davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1959-11-17
The $50 Million Story

The story OF the proposed $50 mil
lion pay raise for District teachers and
school officials has just begun. Already,
however, the plot seems familiar and
the ending entirely predictable.
School Superintendent Carl F. Han
sen, responsible only for the city'S edu-
cational program, recommends the raises
and calls them "defensible" in terms of
need and feasible" in terms of the COM
munity'S ability and willingness to paw.
commissioner David B. Karrick, who
has much broader responsibilities. re-
torts that the District cannot possibly
afford the increases. He adds that in
these days, with the rising cost of living.
everyone wants more money Mr.. Kar-
rick and his two fellow Commissioners
stated last year, when teachers and
school officials actually got IA per cent
raise, that an additional increase was
out of the question. There is no reason
Whatever to believe they have changed
their minds, and unless Congress over
rules the city heads, DR.. Hansen's pro-
posal seems certain to be rejected.
If we had our way, we would rewrite
this although the ending might
well remain the same. For one thing,
we would have DR.. Hansen eliminate
$l.2 million from his plan-the $1.2
million above and beyond last years
original request, including controversial
length-of-Service raises for teachers
completing fifteen and twenty years in
the system. This $1.2 million, of course,
is in addition to the SAT- million being
sought for pay increases.
At the same time we would have
the Commissioners consider DR.. Han
sens proposal, not as just another re-
quest for pay raise, but rather as a
challenge to determine the Districts
responsibilities in the field of education,
bearing in mind the fact that teachers
are men and women engaged in work
which will unquestionably affect the
future of this country.
The important questions which the
Commissioners should ask themselves
would include: Is the District attracting
with its present salary structure the top
flight people it Should-and muSt-have
to educate children in the Nations
Capital? Are teachers here-or, indeed,
anywhere being adequately rewarded
for their work?
Finding the answers will not be
much help in finding the money to pay
for the salary boosts. But at the very
least the answers could provide basis
for future planning and discussion be-
tween city and school officials in terms
more signif1cant-in the long run-than
dollars and cents.
Evening star., 1959-11-17
Cleanup Time

The Supreme Courts refusal to hear
TeamSterS Union appeal means, in one
mans opinion, that James R. Hoffa is
"a gone goose now"
This analysis, put forward by God
frey P. Schmidt, lawyer for anti-Hoffa
teamsterS and formerly a member of
the court-appointed board of monitors
for the union, may be on the extreme
side. For Jimmie Hoffa is a tough Gus
toner, and his goose is not easily cooked.
Those who doubt this should consult
the AFL-CIO or Senator Mcclellan and
his committee.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Courts
action means, or appears to mean, that
the legal stage is set for a thorough
going house cleaning in this corruption
ridden union. The monitors now may
be able to hand Mr.. Hoffa his preSiden-
tial hat and send him on his way. If
not this, they should at least be able to
break up the political machine through
which he dominates the union, and get
rid Of some of the thugs who do his
bidding.
In theory, this should foreshadow
a better TeamSterS Union. But theory
sometimes collideS with fact, and in this
instance the fact which remains to be
determined is whether the TeamSters,
the rank-and-file TeamSterS, really want
to trade in Mr.. Hoffa and his clique for
something better. If they actually want
to do this, their golden opportunity is
at hand. But If they don't there isn't
much, in the long run, that the monitors
or the Federal courts can do for them.
Evening star., 1959-11-17
Berries vs.. Votes

Cranberrycally speaking,
Secretary Flemming, aided
and abetted by Food & Drug,
seeks to turn back the clock
1900 years, to the days pre-
vious to Nero the Terrible,
whose one good deed was to
change the rule of Roman
law which required the de-
fendant to prove himself in
nocent. Nero decided that it
was the job of the plaintiff
to prove the defendant guilty.
In spite of testimony for the
defendant by the Department
of Agriculture, Mr.. Flemming
has decided that the defend
ant is guilty until proven in
nocent beyond a reasonable
doubt" and the penalty is
now being applied. And great
will be the loss thereof to
the cranberry growers and
sellers.
Politically speaking, cabi-
net members should be astute
politicians, ever mindful of
the welfare of their party.
And now, when bleak Novem-
ber rolls around, in what
Evening star., 1959-11-17
Wind of History

