davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-10-15
1t Pays Off

North Cardinals Maria
Beale Fletcher, whose recent
enthronement as Miss Amer
lea will earn her $4,000 in
personal appearance fees plus
a $4,000 college scholarship,
came into her royal inherit.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
University Theoter Groups

The word national" in the cul-
tural center's title has an i'm
portance for Mr.. Stevens as it
does for President Kennedy. Both
conceive of it as an artistic show
case for the entire country-a dig
nified locale where outstanding
theatrical, musical, ballet and
other artistic organizations from
all parts of the United States
can present their works in a ma
tional setting.
For example, Mr.. Stevens points
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

This "eSthetic" objection fell on
deaf ears in Washington, and be-
ginning last winter a campaign
was started to force the FDA
to grant a hearing on the sub
ject.
Several Senators, led by Paul
Douglas of Illinois and Leverett
Saltonstall and Benjamin Smith
of Massachusetts, began holding
occasional fish flour luncheons"
to stir up support for their prod
uct. Mr.. Douglas is a personal
friend Of Ezra Levin, who first
developed the product in the
United States, and Messrs. Salton-
stall and Smith spoke for fishing
interests in their constituencies.
UdoII Support
The fish flour group was sup
ported by Interior Secretary Udall
who objected strongly to the "es-
thetic" argument. In a letter set
ting forth his stand, he said:
ut is our feeling that these
so-called esthetically objection
able components of fish are either
removed or else totally lose their
identity during processing into
fish flour.
"A direct analogy exists in the
preparation of gelatin made from
beef hooves. Here the raw materi-
ais used have the same esthetic
objections to whole fish. No one
would seriously affirm that all
traces of any Objectionable ma
terials are removed, yet the prod
uct is marketed and widely used.
Another interesting point is
that millions of pounds of whole
or headed sardines are consumed
annually in this country. This
sea food, with its viscera and
tails intact, is both delicious and
highly nutritious"
On September IS, the FDA
agreed to a formal consideration
of fish flour. 1t published pro-
posal offered by fish flour sup
porters to establish a definition
and standard of identity"
Decision in q Month
This is a routine administrative
matter At the end of 60 days
Qast Wednesday,, the FDA con-
siders all comment made by the
public and issues a formal order
either approving or rejecting the
proposal. Such a decision is ex-
pected in about month.
After its decision, a hearing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

crew (for which he was deco
rated. It's still a mystery, how
ever, as to Just why the other
two PIT boats with Mr.. Kennedy
failed to stick around and rescue
the survivors from the water. Or
why no boats were sent up on
succeeding days to search for the
men. Perhaps the answer is filed
away in the Navy's large ditty
bag Of foul-ups.
Fresh MoterioI
The author has come up with
fresh material relating to Mr..
Kennedy's subsequent activities as
skipper of different PIT boat in
the same area. Although his back
had been injured at the time of
the collision, Mr.. Kennedy in
sisted on staying on duty with
the boats during very trying times
indeed. On one occasion, he
handled the dangerous task of
rescuing so surrounded Marine
paratroopers with near-perfection.
In the following months and
years the President was to keep
in touch with the men of the
PT-109 who came so close to
spending their final moments on
earth with him. AS related on the
closing page, reception was held
here for the crew at the Touch
down Club on the Eve of the
Presidents Inauguration. This af-
fair was arranged by local PIT
veterans including Congressional
Medal of Honor Winner Murray
Preston, a banker, and Wallace
Agnew, realtor. Heavy snow pre-
vented the President from at
tending and bringing Harry Tru-
man along as a special treat for
his men.
In recalling those days in the
Solomons, my memory goes back
to a hit-tune which was played
almost endlessly and is APP
propriate for this time:
Praise the Lord and pass the
ammunition And We'll all be free"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

as well as a propaganda achieve
ment of major significance.
Despite widespread scientific
support, fish flour has had an al
most incredible time gaining Of
ficial acceptance in the United
States. And until it is approved
by the FDA, no Government
agency can ship it abroad. United
States disapproval also delays its
acceptance in other countries.
The Esthetic Angle
For more than year, FDA
Commissioner George P. Larrick
refused to consider the product
formally. Instead, he advised fish
flour supporters informally that
since fish flour was made from
the whole fish nteStines and all
1T would be "eSthetically objec-
tionable" to American housewives.
The FDA is considered the
consumers friend" in Washing
ton, and Mr.. Larrick honestly felt
that such a product violated
American sensibiIities. Legally,
Mr.. Larrick says that the FDA
must ban any product if it CON
sists in whole or in part of any
filthy, putrid or decomposed sub
stance or is otherwise unfit for
food" Under his Interpretation,
whole fish flour is filthy" and
otherwise unfit for food"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
BY BOB HOCHSTEIN
Contributing Writer

