davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1956-11-25

rules in one case, and the unblush-
ing favoritism shown in another,
the demand for hours of extra
work without extra pay; the pro-
motions, not from merit, but from
ability to fawn and crook the
pregnant hinges of the knee
these are some Of the thorns on
the Government rose.
Many men and women thrive in
this clerk life and seem peculiarly
adapted to it. They easily shed
Its irritationS and discomforts, they
like the short day Of labor, and they
quickly discover where thrift may
follow fawning" BY degrees they
ascend to the more lucrative, less
restricted positions. and often are
able to hold them for a long time.
Others, of different nature, try
the life while, and then retire dis
guSted, quite willing to work more
hours, and even for less salary, in
private business, where at least they
will be regarded as something more
than mere machines to be entirely
regulated by official caprice.
Stort at 500
There are nearly $500 classified
clerkships in the departments, and
many thousands Of ungraded posi-
tions. Clerks Of the first class re-
ceive salaries Of $1,000 per year;
those Of the second class, $1,400;
those of the third class, $1,000;
those Of the fourth class, $1,000.
In the ungraded positions the
salaries range from S700 to 1000.
Male clerks usually begin their
service for the government at $500
or 81 900 and female clerks at S700,
unless they are fortunate enough
to secure classified clerkships at
once.
Chief clerks who rank with ON
cials have salaries from $1,000 TO
S2,700. and stenographers and
translators Of foreign languages,
from 1920 to $4,000. Copyists.
who are mainly women, receive
from $50 TO t75 per month. Thirty
days in each year are allowed for
vacation, during which time the
salary Is continued. and In case Of
sickness. certified by . physician,
there Is no loss Of compensation.
OF course in the Government serv-
ice. as in affairs generally. the ma
iority Of the employees have the
small places and the burden Of
work. Hundreds OF well-educated
clerks who do q great deal OF
drudgery are glad TO get $500 to
$1,000 per year. and II eventually
they are so fortunate as 10 be
placed on the list Of those entitled
TO draw 81 200, they are happy in
deed. The higher. more lucrative
places are usually out Of their reach,
unless they are specially favored. or
have distinguished themselves By
thoroughly eflcient work.
Evening star., 1956-11-25

We shall not do justice to our
talented youth until we seek them
out at an early age-no later than
10 or land educate them sep
arately from the rest of the chill
dren.
, This need not necessarily be in
. separate school; 1t could be in a
college preparatory section Of the
school. But this separate schooling
must begin earlier than Junior high
school. 1t should start after the
fourth grade or, at the latest. in
the nth grade.
The schooling must be purely
academic, and the teachers must
have professional competence in
the subjects they teach. Admission
as we'll as advancement into each
higher grade should be by examlna-
ton.
Evening star., 1956-11-25
Longer School Year

If possible, the school year should
'be extended to 2l0 days. There is
no other country of comparable
civilization where children go to
school for only 180 days as they do
here. This may have made sense
when we we're an agricultural coun-
try and children were needed to
help on the farm. But our long
vacations make no sense today,
especially when we consider how
rapidly knowledge IS increasing and
now much more a child must now
learn to become truly educated. The
more we know, the more there is
to know.
We need to set ourselves the
goal Of making 1t possible for all
children who have the will and
the capacity to complete their
general education in IA years, or
by the time they are 20. Fourteen
years IS a long enough time to
provide a good liberal arts ground
ing. Professional postgraduate
study ought not to begin later
than the age of 20, and brilliant
children should be permitted to
begin a year or so sooner.
The undue length of professional
education in America is a sig
niflcant element in our trained
manpower deficit.
Today. the American professional
man will complete his education
when he is between IS and 26. and
for most there will have to be
added two additional years of
military service before they can
become self-supporting All Of this
becomes particularly onerous in
the United States where early mar
riage is part Of our social pattern.
Surely, we must do all we can
to allow our talented youth to
move through their schooling at
their own rate Of progress and not
retard them by the pace of the
average or the slow learner.
Evening star., 1956-11-25

estimated. owning comfortable
homes Of their own, paid for out
Of their savings. by the help Of the
greatly beneficial system Of CO.
operative building, and also by the
installment plan applied to real
estate, which for the past ten years
have been much in vogue in Wash
inston. and which have done a
great deal to make 1t a city Of
homes owned by those who live in
them. like Philadelphia.
Helped Build City
They are not the aliens they have
been represented TO be, In any
sense Of the term. They have aided
in the growth Of Washington, they
take pride in its beauty and pros
perity. and large numbers look
upon 1t as their permanent home.
II they leave the government SER
vice they engage in general busi-
ness and some Of the most sue
cessful merchants and professional
men OF the city we're once depart
ment clerks.
There are many veteran clerks.
In the Treasury Department there
Is one who has served since the ad-
ministration Of John Quincy
Adams. A clerk in the Navy De-
partment was appointed in is43.
and has given continuous service
ever since. Here and there may be
found those who can point 70 .
Evening star., 1956-11-25
Role for Industry

