davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Faster and Faster

Let us take note of the event. One
hundred years ago this week-on April
3, to be exact-the Pony Express began
operating between st. Joseph, Missouri,
and Sacramento, California 1t was the
speed sensation of its day. Before it
came into being, only stagecoacheS were
available to deliver the mail between
those two key cities, and the delivery
took from 20 to 80 days. But then the
spectacular new service made it's bow,
and teen-age riding fools" mounted on
the f1eetest of mustangs, astonished the
world by covering the 2,000-mile route
In as brief time as days and II hours!
=, What kind of breed were these fab
ulouS horsemen? Well, the Associated
Press reminds us that they were re-
,cruited with advertisements like the fol-
lowing: "WANTED-Young skinny, wiry
fellows not over 18 Must be expert riders
willing to risk death daily. Orphans pre-
ferred. Wages SIS a week" One men,
Der OF this select company, who Joined
1t at the age of IA, was none other than
;Bufalo Bill Cody. He learned much of
what he knew about the Wild West while
delivering mail for the Pony Express,
and when the service was supplanted by
the telegraph in 1861, he turned to
scouting and hunting, and presumably it
was then that he began to dream about
there being no business like show busi-
ness
: From st. Joseph to Sacramento in
Fewer than eight days! That was an
amazing feat 100 years ago-but how
time flies, and how man advances Now
we have Jet planes that span the CONT
nent between breakfast and lunch: now
we have young men training to 60 in
orbit around the earth at a speed of
$4,000 miles an hour. Here is progress
moving us forward faster and faster.
One wonders, though, whether Buffalo
Bill and the other riding fools" if they
could comment on it all, would envy or
conmiSerate with us. Speaking for our
selves, we sometimes think that NE
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Armchoirs for Umps?

Young men studying opportunities
for easy work might reasonably take
look at baseball umpiring Where else.
for example, is there career where one
can never lose an argument? And how
about the hours-perhaps Is per week,
and in fair weather only? And now
come gadgetS to make it all even easier.
At Chicago'S Comiskey Park this season,
for example, where the American League
champion White Sox do most of their
work, there will be an automatic plate
duSter so that "hiS nibs" will not have
to bend over in full view of unfriendlv
fans to brush off the home plate. There
also will be ball pepper" that will toss
new balls from the home dugout to the
pitcher, so the umpire will not have to
keep his pockets awkwardly full Per-
hapS one of these days there will be a
gadget that will call EN- right" Then
the umpireS can just sit down and enjoy
the ball games, too.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
To Protect the Public, Too

Those who have felt that some
judges are more concerned with pro-
tecting the rights of criminal defendants
than the rights of the public will be
pleased with the policy agreement on
sentencing just reached by the judges
of the District Court and the United
States Court of Appeals. For the SEN
fencing guide cites community protec-
ton" and "the public welfare" as para
mount considerations in deciding on pen
alties to be meted out in criminal cases.
The agreement was worked out,
after considerable debate, at the first
Institute on Sentencing" ever held by
any of the Federal judicial circuits The
institute was convened under a resolu-
ton adopted recently by the Judicial
Conference of the United States. Par
ticipating in the discussions were all of
the District and appellate judges.
Significantly, in view of tendency
to stress rehabilitation rather than
punishment in the sentencing of crimi-
nails, the first paragraph of the "Sug-
gested criteria" includes punishment"
as we'll as correction" rehabilitation"
and "deterrence" among the purposes of
court Sentence-with protection of the
community given priority over all The
statement said: Two major problems in
sentencing are C) to what extent and
for what time does the community well
fare require protection from this of
fender, or others, with respect to this
offenSe; and (2), in the light of the an
swer to the first problem, what sentence
will permit this offender to take his place
in society as a useful citizen at the ear
liest time consistent with the protection
of the public"
In further outlining the rights of the
general public, the statement called for
maximum" sentences in cases of CON
f1rmed and habitual criminals not rea-
sonably susceptible of rehabilitation as
useful citizens" Such sentences, 1t was
pointed out, serve as IAN effective deter
rent to the commission of similar Of
fenSeS by Others" And it was declared
that there are times, such as when crime
is on the increase, when there is public
need" for sentences that will have a
deterrent effect on others.
VI course, Cne poIlcy statement is
intended only as a guide for the judges,
who still must weigh all factors in a
case, mitigating or otherwise. 1t is re-
assuring, however, to have the judges
adopting set of general principles that
gives proper recognition to the right of
the public to be protected against crimi-
nails, as we'll as the right of defendant
to the trial safeguards provided by the
Constitution and laws.
Evening star., 1960-04-09

