davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Exploring Inner Space

Although our Initial penetration OF
the earth's 'inner space" has received
relatively little publicity, the Importance
of recent achievements in Project
Moholes earth-drilling program should
not be underestimated. AS DR.. Frank
Press Of the California Institute of
Technology told newspaper editors at
their science seminar here, America did
not make the most Of the opportunity
Of appriSing the world of our unprece-
dented feat Of cutting into the second
layer of the earth's crust. The tech
nology involved in Mohole, he said,
may be as great as that Of putting
man in space"
A Russian scientist, DR.. Vladimir
v. Beloussov, has concurred in DR.. Press
view as to the Importance Of exploring
the earth'S interior mass-as far as
human ingenuity and tools will permit.
He praised the American efforts to drill
into the oceans floor toward the
mysterious mantle" which is believed
to compose about 80 per cent of the
global mass. A few weeks ago Mohole
engineers succeeded in sending a drill
nearly 10000 feet below the Pacific
Ocean Off Guadalupe Island and 900
feet below the sea bottom. They re-
covered a core sample from never
before-reached volcanic layer Of the
crust. President Kennedy hailed the
achievement as historic landmark in
our scientific and engineering project"
Mohole gets its name from the So
called Moho or Mohorovicic Disconti-
nuity, the shell which lies between the
outer crust of the earth and the inner
mantle. Within the mantle is the
earth's core, believed to be a molten
mass. Present plans are to drill,
eventually, through the Moho into the
rocky mantle and to bring back samples
of the latter for laboratory study.
Scientists hope that such studies will
help to reveal the origin Of our planet,
to throw light on earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions and otherwise to add
sphere on which he lives-and which
he plans to use as platform for leaps
toward other planets.
Drilling hole through the sea into
the sediment below may not have the
spectacular aspects Of thrust into
space, but the obstacles that must be
overcome are fully as challenging to
scientists as sending rocket toward
the stars. And 1t does seem logical to
give some attention to exploring the
innards OF our own planet while seeking
to learn more about our planetary
neighborS out yonder.
Evening star., 1961-05-01

by more rigid requirements-some Of
which might not even be economically
feasible for all of the homes to meet.
AS a result, according to District officials,
most of the homes have done nothing,
nor are they likely to do anything until
they know what is to be required of them.
Presumably, therefore, where fire
hazards existed in the past. they still
exist. The knowledge Of this should
stimulate the Commissioners to hold
public hearings on the proposed new
rules as quickly as they can, in order
that the necessary standards can be
firmly fixed and enforced.
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Senate Post-Mortem

Since the Senate leaders on both
sides of the aisle already have been
brtefed on the Inflated Cuban "in-
VaSlon," 1t is difficult to know exactly
what purpose is to be served by the
inquiry which gets under way today. We
suspect that if the Cuban effort had
been successful there would be no de-
mandS for poSt-mortem on Capitol Hill.
But since it failed, and since nothing
fails like failure, the investigation, in
our scheme of things, follows almost
automatically. Parenthetically, from the
standpoint Of partisan politics, the
country is fortunate that Mr.. Kennedy,
not Mr.. Nixon, must accept RESPONSE
bility.
The testimony will be taken by Sen
ator MorSe's Foreign Relations subcom-
mittee on Latin American affairs, and
the principal witnesses will be Secretary
Of State RuSk and CIA Director Allen
Dulles. The testimony can be expected
to disclose division within the admin
iStration as to the wisdom Of the Cuban
undertaking, and it will certainly pro-
duce an after-the-event judgment from
some Of the Senators that they would
have recommended against 1t had they
been consulted in advance.
With respect to this, the important
point to bear in mind is that the Presi-
dent is the responsible director of our
foreign affairs. The SenateS role is i'm
portant, but secondary. In such mat
ters as Cuba and Laos, the final de-
cisionS, for better or worse, must be
made by the President. The Senate can
not take over this function, directly or
indirectly, and Mr.. Kennedy can be ex-
pected not to give ground in this area,
despite the Cuban debacle.
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Choice of Evils