While cynics may scott that
you can't become a millionaire
any more, the latest Internal Rev.
enue Service figures put to rout
the skeptics of the United States
economic system.
In 1859, the most recent year
for which the service has COM
piled the facts and figures on
income tax returns, there were
265 Americans who had incomes
of million or over for the year.
1t was the second largest total
since the boom years of the '20s.
The 265 earned a grand total
of $545 ,633 900 or an average of
approximately 81 million each.
But the select circle of upper
bracket Americans had to pay an
average tax bill of 81 million,
rejecting the deep Federal bite
into high incomes.
Who these millionaires are can
not be determined. Revenue serv-
ice law bars the disclosure of
anything more than statistical
summaries Of tax returns.
Two Live in District
However, where these million
aires live is no secret. There are
two each in the District of Co.
lumbia and Maryland, and one
in Virginia.
New York, which had SO per-
sons with incomes of a million
dollars or more in 1859, almost
one-third of the 265 total, leads
the rest of the States by a wide
margin in big earners.
Texas, despite it's vaunted rep
utation, tied with Illinois for fifth
place in the millionaire derby,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
-AP Photo

not contemplating separate fund
to subsidize these and other
groups so that ticket prices could
be lowered to attract a wider au-
dience. He considers the financing
of these local musical organiza-
lions the responsibility of the cit
liens of Washington. In fact, he
is not worried about the question
of finding audiences here which
has troubled some critics of the
center.
He points out, on the basis Of
his wide experience in producing
plays, that the proposed theater,
for example, can be filled through
out the year because the National
Theater cannot handle all the
shows that want to play it. The
new chairman contends that not
only has Metropolitan Washing
ton great potential audience
for cultural performances but
that the million visitors a year
who come to the Nations Capital
find very little choice for an eve
ning's entertainment except NOV
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
The Case for Fish Flour Is Pushed Hard

Orleans, for instance, wrote that
after considerable discussion. it
was unanimously agreed that for
psychological reasons, such, a
product would not be generally
saleable."
Many State agencies supported
the FDA's objections, calling fish
flour obviously "adulterated" and
"esthetically Objectionable"
Rodney C. Berry, director of the
chemistry and foods division of
the Virginia Department of Ag-
riculture, said:
"a product of this kind, if prop
erly procesSed, would be acceptable
for use in this State as a ferti-
lizer or as a feed for livestock,
poultry or dogs, but under no
condition would it be acceptable
for use as food for humans.
1T is inconceivable that any
food regulatory official in the
United States, except under order
of the court, would sanction or
permit this product or similar
products to be sold as human
food. AS a food regulatory Off
cial, and as consumer, even the
consideration of such action is
repulSive."
The Industry's Activities
Fish flour supporters included
an equally wide range of individ-
ualS. The bulk of numerical sup
port came from the fishing in
dustry where from Alaska to
Maine letters were sent on be-
half of the hard-hit industry.
AS expected, the pro-fish flour
side had considerable scientific
support.
DR.. H. E. Schendel of the Uni
versity of Illinois, a leading fish
flour researcher, said:
LAS one who has recently re-
turned from a four-year period
of research studying the syndrom
of infant protein malnutrition
and the use of fish flour in its
treatment, I am convinced of
both the theological and scientific
value OF this source of protein"
Mrs. Roosevelt gave her full
SUP or, as~did numbers of citi-
zens VINO object to control over
Tie fooa they eat.
You do a fine job of keeping
the worms in my catsup within
established limits" one man
wrote, but I doubt that your
competency extends to esthetic
sensitivity. This is a completely
subjective area in which each of
us must make our own decision"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
MiIIion-DoIIor Incomes

