davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-05-07
By GEORGE w. OAKES
Contributing Writer


The Kennedy administration
hopes that 212,500 promising but
needy high school graduates will
acquire college education
through Federally financed Schol-
arShipS in the next five years.
The Federal scholarship bill
which has been reported by the
House Education Subcommittee
provides $4,000 stipendS of up to
$1,000 annually for the first year
of the legislation, rising to $4,000
for each of the last three
years. The total cost would be
approximately 1925 million. The
scholarships, allocated to the
States according to high school
enrolment, would be awarded
comparatively by State commits
sions. For example. it is estimated
that the total number available
for students in Washington, as
Stunning the average grant to be
$700, would amount to almost TOO
for the entire program or about
80 for the first year.
The full House committee in
considering the subcommittee re-
port on Friday adopted an amend
ment that would alter the entire
character of the scholarship pro-
poSal. This amendment would
require Federal scholars to repay
the total cost of their scholarship
from earnings over a period Of
years. As the full committee
adopted this amendment by the
close vote of 16 to IA, and as sew
eral Democrats who opposed the
amendment were absent from the
meeting. present prospects are
that the full committee will
restore the original grant pro-
posal by killing the substitute
loan version in it's meeting next
Thursday.
Widely Debated Issue
Congress has vigorously debated
the issue of Federally financed
scholarships in recent years. The
present bill was introduced by
Representative Edith Green,
Democrat of Oregon, chairman of
the subcommittee now handling
the bill. In 1858 the Hill Elliott
bill. most of which became law as
the National Defense Education
Act, included plan for Federal
scholarships but this section was
eliminated during debate in the
House.
Although half of all high school
graduates in this country now go
on from high school to some form
of higher learning. educational
authorities agree that the Nation
Evening star., 1961-05-07
Preconceptions Fall
In 80 Post-Mortem

of comparison their own estimate
that the normal" Democratic
share of the two-party popular
vote at any time from 1852 through
1860 was in the vicinity OF SO or
54 per cent.
This estimate is based on a
series Of interviews in which their
croSs-Section of voters was asked,
Generally speaking, do you usu-
ally think of yourself as a Re-
publican, a Democrat. an inde-
pendent or what?"
Some Knew All Along
Some critics of the Michigan
study have suggested that this
question reveals very little about
most voters inclinations in presi-
dental elections. They note that
the Michigan researchers own
figures indicate only "a per cent
of the voters in 1860 said they
knew all 'ong how they would
cast their presidential ballots.
But if the basic assumption of
the Michigan researchers can be
accepted, the deviations from the
normal" pattern that turn up in
the 1860 voting clearly indicate
the impact of the religious issue.
One out of every nine ballots
cast in 1860, the Michigan re-
searcherS conclude, reflected
change from normal voting pat
terms due to religion.
In the Nation as a whole, Mr..
Kennedy had a bonus of votes
from Catholics equal to 43 per
cent of the total vote, but a loss
from ProtestantS equal to 6.5 per
cent of the total vote.
Translating these percentages
into votes. it leaves the President
with a net loss of is million votes
because of his religion.
Even this, however, may or may
not be an accurate reflection of
the religious issue on the outcome
of the 1860 election as measured
by electoral votes.
The Michigan researchers poll
ing techniques do not permit them
to calculate the effect of this issue
on a State-by-State basis. Re-
gionally, they assert, Mr.. Kennedy
had a net loss of 16.5 per cent of
the Southern vote and a net gain
of 1.6 per cent in the rest of the
country.
One of the Michigan team told
a press conference last week that
the distribution of population and
the varying impact of the religious
issue in different States kept him
from denying that Mr. Kennedy's
religion could have been" a net
advantage in the electoral college
voting.
Evening star., 1961-05-07
In Pursuit of Some Old Truths
And the Bon Mot With Thurber

