davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Shades of the Red Rider

1t has been quarter of century
since the Red Rider" came along to
plague the public school system of the
Nations Capital. Now it looks as though
this anti-educational project has been
finally buried.
The RED Rider" most often asso-
ciated with Representative Tom Blanton
OF Texas, provided that no part of any
appropriation for the public schools
could be used to pay the salary "of any
person teaching or advocating COM
munism." The legal effect of this was
analysed and analysed again. The end
result, however, was to ban instruction
on communism in our public schools
The rider was repealed in 1887, but even
so the school authorities, with respect to
communism, and with one eye on Mr.
Blanton, proceeded on the theory that
it's better to be safe than sorry.
Happily, however, the wheel now
has come around. Beginning next Sc
meSter, course in the study of Soviet
Russia, including communist theology,
will be offered to sixth graders. There
will, of course, be no tolerance of any
indoctrination of students. 1t will be a
study course, pure and simple. And we
say it is about time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Home-Stote Victory

Nothing, of course, can atone for
losing the big prize. But Vice President
Nixon must feel strong personal graft
flcation that the final count at least has
turned defeat into victory in his home
State of California. While the chances
are remote that Mr.. Nixon can exc out
national popular-vote majority, Senator
Kennedy's margin has dwindled to we'll
under 100000 and the absentee voters of
California are largely responsible. Their
support also preserves intact the Nixon
record of never having lost at the
California polls.
There is more than a mere Senti-
mental reward, however, in the Golden
State returns. For whatever political
path Mr.. Nixon chooses-and we have
no idea what that will be-his hand will
be strengthened by the California vic
tory. This certainly is true if he should
enter the 1862 gubernatorial race
against Governor Pat Brown. And his
proven ability as a vote-getter in Cali
fornia, with the massive bloc of 40
electoral votes that State will have in
1864, will be no less an asset if he should
choose to retain freer hand as pri-
vate citizen pending the next Republican
convention.
In any case, the events of the last
week or so. have served only to enhance
the Nixon prospects for the future. He
could scarcely avoid the leadership of
the Republican Party even if he wanted
to, and we do not believe he does want
to. There is no need for Mr.. Nixon to
commit himself to specific actions for
some time, however, and it will be inter-
esting to watch the manner in which he
embarkS on his new role.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Shonqri-Iu at Sea

1t is unlikely that the aircraft
carrier, Shangri-La, and her escort of
deStroyerS have been ordered to patrol
duty in the Caribbean in any expecta-
ton that Fidel Castro and his pro-
Communist regime will make serious
attempt to invade Guatemala or Mica
ragua. More probably, the assignment
of the American task force is to
intercept and prevent the dispatch of
Cuban arms and so-called volunteer
detachmentS.
Whatever the case as to this, 1t is
right that the President should have
responded in this fashion to requests for
help from the governments of the two
threatened countries. The Castro re-
gime has denied completely in the recent
"revoltS" in Guatemala and Nicaragua
But 1t has become abundantly clear that
the lie is chosen instrument of Cuban
policy, and the bigger the lie the better
The fact is that Mr.. Castro simply can
not be believed. And the fact also seems
to be that the Soviet bloc has been ship
ping modern arms to Cuba on scale
which far exceeds any legitimate Cuban
defense requirement..
If this is correct, the reasonable in
ference is that these arms really are
intended for transshipment to insur-
gents elements in other Latin American
countries all in the cause of expanding
the pro- Communist revolution which
has destroyed freedom in Cuba and
which menaceS freedom everywhere
south Of the border.
In these circumstances, 1t is both
right and necessary that the United
States should respond as it has to calls
for help from threatened governments
in this hemisphere, governments which
are trying to resist attempts at Com
muniSt Subversion. It would be an act
OF folly on our part, when help is re-
queSted, to stand pat and do nothing. If
something more is needed, we hope that
MIR. Eisenhower will not hesitate to do it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Whimsical Justice

A story in The Star, No
vember II, tells about a De-
troit judge who prestated
that the sentence of an I'M
employed man. charged with
vagrancy, would be deter
mined by the outcome of the
presidential election.
While such a method of
dispensing justice might APP
peal to a judges whimsy I
can't say that it would en-
nance an average citizens
natural respect for the judi
ciary.
Now, if it could be that the
learned judge was merely
looking for an excuse not to
be harsh with an unfortunate
defendant-and would have
found one regardless of the
election-then I think an
average citizens faith in the
judiciary might readily be
restored.
Robert E. TrimbIe
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Let's Play Ball.!