Your editorial, For In
ferior' Officers," was COM
mendable. You point out that
those officers of the Army,
Navy and Air Force who re-
tired before the arbitrary
deadline are being discrim-
mated against. You end the
editorial with the statement,
Congress should rectify its
1858 mistake as soon as prac-
ticable."
Surely, you are aware of a
similar situation, involving
discrimination against those
members of the Metropolitan
Police Department. D. C. Fire
Department. United States
Park Police, White House
Police and United States
Secret Service who also re-
tired before an arbitrary
deadline. The reasoning of
President Eisenhower with
respect to the inferior re-
tired list" of officers of the
armed forces is equally ap-
plicable to the inferior re-
tired list" of the peace officers
and fire fighters mentioned
above. Why no favorable
editorial comment in their
behalf?
LLOYD E. Kelly.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Preserve Its Character

In keeping With its history and set
ting, Arlington County has maintained
its attractive character as a community
largely Of homes and small businesses.
Overlooking the Potomac River and the
Federal heart of Washington beyond
and forming backdrop for Arlington
National Cemetery, the county long has
realized its responsibilities in control
ling its development as a suburb Of
the Nations Capital. 1t is appropriate,
therefore, that the proposed new master
plan for Arlington is designed to help
the county maintain its suburban resi-
Dental character"
The planners are aware of the
growing preSSureS of spectators and
other special interests to exploit what
little open land remains in Arlington
and to change the residential coming
of property already improved. Those
who drafted the plan do not believe,
however, that the majority of residents
want to see such changes made. Nor
do the authors of the master plan be-
lieve that Arlington should be trans
formed from community primarily of
single homes into one of tall apart
ments, with all the resultant adverse
effects on traffic, public services and
property values.
If the master plan is approved after
public hearings yet to be held, the pres
sures for unlimited vertical develop
ment' and for undue expansion of COM
mercial zones would be effectively re-
sisted 1t was pointed out that the bars
could not be let down for such con-
Struction without breaking faith with
the homeoWnerS in reSidentially Zoned
areas, encroaching on private golf
courses and seeking relocation of Fed
eral activities now within the county.
However, the planners asserted, there is
still room for more apartment and COM
mercial projects in sections zoned for
such purpoSeS-and no objection is fore
seen to such construction.
Many details Of the proposed plan
no doubt will be debated before and
during the hearings by the Planning
Commission and the County Board. The
overall concept Of Arlington as pre-
dominantly home community, how
ever, is sound one, worthy of strong
support by county officials and citizens.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Call for Volunteers

I was interested in the
article in The Sunday Star
about Mrs. MacNabb's visits
to D. C. Village. 1t is true
that the residents are not a
sad, pessimiStic and dull
group but are friendly. cheer
full and interesting to visit.
With a few friends, I visit
the home one Sunday a
month and we often wonder
if we give them even a frac-
ton of the pleasure and en-
joyment that we derive from
our few hours there.
When you think of the
number of institutions, homes
and hospitals in and around
Washington which need VOL
unteers, you wonder how any
unemployed person could be
idle during the day. What
a wonderful pastime for some
of our retired Government
employees! They would meet
some of the most lovable and
interesting people they have
known and come away feel
ing happier and lighter IN
spirit. If a sensitive person
and the first visit leaves you
a little depressed, return for
a few more visits before you
give up. I promise you will
love them as we have grown
to love them, I hope that
Mrs. MacNabb's experiences
will inspire others to volun-
teer their services.
Mrs. H. o. w.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Error of Omission

