davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
Fiosco at Fort Lee

"Snafu" was the CT slang term ap-
piled generally land aptly) to all man.
ner of military mishaps during World
War II. But this is too pallid descrip-
ton of the shocking circumstances of
misconduct which surround the con-
Struction of an air strip at Fort Lee, Va.
The facts, as they finally have come
tumbling one over another in testimony
before the House Government Opera
lions Committee, are simply incredible.
Excessive amounts of money clearly
were poured into the air strip in viola
ton of both the law and Army rules. On
occasion, construction records were
falsified. Official orders were secreted.
Embarrassing" papers were removed
from official files. It seemed, in the
words of one officer, that eve had
bear by the tail and we could not let co."
Wherever the fault for this ridicu-
louS business lies, it is clear that those
responsible have not only wasted the
taxpayers money but have displayed a
brazen contempt for higher military
and civil authority which requires sub
stantially more in the way of follow-up
action than the wriSt-Slapping repre-
mands thus far administered
Attorney General Kennedy, whose
department declined last year to take
any action on the Fort Lee case, now
has ordered a review of the latest teSti-
mony. This is all to the good. Whether
or not there is action from the outside,
however, it seems to us that the as
sessment of blame and the melting out
of punishment in this case is a re-
sponsibility which primarily should be
met by the Army. And quickly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
Guest From Brazil

As far as Latin America is con-
cerned, events in Argentina have mon
opolized the headlines in recent days
In the long view, however, what is going
on in Brazil, even if not quite so drama
tic at the moment, may well be more
significant than President Frondizi's
custer and the military takeover in
Buenos Aires.
This is point that is likely to re-
ceive special emphasis here in Washing
ton during the impending state visit of
Brazilian President Joao Belchoir
Goulart. At any rate, in terms of physi-
cal size, population and natural re-
sources, his country is by far the big
geSt and richest to the south of us, and
it also is burdened with economic,
social and health problems of the first
magnitude.
Thus, among other things, Brazil
today, though blessed with vast poten-
tial riches, is in very serious trouble.
This is so for wide variety of reasons.
First OF all, for example, the country
has been suffering an almost frighten-
ing degree of initiation In addition, with
Communist elements doing their best to
exploit the difficulties for the greater
honor and glory of the Kremlin, Mr.
Goulart and his government must con-
tend with such factors as widespread il
literacy, productive deficiencies in in
dustry and agriculture, too much job
leSSneSs, bad housing, and a rather
blind indifference to all this on the
part Of group of exceedingly rich
BrazilianS who ought to have enough
common sense to realize that basic re-
forms are sorely needed If President
Kennedy's much-touted Alliance for
Progress is ever to get off the ground
Mr.. Goulart, who is himself a rich
man with a desire to correct the grave
inequitieS that exist among his country
men, apparently sees eye to eye with
Mr.. Kennedy on the alliances detectives
for cooperative American ad-
vancement. Although he has strong
leftist tendencies, he has indicated that
he wants to keep the Reds in their place
and build up Brazil as free and pros
pering nation.
1t is because of all this that Mr..
Kennedy has stressed that he is lex
tremely anxious" to have Mr. Goulart
visit among us. AS Brazirs President
he can do much to help energize the
Alliance for Progress.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
No Reason for Leniency

Alvin Creepy karpiS, onetime CO.
leader of the notorious Barker-Karpis
gang of kidnapers and killers, wants out.
He believes that Is years of good con-
duct behind the bars of Alcatraz Prison
have earned him his freedom. We are
not impressed with this argument. Those
who remember some of the murderous
rampages of his ruthless, machine-gun-
ming mob have always felt that Creepy
was lucky when he was sentenced to life
for the 100000 ransom kidnapping of
William Hamm, jr, Minneapolis brewer.
Most Of his associates were less fortu-
nate. They died in gun battles with FBI
agents.
karpis and his gang were involved
in numerous bank robberieS in which
employees, policemen or spectators were
gunned down with rifles, machine guns
or pistols. Three policemen and a bank
employe were slain in two bank raids
in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, a
sheriff was shot to death in Missouri, a
bank guard was killed in Chicago and
other persons were wounded in similar
forayS in the Midwest during the gangs
heyday in the early 1930s. The gang COL
lected 100000 ransom in two kidnap-
ings-that Of Mr.. Hamm and another in
which Edward G. Bremen, of the st.
Paul banking family, was the victim.
The kidnapings brought the Federal
Bureau of Investigation into the hunt
for the gang, with dramatic results.
ma" Barker and her son Fred were
killed in gun battle with the FBI in
Florida, Arthur (Doc) Barker was sent
to Alcatraz and other members were
captured and given varying sentences.
However, Karpis managed to elude the
FBI, meanwhile sending haunting post
cards to Director ]. Edgar Hoover. But
Mr.. Hoover personally led the group Of
FBI agents who finally tracked him
down and arrested him, without gun
play, in New Orleans on May l, 1886.
State authorities decided not to
press numerous murder and robbery
charges after Karpis was sent to Alca-
traz for life. There is nothing, however,
in this mans record which would justify
any leniency. His good behavior in
prison hardly atones for the atrocious
crimes which he and his colleagues COM
mitted when they were terrorizing the
whole Midwest some thirty years ago.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
The New Justice