Although the Communicated Pathet
Lao rebels have announced that they are
ready to start negotiating for cease
fire, the situation in Laos seems to be
growing bleaker and bleaker by the
minute.
This is so for several reasons,
including the following: Q) The rebel
forces, despite paying lip service to the
idea of a cease-fire, have intensified
their attacks on the troops Of the
American backed government of Pre-
mier Boun Gum. (2) These troops have
shown little will to fight, offering listless
resistance at best. And (3) the Soviet
Union, while joining Britain in calling
for an end to the shooting and for IA
nation conference aimed at establishing
independence and an AuStrian-like neu-
trality in Laos, has continued to airlift
large quantities of military supplies to
the Pathet Lao.
Clearly, together with Peiping and
the Red regime of North Wet Nam, the
Kremlin has been striving in recent
weeks not to bring about a prompt
cease-fire, but to delay such action long
enough to enable the rebels to win a
dominant military position, and thus
give the Communists powerful bargain
ing leverage at the projected 14-nation
meeting. This kind Of duplicity, this
bad faith, has always been part and
parcel of Soviet dealings with the free
world, and in the present instance 1t
has brought the Laotian situation to
point Of crisis, confronting the South
east Asia Treaty Organization, the West
ern powers and, particularly the United
States and President Kennedy with a
cruel choice Of evils.
Thus, If there is no cease-fire in the
next day or so, SEATO, which has obli-
cations to Laos, will have to decide
whether or not to intervene militarily-
which means, as practical matter, that
our own country will have to decide
The decision, if affirmative, could lead
to an "eScalating" war of incalculable
consequences, and that is why-having
in mind the Laotian terrain and the
Laotian armyS poor resistance to the
rebelS-men like Senator Fulbright have
opposed the idea of committing Ameri-
can forces there. Yet, If Laos is aban-
doned, the next countries in line for a
Communist take-over will be South Wet
Nam, Cambodia and Thailand. Indeed,
the whole Of Southeast Asia will be ex-
posed to Red engulfment-a develop
ment dangerous to the security Of the
United States.
These are but few Of the con-
siderations that our Government, and
specifically the President, must care
fully and prayerfully weigh now. The
moment is a crucial one; whatever
decision is reached can have fateful
effect on the lives of all of us.
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Graham Misquoted

A recent letter to The
Star criticized Billy Graham
for advocating the teach
ing Of communism" in our
schools.
The letter misquoted him
completely by leaving out
just "the evils Of" Mr.. Gra-
ham said "That the evils Of
communism should be taught
in our schools so that 1t
might be better understood. !"
No one could be more op-
posed to communism than
Mr.. Graham and no one
breaches against 1t more
than he doeS-on radio and
television and every occa-
sion that he has the oppor-
tunity.
George M. Wilson,
Secretary Treasurer, Billy
Graham Evangelistic ASso-
citation,
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Questions and Answers
By THE HASKINS SERVICE
reader get by mail question Of fact by


first printed in Liverpool in
1888. Mr.. Gregg came to the
United States in 1893,
founded his own publishing
company, and continually
worked to simplify and i'm
prove his shorthand system.
@. What becomes Of lady,
bird beetles in winter?-F. S.
A. They hibernate. It is
during this period that in
sect hunters in the West
explore remote canyons where
these beetles are maSSed
together in hundreds Of
thousands, and collect them
for future use on farms. One
mass of ladybirds found by
collectors was so immense
that it was estimated to con-
tain over 750 million of the
beetles. They are gathered in
sacks and kept in cold stor-
age until the following
spring.
Q. In what month Is dog
wood" winter?-K. T.
A. This is a popular name
for a spell of cold, disagree
able weather, often with a
touch of frost, that may oc-
cur in May when dogwood is
in bloom. The dates May IL,
IL and l3 are sometimes re-
ferred to as the "Dogwood
Winter"
Evening star., 1961-05-01
New Start

With new set Of proposed fire
safety regulations for Washington
nursing homes now before them, the
Commissioners have acted sensibly in
canceling the orders they issued several
weeks ago, requiring the nursing homes
to comply with structural standards in
the 1851 building code.
It is quite clear now that the
previous orders were issued with undue
haste, especially since it was known
that the fire-safety provisions Of the
1861 code were being restudied, and that
1t was likely they would be made more
stringent. Yet it should be said that
this action was spurred by the shock of
the tragic fire at the Mount Vernon
Nursing Home on February 1. when
seven lives were lost, and by an under
standable desire to avoid a similar dis
aSter elsewhere.
The 18 District nursing homes
involved, however, were caught in an
impossible and ridiculous position. On
the one hand they were directed to
make expensive improvements according
to one set Of rules, and on the other they
were told that these might be superseded
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Shocked by GE

