davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
March of Progress

The completed plan for major Fed
eral buildings on both sides OF Lafayette
Square should end, and most happily so,
an esthetic dilemma which has plagued
the Government for years. President
Eisenhower expressed determination
in the latter days Of his administration
that the historic character OF the park,
which forms such an essential part OF
the setting Of the White House, should
not be destroyed by the huge new struc-
lures. The fulfillment of this determine
ton is due largely to the continued
personal interest of President and Mrs.
Kennedy.
AS Mr.. Kennedy put it, the design
for 1.-THE Presidents Park" amply dem
onstrates that 1t is possible through
imaginative and careful architectural
treatment to accommodate the onward
march of progress" without sacrificing
the essential elements Of "our cultural
and historic heritage" in American cities
Indeed, the Lafayette Square plan pro-
poses not merely to save specific Struc-
lures of historic interest largely by
setbacks Of the big new office buildingS),
but, particularly on Jackson place, to
recapture through restoration work a
great deal of the 18th century flavor
and charm of the block which already
has vanished.
Construction is expected to start on
the long-needed new executive office
building on the west side of the square,
and a new courthouse on the east, by
early spring. The funds already are
in hand. Apparently it will be necessary,
however, for the restorative features to
be cleared by the House and Senate
Public Works Committees before they
can proceed. These proposals, which
will not add substantially to the total
cost, are nevertheless crucial to the
value of the plan as whole. They
should receive speedy approval.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
Everest Revisited

BY most standards, one tiny 2O-by-
40-foot school building seems rather
insignificant, but not when the site is
$4,000 feet up in the Himalayas. And
not when the builder is Sir Edmund
Hillary, conqueror of Mount Everest, and
the pupils are Sherpas-children Of the
doughty high-altitude guides and por-
tiers who made Sir Edmund's historic
conquest possible. Flown part Of the
way, carried on Sherpa backs the final
arduous miles, the prefabricated build
ing now is attended by so children, some
teen-agers learning to read and write.
Only one little school, but in the hearts
of Sir Edmund and the Sherpas, 1t tow
ers as high as Mount Everest-just Is
miles away.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
Monroe Doctrines Strength: Virtue of Prudence

writers beginning on January
Z would be affixing to their
envelopes the likeness Of
James Monroe. 1t is his por-
trait that adorns the current
five-cent stamp. Certainly it
would have been a simple
matter merely to print addi-
tional supplies of this adj
hesive. Many would, more
over, have welcomed such a
decision, especially as the
likeness Of our First President
already has adorned some 10
different issues in as many
years.
Could it be that Federal
authorities are reluctant at
this time to give prominence
to the author Of the Monroe
Doctrine? Do they deem 1t
prudent that we not be re-
minded each time we post a
letter how important was
the contribution to national
growth by this great Vir-
ginian? If so, not all Amer
leans will concur in that view
merely because a certain Eu-
ropean power is currently
ignoring, If not actually
violating. that Doctrine.
Thomas G. MOrgansen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18

and Soviet-made materiel are reported
in the rebel-held twin capital cities OF
San'a and Taizz, while Saudi Arabian
and Jordanian support is reported for
pro-royalist Yemeni tribes that still are
opposing the revolution in northern
parts of the country. AS OF now, at
least, the power and advantage appear
to rest with the revolutionary govern
ment headed by Brigadier Abdullah Sal
lal and his German educated deputy,
Abdul Rahman Baidhani. If this gov
eminent does in fact prevail, San'a and
Taizz alone will not answer the many
questions remaining either for the fu-
ture of Yemen or the future OF Middle
East politics.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
Halls the Chief

I was one Of the lucklesS
citizens of New Jersey who
had to sit outside Newark in
the broiling sun-the tenn
perature was IS degrees-op-
posite a dump from which
smoke and cinders blew over
me. My silk suit was ruined
with perspiration. The Presi-
dent could so easily have
been flown over by helicop-
ter, had his intention been
anything but political.
In all history, I recall no
other such insolence toward
the mass of people (regard-
less of race, creed or COLOR.
Perhaps Louis XIV is the ex-
ception. In his reign, the
peasants had to spend their
nights beating the swamps
to keep the frogs from croak-
ing so that their master
could sleep.
If there are still frogs in
Foggy Bottom, Washington
ians had better start prac-
ticingl Marian NJ. Strack.
Locust, N. j.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
Politics and Mr.. Johnson