In choosing Deputy Attorney Gen.
eral Byron White to replace Associate
Justice Charles Evans Whitaker, the
President has made a selection which,
we think, will both strengthen the
Supreme Court and enhance public con-
ttdence in that august tribunal.
The rise Of this 44-year- lawyer
has been remarkable. A worker in the
beet fields, Phi Beta Kappa at the
University of Colorado, all-American
halfback, Rhodes Scholar at Oxford,
standout professional football player,
magma cum laude law graduate from
Yale, successful private lawyer, amateur
politician, and now destined for the
laws highest reward-a place on the
Supreme Court. Quite a record-and an
object lesson of sorts for those who think
that opportunity is dead in this country.
Nothing could be more hazardous
chan to attempt to predict the line that
4 new justice will follow when he takes
MS place on the court. And this is a
good thing 1t seems reasonable to sup
pose, however, that Mr.. White, at least
as Of now, is in sympathy with the posi-
such questions as criminal law enforce
nent, contempt of Congress cases, the
legal moves against the Communist
party, etc. That he will be a vigorous
champion of civil rights may be taken
for granted AS to the larger body of the
courts work, those many cases which
never rate the headlines, it is impossible
to say. 1t is significant, however, that
the American Bar Association has
stamped him with its highest indorse-
ment, exceptionally well qualified" and
that the initial reaction from all seq
ments of the political spectrum in
Congress has been very favorable.
In short, on the mans record, the
President has made an excellent choice
in his first Supreme Court nomination.
And if the expectations are fulfilled the
court itself will be materially benefited
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
Doubts 'Psychomet'

An experimental device
called the "Psychomet" is
discussed in The Stars story
March 26) about a Re
Spouse Time Study" at the
National Institute of Mental
Health.
If it were not for the fact
that the mentioned DR.. James
E. Birren, was also an au-
thority cited by the Federal
Aviation Agency a couple of
years ago when it chose to
retire" all airline pilots over
age 59-regardless of their
individual c o m p e tency or
health-there might not have
been this rapid response to
reach for the inkbottle as I
read this:
THE Psychomet already
has been used in aging studies
of 100 pilots and air traffic
controllers plus 80 young and
81 elderly volunteers.
THE elderly were slower"
Considering the locale and
all. you may agree that a
casual reader could get the
unfortunate impression that
the elder pilots the older
controllers and the mysterious
plus" 81 elderly volunteers
were all somewhat inferior in
their respective professions
because Of their responses on
the pSycho-medico invention.
Yet nothing of the sort has
been established.
It would be obvious that
speed response is not the
sole, or even the most i'm
portant criterion of profess
sional ability. Otherwise
teen-agers would make the
best aStronauts, editors, doc
tors or even ordinary COM
mercial pilots.
Perhaps the most redeem
ing part Of your story is
when you say, "NIMH ex-
perts say they don't know E. :"
Robert F. Trimble.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
Funny Money

The present administra-
ton is violating the spirit
Of one Of Americas most
basic charters. The Pream-
Bile to the Constitution de-
clares: I'VE the people Of
the United States, in order
to form a more perfect
Union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common de-
Tense, promote the general
welfare. and secure the bless
ings of liberty, to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain
and establish this Constitu-
ton of the United States Of
America"
Promote and provide have
become synonymous in the
vocabulary of the New From
tier.
Consistent with current
le-to-the-grave legisla-
ton it has been suggested
the Government issue to
every new born baby a $780,
900 bond at 3 per cent.
During the lifetime Of the
child he would receive $4,000
per year from interest and
assuming a life expectancy
OF so years, he will have
poured $4,000 into the
economy during his lifetime.
This is $4,000 more than
the original bond and more
than the average person
earns in a lifetime-which
obviously means more money
for everybody. AS an added
benefit, red tape and the
dissipating effects of bu-
reaucracy would be eliminat-
ed. (Na turally the bond
would revert to the Govern
ment upon death Of the in
sured thus relieving the ben
eficiaries of a burdensome
inheritance taxi
In the event the admin
istration is seriously contem-
plating this or similar legis-
lation, it would be most ap-
propriate if they sent it to
Congress on April. /.
George Twigg III.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
School Vandalism