When motion pictures or
television plays are based on
novels or other literary
works, too often the authors
names aren't even mentioned
among the credits; this is,
of course, much to be de-
plored, in that it reveals a
casual, almost contemptuous
attitude toward the book. its
author, and creative talent
in general.
1t was disturbing, there
fore, to find an article in The
Sunday Star that seems to
follow Just such a trend. In
discussing the future movie
adaptation of a contemporary
novel, THE Ugly American"
Walter Pincus mentions a
Hollywood producer, an actor
and couple of congressman:
quotes somebody as saying
that this may be Hollywood's
best political film since "All
the Kings Men" The men
who wrote the novel, how
ever. aren't quoted or men,
toned! Mind you, I don't
know the authors. nor have
I read the novel; my protest
is based on general principles
which should be upheld, I
daresay, by all Of us who are
concerned with the welfare
OF minority groups such as
"eggheads" and serious
writers-even when they sue
cumb to Hollywood's tempt
ing offersD
A. s. Pires.
Editors Note: The Star
regrets not giving proper
credit to The Ugly Amer
lean" authors. William J.
Lederer and Eugene Bur-
dick.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Old Southwest

I thank your staff writer,
John w. Stepp, from the bot
tom of my heart for the
beautifully written article on
THE Last Days Of Washing
tons Old Southwest" My
grandfather bought his home
near the Bureau Of Engrav-
ing and Printing almost 4S
years ago to be near his Job.
My father grew up and went
to school in this neighbor-
hood. and l, as a second gen.
Grafton Washingtonian, did
the same. I attended the same
F Fairbrother Elementary
School and went through
those happy years at JEFF
ferson Junior High. South
west Washington was like a
village-the people were Won
derful and friendly, and I
certainly consider Jefferson
and its principal, Hugh S.
Smith, the very best. We stay
ed at our old home in South
west for now it was my gen.
Grafton that was working
nearby at the Department of
Agriculture. All we read in the
papers was about the slums of
Southwest but never about its
good points, its history, it's
worth or its sentimental val
ue. We do realize that this
progress will greatly improve
Washington, but our home
was not a slum and for this
reason it was difficult to move.
We are happily relocated
in a bright home in AleXan-
drla now but it still stirs my
heartstrlngS to see the rubble
of what once was my home,
my neighborhood, my life. 1t
had a particular sentimental
value for me because it con-
stantly reminded me of my
beloved father who passed
away IA years ago, when I
was just ten. To some people
this may just be sentimental
mush but to me it's a won-
derful memory. Thank you
once again for printing some
thing from a different type
writer.
Judith Utterback Painter.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Our Taxes Go Far

You published a minor
masterpiece of journalism in
Ralph McGill's column, "Our
Taxes Buy Civilization; Ac-
ceptance Of Taxes and Elec-
tions Called Two of Americas
Strengths"
Although the Justice
Holmes story on which Nc
Gill pinned his piece was not
new. one Of McGill's subse-
quent statements was strik-
ingly new and illuminating.
American civilization, he
wrote. has seen the capitalist
system flourish "as it never
did in the days Of little taxes.
1t has flourished because of
taxes which have provided
the capitalist system with a
social conscience"
Yes, living in Washington,
I may as we'll admit that I'm
a Government employe and
am therefore generally on
the receiving end of Fed
eral taxes. But around April
Is land on three other days
in the year when quarterly,
estimated tax returns are
due) I become extremely tax
conscious and at times, as I
make out my return, have
difficulty in deciding whether
I work for Uncle Sam or
Uncle Sam works for me!
Or, as a more philosophical
friend of mine reflects, "the
Government giveth. and the
Government taketh away"
Taxes-big taxes-are here
to stay. The essential prob
lem. as McGill pointed out,
is whether the revenue which
they provide is being spent
honestly. This is the ever
pressing responsibility that
I and all other Government
workers bear and must never
forget.
nnnorl MAJ
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Rights Fight

