davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1960-07-11
G. Showtime

This is not bad time, perhaps, to
voice word of sympathy for Repub-
licans who are worried that their con-
vention show two weeks hence will lack
some of the carnival atmosphere gener-
ated by the Democrats in Los Angeles.
1t is not an unusual dilemma for the
G. o. P, which never seems to have quite
as much fun about its family politicking
as does the opposition, and there is little
element of suspense left in Vice Presi-
dent Nixons march toward the presi-
dental nomination.
In this circumstance, at least an "A"
for effort might be awarded to Charles
H. Percy, the youthful busineSS-execu-
tive chairman of the Republican Plat
form Committee, for his plans to give
audience appeal to the normally hum
Evening star., 1960-07-11

drum procedure of presenting the party
platform to the Nation. Mr.. Percy is ar
ranging CIV Spectacular new type
Of presentation in pictures as well as
words to dramatize the Republican de-
sign for better tomorrow. Furthermore,
a committee memorandum explains, the
production will seek to "break the
stereotype of the Republican Party as a
party of the rich, stodgy businessman,
the pompouS politician, the stuffed
shirt" and to project instead "the image
of the Republicans - young, eager, ac-
tive, graphing with everyone'S everyday
problems"
This may, of course, be quite large
order. Still, Mr.. Percy must be credited
with both imagination and frankneSs in
his approach to selling" political pro-
duct that ordinarily captures more in
difference than interest.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Why Permitted

1t is unlawful to hold any
demonstration in the Capitol
grounds and it is against the
rules of the Senate for visi-
tors in the gallery to express
approval or disapproval.
Why did the Presiding OFF,
Ger permit a union group in
uniform to march on the Cap
itol and pack the Senate GAL
lery, literally defying the
Senators to vote against them
when the question of overrid-
ing the Presidents veto of
their pay raise was under dis
cussion?
Our country is in greater
danger from this boring from
within than from the boorish
Butcher of Budapest from
without.
c. F. Thomas.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Victory for PLANNING

The reversal by the Prince Georges
County Commissioners of their ill
advised decision to apply high-density
zoning to a 236-acre tract in Henson
Valley has demonstrated once again the
effectiveness of an alert and vigorous
citizenry. When the Commissioners an
nounced in May that they favored the
request of a developer to grant zoning
for small lots, apartments and COM
mercial areas, they were besieged by
protests. Their reversal unqueStionably
was influenced by this uprising, and
commendation is due the League of
Women Voters and other civic groups
for the thorough and convincing fashion
in which they marshalled their objec-
tionS.
Most of ALL however, the turnabout
was victory for sound planning in
Prince Georges. 1t is by no means Ger
tain that the present rural residential"
zoning will prevail long in parts of Hen
son Valley. Indeed, in order to provide
for the rapidly growing county popula-
tion, it is likely that higher
zoning will take place. But the point
is that the degree and location to which
these changes should take place cannot
possibly be determined with any wisdom
until after the Maryland National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
completes plan now under way for the
entire Henson Valley watershed This
was the major point raised both by the
planners and the citizens, and to have
denied it would have negated the value
of the entire plan.
The watershed plan" approach al
ready has been used effectively as a
guide for private development in the
Cabin John and Upper Potomac Valleys
of Montgomery County. In addition to
land use, these plans specify building
densitieS, the location of highways and
employment centerS and the placement
of such other public facilities as schools
and recreation areas The 41-square- mile
Henson Valley area only recently has
been brought under the jurisdiction of
the Planning Commission, and the de-
velopment of detailed master plan for
its vast expanse can bring large degree
of order to the growth of that section
of the county.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Lumps for Castro

