davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
The Korean Mobs

1t has been almost seven months
since the student street mobs in Seoul,
with an assist from our State Depart
ment, brought down the government of
Syngman Rhee. In the interval, Mr..
Rhee has removed himself from the
public scene. But the mobs are still very
much in evidence.
The latest report is that mob of
some $500 students ransacked the
homes of two American educators in
Seoul and demonstrated in front of the
American Embassy. The mobsters were
followed by truckloads of police, but the
latter made no effort to interfere.
This revives question posed at the
time of Mr.. Rhee'S downfall last April.
When we acquiesced in, and even con-
tributed to, that mob triumph, did our
State Department have any plan or pro-
gram to replace the Rhee regime with a
stable and effective alternative govern
ment? 1t looks as though 1t did not.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19

Constantine Brown asked
will the United States .
remain the friend of its
friends (the present allies or
will it become the friend of
possible friends such as the
people of Africa and the un-
committed people in Asia"
He seems to imply that it is
better to stick with sure
friends than with doubtful"
friends. Evidently he doesn't
understand politics. which we
may suppose on the foreign
scene is similar to the domes-
tic kind. Fiorello La Guardia,
who knew his politics, used to
say "A politician must placate
his enemies with the favors
he owes to his friends"
Sidney KOretZ.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
Afraid of the Dark

Michael Condetti was afraid of the
dark, and this is why the police began to
anticipate the worst when he didn't
come home last Monday night. Since
he was only 7, Michael couldn't be
expected to understand that there was
no reason to be afraid Just of the dark.
Still less, we suppose, could he be ex-
pected to know about human monsters,
such as the perverted creature who
killed him.
But there are those who do know.
And one of those who knows, or who
should know, is Captain John L. Sui
Ivan, head of the police departments
sex squad. When Michael's body was
found, Captain Sullivan and his detec-
tives began the tedious job of checking
on 1000 known perverts. Special atten-
ton is. being paid to about so of these,
who, Captain Sullivan says, are con-
sidered capable" of committing a crime
such as Michael'S murder This is the
best the police can do, and no criticism
of them is implied. But what they are
doing is not good enough.
Captain Sullivan's statement with
respect to the so men who might have
committed this crime is not based on
wild guess. 1t is based on their records
IN the files Of the sex squad, records
that have been compiled over a long
period Of time. And the essential queS-
ton is simply this: Why were so men,
oFany number of men, capable of doing
such an atrociouS thing at liberty and
ma position to kill this little boy?
ss We are familiar with all of tie tire
somely familiar answers. And we realize
that Michael's killer may not hay been
one OF the 50 or even one of thu 1000.
Neyertheless, the national record is dis
Sressingly clear on this point: Not Just
one boy. but literally hundreds of boys
and girlS-have been enticed away from
Their homes and killed by sex criminals.
IN a shocking number of these cases,
when the killer finally was caught, it
was found that his record was such as
70 indicate that, soon or late, he would
take the life of one of his victims.
i The courts are concerned, and prop
erly SO, with protecting the legal rights
Of sexually unbalanced individuals But
~ ~ necessary or even legally desirable,
tngthose instances in which a pervert's
record flashes warning signal, to wait
Nntil he has killed someone before COM
hitting him to an institution and keep
Ing him there? We think that the true
interests of society, and its children,
cirque to the contrary And if Captain
Sullivan is right, If there are so known
perverts at liberty in this community
who are capable Of the murder of
Michael Condetti, that alone is monu-
mental reproach to our system of justice.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
No Time to Temporize

