davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
End?

If words mean anything, 1t Is neces-
sary to assume that East and West have
just about come to the end of the diplo-
matte road in the search for solution
of the Berlin and German problems.
With spectacular discourtesy, Pre-
mier Khruschchev has pulled the rug
from under his distinguished visitor,
Britain's Prime Minister Macmillan.
While Mr.. Macmillan was touring
nuclear research institute outside Mos
COW, Mr. Khrushchev made public
speech in which he rejected the Western
plan for foreign ministers conference
this spring and renewed the Soviet de-
nand that the West must accept the
existence of two German states and sign
peace treaties with each. To cap dis
courtesy with insult, he then proposed
that Russia and Britain sign nom
aggression pact, although he had not
previously mentioned this to Mr.. Mac
milan.
Next, Mr. Khrushchev repeated his
threat to sign separate peace treaty
with East Germany, which would have
the effect of turning over to the East
Germans the functions now exercised
by Russia in the occupied zone, and
restated his warning that any viola
ton" of East German borders would be
treated as an act of war by Russia. In
short, he said that war will result If
the West should use force to maintain
its communication lines with its garri-
sons in West Berlin--lines which run
through or over some ITO miles Of East
German territory
In response, President Eisenhower
mas said that there is only one "logical'
attitude for the United States and the
West to take-that 1--WE are not going.to
give one single inch in the preservation
OF our rights, and in diScharging our
responsibilities in this particular region,
especially Berlin. There can be no nego-
tiation on this particular point of right,
and of retention of responsibility"
Well, words do not always mean
what they seem to mean, and these
claShing statements of position may yet
be reconciled through negotiations But
it is also true that they may not be
reconciled, that Mr.. Khrushchev may
mean exactly what he has been saying.
If so, and If we are not going to give one
inch with respect to our rights and
responsibilities, we could very we'll find
ourselves at war over Berlin within a
few months. The popular belief that
this will not happen If we just stand
firm" is dangerous form of wishful
thinking The administration should be
preparing American public opinion to
accept the possibility that, if we mean
what we say, we may have to fight a
war over this Berlin affair.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
The Mentally III

Your newspaper ran some
excellent articles about the
6eplorable conditions at
Spring Grove State Mental
Hospital.
The mentally i'll who are
forced to stay in these hor-
rible places have no way
of letting the outside world
know of the conditions they
have been condemned to.
These poor people need the
help of modern medical facil-
tiles, just as the physically
i'll do. With help they can
become useful and happy
individuals, able to contribute
to the benefit of mankind
without help they remain
unhappy, dependent, and are
denied the chance to con-
tribute their talents and
knowledge to the benefit Of
society.
In the long run it would
cost the taxpayers much less
to give these patients proper
care, so they may return to
society as useful members
instead of being forced to
live out their lives IN the
harsh. cruel. barren, con-
fines Of the mental hospital.
Judith L. POsey.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
High Cost Suicide

In his news conference discussion of
international economics, President
Eisenhower was talking "free trade"
philosophy in its most uncomplicated
sense when he said that ideally"
country Should buy those things it
doesn't produce so well and sell those
things in which it has great efficiency"
He acknowledged then that this is
generalization that has been violated
by variety of devices-tariffS, cartel
arrangements, quotas and other inter
ventionS in what otherwise might be
free enterprise system of buying and
selling.
1t would be completely unrealiStic,
of course, to suggest that these barriers
to a theoretically ideal kind of free
trading might be removed. We are not,
as the President said, 'in an idealiStic
situation d. :. you have to take the world
as it now is" TradewiSe, the world as
it now is is fercely competitive. The
nations of Western Europe, with much
of their prewar SkillS and vigor restored,
are fighting effectively for world mar
ketS-including the United States mar
ket. The Communist bloc, aware that
totalitarian economy can be modified
with complete discipline, is stepping up
its trade offensive against the free world.
Statistics, perhaps, may not tell
fully rounded story There is Signi1-
canoe, however, ir the figures which
show that our own export trade dropped
from the high level of S19.5 billion in
1857 to approximately SIC billion in 1858
"a decrease of nearly Is per cent. On
the reverse side, spokesman of American
industry have made amply clear their
concern about the threat to their do
nestle markets posed by imported goods
for example, automobiles from Europe,
q wide variety of products from Japan,
oil from the Middle East and so on.
1t was against this background that
the President expressed his news con-
ference opinion that sour costs are just
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
ABA and the Court