AS young colored Ameri-
cans continue to demonstrate
against the segregation poll
cies of the South, it becomes
more evident that this is a
struggle over States rights.
The right of a State to deny
to its citizens equal rights
because of an individuals
race or color is unquestion-
ably against the Constitu-
ton.
These young people are be-
ing arrested and charged
with interfering with busi-
nesses of private individuals.
1t would seem to me that
their only intent is to spend
more money with large chain
stores. I am sure that the
national chain stores are not
interested in who buys a
frankfurter and roll, but are
anxious to sell as many as
possible. so it would seem
that all charges against these
determined young people are
totally wrongs
The United States should
feel proud that these young
colored Americans are show
ing such courage and de-
termination against every
conceivable handicap. They
are opposed by white South
ern governors, congressman,
State legislators, State judg-
es, State and local police,
fire departments. Will their
Evening star., 1960-04-09
Refresher Course

Many who liken today's
Negro demonstrators to the
early American Sons of Lib
erty seem to be genuinely
muddled in their knowledge
Of history. Others of this
group, however, who know
their history are finding it
convenient, for political, busi-
ness, or for other reasons, to
ignore or to distort the true
facts.
On the continent of North
America the early white set
tiers carved from the wilder
ness the foundation of a great
empire. When they saw the
fruits of their labors being
sapped off by the British
Crown these settlers rebelled
and thereby gained their in
dependence to continue their
progress and their new way
of life.
The native inhabitant of
North America was the In
dian. a proud and spirited
individualist. The Indian re-
sented the white mans intru-
sion and refused to serve the
white mans purpose. AS a
consequence, he was ruth
lessly exterminated by the
white man. Those few that
remained we're herded onto
reservations, where their de-
scendants live to this day.
In South Africa the early
white settlers found a land
that was barren and practi-
cally uninhabited. Through
their industry over several
centuries they developed the
country and made it what it
is today. The Bantu- -Negroid
tribes from north of the Zam-
bezi invaded South Africa
and caused the white settlers
much trouble. 1t is the de-
scendantS of these tribes who
now are crying, Africa for
the Africans" meaning
themselves. 1t is their goal
to push the white man out of
South Africa and take over
his possessions. What hap
pened in Indonesia can hap
pen again in South Africa.
Harvey H. Hewitt.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
GEORGETOWN.
Dear Sir:

DtdI OIL
Somebody comes to the
desk next to me at the Office
and makes personal calls. 1t
worries me no end, I suppose
because such personal mat
ters are of interest to me and
I have to listen.
II expected when I got an
Office job to be able to do my
work, but I find so many in
terruptions of this sort that
I am handicapped.
rs there anything you can
suggest?
Il have tried baWling them
out, but it doesn't work. Why
is it that when l have work
to do, somebody always has
no work to do?
Thank you.
Yours, HELEN ""
y =
There is but one answer,
my dear lady:
Forget it!
This is another of those
situations in which the quiet,
shall we say dedicated, work
er. gets it between the ribs.
We would be willing to bet
that the long talker on the
phone works in an Office
around the corner Of the hall
where she does not dare
make such conversation at
length.
So she comes around and
foists it off on you.
And there is nothing you
can do about it, except grin
and suffer.
The polite laughter. Of
course, is Just to show that
you are big hearted. and
don't care.
The suffering will be all
your own.
OF course. you won't be
able to do any work while old
leather lungs is at it.
So what do YOU do?
Why. in the best Office
circles here is what they do:
They pull out a Russian
dictionary and bone up on a
few words.
In the dim future. per-
haps. We will all have to
know how to say such phrases
as theseH
"Mist9A I am hungry"
Evening star., 1960-04-09
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