The United States can
certainly be proud Of its
industrial leaders, the elite
of the middle class. for the
upright. courageous and
honest stand they took at
the General Electric annual
stockholders meeting April
26. 1861. These 2.756 persons
rejected antimanagement
proposals for an inveStiga-
ton Of whether Mr.. Cordiner.
chairman Of G.. E., or the
board Of directors had known
or approved Of illegal price
fixing and bid-rigging. One
of the many stockholders
who expressed confidence in
the Cordiner administration,
Hazel Greeley, called for "a
standing ovation of thanks
and confidence to our board
Of directors and its chair
man." These shareholders
are our businessmen, the
men who guide our lives.
influence us through their
advertising, the men on
whom the eyes Of the world
are focused. These are the
men who would be without
jobs tomorrow were 1t not
for we the consumers; yet,
they call for "a standing
ovation and vote Of conf
dence" for the corporations
which exploit us.
How uprighteously tn Q
shareholders defended one
another. How courageously
they, the leaders Of industry.
took their stand against the
American public. How their
integrity shone forth when
they barred proposals calling
for impartial investigation Of
the boards activities In price
fixing matters.
Let us hold our heads high
and show our confidence and
reverence for the men who
are biting the hands that
feed them
Barbara C. MOritx.
Evening star., 1961-05-01
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Liqhest of All Elements Found
By THOMAS R. HENRY

The lightest stuff in Crea-
tion. has been added to the
chemical elements.
This is positronium, a gas
which weighs only about a
thousandth of an equal
amount Of hydrogen, hitherto
considered the lightest of all
the elements and the mother
stuff" Of the universe. This,
by the large, still holds true,
for positronium, except under
exceptional circumstances has
a lifetime of only q ten
millionth Of a second. Hith-
erto its very existence has
been theoretical.
Compared to Hydrogen
1t has been possible, how
ever, to carry out an in
vestigation of its properties
and behavior in a research
project under the auspices
of the National Science Foun-
dation. The investigator was
DR.. Sergiodi Benedini, of
Carnegie Tech.
Hydrogen hitherto has been
considered the simplest of the
elements. It's atom consists
Of a single proton, or elec-
trically negatively charged
elementary particle, around
which revolves in an orbit,
like a planet around the sun,
an electron, or negatively
charged particle. The proton
weighs 1,840 times as much
as the electron.
In the poSitronium atom
the proton is replaced as the
Evening star., 1961-05-01
WATCHING THE WORLD
Rv (POSRY 6 NOYES
French Are Focinq Grim Period
By CROSBY S. NOYE
Foreign Correspondent of The Stor

neither rogues nor fools and
who have held positions Of
authority and high respect
in the government and the
army for years.
Execution for treason Of
officers like Gen. Maurice
Challe would inevitably
cause an enormous shock
to public opinion in France.
RepreSsive measures against
other leaders who have fol-
lowed their convictions and
their conscience into rebel
lion could we'll increase
rather than diminish the
divisions within the country.
In the moment Of peril it is
true that the country united
behind Gen. de Gaulle. The
Army in large part recoiled
from rebellion against the
government and France was
saved.
To assume that this unity
will be lasting, however, or
that the country has emerged
from the crisis stronger than
before is simply absurd. A
large section of public opinion
can be expected to oppose the
stern measures proposed by
the government. The Army,
whose loyalty in the crisis
was far more a matter of dis
cipline than conviction, is
close to despair. The prospect
today recalls painful memo
ries Of 1914 when Gen. de
Gaulle's postwar purge Of the
Army and the civil service
left scars which are still un-
healed.
Necessary scars, perhaps.
Sternness Called For
There are times" warns
Michel Debre, when the ma
ton and liberty can be de-
Tended without difficulty.
There are other times when
for the nation and liberty the .
law must be made Stricter
and discipline more demand
ing. If the government in
the coming months appears
more harsh toward certain
complaisancies and certain
interests. tell yourselves that
it is to restore to the state a
firmness which the period in
which we live makes tndiS-
pensable. No one in this
matter should forget the ad-
venture through which we
have just passed"
Many in France and else
where will agree. To every
one it is obvious that the
threats of armed rebellion
and civil war that have
shaken the country three
times in the last three years
cannot continue. What is
clear enough today, however.
is that the crushing Of the
generals revolt in Algeria in
itself settled nothing at all.
And that the long and pain
full operation which is now
beginning involves the most
serious hazards to the patient.
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Compus Corruption