The proposals which have been in
dorsed by the American Bar Association
do not constitute an attack on the
Supreme Court as such, or on any JUS
tice. On the contrary, one resolution
condemns omnibus plans to "curb" the
court as unwise, and specifically diSap-
proves recommendation to limit the
courts Jurisdiction.
There is no doubt, in our judgment,
that the ABA action, taken through its
House of Delegates, is critical by impli-
cation of some Supreme Court decisions.
Even in this area, however, there was
no specific criticism Of particular deci-
sions. Instead, the approach taken was
to urge Congress to meet objections
raised by the court. This would be done,
under the ABA proposals, by having
Congress make clear its intent where
Supreme Court rulings have turned on
Interpretation of congressional intent,
by improving congressional investiga-
tive procedures, and by amending in
ternal security laws which have been
held defective by the court.
This will be denounced by those
who are against any congressional
action which, in effect, would reverse"
the court. There is no real basis, how
ever, for this attitude, where the point
at issue turns on judicial Interpretation
of the language of statute or an APP
praisal of congressional intent, as dis
tinguiShed from a constitutional issue.
Congress, of course, cannot alter the
Constitution by legislation. 1t can set
the record straight, however, if its en-
actments have not been clearly worded
or if its intent in adopting particular
law has been miSconstrued. Congress
not only can do this; it should do it, and
Criticisms" such as those emanating
from the ABA will be helpful to this end.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
Sales Day

What would George Wash
ington think if he knew that
his birthday had been turned
into one big bargain day?
Why can't the Washington
merchants agree on a differ
ent day for the winter bar
gain sales and leave the holi-
day for what it was meant to
be-the celebration Of q
patriots birthday?
Helen Gardner Keyhoe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
THE POLITICAL MILL
Passion for Getting Things Done
By GOULD LINCOLN

interests Of the country. He
is not dominated by outside
pressure groups-either or
gained labor, organized
farmers, organized business.
or the NAACP.
He halls from one Of the
eleven States which seeded
from the Union in 1861
States where the race issue
has been a major issue since
the Civil War and Recon-
struction days. He is the first
Senate leader able to get &C
ton on a civil rights bill since
those bitter days. He is the
first Southern Senator who
has ever introduced a civil
rights bill-as he did at the
opening Of the present ses-
sion.
On his shoulders will fall
very largely the Job Of steer
ing an misunderstanding
labor bill through the present
session of the Senate, This
will be one of his major
tasks, and a tough one IN
view Of the violently conflict
ing ideas of labor and man
agement and their supporters
in the Senate.
Has Record Of Action
The Texas Senator not
only has a passion for getting
things done. He has a re-
markable record for getting
things done. He has been
charged with being a COM
promiser-as though that
were a crime. Compromises
are necessary frequently on
important legislation. The
alternative could easily be
nothing. A moderate piece Of
legislation does not please
the extremists-even though
it is plainly all that can be
passed. Senator Johnson, too.
has been criticized for maxi
ing q fetish of party unity,
Of holding the wings Of the
Democratic Party in the
Senate. liberal and conserv-
alive, together. What he has
done, however, has been re-
flected in the last three con-
gressional elections, in which
the Democratic Party has
gained each time in strength
in the Senate and in the
House.
1t is noticeable that Sena-
tor Johnson's critics among
the Democrats of the Senate,
including Senator Proxmire
and two others, Senators
Morse Of Oregon and Clark
Of Pennsylvania, have adj
mitted his ability as a leader.
They would probably say
they wished to strengthen his
leadership but what they
wish is to strengthen it in
the direction they wish it to
60.
Senator Johnson, among
other things, is not willing
to go the lengths in increased
Federal expenditures that
some Of the liberals wish to
go. He is not going to have
the Democrats labeled as the
big spending party If he can
help 1t, as he has demon
strated already. This does not
mean he will not go along
with increased Government
services to the people where
he believes they are war
ranted.
It remains to be seen how
far the liberals can amend
the johnson leadership.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
Correction
]. C. Give.