IL is an open secret that many
Of President de Gaulle's followers-Who
are banded together in the political
movement called the Union for the New
Republic-take very dim view of his
program for Algerian self-determina-
ton. They represent the diehard ele-
mentS, and they still are in favor of
trying to suppress the f1ve-year old ma
tionaliSt rebellion with force of arms.
Algeria, in their view, is an integral and
inseparable part of France, and it should
not be allowed to vote itself into any
other status.
This clashes fundamentally with
General de Gaulle's efforts to negotiate
a ceaSe-f1re with the rebel leaders as a
prelude to a completely free election
under which the Algerian people would
have the untrammeled right to make
either of three choices. The choices
would be to "integrate" with France, to
"secede" from it entirely, or to "asso-
ciate" with it as a self-governing nation
within the French Union or Community,
AS the diehardS see it, this offers two
too many alternatives; if they could
have their way, the only permissible
decision would be for Integration."
Nevertheless, although more than a
few members of the Union for the New
Republic are opposed to his liberal pro-
poSalS for an Algerian solution, the
union itself-after three-day meeting
in Bordeaux-haS Just voted unani-
mously to remain loyal to President
de Gaulle as "the guide and arbiter of
the nation" After all, as of now, he is
the unchallenged and unchallengeable
leader OF France, enjoying overwhelm-
ing popular support on a scale unprec-
edented in the modern history of his
country. Accordingly, the reStive or dis
sident elements among his followers can
hardly get anywhere by walking out on
him or otherwise trying to reverse the
course he has set.
Actually, as they themselves must
suspect at times, these elements are
hghting hopelesSly against inevitable
change. The old order will never be the
same again, not for France or any other
country. In that sense, President de
GaulIe mas addressed words of wisdom
to all his countrymen, and not just to
the Algerian "colonS," in declaring as
follows: "You the French of Algeria. Won
who have done so much for generations.
II a page has been turned by the great
wind Of history, we'll, then, it is for YOU
to write another A truce to empty re-
gretS, empty bitternesseS, empty anguish
Take the future as it comes, and take it
united as never before"
This is eloquent counsel of the best
kind, and it helps to explain why the
French President commands as much
respect and support as he does, not
merely in his own country but elsewhere
In the world. Certainly, if the nation
aliSt rebels meet him halfway, the tragic
war in Algeria can be brought to an
early end with agreements capable of
establishing an honorable and enduring
peace enriching to both sides.
Evening star., 1959-11-17
Not Only Cronberries

The case of the contaminated cram
berries has brought to public attention
problem that is as broad as Americas
food-ralSing induStry-and one that is
OF growing concern to health, agricul-
ture and pesticide authorities. The fact is
that cranberrieS are not the only food
stuffS which have been contaminated to
some degree at times by sprays de-
signed to kill insects or weeds. What
alarms many public health officials is
that so little is known about the ef-
fectS on human beings of some of the
newer, more complex chemicals which
are reaching the market for public sale.
The pesticide industry has grown
phenomenally since World War II. For
example, the production of synthetic
pestlcideS in this country has increased
from 124 million pounds in 1947 to
nearly 800 million pounds last year.
New formulas are being devised to
replace DOT and other insecticides, as
resistance to the older bug killers builds
up IN the insect kingdom. Federal agen-
c1es have required the labelling of the
new peSticideS with warnings that they
should be used with care, pending
further study of their characteristics.
Users are warned to avoid leaving any
residue of sprays or duSts on vegetables
or fruits nearly ready for harvesting.
Several weeks ago the Department
of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Ad-
viSory Committee discussed the pesticide
problem at its annual meeting here.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agricul-
ture and the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare have joined in
z y
Evening star., 1959-11-17
WHdIife Defender

