davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-12-25
'SmiIinq Nike

In recent weeks and days Mikhail
A. MenShikov, Soviet Ambassador to
the United States, has been quite
loquaciouS and humorouS-in a some
what gruesome sort of way. Addressing
the National Press Club, for example,
he has "joked" about how all Ameri-
cans should walk calmly to the nearest
cemetery if our country gets into a
nuclear war with the USSR. Next, on
a televiSion program, he has threat
ened that the Kremlin may set off a
lot of 100-megaton bombs, forthwith,
unless we 'at once" stop nuclear test
ing of every type. And he is said to
have vociferously and jovially pro-
claimed, at a cocktail party the other
night, that Moscow happily supports
India's aggression against Goa and is
certain that very soon"-aS in the case
of Indonesia and West New Guinea
there will be other such "wars of liberia
ton" that will have his governments full
backing.
Ambassador MenShikov who ap-
parently likes to be called Smiling
Mike" has given voice to these and
numerous comparable remarks in a
tone of mixed menace and jocularity.
Speaking for ourselves, we find the
whole business rather more offensive
than funny, enough so to make us
recollect how in earlier timeS-when
all the nice old rules of diplomatic
decorum and propriety were still in
force such smirking comments on
America and the free world at large
might well have resulted in the Offend
ing envoyS being declared persona
non grata and sent back home.
Evening star., 1961-12-25
Christmas 1861

The Christmas trees that shine along
the wall of West Berlin probably best
symbolic Christmas in the year 1861.
They represent affirmation, however
gentle, and hope, however frail. On the
other side of the wall, there is darkness,
oppression and despair. All, says reason,
is not calm; all is not bright.
The great commands of Christmas
to fear not, to rejoice and be glad seem
difficult to heed. If there is peace, it is
precariouS. If men are of good will, they
are dubious and divided Restive Amer
leans are in Army camps, parted from
their families. If there is prosperity,
there are men without work.
Wonder has all but disappeared from
a world that knows everything, partic-
ularly the worst. Rejoicing seems out of
place amid general GUINNESS.
But it might be we'll to remember
that men did not come readily to the
manger even on the first Christmas.
The shepherds had to be instructed by
angels, the wise men guided by stars. We
have all but done with angels and stars,
so we have further to come to behold
Him. But once we do, and stay as they
did to worship and marvel and to con-
template the meaning of the scene
that we can be liberated from our worst
selves and saved to heaven-we can say
with fervor, even in 1861, "Joy to the
world, the Lord Is come'
Evening star., 1961-12-25

negotiators work closely at every step
of the way with each of the county and
city Jurisdictions in the Washington
area. Perhaps, on an informal basis
at least, 1t would be wise for each of the
governing bodies to designate repre-
sentative who could sit with the nego-
tiatorS in their deliberations.
Congress, in authorizing the nego-
tiation of an interstate compact, said
that such compact commission ulti-
mately might perform regional govern
mental functions in a number of fields.
That no doubt is true. The initial
concentration, however, will be on
transit-fittingly so, since transporta-
ton exceeds all other regional problems
in both Importance and complexity.
Evening star., 1961-12-25
Dominican Stotesmunship

All parties to the agreement reached
for resolution Of the Dominican Repub-
lies political crisis are entitled to COM
mendation 1t is, basically, solution of
moderation and reasonableness, and
President Kennedy's prompt expression
of aid and support greatly increases the
prospects that new stability will be the
end result in the long-troubled Latin
American country.
The plan, in brief, is that President
Balaguer will appoint Council of State
to assume legislative and executive
powers DR.. Balaguer himself will serve
its first duties will be to arrange for
election of a constituent assembly and a
revision of the constitution not later
than August 16 of next year. General
elections would follow by next December
20, with installation of the chosen new
government by February, 1868.
In his statement on the agreement,
President Kennedy took note of the
difficulties which country so long
under dictatorial rule may have in estab-
fishing a soundlybased democratic
system. He offered encouragement, how
ever, that the Organization of American
States soon will lift the sanctions i'm
posed against the republic and pledged
our own support of this action. If and
when this comes about, he added, we will
resume full diplomatic relations with the
Santo Domingo government and will
explore Immediately steps by which we
may provide agricultural and economic
aid
1t has been gratifying that the
Dominican formula for the future finally
has emerged with minimum Of serious
violence, and that leadership of the
armed forces and of the National Civic
Union, the foremost faction in the polit-
ical opposition to DR.. Balaguer, have
joined in its approval. DR.. Balaguer him
self deserves great credit for taking a
leading role in working out plan ac-
ceptable to all.
Evening star., 1961-12-25
Emphasis On Safety