having is in the million-plus in
come category.
Tiny Delaware, benefiting from
the incorporation of many giant
firms within it's limited bound
aries, had 26 persons with at
least 81 million incomes in 1859,
placing it second to New York on
the millionaire rolls.
Pennsylvania, with 10 listed as
earning in excess of a million,
and California, with II, were third
and fourth respectively. Many
States, including the two newest,
Hawaii and Alaska, could boast
no persons with incomes above
81 million, the statistics disclosed.
Since 1914, when the revenue
service first compiled income tax
summaries, the high-water mark
OF persons earning more than
million dollars in year came
in 1929 when there were 513.
Trend in Big Formers
The next year, when the full
impact of the crash came, the
number with top bracket incomes
toppled to $50. In the depression
year Of 1892 the low in high in
comes was reached, 20.
In 1856 there were 268 million
plus incomes the high since 1929.
There were pit and 236 such in
comes in 1857 and 1858, respec-
lively. Overall, there has been a
generally rising trend in big earn
ers since the depression.
Not only has the number of
millionaires been on the rise, but
so has the number of those crowd
ing the magic figure.
In 1859, there were TIT persons
who earned between $4,000 and
81 million almost 200 more than
the previous year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
The War Record
Of 1t. Kennedy
By PAT MT4NROE
ContributinE Writer

Robert ]. Donovan (who was
an infantryman in World War
ID has done an excellent job of
recreating the sounds, the smells,
the slang and the dangers of life
on PIT boats under combat con-
ditions in his new book on PreSi-
dent Kennedy's wartime service.
1t is called "PT-109" and was
published last Tuesday by Nc
Graw-Hill.
Interest in the book for a
broad section of the public will
come from the meticulous han
ding of a period Of several months
in the life of our Chief Executive
when he was in almost constant
peril.
In writing the book, Mr.. Dono-
van had the advantage of per-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
BY GEORGE w. CAKES
Contributing Writer

Roger L. Stevens, the new
chairman Of the National Gull
tural Center's Board of Trustees,
long ago earned the reputation
of not going into a deal unless
he expected to close it. In this
spirit, he has plunged into the
task Of raising $50 million for
the cultural center.
AS a good beginning, President
Kennedy committed his prestige
to the success of the center when
he told its Advisory Committee
Tuesday that 81 would not want
to be as intimately as I am in this
unless was sure it will be sue
ceSsful."
Il expect to spend most of my
time in the next six months get
ting the Embarrassing program on
the road" Mr.. Stevens said after
the boards first meeting under his
leadership. Those who worked
with this lifelong Democrat on
such large-scale money raising eff
forts as financing the two Stew
enson campaigns are convinced
that he will do the job. He is
an ardent admirer of Adlai Stew
enson.
Not only does the tall, unas-
Stunning New York real estate in
weston who bought and sold the
Empire State Building bring to
his new task keen financial acu-
men but also devotion to the
performing arts. AS an ardent
playgoer and one of Broadway's
most successful producers, Mr..
Stevens acquired a deep knowl-
edge of all aspects Of the theater.
He has six productions currently
before the footlights. His most
popular Boradway shows at the
moment are THE Caretaker" and
Mary, Mary"
As a Name Producer
Mr.. Stevens fabulously success
full Broadway career has been
noted for quality productions that
often tend toward the unconven-
tional or serious type. He was in
strumental in forming in 1851 the
Playwrights Company with Robert
E. Sherwood whose hits have in
cluded such popular plays as "Tea
and Sympathy" He also has
backed classical productions like
Saint Joan" and Peer Gynt."
1t was Stevens initiative that was
responsible for the first American
presentation of the Shakespeare
company from Stratford-on-Avon.
He also had a lot to do with
forming the Shakespeare roper
tory in Stratford, Conn. In an eff
fort to raise theatrical standards
in New York, Mr.. Stevens had a
big hand in organizing the
Phoenix Theater off Broadway.
Not long ago his interest in
encouraging drama throughout
the country led him to urge the
Ford Foundation to adopt its ex-
tensive program Of substantial
grants to unknown playwrights,
directors and producers. The
Arena Stage has been the chief
Washington beneficiary of Ford
philanthropy in the theater.
Symphonies and BolIet
But the stage also means opera,
symphonic music and ballet to
him. He is a director of the Met
ropolitan Opera, an enthusiast for
symphonic and chamber music
and has a special appreciation of
ballet which in some ways he likes
best Of all because it combines
the three arts Of theater, music
and the dance.
In deciding to scale down some
of the earlier and grandiose plans
for the center here, Mr.. Stevens
has decided to concentrate on a
$50 million structure with three
auditoriums, one for opera, one
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

