davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
Admiral William r. HoIsey

The death Of Admiral William F.
Halsey ends the illustrious career of one
OF the Nays most colorful and inspir-
ing leaders in World War II. Square,
jawed Bull" Halsey, as he was known
affectionately to both superiors and
sailors in the ranks, was the sort Of
swashbuckling fighter that our "shoe-
string" post-Pearl Harbor fleet needed
to lift its morale and give it the derring-
do essential to victory.
Delighting in haunting the japanese
with sharp words and sharp tricks, Ad-
miral HalSey derived vast amount of
satisfaction and, withal, amusement out
OF what he and Admiral Raymond
Spruance called "the great deception"
Although our "shoeString" forces had
begun to assume some real strength as
the war In the Pacific progressed, there
still was urgent need for more carriers
and battleShips and cruisers as our fleet
moved steadily toward the Japanese
home islands. In this situation there
was born the fleet with two names and
alternate commanders - the Sd Fleet
and the 5th Fleet. The composition
OF the task force was approximately the
same at all times. But when Admiral
HalSey took it against the enemy it was
called the Sd Fleet; when Admiral
Spruance led it to battle it became the
5th Fleet. Our communiques-for the
benef1t Of the Japanese-made much of
the achievements Of these purportedly
different fleets. Not until after the war
did the enemy know that only one force
was operating. The hoax undoubtedly
caused confusion among the enemy
forces and helped to hasten our victory
over Japan.
Admiral Halsey favored leap-frog
policy for attacking the many Japanese
held islands. It was at his suggestion
that zap and the Palaus were bypassed
In the direct assault on the island of
Leyte, in the Philippines strategy
which allowed clusters Of Japanese on
passed-over island strongholds to wither
on the vine. The bypasSed atolls were
left for later mopping-up operations.
Most of Admiral Halsey's strategic and
tactical proposals won official approval.
The outstanding exception was his deci-
sion to chase after a reported Japanese
force north Of Leyte, leaving a weak
United States naval unit to protect our
invasion forces on that island. Just at
that time strong Japanese task force
entered the San Bernardino Straits in
what appeared to be an incipient attack
on. the invasion units. For reason
never fully explained the Japanese
turned back. Winston Churchill and
others have criticized the Halsey de-
.ciSion. But the admiral himself de-
Tended it as justified under the circum-
stances as he knew them at the time
There is too much glory to be found
in the Halsey record, however, for it to
be affected by this one criticism-even
If justified. The name Of Bull Halsey
will be indelibly etched in American
naval HISTORIAN inspiration for all sea
fighters to come.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

ness OF an elephant'S mem.
ory. Spineless weaklings in
House and Senate. those who
wilt before the brow-beating
pressure of extreme labor
lobbyists, will be remember
ed a year hence.
It is time for the strong
to assert themselves in a
strong law. A mollycoddle
law, full Of loopholes, will
not anesthetize the public
this time. Loyalty must be
to the best overall interest
Of America, not to the pres
ervation Of claims of the la
Dor barons and their like.
Robber barons passed out
with the Dark Ages. A resur-
gence now is outdated. We
will watch for votes of
strength, not for weakness
and fear.
James L. Fieser.
D 4
Can there possibly be a
representative of the people,
duly elected by them in con-
sideration of his intelligence
and devotion to duty, who
actually believes that there
might exist some nebulous
middle ground" approach in
ousting the fully exposed. and
deeply entrenched criminal
elements from unionism?
Well-meaning, at the same
time ill-informed. union lead
ers might UNDERSTANDABLE OPP
pose the Landrum-G Griffin bill,
but honest, rational. percep-
tive legislators must support
this action 100 per cent, or
else we may as well turn the
key to the city" over to the
gangsters, close up all
branches of government by
the people. and prepare to
enter an era of slavery dedi-
Gated to the enrichment of
hoodlumS and thugs.
Certainly there must be no
need at this time to remind
our peerless Congress of our
beloved Bob Taft's personal
proof of ones ability to be a
statesman: vote for the right
as he sees the right, and OPP
pose, successfully, the desic-
Gated elements of pressure
groups despite their about
efforts to depose him.
Jerome Brodie.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
Too Perturbinq