ing all over again .. In America,
the men are going 600 miles an
hour all the time jet-propelled.
But where to? l know a man
who's so afraid of being alone
that he takes a portable radio
with him into the bathroom =.
People ask me what I do in a
room alone and when I say I
mediate they think I need q
pSychiatriSt -
A Good Questioner
This tends to give the impress
sion that he does all the talking,
which is wrong. He listens and
asks questions, but he's such a
marvellous talker that he somehow
makes it all weave together.
An actress at the table made an
acid remark about a certain pro-
ducer and asked Thurber what he
though Of the man.
Il can understand most writer's" :"
he replied, "a few publishers-but
no producers"
The pretty actress Shrieked with
delight.
Women are the greatest power
on EARTH" he said taking oral
wings again, but the sad thing is
their lack of cooperation . one
woman meets another. They both
run their eyes over the others
clothes, but they don't see what's
really there. What's in the others
brain. Why, if they're the great
est power on earth, don't they get
together?"
Mr.. Thurber arrived in London
on his present visit January 25.
He's presently trying to write a
new play and two new books, but
the difficulty is finding the time.
The British preSS-and the
American newsmen stationed in
London, too-take up a great deal
OF his time and, being an old news
paperman, he can't bring himself
to saying mo" when they want to
interview him.
Recently, when he was getting
an average of Is requests a day
from newspapers. magazines and
television and radio, he moved in
quiet desperation to the country.
He let only handful of friends
know where he'd oone
Now he's back in London half
lncognito. That is, he lets only
about half of the calls reach him.
His health is good and he looks
as II he'll live to be $50 which
would be very good thing.
You know" he said. "a friend
OF mine once said I've done every
thing but pitch for the New York
Yankees"
At that moment he looked is if
he could do that, too.
Evening star., 1961-05-07

had in 1910, and I once told
girl she was wrong about a dress
she wore % years before. :"
The head waiter tip-toed up and
motioned with his eyebrows that
the dinner was ready in the
dining room about 25 yards away.
Mr.. Thurber rose and with an
almost imperceptable gesture
touched the sleeve of my left arm.
I moved toward the dining room
and with the grace of one of Ohio
States more deftfooted halfbacks
following his interference, the
blind man quickly followed me
into the dining room.
This man who looks Is years
younger than his age discusses
blindness with a light and airy
objectivity.
well, it has it's compenSationS,
you know. If 1 could see, might
go into a room and say to my
self, My God, there's that dread
full Mrs. Norman across the room.
How'm I going to avoid her?' But
you see, don't see her :"
The wine waiter set before him
a fourth-filled glass of white.
Mr.. Thurber reached forward
and knew exactly where the glass
stood.
And I remember where I put
it down." he said in what could
only have been something awfully
close to mind-reading.
Mental Telepathy? OF course
I believe in it. I've proved it time
and again. A woman once asked
me about it and I said to her
and I said it all in one breath
take a number from one to 20
and don't look surprised when
tell you it's five. 1t was five,
too :"
Somebody asked him whats
wrong with American"
After downing an oyster, he
replied, II don't know, but it's
something. It's like 1 say about
Loeb Ness-there is something out
there E. Well, something's wrong
over there. but I'll be back. Of
course will . you see I'm over
here to do the Thurber Carnival.
Acted in it in New York, you re-
member. Well. 1 don't know when
they're going to put it on over
here :. Helen MRS. Thurber)
said to me I packed for six months
before we came over here and I'm
damned if I'm going to start pack
Evening star., 1961-05-07
BROADENING EDUCATION AID
A Renewed Push for Federal Scholarships

program, some, like President
Frederick L. Hovde of Purdue
University who was chairman of
President Kennedy'S education
task force (Which did not recon-
mend college Scholarships, claim
that there are no adequate State
by-State studies of the diStribu-
tion of qualified and needy stu
dents and that those who fail to
go to college for financial reasons
may be fairly heavily concen-
trated in a few States or regions
"a view shared by some Govern
ment authorities.
Other educators in and out of
Government would admit that
there is considerable merit to this
criticism of the proposed Federal
plan which would allocate scholar
ships by States. For example,
California which would receive the
second largest number of scholar
ships approximately 10000, has
an extensive system Of public col
leges and Junior colleges which
charge only a nominal fee to State
residents. Thus, there appears to
be less need for Federal scholar
ships for CalifornianS to attend
their own State colleges. However,
the Federal plan would help
California students who wanted
to go to college out of the State
but couldn't afford to do so.
Troinine Scientists
Although the Soviet man-in-
space achievement is being used
in Congress as an argument for
Federal scholarships in order to
train more and better scientists,
Government officials involved in
scientific education disagree. In
their opinion, we should devote
more Government funds toward
doing a better job of teaching
science to students in college
rather than urging more to apply
even II some OF them would make
excellent college material. This
can be accomplished by greater
efforts to improve the training of
college science teachers and to
encourage young scientists.
In order to locate the most
talented students the university
community believes that the Fed
eral scholarships should be dis
tributed among the colleges who
are best qualified for a talent
recruitment job rather than be
awarded by State commissions.
They question whether the sought
after student can be counted on
to apply to State commissions. They
also point out the plan of selec-
Evening star., 1961-05-07