Mister, give me something
to eat"
And so on. and so on.
Nice, practical phrases and
expressions, none of this Il
saw Aunt James white cow"
and There goes the red
rooster of Old Man Minsky."
A hitch at one of these
long novels is good, too.
You put a false jacket on
it, something along this line:
MINERAL EQUILIBRIA."
No prying eyes would sus-
pect that this contains a
fine love scene and several
assorted murders.
If any prying eye does
take a look, it is repelled at
once. and jumps Immediately
to the conclusion that you
are a very studious person,
though rather foolish to be
wasting your time, as they
say, on equlllbria, whatever
they are.
49,
Another good desk gag,
when you are interfered with
in this way, is to write the
same sentence time after
time on your typewriter.
You beat it out furiously.
the more noise the better.
because a lot Of noise will
make it difficult for Miss
Magpie to think. Did we say
'think?' 1t should have been
talk" because of course she
doesn't think. She doesn't
have to; the words just roll
out of her. word after word.
There is nothing you can do
about that.
Another thing you can do.
short of numbering Old Mag
pie is to do a little telephon-
ing of your own. Her laugh
ter and cheers will cover up
your own, and under this
camoufage you can call your
own lover boy and nobody
the wiser.
So you see, Miss Helen,
there are many things YOU
can do, all right. but they
will not end your troubles. II
you make the mistake Of
complaining, then you are In
for 1t, sure. So don't COM
plain. Smile!
That pay, sanity lies. Y
Evening star., 1960-04-09

only defense is song, prayer
and faith.
Congress has an exception
al opportunity now to help
the South solve its problems
by passing a meaningful civil
rights bill. This issue should
be settled now so that the
United States can success
fully utilize the potential of
nearly l8 million colored
Americans.
Good Americans, regard
less of race, can accept only
first class citizenship.
Edward J. Mac Clane.
Evening star., 1960-04-09

world would be better of, would feel
considerably less insecure, would be
much happier, If it had never moved out
of the age of the Pony Express.
Evening star., 1960-04-09
THE POLITICAL MILL
Johnson Might Unity Party
By GOULD LINCOLf


While Senator John F.
Kennedy of Massachusetts,
and Senator Hubert Hum
phrey of Minnesota have held
the center of the stage with
their campaigning for pres
idential preference and dele
gates in Wisconsin's hectic
primary, another potential
D e mt ocratic nominee for
President has been saving
wood right here in Washing
ton-Senator Lyndon John
son Of Texas. He has not
been out shaking hands,
kissing babies or button
holing party workers. He has
been engaged in the business
for which he was elected to
the Senate and elected to
majority leadership of that
body. And he has been re-
markably successful. If and
when he becomes a candi-
date for the Democratic
presidential n omi nation.
Senator johnson will be able
to offer a record of accom-
pllshment as party leader.
He will stand out as the man
who was able to get three
civil rights measures through
the Senate-the first such
measures in 81 years-the
Civil Rights Act of 1857, the
civil rights bill of 1860, and
a constitutional amendment
doing away with the poll
tax.
The civil rights bill of
l960-like the Civil Rights Act
OF l957-will not please the
extremists of Senator John
sons own party. Neverthe-
less the measure. designed as
1t is to assure the right of
many Negroes to register and
vote, who in the past have
been denied that right in
many Southern localities-is
a valuable step. Unless all
signs fail, it will be accepted
as amended by the Senate
when 1t reaches the House.
and then will be approved by
President Eisenhower. Fur
ther, the enactment of this
measure conceivably could
remove civil rights as a di-
vlsive issue, so far as the
Democrats are concerned, in
the coming presidential cam
paign. 1t has given the lib
eral wing of the party some
thing to cheer about and at
the same time has not of
Tended too greatly the Dem
ocratS of the South. OF
course, the Democratic Party
can still tear itself wide open
over this issue if it wishes,
and it may do so unless the
calmer heads exercise con-
troll at the coming Democrat
lc National Convention.
Appeals to MOderates
1t is to the great body of
"moderates" that Senator
johnson and his record will
appeal when it comes to the
selection of a presidential
nominee. His work as leader
Of the Senate has been con-
stantly an effort to bring the
Democratic Party together.
He became Democratic lead
er in 1858, after the party
had suffered it first national
defeat in twenty years, when
the Democrats were badly
split and four of the States
of the old Solid South had
cast their votes for a Repub-
lican President-Mr. EiSen-
hover. Mr.. johnson began
Immediately to get the party,
in Congress and out, to act
in harmony. Two years later.
the Democrats took over con-
troll of the Congress. The
party failed, however, to win
the presidency in 1856 be-
cause it was harshly divided.
1t can fail again to elect a
President next fall if the
more radical elements con-
tinue to campaign and to
divide the party as they have
done in the last two national
elections. Indeed, 1t goes al