1t is perhaps symptomatic of our I'M
settled times that even Britain's world
renowned ColdStream Guards splen-
did sight in their bearskin headgear
and relocated uniforms-seem lately to
have been losing some of their ancient
aplomb and imperturbability. A few of
them, at any rate, certainly have devil
ated in the most startling manner from
the groups justly celebrated standards
Of posture, precision of movement, and
general eyes-front, no-fooling demeanor
while on duty. Not long ago, for example,
one of them waved to friend while
marching from barracks. Worse still,
within the past week at Buckingham
Palace, another repeatedly kicked a
young woman tourist who apparently
had irritated him beyond endurance.
In terms of British tradition, all this
adds up to fairly sensational news. Very
probably, however, extenuating circum-
stances are involved. In recent times,
for instance, more than a few tourists
have been known to resort to INSURER
ably boorish conduct in deliberate eff
Tort to goad the guardsmen into an
unseemly loss of composure. In such
situation, the tainted deserve measure
OF compassion even If they forget them
selves to the extent of trying to get
back at the taunters. Besides, since they
are human beings like the rest of us,
the Coldstream paragons can hardly be
blamed If they occasionally find it diff
ficult to remain perfectly and forever
tmperturbable in a sorely perturbed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
New Textbook

The Institute Of Fiscal and
Political Education secured
the services of the best talent
obtainable and after about
three years of preparation
and an expenditure Of a con-
siderable sum of money has
published a textbook for high
schools, Democracy Versus
Communism"
Many men in public life
have recommended the book.
They include former Presi-
dent Herbert Hoover, Vice
President Nixon, j. Edgar
Hoover. Secretary of the
Army Brucker, Deputy Sec
rotary of Defense Gates,
Rear Admiral Arleigh A.
Burke and others.
While the book has been
adopted in more than half
the States in the Union, in
Guiding Roosevelt High School
in Honolulu. it is not yet
in use in the Washington
schools. A number of our
group live in Washington or
the surrounding territory,
including former Ambassador
Joseph c. Grew. Wilson
Compton. Charles s. Dewey,
DR.. Charles Wesley Lowry,
Robert Buell., Royce Powell.
Felix Morley, Admiral Lewis
L. Strauss, Judge Homer
Ferguson, Maj. Henry A.
Wise, Mrs. Arthur Bliss Lane
and others.
It is hoped that this will
arouse interest, particularly
Of parents, to ascertain
whether the book has not
been adopted because Of
apathy or communistic in
fluence.
John Marshall,
President, The Institute Of
Fiscal and Political Ed
ucation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
ALEXANDRIA, Va.
Dear Sir:

OC0A ASAA
"What can I do to make
myself stand up straight? I
am now IS years old. and
have found in the last few
months that I am slumping
terribly.
II thought perhaps you. in
your many interests. would
know something to do to help
a man stand up straight.
"As a child. I guess. old
men and old women made a
great impression on me. Part
ly, I suppose. because they
somewhat resembled the old
witches in my fairy tale
books.
"This STOPPING is a part OF
age, undoubtedly, but !
should think one might. or
at least ought. to be able to
overcome it.
what do you Think"
"Yours truly, A. D. E."
1t is the pull of gravity and
that Is a big, big pull.
Every child learns it, when
he falls fiat on his face some
time.
Gravity and its effects are
commonly forgotten in ado
lesence and middle age.
Is is only when we get to
going down the other side
Of the hill, as someone I'M
fortunately put it. that we
begin to understand some
thing about gravity.
AS the spine settles into
old age, the brow is pulled
down closer to the earth.
Then it takes real will
power to do anything about
it, and all that can be ac-
complished is in doubt.
At the best, one cannot do
more than stay the process,
perhaps.
= 4
One of our best remem-
bered childhood pictures was
of old Uncle Josh who had
come back to his old home
town to die.
He had been a clerk in
the Pension ONCE in Wash
ington for many years. His
salary of $1,000 a year was
enough to maintain him in
fairly good state in those
days, when one could fill a
whole market basket with
food for one or two dollars.
His name was Josiah, but
nobody ever called him any
thing but Josh.
He liked to play the fld-
die. not violin, such tunes
as "Over the Waves" a
waltz, and Pop Goes the
Weazel." and so on.
His garb was the same
winter and summer. with
one exception. He wore a
black alpaca coat and gray
trousers, celluloid collar, gold
collar button and thin black
string tie.
When it got hot in sum-
mer, he would remove the
tie.
That was all. It allowed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

