or prepoSterouS in this vote
wooing presidential election year.
In any case, regardless of what may
or may not be their political motivation,
Mr.. Brownell's proposals are not likely
to get very far in the 84th Congress. Some
of them, after all, are controversial in the
extreme, constitutionally and otherwise.
This applies specifically to those that
would have the Federal Government, in
order to uphold civil rights, pre-empt
areas of authority and action that have
thus far been reserved to the States
Before majority of either the Senate or
11OuoS COulu pOSSlUly Ue pcISudQeU W
support such a change, there would have
to be exhaustive committee hearings
and vast amount of debate, and one
may therefore safely predict that the
matter will result in not much more than
talk between now and election day in
November.
This is particularly true because the
So-called liberal and conservative Demo-
Gratis are completely at odds on the issue.
And there is disagreement also among
the Republicans, even though in much
less acute form. Accordingly, with the
1856 electioneering campaign already
begun, Mr. Brownell himself must be well
aware that the program he has submitted
stands no chance of being enacted by the
present Congress. Actually, as far as
civil-rights developments are concerned,
about the most to be expected now is the
creation of bipartisan presidential COM
mission to study and report on the Souths
racial problems. But even this, helpful
though it could be, is in doubt because Of
Mr.. EiSenhowers seeming reluctance to
name such an agency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11

things, and found some an
swers, which is about as we'll
as almost anybody can do ex-
cept a man who takes up posi-
tive thinking and fools himself
from the ground up.
John Tallant didn't need to
fool himself much. Life and
the times had done an almost
complete job of it already.
They had left him bambooz-
led. sunk, pushed, overcome
with the delirium of chrome
and cigarette smoke and cheap
gin. He didn't like gin, really.
The last day Of the Flower
Show, somebody gave him q
ticket.
He hadn't the slightest idea
he would be interested, but he
took the ticket just to be
polite.
When he got there, some
thing clicked at last.
1t was his world, he dis
covered.
Everywhere there were Won
derful things, with marvellous
colors, and odors out of this
world. The fresh wet peat
moss overcame him.
He went down on his knees,
figuratively, to the camellias.
AzaleaS turned out to be
blood brothers. The whole
sweep of agriculture, broad
prairies of waving grain, and
the soy beans and mint
All these things, and many
more, swan into his enchanted
vision.
This was his life, at last.
He bought a little plant in a
pot, and took 1t home as a
souvenir.
He tended it, and patted its
cheek. but it would not grow.
1t began to turn yellow.
Maybe it needs SUM- he
said to himself, as he put it
out on the front step.
The next morning, it was
gone.
Somebody who needed a
plant, too, had stolen 1t in the
night.
So began John Tallant's edu-
cation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11
Health Plan Anemic?

am not an expert IN health
insurance matters, bu. it seems
to me that Joseph Young is
being less than objective in his
point of view on the admin
STATIONS health plan proposed
for Federal employees.
Mr.. Young has consistently
supported the administrations
major medical program. In my
judgment this program is not
in the employees best interest
and is far from what We have
a right to expect from the ad-
miniStration and Congress.
In wage rates and in fringe
benefits, Federal employees lag
behind other groups Of en-
ployes. This is particularly true
in the matter of health bene-
fits.
The administrations major
medical program appears to do
a lot for us which it will not
do; it has been made to appear
far more attractive than the
circumstances seem to justify.
Before accepting Federal
employment about two years
ago. my family subscribed to
one Of the better-known health
insurance plans. At first my
employer paid nothing toward
the cost of the plan. Four years
ago he paid half of the cost,
and at the time / left he was
paying all of the monthly rate
charged. ! understand that
most employers pay at least
half and many pay all OF the
cost of this plan.
We used our benefits several
times before coming to Wash
ington and once since living
here. Six months ago my wife
was in the hospital for almost
nine weeks and our total hos
pital bill was over 81 400. Our
plan paid all but $36.
Under the Governments
plan we would have had at
least S725 To pay. This is far
more than we could pay with
out borrowing money and as
Stunning a debt that would take
us more than a year to repay.
Our health insurance costs
us Sill per month. This is
more than we can afford to
pay on our present salary but
I have investigated a number
OF different plans and ours is
the best for the least cost.
Back home, when my employ
er bought it for all employees.
the cost was only about So per
month. Costs have. Of course,
gone up since. but on an indi-
vidual basis it is not possible
to buy health insurance as
cheaply as on a group basis.
l cannot understand why
the administration will not do
as much for its employees as
do private employers. A COM
parison of the administra-
tons plan with what other
major employers are doing, for
example, shows why so many
Federal employees feel that
they seldom get an even break
with employees in industry.
The administration should
scrap its major medical pro-
gram and permit us to have
what most industrial workers
have - a good hospital and
medical program which will
pay our hospital and doctor
bills when sickness occurs.
Only in this way can We be
assured of ability to make pay
ments on our homes and meet
other financial obligations
should sickness strike us.
Commerce Department
EmplOye.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11
Civil Defense Funds