sonal interest by Mr.. Kennedy,
with whom he consulted on
numerous occasions. In preparing
his earlier work, Eisenhower, the
Inside Story" Mr.. Donovan had
no personal contact with the for
mer President.
The author also does a good
job of answering the question:
What was Kennedy like in those
days?" We get portrait of an
amiable young man who was ad-
mired by his crew, was on cordial
terms with his fellow officers lin
Guiding non-Ivy Leaguers) and
tried less than most to avoid
dangerous situations.
The focal point of the book,
of course, is the collision be-
tween Mr.. Kennedy's boat and
the Japanese destroyer Amagiri.
In reconstructing the incident,
Mr.. Donovan Travelled to the
scene of the crash and also
talked with survivors of the
Amigiri in Japan.
The Actual Episode
The episode as related in the
book and as treated in a movie
now in preparation is almost GER
tain to stir up some controversy.
As the author says "for a few
unregainable moments" Mr.. Ken
nedy thought the destroyer was
another PIT boat. So did some of
his crew and some Of the crews
of two other PIT boats patrolling
with Mr.. Kennedy.
There were many factors work.
ing against Mr.. Kennedy. It got
awfully dark out there. His boat
had no radar. He was operating
at slow speed on one engine IRE
quired procedure for a variety
of reasons that night. He and
his crew had been subjected to
intensive combat conditions for
only a few weeks. Finally, it all
happened with astonishing speed.
The story is told in detail of
the Presidents bravery and re-
sourcefulnesS in bringing about
the rescue of himself and his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

Mr.. MunrOe was a fellow PIT
boat skipper of President Ken
nedy's in the Solomon Islands.
One incident in the book con-
Germs a fateful coin flip between
the two. Had Kennedy won the
toss, his boat would have gone
to a different theater New
Guinea) and the near-fatal
collision with a Japanese de-
StrOyer would not have &C.
Cured. In the books FOrewOrd
the author credits Mr.. MunrOe,
among others, with valuable
assistance" in the preparation
of the work.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
ROGER STEVENS JOB
Culture and Money: A Necessary Mixture

les which they can see at home.
The question of ticket prices does
not worry the new chairman for
he feels that If the attractions
are good, the public viii attend.
However, he does expect to offer
as low a house rent as possible I,
SO prices can be kept down.
Wos q Ford Worker -,
Price means something to Mr..
Stevens for he was among those
who suffered during the depres-
sion. Although his father had
been a well-to-do real estate man
in Detroit, and Roger attended
Choate School and the University
of Michigan, his father lost his
money in the early '30s. Roger
found whatever jobs he could and
for a time worked on the Ford
assembly line. During this period
and later, he developed a love Of
fine literature. He went into it
with accustomed Stevens vigor,
reading a hundred books a year
such as Shakespeare, Shaw,
ProuSt, Mann and Wolfe.
Although the congressional grant
of land to build the cultural
center is the largest domestic sub
sidy the Federal Government has
made to the performing arts in
many years, Mr.. Stevens does not
look upon this as the entering
wedge for permanent Federal aid
to the arts. In fact, he Is rather
dubious about this concept which
is being pushed on Capitol Hill by
Senators JavitS, Humphrey and
Pell and Representative Frank
Thompson, jr. Mr.. Stevens fears
the dangers involved in this coun-
try of putting the Federal Gov
eminent in the position of sub
sidizing opera, music, ballet, etc.
He doesn't see how Federal funds
could be allocated without inter-
minable arguments and is some
what skeptical of any American
adaptation Of the British Arts
Council which has been operating
for many years. Also, in the pres
ent political temper of Congress,
he doubts whether such a pro-
poSal would ever get through the
House. ~
The Personal Approach
According to former associates
in Embarrassing operations, Mr..
Stevens approach is an intensely
personal one. Through his long
experience in real estate and the
atrical deals, he has a vast num-
Der of contacts all over the couri-
try. I've seen him call a list Of
20 or 80 people" one friend re-
marked. He knows the people
who are interested and how to
approach them. He's amiable,
persuasive, and the money comes
in. He is one of the few non
organizing businessmen I know.
He hates administrative detail.
But he's very good in forming COM
mittees. One great capacity is
his remarkable memory for de-
tails. He never takes notes. He's
an incurable fund-raiser."
Though one of the top real es-
tate men in the country and a
financier of the Southwest Re
development in Washington, Mr..
Stevens has no such ideas for the
area around the cultural center.
He sincerely feels that, as he put
it, 80 much money has been given
to extend our longevity. I think
it's about time that more stress
was put on the hulnanities. We
don't want to live longer If we
are only cabbages."
Why did he take on the fund
raising task?
well, when the President asks
you to do something, you don't
lightly turn it down."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