Last year I suggested that in
dustry's growing need for trained
personnel made it good business
for them to take active steps to
help. proposed that industry make
available its scientists and engineers
for one-year periods to teach In
our high schools--in this way help
ing to relieve the teacher short
age.
Today I should like to plead
earnestly for even greater help from
industry.
/ suggest that industry, to-
gether with our educational
foundations undertake the set
ting up of model academic Sec
Ondary schools in perhaps Is
different centers in the United
States.
These schools would be on a par
with our best academic secondary
schools. They would be free; the
ability to pass an entrance exam
ination of kind which would weed
out those not mentally capable of
absorbing an academic secondary
education would be the only re-
quirement.
The schools would be stated by
teachers truly capable of teaching
talented children; teachers whose
qualifications place less emphasis
on training in teaching methods
and more on graduate study in their
fields.
Teachers salaries in these schools
would be in accord with the high
scholastic qualifications required
and, therefore, equal to those paid
for comparable positions in indus
try. Such salaries would attract
competent teachers.
Evening star., 1956-11-25
Democrats Confidently Survey
Prospects for 1858 and 1860

be Adlai Stevenson. Just how active
he will be in bossing the party re-
mains to be seen. Few expect him
to make a third presidential try.
Actual party leadership will
largely be in the hands of Mr.. Ray
burn and Senate Majority Leader
Lyndon johnson. The fate of all
Democrats, to no small degree, will
rest in the hands of the two Texans,
because the legislative record : Of
the party the next two years de-
pends largely on them. The opera
tions Of Senator johnson will be
particularly interesting since he has
presidential aspirations himself.
In looking to future elections, the
Democrats have number Of rea-
sons for optimism. The party
showed great strength in main
tanning control Of Congress while
losing the White House by land
slide. There now are 20 Democratic
Governors. more than any party
ever had at one time. Many of
these are running the affairs of big.
politically important States like New
York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Michigan. Democrats control many
State Legislatures and increased
their n1inorities in others. They
control more large city halls than
the Republicans.
"The strength of any political
party lies in the counties and State
houses" says Senator Mansfield,
the mild-mannered Montanan who
is slated to become the Democratic
whip and assistant floor leader of
the Senate. And we have strength
in both places. The trend over the
country has been Democratic since
1858.
"On top Of that we have a
plethora of good young men all Of
whom are equipped to be President
or Vice President, such as Jack
Kennedy. Humphrey, Symington,
Joseph Clark, Frank Church, Lyn-
don johnson and Jackson in the
Senate, and Leader, Meyner, Mus
kie, to name just a few in the
State houses. We have the mate
rial. We have the party. The Re-
publicans have Knowland and
Nixon"
Senator Mansfield thinks It is
most significant that the Demo-
Evening star., 1956-11-25
MIDEAST TEASER
By LOUIS X. MATHER

Egypt's President Canal Alb
del NasSer-at the peak of his
political power-has not forgotten
his dreams of Pan-Arabia
stretching from Morocco to Persia,
and administered from Cairo by
himself.
Col. NaSser seemed to be headed
for the political showers three
weeks ago. Enemy troops were
sweeping into and dropping onto
his territory. In London, Paris and
Tel Aviv his removal was an ad-
mitted aim.
But today Col. Nasser is very much
alive. Physically, he appears to have
outlasted Mr.. Eden. Politically he
may also outlast both Mr.. Eden and
Premier Guy Mollet of France. The
dreams and ambitions Of man who
possess Col. Nasser's resilient quail
tiles should not be lightly dismissed
as too visionary for realization.
They justify some examination.
Arob Unity Limited
The Arab nations, as one in their
mutual hostility to Israel, have
taken some steps toward unity. The
Arab League was formed in 1945,
and last year Col. NasSer created a
joint military command with Syria
and Jordan. These steps did not
have remarkably decelerating eff
feet upon Israeli armies. Most OBJ
servers agree, however, that Egypt
Evening star., 1956-11-25
By JAMES z. NEWTON