In the face Of continuing
provocation of the Castro
regime it is pleasing to note
the action Of the President
in acting quickly on the bill
passed by Congress in cutting
the Cuban sugar quota. In
view of the continued seizure
OF American property it is
believed that there are a num-
ber of other actions which
can be taken to bring effec-
tive pressure to bear at this
time.
In addition to stopping all
premium payments for sugar
over and above the world
price (21a cents per pound,
the following steps can be
taken, either separately or at
one time:
l. Stop all imports of Gu
ban sugar, distributing the
market to friends and allies
as the national interest die
tateS.
2. Require tourist visas for
future travel to that country
with the possibility of pro-
hibiting all tourist trips to
Cuba.
3. Freeze all credits of the
Castro regime in this country
no matter how small for part
ial restitution to American
property owners in Cuba.
4. Sever diplomatic rela-
tions with the Castro Govern
ment until such time as more
normal relations exist between
the two countries.
5. Serve notice that any
unilateral action by the Cas-
tro regime in regard to Guam
tanamo Bay will have the
most serious consequences.
AS the Cuban economy is
almost totally dependent upon
Evening star., 1960-07-11
orChomber' Justice

The recent fiaSco of trying
to solve the Jackson murder
case with the brain waves"
of a Dutch telepathiSt brings
up several important points.
For professionals to make
fools of themselves reflects
only on the status of their
profession" However, when
one of their publicity stunts
results in the Imprisonment
of an innocent victim, it is
time to take another look.
The legal atrocity in this
case dWarfS by comparison
the reflection upon the pro-
fession that supplied the
backdrop for the awesome
scene. Indeed, one of the
judges who decided that the
victim should be locked up
was a professional" who had
a personal stake in establish
ing the victims guilt" This
is a star chamber proceeding
in all its pristine fury.
Cloaking such atrocities
under the mantle of a mental
health commission or a SAN
ity board makes them all the
more oppressive. Such a
board has greater power over
its victim than is allowed
most of our courts and jurieS.
1t can impose a sentence
more severe than can be
meted out for many of the
most heinous crimes. In ad-
dition, its sentence carries
with it a stigma more damn
ing and Gripping to the
future life of the victim than
a conviction of the worst
felony.
All of which makes one
wonder what some of our
legislators really have in
mind when they propose to
expand the powers of the So
called mental health lobby.
Some of their proposals could
make this type of legal atroc-
ity commonplace.
7. David Horton.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES (. TRACEWELL

tale that he carries inimicaI
insects is mostly bosh, though
there is a form Of insect he
may have upon him.
Reputable scientists. how
ever, tell us that these are
not bed bugs, and are not
transferable.
The sudden swoops Of the
bat are what frightens peo-
pie.
If the creature, which is
not a bird, of course, but a
flying animal, would forget
those swoops, he would not
be regarded with fear.
Actually, the bat is a nice.
intelligent thing, often stud
led by scientists, who have
always come up with admira-
ton for the creature.
When a bat gets in the
mouse. the best thing to do is
to turn out the lights, and
open the windows wide.
The bat doesn't like YOUR
mouse any better than YOU
like him in it.
He is only anxious to get
out, but lights and people
screaming confuse him, as
no wonder.
All one has to do is to give
him free egress.
The sudden fight of a
flying squirrel from the ton
OF the staircase to the bot
tom is a sure-fire scream to
the inmates Of the house.
Even the staunchest male
INJURED TO hunting, will drop
a lew heart beats at the sud-
den fight.
The same remedy applies
here-turn out the lights.
which only confuse the ro-
dent, and open the front
door wide.
The squirrel will be only
too glad to walk out, not fly.
this time.
Night visitors such as these
Will do no harm, but afford
an extra chance for study of
wild animals. Often the best
thing to DO, if the scratching
continues in the attic, is to
forget it, do not open the
door, and hope by morning 1t
Will be gone, Most often it is.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Rolling AIonq

