davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
First Round on Zoning

:. The hrSt week OF pubic hearings on
Washington's coming revision has pointed
UP what already was suSpected-that
there are many serious flaws in the far
reaching proposals of consultant Harold
M. Lewis. But the testimony also has in
dicated, we believe, that many Of the
faults are matters Of degree, which can
be corrected through amendments to
produce workable code.
- number of groups, most notably
real estate, business and architectural
interests, disagree with this conclusion.
Their position of about opposition main
tains that Mr.. Lewis basic concepts and
techniques were so erroneous that his
entire proposal should be scrapped and
rewritten. It is significant, however,
that most witnesseS-even those with
strong criticism-cited specific examples
Of what is wrong and in many cases sug-
gested positive changes to correct them.
The Job of working over Mr.. Lewis pro-
posals will be long and difficult one.
perhaps extending through the summer.
But the great mass of testimony from the
hearings should provide the information
needed to correct the faults and retain
the good in the Lewis plan.
In essence, this procedure was rec
commended by the zoning Commissions
staff Advisory Council in an objective,
analytical report last week. This report
contained a number of criticisms which
deserve serious consideration. Among the
most important were challenge Of the
rigid limits set by Mr.. Lewis on the size Of
new buildings and a proposal that there
be no requirement for off-street parking
space in buildings in the expensive down.
town business district. Despite such OBJ
jections, the council found the substance
of Mr.. Lewis plan to be fully objective
:. generally supported by the wealth of
statistical and other data . i. (and)
should furnish sound basis for any revi-
sienS considered necessary"
Perhaps the most important evidence
Of all will come in hearings this week,
when neighborhood groups, businesses
and individual property owners report in
detail on the impact the Lewis plan would
have on specific properties in each section
Of the city. Hardly property owner will
be unaffected, in one way or another, by
the proposed changes. We hope they all
make clear their views this week.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02

County. Since slot machines are illegal
in Virginia. land nearly everywhere else
in the Nation), citizens and officials of
Prince William County have raised a
storm of protest.
Governor McKeldin, while without
State authority to act, has urged Charles
County licensing officials not to become
parties to "a deliberate abuse of Maryland
proprietorship over the river for the sole
and selfish purpose of fiouting the liquor
and'gambling laws of the Commonwealth
of Virginia" Maryland's control of the
Potomac has caused enough friction be-
tween the two States as 1t is, without
aggravating the situation by official con-
nivance in a scheme to defy Virginia's
liquor and gambling laws.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
Mr.. Green and DeodIines

Rhode Islands Senator Green takes
birthdays and headlines in full and easy
stride. Last October he became 80 years
old. Last June 1t was announced, pre-
maturely, that he was the oldest man
ever to serve in Congress. Then it was
announced that he would have to wait
until November to claim the honor. In
November it was announced, again pre-
maturely, that he had won the title.
A recount" then established that he
must 60 on until this May 81 to be the
undisputed Senior statesman" of all time.
During all Of this shufiling Of statistics,
Mr.. Green just followed his business
as usual" routine of walking to the Capt.
toll most mornings, doing a full days
work and often engaging in official So
cial life in the evening. He made the
May u deadline, of course, without extra
effort. Actually, the New England Demo-
crat has set deadline of his own-to
serve in the Senate until he is 100. There
are no signs he will not reach it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
Efficiency or Folly?