The new collateral list approved by
the Municipal Court judges properly
places the emphasis on traffic violations
directly concerned with safety. The list
reveals an upward trend in collateral
for offenSeS committed in moving car
and static tendency for parking viola
tions. This is as it should be, for the
collateral required should reflect the
seriousness of the offense involved.
Indicative of the desire of the judges
to make it harder for fragrant speeders
to avoid coming into court was the
raising of the maximum collateral for
excessive speeding from $50 to $75. The
latter will be assessed in any case in
which the car was exceeding the posted
speed limit by more than 35 miles an
hour. The present $50 collateral for
driving faster than so miles an hour
in 30mile zone or more than go in a
45-mile zone will be retained Collateral
for ignoring flashing red signal and
failing to keep in the proper lane was
boosted from SIS to So And to reinforce
the snow-emergency program, new COL
lateral requirements of SIS for parking
on certain emergency" streets and of
$40 for driving without snow tires or
chains during major SnowStormS were
listed
The collateral for most parking
violations will remain at SO, despite
efforts in some quarters to have it
raised to SIS. The judges were not un-
mindful of the fact that any raising
of the charge might result in court
congestion and loss of time by judges
and prosecutors that could better be
spent on serious infractions. We think
they showed good sense in this regard.
Evening star., 1961-12-25
Regional Compact Team

With the appointment of Patrick H.
Mclaughlin, President Kennedy has
rounded out the team of Federal, Dis
trict, Maryland and Virginia officials
who will seek to negotiate for an inter-
state compact commission (or possibly
some alternative organization) TO fl
nance and operate the proposed rapid
transit system in this region. Thus far,
the emphasis has been almost entirely
on the physical aspects of such a system
The job assigned to the compact
negotiators is perhaps more difficult,
and certainly no less important
The selection of Mr. Mclaughlin as
the Federal representative seems to be
an excellent choice An official of the
American Municipal Association, his
particular concern for the last several
years has been with programs of Fed
eral assistance to urban areas, with
emphasis recently on rapid transit.
Because of the major role which the
Federal Government must play in the
formation of a rapid transit system for
the Washington area, he will be a key
member of the compact negotiating
team.
Similarly, the representatives from
Maryland and Virginia are responsible
to their Governors. State support for
whatever conclusions are reached is,
of course, essential. It is equally i'm
portant, however, that the compact
Evening star., 1961-12-25
Hall of Medical knowledge

The dedication of the new National
Library of Medicine in Bethesda marked
the successful elimination of long
effort to rescue "the largest and most
important medical library in the world"
from obScurity and decay in it's old
firetrap quarters in Southwest Wash
ington. The library, formerly known
as the Armed Forces Medical Library,
was described as the biggest and best
Of its kind by the Hoover Commission,
which deplored the inadequate shelter
and care which the collection had
received under military sponsorship.
The commission recommended a new
building to preserve the irreplaceable
documents and to accommodate new
additions, covering the modern march
of medicine.
The new building near the National
Institutes of Health is an impressive
answer to the demands of the commits
sion, of the medical profession and of
members of Congress for suitable hall
to house the records. When completed,
the library will add an important
research facility to those already main
tanned in the vicinity by the Govern
ment. In contrast to the 13O volumes
which composed the first collection of
Army medical records and books in
1885, the new library will contain more
than million volumes and papers,
covering diseases of every description
and methods of dealing with them.
And in the years to come the library
undoubtedly will be the repository for
reports of epochal new discoveries in
the control of mankind's ailments, from
heart disease to cancer. Best of all, the
reports of any breakthroughs against
such killers and cripplers will be open
for all doctors to examine.
Evening star., 1961-12-25
THE PASSING SCENE
'Mon-of- -the-Yeor' in Cabinet
By WILLIAM S. WHITE