Inc KENNEDY Dill deals
with the secondary boycott
only so far as the hot cargo
contracts are concerned. The
Landrum- Grimm bill bans all
forms Of secondary boycott
aimed at a firm not directly
involved In a labor dispute.
With so many points OF
similarity and so compare
lively few differences. the
conferees should be able to
adjust and bring out an ac-
ceptable bill. High labor
union officials, however, are
emitting loud protests, es-
pecially over the secondary
boycott provision of the
House bill. They are threat
ening political reprisals
against Senators and Repre-
sentatives who must run for
reelection next year. How
potent they will be In their
lobbying remains TO be seen.
Many Of them would be hap
by If a deadlock between the
two houses of Congress we're
to block reform legislation.
Leaders See Need
Public sentiment, however.
is running high. The con-
gressional leaders fully rec
ognize this fact. Further
more, the responsible leader
ship In Congress is entirely
sympathetic with the need Of
reform.
It's a fact that organized
labor-certainly most Of its
leaders has lined up for
Democratic candidates for
President and Congress in the
past. It has been said that for
a Democrat to win a presi-
Dental northumberland the
presidency itself, he must
have labor support. The 86th
is a heavily Democratic-con-
trolled Congress. The attitude
of the labor leaders on the
one side and the public on
the other creates a dilemma
Of no small proportions for
Democratic enators and
Representatives.
Right there presidential
politics may enter the pic
ture. Four Democratic Sem
ators - Lyndon johnson Of
Texas, majority leader; John
F. Kennedy Of Massachusetts,.
sponsor of the Senate labor
bill; Stuart Symington Of
Missouri, and Hubert Hum
phrey of Minnesota-are rec
ognized as strong potential
contenders for the 1860 presi-
Dental nomination. How they
vote in the final showdown on
the labor reform bill will be
watched carefully. Senator
Kennedy, as the manager of
the bill in the Senate, is par
ticularly on the spot.
The battle is not over. but
the prospects for a labor re-
form law with teeth in it has
become almost a certainty. 1t
has been long overdue. The
great mass of labor leaders
and the rank and file of the
unions are honest. But certain
unions and their officials
notably Jimmy Hoffa and his
Teamsters-have given the
whole organization a black
eye. Only by law can they be
effectively curbed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

the gold button to shine
forth and seemed to make the
old man cooler. At least, he
said it did.
When Uncle Josh was re-
tired, he decided to go home
at last.
There we saw him. walk
ing feebly down Main street,
using two canes. his head
bent low under the pull of
gravity.
He had not realized this as
a problem as our correspond
ent has. so he. had done
nothing about it.
Perhaps there isn't much
to do, but If one realizes it
in time, maybe by adopting
certain exercises, one may
stand a bit straighter, after
all.
The realization of this
problem is the main thing.
The old Army exercise. Of
standing with the head
against a wall, may be done
almost anywhere, without at
tracing undue attention.
When you get into an ele-
vator, you move to the back.
and stand facing the front,
as the operator wants you to
do, if there is an operator.
and it is the same if there
isn't.
You try to press the back
of the head against the wall.
along with the shoulders, the
hips, and the heels.
Young people can do this
with ease, but it is almost
impossible later.
BY persisting at it, how
ever. some gains may be
made. Finally, if one is not
too old, the head will touch.
If this good posture is car
ried away from the wall, and
held for as long as possible,
about as much along this line
will be done as can be done
here below. It will remain for
the place where Uncle Josh
has gone to take away all
bent posture and canes and
restore the elegant grace Of
angelic uprightness.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

@. How far away from a
well or spring must a septic
tank be placed?-B. g.
A. A septic tank should be
placed at least so feet from
any source of water supply
land farther than that If
possible) and the tank should
be located downhill from wells
or springs. Unless properly
filtered, underground con-
tamination may travel in any
direction, but it usually moves
in the same general direction
as the ground water in the
locality.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

No better illustration to the
world Of the plight Of a satel-
lite nation could be drawn
than that which appeared
recently in Life, showing the
head, shoulders and front
legs Of a small dog. which
have been severed from the
rest of the animal and
grated upon q larger dog.
The tiny animal thirsts and
is hungry but can digest only
through the animal to which
it is grated. The small dog
can no longer run about and
wag q friendly tail in greet
ing to its kind and to friend
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
THE POLITICAL MIL