In asserting his innocence Of the
charges brought against him by Fed
eral grand jury, Representative john
son says it is curious timing" and a
strange coincidence" that the indict-
mentS were returned just three weeks
before election day.
The innocence or guilt of the Mary
land Congressman is, of course, a matter
which will have to be established by the
courts, and it is unfortunate, perhaps,
that the final decision in this complex
case will not be reached until long after
the November elections are over.
We see no valid grounds for COM
plant, however, against the timing OF
the grand jury action. The Federal pros
ecution officials involved are Democrats,
as Mr.. Johnson is. Certainly they had
nothing of partisan nature to gain by
pressing the case at this time-an action
which, apart from it's effect on Mr.. john
son, has revived the savings-and-loan
controversy as a major Maryland polit-
ical issue. It is interesting, moreover,
that the indictments came just six days
after Representative Johnson, along
with other Maryland Democratic con-
gresSional candidates, received warm
personal Endorsement from President
Kennedy in Baltimore. This indorse-
ment was repeated last Friday night by
Postmaster General Day at Democratic
rally in Mr.. Johnson's home district on
the Eastern Shore.
Joseph D. Tydings, the United States
attorney who presented the case to the
grand jury, points out that the jury
heard its final witness just last Thurs
day, winding up an investigation which
had spread over 10 months. 1t is under
stood that Attorney General Robert
Kennedy personally concluded that
prosecution was indicated on the basis
Of the testimony, and that there was
no justifiable reason to delay the action.
Under these circumstances the Justice
Department could properly have fol-
lowed no other course than it did.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18

wait for the invader to
threaten us with force.
The strength of the Monroe
Doctrine is the virtue Of pru-
dence-that it is wiser to
prevent the establishment of
a Soviet satellite in this
hemisphere than to delay
while the satellite builds its
strength. When we have con-
suited all our sister republics,
we must hold ourselves free
to act with those who are
Immediately threatened even
though others may hold back.
DR.. Commager's third case
carries no prescription of the
prudent action contemplated
by the Monroe Doctrine ex-
cept for those who prefer to
wait. T. A. Lane.
=
In connection with next
years increase in first-class
postage rates, announcement
has been made that a brand
new five-cent stamp will be
issued. On it we shall see a
reproduction of a bust of
George Washington Sculp-
tured in 1785 by the French
artist, Jean Antoine Houdon.
But for this decision, letter
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18

Washington readers may
be interested in an angle of
President Kennedy's political
swing through New York and
New Jersey on Columbus Day
which has not received
prominent coverage.
For more than an hour,
every highway leading into
the Lincoln Tunnel was
blockaded so that the Presi-
dent might drive through
the streets of New York,
through the tunnel, make his
speech in Newark on the
Geraldinis and return to New
York!
Meanwhile, tens Of thou
sands of automobiles driving
south from New England and
even more coming north-at
one of the greatest concen-
tration points of traffic in
the world-were forced to re-
main parked three abreast
on the Turnpike. The lines
stretched for miles in every
direction and when allowed
to move created a snarl be-
yond description.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
Revolt in the Desert

It is a mark of the times that a
revolution in tiny and primitive desert
country in the southwest corner OF the
Arabian Peninsula should arouse appre-
hension in faraway capitals. For in
these days a small spot Of trouble has
the potential of magnet, attracting
intervention from other centers Of pow
er and posing the threat Of sparkling
greater troubles elsewhere.
In this case it is easy to feel that
the people of Yemen, whose ancestors
once were subjects Of the Queen OF
Sheba, have reason to throw off re-
pressive royal rule. 1t is equally easy,
however, to realize that emergence OF
a new form of government and an ap-
proach to modern economic and pol1t-
ical PHILOSOPHERS could have an impact
beyond Yemen'S own borders. Adjoining
to the south, for example, is one OF the
dwindling roster of Britain'S colonial
possessions, the Protectorate Of Alden,
still a strategic foothold on the penin-
Sula. Adjoining to east and north Is
Saudi Arabia, an oil-wealthy land-pro-
Western in its economic ties, but where
government in recent years has been IN
delicate balance between new and old.
And over the entire area, reaching from
the Yemeni corner northward to the
Turkish frontier, are blowing the vola-
tile winds of inter-Arab rivalrieS. 1t is
into these winds that the Soviet Union
is constantly ready to release any ex-
plosive charge that promises greater
trouble.
There is evidence already that the
magnet-like qualities of the Yemeni re-
volt have exerted their pull. Military
personnel of the United Arab Republic
y
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18

