davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-04-13
PTA Position

The PIA stand on the
proposed conversion of Frost
burg State Teachers College
to a branch of the University
of Maryland has been mis-
understood. Some of our
legislators. including Gov
ernor ]. Millard Tawes, were
under the impression that
PTAs were against the con-
version per Sc.
The position taken by the
Prince Georges County Coun-
Gil of Parent-Teacher AsSoci-
ations is that a comprehen-
sive study of higher education
in Maryland be undertaken
before proceeding with any
phase of the Warfield plan.
The Warfield plan is based
solely on the expansion needs
of the University of Mary
land; it does not take into
consideration the needs of
other phases of higher edu-
cation.
When the PTAS Of this
county appeared at the
public hearing on the Frost
burg matter we appeared in
support of a comprehensive
study as exemplified by
House Joint Resolution No.
90. This support was given
in accordance with a reSolu-
ton passed by local PTA
units of Maryland at the
1860 convention Of the Mary
land Congress Of Parents and
Teachers.
While we have the highest
regard for State Supt. Thomas
G. Pullen and the Maryland
State Board of Education, we
were not at Annapolis in sup
port of DR.. Pullen, nor in OPP
position to the conversion as
such. We feel strongly and
emphatically that a full study
of all higher education in
Maryland should be made
and evaluated as a whole
before making any drastic
changes in the educational
system of this State.
Frances Lee Garrison,
For the Executive Board
of the Prince Georges County
Council of Parents and
Teachers Associations.
Evening star., 1961-04-13
Right to Educate

The primary right to edu-
cate belongs to the parents.
Natural law says this, so did
the United States Supreme
Court in the unanimous Ore
gon decision.
The belief that the right
to educate belongs to parents
is not universal. Russia and
CaStro's Cuba do not agree.
They do not agree in any
totalitarian states; Hitler's
Germany did not agree.
The United States, true to
the natural law and to the
dignity of man, has always
insisted the primary right
belongs to the parents and
so long as they fulfill this
right within the framework
of justice for the individual
and society, the Government
will not and cannot
intervene.
The very concept of the
right of parents to educate
preSuppoSeS that since not
all parents are agreed on
how their children should be
educated, the right can never
be exercised within a single
system. There is nothing
wrong with this, either, for
it is a part of what has made
this a great Nation. We are
a Nation of diverse people
and our greatness comes not
from people being stamped
into a single mold, but
through the development of
the best elements of our
diverSitieS (E PluribuS
Unum) into a unity Of
achievement and respect.
The public school system
evolved as a broadly based
means for providing a ma
jority of the parents with a
satisfactory means of full
filling their right and obliga-
ton to educate their chill
dren. Its existence derives
not from the Government
but from parents who dele
gated to it their right to
educate their children. The
public school system has
served those parents who
chose it for their children
satisfactorily. 1t has done so
well that sometimes people
forget that it is only one of
the means by which parents
may exercise their right to
educate their children.
Starting long before the
public school system and
developing side by side with
it in this great Nation has
been a private school system
that fulfills exactly the same
Evening star., 1961-04-13

function as the public school
system, that of permitting
parents to exercise their
right to educate their chill
dren.
In the most important
manner these two systems do
not differ, but are exactly
the same. Neither exists as
an end in itself; both owe
their existence to the fact
that they are chosen as a
means for fulfilling the pa
rental right.
Remembering that consti-
tutionally the public schools
cannot exist as an end in
themselves but only as a
means for fulfilling the pa
rental right to educate, there
has always been a basic in
justice in a method of sup
port that offers financial
support only to those parents
who choose to exercise their
rig ht along with the
majority
Catholics have for a long
time formed a majority of
those parents who exercise
their right to educate in
schools, other than public. 1t
must be understood this has
never been a privilege but a
constitutional right.
Catholics did not from the
beginning, as perhaps they
should have. insist that equal
justice required that if some
were aided then all who ed
ucate their children had an
equal right to tax benefits.
A. G. Finn
4 y
In Lester L. Kimble's
letter, he puts the public
school system i. the same
category and deserving the
same esteem and allegiance"
as the presidency, the Con-
greSs and the Supreme
Court.
1t is the right and duty
OF the parent, not the State,
to provide for the education
OF his child. The first schools
in this country were church
schools. If, later on, COM
munitieS decided to operate
public schools, does this give
the public school system a
special exclusive right, either
actually or economically, to
force other educational
systems out of the picture?
We could end up like Rus
sia with all schools State
schools and all education di-
rected by the State!
Mary Louise Robinson.
Evening star., 1961-04-13
Divergent Views of John Birch Society