may be held at the request of
opponents. Fish flour supporters
believe that such a hearing will
prove that the "esthetic" argu-
ment is groundless. They hope, of
course, that the FDA will approve
fish flour without a hearing.
From the mail that has poured
into the FDA, officials could make
almost any decision. About 1000
communications have been re-
ceived, of which about so per cent
were against approval.
Most hostility seemed to come
from the wheat States where a
press and radio campaign has
been waged against fish flour.
Many letter writer's apparently
feared that fish flour would be
substituted for wheat as a source
of bread.
All the major grain Hobbies have
objected to fish flour on vari-
GUS grounds, as have the dairy
Hobbies, afraid that fish flour
would replace powdered milk as
a protein concentrate.
Housewives in Opposition
Much of the attack was led by
the housewives, as Mr.. Larrick
predicted. Many of the women be-
lieved the flour would be impure
or otherwise unfit to eat. Others
just did not like the idea,
The Insurance Women of New
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19

for theater and one for concerts.
Therefore new architectural plans
will have to be prepared. Quality,
not size, will be the standard in
determining the plan for the OPP
era house. for example, which Mr..
Stevens thinks should have fewer
seats that New York's Lincoln
Center. One concept to be dis
pensed with is the proposal for
a grand salon and hall Of the
States for the reception of Off
cial dignitaries.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-19
BY BERNARD GWERTZMAN
Star Staff Writer

Food and Drug Administration
officials begin the arduous task
this week of deciding whether
whole fish flour is "a boon to
mankind" or unfit for human
consumption"
Controversy is not new to the
FDA, but no single new food in
recent years has created such a
storm as this protein concentrate.
From as far away as Hawaii
and Alaska, citizens have been
bombarding the FDA with post
cards, letters, memoranda, clip
pings and obscenities in an effort
to support fish flour or to dis
credit it.
1t has aroused Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt in its behalf and several
State officials in opposition.
The product itself is a rather
harmless looking substance, taste
less, odorless and buff-colored,
containing about 30 per cent pro-
tein. 1t is made from whole fish
intestine, heads, tails and all
which are ground to fine powder
and then purified with chemical
baths.
Tested Abroad
Scientists agree that it is per-
fectly safe to use and contains
less bacteria than most foods
normally eaten.
1t has been tested in under
developed countries such as, Mex
leo and Peru, where it has been
found to be an excellent cure for
protein deficiency diseases. It
costs less than is cents a pound
and keeps under all weather con-
ditionS.
Because of its cheapness and
adaptability, the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organiza-
Cloil mas WlOlenearCeQly mdOrSed
projects using fish flour in the
diet.
Scientists estimate 500 million
people around the world suffer
from protein diseases. They be-
lieve that fish flour mixed in
traditional diets could solve these
problems. Small amounts of fish
flour added to regular flour, ia
males or spaghetti have restored
health to many deformed and i'll
people.
United States Food for-Peace
Director George McGovern is sure
that inclusion of fish flour in
American aid programs would be
a tremendous boon to mankind"