When the history Of the
Berlin conflict is written, it
will be recorded as one of
the tragedies of modern
times, if for no other reason
than the fact that the prob
lem need never have arisen.
In an article in the Oc-
tober 1862 issue Of Foreign
Affairs, Gen. Lucius D. Clay
recalls how the Four Power
occupation Of Berlin was
conceived in the first place.
He relates that, in January,
1914, the British represen-
tative on the European Adj
visory Commission submit
ted a proposed plan Of de-
marcation (of Germany
with provision for a Berlin
enclave to be carved out Of
the Eastern or Soviet zone"
Gen. Clay tells us further,
"Our Government demurred
somewhat as the War De-
partment had suggested q
counter proposal which
would have made Berlin the
center of a pie to be carved
in three slices"
"In point Of fact" Gen.
Clay says, "our Government
was more concerned about
whether we would occupy the
northwestern or southwest
ern zone (of Germany :"
Nonetheless, President Roose-
welt approved the British
proposal.
The United States has
justly claimed rights of &C.
cupation in West Berlin, by
reason, first, of our victory
over Nazi Germany, and,
second. Of written agree
ments with the Soviets. In
contradistinction to these
political rights, the United
States has no significantly
vital interests in West Ber-
lin, Of an economic or secu-
rity character, in the sense
that, say, we have vital in
terests in Cuba. Nor is West
Berlin a factor in the strate-
gic defense Of Western Eu-
rope. Quite the contrary.
In continental Europe,
West Germany is the area of
crucial Importance to us. We
had an opportunity at one
time to add Thuringia and
Saxony to West Germany, an
action which would have
strengthened the Western po-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
LETTERS TO THE STAR
West Berlin Drama UnfoIds Like Greek Tr

faith of cur promises. Even
now this habit of mind has
not left the Germans. Only
on October 5 last Marquis
Childs, writing from Berlin,
reported that Secretary of
Defense McNamara's state
ment about our resolve to de-
fend Berlin has treasured
West Germans who may have
had doubts about American
intentions"
This Skeptical attitude Of
the Germans reflects some
subjective attitudes. Either
the West Germans cannot
comprehend the sense of
American dedication to the
defense of Berlin, or, being
possibly of a mind that would
act differently under the
same circumstances, they are
dubious of the self-sacrific-
ing attitude of others.
But, be that as it may, the
crisis over West Berlin has
now reached a critical stage,
and tension is growing day by
day. Who knows but that the
final act may not soon be-
gin? Khrushchev again
threatens, allegedly for the
last time, to conclude a peace
treaty with the East Ger
mans.
Irrespective Of the origin
Of the problem of West Ber-
lin. or of the possibilities that
may have existed in days
past for a modus vivendi.
any backing down now by
the United States would be
unthinkable. This has re-
Gently been re-emphaSized in
a resolution adopted on Oc-
tober 10 by Congress. The
resolution told the world that
"the United States is deter
mined to prevent by what
ever means may be necessary,
including the use of arms,
any violation" Of Western
rights in Berlin.
This then Is the story, in
brief, of the West Berlin
problem. It is a story that
reminds one, unhappily, Of
the action in the ancient
Greek tragedies, where, trig-
gered by a minor or chance
occurrence, the movement of
the drama proceeds in an in
exorable way to the most
awesome end.
Leon J. Steck.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18