Barring something in the nature of
a political miracle, the Kennedy-for-
President bandwagon has a virtually
clear track toward an early convention
victory. The passenger list" increased
significantly during the week end as
the young New England Senator's hard
working and efficient organization scored
a major caucus victory in the Illinois
delegation and enrolled a trio of in
fluential favorite-son Governors.
Foremost among the latter, Of
course, was California'S Pat Brown,
whose formal declaration of favor was
calculated to be worth approximately
so votes in the States 81-vote delega-
ton. Affecting fewer votes, but i'm
portant,' were the breakthrough in
North Carolina and the actions taken
by Governors LovelesS of Iowa and
Docking of Kansas in releasing their
delegations from any holding opera
ton" against the New Englander. In
their words, as we'll as in their actions,
the two Midwest Governors indicated
their own opinion of how things are
going. Mr.. Docking described Senator
Kennedy as "a Shoo-in," while Mr.. Love-
less told his delegation that, II don't
propose that you and spend our efforts
to be on the side of loser" About all
that remains is the decision of the
Pennsylvania delegation, and the last
ditch efforts of Governor Meyner of
New Jersey to hold his 41-vote dele
cation out of the first-ballot Kennedy
column.
The Illinois results reflected the
momentum of the Kennedy drive. While
opponents had predicted the MaSsachu-
sets Senator could win no more than
maximum of IS in the 69-vote dele
cation headed by one of the party's
influential professionals, Mayor Daley,
Mr.. Kennedy ended up with 59La SEN
ator Symington of Missouri won, only
6l2 and Senator Johnson of Texas had
none at all. Former Governor Steven
son was given two votes and one re-
manned uncommitted.
Even the final decision of former
President Truman not to attend the
convention and his explanation that
Il cannot lend myself to what is hap
pening" indicated that the party pro-
fessionalS feel there is little or no
chance of stopping Mr.. Kennedy. Mr..
Truman earlier had charged rigging"
operation in favor of the New Eng
lander, and had made clear his own
opposition to Mr.. Kennedy as the nomi-
nee
Behind the scenes, too, there were
stories that the Kennedy forces already
are talking unity" on such issues as
the platform, the avoidance of fights
over accrediting delegates-and the
ultimate selection of a running mate
for the vice presidency.
This tide may change, as political
tides have done before, but If it does
it will be spectacular week indeed in
the history of American politics.
Evening star., 1960-07-11

Something was scrabbling
behind the attic door.
The Clawing sound went on
and on, something was trying
to get out, something that
shouldn't have been there in
the first place.
Strange sounds from attic
places always strike mild
terror into the human being
or beings on the other side
of the door.
Visions of bats, flying
squirrels and worse come to
the mind at once, but no one
is willing to open the door to
see.
In today's comparatively
safe home, the clawing at the
door suddenly sends the
householder back to the be-
knighted periods of history
when there were no police,
and one was always on
his own.
If you had been an old lady
in London, for instance,
about the year 1866, you
might have been caught by a
band of roistering lads and
rolled in a barrel down
Ludgate hill.
Pioneers. Of a later era,
had no one to look to if they
found a rattlesnake curled up
in the bed.
4 y
The harmless brown bat
is regarded as one of the
worst night visitors by most
city and small town Ameri-
cans.
Probably farm people take
a bat in the attic as normal.
something not to worry over.
1t is different in the city.
Urban residents are not
used to such nocturnal visi-
tors.
Even in Suburbia, a flying
squirrel coasting down the
staircase at 3 o'clock in the
morning is guaranteed to give
all the awakened a sudden
case Of screaming.
The common bat strikes
terror into male and female
heart alike, though the male
members Of the family would
never admit it, of course.
Usually it is the Mrs. who
wlelds the broom TO bring the
sWooper down to the floor.
The Old Man is lurking out
in the hall, giving directions
for the kill, but not much
else.
The truth is that the bat
suddenly loose in a house will
not harm any one, except
almost frighten them to
death.
He'is not unclean, and the
Evening star., 1960-07-11
District Plank

In it's national platform four years
ago, the Democratic Convention devoted
only this single terSe sentence to the
Nations Capital: 1--WE favor immediate
home rule and ultimate national repre-
Sentation for the District of Columbia"
Since then, the prospects for attain
ing major portion of this goal have
ripened to such degree that a much
more emphatic and specific District
plank in the 1850 platform is both justi-
fled and essential. We applaud the
Democratic leaders from the District
who are working toward that end in Los
Angeles, and hope the delegates will
recognize the need for "the strongest
plank we've ever had"
District Committeewoman Katie
Louchheim says that home rule is the
"No. priority" item to be stressed. We
think she is mistaken. Home rule tradi-
tionally has been part of the party
platforms, and undoubtedly will be
again. Emphasis, as Mrs. Louchheim
suggests, also should be placed on the
need to grant WaShingtonians represen-
tation in Congress, and on policy
declaration which recognizes that the
Federal government should assume a
greater responsibility for betterment of
the Nations Capital.
But the primary emphasis should
be placed where it is needed the most
on ratification by the States of the pro-
posed 23d Amendment to the Constitu-
ton to permit WaShingtonians to vote
for President and Vice President. A po-
liticaI convention whose primary purpose
is to select candidates for these Offices is
a most fitting forum to deal with this
subject, and a forceful platform state
ment will be of invaluable help as the
legislatures of the States are asked to
confirm this fundamental right of
American citizenship
Evening star., 1960-07-11