The Grand Central Rocket
Co. of Redlands, Calf, was
distressed to note that the
February II editions Of The
Star credited Allegheny Bal
listics Laboratory with sup
plying the third stage satellite
rocket carrier for Vanguard
II. Facts as released by the
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration are
that Vanguard II was the
fifth successful performance
of the third-stage solid rocket
motor designed, developed
and proved by the Grand
Central Rocket Co.
r. p. White,
Grand Central Rocket Co.
Editors Note: According
to DR.. John P. Hagen, direc-
tor of the Vanguard project,
development of the rockets
third-stage motor was Grand
Central all the way" Speci-
fications were outlined by the
Government, and the COM
pany built the motor, largely
from its own plans, DR.. Hagen
said. Allegheny Ballistics
Laboratory is another con-
tractor for the third-stage
motor, but its products have
not yet been used in Van
guard shots, according to
the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. The
Star regrets the error.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES (. TRACEWEL[

He may do a good Job. as
far as he is concerned-but
has he done a good one from
the viewpoint Of friends Of
the original writer?
The very title Of Miss Aus
tens unfinished novel is q
part Of her and her work.
With q change Of name.
almost any human being
might serve
1.-THE JONES'" for instance,
or, perhaps, THE Smiths"
Any name you choose,
Just as people sign Christmas
cards sometimes.
"The Alternatives" or 1.-THE
Solomons," etc.
Each name contains q
history. 1t has been said,
and widely believed, that
every person could write at
least one novel. Undoubtedly,
it would be partly autobio-
graphical. Jane Austen did
not consciously use her
family for her books. but.
undoubtedly the situations
her family experienced found
their way into her writings,
and it is because she uses
them without stress that
they bring such satisfaction
to so many readers still.
One of these experiences
was the difficulty of getting
husbands for well bred prop
erly brought up young ladies
around 1900 in England.
Most Of her novels center
around this. And though
more than $50 years has
elapsed, the same trouble
exists today, to a certain
extent, for just any old
husband won't do, he must
be a proper one, too.
Real classics ought to be
left strictly and completely
alone.
Their aloneness is what
makes them classics.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26


@. How can scratches be
removed from plate glass?-
US.
A. The National Bureau Of
Standards says there is no
really satisfactory method of
removing deep scratches from
plate glass except to regrind
and repolish the surface,
which would be more costly
than purchasing new glass.
Sometimes an improvement
in appearance can. be made if
the glass is vigorously rubbed
with polishing material such
as polishing rouge or very
finely powdered pumice. The
scratches may be less notice
able If they are covered with
a clear varnish, or If a clear
wax is rubbed into the scratch.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
Doesn't 'Diq' Shelters

Current events have gotten
me into such a state of con-
fusion that I am commencing
to feel like Alice in Wonder
land. Every day I wonder
about more and more. At
the same time, I feel COM
Portable about less and less.
But the thing that has sent
me right Through the Looking
Glass is the recent statement
that a half billion dollars
should be spent here in
Washington on civil defense
shelters. Of course, the real
reason why I am in such be-
wilderment is because our
authorities cannot seem to
decide whether Washington
will be the object of atomic
attack or not. On one hand
we are told that we certainly
will be. and that. therefore,
we must have monumental,
expensive public and private
survival shelters and evacua-
ton plans. On the other hand
our extensive building activ-
tiles continually give the lie
to this point of view, for we
are constantly constructing
gigantic new buildings. under
both private and public aus
pices, right out in the open,
above ground, where the first
near-miss on the Washing
ton Monument will pulverize
them and their populations Of
private, business or Govern
ment personnel.
If we really do need half
a billion dollars worth of
deep-dug shelters, we should
Immediately stop construct
ing millions Of dollars worth
Of buildings on the surface.
particularly Governm ent
buildings which are financed
at public expense. ! wish
somebody could decide this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
"T STREET.