Historian Henry Steele
Commager has woven into
his piece in The Sunday Star
on Cuba some fallacies which
should be challenged if they
are suggested as a basis for
our national policy.
He considers the Monroe
Doctrine to be of little value
because it provides that our
policy towards Europe is mot
to interfere in the internal
concerns of any Of its pow
ers," and he finds that we
have interfered and shall
continue to interfere. Pre-
sumably, DR.. Commager has
NATO in mind. But is this
interference in the internal
affairs Of any power? Haven't
we even recognized hostile
satellite states and the So
Wet conquest Of them on the
basis of their de facto power
as promised in the Monroe
Doctrine? What peoples are
under our domination i'm
posed by force as are the
people of Cuba? I think any
statement that we have in
validated the Monroe Doc
trine by our support Of free
nations of Europe needs more
than mere assertion to sup
port 1t.
His further objection to the
Monroe Doctrine is that we
have converted it into a
multi-national pact through
our inter-American treaties.
All these treaties do impose
on all signatories obligations
to consult on threats and to
act in concert-but when you
have consulted and some
powers refuse to act, are
those threatened obliged to
surrender? Obviously not, as
the President and DR.. Com
mayer agree. DR.. Commager
offers his third basis for &C
tion-"(3) The fundamental
principle Of national security
and of the responsibility,
within the framework Of the
laws, for the security Of our
associated nations, an in
herent right in all sovereign
states" This is, Of course, the
principle on which the Doc
trine is based. The only diff
ference is that the Doctrine
proclaims our determination
not to permit the subversion
to begin while DR.. Commager
apparently feels that we must
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18

sition. These two provinces,
now q part of East Germany,
were originally occupied by
American troops, but were
later transferred to the So
viets as the ultimate quid
pro quo for the United States
Sector of Berlin. (Stalin had
dragged his feet on letting
United States troops into
Berlin, and only President
Truman's threat to hold
Thuringia and Saxony forced
Stain to back DOWN.
During the early days Of
United States presence in
Berlin, the American people
showed only a minimum of
interest in the area. The
glamor Of its having been the
Nazi capital soon wore off.
And, as the seat Of the Al
lied Control Council, its i'm
portance diminished as the
Soviets began the job of
wrecking that organization.
Some elements of the Ber-
lin situation which loom so
large today were unthought
of at that time. First, the
theory that the fate of West
ern Europe was dependent
on the defense Of West Ber-
lin was evolved only later.
Second, with all of Germany
administered as one country,
at least in name, the idea
that West Berlin is the SYM
Dol Of a Germany to be re-
unified was as yet unborn,
Theoretically, Germany was
unified, and Berlin was its
capital, unloved though 1t
was by the non Prussians.
Finally, the freedom of West
Berliners, so passionate a
, subject today, was in the time
right after the war, not much
of an issue. Like other parts
of Germany. if not even more
so, Berlin still had to find
its way back to western civili-
cation.
The blockade and the air.
lift put West Berlin on the
map. Jubilant over its VIC
tory in the blockade, the
United States committed it
self in the heat of the mo-
ment to the future defense
of West Berlin. To be sure,
the commitment had to be
reiterated from time to
time, as the West Berliners
became skeptical of the good
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
THE POLITICAL MILL
BY GOULD LINCOLN
Congress a Whipping Boy

Why does a President find
it difficult to obtain from
Congress legislation he advo-
Gates? Why does he feel af-
fronted because he cannot
dictate to the Congressp 1t
might occur to him that the
American people and their
wishes and feelings have
something to do with the &C
lions of their elected repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Kenne dy,
when he campaigned for cleo
ton to the White House,
made many promises, among
them to get America mov-
ing economically and to inn
prove and siren ct h e n its !
standing in the world. He
would like to blame Con-
gress-and does so-for his
failures, and attributes them =
to the failure on the part Of
the legislators to pass all the
bills which he asked.
Seeks Rubber Stamp Congress
It remains that under the z
very considerable number OF
bills, now laws, which he,
asked and obtained of Con- E
gress, the economy Of the Z
country has not improved, +,
the Federal debt has risen
enormously, the appropria- >
tions for this fiscal year
and for future expenditures,
have run over 500 billion,
The President has taken the,
responsibility on his own \
shoulders for the handling Of
the Bay Of Pigs fiasco in
Cuba. Yet now he is CAM
paigning for a rubber-stamp, [,
Congress. {,
Democratic leaders Of the
Senate and House, Senator
Mansfield of Montana and
Speaker Mccormack of
Massachusetts, and Repres1
sentative Albert of Oklaho-
ma, have performed efficient-
ly. Under their leadership
important m e a sures have
been approved-pe perhaps the
most important is the new
foreign trade law. They have
succeeded, too, in get ting
compromises throug h the
Congress which have given
the President part Of what he
wishe d. Where they have
been blocked, it was because
the country, as q whole, as
represented by their elected
officials, has not been willing
to go along.
A classic example Of Execu-
tive attack on a Congress is
that made by former Presi-
dent Truman in 1913 on the
80th Congress, Republican
controlled, which had defied
him and overridden him on q
number of occasions. Yet that
Congress had to its credit the
passage of the i'm portant
Marshall Plan Act which
helped Europe to pick itself
up out of the dust econom-
ically, and also the Taft
Hartley Labor Act, denounced
by the Unions as a slave
labor act, but long overdue.
President Truman'S denunci-
alton Of that Congress has
been credited in some places
for his reelection in that,
year-but that is doubtful. It,
remains to be seen whether.
President Kennedy's denun-
citation of the 87th Congress-
will be as effective. 4
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18