Failure of New York City authori-
ties to carry out their warning that
stern action would be taken against
striking teachers has brought the in
evitable consequences of temporizing
with def1ance-more defiance and the
threat of resumption of the disgrace
full strike.
Instead of prosecuting the members
OF the United Federation of Teachers
for violating State law forbidding
strikes by public employees and instead
of dismissing the strikers, as school
officials had said they would do, city
officials promised there would be no
punishment if the thousands of fedora
ton members would return to their
claSsroomS. The teachers went back to
work after one-day walkout and the
superintendent of schools hailed the end
of the strike. Now it turns out, however,
that the strike has not been ended;
that, in the federation's view, nothing
more than truce has been agreed to,
and that the union reserves its freedom
OF action" pending satisfactory
settlement of its demands.
We do not presume to say whether
the demands of the teachers group are
justified or not. Even if they may be
justified, the fact remains that New
York's Condon- Wadlin Act outlaws work
stoppages by any State or municipal
workers. Unfortunately, this law never
has been enforced, although such law
plainly is in the public interest. Aside
from the legal angle, however, is the
additional fact that the board of educa-
ton and school officials had served
notice before the strike that dismissal
would be the fate of any teacher who
Joined in walkout. But, accepting the
assurances of union leaders that no
punishment would be meted out to any
of the strikers, thousands of teachers
not only stayed away from their Jobs
last Monday but picketed the schools as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
Bridge Approaches

A short time ago The Star
carried an item to the effect
that the Theodore Roosevelt
Bridge over the Potomac,
now under construction, is
already inadequate. It should,
the report stated, have eight
lanes instead Of the planned
six.
Too little and too late-as
usual in Washington traffic
planning.
This project follows a pat
tern Of short = sightedness
among trafilc specialists who
seem never quite convinced
that the automobile is here to
stay. In and around the city,
splendid new rights-of-way
will be built at huge cost and,
inevitably. there will be fail
ure to eliminate or revamp
some serious bottleneck.
But it is not too late to do
one thing about the new
bridge. That is to revise the
concept of approaches. AS
now planned, the District end
Of the bridge will be a LADY,
rinth in an already congested
area. The idea is. apparently,
to give immediate access to
this bridge from every nearby
street, subway. traffic circle,
and even the Memorial Bridge
itself! Thus on the District
ends Of two bridges a mere
city block apart, a maze of
exit lanes, loop-backs, over
passes. and other tricky de-
vices will turn that riparian
mess into q muddle.
Having driven through this
area to and from the Penta-
gon for over Is years, I know
what confusion and traffic
back-ups to expect from the
present design of approaches.
As an engineer. I suggest:
!. That the "marShalling
yard" for all traffic for both
bridges be laid out on the
Virginia side of the river. The
incoming commuter would
decide which bridge would be
most convenient.
2. No exit from the new
Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
would be built to feed cars
into nearby streets already
served by the M e m orial
Bridge and already seriously
backed up with rush-hour
traffic. Instead, the new
prloge would drop its traffic
gradually, far up and under
26th street and Virginia ave-
nue., on c street under and
beyond 23rd street, and under
(but never into) Constitution
avenue via the newly planned
subway.
In addition to much greater
traffic : handling efficiency.
this plan would eliminate
what promises to be an eye
sore Of ROLLER coaster" traffic
loops under the present plan.
There is still time if some
one will look forward ten
years instead of backward ten
or more to the original con-
ception of this bridge.
F. ID. McHugh
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19

come resident in one of the
big Northern States or for
felt all possibility of nomina-
ton Thus. Harry Byrd of
Virginia. perhaps one of the
best-equipped men in the
United States, has been de-
prived of a well-deserved
chance at the presidency.
Even the popular Eisen-
hover felt it necessary to
change his residence to
Pennsylvania before making
the presidential race.
Let's not tamper with the
electoral college unless we
can improve the quality of
elections. Simply retiring"
this institution, as limited by
Berryman's cartoon of No
vember IA, would be simply
change for changes sake.
Let's be constructive, for
once, not destructive.
Charles w. Carter.
II Il
I am a student in the Uni
versity of Virginia. I was
amazed when I read T. Burke's
letter saying. why all the
fuss about the electoral COL
lege?" Is this attitude of
complacency the one that
founded America?
The electoral college was
created because of the lack
of communications in our
country'S early days. The
ordinary person didn't have
the opportunity to listen to
presidential candidates and
decide for himself. The solu-
ton was to vote for a pledged
elector with whom the indi-
vidual did have contact. The
attitude was. We'll, I don't
know the candidate, but I do
know Mr.. Elector and I think
he should know who is best,
SO I'll back him"
Today this is unnecessary.
The electoral college is out of
date. Things outmoded cramp
progress and should be
pushed aside to make room
for the new.
will Long.
Charlottesville, Va.
1t is time for the Nation
to concentrate its efforts to
insure an early demise of the
electoral college which
plaques it.
We can do without its
ancient ritual and all the
rigmarole that goes along
with it.
The electoral college is a
hangover from the days of
the town crier.
Walter Fielder.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
Montgomery Voting