its sale of sugar and monies
from foreign tourists, princi-
pally the United States, such
actions would have the most
serious effect on its economy.
However, as that may be it
is high time that the Castro
regime learns that American
interest cannot be pushed
around with impunity.
Edward G. Fenwick, jr.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Well Said

President Eisenhower has given
the right answer to Mr.. KhruShchev'S
threatful attempt to plant the Com
muniSt banner on Cuban territory. Mr.
Eisenhower put it this way:
affirm in the most emphatic terms
that the United States will not be de-
tered from its responsibilities by the
threats Mr.. KhruShchev is making. Nor
will the United States, in conformity
with it's treaty obligations. permit the
establishment of regime dominated by
international communism in the Western
Hemisphere.
1t was necessary for the President
to make this unequivocal statement
for several reasons First, Mr.. Khru-
shchev should not be permitted to de-
lude himself that threats of force will
open the doors of this hemisphere to
him. 1t should be spelled out that force,
If used by him, will be met with force.
Then there can be no miSunderStand-
ingS, no miScalculationS.
It was also necessary to make it
clear to the people and governments
of Latin America, including Cuba, that
we will not permit Communist Russia
to take control of the Cuban govern
ment, or of any other country in this
hemisphere. In the light of what the
Russians have done to the countries of
Eastern Europe and to the Baltic coun-
tries, 1t is very hard to believe that
the people of any Latin American ma
ton would commit themselves to the
tender mercieS of the Kremlin Some
times, however, when Communists have
been able to worm their way into posi-
tions of power in governments, people
wake up to discover that they have
lost their freedom of choice. This ap-
pears to be what is happening in Cuba.
1t could happen elsewhere. So Mr..
Eisenhower was entirely right in not
leaving any room for miSunderstand-
ing with respect to our intentions.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Cream of the Crop

Your editorial, Cream OF
the Crop" in regard to the
breakup of the graduation
ceremonies at New York's
Peter Stuyvesant High School
tells of the high 10. of the
seniors and the college
scholarships they received.
The last paragraph states,
and I quote: If this is the
kind of mature balance and
sense of discipline which
come from the cream of the
crop and their parents-what
may one expect from mere
average students?"
May I add, do you not
know that it is the mere
average students and their
mere average parents who
are the cream of the crop?
Mere Average Parent Of
Mere Average Student.
=
I have just read your edi-
torial, Cream of the Crop"
Although I have just gradu-
ated from a Washington area
high school, I agree with the
sentiments expressed in the
editorial and feel that it is
very unfortunate that such
an incident took place.
However, there is a funda-
mental cause which results in
such incidents. The students
have no way in which to re-
lay their feelings to the
school administration. If
enough parents band together
and make enough noise, they
can usually force action on a
problem despite the fact that
they generally know less
about it than their offspring
who will be affected by it. The
students should have an op-
portunity to express their
feelings also. Surely if the me-
dian 10 at StuyveSant High
is 1870, as the editorial states,
the students are qualified to
make suggestions about the
system.
Take the area of curricular
development as an example.
1t may seem that if students
had their say in this field, the
courses would become easier,
but this is not so. In my high
school years, I have heard far
more student mpl a i n t S
about snap courses than about
difficult ones. Such a coordi-
nation between students and
school administration would
do much to improve our edu-
cational system while remov-
ing the cause for unfortunate
incidents like the one that
occurred at Stuyvesant High.
Jim Jaffe.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Radiation Victims