mas, the generals and admi-
rails, without terrorizing them
or breaking their spirits.
He took hold Of the Penta-
gon and somehow made that
incredibly hulking monster
work as few had done before
him. e.
He took the lead, under the
Presidents direction, In re-
vising an all-or-nothing ma
tional military policy which
had depended almost wholly
on the ultimate atomic weap-
ons. He supplanted this with
a policy which is making us
capable Of fighting any kind
of war, anywhere. He re-
stored the old-fashioned SOL
dier in strength and morale
while adding to the atomic
arsenal, too. =
He advised the President
when his advice was asked.
Otherwise, he tended to his
own shop, and in such a spec
tacularly efficient way as to
suggest that businessmen can
be profoundly useful govern
ment administrators, indeed,
If they will only realize that
business is one thing and
government a different thing.
Most of all he stayed out
of partisan politics and Just
did his job. His problems,
of course, are far from over.
The new year will bring fresh
and perhaps even greater
military crises.
He has not yet been able
to persuade our Allies to put
their backs into strengthen
ing the common Western de-
fense. as he has surely done
on our side. Moreover, he is
going to urge the President
to ask Congress for the big
gest military budget we ever
knew outside of hot war days,
more than $50 billion.
There will be much howl
ing in the nighttime over PEN
tagon shortcomings, as there
has been in the past. But
it can be fairly said Of Mr..
Mcnamara that he has come
closer than any previous Sec
retary of Defense, except for
the late James Forrestal, to
achieving a task which is ba-
sically impossible-running a
good railroad at the Penta-
gon.
Evening star., 1961-12-25

complaining that Mr.. White
feels threatens our national
security? Is it the United
States Army Reserves, or the
National Guard, or both?
Mr.. White apparently Jumps
them together as Reserves,
with a capital R. Whoever
they are. I prefer to accept
the report of Gen. Van Fleet,
rather than the opinion of
Mr.. White.
I do not believe that these
boys who have been called to
the colors are much differ
ent from their fathers and
grandfathers. In spite of
some complaining by a few,
they will perform their duty
well. 1t might be we'll to show
some appreciation for their
service, rather than heaping
criticism and insults upon
them.
Lloyd E. Kelly.
Evening star., 1961-12-25

At this season, when an old
year Is departing and a new
year is Just beyond tomorrow,
drama critics look back to
pick the best" play and film
writers the "best" movie.
This political critic joins
the game by presuming to
pick the Man of the Year
Of the Kennedy cabinet. My
personal nomination Is Rob-
ert S. Mcnamara, Secretary
of Defense.
Mr.. McNamara's diStinc-
ton has been most improb-
ably achieved. When he took
oath last January all the
form suggested that here was
the man least likely to be able
to succeed-in the most diff
cult, most essentially unman-
ageable government depart
ment in Washington, the
vast, seething. echoing Penta-
gon.
He was, to begin with,
without known political skill.
He had no contacts" with
the powerful politicians in
the Democratic Party, and
even less with those Of the
Republican Party-which he
himself had in the past sup
ported.
His connection with Presi-
dent Kennedy, until the very
day of his appointment, had
been practically nil. He knew
little of the jungles of official
Washington, where the sabre
toothed tiger wears pantS-or
a party dreSS-inStead Of
stripes.
He was going to head a
multi-billion dollar enterprise
where the civilian bureau
Gratis usually tend to join the
generals and admirals in one
thing anyhow: A mutual dis
trust of outsiders"
(He had also to endure a
thousand bad, stale jokes
about "McNamara's Band"
His quiet fortitude in this re-
gard might in itself entitle
him to the Legion of Merit.0
Right away. however, he
began to prove that he had
not reached the presidency of
the Ford Motor Company be-
fore his 45th birthday simply
because Mr.. Ford liked the
way he combed his rather
sparse hair. He set out to
tame the military prima dom
Evening star., 1961-12-25

adopted implied consent leg
islation require the drivers
signature when applying for
a permit. Actually, the
10 States have adopted the
law based on use of the high
ways as implying consent to
a chemical test.
Nevertheless, your editorial
support is most welcome. The
urgency for implied consent
legislation arises from the in
juries and deaths caused by
accidents upon our streets be-
cause Of drivers operating
automobiles while intoxi-
Gated.
The proposed bill would as
sist in protecting the inno-
cent against unjust charges
and convictions. The greatest
value, however, may be, as
you suggested, its indirect eff
feet of keeping persons from
driving while under the in
fluence of alcohol.
Anthony L. Ellison.
Chief, Office Of Traffic
Safety Education. D. C. De-
partment of Motor Vehicles.
Evening star., 1961-12-25
DisqruntIed Reserves