Revelations by New York grand
Jury Of widely scattered rigging Of college
basketball games by professional gam
blerS raise questions that should be of
serious concern not only to law enforce
ment authorities but to the colleges
involved. According to District Attor-
ney Frank 8. Hogan in New York, the
campus corruption extended to many
parts Of the country, with at least six
colleges and a dozen players touched
by the scandals.
Indicted on 81 counts was Aaron
Wagman, a well-known figure in gambl
ing circles. Apparently Wagman and
his leg-n1en were able to invade the
campuses of the colleges with ease and
to "propoSition" the players with bribes.
Usually an offer Of 81 900 was sufficient
to induce the accused players to miss
baskets and otherwise "shave" points.
All but one Of the bribed players have
been given immunity In return for their
testimony before the grand jury.
Question No. /: How could the
gambling racketeers operate so freely
and presumably over long period with
out arousing the suspicious Of college
officials?
Question No. 2: Why did young
athletes, supposedly schooled in ethics
and good sportsmanship, succumb so
readily to the corruptive influences of
crooks?
The answers to both questions may
be supplied as inquiries by State and
college authorities proceed. And, it
seems to us, the parents of these youths
should have special, personal interest
in finding the answer to the second
question.
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Feeding the World

In underdeveloped coun-
tries, starvation is the normal
way Of life. Hitler once said.
II have only to deal with
1919 Of the people in any
country. The other 90% will
go along If they are fed"
Isn't this the basis Of Com
munist strategy? In country
after country we have seen
the depressed populations
trading their freedom to
Khrushchev for three meals
a day.
To a starving man, the
regimented Communist COL
lective farm promises the
most basic of all freedoms
freedom from hunger. This
then is the strength Of COM
muniSm, and on this front
America will have to fight.
Below is my program which
I believe will save the under
developed nations Of the
world.
Consider India: We should
arrange with Nehru to make
available Immediately the
land for eight Strategically
located 100000 acre pilot
farms. We should send the
best American agricultural
brains and equipment to staff
and work each farm, and we
should hire local labor at a
living wage to assist.
Each pilot farm would serve
as an agricultural training
school. We should encourage
the Indian government to
form farm CO operatives
throughout the country. and
we should furnish the know
how and equipment to make
these productive, taking long
term notes in payment. In
other words, our Government
should undertake a huge
agricultural lend-leaSe act.
With Indian labor working
Indian soil, and feeding In
dian people, the country
would experience the salts
flying feeling Of accomplish
ment that is necessary to
combat communism success
fully. Surplus American food
can never do this since 1t does
not create a potential supply
within the country. It is
eaten today and must be
furnished again tomorrow.
Such a program would not
only rob communism Of its
main prop, it would revitalize
the American farm imple-
ment industry, create Jobs
at home, and would create
a giant reservoir of world
goodwill.
Paul McIlvaine
Evening star., 1961-05-01
Funds for Space Race

Recent events in Cuba ana
in many other parts Of the
world seem to lend emphasis
to the fact that in the years
to come our country cannot
afford, to be second in any
thing. Unfortunately, the re-
cent feat of Yuri Gagarin.
and Russian technology, has
proven that our national ca
pabilitieS have not been de-
veloped to their utmost in
certain fields.
1t has been stated that our
country would require a 20
to 40 billion dollar program
in order to match or surpass
RusSia's progress in outer
space, and that even with
such a program it is extremely
doubtful that it can catch
up in the next decade.
A space exploration prof.
ect should be initiated i'm
mediately by the Federal Gov
ernment with the whole
hearted assistance Of the
American public.
AS the democratic nation
par excellence, we cannot
copy the Communist drive
for world conquest that is
providing Russia with a
dreadful Single-minded deter
mination. but we can give all
Americans the opportunity Of
a magnificent national goal
in another field of progressive
endeavor for the good Of
humanity.
Under the leadership of
the National AeronauticS and
Space Administration and our
most eminent scientists in
the field, invite all American
industry, private enterprise
and general citizens to donate
towards a National Space
Conquest Program, with the
Federal Government match
ing all contributions to this
project, dollar for dollar.
Each contributor, whether
major industry, private en-
prise or individual, contrib
uting from his speciality, be
it in scientific research, man
ufacturing facilities or other
wise, would receive credit by
having his name added to a
national roster Of persons
and entities participating in
this national project.
This could very well be the
most ambitious program ever
devised by a nation, truly
worthy of being part Of the
new frontier" Our standing
as the greatest nation on
earth must be maintained
and such a program, backed
by the American public, would
prove to the world the
strength and capabilities Of
a truly democratic nation.
Gabriel v. de LizaSOain.
Evening star., 1961-05-01