faces the same potent force
of public opinion that de-
stroyed the Whig Party more
than a century ago.
The forces of socialism will
suffer increasing defeats in
their efforts to dominate
mems minds. If Americans
retain even a spark of the
spirit of independence in
herited from their forefath-
ers, the greatest political up
heaval in our history lies
somewhere ahead. And this
will be accomplished in the
traditionally American way
- in the grasSrootS from
which the power of the great
political parties stems. This
revolution will be swift and
terrible, but bloodless, and we
may again see the death of
a political party which has
ignored it's traditions and its
duty to represent the major
ity view in a great public
issue.
Charles w. Carter
r. -
I speak for a family of
six adults in saying that we
wish you would discontinue
the articles by Ralph Nc
Gill. They definitely hurt
The Star, and make one feel
like giving up the paper.
His recent attack on the
John Birch Society was the
last straw. Even friends of
ours who do not particularly
care for the society said
that Mr.. McGill's roughness
and miSstatements of fact
shocked them.
The John Birch Society
stands for love of country,
patriotism. Is this wrong?
1t stands against an alein
Communist my, who
would destroy us both from
within and without. Is this
wrong?
1t does not believe in pour
ing out the taxpayers hard
earned dollars in foreign aid.
1t knows that our Constitu-
ton gives no mandate for
such give-aways.
The John Birch Society
believes that those individ-
uals who appear to favor, by
words and acts, foreign
"iSmS," should be restrained
from so doing when such
words and acts affect the
security of our Nation. Can
this be wrong? No!
j. E. Collins
Evening star., 1961-04-13
Hats Off!
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used If
letters carry ,DriterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
terS are subject to condenSd-
ton. Those not used ipiH be
returned only ,Uhen accom-
panied BY self = addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star., 1961-04-13
THE POLITICAL MILL
Civil Defense Iona Overdue
By GOULD LINCOLN

The Congress and the
country are called upon by
President Kennedy to provide
for tremendous expenditures
for military defense of the
United States. For example,
the Kennedy budget for the
fiscal year 1862, beginning
July l, estimates expendi-
lures for this purpose at
S43.8 billion. Further, the
House Armed Services Com
mittee is now considering a
bill just introduced by it's
C h airman, Representative
Carl Vinson of Georgian
administration easure
which authorizes nearly $12
billion for new missiles, air.
craft and naval vessels. This
is all for military defense.
AS of today, however, the
relatively insignificant sum
of $105 million is the Ken
nedy budget figure for civil
defense. This is something
for the American people and
the Congress to think about
in the light of the repeated
warnings from our military
and scientific leaders that an
enemy nuclear attack would
probably kill off go million
people - half of them Cor
more) destroyed by radio
active fallout, after the tar
gets had been reached.
1t is something to think
about, (a) because it is gen.
orally believed the United
States will not strike the
first blow in the event of q
third world war, and (b) be-
cause, Notwithstanding the
talk that nuclear war is so
unthinkable as to be an i'm
possibility, the history of the
world has been one of wars
and there is little reason to
believe our potential enemies
will not start an aggressive
war, unless America gives up
entirely because of a threat
ened attack.
The Kennedy estimate for
civil defense and defense
mobilization follows exactly
the estimate submitted by
former President Eisenhower
in his budget message last
January. The President, how
ever, has promised to give
the subject further conSidera-
ton. He could very well
triple or even quadruple this
sum in a later request to
Congress after the studies
now underway are completed.
Also much will depend on
the international situation,
The appropriation for the
fiscal year now closing was
approximately $61 million for
civil defense.
Great Deal To Be Done
When President Kennedy
appointed his new director
of the office of Civil and
Defense Mobilization, Frank
B. Ellis, a New Orleans attor-
ney, he said: 1T is imperative
that the civil defense func-
tions be organized and per-
formed with maximum effec-
tiveness." Mr.. Ellis, known as
an effective organizer, says
frankly there is a great deal
to be done; that he and the
President see eye to eye, and
that he expects at the proper
time necessary steps will be
taken. One of the most i'm
portant steps is to arouse
public support for and reali-
zation of the need of ade-
quate civil defense. The
American people should not
wait like sitting ducks to be
killed off to the extent of one
third of their total number
whenever the enemy decides
to attack. 1t also will be nee
essary to awaken members OF
Congress to the gravity OF
Evening star., 1961-04-13