Dear Sir:
Somebody has been tam
pering with a classic again.
An author has revamped
Jane Austen's The Watsons,
and I am expected to like 1t.
II will not like it, because
I won't buy it. I don't think
people ought to try to re-
write the work of real writ
ers. It is a dangerous under
taking, because it distortS q
human mind.
II recall some ambitious and
disagreeable person cut
one of Dickens sprawling
novels down to size-and it
wasn't Dickens at all.
Il thought at the time that
what a shame it would be
for a young person to read
this bit of rewriting and
solemnly think he had read
Charles Dickens.
1T was no more Dickens
than it was Tolstoy.
THE Watsons' was a work
Jane Austen started but dis
carded. She never finished
it. and now somebody has
done it for her, and I'll bet
the result is no more Austen
than it is, well, Dickens.
do you think people ought
to be allowed to- manhandle
the classics?
Very truly yours, E. T."
X + X
We think our correspond
ent takes this a bit too
seriously.
1t does no harm for any
one to give a different slant
to an old tale.
We agree that if there is
any author whose slant is
completely her own it is Jane
Austen. whose Pride and
Prejudice" was read by Sir
Walter Scott II times, he
said.
That is something of a
record.
Even great admirers of this
quiet writer seldom 90
through this particular novel
more than three times, be-
cause in most cases they like
Emma" better.
Henry James was writer
who rewrote his own novels.
Some readers still think he
helped them little.
A first draft of a MASTER
piece usually has a certain
rough strength that may be
refined completely out of it
by too much rewriting.
Some writer's have an al
most Superstitious disincli-
nation to touch their work
after the first going over.
Some might think Of this
as conceit, but they know
better.
Then how can another
person. especially one COM
ing on a hundred years
later, take an unfinished
story and put it into shape?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
Education Issues

Allow me TO compliment
The Star for printing re-
Gently under the heading.
"Extravagant Schools" two
letters which present with
exceptional clarity the basic
issues of present-day educa-
ton.
What are the facts? Bas-
ically, that money does not
automatically buy education,
which is primarily dependent
on the knowledge and ability
of the teacher. What is
more, the purposelesS SPEND
ing of money, by encouraging
the growth of distracting and
time consuming activities,
tends to impede true educa-
ton. Thus in the past dec
ade, while school costs per
pupil have leaped upward,
educational achievement has
steadily dropped.
A few months ago a group
of Russian educators said that
our schools, while having ex-
cellent physical plants, re-
minded them of slow-motion
pictures.
The widespread use Of
grading systems which dis
guise lack of knowledge is
another indication of lower
educational achievements.
Finally, there is the omi-
nous fact that in the past
year, despite vital national
needs, there was a 10 per cent
drop in the number of stu
dents applying for admission
to United States engineering
schools.
Under such circumstances,
the Falls Church School
Board is to be highly COM
mended because they could
see the basic issues clearly
and had the courage to act
accordingly. BY their support
of these principles and men,
citizens of Falls Church can
show whether they them
selves merely attended college
or are exceptionally well
educated"
&c. Give.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26