In most cases, this has come
about through special legislation.
Since 1852, District tags have
borne the words Nations Capt.
tai" Virginia has no special slo-
gan. And, since the Come See
Us" phrase has been turned down
in Maryland, it appears likely
that States tags will remain bare
Of slogan or legend.
Since 1856, North Dakota plates
have carried Peace Garden
State" stemming from the Inter-
national Peace Garden at the
Canada United States border.
State promotion groups in Ver-
mont worked for years to get
slogan on the license tags there.
In 1857, the Commissioner of Ver-
mont Motor Vehicles was per-
suaded to permit a slogan, but
there was room for only three
letters.
How can you get a slogan out Of
three letters? The cagey Vermont
folk picked "See." and this years
plates say See Vermont 1861"
Konsos Centennial
Kansas plates this year carry
kansas Centennial 1861" There
is move afoot now to have the
tags embossed with Midway
USA" when the centennial is over.
North Carolina in 1853 launched
a massive highway safety drive,
and since 1854 the States license
plates have urged "Drive Safely"
A bucking bronco emblem graces
wyoming plates.
The familiar Empire State"
on New York plates has been
there for 10 years. The State
Legislature session just ended.
however, approved a change for
1864 and 1865, when the tags will
proclaim New York Worlds Fair
1964-65." A similar slogan-"New
York Worlds Fair"-was carried
during the trylon and perisphere
days Of the 1939-40 event.
Alabama'S State Code includes
this paragraph:
Every license tag or license
plate issued by the State of Ala
bama for use on motor vehicles.
in addition to any letters and fig
ures prescribed by the commits
Sioner Of revenue, shall also have
imprinted thereon a convention
allied representation of a heart
and the words Heart Of Dixie :"
Placing Land of Lincoln" on
Illinois plates in 1854 came
through administrative action by
Secretary of State Charles F.
Carpenter, and the Legislature in
1855 wrote 1t into law.
A few others:
Arizona-"Grand Canyon State"
Arkansas-"The Land Of OPP
portunlty.
Florida-"Sunshine State"
Georgia-"Peach State"
Maine-"Vacation Land"
Minnesota-"10,O00 Lakes"
Nebraska-"The Beef State"
Oregon-"Pacific Wonderland"
Hawaii-"Aloha State"
New Mexico-"Land of Enchant-
ment."
Wisconsin - Americas Dairy
land"
Evening star., 1961-05-07

tuition fees. During the past de-
cade they have mounted Sc per
cent. The average current expend-
iture of attending college away
from home rose from approx
mately $1,000 per student in 1858
to $1.650 in 1860. AS Secretary Of
Health, Education and Welfare
Ribicoff put it, when this cost is
considered in relation to the fact
that in 1859 the median income of
heads of families 35 to 81 years of
age was $6,l40, it is easy to under
stand why many families with
modest incomes find it difficult to
send their sons and daughters to
college"
The Present Scholarships
office of Education officials
estimate that 1900 colleges and
universities in this country
granted $50 million in scholar
ships during the academic year
1959-60. State scholarship pro-
grams provided another SOS mil
lion and other scholarship awards
amounted to an additional $40
million during this same period.
In general these scholarship
programs benefit needy students
in the upper 10 per cent of the
average high school graduating
class. The proposed Federal pro-
gram would probably help those
ranking roughly between the top
10 per cent and Is per cent or
the moderately able. very needy
students.
The increasing use of college
student loans. especially those
offered under the Defense Educa-
ton Act, has ameliorated but not
solved the problem Of students
requiring financial aid. In 1959-60
loans arranged under this Federal
program amounted to $50.l mil
lion while another $45 million
were loaned by other plans which
the colleges themselves operate.
In general student loan pro-
grams are Of particular value to
those from the middle and lower
middle income groups whose fam
lilies can help pay off, if necessary.
a small debt. Defense Education
Act loans averaged $438 in 1859
so. But students from the lowest
income groups are discouraged by
their hard-up families from in
curing financial obligation, and
particularly a large one.
Although university organiza-
tions like the American Council
on Education and individual
leaders in higher education sup
port a Federal college scholarship
Evening star., 1961-05-07
The Year of the Professor

