davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-05-21
Careless Letter Writers

Despite the risks, it is not unusual
for politicians to give casual indorSe-
mentS to constituents or acquaintanceS
in search of jobs, contracts or what
have-you And this is why one Thomas
Worcester Of Waltham, Massachusetts,,
seems to have had little trouble in accu-
mulating written testimonials in support
Of his pursuit Of highway contracts in
his home State and in New Jersey. One
such letter, addressed to the New Jer-
Sey highway commissioner, went out
over the signature of John F. Kennedy,
then Senator from Massachusetts,, and
another was signed by Representative
Thompson, New Jersey Democrat.
The first point Of current embarraSs-
ment about the letters, dated more than
two years ago, is the fact that Mr..
Worcester was then under indictment
for Federal income tax evasion and was
subsequently convicted for reporting as
tax-deductible business expenses some
of the kickbackS he paid in return for
contracts in the Bay State. Still, an
administrative assistant to Mr.. Kennedy
has taken responsibility for that letter,
explaining that he did not know about
the indictment and that Mr.. Kennedy
neither knew of nor signed the letter
personally. Mr.. Thompson likewise has
said he did not know Of the indictment,
and that the letter was only routine"
Endorsement.
However, one thing has led to an
other. A House subcommittee investigat-
ing the Federal-State highway program
apparently turned up the letters last
summer, but only the Democratic ma
jority was aware Of the discovery. Coin
cidentally, Chairman Blatnik Of Mime
sofa announced that public hearings on
the committee inquiry, then concen-
trated on Massachusetts,, would be de-
ferred until after the presidential elec-
tion-on grounds that he wanted to keep
political considerations" out of the in
vestigation. His latest explanation Is
that he is awaiting proper documenta-
ton Of wrongdoing in Massachusetts, be-
fore holding further hearings.
Republican subcommittee members,
learning only recently of the letters, are
now on the warpath-accusing their
Democratic colleagues Of suppressing in
formation for the purpose Of protecting
other Democrats and demanding that
the "worst-in-the-Nation" Massachu-
sets scandal be thoroughly aired at
once. Mr. Blatnik is countering with
charge Of blatant Republican hypo-
crisy."
Out of all this, it seems to US that
the Republicans have ample reason to be
indignant and are justified in their in
sistence that 1t is past time to get on
with the inquiry publicly. AS for Mr..
Blatnik, his charge of hypocrisy is apt
to boomerang. And as for all others, the
whole affair is just one more reminder
Of the danger of writing letters Of in
dorsement just to do someone favor.
Evening star., 1961-05-21

tration of most horrible
crimes. is being given the
full protection Of a govern
ment bound to live under law.
If Eichmann can properly be
considered innocent until
proven guilty, how transient
and flimsy seem your reasons
for lessening our own liber-
ties.
There can be no double
standard in this, one for
criminals" and another for
decent citizens" Unless we
support the courts as they
protect Willie Lee Stewart
from execution until all his
legal recourses have been ex-
hausted. we open the way for
lynch law to operate against
our decent citizens" II we
wink at policemen illegally
kidnapping any Of our citizens
from our city streets and
holding them for investiga-
tion." how can we insist on
q warrant showing probable
cause" when the knock comes
at our door in the early
morning hours? Lawlessness
seems to me an insufficient
method for obtaining security
in our community.
Totalitarian states always
have the edge on US when it
comes to security for their
decent, conforming citizens.
Somehow from previous edi-
torial stands of The Star, I
gathered the impression that
we shared a distaste toward
the introduction Of such
methods into our heretofore
free society.
Gordon Graham.
- -
1t is encouraging that the
President has taken action
in the crime situation. But
appropriation of millions for
committees. reports and sta
tistics will be of no avail
as long as criminal lawyers
and judges find loopholes to
let the criminals go free.
A policeman at every cor
ner does not solve the prob
lem. Our efficient police ar
rest a criminal and what is
done? He is released through
some technicality of the law.
There should be nothing
puC Che maximum penalty
for rapists. We were plagued
with kidnapers until the
Lindberg Law was passed.
Now a law should be passed
calling for death for rapists.
Perhaps it will take a case
where the wife or daughter
of some prominent parsonage
is attacked to get some ac-
ton.
If a law was also passed
that every case Of rape must
sbe tried before a court COM
posed entirely Of women
lawyers, Judge and jury
there would be no getaway
for rapists. 1t is not the
men whose bodies are vio-
lated so what do they carep
Citizen
Evening star., 1961-05-21
FROM THE STAR FILES.
100 Years Ago