william s. White. has
Joined the critics of the Ar
my Reserve with an article
entitled, Sorry Situation in
the Reserves. He deplores
the "cry-babyism of some few
among the 100000 Reserve
officers and soldiers called up
for active duty" It is note
worthy that Mr.. White ad-
mits that the complaints
come from only a few. And
then, while acknowledging
Gen. James Van Fleets re-
port that morale among the
great majority is "magnifi-
cent" he says, "All the same.
something is very wrong. and
it must be that well-known
case of what a few bad ap-
pies will do to the whole bar
rel" The Army is capable Of
dealing with real troublemak-
ers. A few bad apples did not
spoil the barrel in either
World War I or World War
II. Or does Mr.. White think
there was no gripping in those
days? He mentions COM
plants about the absence OF
coat hangers. Hardly worthy
of comment. AS for COM
plants about food. he recog-
nizes that as "the inevi-
table, the historical, COM
plant of all soldiers at all
times in history" So, we can
not condemn the Reservists
too much on that score.
With reference to officers,
he said, "These officers have
not retained their commits
sions simply to be eligible in
time for fairly fat Army PEN
sionS." The press did not in
dicate that officers were COM
planning. But, I am sure. Re-
serve officers would be in
terested in learning how they
might become eligible for
"fat" Army pensions, with
out years of active duty.
And, Just who is doing this
Evening star., 1961-12-25

Adoption of a four-day
work week has been much
in the news of late. Certain
union leaders advocating its
adoption contend that under
an arrangement of that ma
ture, unemployment would
decline. It seems to me that
at least two points can be
cited to refute that partic-
ular conclusion.
Cd Many unions show a
far greater willingness to see
work provided at overtime
rates for present members
than in broadening oppor-
tunities for apprentices.
Hence, limiting the hours of
regular employment increases
company costs without ap-
preciably aiding the joblesS.
(2) Drastic shortening of
the work week tends to en-
courage multiple job-holding.
Those with excessive amounts
of leisure time on their
hands generally seek lucra-
tive ways of disposing of it,
often in fields unrelated to
their regular tasks. While
there may be nothing funda-
mentally wrong about one
individual taking on dual re-
sponsibilities, it can scarcely
be argued that the COM
munity benefits to the same
degree that would result were
two people both gainfully
employed.
While it is true that prom
iSeS have been made con-
cerning augm g the
ranks of apprentices if a cur
tailed work-week is granted,
will such a program be of
adequate proportions or, on
the other hand, prove a mere
gesture? Such decisions be-
ing almost entirely in union
hands, it is readily seen a
great deal must be taken on
faith.
Thomas G. MOrgansen.
Jackson Heights, N. Y.
Evening star., 1961-12-25
Nehru's Neutrality

The Soviet Party news
paper "Pravda" in its issue
of December 3 published the
following message on the "in-
divisibility of peace" signed
by j. Nehru, Prime Minister
of India:
THE Soviet Union stands
for peace and disarmament.
1t does a tremendous work
in creating a new society. 1t
has attained great results,
and it will have to achieve
still greater successes in fu-
ture. These are the results of
creative activity the true
victory which can do no
harm to anybody and will
will bring happiness to mil
lions Of people.
Il deeply hope that the ex-
ample and the fight for peace
which the Soviet Union has
demonstrated for many years,
will continue and will pro-
duce fruitful results for all
countries"
Is this message a confirm
alton of Mr.. Nehru's "neu-
trality," as the invasion of
Goa demonstrates his belief
in the "indivisiblity of
peace?
KarliS Kalnins
-
Now that Nehru has salts
fled the Indian people and
liberated" Goa from the
Portuguese. perhaps he can
go back to his time-worn role
of being a peaceful mediator.
1t seems that he, along with
the rest Of India, is willing
to ignore the fact that Red
China is occupying some H.
900 square miles of Indian
territory. If Goa's 1900
square miles can be liberated.
why can't 10000 square miles
of India be liberated by the
same troops that overran
Goa?
The world has enough
hypocrites without adding
Nehru to the select group.
1t appears that the Afri-
cans and ASianS are con-
demning Western colonialism.
and yet close their eyes to
the biggest colonial power in
history: The Soviet Union.
Unless they open their eyes
and close their mouths this
world of ours is headed for
more conflict and tension.
James S. Will.
Now "neutralist" India
steals Goa from Portugal by
blitzkrieg while Indonesia
prepares for like action.
So-called world opinion
means nothing to such ag-
gressors, but it apparently
has the great United States
so palsied that it will not
call a pipsqueak Red butcher
80 miles off our shore to an
swer for his crimes. That is
morality according to the
State Department!
Ronald H. Harner,
Evening star., 1961-12-25
A BOOK FOR TODAY
Birthday of Son of STRANGER on Hioh'
BY DONALD MIMI