Democratic leaders have shaken
of the state of shock inflicted by
the Eisenhower landslide Of Novem-
ber 6 and are already talking con-
fldently about the future.
Not even the sight Of about 81
million worth Of red ink on the
party'S books disconcerts them.
After all. they point out, Demo-
Gratis customarily spend more than
they collect during campaigns and
the party's deficit this time is not
much larger than usual. They pre-
dict that this time, as before, they
will erase the red ink and build a
kitty in time for the next campaign.
Details of getting the Democatic
financial house In order will be on
the agenda Of the Executive Com
mittee Of the Democratic National
Committee when 1t meets here to-
day and tomorrow.
Enormously heartened by their
retention Of congressional control
despite the Presidents sweep, the
Democratic leaders already are
looking toward the 1858 congress
sional elections with eager anti
cipation. On the first Tuesday IN
November that year. 80 United
States Senators, all ABS members
of the House will be elected. The
Democrats believe they will fare
very well indeed in the balloting
then, and party chieftalns fairly
drool over prospects for the next
presidential year, 1860, when there
will be no Eisenhower running
against them.
THANK God for the 22d Amend
ment!" remarked a Democrat solon
happily, That's the constitutional
Evening star., 1956-11-25

years by taking extra courses dur
ing three summers.
We must flnd q way for our chill
dren to attend school for more than
the present 180 days. Lengthening
the time in school might most cas-
lily be done through the medium Of
voluntary summer courses.
Teachers In these schools
would be given no extra -curricu-
lar work Of any kind, because a
teacher, as does any professional
person, requires time for thought
and study. The schools would be
scholastic institutions, so social
activities would be kept at a
minimum.
The management of these schools,
qualifications and salaries of teach
ers, entrance requirements, curric-
ula, and standards would be left
to an independent body not con-
nected directly with the donor. But.
I see no reason why the schools
could not be given names to indi-
cate the corporation, or industry or
labor organization-for labor ought
to participate in this endeavor no
less than induStry-which contrib
utes financial support. This seems
to me fair and legitimate, and
even desirable; it would win friends
for industry as a whole, and for
the donor in particular.
I estimate that the cost of op-
Grating each model school for a Pc
riod of five years will be about $40
million. At the end of that period
the community ought to have an
option to take over the school, pro-
vided it agrees to continue the high
scholastic standards set under pri-
vate management.
These model schools would DEM
onstrate what could be accom-
pliShed by competent teachers, a
proper curriculum, and an adequate
school year.
Evening star., 1956-11-25

Gratis "have gained a new bulwark
TO the party in the Pacific North
west and Rocky Mountain States"
IN that connection he cited the
victories of Senator Morse in Ore
gon and John Carroll in Colorado
over two good friends of Mr.. Eisen-
hover. Douglas Mckay and Dan
Thornton.
Negro Loss q Problem
On the debit side. the Democrats
lost the support, at least for the
Time being, of large number of
Negro voters. Any further losses
there would hurt them in 1858.
Also, there are signs of a knock
down, drag-out fight between the
Northern and Western liberals and
Southern conservatives in Congress.
centering on the civil rights issue.
This has been forecast by Sena-
tors Kennedy and Humphrey. One
must see if this battle develops and
IN what shape 1t leaves the party
before any real appraisal Of success
In future elections can be made.
Reasonable men," says Senator
Mansfield on the civil rights situa-
ton, "can get together and arrive
at reasonable conclusions. Maybe
there will not be the fight some
people anticipate"
At this point the Democfats
would seem to be in especially good
position for increasing their two
member majority in the Senate in
1858.
OF the 80 Senate seats to be con-
tested then. 81 are held BY Re-
publicans and only IL by Demo-
Gratis. some in Southern States
where the Democrats are still
supreme.
The Democrats don't believe they
will lose any Of their IL seats and
think they have good chances OF
unseating from 8 TO 10 Republi-
cans.
Governors 10 Run
In some States. popular Demo-
cratic governors will be running for
the Senate in 1858. Gov. George
Leader. for example. will run for
the seat TO be vacated by Republic
can Senator Martin in Pennsyl-
vania. and Gov Muskie Is expected
to seek Senate seat in Maine,
the one held by Senator Payne. who
has indicated he will not seek re-
election. There IS speculation, ap-
parently with good basis. that Gov.
Mennen Williams, who has become
more and more popular in Michi-
gan, will run against Republican
Senator Potter. And Gov. Ernest
Mcfarland Of Arizona may oppose
Senator Ooldwater. who won the
Governors Senate seat in 1852.
A leading Democratic presidential
possibility (they are numerous) Is
Gov. Meyner Of New Jersey. He will
seek reelection IN 1857. II he is
successful. II is not at all beyond
the realm Of possibility that he will
decide 20 oppose Senator Alexander
Smith for the Senate In 1858.
Democrats believe also that two
Republicans who captured seats
held by Democrats In the last Con-
Rress--c hapman Revercomb in
West Virginia and John Sherman
Cooper In Kentucky will os
knocked on two years from now.
They face voters again then because
they were elected November 70 hn
unexpsred terms.
Evening star., 1956-11-25
PERIOD PIECE
"A Clerks Life Is Not an Entirely Roseote One