ford University, California,
who carried out several tests,
at the bottom of the world
during the International
Geophysical Year. They set
traps through ice cracks. q,
Notable, for example, was
one species of amphipods, a
large group of minute cruSta-
ceans, which were caught
literally by thousands In all
the traps. .
Higher animals naturally
were lacking. Because Of the
total darkness no evidence of
plant life was found. All
plants depend on the process
Of photosynthesis which re-
quires light.
There is no natural source
Of food under the ice shelf
but considerable edible mat
ter probably is washed In
from warmer waters.
Life apparently has In.
vaded most inches Of crea-
ton, however inhospitable.
This would appear about the
most inhoSpitable of all.
y 77'
A mobile gas station has
been developed by Army
transportation engineers.
1t consists, according to an
Army report, "of a tire-like
container which can hold up
to 1000 gallons of gasoline
and can be towed anywhere
behind an Army tank, truck
or amphibious vehicle. Each
unit consists Of two huge
tire-like containers. AS many
as five can be towed in
tandem, thus allowing a.
combat unit to double or
triple its normal operating
range with no sacrifice Of
speed or mobility"
High Speed Tests 1o
The prototype is a result
Of more than six years Of
experimentation. 1t can be
used both in the air and on
the ground. In recent tests
it has been dropped without
damage from as high as 500
feet. ~
The Transportation Re-
search Command at Fort
EustiS, Va, has conducted
high speed tandem tow test
ing over both conventional
and very rough road sur
faces. Individual units have
been towed by Army trucks
at speeds up to As miles an
hour and trains of five units
at Is miles an hour. p
There have been rigid des-
ert tests in Arizona and tests
in snow and ice in Alaska at
temperatures ranging down
to SO F.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-18
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Echoes Give SightIess Vision
By THOMAS r. HENRY

Blind men often develop a
high degree of ability to "see"
by echoes. This ability is
present to a remarkable ex-
tent in some animals. 1t may
well be developed much more
among humans.
Experiments demonstrate
ing this have just been re-
ported to the American As
ISOLATION for the Advance
ment of Science by DR.. Win
throp N. Kellogg of Florida
State University. This echo
seeing" the report points out,
has reached a high degree of
perfection on a mechanical
level, so that neither Navy
nor Air Force hardly could
operate under present condi-
tons without it. Still ami
mails remain well in the lead.
Bats, for example, catch
night-flying insects on the
wing by listening to the
echoes Of their own Oft
repeated cries. It has been
determined that dolphins-
probab bly, large toothed
whales as well-navigate in
the ocean by emitting trains
of underwater sound pulses.
Dolphins are able to distin-
guish one food fish from an
other by this method. Some
nocturnal birds use echo
ranging for navigation.
Human Ability INFESTED
In man, however, the abil-
ity remains largely uninves-
tigated. A blind man tap
ping with a cane, and thus
producing a regular sequence
of sound pulses, is probably
the closest human analogue
to these remarkable sonar
systems of animals.
Still, the report points out,
some blind persons show
amazing ability to detect OBJ
jects in their paths. DR..
Kellogg's tests show that this
ability varies enormously
from one person to the next
but probably is present in
nearly everybody and is
capable of much further de-
velopment. 1t may be made,
with further study, a great
boon to the blind and also
shed light on supposedly in
stinctive responses Of others.
4
There apparently is con-
siderable life of a low order
in the total, perpetual dark
ness under the Antarctic ice
shelf.
This has been reported to
the American Association for
the Advancement of Science
by Drs. Jack L. Littlepage
and John S. Pearse of STAN