A note on the intellectual
climate of present-day Wash
ingtOn is contained in a Report
from the FoIger Library for
April 22:
In the Chinese calendar this
is the Year of the Ok, but in
Washington it is the Year of
the Professor. He has come
into his own. He is recognized
and honored. He no longer
slumps dejectedly in faculty
clubs moaning that he is un-
appreciated and unwanted. A
horde of his kind have already
moved upon Washington, and
from Orono, Maine, to San
Diego College others are walt
ing hopefully to be called to
higher things on the Potomac.
Although news reports give
the impression that the Federal
Government has become the
Extension Division Of Harvard
University, this is an exaggera-
ton. The President does not
have to make a report to Mr..
Pusey. Harvard, like the De-
partment of Agriculture. has
Surplus Products Agency, and
the President is the beneficiary
Of Harvard's largess.
We have waited for the ad-
ministration to shake down a
bit before reporting on the
academic situation in Washing
ton. We can now state with
assurance that, contrary to
popular impression, Harvard
does not have a monopoly of
Government posts. Professors
from many other institutions
occupy important places. We
are pleased that Amherst Col
lege is doing very we'll. The
University of California has
supplied its quota of scientists
and other specialists, and one
sometimes sees Yale man
wandering about.
The State Department, as all
the world knows, is headed by
a former Rhodes Scholar, and
other oxford men have infil-
trated here and there. Pro-
fessor-watchers have reported
Evening star., 1961-05-07
BY JACK JONAS
Star Staff Writer

The people in Maryland who
wanted the honey invitation
Come See Us" imprinted on the
States automobile license plates
were bucking a sobering trend.
Gone from the Idaho plates,
for example, is the buttered
baked potato emblem of former
years. Even the slogan World
Famous Potatoes" has become this
year. a more conservative "Fa-
nous Potatoes"
Colorado has dropped its Col
orful Colorado" legend. Also
missing is the silhouette Of a
skier. which once graced that
States plates.
This years tags in Colorado are
designed to indicate mountain
Evening star., 1961-05-07
Quotation
of the Week

The controversy as to the ex-
tent of coverage in the pending
bill reminded me of the time that
the bill was last before the Con-
gress some years ago when Con-
gresSwoman Helen Gahagan Doug
las of California offered an
amendment to include telephone
operators in the bill. Carried
away by emotion she pleaded pas
sionately for her amendment.
Unless you accept my amend
ment," she cried, 100000 women
will be uncovered" The House
accepted her amendment. Mem
bers of the House are gentlemen.
Representative Yates, Democrat
of Illinois. in a ne1DS letter to his
constituents.
Evening star., 1961-05-07

ton by State committees would
permit Federal scholars to apply
to any institution. AS result the
already intense pressure on the
more prominent universities will
be increased. On the other hand,
if the scholarships were widely
distributed among colleg IS
throughout the country so they
could pick the winners, the smaller
and less prominent institutions
would be improved by acquiring
more good students. This would
be beneficial in raising the level
of many colleges which must be
expanded and improved in order
to meet the demands of our rising
student population which will
almost double in this decade.
However, administration Off
cials contend there is no equitable
method to distribute scholar rs!!. &C. &C.
to the colleges and there seems no
way to do so in the South without
supporting segregation with Fed
eral funds.
An important attraction for the
colleges to which Federal scholars
would go (Which would particu-
larly aid smaller colleges) is the
provision in the proposed legisla-
ton to pay each institution $3.50
per student per year as compen-
sation for the extra operating
expenses incurred.
A Possible Frustrotion
If the Federal scholarships are
awarded by State committees, a
winner might also be given an
other scholarship by a college that
wanted him since the bill does not
prohibit holders of Federal
scholarships from acquiring others.
If this occurred, the purpose of
Federal scholarships seeking out
new talent not now receiving other
financial aid would be, in part,
frustrated.
Under the administration plan,
Federal awards would be granted
by State commissions on a COM
petitive basis. Those winners who
do noV require financial aid would
receive merit certificates but
monetary grants would only 60 to
those who need them.
In addition to the scholarships
the House bill, in order to en-
courage scholastic excellence, pro-
vides for $1,000 special presiden-
tial awards to the top thousand
Federal scholars regardless Of
need who, by competitive eXami-
nation, have proved themselves
outstanding on the basis of aca-
demic achievement.
Evening star., 1961-05-07
BY EDDY GILMORE
Associated Press Staff Writer