The American League meeting in
New York has been enveloped in such
fog of comic-opera confusion that it
seems reckless to take anything for
granted. On the only two points that
really matter to Washington fans, how
ever, the decisions reached by the eight
haraSSed league leaders last night ap-
pear to be final, deflnite-and COM
pletely gratifying.
The first of these points, of course,
is that Washington will have baseball
club in April, and the second is that its
management has been selected, with
less Juror than we had been led to
expect.
In choosing the 10-man syndicate
headed by General Elwood (Pete) Que
Sada, we believe the league made its
wisest possible choice. The members
OF the group thus far revealed, includ-
ing General Quesada himself, are able,
public-Spirited citizens of Washington
who possess both the financial resources
and the desire to provide an aggressive,
exciting brand of baseball. It is a good
thing that the league had so many
qualified bidders to choose from, and we
are especially pleased that the new Sen
ators will remain under local control
1t is an unenviable job, however,
that faces the new owners in the days
ahead. In addition to the selection of
the key professionals who will run the
club, the all-important choice of % ball
players, from among the active Ameri-
can Leaguers the other teams will make
available, must be completed by mid
night Sunday. The list will be furnished
today, and we, for one, can hardly wait
to see who is up for grabs. The major
speculation at the moment, of course,
involves not the players, but the choice
of general manager, who in the long
run will be the most important member
Of the organization. And with Frank
Lane apparently out of contention, the
choice will be a difficult one.
The differences between the Ameri-
can League club owners and Commits
sioner Ford Prick over the move to
Los Angeles apparently are still to be
smoothed over before operation of 10
team league in 1861 is assured. The
consensus is that this will be accom-
plished, however, and we hope the ex-
pertS who think so are right.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Change the Zoo?

Your November 10 article
entitled Action Sought to
Keep Zoo From Declining"
has been read with interest.
Now might be an opportune
time to re-evaluate the ne
cessity and desirability Of
having a geological park at
all along presently conceived
lines.
Among many other con-
siderations, the facts of per-
fected color-sound photogra-
ply and the great advances
made in the art of taxidermy
should be thoughtfully re-
lated to the proposed re-
evaluation study.
A covered, open-air struc-
ture for displaying stuffed
animals in a natural setting
plus an auditorium for show
ing color-Sound movies of
animals in their natural state
(healthy, clean, etc. and
habitat might far better serve
the purposes claimed for the
conventional geologic a l
park"
Additionally, it is just pos
sible that an intensive and
thoughtful study of the Gagged
Cprotected") animal VS.. the
free animal by the people
might conceivably reveal some
latent desires by the people
themselves for a greater free
dom from protectionism.
Donald o. Webb
Virginia Beach, Va.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Administering Taxes

In response to the Novem-
Der 8 letter by 81. b." a
word of explanation seems
appropriate regarding the
administration of District Of
Columbia taxes. From the
standpoint of efficient tax
administration, the District
has found that when a re-
turn is referred to a tax au-
ditor on any specific ques-
ton it should be audited COM
pletely. This serves a two
fold purpose; it assures both
the District and the taxpayer
that the return is correct in
all respects and it informs
the taxpayer of the method of
determining his correct tax
liability in the future.
When the audit of a Dis
trict income tax return de-
velops a deficiency, a notice
of such deficiency is sent the
taxpayer. This notice sets
forth the position of the tax
auditor with respect to each
item questioned and the tax
payer is given 80 days in
which to protest and show
why the deficiency should not
be paid. His protest is ini-
TALLY to the auditor, then to
the audit supervisor and
higher echelons. If the points
in question are still unre-
solved to the taxpayers salts
faction he may request a
hearing with the Finance Of
ficer. BY the nature of the
organization of the District
Government, the taxpayers
complaint may even be taken
before the Commissioners.
Administrative officials of
the Finance Office, by reason
of their many years of ex-
perience, are fully familiar
with the laws, regulations, in
Structions. Corporation Coun-
sells opinions and court de-
ciSionS affecting D. C. taxes.
Their decisions must neceS-
sarily be based on existing
law and legal interpretations
applicable to the tax in ques-
ton. They are further ad-
viSed by the Corporation
Counsel who serves as coun-
sci on any legal question af-
fecting the rights of the tax
payer addressed to the Com
missioners.
Where a difference Of
opinion still exists, after the
taxpayer has exhausted his
administrative remedies, he
may finally appeal to the Dis
trict Tax Court by paying the
tax and filing an appeal with
in 80 days of the date of as
SeSSment.
These successive levels of
appeal from the administra-
tive determination of a def
cheney exist to assure the
taxpayer of fair and equit-
able treatment within the
framework of both law and
administration.
Schuyler Lowe,
Director Department of
General Administration,
D. c. Government.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18