My efforts to protect atom
ic energy workers and the
community in which they
work are given short shrift
by William Hines in Chapter
81 of your series THE Atom
ic Years" When the Atomic
Energy Commission reported
the accident at the Kellogg
Company plant involving
Jackson E. McVey and Har-
old Northway. he said, In
vestigation was initiated by
the Commission on April "a,
1857, and preliminary infor-
nation indicates that at least
one employe inhaled some
radioactive powdered mate
rial"
If the Atomic Energy Com
mission had merely been pru-
dent in its inspection of this
plant, McVey would never
have inhaled iridium 1872.
McVey is and has been totally
neglected by the Acc even
though they allegedly follow
the recommendations of the
Bureau Of Standards regard
ing maximum permissible
body burden of iridium, which
is three ten-millionths of a
curie for the gastrointestinal
tract. We believe that atomic
science can develop without
making individual accident
victims the martyrs of atom
ic progress. Society through
the Acc owes complete medi-
cal care and protection of
the family to the McVeys and
Northways.
In connection with the
courts decision setting aside
the construction permit for
the fast breeder reactor in
Monroe, Michigan, the ad-
ministrative proceedings as to
the meaning Of the Advisory
Committee on Reactor Safe
guards Report took 1900
pages Of testimony. Any al
legged report from a former
member of the reactor safe
guards group at this point in
the court proceedings should
be identified rather than
mysteriously unnamed If he
believes in what Hines re-
ports him to say.
The more pertinent fact is
the recent safety report on
the Fermi reactor published
by McGraw-Hill's Nucleonics
Week that the designers Of
Fermi's fast breeders me-
chanical support for the fuel
pins have just about "given
up doing it for the first core"
This means the safety prob
lem is unsolved even though
they have been working on it
since 1851. We hope it will
be solved, but it should not
be tested meanwhile in a
populated area.
Leo Goodman,
Secretary, Industrial Union
Department, AFL-CIO.
Evening star., 1960-07-11
Liberal Congress

Fiscal responsibility as
practiced by the seth Con-
gress is a strange and amaz-
ing thing. Important bills
that would benefit the gen.
eral public are allowed to die
in committee; but another
liberal pay boost for Federal
employees four times the in
crease in the cost of living
since their previous pay hike
is must" legislation for an
election conscious Congress
So, regardless of the warn
ing by President Eisenhower;
regardless Of the danger of
imitation; regardless of inter
national conditions that
threaten the free world and
call for belt-tightening and
sacrifice by all, the members
of Congress not only voted a
three-quarter billion dollar
increase out of the taxpayers
pockets, but, when the PreSi-
dent vetoed the measure,
jubilantly passed it over his
veto. 1t was the liberal"
Democrats; the New Deal"
Fair Deal" ADA. Demo-
Gratis and the like-minded
Republicans who were re-
sponsible for this disgraceful
grab. The real Republicans
and the real Democrats -
there are still a few left men
like Byrd of Virginia and
Lausche Of Ohio)-voted
against the grab.
When this same Congress
voted to continue to tax the
public for their telephones,
kilograms and transportation
although they had agreed
in 1859 that these wartime
taxes should definitely end
this year-they gave fiscal
responsibility" as the reason
for their action. Incidentally,
the yield from these nuisance
taxes is just enough to cover
the bonus to the Federal en-
ployes. Apparently fiscal re-
sponSibility went out of the
window when it came to
meeting the demands of the
organized Federal workers,
some of whom had threat
ened to defeat any Congress-
men who had the temerity
to oppose their orders.
Fiscal responsibility is also
strangely absent when the
members of Congress are
looking after themselves:
hiking their own salaries:
voting themselves generous
pensions; increasing their
allowance for clerical assist
ance; building lavish man
sions with lush furnishings
to house themselves and their
expanding staffs; spending
millions for subways and un-
derground trolleys to take
them the few rods from these
Offices to the Capitol when
a little exercise would be good
for their health and their
waist lines; taking their fam
lilies on expensive 'unkets-
and all at the expense of the
long suffering taxpayers.
Truly, when it comes to Con-
greSsional expenditures, con-
sistency is a rare jewel.
E. Mclean johnson.