Vic P1OD1Cl11. NOIlSI CSS COulU
at least see to it that bomb
shelters and fallout shelters
are provided in all public
buildings. There is no such
shelter for members of the
House and Senate today, not
withstanding all the new and
costly buildings provided for
the lawmakers.
Some hopeful signs are
emerging, however, that the
ordinary citizen is waking
up to the situation. Real
estate and building opera
tors, for example, are seeking
to include in new dwellings
fallout shelters. The addi-
tional cost is moderate, it is
said. One California operator
has succeeded in placing
fallout shelters in % out Of
26 new moderate priced
dwellings.
Rockefeller Warning
Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller
of New York months ago
spoke out strongly in favor
of the construction of shell
ters and urged that people
be encouraged to provide
them and that they be aided
by government to do so. A
Rockefeller panel report,
dealing with civil defense,
said: There are few prob
lens of the Atomic Age with
which the United States has
had greater difficulty in
coming to grips than civil
defense. Because of our his
toric invulnerability to di-
rect military attack, we have
treated civil defense as a
minor adjunct to our overall
strategy. both IN terms of
planning and in the resources
allocated to it." This is put
ting it mildly. The American
people, in large part. seem
to believe that an all-out
nuclear attack will never
come, or if it does come,
nothing can be done about it.
That is about as defeatist an
attitude as we could adopt.
The latest exploit of the Rus
SianS-putting a man into
space and bringing him back
to a designated place-is just
another evidence of the dan
ger the American people may
face.
Another impelling reason
for us to do something about
civil defense is the fact that
If our potential enemies know
there is good chance for
civilian survival, it will act
as a deterrent to attack. For
civilians are there to produce
and to back up the military
defenses. Without such Sup
port the military may be
soon ineffective. Sc civil de-
fense can make for a strong
position at the conference
table.
Reports are to the effect
the Russian Communists are
giving far more attention
and money to civil defense
than are we. The same is
true of some of the coun-
tries of Western Europe, in
Guiding Britain and especial
ly the Scandinavian coun-
tries. In the last, bombproof
places, as we'll as shelters
against fallout. have been de-
veloped on a big scale.
AS of today, we do have
effective warning systems.
We do have 1000 mobile hos
pitals. But there is need for
greatly increased stores of
medical supplies, for stored
food to be available in case
OF attack. in addition to
shelters. The Federal Govern
ment can show the way and
the local governments can
help greatly. but the people
themselves have to learn to
help themselves.
Evening star., 1961-02-19
History and Hypocrisy

In connection with the Kremlin'S
synthetic weeping and gnashing of
teeth over the death Of Patrice Lu-
mumba, the world would be well advised,
we think, to read carefully the COM
munique issued by Katanga's Interior
Minister. Certain factual and logical
aspects Of this curiouSly eloquent state
ment leave much to be desired, but there
can be no doubt about the validity of
some Of the questions it raises in answer
to the Communist worlds violent and
.virulent reaction-a thoroughly hypo-
critical reaction-to the fate that has
overtaken the Congo's time Premier.
These questions have to do particu-
larly, and quite pertinently, with the
record Of mass political assassination
in the Soviet Union, and they have to do
also with the Kremlin's completely in
such terrible crimes as the brutal
crushing Of the 1856 Hungarian revolt
for freedom and the cold-blooded
killing Of men like General Maleter and
Premier Macy. These are little facts
Of history (not so little, really that
ought to be kept very much in mind as
the Kremlin strives to squeeze the last
ounce Of propagandistic advantage out
Of the tragedy of the Congo.
Evening star., 1961-02-19
Airborne Muscle