The letter by "Xanthippe"
against foreign aid was an
amazing and amusing docu-
ment.
Xanthippe asked, g. :.
when they (undeveloped
countries) become like our
selves. will they be any bet
ter OFF,"
I wonder if Xanthippe ever
had a toothache. In Burma,
a nation of 20 million per-
sons, there are 20 qualified
dentists. In rural Malaga, I
saw a common medicine
hawker extract villagers
teeth with his bare fingers.
What have we to offer
them?" Xanthippe asks.
We have Hope. the medi-
cal ship that sailed for South
east Asia in September. We
have Tom Dooley, the for
mer Navy doctor now fight
ing disease and communism
in Laos. Or we have rotting
surplus food to offer Indo-
nesian farmers when they
are reduced to eating field
rats to keep alive.
How did the United
States" Xanthippe asks, be
come the great nation that it
is?" CIn light of the picture
she had just painted of our
pagan drunkenness, triple
murders and TV Westerns,
this is a very funny ques-
tom
A Filipino would say Amer
lea has been a great nation
because of foresight and flex-
Utility, such as that displayed
when we gracefully abandoned
the role of colonialist at the
dawn of the era of nation
aliSm.
Are we afraid of the les
sons Of history, truth, SIM
plicity and common sense?"
she asks.
The lesson of simplicity
tells us that a sick, starving
man is an easy convert to
communism.
The lesson of truth tells
us that communism is an
evil bent upon destroying our
democracy.
The lesson of history tells
us that no nation has ever
successfully stood alone
against a hostile world in
definitely, that these sick,
starving peoples must not
become Communicated.
And the lesson of common
sense tells us that a Kan
thippe is a Xanthippe, wheth-
er in this century or the 5th
BIC. when the first Kan
thippe, Mrs. Socrates, became
the prototype of the nagging
wife.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
FINANCING SCHOOLS

Citations cannot tolerate is:
Where is aid (from any
source) most badly needed?
What school systems have
the most grievously under
paid stats? My two oldest
children share their respec-
tive grades two and kinder
garten with SIS other children
Qest this be unclear, Sc in
each classroom in a church
school. This crowding and
and accompanying low sal
aries of teachers of the S
million-plus Catholic school
children is generally fantas-
tically heavier (worse) than
say that borne by Arlington
public school children.
This is written to refute
Mr.. Neal. not to propose Fed
eral aid for any school system.
I ask your readers to consider
the answers to the following
questions: Where is the need
in education today? And is
our local community at the
end of its school bonding
tether? Further. this would
not be written at all were it
not for the fact that Mr..
Frank Thompson, jr., Repre-
sentative from the 4th District
of New Jersey should soon be
back home on the House floor
playing his numbers game"
The game" as outlined in
H. R. 1923 of the last Con-
gress is, briefly, thus: Appro-
pirate some whopping sum as
Federal aid to education
(bricks and wages,) given to
each State on the basis of
total school age population
5-17 public. private and ap-
parently, truant). In this
manner such a State as New
Jersey with 100000 students
in non-State Catholic schools
alone would receive approx
mately 81 million for not
educating children! Nice foot
work, Mr. Thompson. Con-
versely, the poor State of
Mississippi (Mr. Meals choice
would receive less of the Fed
eral aid to public education,
since almost all education of
children 5-l7 in that State
is public.
If Federal aid to public edu-
cation, in the deterministic
phraseology of Mr.. Neal,
must come" is it too much
to ask that it come Cd Justly
apportioned and co as aid to
taxpayer-families and their
student children, not to school
administrators?
Richard B. O'Keeffe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
WATCHING THE WORLD
Algeria: Most Explosive Problem
BY CROSBY S. NOY.
Foreign Correspondent Of The stor