Recently The Star carried
an article about the approved
budget for Prince Georges
County and noted that its
Civil Defence agency had been
granted a raise" over funds
apportioned during fiscal 1856,
but that their request was cut
by $4,000.
Many Of your readers will
now expect their county civil
defense agency to accomplish
a great deal with its EN-
larged" budget and will be
highly critical if progress is
not evident and obvious. 9th
ers. who think that civil de-
Tense lis for the birds" land
there are too manyD, will
gain some small Joy out Of
the fact that such "wasteful
expenditures" are being re-
duced. And the pitiful part
Of it all is that neither of the
above impressions is correct!
Actually, the agency in ques-
ton was recently organized
and is trying to make up for
lost time: but it had TO be
reasonable in presenting a
budget! The figure Of $25. 300.
as submitted. had already been
cut to the bone. yet this very
realistic and adequately sup
ported amount was reduced by
81 per cent. to $4,000, when
funds were apportioned. When
the balance is divided between
six or eight activities and when
Office expenses for telephone,
literature, postage. ETC., are
deducted from the balance,
then items not subject to
matching funds are figured in,
there is very little left with
which to do the Job that should
be done.
In the interest Of fairness
and understanding. there are
several facts that should be
brought to light. First, the
fiscal 1856 budget inherited
by the incumbent civil defense
director was tailored to a then
nonexistent organization. Now,
less than a year later, there
are some 200 solid, intelligent
and interested citizens who
have worked. planned and
trained in anticipation Of the
day when equipment would be
available. They can tell how
we'll the warning sirens will
be heard anywhere on their
Washington perimeter; they
completed and obtained APP
prevail of the first official map
Of evacuation routes from the
District: they borrowed radio
logical equipment with which
to train survey crews 1--WE
hardly expect to evacuate
Washington over radioactive
roads,, and they know exactly
what areas can be covered
with available communications
equipment. Their planning
for additional equipment was
completed months ago and a
pitifully small part of it has
been or is being procured out
of the 1856 budget. But now
they are broke. Their small
budget couldn't last forever!
These Woodworking people
have accomplished a great
deal but the financial limita-
tons recently imposed are
such as to preclude seeing the
job through. Can we expect the
county civil defense director
to continue his efforts for less
than expenses?
How long can you expect
these people to literally beat
their brains out, then read in
the papers about the poor job
they're doing? When some
official damns Civil Defense,
make up for 1t with an article
that gives a little credit where
credit is due. Or are we sup
posed to get our reward in
heaven?
Dean S. Young.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDTtterS correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
Sdtion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11

facts should be laid on the line-and
quickly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-11
Questions and Answers
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE

reader can get an answer o. mai
TO anv factual question BY writing The
Evening star Information Bureau
1000 Eve 81 NV Washington 3
D c Please inclo0 cents Tor
return postage
The Sidney herald., 1956-10-11
Christmas Street
Decorations Here