AS we understand 1t, Defense Secre-
tary wilson's Air Force procurement di-
receive has been issued in an effort to
promote greater efficiency in contracting
and financing procedures. Like a lot
of other well-intentioned things. however,
1t apparently would do more harm than
good. Indeed, according to its critics, it
would have seriously adverse effect on
American security by impeding the Ma
tons missile program and projected
build-up Of intercontinental jet bombers.
This is the Arm view, at any rate,
of Senator Symington of Missouri, and
his grave misgivings are shared at least in
part by Air Force Secretary Douglas who
has formally protested against the direc-
tive. And the same sort of concern, of
course, is felt by men like Generals Twin
ing and LeMay whose direct responsibility
1t is to keep our country as strong as
possible in the skies. In their opinion,
as indicated by reports from the Penta-
gon, Mr.. Wilson has laid down rule that
cannot be followed without causing a
potentially dangerous showdown in the
whole procurement effort.
Thus, under the Wilson directive, the
Air Force would have to have on hand all
the funds necessary to pay for an entire
project or weapons system before it could
contract for or spend any money on COM
/, ponents of that project or system. This
would seem to mean, for example, that
unless the cash were available for the
building Of a complete bomber, advance
orders could not be placed for the bomb
er's engines or other parts which require
from Is to 81 months to construct. AS
the critics see it, the effect of such a
restriction would be roughly the same as
Slashing an additional SIS billion from
the Air Forces already slashed budget.
And what would this mean? In Mr..
Symington's judgment, it would mean a
heavy" cut in the build-up Of B-52s and
make almost impossible the procurement
Of the new B-58s, the Nations first super
sonic jet bomberS. Certainly, If this is
the truth of the matter, then Mr.. Wilson'S
directive ought to be rescinded forthwith
as something that would constitute not
efficiency, but the most bumbling kind of
folly. a.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
The Lost Chord
By DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

This is in the nature Of q
post mortem on the Nations
annual Memorial Day. The
date. is past which, in the cycle
Of the year, is set aside to
hallow the past. The question
which 1t is now fair to ask,
judging by the attitude of the
great proportion of Americas
almost ITO million inhabitants,
is: Was it Decoration Day or
Dissertation Day? Would an
honest appraisal suggest that
gratitude for the past is the
lost chord in our national SYM
phony?
Appreciation for the contri-
button others no longer here
have made to the enrichment
Of ones life is one Of the tallest
spires on the Temple Of Patri-
otism. But. alas. for the vast
majority the day Of remem-
brance is not devoted to spires,
but to speed. It is predomi-
i1antly a date for pleasure and
travel, involving Journeys away
from quiet cities Of the dead.
rather than to them. Gazing
at this incongruous perversion
Of the day. a popular columnist
pictures a group Of neighbors
planning for so-called Deco
ration Day. With an evident
twinge Of conscience, one Of the
circle. anxious to be of in the
waiting car. remarked that
after all the day had been
designated as a time to honor
the dead rather than as a
motor marathon. Another re-
piled, ''Now don't get morbid"
Yet another, anxious to justify
the sort Of carefree speeding
which was on the agenda, sug.
gested that 1t would be easy
to drop a wreath somewhere
on the way.
Dropping a wreath on the
way-that well expresses the
casual. Indifferent attitude of
multitudes to whom the holy
day is naught but a holiday.
No wonder. observing with i'm
patience such easygoing pen.
sioners living on other peoples
tears and toll. dancing gaily
in the opulent fields of today,
with no grateful sense Of in
debtedness for the peril and
pain through which their pres
ent benefits have reached them.
one Of the greatest Of con-
temporary Americans ex-
claimed: Such people take
for granted what they have no
business to take for granted.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02

said that q mans spiritual
quality is in part tested by his
possession Of q past tense
his grateful recollection Of the
sacrifices that have purchased
his liberties. Certainly, at
least one day Of the year it is
a salutary exercise to make out
ones lou as an acknowledge
ment that we are eating at
vineyards that we did not
plant. we are drinking at els
terms that We did not dig. and
are beggarS and borrowers.
Surely one does not qualify
as a killjoy or a prophet Of
gloom II he admonishes this
pleasure-mad generation that
We need for our souls sake to
stop in the midst Of the rush
and roar Of this acquisitive
day with material achievement
as the commonly accepted
badge Of applauded success
and remind ourselves. at least
on one sacramental day Of the
year, that the biggest part of
our lives is our heritage. This
is not an attempt to shut the
day OF from the unfettered
delights Of a holiday. 1t is
but to suggest that any Amer
lean worth his salt who is
conscious Of the dissertation of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
Magical Ceramic