The controversial labor re-
form bills, passed by House
and Senate, have moved into
the hands Of q Joint House
and Senate conference COM
mittee," with q distinct un-
derstanding that II that COM
mittee delays reporting back
q bill II will be in order for
any Senator to move to in
struct the conferees to ac-
cept the House bill or the
House bill with amendments.
With the mailing down Of
this agreement on parliament
tary procedure, the chances
Of labor reform legislation
at the present session have
frightened considerably. A
bill to put an end to cor
ruption and racketeering in
abor-management relations
and in labor unions Is due to
become law. Certainly, the
issue will not be allowed to
die in the conference COM
mittee. It is unthinkable that
this Congress will dout pub
lie opinion and do nothing.
The demand for reform legis-
lation has become too great.
Both the Senate bill, spon-
sored by Senator John F.
Kennedy of Massachusetts,
and Senator Sam j. Erwin.
jr.. of North Carolina. Dem
ocrats, and the House bill
bearing the names of Rep
resentatives Phillip M. Lam
drum of Georgia. Democrat.
and Robert P. Griffin of
Michigan, Republican, carry
provisions Furnishing embez-
element and the corrupt use
of union funds, provide for
secret ballot elections of
union officials at regular in
tervals, and ban criminals
and Communists from hold
ing office as union officials.
Both also guarantee freedom
Of speech and assembly to
union members and the right
to sue unions or their Off
GERS. They provide safeguards
against improper disciplinary
action. The two bills also
would make it mandatory for
unions and employers to re-
port periodically to the Sec
rotary of Labor on their A.
nances, the finances of union
officials and their families.
The Senate bill would au-
thorize the Secretary of
Labor to exempt unions with
fewer than 200 members and
receipts of less than $4,000
a year from making such
reports. The House bill covers
them all. Both bills would
authorize the States to deal
with disputes which the
Labor Relations Board de-
clined to handle.
Where the Bills Differ
The main differences in
the two bills lie in dealing
with secondary boycotts, 'hot
cargoes" in labor contracts
and in so-called coercive or
'blackmailing" pick e ting.
And the secondary boycott
provision of the House bill
promises to be the principal
bone of contention.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
Let's Keep Hands Off

Two Republican SenatorS-JavitS OF
New York and Aiken of Vermont-have
Joined the chorus which is calling upon
the President to "do something" about
the steel strike. But the note which
they have struck, 1t seems to us, is all
most as sour as that which has been
yelling up from the Democratic side
Of the aisle.
The Democratic resolution, au-
thored by Senator Symington and in
dorsed by 80 of his colleagues, calls upon
the President to attempt to mediate the
steel dispute himself, and, If this fails,
to name fact-f1nding board empow-
cred to propose contract terms. Sena-
tors Javits and Aiken do not 60 this far.
They are content to urge that the Presi-
dent make public the facts pertaining
to the dispute which have been gathered
for him by Labor Secretary Mitchell,
and then let nature take its course.
We trust that the President will
not let himself be pressured into doing
either of these things at this time. And
we feel this way for several reasons.
For one thing, except perhaps in most
unusual circumstances, the settlement
of labor disputes is not job for the
President of the United States. He has
other and more important things to do,
and he should not allow political pres
sures to involve him as kind of fixer
in a steel strike today, coal strike
tomorrow, or an automobile strike some
time later on.
II Congress wants to solve the
strike problem by resort to fact-finding
reports, contract recommendations or
even by compulsory arbitration it is
perfectly free to adopt the necessary
laws. But the legislators will not do
this, and they should not be trying to
pass the buck in the steel strike to the
President Nor should he let them do it.
There is, of course, legislative pro-
cedure under which the President can
and should take action If a prolonged
steel strike produces national emer-
gency. This procedure is to invoke
the emergency provisions of the Taft
Hartley Act, which contemplate APP
pointment Of fact-f1nding board ana
oA OV~Ooy 444J0ACOAOA u14OC1 WIIICU IkAC
strikers would have to 60 back to work.
David J. Mcdonald, president of the
Steel Workers Union, says he is opposed
to this, and the President has not in
voked these provisions for the simple
reason that, as yet, there is no national
emergency. We think that the union
and the industry will come to terms
before a state of national emergency
has been reached. If they do not, the
President then will have to fall back
upon the procedures prescribed by the
law. If and when this happens there
will be fact-finding board (the law
requires it as a condition for seeking
an injunction) and we trust that Mr..
Eisenhower will enjoy the unwavering
support Of the IS Senators on both sides
OF the aisle who now, in effect, are
urging him to Jump the gun.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Senate conferees Urged to Droft Strong Labor Law