LONDON. Z didn't say the
American male is a panther" ex-
planned James Thurber. Il said
he's a pouncer. There's a lot OF
difference between a panther and
a pouncer. The American ap-
proach is to pounce."
The 67-year-old author. now
totally blind but buster than ever.
speaks in a sort of trans-American
accent - basically Middle West
with faint overlays from the more
effete Eastern Seaboard.
But there's nothing effete about
Jim Thurber.
IT was once in taxi with a
girl" he went on. land she said
to me, you're the first American
who hasn't pounced on me. and I
said to her, I have my gentle ap-
proach-and I've also got my front
teeth
Talking with Mr.. Thurber is al
ways memorable experience. It's
hard to report him in conventional
forms, though. His wonderful rush
of words upsets punctuation.
The great man doesn't talk in
staid block paragraphs. Instead.
he sweeps along in superb flow
of adult and witty observation.
we'll laced with un-angry iron.
Like this:
The great thing about women
today is that they're beginning to
take a little interest in sex where
as the men are beginning to take
little interest in anything else . :.
the perfect woman? Huh =.
there's no such thing, thank God
but the qualities 1 most ad-
mire in women are beauty, ardour,
humor and. of course-wealth . e.
wish could remember the name
of the bright person who once said
"A woman's place is in the wrong
wouldn't it be marvellous to
see Mrs. KhruShchev take over
from Mr.. Khrushchev? After his
performance at the United Ma
tionS, I said to somebody. Great
OATS from little ikons grow &.
yes, sir man always marries
the woman of her choice news
papers in America? All Amer
lea is expanding. The cities are
expanding into the country and
the country's expanding into the
cities. And the newspapers are
matchmaking. One day there's 60
ing to be just one newspaper and
the whole front page will have to
be devoted to its name
He Hos q Stroight Mon
He ran his long thin fingers
through his thick mop of IRON
grey hair and somehow-instinc-
lively - seemed aware that the
waiter was standing behind him.
He cut the air with the hand
he didn't have in his hair and
politely asked the man to bring
another round Of drinks.
Mr.. Thurber's talk is far from
a monologue, but playing straight
man to him is one of the easiest
and most pleasant jobs.
me a writer? Huh. I
used to be a reporter. Back in
Columbus, Ohio. . You couldn't
call me q writer now. I'm more of
a re-writer.
%. The finished book-my
finished book. 1t lies somewhere
between the fifth and the fif-
teenth version. ;"
His voice faded off for moment
as he leaned forward and again
seemed inStinctively to know
where the small unbeautiful hotel
lobby ash tray stood.
you ask me about total recall.
Yep, I've got it all right.
can remember a dream I
Evening star., 1961-05-07

present administration finds
the invasion Of academies al
most as distressing as the
plague of stariingS that roost
under Washington caves. In
deed, the academies are more
ubiquitous than starlings, which
are selective in their choice of
buildings and show a preference
for those with considerable
overhang. The academies have
already learned to cling to
smooth, unprotected surfaces
and will be harder to eradicate.
Evening star., 1961-05-07

seeing a Cambridge University
graduate in flight but as yet
none Of this species has been
positively identified in stu. A
few years ago the incursion of
Rhodes Scholars in so sensitive
an area as the State Depart
ment would have caused violent
repercussions in the empire of
the Chicago Tribune, but the
editor, Col. Robert Mccormick.
now in Elysium, is happily
spared this knowledge.
The political opposition to the
Evening star., 1961-05-07
LegisIoting Automobile Tags

Gus background, but, a man in
Denver tells us, sit takes a good
imagination to figure it out"
Ohio officials. a couple of years
ago, polled that States citizenry
to learn if an emblem or slogan
was desirable. The answer was
an emphatic no.