Back In 1888, during the first
term OF President CleUeldnd. Jo-
seph West Moore published a
handsomely bound and protuSely
illustrated Uolume entitled pic
turesque Washington" in which
he described this bright, delight
tul and prosperous city" In the
course of his examination OF
Washington and its institutions,
Mr.. Moore had this to say about
Federal en1plOyeS-OT as he called
them, "Gouernment clerks:
People who are unacquainted
with department life in Washing
ton are very apt to believe that
Government clerks. as a general
thing, are indolent and improve
dent-a peculiar set who have OBJ
tanned Office by political favor, who
work very little, and spend the
liberal salaries they receive in ex-
'travagant living.
This is a singular but by no
means uncommon mistake. OF
course, there are "black sheep"
among the clerks-those who shirk
their work, are full of tricks, and
are generally dishonorable-but 1t
can be truly said that the ma
jority are industrious, sober, eco
nomical, and without doubt, fully
on a par with similar workers in
commercial lines.
Clerks are required to perform
a certain amount Of work each
day. and the work. when done, will
compare favorably with that per-
formed in private business estab-
lishments. and may even exceed
1t in quality and quantity. All Of
the Government work must be done
IN q methodical. strictly accurate
manner, and every imperfection or
shortcoming is recorded and serves
As . bar TO promotion. and also as
. pretext for dismissal II the posi-
ton held BY the clerk Of bad
record" is wanted for someone else.
A Heavy BurdSn
IN some Of the departments the
standard Of work Is set 20 high, and
F. the quantity required each day Is
20 great. that It Is only by the
most diligent efforts. by really ex-
'hauSting labor. that the best Of
clerks can keep their records en-
tirely free from discredit. The
idle and incompetent are constantly
being dismissed. unless perchance
they are able 10 retain their places
by means Of strong influence" or
by cunning devices which may serve
for time in place Of honest. faith
f1l labor.
The department clerks in reality
form q solid. intelligent, important
part Of the population Of Washing
ton. and their influence Is gene
rally for good. Many are house.
holderL over 1--WE thousand. It u
Evening star., 1956-11-25
RcKovERs BLUEPRINT
Plan for Training the Talented
RICKOVER'S BLUEPRINT

Rear Admiral Hyuan G. RickoUeT, the responsible
for Development of the atomic submarine strong critic
OF educational practices 1Dich he charges haze denied
many of talented young people adequate educntions
uhe Russia threatens to otproduce in scientific en-
gneerng and professional n1Gnpoer Last Tuesday, speak
ing at luncheon of the Thomas Aha Edison Foundation
IN East Orange j. admiral Rickoger proposed s'0eep
dre-the top IS or 20 per cent 1.-THE brilliant per cent are
already receiving special attention. he noed Here are
some excerpts from that speech:
Evening star., 1956-11-25
20 Pupils, One Teacher

These model schools should aim
at a ratio Of at least one teacher
for every 20 pupils. One of the
reasons why the private English
boarding schools. such as Eton,
Harrow. ETC., contribute so large
a percentage of Englands leaders
is their ratio of teachers to pupils
one for every IL students.
The schools would start with the
fifth grade so as to have the pupils
ready for college at 16. To do this,
it may be necessary to provide
choice: Students could complete
the course the regular way in seven
years, or they could finish in six
Evening star., 1956-11-25