1t was with shock and con-
Germ that I read in The Star
of the Commissioners order
lifting the ban on the killing
of wildlife in the District.
A humane, quick method
must be used. the order says.
But what is humane?
Is the average householder
going to install a lethal
chamber or capture and
chloroform these so-called
pests?
Certainly poison is not hu-
name and is dangerous to
man and beast. That leaves
shooting, which is unlawful
in the District, slugging or
knitting.
Is there not enough OF
these by the two-legged wild
life who prowl our city streets
without further encouraging
this kind of violence?
Dorothy e. Watson,
Past President, Washington
Humane Society.
Evening star., 1959-11-17
LETTERS TO THE STAR

them two to one" I can
only conclude that he did not
really note what l said-that
this Metropolitan was "the
most modern show I've seen
In this SERIES" I was COM
pairing this 22d Metropolitan
with those of earlier years,
all of which I have seen and
reviewed since 1945. I was not
comparing this show with the
large number of esthetically
radical group exhibitions not
related to it.
What really annoys me,
however, is his statement
that the league was pleased
that I gave the show feature
billing" and that is some
thing we have never enjoyed
before in her column" etc.
No responsible person should
make such sweeping state
ments without checking. I
have an incomplete file of my
columns at home. I found
only four of my Metropolitan
art show reviews of the last
six years. But three of those
four are the leading articles in
the respective pages: Novem-
Der IA, 1854; November II,
1855, and this latest.
Mr.. Peters also says there
were only nine ATTRACTS out
Of 95 exhibited pictures"
I counted Is abstracts out of
lit exhibited works, paint
ings, SCULPTURE and prints.
Why omit the sculpture? It
was part of the show.
Florence S. Bergman,
Evening star., 1959-11-17

I recommend that author
ity be delegated to the Gen.
eral Accounting Office to in
spect the accounts of all
departments under its juris-
dictipn in order to ascertain
how much of the taxpayers
money is being wasted, there
by contributing to the in
flationary condition which
prevails in all parts Of the
country.
This condition has caused
dire distress to a large num-
Der Of persons who are un-
employed and unable to find
work, in spite of the asSer-
ton of some who are more
fortunate that there is work
for all who desire it. The
writer knows that there is
not. The imitation is severely
felt by elderly people who
are living on annuities
earned during employment
when the dollar was worth
100 cents, and now when the
dollar is worth one-third of
its former value the annuity
is apportioned according to
the present value. People who
are living on old-age pensions
are without sufficient money
to pay for the amount and
kind Of food needed to main
tain health. Not being of
the class who accept charity,
they suffer rather than ask
for medical treatment when
needed.
If waste were eliminated,
and a tax placed on luxurieS,
and If the money derived
from those sources, together
with the vast amount that
goes into memorials to honor
the dead, were used for the
benefit of the living, it would
serve a better purpose. Our
departed loved ones worthy
Of a memorial would prefer it
that way.
Evening star., 1959-11-17

A father and his son want
to know why caterpillars and
cricketS go straight across a
road at right angles, not
sidewise or along the length
of the thoroughfare.
This oh S erv a tion, the
father says, applies to tur-
ties in the spring of the year.
The reason and back
ground for such behavior?
Your comment would be
appreciated for none other
than a plausible answer to
an abstract problem my son
and I have discussed from
time to time"
This seems to be tanta-
mount to saying. And no
nonsense, either"
We can appreciate this
feeling. One way of answer
ing such an inquiry is to
turn it of into a joke.
We assure father and son
we accept the question in all
seriouness. Anything one OBJ
serves with honesty and sin
certify is worthwhile.
*# &*
We believe that the reason
these insects and others would
go straight across the road
personally we have never OBJ
served thiS-iS that they want
to get to the other side.
That is all there is to it.
Being creatures Of what
may be called ordinary sa-
gacity. they know. somehow.
that the quickest way cross
is the shortest way. They do
not have to see.
There is no reasoning in
his at all, as we assess reason.
They have a sort of in
stinct.
This has been built up over
centuries and centuries.
1t is one of the factors that
accounts for the fact that
there are still caterpillars and
crickets and old box turtles
in the world.
-
1t is a wonderful thing for
a child to understand, right
at the beginning of his think
ing life. that the other living
creatures have their own
ways of knowing.
These are not our ways.
In other words, our ways
of knowing are only some of
the ways.
The wild creatures, by trial
and error, with Gods help,
have been able to achieve life
and q certain amount of lib
Evening star., 1959-11-17
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