"And now" muses. an
American official, I'VE seem
to have committed the
greatest crime Of abby Of
ficially supporting De Gaulle."
These attitudes-multiplied
by hundreds of thousands
are carefully nurtured and
cultivated by a small group
of ambitious and determined
men who hope at the proper
moment to overthrow De
Gaulle and establish a right
wing military-backed gov
eminent in France, as well as
in Algeria. They are the stuff
from which revolutions are
bred. And no occasion is
dismissed to put the most
radical and inflammatory
constructions on every move
the general makes to bring
about the end of the Algerian
war.
RumOrs Flying
To Judge by things you can
hear in Algiers Gen. de Gaulle
would install a government
of FIN terrorists before
Christmas. The very obvious
effort of government officials
to play down the more con-
troversial features of Gen. de
Gaulle's proposals are quickly
contradicted by a chorus of
"activist" spokesman. An en-
FILTERED and gullible public is
only too ready to accept each
new statement as the voice of
DOOM or what could be far
more dangerous, a call to &C
ton.
The combination Of forces
playing on the passions and
fears of this community of a
million Europeans rates
Algeria as the most explosive
spot in the Western world to-
day. The soberest observers
here are convinced that it is
only a matter of time before
trouble far worse than any
previous algerian uprising"
breaks out. Having learned
from their experience last
January the leaders Of the
rebellion this time would
make sure the trouble was not
confined to Algiers. Other
cities such as Oran and Con-
stantine would join in. And
almost certainly every effort
would be made to coordinate
the uprising with disturb
ances in metropolitan France
as well.
The impending showdown
sometimes is referred to as a
kind of semi finals of the
Algerian drama. If he wins,
Gen. de Gaulle will have
chance of going on to win the
elusive prize of peace. But if
he loses. he has lost every
thing. And with the French
Army standing by as a ref
cree. the fate of France itself
hangs in the balance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Ever-Risinq Fares

They tell me Mr.. Chalk is
trying to hike the District
transit fare again-this time
from 20 to 21A cents per
token. When I came to Wash
ington in 1920 the streetcar
fare was a nickel-with a
man at each end of the car.
Less than 10 years ago at
Torquay, England, the bus
fare for a ride of nearly two
miles was less than 2 cents
with a double deck bus and
a two-man crew.
I'd hardly argue that bus
fares in Britain, even now,
are a fair fare criterion here
wages here have certainly
skyrocketed. But a 300 per
cent rise in the District
fare from 1920 to 1860 con-
traStS with a general United
States cost-of- living rise from
September, 1920, to Septem-
Der, 1860, Of 48 per cent.
The NRA, during the big
depression, had a Consumers
Advisory Board which oper-
ated on the general theory
that economic enterprises and
the public profit more, by
and large. through low prices
and high production than
vice versa. There was a long
drawn-out battle on this
point between the board and
the administrators of some
of the more restrictive NRA
codes, but the boards phil
osophy won out in the end.
Might not Mr.. Chalk and the
Public Utilities Commission
with profit both to the COM
pany and to the community
cooperate in studying the
possibilities Of lowered fares
for increasing public vehicle
traffic and profits and reduc-
ing the unconscionable traffic
jams in this mans town?
OF course, the ideal solu-
ton to WaShington's traffic
problem would be to follow
the Rambler and walk to and
from work. That wouldn't
need any study.
Constant SOuthwOrth
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
Kenneth S. Langbell
Worlds Only Hope