The %" red plastic double faced
bells for Christmas street deco
rations were received at the Sid
ney Chamber office today. A
sample has been placed in the
Sidney Paint and Glass window,
The Sidney Chambers merchant
committee Is purchasing the
equipment and the Sidney Jay
Gees will handle erection.
A complete new decoration pro-
gram starting this year is a part
of a long range program to be
completed in two or three years.
For this year, two decorations will
be placed on each string plus gar
land roping, Additional strings
plus a third ornament will be
added in the next several years
until the system is completed.
The permanent type decorations
are quite expensive and a special
appeal is made for help to the
Jaycees in their job of erecting.
Sidney Chamber members who
haven't paid 1856 dues, are urged
to do so Immediately SO that OBJ
legations such as decorations,
flour and sugar for Festival Days,
and other important projects, can
be met.
The Sidney herald., 1956-10-11
Sidney Bridge
Rip-Rap Survey
Requested

The Sidney Chambers Road
Committee has requested a sur
vey of the existing rip = rap at
the Sidney bridge to determine if
additional work is necessary for
protection of the bridge. Accord
ing to co-chairman Jim Turner
and Nels Bach, o rip-rap may
be necessary at the upstream edge
of the existing rip-rap and the
State Highway Engineers will be
contacted for a survey.
The Montana Dakota Utilities
Ignite generated steam power
plant now under construction
near. the Sidney bridge, also in
cludes rip-rapping at the bridge
and adjacent to the site.
The Road Committee group al
so made plans to attend the Gen.
trail Montana Highway Associa-
ton meeting at Lewistown Sat-
urday, October 81 and local
Chamber members who can at
tend are asked to notify the
Chamber office staff. The group
also discussed progress on the
Sidney = Circle road development
and placed emphasis on the need
for the Lane to Richey section as
soon as possible. This section is
especially bad during winter
months and prevents travel from
that area East.
The Sidney herald., 1956-10-11
Eks To Speps*
Get Out The
Vote Campaign

The Elks will conduct a city
wide drive to get out the vote or
November 6, Clifford M. Larson
Exalted Ruler of Sidney Elks
Lodge 1882 announced today
Plans for the Elks' Get Out The
Vote Organization. which will
canvass every neighborhood dur
ing the closing days of the cleo
ton campaign, we're adopted al
a meeting of the Lodge last night.
In addition to the d~oor-to-door
solicitation to encourage stay-at-
home voters to go to the polls, the
Elks took steps to set up a trans
p~ortation pool to take disabled
voters, or any others who desire
the service, to the polls on cleo
ton day.
Larson said that the campaign
being conducted by the Elks thru
out the nation in cooperation
with the American Heritage
Foundation, will pay special at
tention to encouraging young
people to exercise their right of
franchise. First voters will be
invited to attend a meeting at
which they will be familiarized
with the voting process.
Our goal is to get every elig-
IDLE voter in this community to
the polls on election day." MI.
Larson declared. 1--WE are es-
pecially interested in getting those
first voters to the polls, so they
will form the voting habit at an
early age. A large percentage of
the approximately 30,000,000 ell
igible voters who failed to vote
four years ago were young people.
This is an obvious danger to the
safety of self-government that
will grow unless we act now to
encourage young men and women
to vote this year and at every
election"
Heading the Elks vote drive is
c. w. Johnson, secretary, Elks
Lodge No. 1882.
The Sidney herald., 1956-10-11
Sidney Elks To
Collect Hides

The Sidney Elks Lodge once
more joins in the National cam
paign of Elks Lodges to collect
elk, deer, and antelope hides. A
red, white, and blue barrel will
be placed on the corner of the
Elks Home for your convenience
as a place to deposit your big
game hides. These hides will be
prepared and shipped to a tannery
in California, where they are
made into tooling leather. All of
this leather will be distributed to
Veterans hospitals throughout the
United States to be used by dis
abled veterans in therapy work.
Last year the local Elks Lodge
collected over 100 hides. Let's
beat last year. Tell your friends
about this most worthy project.
It's a good way to get rid of that
hide that lays around all winter.
The Elks and Veterans want your
HIDES.
The Sidney herald., 1956-10-11
'3idney Flaming
Arrow Ranch
Donations Asked