erty and some happiness, we
may feel sure.
People, as we call ourselves,
need not feel puffed up be-
cause they have gone to
school, and maybe have a
college degree or two. or
three.
These are only indications
that the holders have gone
through certain set courses of
study.
They do not mean that the
degree holder knows very
much. after all.
He might not be able to
get across the road as well as
the humble caterpillar in his
fuzzy suit.
-
We were riding on the right
hand of a friend recently
when a driver in the next
lane deliberately turned his
car into our path.
Just why he did it, we did
not know, nor did he.
Just in time, still without
looking, he turned slightly
and went away.
He did not look back as
drivers ordinarily glare at
each other.
He knew he was in the
wrong.
A caterpillar, going straight
across, could have done
better.
So we see that education,
as we call it, is Just one
thing.
instinct is another.
1t is a word that somehow
sums up a great deal we do
not know.
1t is a handy word to USE
but because it is used is no
excuse for frowning upon it,
or thinking the lowly cricket
in the grass any worse of
because Of it.
The creature wants to get
to the other side. We do not
know why he wants to go
there. Certainly over the
hump Of the road he cannot
see where he is going.
He has something Just as
good, from his standpoint.
1t is instinct. Human peo-
pie have so long played down
their own instincts that they
forget that they can be guide
and helper, if properly used.
Our correspondents may
feel sure that the caterpil-
lars, crickets and tortoises use
them properly.
Evening star., 1959-11-17

a special study of the need for further
pesticide research and for more effective
control over sale and use of the chemi-
Gals. It is evident from the cranberry
development that such study and control
are long overdue.
Evening star., 1959-11-17
THE POLITICAL MILL
Peace or Farm Prices as 80 Issues
By GOULD LINCOLN


Just as the Democrats
have relied upon the solid
South" so the Republicans
have relied upon the Mid
west and even the West to
pull them through national
elections and to feed
strength into Congress. For
the Republicans, this has
meant the great area west of
Pennsylvania, north Of Mason
and Dixon's line, right out
to the Pacific Coast. And
this area has been the great
breadbasket and meat prod
ucts area Of the country
the farm country.
A look at what has hap
pened in this great area, po-
litically, in the last few years
shows clearly that the COP.
has failed miSerably to MAIN
tain its lead in these Western
States. True, President Eli
Senhower carried virtually all
of them in 1852 and 1856.
But the Republicans have
suffered defeat after defeat
in gubernatorial races and in
the senatorial and congress
sional contests
Take a look at how Repub-
licans and Democrats stand
today in the West, Midwest
and Southwest, with the ex-
ception Of Texas which be-
longs to the solid South. In
81 Of these States, there are
is Democratic Governors and
6 Republican Governors. In
the three Pacific Coast States.
the score is two Democratic
Governors and one Republi-
can. These Western States
have 26 Democrats in the
Senate and the Republicans
l6. In the House the score is
76 Democrats and So Repub-
licans.
The three Pacific Coast
States have five Democratic
Senators and one Republi-
can. In the House the coun;
is more equal, with 81 Re
publicans to 20 Democrats.
The political picture in thi
Western area indicates the
terrific job the Republican
Party has on its hands to
hold the presidency and
gain a majority in the House
Of Representatives in the
1860 elections. Mathematical
ly there is no chance for the
Republicans to regain control
Of the Senate. The main job
the Republicans must tackle
is winning back the farm
vote which in most of these
States holds the balance OF
power between the two major
political powers. The great
issues which have influenced
this farm vote in the past
have been farm prices and
farm income and peace.
Issues Decisive in Past
These issues have played
major parts in presidential
elections of the past. For
example, Woodrow Wilson,
Democrat, was able to win
enough of these farm States
to re-elect him in,l916 on the
issue "he kept US out of war"
Warren G. Harding, Repub-
lican, won election in 1920
after the First World War
because the farmers, who had
made a lot Of money during
the war years, were on the
financial toboggan and be-
cause they were sick of war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt swept
this great area in 1892; then
farm prices were so low that
farmers were unable to
scratch a living from the soil.
Harry S. Truman was able
to carry many of these West
ern States in 1948-including
Evening star., 1959-11-17