From Constantine Browns
article of November II we
are to surmise that progress
toward world disarmament
and the entry of Red China
into the United Nations will
spell the doom of democracy
and freedom. Fortunately,
most of the leaders in the
world today realize that uni
versal disarmament is civili-
zation'S only hope for sur
vival.
1t is obvious that any sys-
tenn of control in order to be
really effective must include
all nations. Otherwise any
nation that was not subject
to control could easily start
a global conflict. BY continu-
ing to refuse the admission
of Red China into the U. N.
our support of universal dis
armament is a mockery be-
fore the other nations of the
world.
Our excuse that Red China
does not morally deserve to
belong to the U. N. is not
justified by the facts. There
are other countries belong
ing to the United Nations
possessing records that are
no better than that of Red
China. However, if we are to
attempt to make the U. N. an
organization of saints, our
membership would be very
pathetic. We simply cannot
afford to indulge in power
politics when mankind's sur
vival is at stake!
Most of us are inclined to
blame Russia for lack of real
progress in disarmament.
However, unless we are will
ing to examine some of our
own obsolete policies and
unless we are willing to sup
port sincere, realistic pro-
posals towards the goal of
universal disarmament, I am
afraid that we will never
achieve our goal in time.
Leon Shapiro.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
That's School,?

1 took advantage of the
observance of National Edu-
cation Week to visit nv
child's school. Unfortunately
some of my apprehensions
were confirmed. Among other
things I saw the sixth grade
learning the square dance;
the fourth grade engaged in
working crossword puzzles:
the first grade class depart
mentalized and confused.
Best organized were the Gin
door recesSes!
Small wonder the parochial
schools cannot handle all
the applicants who seek a
definitive education for their
children.
Carl WiCkum.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18

this quality that enabled him to enjoy
living, to lay aside the pretense that was
his profession, and to leave him warmer
in the affections Of his friends than ad-
mired by the masses to whom he SYM
bolized "the king"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used If
letters carry tDrtterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
tiers are subject to condensa-
ton. Those not used Dill be
returned only iDhen accom-
panied BY self addressed.
stamped envelopes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-18

In a recent letter to The
Star, Richard G. Neal, Exec
utive Secretary of the Arling-
ton Education Association,
makes the statement that
1.-The more spent on schools
the better the education"
Would that it were all so
easy! The fact is that in the
past 80 years the average
cost per pupil has gone up
from $50 to $3.50 annually, or
more than 500 per cent.
Judged on the basis of the
average high school gradu-
ate's ability to read, compute.
spell, his knowledge of his
tory, geography, languages, is
present day education that
much better. or anywhere
nearly as good2. The answer
is an emphatic mo"
One reason is that only a
small part of the increase in
education costs has gone for
higher teachers salaries. 1t
has gone for more admins
tration, more testing, more
counseling. more life adjust
ment activities, more spa
cious buildings and grounds.
Experience should show us
by now that all such items
tend to distract from rather
than improve a child's edu-
cation.
Those interested in better
education would perform a
valuable service by seeing
how they can raise educa-
tional standards. First they
must cut out costly and dis
tracing items rather than,
like the professional wastrel,
be ever seeking for new
sources of income.
H. T. Walker.
& x 4 X
7 beg to reply to the letter
Of Richard G. Neal on Fed
eral aid to education"
The phrase Federal aid to
education" is far too broad
and should, in the interests
of honesty, be changed to
Federal aid to public school
(State) education" I do not
believe that either Mr.. Neal
or the National Education
Association propose to rem
der aid to private or paro-
chial schools. And certainly
our PreSident-elect has in
Dictated the exclusive benefits
his (Kennedy's) aid to edu-
cation would have.
In constructing his straw
men and then blithely de-
molishing the same, Mr.. Neal
slips in one case, at least, in
referring to the CT bill. Argu-
ing from the precedent of the
CT bills, the argument for
Federal aid to public school
education only falls apart.
Both the World War II and
the Korean CT bill Qaws)
provided aid to students,
regardless of what approved
school was attended. Hun
dreds of church-supported,
privately-directed colleges and
institutions benefited, but only
indirectly and then as the
result of the freedom of choice
provided by both these laws,
true aid to education.
But Mr.. Meals interesting
and droll analysis of the
economic structure of our
country (richer States VS..
poorer States) should not
detain us long. The question
which public school asso-