A recent Star editorial
states that the election of
Mrs. Kicker and Mrs. Maurer
to the Montgomery County
Board of Education assures
a continuation of the general
policies of the present
board" and that neither can
didate scored absolute ma
jorities in their respective
races"
True enough.
However, the editorial con-
tinues: "The votes against
them were split between two
opponents in one instance,
and among three in the
other. Thus there was a
strong expression of rela-
lively conservative sentiment
which should be taken into
account by the new board. "
This arbitrary assignment
OF the votes polled by all the
other candidates to the con-
sentative column does not
take into account the posi-
lions taken during the cam
paign by the independents.
Forinstance, Mr.. Crary never
attacked the policies of the
present board, but offered
his management experience
as a valuable aid in the ad-
ministration of our complex
system. Again, the state
mentS of Mrs. Orleans, en-
phasized extending rather
than curtailing school serv-
ices. Even though a group
OF her supporters endorsed
her program as a middle of
the road" approach, surely 1t
is unfair to consider all the
Orleans vote as rejecting
conservative opinion.
The margin received by
Mrs. Kicker and Mrs. Maurer
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
Hard Road Ahead

1t has been known for some time
that a severe financial crisis was de-
veloping in the Districts big road-build-
ing program. The extent Of the dismal
prospects, however, has Just been clari-
fed in a report ordered by Engineer
Commissioner Clarke, and which he
commercially has made public.
The reports warns, essentially, that
the District, no later than two and a
half years from now, will begin running
short OF enough local funds to meet its
routine needs and also to match high
way aid grants. If the Federal aid allot-
ments are stepped up by Congress next
year, as Is considered likely, the short
age will hit the District sooner. And If
the liberal Federal aid funds cannot
be fully utilized, the inevitable result
will be sharp cutback in the express
ways and other highway Improvements
whichever with rapid tranSit-are
vital to the Washington area.
What are the alternatives? One
possibility is a loan from the Federal
Government. Congress authorized $50
million loan to the city several years
ago for this purpose. which has pre-
vented deficit up to this point. We be-
lieve the Highway Department is right
in advising Col. Clarke against any
early return to this well, however, be-
cause the combined carrying charges in
interest would become so great in a few
years they would defeat their purpose.
What else remains? There is little
help in sight from traditional sources
of highway revenues. Local gasoline
taxes, while they are likely to be raised
in the next few years, will not produce
nearly enough. The answer, therefore,
If there is one, appears to lie in new
sources. One approach which repeatedly
will be studied is to divert parking
meter receipts to road construction. An
other approach worth thinking about,
at least, Is some form of region-wide
Washington area tax for highways. For
1t is an undeniable fact that while the
greatest cost Of highway construction
in this area is within the District, the
greatest beneficiaries are residents of
the suburbs.
There is little Solace, meanwhile, In
the General Accounting ONCE charge
that District officials in past years have
failed to, make the fullest use Of Fed
eral aid funds and, in effect, have squan-
dered local highway money through
their scheduling Of highway projects
If such bookkeeping deficiencies still
exist, they should be corrected imme7
diately. No waste, in view of the present
circumstances, should be tolerated.
1t is not likely that any firm solu-
ton to the fiscal dilemma can be made
before Congress resolves the status of
the Federal aid program in 1861. In
the meantime, however, we hope that
Col. Clarke continues to develop the
various possibilities for future action,
and to make them known to the public.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19

was remarkably substantial.
Any objective analysis of
the campaign and of the
election results reveals that
the electorate registered
strong approval Of Montgom-
cry County's excellent school
system and a desire for con-
tinuing improvement.
Maysel Jackson.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
THE POLITICAL MILL
May Dominate Congress
BY GOULD LINCOLN