something new always seems to be
happening under the sun in this epoch
Of boundless inventiveness. Now we have
a ceramic, made from glass, that is harder
than steel, lighter than aluminium, non
unstable and so resistant to heat that
1t retains its full efficiency (which means
1t does not weaken, or soften, or lose
any OF its amazing strength) at tempera-
lures up to 1900 degrees Fahrenheit.
This magical new material (Pyro-
ceram is its trademark name) is the latest
brainchild Of the Corning Glass Works.
Although not yet available in quantity,
1t apparently will become commonplace
in the relatively near future. For it can
be masS-produced, according to its de-
velopers, with the greatest of ease, and
one Of its most attractive features is that
1t will not be particularly expensive. More
than that, 1t has remarkable elasticity
In the process Of its manufacture, so that
1t can be tailored or shaped for numerous
extraordinary and varied uses even while
1t Is being made in the factory.
These uses cover very wide range.
Thus, among other things, Pyroceram-
which has been hailed as the greatest
advance in glass technology since about
the turn Of the century-is expected to
become an important component of
such things as jet engines for planes,
combustion turbines, oil refinery
equipment, chemical processing and
household cooking utensils Indeed, al
though the chances are that it will not
completely replace conventional mate
rails, some observers believe that future
automobiles, future aircraft and all types
Of future buildings will be made out of
1t in large measure.
So here we have something that looks
as II 1t has immense potential significance
In terms Of fabricating products as differ
ent from each other as frying pans and
skyscrapers, or electric shavers and
instruments for space travel. An average
layman-especially one who feels that
the old-fashioned iron skillet is still the
best for cooking-can do little more than
regard all this with open-mouthed Won
derment. What an age we live inl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02

the day in the light Of its
solemn purpose will eagerly
agree that on the morning of
that day. for at least one hour.
millions, millions Of Americans
ought to throng their common
places Of assembly in their
respective communities, bent
on gratefully making May 80
a holy day as well as a holiday.
It would go far to recover the
lost chord Of gratitude, no
matter what else that day
might hold, If in all hearts
top priority be given to q
sanctifying contemplation Of
the past in q hallowed temple
Of remembrance. under the
spell Of stirring music and Of
words fitly spoken like apples
Of gold In pictures Of silver.
The beneficial effects Of such a
celebration would be beyond
calculation.
One Of the East's loveliest
and most cultured cities, Mont
clair. New Jersey. has raised
the banner for such q crusade
to honor the too-often-for-
gotten yesterdays. Many thou.
sands Of dollars have been
raised for the purchase Of one
OF the greatest pipe organs of
the world. Installed in a beau
tiful new college hall, that
magnificent instrument is to
be the symbol and the voice
Of a revitalized, sacramento
attitude to the past. Instead
Of a corporal's guard at Me-
mortal Day observances, this
community confidently en-
visages an annual occasion
which will more than tax the
capacity of the spacious audi
forum. The whole community
Is enthused at the prospect.
The ardent hope is that the
fires Of gratitude for the sac
rifices Of the heroic past blaz-
ing there may light torches Of
like celebration across the
land from sea to shining sea
in a Nationwide observance
worthy Of America the Beauti-
full. Such a Memorial Day
would be indeed q resounding
salute to the past, a pledge for
the present and q guarantee
for the future. May the swell
ing notes Of those speaking
and singing pipes on the At
lantic seaboard, dedicated to
patriotism pure and undefiled.
come from the soul Of the Or
gan and enter into the soul Of
the Nation like the sound Of q
great Amen"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
For Safer Drivinu

Through Labor Day, the Dis
trict Of Columbia is again CO.
operating in another official
Nationwide highway safety
campaign as a part of the
year-long Back the Attack
on TRAFFIC Accidents" program.
Traffic fatalities scared TO a
new high Of more than 10000
last year. This needless waste
Of human life, with its accom-
panying' toll Of injuries, suf-
fering and financial loss, is a
challenge none Of us can ig-
more. because all Of us. our
families and our friends live
under its threatening shadow.
More than 80 per cent OF
the deaths on the highways
involve one or more Of these
five speed offenses: Excessive
speed; speed too fast for con-
ditions: improper passing:
driving too closely and failure
to yield right-of-way.
The hurry complex" is
more dangerous In the sum-
mer months when vacation
and holiday traffic swells the
vehicle load on the open road.
The "Slow Down and Live"
idea began in 1868, and 1t has
saved lives. Last year saw the
traffic death toll reach an all.
time record high, but in the
-down-and-live period II
States recorded decreases In
fatalities. Peaks Of deaths nor
mally expected on holidays
were lowered last year 81 per
cent on Memorial Day, 0 per
cent on Fourth Of July, and 10
per cent on Labor Day.
Stepped-up law enforcement
is basic in such a drive. but
voluntary cooperation Of the
general public is essential.
Drivers everywhere must be
sold on the common sense and
self-preservation embodied in
this campaign. Once sold. the
majority OF drivers Whose
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
.oymon to Pulpit