There are two reasons to express
approval Of the announcement by the
Strategic Air Command that 1t now has
an airborne command post in the skies
at all times.
- The first is the relative comfort
given by the knowledge that sufficient
rank and authority in our first line of
retaliatory defense are in non-v -vulner-
able position. In. other words, If the
moment Of awful decision comes, an
individual who has been trained and
alerted to exercise this grave RESPONSE
bility presumably will be outside a
danger zone for himself and In posses
sion Of reliable information on which
to base the essential decision.
The second reason lies in the very
fact, as announced, that SAC has been
testing this command procedure since
last July-that, In a period when so
many things pertaining to our defense
procedures were being debated and
disputed against political background,
the career men who have this awesome
responsibility were really taking care
Of their business. In the light Of the
times, we hope that the SAC airborne
commander also has, or soon will have,
a counter-punching force in the nearby
friendly sky.
Evening star., 1961-02-19
BootIess MeddIinq

Galoshes are nuisance enough at
best, but surely the nuisance would be
compounded If the lady Of the house
insisted they had to be parked every
night in the, basement. From early
childhood, however, we have been
taught-and often remember-that they
may be left by the door instead Of worn
to break snowy and muddy trail across
clean floors and carpets.
On this basis, we indorse the in
dignant position taken by the majority
Of residents Of New York suburban
cooperative apartment that the meddle-
some management had best leave their
boots alone instead of collecting them
nightly in an unidentif1able pile in the
basement. Mrs. Irving Monk, not only
indignant but eloquent, expresses our
view. She says the sight of garbage
collectors" Juggling off her boots and
others Is revolving" that leaving such
footwear by the door is time-honored
tradition in every dwelling, farmhouse
and mansion in the world" and that
the effort spent in such bootless activity
Evening star., 1961-02-19
so Years Ago

Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge Of Massachusetts, was
up in arms so years ago be-
cause Senator William E.
Borah Of Idaho, wanted to
amend the Constitution to
give the States control over
senatorial elections. The
Star Of February 6, 1911.
quoted Lodge: ITO call such
a scheme as this progressive
is a mockery; it is retrogres-
sion and reaction Of an ex-
treme kind. Reduced to
its simplest terms, it Is
merely a proposition to re-
duce the Senate to a second
House of Representatives
with two CongresSmen-at-
large from each State, who
are to be called Senators,
and who are to hold office
for six years. Every
schoolboy can recite the
names of Senators chosen by
legislatures during the last
hundred and twenty years
whose ability and talents
have adorned the annals Of
this body and been conspicu-
Gus in our history. :"
Evening star., 1961-02-19
Who's Happy?

When Governor TaweS says every
body seemed happy" with the congress
Sional rediStricting scheme now pending
before the Maryland Legislature, he
means the Democratic politicians, largely
from rural areas, who boss the State.
For the "final" plan, which in all nkeli-
hood will be approved quite soon, is
clearly designed in the first place to
interfere in no way with the Solidity Of
their local political organizations With
one major exception, 1t serves also to
preserve the grossly unfair advantage
in congressional representation which is
enjoyed by the residents Of privileged
areas of the State.
OF all the happy ones, Governor
TaweS should be the happiest. The rural
Eastern Shore 1st congressional district
in which he lives contains only 223,395
residents. According to new Census
Bureau figures, 1t Is the eighth most
SparSely populated district in the Nation.
In contrast, Maryland's 9Th district,
including Montgomery County, is among
the largest in the country and, under
the Tawes plan, will be the biggest in
the State. Yet the Tawes plan leaves
both the 1St and the 9Th districts un-
touched. What this means, in the
simplest terms, is that the vote OF.
Montgomery resident In congressional
elections will continue to have roughly
one-third the value of vote cast by Mr..
Tawes or one Of his neighbors. AS
Montgomery continues to grow, the gap
will become even wider.
The decision to- carve up the huge
5th district (Which includes Prince
Georges County, certainly is COM
mendable. AS we have said before, no
one canquarrel with this as beginning,
since the 5th district long has been the
most unbalanced in the State. But to
halt at this point, as the legislative
leaders have done, is indefensible.
There are not one, but several ways
congressional district boundaries could
be revised to contain roughly equal
numbers Of voters II that were the goal
and desire Of suff1cient number of
legislators. While 1t is not a perfect
solution, the proposal Of Montgomery
delegates to transfer one Of the three
low-populated Baltimore city districts
to the 6th-diStrict area would be a
worthwhile addition to the Tawes plan,
and we hope the Montgomery members
at least will make flght for 1t.
Evening star., 1961-02-19
Hard Road Ahead