Bells tolled here a CEN
tury ago for the first Union
officer to lose his life in
the Civil War. He was Col.
Elmer E. Ellsworth, "a,
whose New York Fire Zou.
aves had created quite a SEN
Sation on arriving In the
Capital a couple Of weeks
before their commander met
his end. Under the headline
"The War Begun in Ear
nest" The Star of May "a,
1861, told Of the invasion
Of Alexandria, Va, by Fed
eral forces. Some 5000 men
in blue, led by Gen. Irwin
Mcdowell, were estimated
to have crossed the Potomac
the night before. They oc-
cupied the vantage point Of
Arlington Heights before
moving on to Alexandria.
considered vital to the de-
tense Of Washington. AS
other Union troops con-
verged on the city, Ellis
worth's Zouaves were landed
at Alexandria by steamer.
There was little resistance.
Four or five hundred Con-
federate troops left Alex
andria quickly but orderly,
boarding q train. They in
cluded the Loudoun In
fantry, Warren Rifles, Old
Dominion Rifles and cavalry
from Loudoun and Fairfax
companies. While The Star
did not neglect its coverage
Of this. first aggressive
action by the North, it con-
centrated more on the Ellis
worth tragedy: Proceeding
uptown, Col. Ellsworth saw
a Secession flag waving over
the Marshall House, kept by
James Jackson, a we'll
known secessionist. Instantly
entering the house with four
or five of his men, Col.
Ellsworth proceeded to the
housetop, tore down the
flag and trampled it under
foot. In descending the
stairs, the party were en-
countered by the keeper Of
the house, double-barrel gun
in hand. He raised the gun
to shoot the foremost Zou-
ave, who knocked aside his
aim Jackson Immediately
turned 1t upon Col. Els
worth and, firing, discharged
the load Of one barrel into
the heart of that gallant
officer, who fell dead upon
the stairs. jackson as quickly
snapped the other barrel at
a Zouave standing next to
Col. Ellsworth, when Private
Evening star., 1961-05-21

Wilberforce was a p1gmy edl-
ton Of a man.
For a score Of years his
health was so precarious
that on doctors orders he
took opium to keep body and
soul together. But that
dwarfish, sickly specimen Of
humanity had such moral
control that he never in
creased the dose. A compel
ling cause captured him and
spoke through him. Boswell
went to hear him and, after
being gripped by his tingling
passion, reported: II saw
what seemed a mere shrimp
mount upon the table, but
as I listened he grew and
grew until the shrimp be-
came a whale"
In physical unimpressive-
ness Wilberforce was indeed
like a shrimp. But the cause
which had seized him mag,
nified him into the propor-
tions of a whale. The in
scription on his grave in.
Westminster Abbey calls him
"the attorney general of the
unprotected" What a SUI
perb delineation of his role in
the emancipating crusade
which claimed his all!
Often can it be said that
the greatest treasure is in
earthen vessels. 1t is not nee
essary that we, ourselves, be
great in order to give the
hospitality of our minds to
a great idea. The immortal
Gospels were penned by such
ordinary men as tax gather
ers and fishermen, but they
became uncommon common
men because the most potent
ideas Of the ages used them.
Not glorious in ourselves we
may shine with the glory Of
the lighted mind. We may
become candles for the fire
Of God. For so it Is: Not what
we are but what may surge
through us will determine
what we can do for our
generation.
The most gloriously thrill
ing thing about you and me
is what we can be linked up
with, wired up to, used by,
in the eternal struggle be-
tween light and darkness.
One OF Americas most USE
full citizens, looking back on
his life's work, said: II am
grateful for the ideas that
have used me-" He made it
clear that that. for him, had
brought "life's greatest
thrill" With his eyes upon
that paean Of gratitude, DR..
Harry Emerson Fosdick, who
during the long years Of his
ministry was the channel of
life and light for multitudes
across America and around
the world, now in retirement,
speaks Of the biggest thrill,
as he declares:
when a man must see his
life in retrospect as the shad-
ows gather in the western
sky, 1t is a triumph indeed,
looking back, to be able to
say, I am grateful for the
ideas that have used me-"
Evening star., 1961-05-21
Pans ADA