political attempts to becloud
the salient issues. the Ameri-
can people were aware Of
them, namely. boycotting
hot-cargo practices. second
airy strikes, blackmah picket
ing to coerce unionization
and similar high-h a n d.
ed and strong-arm practices
Of powerful labor groups.
Inasmuch as the threats and
Matchmaking are also becom-
ing increa singly potent
through the ballot box on
election day, it was a hope
full sign Of courageous states
manship that a majority Of
our elected Congressman vot-
ed their honest convictions
in support Of the more effec-
tive bill.
It will now be interesting to
watch what kind of coura-
geous craftsmanship Is exhib-
tied by the Senate confereeS
in molding the final joint bill
into law.
Maryland Democrat.
a 4 a A
: Or bills continue to in
teress House and Senate as
they move to final settlement.
The President stated that the
labor bills are more than an
issue between business inter-
est and labor. Like the ques-
ton of imitation, 1t is a live
issue to all Americans. Crock
ett's cartoon, Its About
Time I Got Into the Act" is,
therefore, most timely.
The overwhelming major
tty OF us, after all, are not
in unions. Yet. the blatant
minority leadership alliance
with racketeering. Of a Malta
calibre, is able to jeopardize
the peace, freedom Of action
and independence of all of
us. The Mcclellan committee
hearings and report show
what a cancerous growth it
has become. penetrating all
of our society and putting in
jeopardy the American way
Of life.
Freedom loving members
Of labor, q majority, as well
as the overwhelming major
ity of unorganized citizens
will watch the results of the
debates in this session of
Congress with the indelible-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

ly human beings, nor can it
bite a vicious oppressor
should its ''host" decide to
run the other way.
Is there a human being who
thinks that this thing, done
in the name of science and
progress, is humane, intelli-
gent or beneficial temporar-
lily or ever to either the ami
NAL kingdom or to mankind?
One Who Does Not So Think.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

Of the citizens Of the whole
Nation to which alone Con-
gress will listen and conform.
David Darrin.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

world full Of too many perturbing peo-
pie. II is said that every man has his
breaking point.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
Answers to Questions
By THE HASKINS SERVICE

A reader can get an answer, by
mail, to any question of fact by
writing The Star Information Bu-
reau. 635 F street NV, Washington
4, D. C. Please enclose return postage
or addressed stamped envelope.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18
Allan d. Bruckner.

Being a member of the ordi-
nary rank and file Of Ameri-
cans who are not associated
with either labor unions or
business management, I can
probably speak in a more
detached and less impas-
stoned manner concerning
the recent congressional &C
ton on labor reform legisla-
ton.
In spite of various frantic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-18

Effective labor contract
negotiations are based on
two sides having equal power.
It Is. therefore. q pleasure
to see the House pass a meas
ure that will help restore this
balance.
While Chairman McClel-
Ian Of the Senate Rackets
Committee strongly backs
this Landrum- Griffin bill as
"a victory for decency and
integrity in the labor move
ment, for the rights Of the
rank and file membership,
and for the public at large.
1t is Of more than passing in
terest and significance that
Committee Member Kennedy
does not.
Kennedy. who tries to as
sociate his name so strongly
with labor investigations and
labor reform, is. Of course,
co@sponsor Of the consider
ably weaker Senate labor bill.
He opposes needed reforms in
secondary boycotts and pick
citing Of non-union plants.
It is interesting that a man
so vitality concerned with la
Dor reform should advocate
such o weak bill. He has
eliminated such needed pro-
visions and consequently has
maintained the political
backing Of the big bosses Of
labor.
Is he attempting to fool
the public into thinking he
strongly backs the needed re-
form; q reform which he
only wishes partially insti-
tuted? Is Senator Kennedy
running so hard for the pres
idency that he must COM
promise principle?
Allan ID. Bruckner.