Not many groups Will have more
important assignment than President
Kennedy's Advisory Committee on
Labor Management Policy. For to
very considerable extent the economic
future of the country will be affected
by the measure of the committees sue
cess or failure.
BaSically, this 81 member group
has been asked to work out sound wage
and price policies. More specifically,
Mr.. Kennedy has asked the members
to study and make recommendation
to him which will promote free and
responsible collective bargaining, indus
trial peace, sound wage and price
policies, higher standards of living and
increased productivity. They are also
asked to study and submit recommen-
dationS on policies designed to make
American products competitive in the
world markets, and on "the benefits
and problems created by automation
and other chronological advances
This Is big order-a real whopper.
1t is enough to test the optimism Of the
most hopeful Pollyanna. On the sole
basis Of past experience, one could safely
say that nothing Of consequence would
have emergeds even a few years ago,
from such an undertaking. But this Is
1851 There is no longer any place for
the old concept Of labor and manage
ment as natural enemies, inevitably
condemned to fight each other to the
bitter end. In the interests of reason
able Stabilization at home, and certainly
in the interests Of competing abroad,
costs must be held down while produc-
tivity rises. This, we are sure, is recog-
nized by many leaders in both industry
and labor. Whether the doctrine can
be "sold," of course, is another matter.
In this respect, much will depend on
the impartiality and effectiveness with
which the public members Of the COM
mittee approach their assignment. But
the undertaking is one which, while no
miracles should be expected, ought to
be approached in hopeful spirit. This
country is in for real trouble unless
voluntary solutions Of these problems
can be worked out.
Evening star., 1961-02-19
Commends Critic

Congratulations on your
excellent Sunday music COL
umns and on your increased
coverage Of coming music
events. It is good to- have q
critic who is unafraid to ex-
press his true thoughts even
about a local production
such as the Opera Society Of
Washington's performance Of
"Idomeneo." The critics pri-
mary function Of increasing
the public's understanding Of
what is good and of giving
the artist some way Of eval-
uating his performance is
best served by one who has
integrity as regards that
which he reviews, rather
than by one who aims to fill
the auditorium in future per-
formances. "Idomeneo" had
the. flaws Mr.. Lowens men
toned and 1t Is we'll for as
piring singers to realize that
they should not attempt to
emulate most Of the singers
in this performance.
Martha Gordon.
Evening star., 1961-02-19
For the Record

Recent staten ents by
Maryland State Senator
Northrup that opposition to
his bill for reapportionment
Of the State Legislature Is
based on politics in the mar
row sense, are without foun-
dation in fact. Such groups as
the National Council Of Jew
ish Women's State Legislative
Committee, after careful
study and consideration,
came to the same conclusion
as the League Of Women
Voters and the Maryland
State Committee for Fair
Representation - nam ely,
that they would oppose such
bills as the recent Walsh
proposals and other similar
bills, which failed to correct
the present basic inequitieS
In Maryland apportionment,
and failed to provide for fu-
ture changes in the popula-
ton. All Of these groups
made their position clear at
the recent hearings on SEN
ator Northrup's proposed bill.
The position taken by the
National Council Of Jewish
Women is that they will sup
port any bill which will
make basic changes consist
ent with democratic repre-
sentation in the State gov
ernment, not provide merely
"sopS" to this group or that,
and 1t must provide for
changes in keeping with fu-