Gould Lincoln pointed out
that a leading Soviet editor
visiting here and Americans
for Democratic Action are in
coincidental concurrence that
the more radical provisions
in the 1860 Democratic plat
form should become law.
Without asking why O So
Wet editor should show such
interest In this particular
platform, other Americans
who want democratic action
could examine some other
coincidental similarities be-
tween Soviet and ADA policy:
This is the organization
which has worked so hard
without result to put the
House Un-American Activi-
ties Committee out Of busi-
ness. ADA advocates negoti-
ations leading to recognition
Of Red China against the
better judgment Of policy
makers Of both parties. ADA
applauded Kennedy when he
announced that we should
not defend emoy and
Matsu. This organization also
is critical Of a strong Amer
ican stand on Berlin.
The fact remains that
Kennedy is q minority Presi-
dent elected by liberals but
holds office in q basically
conservative land. The plat
form will not be implemented
because 1t cannot. AS far as
the Soviets and the ADA are
concerned, the mere fact that
their similar policies are pure
coincidence does not negate
the fact that bad policies
exercised by well-intentioned
people can be more damag-
ing than the same policies
exercised by Communists.
Owen Allen Keen.
Evening star., 1961-05-21
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
Lhe's Biggest Thrill
By DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

The greatest thrill which
life can know is not in any,
thing which can happen to
a person but in what can
happen through a person.
The recent gathering to-
gether in the Nations Cap
ital of broadcast pioneers re-
minds US of a striking in
cident when transcontinental
radio was in its infancy.
Three decades ago, on a
morning in January, King
George Of England opened
the London Naval Confer
ence. Many thousands Of
Americans were eagerly lis
tening for his message as it
would reach them over this
new miracle Of communica-
tion. Just q few moments
before the address was to be-
gin, an official in the plant
of the Columbia Broadcast
ing Co., Walter Vivian, dis
covered that something "was
the matter with the wiring.
He realized 1t would take at
least 20 minutes to make re-
pairs. Meanwhile, throngs on
both sides Of the sea listen
ing expectantly for the
Kings speech would not hear
it. Without hesitation he
grasped the ends ofGhe sew
cred wires-one in each hand
to restore the circuit. The
shock of the heavy voltage
charge and the leakage Of the
current violently shook his
arms and burned his hands,
but he held on while there
went through his body the
Kings message of peace.
To be the medium through
which the Kings words came
proved a costly task, but the
price was paid and the mes
sage come through a man.
The pre-eminent thing of
any biography is not what
happens to one. 1t is what
happens through one. The
final appraisal Of any life
must be based upon what
causes have used it, what
powers have surged through
it, what ideas have mastered
it.
Recently. at the graduation
exercises for nurses in one Of
the most unique schools in
America, I had the privilege
Of speaking to a class Of
lovely young women as they
received their coveted pins.
At the moment Of gradua-
ton to this noble profession
each took in her hand a can
dle-lighted Florence Nightin-
gale lamp.
That symbolic light spoke
Of an idea which knocked at
Florence Nightingale's mind.
In spite Of the disguised OBJ
jections Of parents and
friends who thought she was
best fitted for scented arbors
Of leisured culture, she let
1t In. It proved to be a great
idea that through her, as its
channel, has made this earth
ever since a more decent and
humane place. Ministry to
the sick became the cause
she served. Her invisible sig
nature is upon the diploma
Of every nurse.
There was one who lived
and served some time before
her span Of years whose
name was William Wilber-
force. There was an ide a
which consumed him. AS no
other one man he stopped
the British slave trade. But
did he look like q modern
Moses, moving in his genera
ton like a Titan with bulg-
ing biceps. laundering to
shareholders and traders,
Let my people co.? No.
Evening star., 1961-05-21
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used "
letters carry Urtters' correct
names and addresses. All let.
terS are subject to condensd.
tton. Those not used Dtn be
returned only iDhen accom-
panied by self = addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star., 1961-05-21

and private research and development
to be done before a satisfactory system
will be ready for public use.
Evening star., 1961-05-21
so Years AGO