atomic nucleus by a so-called
positron, or positively charged
elementary particle whose
weight is exactly the same
as that Of the electron.
The hydrogen orbit remains
constant. The positronium
orbit decreases rapidly until
the two particles get close
enough to annihilate each
other. This requires about q
ten-millionth of a second
although there may be some
rare exceptions. When the
two particles are annihilated
generally two photonS, i'm
material particles of light, are
created. These incorporate
the energy which was con-
tanned in the atom.
Another Elemental Atom
This work should contrib
ute." says a foundation re-
port, ito a better under
standing of problems related
to the structure of water and
other liquids. The idea that
the atom of positronium may
be present in some form Of
lated to some tentative ex-
cavity in water may be re-
plantations of viScoSity and
compressibility in liquids"
But the major accomplish
ment has been the proof that
positronium actually exists,
however briefly, as an actual
particle and must be consid-
cred another elemental atom,
or basic particle of matter
as known on earth.
Evening star., 1961-05-01

greSs to siphon United States
funds to Soviet captive coun-
tries which, in turn, can pass
on the benefits Of American
gold to Moscow"
Paul Harvey, news COM
mentator, reported to the
effect that so many people
were writing President Ken
nedy that he (Kennedy) had
had the letters examined and
found that many Of them
were written by people who
are mentally i'll!
Is one mentally Ill II he
sees this country selling itself
out to the SovietS and then
writes the President urging
him to take remedial action?
E. H. Osth.
Evening star., 1961-05-01
PARIS.

PARIS.
The moment of triumph
and relief has been all too
brief. In sour dissonance with
the joyful cheers of President
de Gaulle's supporters abroad,
the French themselves are
facing what promises to be
for many the grimmeSt and
most unhappy period since
the end of World War II.
Armed with the unlimited
powers of the new constitu-
ton, Gen. de Gaulle has
plunged with a kind Of Old
Testament resolution into the
next phase. The purge which
has started in France and
Algeria is no simple matter
of disciplining a handful of
traitorous army officers. It
is rather a wholesale opera
ton Of the most radical kind
and 1t promises to reach to
every level of military and
civil administration. Before
it is over the social and
political fabric of the nation
may well be strained to the
breaking point.
Many Arrests Made
Already in Algeria the
government has announced
the arrest of 400 civilians
while 400 more are sought
by police. Two hundred army
officers, including seven gen.
erals and five colonies, face
disciplinary action which
might for some involve the
penalty Of death. Another
200 civil servants will be
punished or fired.
In France itself the num-
ber Of arrests is unknown. In
the Paris region alone police
inquiries have been started
against more than 300 peo-
Pile, and each inquiry in
turn is expected to involve
many others. BY the most
modest estimates the police,
the courts and special tri-
bunals set up by the govern
ment will have their hands
full for months to come.
A spirit Of charity and re-
conciliation is no part Of the
current mood. Charity and
reconciliation might have
been possible If the danger
GUS period had been passed
and the Algerian problem
safely settled before the deer
divisions within the country
came out into the open. Now
that a showdown has beer
forced on Gen. de Gaulle
there can be no question Of
mercy. The mood today is ont
of firmneSs that borders or
repression, and anger tina
borders on vengeance.
Also, perhaps, there is 6
growing realization Of how
deep the infection lies. Tht
opposition to Gen. de Gaullt
and his policies In France
may be limited to a minority
But this minority includes 6
number Of people who art
Evening star., 1961-05-01
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDriters' correct
names and addresses. All let
terS are subject to condenSd-
tton. Those not used totll be
returned only iDhen accom-
panied BY self = addressed,
stamped envelopes.