ing DAY sounds a somewhat
different note: THE men
were allowed to rest from
their labors. today as they
are rather tagged after yes
terday's indulgence"
The saturnalian aspects of
Christmas celebrations that
are so universally deplored to-
day are no modern in
ventions. American trappers.
who were not under the rel
atively SOLDERING control of
the Hudson's Bay Company,
often staged stupendous
binges in honor of the Ma
tivity.
But this charming custom
was also to be found in the
cities. John w. Audubon was
not pleased by what he OBJ
served in San Francisco in
1849: Sunday makes no diff
ference. certainly not Christ
mas, except for a little more
drunkenness. and a little ex-
ira effort on the part Of the
hotel keepers to take in more
money"
AMONG THE MORE edi-
flying tales in Christmas on
the Frontier" are those deal
ing with the delight Of ma
terially inconsequential
homemade gifts presented to,
one another by pioneer farm
ing families on the Great
Plains. These people began in
a subsistence economy and
their gifts came not only
from the heart but from.
hard, extra labor as we'll.
In the areas settled by the
Spanish, different customs
prevailed and some of them
were domesticated by the In
~ dianS in colorful and unfore-
seen ways. ST.,
Christmas on the From.
tier" is full of little plums Of
information. The Christmas
tree is a Germanic custom
which spread gradually and
irregularly in the United
States. But the Cheyennes Of
North Dakota had long had
a very similar custom.
&c hris TIM a S" retranslated
from the Arapahoe tongue
means "The Birthday Of the
Son of the Stranger on High"
Delightful as much of it is,
the book is too long and re-
petitive and it is a shame,
too, that Mr.. Bauer's style
lacks the felicity his subject
deserves.
Still. the subject over
comes the treatment, and we
could do worse than remem-
ber that pioneer faces that
could smile on Christmas
when that day was only q
slice of light between two
periods of privation and dan
ger are the lasting gifts the
first Western Christmas max
ers have left for U.S."
Evening star., 1961-12-25
BY DONALD MTNTZ

CHRIS TMAS ON THE
AMERICAN FRONTIER
1800-1900 by John E. Bauer.
illustrated by Charles Nc
Laughlin. (Caxton Printers,
Ltd, So
There are many, many
ways to celebrate Christmas,
some, of course, better than
others. What we think Of as a
typical, American Christ
mas" is in reality a blend of
any different European
customs with an admixture Of
domestic ingredients.
John E. Bauer's Christmas
on the American Frontier
1800-1900" begins with a sur
vey of these European Gus
toms before getting down to
the business indicated by the
title.
The Dutch settlers Of New
Amsterdam celebrated Christ
mas with the old Dutch Gus
toms of ice skating, the
drinking of punch, and the
lighting Of the Yule log"
Gifts had been distributed
earlier, on December 6, when
presents were given to chill
dren in memory of good st.
Niklaas."
A little further north,
though, you would have been
committing a misdemeanor
by celebrating Christmas at
all. In 1859 the General
Court of Massachusetts, en-
acted a fine of five shillings
for the observance of the hol-
iday, and this law was not
repealed until 1881" Christ
mas, it seemed, had too much
of the Church of England
about it for the Puritan IA
thers.
THERE WAS NO FINE for
celebrating Christmas in the
wilderness, but often there
was no wherewithal. In 1905,
Lewis and Clark were on the
way back from their journey
of exploration and had a poor
time of it. Wrote Clark: I'VE
would have spent this day the
nativity of Christ in feasting,
had we any thing either to
raise our Sperits or even
crafty our appetites, our
Diner contested of pore Elk,
so much Spoiled that we cate
it thro' NEAR necessity, some
spoiled pounded fish and a
flew roots"
Later, at a Hudson's Bay
Company post on Puget
Sound, things were better,
The factors journal says of
December 25, This being
Christmas day I gave the
men a liberal regale of eat
ables and drinkables to make
up in some measure for the
bad living they have had all
year here"
The journal for the follow