FIlght pay Tor military
flyers, who were just coming
into their own, was pre-
dicted in The Star Of May
13, 1911: Increased pay for
Army aviators Is likely to be
one outcome Of the accident
at San Antonio, Texas, that
resulted in the death Of It..
G. B. M. Kelly Of the Flying
Squad. This is a matter that
has been settled in the
armies Of Europe, where avi-
alton is ranked as extra
hazardous duty, and the Of
ficers who have been trained
in aviation are given 10 per
cent extra pay so long as
they are on that detail. A
request incorporated in the
last Army appropriation bill,
but stricken out, provided for
the enlistment of 100 spe-
cial aviators at $100 a.
month. This does not sound;
very large. but compared
with the regular enlistment
pay Of $13 q month, it Is
very satisfactory wages, es-
pecially as it will include
food, clothes and quarters. ~
The age of speed was.
being reflected in all forms
Of transportation so years.
ago. On May IA, 1911, The,
Star reported: THE world
record for racing 26-foot
racing boats, it is claimed,
was broken on the Potomac
yesterday by the Furlong,
which made 42.1 miles an
hour The craft is
equipped with two 150-horse-
poser engines. It was built
and equipped by an engine
company of Alexandria for
w. T. Harris, Of Thousand
Islands, who will assist in
defending the Harmsworth
Cup against foreign chal-
lengeS. -"
The Government had a
stern taskmaker SO years ago.
in Secretary of the Treas
ury Franklin MacVeagh. The
Star Of May is, 1911, re-
ported he had ruled: Heads
Of bureaus and chiefs Of di-
visions of the Treasury are
authorized to require any
employe to remain on duty
during the luncheon period,
In which case the employs
may be excused 80 minutes
when office business will
permit" The same circular
contains stringent rules to
govern the departure of
clerks during office hours.
Evening star., 1961-11-02
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and to leading cities in Europe, Africa and Asia
Call your travel agent or TWA Sterling $4,000
Evening star., 1961-12-04
Brewster Files
For u, S. Senator
On Tuwes Ticket

ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 4 tAP)
- Representative Brew ster,
Democrat of Md, filed today
for United States Senator. His
candidacy had been announced
earlier.
Mr.. Brewster, 38. was ac-
companied by his wife, Carol,
and two sons, Danny, 6, and
Gerry, 4, when he filed. His
administrative assistant, Will
liam S. Townsend, also was
present.
He will run on the ticket of
Gov. Tawes, which also in
cludes Controller Louis Gold
stein and Attorney General
Thomas B. Finan.
Mr.. Brewster is the third
Democrat to file for the Sem
ate. Ebert M. Byrd, jr., a
professor at the University OF
Maryland. and Delegate Blair
Lee III. Democrat of Mont
gomery. filed earlier.
The incumbent, Republican
John Marshall Butler, is ex.
pected to seek reelection. The
deadline for filing is March s
and the primary will De May Is
Evening star., 1961-12-04
Baltimore Cafe
Is Rozed by Fire

BALTIMORE, Dec. 4 (AP).-
A five-alarm fire destroyed
Rossiter's restaurant in Balti-
more today. Four firemen were
injured and damage was esti-
mated at 100000.
About 30 residents of homes
in the South Baltimore neigh
borhood were forced into the
pre-dawn cold.
More than 100 firemen fought
the fire for more than 4l2
hours before it was finally con-
trolled about 5 am. Flames
shot so feet into the air rom
the three-story brick building
housing the restaurant.
Evening star., 1961-12-04
japanese Ship
Leaves U. S. With
Peak Coal CARGO

NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Dec.
4 (AP).-The japanese ship
Naess Clipper cleared the Vir-
ginia Capes today with the
largest cargo of coal ever put
to sea.
The Naess Clipper took on a
cargo of $1,000 tons of high
grade metallurgical coal at
the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail-
way pier here yesterday in
preparation for the return leg
of her maiden voyage, the first
of many anticipated between
the Hampton Roads area of
Virginia and the steel-produc-
ing cities of Japan. ,.
While the Naess Clipper is
the biggest coal carrier afloat;
Japan is reported building
ships of 45,000-ton capacity.
Evening star., 1961-12-04

ers begin thinking of a solution
to the parkway truck ban.
He said one solution would
be purchase of additional park
land elsewhere in Rock Creek
Park for a land swap that would
enable road builders to widen
the existing four-lane parkway,
a continuation of Route 70-S,
to eight lanes.
II this Is not done, he said,
it may mean construction of a
parallel highway north of the
parkway through high-cost resi-
Dental properties.
. A decision is needed on the
matter, he said, before con-
struction of the Connecticut
avenue to Georgia avenue link
in the Capital beltway can go
ahead. Start of construction on
that portion of the expressway
has been slated for 1868.
Montgomery County officials
were alerted to this problem
a year ago when Mr.. Funk met
with the County Council to
discuss plans for the beltway.
At that time he said he ex-
pected truck traffic to increase
in the area once the Cabin
John Bridge opens.
Conrad Wirth, director of the
National Park Service. said he
would have to study the ques-
ton of a parkland swap. He
said he was opposed to the road
through the park in the first
place and that it has done go
per cent of the damage al
ready"
Approval of an exchange Of
land would have to be given
also by the National Capital
Planning Commission.
J. Newton Brewer, Jr. of the
Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commits
sion. said a land swap looks
like a logical solution
Evening star., 1961-12-04
% Make First Trip
In Commuter Rail Test