prohibition against q President
seeking a third term.
When party leaders like Jake
Arvey of Chicago and David Lawr-
ence Of Pittsburgh sit down to-
morrow with National Chairman
Paul Butler for a post mortem on
the elections, one thing is certain:
Party unity will not be marred by
Monday morning quarterbacking on
the presidential campaign. The un-
precedented size of Mr.. Eisenhower's
popular vote has eliminated all
crying over split milk among Demo-
Gratis, since it is apparent to all
they would have lost the race re-
gardless Of candidate or conduct
Of campaign.
At this early meeting, it is un-
likely the Democrats will do much
planning for 1858 and 1860. But
they undoubtedly will survey the
prospects. They also will set UP a
program for Embarrassing and pay
ing of the deficit and work out a
national committee budget for 1857.
Butler Wants to Stoy
Mr.. Butler has said he would like
to stay on as chairman-he was
elected for a four year term right
after the August convention. But
a political party can change chair
men as rapidly and in somewhat
the same manner as a Latin Ameri-
can country can change presidents,
and Mr.. Butler just held on by the
skin of his teeth in August. The
story was that he was marked for
discard by Adlai Stevenson but re-
ceived last-minute saving support
from House Speaker Sam Rayburn.
The nominal party chief for the
next four years, or until a new
presidential candidate is chosen, will
Evening star., 1956-11-25
The Glass Charge

: I am aware that any change in
the American public school system
will meet opposition. Special
Evening star., 1956-11-25

to live together with children of
varying backgrounds will still be
preserved.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01
GEORGETOWN Houses
All Set for Tour

open on Friday include those
Of Mrs. Paul v. McNutt, 1910
r street; Mr.. and Mrs. Alan
Valentine, 1888 Reservoir
road; Assistant Secretary Of
the Army and Mrs. Chester r.
Davis. 3414 Volta place; Col.
and Mrs. Afford Heiberg, 1400
34th street; Mr.. and Mrs.
Francis Colt deWolf, 1922 o
street; Mr.. and Mrs. Leland
Stanford Briggs. 1918 N street;
Mrs. Kondrup Gray, 3400 Pros
pect avenue, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Paul Hammond 1918 Prospect
avenue.
Visitors on Saturday will
more than likely begin their
tour with the home Of Mr..
and Mrs. Rowland H. Sar-
geant (Myrna Loy) at 1904
N street.
One Of the early Federal
houses which will be open
Saturday is that occupied by
Mr.. and Mrs. Bromley Smith
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01

A look behind the scenes in
quaint. old Georgetown these
days and one is convinced that
this little town is making ready
for the Annual Georgetown
House Tour on Friday and
Saturday. Visitors in George
town on the days of the tour
will feel a warmth and friend
illness so characteristic of this
small historic section of Wash
ington. The tour will benefit
the work of st. Johns Church.
Georgetown, and has as its
chairman this year Mrs. Oliver
Mckee.
Much of the charm Of
Georgetown lies m its archi-
lecture. Houses open this year
will have particular appeal be-
cause they are so varied.
There are some Of the finest
examples of the Federal, the
Classic Revival, the Victorian
and modern architecture. Wis.,
ltors may wander from house
to house on the west side Of
Wisconsin avenue Friday be-
tween 2 and 6 pm. On Satur-
day during the same hours the
houses on the east side Of
Wisconsin avenue will be open.
Included in the group Of
houses open on Friday is that
of the Director of the National
Gallery of Art and Mrs. David
E. Finley at 1918 o street.
The Finley home has probably
the most beautiful Colonial
doorway in America. 1t was
brought from Salem, Mass,
and dates back to the clipper
ship days. The home Of Mr..
and Mrs. William Chapman
Foster. 1904 r street. is q part
of the original Friendship"
house. =
Other homes which will be
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01

at 1908 N street and formerly
owned by Abraham Lincoln's
granddaughter.
Other houses included in the
group are those of Mrs. Frank
lin Mott Gunther, 1912 N
street: Mr.. and Mrs. William
Graham Clayton, jr.. 1912 N
street; Mr.. and Mrs. Stanley
Woodward 5000 N street; Mr..
and Mrs. Russell A. Eldridge,
1920 o street; Mr.. and Mrs.
Philip w. Thayer, 140O
Twenty-ninth street; Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter Clinton Louch-
helm, jr., 1924 o street; Mr..
and Mrs. Benjamin Warder
Theron, 3019 p street, and Mr..
Mrs. Curtis Burton Munson.
1902 Thirty-first street.
CandIelight Tour
On Friday evening between 7
and 10 pm. ticket holders for
either Friday or Saturday may
visit the home Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Earl L. Packer at 3013 Que
street for a candlelight tour.
Mrs. Packers lovely Bohemian
chandeliers and her rare COL
. lection of brasses from all
parts of the world will interest
many visitors.
Tea will be served both aft
ernoons between 3 and 6 pm.