ate. And finally, President
Kennedy may find that he
can count on a number Of
liberal Republican Senator's
to aid him with some Of his
proposed legislation.
What will be done about
civil rights when Congress
meets is anyone's guess.
The first effort of the ex.
IRENE liberals is likely to be
an effort to change the Sen
ate rule on closing debate.
Indeed, some Of the liberals
already have given notice
they intend to seek a change,
making it easier TO- shut OF
a Senate filibuster. This same
fight was made at the OPEN
ing Of the present Congress
in January, 1859.
johnson Met SO Effort
The Democratic leader Of
the Senate-the same SEN
ator johnson of Texas who
will be leader when the new
Congress opens and who
later will become president
OF the Senate-took COM
mand Immediately and beat
back the suggestion that the
Senate is not a continuing
body and that rules must be
adopted at the opening of
every new Congress. The
cloture rule was amended at
that time according to Sem
ator JohnSon's prescription.
making it possible to end
debate by a two-thirds vote
OF the Senators present and
voting. instead of two-thirds
OF the entire membership.
At the same time, the SEN
ate wrote in a statement that
the old rules do not have to
be adopted at the opening of
a new Congress.
Since this fight over the
rules was decided in 1859 by
a Senate made up of almost
the same personnel as in the
coming Congress, 1t does not
appear likely the liberals will
prevail. And also since the
present Congress enacted
civil rights legislation. the
likelihood of new measures
along that line in the early
days Of the new Congress is
rather small. 1t is probable
that the new President and
his Attorney General will
seek to move faster under
existing law.
Organized labor is taking q
keen interest in the choice by
Mr.. Kennedy of a Secretary
of Labor. There is also a
member of the Labor Rela-
tons Board who has been
appointed by President Eli
Senhower. but not yet con-
f1rmed by the Senate. Pre-
sumably, Mr.. Kennedy will
appoint a board member of
his own selection. Organized
labor leaders believe that,
since the unions had much to
do with the nomination and
election of Mr.. Kennedy,
they should be considered in
regard to these appointments
and in regard to the legisla-
tive program. They will press
for the passage of a new min
imum wage law and some
amendments to the Taft
Hartley Act, including the re-
peal of that section which
permits the States to enact
right-to-work laws.
Farm legislation promises
to be the toughest nut to
crack since the farmers
and the members of Congress
from farm States seem I'M
able to agree.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
ELECTORAL COLLEGE

In 1887 the Constitution of
the United States was adopt
ed which included the prin-
ciple of the electoral college.
In 1904 the XII Amendment
was added which required
the naming of separate can
didates for President and
Vice President, instead of
naming the "runner-up" as
Vice President, as was re-
quired in the original ruling.
Since 1904 there has been no
constitutional change in the
electoral procedure.
1t is as if the young char
acter in the world of nations
put on a fodder size 2 suit
in 1887, enlarged the neck a
little in 1904, and nova
huge, full grown adults
still trying to make that
toddler suit fit his massive
frame. 1t just isn't adequate
now.
Anyone who listens to the
political experts. or who
thinks realistically for him
self. is aware that the seven
big States" determine an
election. The rest of us are
like the enthusiastic teen
ayers at a political rally.
We can parade and shout as
much as we like, but our vote
in a national election is
about as worthless as theirs.
I know that many learned
jurists, historians and poll
ticianS have written at great
length-pro and con-on this
subject of the electoral COL
lege. Isn't it about time that
the Congress of the United
States gives it honest, DEM
ocratic and realistic consider
alton?
Lucy Gaylord Starnes.
y Il u
The old Mundt-Coudert
bill, introduced in each Con-
gress over a long period of
time, would have given the
winning candidate in each
State the percentage Of elec-
toral votes represented by his
portion Of the popular vote.
The electoral college was
intended to prevent heavily
populated States with large
electoral votes from control
ling the Nation by virtue of
bloc voting. The Mundt-
Coudert idea would place still
greater limitations on such
States as New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio and California.
Of more benefit would be
the greater ease with which
candidates from mailer
States could compete. Under
the present system. men Of
presidential caliber must be-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
Pilot Exams