BALTIMORE, Dec. 4 (AP).-
Twenty-eight people, only l6
of them commuters, made the
first trip today on a rapid tran
sit railway linking Anne Arun-
del County to Baltimore.
The commuters, railroad en-
thusiasts, news photographers.
engineer. conductor and host
ess Jane Miller, had plenty Of
room on the 90-seat car.
The trip, heralded to take 20
minutes, lasted "a. No reason
Evening star., 1961-12-04

H. Easter, president Of the
Baltimore & Annapolis Rail
road, which will operate the
service on a three-week trial
basis.
I'm a little disappointed but
considering the confusion we've
had about the actual starting
day, I figure it was good day."
he said.
Mr.. Ester, who has borrowgd
a special aluminium self-pro-
PEELED car for the commuter ex-
periments, said the train will
run back and forth all day or
a two-hour schedule.
Company officials and repre-
sentatives of the Public Service
Commission made tests of the
trip over the week end.
Evening star., 1961-12-04

Sickness" Judge Diamond said.
"Psychiatrists can put a stop
to this inclination If you are
willing to cooperate. I have
report from the pyschiarist
who treated you two years ago,
who said that you gave COM
plete cooperation and that he
had considered that you were
completely cured" 2
| Judge Diamond said that he
expected to receive periodic re-
ports in the future from a psy-
chiatris't on the extent of the
former teachers cooperation
and progress.
Evening star., 1961-12-04

period, on the conditions that
he not return to the teaching
profession, and that he must
receive extensive psychiatric
treatment.
Il hope every effort will be
made by the Board of Educa-
ton and the school superin-
tendent to adopt some proce-
dure so that a similar situation
cannot arise here in the fu-
ture," the judge said.
Unaware Of Record
1T is unfortunate that there
was not a method of detecting
such a situation, involving
prospective teachers, so that
this would have come to light
earlier"
1t. Frank Griggs of the
Montgomery County Detective
Bureau testified that Pfister's
record showed two previous ar
rests on morals charges, one
in Phillipsburg, N. j., in 1856
and another in Washington in
1859. Montgomery school Of
ficials said they we're unaware
i of the teachers record.
/ The teacher resigned from
the Montgomery County schoo.
system last Monday, when the
results of police investigation
became known.
Pfister. a husky 6 foot, III
FOUNDER with a crew hair cut
stood during Judge Diamonds
10-minute comment on hi,
case.
To Work in PENNSYLVANIA
His attorney. Joseph A
Lynott, jr., told the court tina
Pfister was assured of employ
ment in Pennsylvania. not in
volving work with young peo'
pie.
This trouble is an illness,
Evening star., 1961-12-04

was given for the extra IA
minutes.
The first single-car, diesel
electric train left Haundale
Mall in Glen Burnie and
travelled to Camden Station in
downtown Baltimore. About
half of the Is commuters used
the free transfer to a bus which
moved up Howard street to the
State Office Building.
I'VE weren't overwhelmed
with the response" said James
Evening star., 1961-12-04

the Cabin John Bridge to Pooks
Hill in Bethesda.
Once the beltway reaches
Wisconsin avenue from Cabin
John, trucks will have to use
such main arteries as East-West
highway to continue across the
country.
John B. Funk, Maryla n d
State Roads Commission chair
man director. has suggested
that officials and county lead
Evening star., 1961-12-04
Teacher Pleads Guilty
In Sex Assault on Youth

Montgomery County school teacher charged with sex
assault on male student pleaded guilty today Montgomery
County Peoples Court and received heeyear suspended
tence He had been arrested twice previously similar charges
Judge John B. Diamond III placed William E. Pfster 49,
ninhgrade English teacher probation
Evening star., 1961-12-04
Wider County Parkway
Suggested for Trucks

Maryland highway planners feel is the time to come
to grips the question whether existing parkway
between Wisconsin and Connecticut north of the
Naval Hospital should be wdened for truck traffic
The parkway eventually will become link in the Capital
heltway section Of which being constructed from