I take issue with the Very
Rev. Francis B. Sayre on his
criticism of Billy Graham's
emphasis on personal reform.
as reported in The Star. The
Dean of Washington Cathe-
dral is on shaky ground and
Billy Graham was never more
right.
This world will never have
social reform unless the
hearts Of individuals are
changed. The change in mems
lives must come FIRST before
social reform can take place.
Dean Sayre has the cart be-
fore the horse, or possibly he
has the cart without the horse.
It is evident that Dean Sayre
advocates a social gospel"
rather than a gospel Of per-
sonal salvation. This, of course,
is to be expected Of a mod
ERNST preacher. However. II
a man gets right with God.
he will meet the social prob
lens In a righteous spirit, as q
natural course Of action.
The Rev. Sayre says that
preachers should face UP to
such great concerns as racial
brotherhood. foreign aid. dis
armament, atomic energy and
immigration. II that is the
case. then the preachers
should step down from the
pulpit and enter politics
where these questions properly
belong.
Billy Graham is doing only
what God has called him to do.
and that is TO preach the gos-
pei Of salvation through Christ
to men and women. It would
be better II more Of our
preachers were doing likewise.
c. r. Haughawout.
Bible Teacher and Layman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
Alarming

An exciting $4,000 fire &C.
Cured in downtown Washing.
ton q half a century ago. On
June 2. 1907. The Star re-
ported: IAN alarm Of IRE
turned in last night about
10 o'clock because Of O blaze
in the stable and warehouse Of
the Washington Gaslight Co.,
q three-story brick structure
in the rear Of the main once
Of the company on Tenth
street. was quickly followed by
second and third alarms, and
when the many companies Of
the fire department reached
the scene the blaze had spread
to an alarming extent. It was
feared that the big brick
structure and other business
places In the area were
doomed. but the firemen
worked hard and succeeded in
keeping the flames within the
walls of the building in which
they originated. They were
not extinguished, however. un-
til after considerable damage
had been caused. The loss ON
the building and contents u e.
timated ct about $4,000. 90. :"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02

Misplaced sympathy was the
subject Of q Star story so
years ago. On June 4, 1907,
The Star reported: Every
body seems to feel sorry for
the laborers who are busily
mussing UP Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. Almost every car, yellow
or green. that bumps along
over the blocked UP rails
carries some elderly dame or
sweet young thing who, glanc-
ing at the grimy men in the
little bitches at either side of
the track, has some comment
to make upon their cruel lot.
But it's wasted-just wasted"
To prove Its point. The Star
sent a reporter to talk to the
workmen. and ask II the work
were hard and dangerous.
Non. non,' said q laborer,
whose name should have been
Diego Mario ct al. but probably
wasn't. This Is fine Job. See
da blue shirt? I wear da shirt,
three week. four week, ave
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
THE GAME OF POLITICS
BY FRANK r. KENT
Presidents Budget Hard to Knock Down