Pen names may be used "
letters carry iDriters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
Sdtion.
Evening star., 1959-11-17

camp will cranberries be
found?
It's an i'll wind that blows
nobody good, and this fox
pass" should make the Dem
ocratS chortle with glee.
Howard B. Smith.
Evening star., 1959-11-17

MISS tlorence Berryman'S
article covering the Metro
politan Art Exhibition, dated
November 2, was excellent
except for some errors and
omissions which 1 would like
to correct in order to bring
the critique into perspective.
The American Art League,
Inc, always sheds the respon-
sibility of controlling the
Board Of Selections for the
Annual. Metropolitan Art Ex-
hibition. While the bylaws
provide that the president
should chairman the commit
tee each year-which he
does-all other members of
the committee are always
nonmembers of the organiza-
ton. However, this year an
exception had to be made
when an invited member
had to decline at the last
moment and Ralph de Burgos
"a league member) substi-
tuted.
We feel privileged to have
had the services of three
illustrious perSonages in local
art circles and, for the pub
lie record. the entire COM
mittee is herewith listed:
Francis c. Peters, chairman,
Ralph de Burgos, Col. James
T. Wharton, Hugh T. Broadly
and William F. Walter.
The name of the awards
judge was omitted. 1t should
be noted that he is a nation
ally recognized. conservative
water coloriSt and academi-
clan. Henry C. Pitz of Plym-
outh Meeting, Pa, is also
professor of art at the Uni
verSity of Pennsylvania and
carries an imposing listing
of accomplishments in Who's
Who in American Art.
Now, as to the paintings
in the exhibition, Mrs. All
lander of the Washington
Post found them mostly
traditional with few abstracts"
and no mention of Drip or
Drizzle," so, therefore, that
makes us two to one Il am
including myself in public
appraisal Of the show as be-
ing exceptionally well bal
anced in all types and styles
but primarily traditional.
There were only nine alb
stracts out of 95 exhibited
pictures.
We are fiattered and
pleased that Miss Bergman
admired the exhibition we'll
enough to give it feature bill
ing-that is something we
have never enjoyed before in
her column, even during the
earlier years when the ex-
hibitions catered to the care
fully painted traditionals.
Francis C. Peters,
President, American Art
League, Inc.
y -
In his first paragraph, Mr..
Peters mentions plural errors
and omissions. but actually
cites only one of each. It
seems to me unsporting of
him to blame us for the omis-
sion of the jurors, names and
qualifications, to which sub
ject he devotes the greater
part of his letter. I would like
to have had that information
in time to use it. It. was
promised me in a letter from
the leagues secretary, three
weeks before the opening.
Nor were the jurors names
given in the exhibition cata-
logue, or in the advance data
published in The Star October
l8. Finally giving up hope of
getting the information,
telephoned Mr.. Peters "a
hours before my deadline for
the review, but he was out.
He called back much too late
for the deadline. So I had to
omit the jury.
The error" he imputes to
me is in his fifth paragraph,
in which he says that he and
the Posts critic found the
show traditional, m aking