In an article Airline Pr
lots Are a Healthy Lot"
Charles Yarbrough tells his
experience with a Federal
Aviation Agency type Of
physical examination ap-
piled to pilots requiring a
first class medical certificate
for six months renewal of an
airline transport pilot rating.
Among other things he
states, THE intensive search
for cardiac malfunction oc-
cupies more than two-thirds
of the two and one half hour
test -. BY the time you
are through, if you've got it
or have had it, the FAA will
know it,"
Now, If all FAA physical
examinations of airline pilots
on a Nationwide basis are as
thoroughly conducted as the
one described, I can see no
reason for the great heart
scare that emanated from
FAA some months back that
resulted in the FAA removing
healthy airline pilots from
their jobs. Incidentally, the
court decisions that I've read
about do not seem to 60 into
the basic issues of the matter
but merely seem to affirm the
FAA's right to be arbitrary
If it wants to.
Statistically speaking, there
are heart incidents at any
age that even the most care
full medical examination can
not predict, screen out or
prevent. Fortunately such
cases are very rare and the
overall difference in fire.
quency between those occur
ring to healthy individuals 5
years prior to or S years after
age so Is very little.
In either event the public
is, and should be. protected
by failsafe operations pro-
cedures Of personnel in flight
as well as by medical theory.
Today, as far as I know. all
airliners have dual controls
and two or more qualified pi-
lots as a failsafe concept to
protect the public from in
ability Of the medics to detect
all and know all.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names INDY be used II
letters carry tDriters' correct
names and addresses. All let
tiers are subject to condensd-
ton. Those not used tDin be
returned only iDhen accom-
panied BY self = addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-19

Not until President-elect
John F. Kennedy has deliv-
cred his inaugural address,
his message to Congress on
the state Of the Union and
his budget message will it
be possible to approximate
In any detail the plans and
aims Of the new President
for the first session Of the
new Congress. However, it
Is entirely apparent that Mr..
Kennedy intends to move
right ahead with the liberal
program he supported during
the campaign. His comments
at the conclusion of his days
meeting with the Vice Presi-
dent-elect. Senator Lyndon
johnson. at the johnson
ranch in Texas point this
up. Among the important
problems-on the domestic
side-which will confront the
new President and his ad-
ministration are the farm
problem, what is to be done
about civil rights. the de-
lnands Of organized labor for
favorable legislation, the
need Of preserving a sound
dollar and. if possible under
world conditions and the de-
mands Of American pressure
groups. a balanced budget.
Notwithstanding the fact
that Senator Kennedy has
won the presidential election
by the narrowest margin of
any successful contender for
the White House in many
years, there is no overlook
ing the very large majorities
held by his party in both the
Senate and the House. The
close election and the fact
that the Democratic Party
in Congress has a conserva-
tive as well as a liberal wing
have led to much specula-
ton that Mr.. Kennedy will
be greatly handicapped in a
drive to obtain from Congress
many of the legislative prom
Uses made by him and con-
tanned in the Democratic Ma
tional Platform. This, how
ever, has still to be proved.
The new President will en-
ter the White House with a
big club in his hand-the
power of Federal patronage,
the power to dispense a huge
number of Federal Offices and
jobs. Every Democratic mem
Der of Congress, or nearly
every one of them, will be
looking to share in this pat
ronage. Further. it remains
to be seen whether the Dem
ocrats in Congress are will
ing to throw roadblocks in
the way of their newly-elect-
ed President.
Powerful Aide in Johnson
In addition, the new
President will have as his
right hand man at the Cap
itol Vice President johnson,
one Of the most efficient and
effective leaders in the halls
OF Congress in recent years
and indeed. in many years.
Mr.. johnson viii be in a po-
Sition to advise the President
and aid him materially
when it comes to getting &C
ton in the Senate where he
has been majority leader.
AS a matter Of fact, when the
new Congress assemblies on
January 3, he will still be a
Senator and the majority
leader of the chamber. What
he says and does-backed by
the President-elect - will
have great influence on the
new organization of the Sem