Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-12
Eioht Thnt Failed

Ordinarily ! would resent
the Monday morning quar-
terbacking by critics OF our
Vanguard project flop. But
in this instance. ! feel. some
critics have been more than
lenient. Not only has our
scientific standing been I'M
dermined. but the reliability
Of our propaganda-which
has made much Of the name
freedom Sphere"-has been
impaired. While Russia
launched her Sputnik with
out fanfare. leaving a star
tied free world TO speculate
on how far ahead OF us she
was. we. with much pub
licity. and in the face Of our
Presidents reaSsurances. dis
PEELED all doubt Of how far
behind her We actually are.
Politicians and statesmen
can learn much from the
soft-spoken scientists method
OF drawing conclusions only
from exhaustive testing of
hypothesis. theories and
findings OF fact. Actions
speak louder than words"
especially 70 the billions who
DO not understand English.
Constructively. shouldn't
our present administration
swallow its pride. heed Sem
ator Johnson's pleas Of "ur-
eency." unleash our scientific
brains ~. Robert Open
heimer in particular. and
tackle the job OF catching
up to. and passing Russia.
with the same zeal that has
produced a balanced budget?
Milton Heller.
I think the American press
and. more specifically. some
of its "eager-beaver news
hounds" have unwittingly
done a great disservice TO our
country in the present rocket
situation. Because a free
press is valuable beyond
measure in so many impor-
tant respects. this is no war
rant for its browbeating.
haraSsing interview methods.
There Is little doubt that
We can regain our position
in rocket developments, but
no good can come from adj
vertising our experimental
failures. Some are inevitable
even in the final stages Of
testing. AS for the present
missile mess" IL is generally
admitted that the nature and
volume of the news about 1t
is largely responsible for the
magnitude OF our humilia-
ton and misplaced concern
over our failures. Right now
both scientists and officials
are on the carpet for too
much talk" Haven't we
abused them enough already?
These are facts which well
illustrate the point / am
trying to make. Without ter
rife pressure by, the press.
there would have been little
or no talk. no fanfare.
The secret of Russia's sud-
den advance in this field is
her ability to keep a secret.
Conscience.
With even the remotest
possibility Of failure for the
Vanguard project. there was
absolutely no value In per-
hitting publicity. Of any
nature. OF this country's eff
forts TO launch a satellite.
oscar Wilde once said.-"Imi-
tation is the greatest tribute
mediocrity can pay to gen.
ius." ] do not want TO apply
the term genius" to the
Communist world. but with
out question we should have
followed their procedure and
left out all Of the garnishing
effects Of advance publicity
and simply utilized the i'm
pact benefits to be derived
from announcing a successful
launching when this i'm
portant objective was re-
allied.
m comparison to the un-
believably stupid manner In
which the administration and
press handled DR.. John Ha-
gems Vanguard project we
have no conception OF what
difficulties we're encountered
b. Russia In getting Sput-
mix into space. Our govern
ment leaders have again
given evidence OF poor judg-
ment and complete lack OF
wisdom In a matter vitality
affecting our stan d ing
throughout the world. / have
the distinct impression that
our naive activity involving
racial problems and satel-
lites is feeding the Commu-
nistic propaganda machine
with ammunition Of such pro-