The CRITICISM OF Senator
Lyndon B. Johnson Of Texas
by members Of the liberal
group" Of Senate Democrats.
because Of his alleged one
man rule. Is q clear indica-
ton that individual mem
bers Of that group and the
group itself are angry be-
cause they have not been
able to dominate the Senate
in the opening two months
Of the seth Congress.
They resent the fact that
Senator Johnson was able
to defeat their efforts to
amend the Senate rules so
as to close debate by a simple
majority vote. They resent.
too, Senator Johnson's grab
bling the civil rights ball and
running with it. as he did
when he promptly offered a
civil rights bill of his own.
They claim. in effect, that
the Majority Leader Of the
Senate resists the views Of
a majority Of the Senate
Democrats, and substitutes
his own. For the liberals.
Senator Proxmire Of Wis
consin set the anti-Johnson
ball rolling by a speech Mon
day in which he said that
the Democratic caucus Of the
Senate, composed of all DEM
ocrats in the chambers, is
now dead. He argued 1t
should be brought to life and
given an opportunity to de-
eide on party policies and
programs. He went so far as
to write an epitaph for the
defunct caucus as follows:
Here lies the Democratic
Caucus
Conceived by senatorial re-
sponsibility
And born with the Demo.
cratic Party-l800,
Assassinated at the hands Of
senatorial indifference
1853
She labored faithfully and
well to make
Senatorial leadership reSpon-
sible to all the people,"
Senator johnson became
leader in 1858.
Wouldn't Decline Request
If the liberal group Of
Democratic Senators, or even
an individual member, should
request Senator johnson to
call a conference-or caucus
of the Democratic member
ship of the Senate, does any
one believe the Majority
Leader would decline to make
the call? The Majority
Leader does not work that
way. Furthermore, probably
no other Senate leader in
either party was ever more
conversant with the beliefs
and aspirations of the indi-
vidual Senators of his party.
Senator Johnson keeps in
touch at all times. He knows
better than any other what
a majority Of the Democrats
will support, and, indeed,
what a majority of the Sen
ate, including the Republic
cans, viii go for. He knows
because Of personal contacts
with all Senators. And he has
demonstrated this knowledge
on many important occasions
in the half-dozen years Of
his leadership.
Senator johnson has been
criticized as having a passion
for power. What he has is q
passion for getting things
done, in the best way for the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
Spare Those Trees!

1 want 10 make all appear
for the grand old elm trees
along New Hampshire ave-
nue. NV, which are being
annihilated by the city's tree
cutting experts.
Recently one Of the best
trees in the 1900 block was
removed. I tried to find out
why such a fine looking tree
was being cut down. ELM
disease" was the apologize
reply. Yet every leaf was in
perfect condition last sum-
mer. 1t took two men three
days to dig away the dirt
and chop off the solid roots,
and where the three huge
limbs were sawed of, the
wood was sound as any tree
could be.
Later, nearer Dupont
circle, another beautiful elm
was given the same treat
ment. It, too, appeared per-
fectly sound. 1t is most pain
full for residents of this street
to have to witness such de-
struction. Furthermore, no
new elms are being set out
as requirements in the barren
spaces, which means the
needed shade and beauty will
be gone forever.
OF course dead limbs and
dead trees have to be re-
moved for public safety.
Everybody appreciates that.
But why so many sound
trees?
Two years ago I asked a
crew foreman why he was
cutting down a lovely elm
in Dupont circle? Because
the boss told me to-" he re-
piled grufiy. II would cut
down every tree in Washing
ton If the boss ordered me
to-"
To ease our minds, where
can we find an inspectors re-
port showing that a partic-
ular tree is really diseased?
When the late Mrs. Theo-
dore w. Noyes resided on New
Hampshire avenue, at her re-
quest, many iron rods were
used to add years to limbs
which needed support. To-
day it appears easier to cut
the trees down. And nobody
seems to care.
Elm Tree Lover.
Editors note: The District
governments tree division
keeps reports on removed
trees that are available to
the public. The elms dis
cussed above were found to
have Dutch elm disease and
were taken out to prevent it
from spreading. An elm may
appear sound to the inexpert
observer, but to the expert
one suspect branch leads to
the taking of cultures. If the
report is bad, the tree comes
down. Eventually the elms
will be replaced, but appro-
priations do not always per-
NIT immediate planting of
new ones.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-26
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used u
letters carry Driters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
sdtiOn,