The President found the 60
ing rough in the House last
week as the Democrats effec-
lively turned back q move to
restore some Of the funds
slashed from his defense
budget. Thanks to Mr.. Eisen-
hower's own efforts, however,
the Republicans were held
fairly well In line, and this
fight. to say the least, is far
from over.
Just q few days ago, the
left-wing leaders Of journalism
and politics, whose somewhat
bedraggled little hero. Adlai
Stevenson, Is now in Europe.
which seems the recognized
refuge Of badly beaten candi-
dates for the presidency. were
joyously shouting that the
President had "lost" the battle.
that he would not night" for
what he believed, that Con-
gress was no longer afraid Of
Ike" that "the people had
lost confidence in him." that
as o leader he was q bust"
ETC., etc. They went on to
point out that his cabinet was
beginning to fall apart; that
Secretary Of State Dulles, Sec
rotary of Defense Wilson and
Secretary Of the Treasury
Humphrey all were anxious to
retire, that he was finding
great difficulty in getting capa-
BILE men to I'LL their places.
Indeed, Mr.. Humphrey has
since resigned, but the Presi-
dent seems to have had no
trouble at all finding an ex-
cellent successor.
Wishful Thinking
There was, Of course, q trace
Of truth in all these allega-
tons. They were by no means
baseless. However, the trou-
BILE. with 50 many Of his op.
ponents is that they 20 des-
perately want to see the Eli
senhower program fail that
they gave way to wishful
thinking. They mistook pa
thence for cowardice. which
was not only q mistake but
q very stupid one. They clearly
thought that the head Of q
government who kept calm.
did not curse or pound the
table or lose his temper, lacked
nerve. They could not be, as
one Of television's comics is
fond Of saying. more wronger.
Nor does the explanation of
the sharpened public interest
behind the President lie in the
fact that q new and helpful
speech writer-Emmet Hughes
has joined the White House
stan. Apparently. Mr.. Hughes
is performing for Mr.. Eisen-
hover the same kind Of service
that the late Mr.. Roosevelt had
from the talented Tommy"
Corcoran. the late Gen. Hugh
johnson, Benjamin Cohen, the
late playwright Robert Sher-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

Those who hold to the the
DRY that atomic bombs affect
the weather and cause heavy
rains had their predecessors
so years ago. On June 2, 1907,
The Star reported: THE oc-
currence Of heavy rain storms
while battles Of several days
duration are In progress, or
Immediately after their termi-
nation or soon after the termi-
nation Of any battle In which
large numbers are engaged, is
q phenomenon too constant in
its occurrence to be reasonably
classed as q mere coincidence
with such contests rather than
as being philosophically related
to them" DR.. William Tindall,
secretary to the Board Of Com
missioners Of the District OF
Columbia, remarked to a Star
reporter yesterday. Nearly
every important battle during
the war for the preservation of
the Union was accompanied or
Immediately followed by an UNI
usually heavy rainfall. DR..
Tindall went on to say that it
wasn't so much the effect Of
cannons. but the breath and
perspiration Of battling men
which added enough moisture
to the atmosphere to induce
rain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-02

wood and various others. Those
who now are trying to attrib-
ute something sinister to Mr..
Hughes literary services to
Mr.. Eisenhower found nothing
but praise for the completeness
with which Mr.. Roosevelt re.
lied upon his galaxy Of stars
for all his literary and ora
torical output, including ideas
as well as words.
The truth Is that there was
nothing really remarkable
about two short speeches .Uf
the President except that they
expressed with great clarity,
unmistakable sincerity and
complete simplicity. the two
overwhelming desires which
this President has cherished
since the day Of his election
to his first term-Novemher,
1852. These desires, which are
known by every political and
personal friend close enough
to him to share his regard ana
respect were well expressed
early this week by one Of the
most important Journalists IN
the country who by no means
has been o consistent politi-
cal Eisenhower supporter. ON
the contrary. quite recently he
has adopted q sharply critical
attitude and is one Of those
who felt that the President had
badly bungled in his effort to
get his program through Con-
gress. Now he says In effect
that the reason for the effec-
tive turn Of popular opinion
in his favor is because the peo-
pie as q whole believe his first
great desire Is to achieve,
through . firm and honorable
disarmament agreement with
Russia. q lasting peace for the
United States and the world;
second, to utilize this peace to
curtail waste, reduce taxes and
make this q better country IN
which to live for al classes.
races and ereAAa
'sSes ~" Sleeue' -
Hard Man TO Beat -
Fundamentally, It Il about
these two things that this
President Is most deeply con-
cerned. And it IL because Of
this fact that his friends be.
lieve, despite the power Of the
opposition and the skill Of the
politicians. he will win In the
end. OF course, there is room
for mistakes and he may maize
some fatal ones before ad.
journment. There is no deny
ing that between the time this
piece is printed and the adj
journment Of Congress an.
other switch may occur. But,
as Senator Byrd, who differs
with Mr.. Eisenhower on the
budget, has often said, it isn't
easy to beat q popular Presi-
dent even when your cause Is
Just. And Senator Byrd ought
to know. He has unsuccessfuIly
tried to do exactly that with
two Of his own party.