Would you like to do a good
turn by building a camp that will
help a boy before he is bad
rather than after he is a de-
linquent? Although a group OF
Sidney businessmen agreed that
prevention is cheaper than cure
and backed their judgment by
pledging $2,565.00 toward a Rich
land County goal of S5,000.00 to
help purchase, build, and equip
Flaming Arrow Ranch as a per-
manent Boy Scout camp, to Oc-
tober 10, only $275 additional had
been pledged for this purpose.
Since last weeks report contri-
buttons to the Flaming Arrow
capital funds drive were made
by R. P. Blair, The Sidney Her
aid, Yellowstone Livestock Com
mission, and Yellowstone Mer-
camille Company. Others have said
they are going to donate, but as
yet they have not made the nee
essary commitment.
Otto Habedank, capital fund
drive chairman, today announced
that all who send their pledges
or donations to his office before
October 10, will have their names
listed on a mimeographed sheet
to be given to each person work
ing on the every-block canvas
which will start October is. This
should prove very helpful to FAM
lies of business owners who have
come in on the advance solicita-
ton, by eliminating duplication
of calls by workers.
Chairman Habedank stated that
some persons have indicated that
since a few business firms and
individuals had recognized the
great need for Flaming Arrow
Camp and had given so gener-
ously, the remainder of the goal
could easily be met from $40 to
$25 gifts. He states this is err
roneous thinking for it has been
proven that there are sufficient
people who have the financial
ability to make only small gifts,
and people who will not contrib
ute, regardless of ability, that
all those individuals and bust
ness firms who recognize the
need for a more worthwhile
Scouting program will have to
make larger gifts to make the
camp a reality.
The Sidney herald., 1956-10-11
Republican Open
Sidney Campaign
Headquarters

The Richland County Republi-
can Central committee is this
week opening campaign head
quarters in the building just
around the Eagle Cafe corner
next to the Sidney Drug Store.
The Richland County Women's
Republican club will be in charge
and literature and information
pertaining to issues and candi-
dates will be available to all in
terested. County Republican
Chairman L. Setback of Fair
view will devote his services to
the Republican interests by be-
ing available at the headquarters
in helping direct Republican cam
paign activities with other county
Republican leaders assisting.
The Sidney herald., 1956-10-11
Dan Prices
Entertain Guests
From Lebanon

Mr.. and Mrs. Jack Moller and
three children, Sharon, John and
Peter, of Beirut, Lebanon, visited
in Sidney over the week end at
the Dan Price home and were
also entertained while here at
the A. M. Stolzenburg home.
The Mollers Ire on a two
months paid vacation from his
position as engineer under the
State Department with the Viii
lage Water System, Operation
Mission, in Beirut, a city of
about 100000 population. Mr..
Moller has just completed a two
years assignment and will re-
turn after this trip for another
two years. They are making the
trip by plane.
They have been visiting Mrs.
Moller's parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Wedman in the Hillcrest COM
munity, where the Prices and
Wedmans were neighbors for
many years. Dan and Jack at
tended school together in Poplar,
where they yer classmates.
Jacks father was located there
for a number Of years as super
intendent of the Fort Peck In
dian Reservation.
The Mollers' two oldest chill
dren are attending the university
at Beirut and their youngest is
in high school.
Mr.. Moller was connected with
the Farm Home Administration
before entering upon this foreign
mission, for which he was re-
leased on leave by the FILA to
the State Department.
The Mollers have travelled ex-
tensively and have movie films
which they have taken of places
visited throughout the world, and
which were very entertaining for
their friends and relatives.
This week the Mollers are Wis
iting his parents, the P. H. Mol
lers in Kalispell.