The world may be advance
ing materially but it is ret
rogreSSing in other ways as
evidenced by the $85, 900
worth Of windows broken in
the Districts schools last
year.
When I was a boy, in the
1920s in Jacksonville. Fla,
there weren't a dozen windows
broken in a year in any Of
the schools I attended, and
for good reason. The COM
munity was against it, and
the politicians were against it..
Anyone caught throwing
rocks at a school building
was promptly punished by
the law or expelled from
school. Hooliganism simply
was not tolerated either in or
out Of school.
I can remember, in gram
mar school, that a trip to
the principals office was a
terrible thing to contemplate.
The hayward kid could get
his legs blistered with a rub
Der hose. and he didn't dare
go running home to mama
either because mama was on
the side of the school author
tiles.
Not only the kids but the
adults knew the wisdom of
avoiding trouble with the law.
There were no soft-hearted
judges, wet-eyed psychia-
trists, and very few glib law
yerS around the courthouse
trying to free criminals for
another crack at the COM
munity.
This sort OF justice may
seem harsh to the present
day bleeding hearts who con-
tend that criminals are real
ly pretty nice people, just
confused. and if only we will
be kind to them long enough
they will eventually see the
error of their ways ana stop
terrorizing the community.
pauI MnVIvaine
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
100 Years Ago

LIE DullQ-up lot DlOOQy
Shiloh" in which both the
Blue and Gray were to suffer
terrible losses, was in full
swing a century ago. Two
vast but unSeasoned armies
a veteran European general
called them armed mobs"-
were gathering for a tragic,
inconclusive battle. At Cor
NTH. Miss, Confederates
were thicker than fleas on
a dogs back; 20 miles away
at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn,
the Federals were massed.
The battle site, 4 miles in
land from where the Union
Army was gathered, was
marked by nothing more con-
spicuous than a little log
chapel known as Shiloh. The
battered South needed a
victory badly. Confederate
generals either already at
Corinth or heading there in
cluded Albert Sidney john
ston, one of Dixie's most
gifted military men; Beaure-
gard. Braxton Bragg, Leoni-
das Polk. the fighting bishop,
and Breckenridge, the soldier
statesman. The Union top
brass" was such as Grant,
Sherman, Lew Wallace. w. H.
L. Wallace. Stephen Hurlbut
and Benjamin Prentiss. The
Star Of April /, 1862, quoted a
correspondent of the Cincin-
natl Gazette, writing from
Savannah, Tenn: "All our
scouts concur that the Rebels
are concentrating the main
body Of their forces at
Corinth, Miss. Troops arrive
there daily from Georgia,
Louisiana. Alabama. Missis-
sippi and Tennessee. Scouts
estimate them now at $4,000,
but 10000 is doubtless nearer
correct. Beauregard is in
command. He sent out sew
eral regiments yesterday to
take a position 6 miles nearer
our lines. Our forces at
Pittsburg are being rapidly
augmented, steamer after
steamer arriving continually,
laden with fresh troops. Re-
cent indications relative to
the persistent efforts of the
Rebels to fortify the town Of
Corinth would seem to dem
o1strate an intention to make
a vigorous resistance there.
1t is, however, the general
belief of all the prominent
officers Of Gen. Grants COM
mand that the Rebels will
retreat on our approach; but
should a battle occur at Cor
NTH, it will doubtless be one
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01

of the hardest fought and
bloodiest affairs of the pres
ent war. The Rebels are
impressing citizens of Ken
lucky and Tennessee into
their service, and arming
them with axes and picks.
Four Rebels armed with
Arkansas toothpickS were ar
rested near Charleston yes
terday. :" The Star of
April 2, 1862: Letters re-
ceived in Missouri from the
Army of the Southwest say
the Rebels under Price and
Van Dorm are moving to-
wards Memphis, in response
to a call from Beauregard for
help, and that all the Rebel
forces in the West are or
dered to concentrate in West
ern Tennessee for a great and
desperate struggle. :" Star,
April 4,'1862, datelined Louis
vile. April 3: "An intelligent
man, who left Memphis a
week ago, reports Gen. A.
Sidney Johnston as saying
that the Federals could out
flank them in any position
they might take, and there
fore Notifications were use
less. Johnston says the only
chance for the ConfederateS
is an open fight on the field.
Our informant thinks that
Corinth, Miss, is the chosen
place for the battle. He says
the Rebels had about $4,000
troops on the line between
Memphis and Huntsville.
Gen. Grant is understood to
outrank Gen. Buell. D.. (and)
will command the whole
force. Gen. Grant is to take
the field in person at Pitts
burg Landing. The wealth.
er is sultry: delightful morn
ingS and evenings, but de-
cidedly too hot for Northern
constitutions at noon. The
roads are admirable. and the
country toward Corinth is a
high upland. about half I'M
der cultivation and the rest
wooded, through which there
are few obstacles to the
easy movement of a large
army. :"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01

lelI CnaL commence. he is
that word made flesh.
Here upon my desk is a
cheerful message from that
great Christian to another
who wants to be a Christian
in his heart. After a visit
with him in Taiwan came
away ready to write under
the picture of this modern
Moses, who in spite of in
ducements from our common
foe, has been true to the
West: heads up" While still
in his presence, and under
the spell of his victorious
faith, I quoted to him a verse
Of a hymn, his equally dedi-
Gated wife has sung so often
in the prayer group she
weekly leads:
Ye fearful saints, fresh
courage take,
The clouds you so much
dread
Are big tOith promise and
tDiH break
In blessings on your head.
In the gospel of st. Luke,
which is so often in the hands
of the generaliSsimo, there is
the fascinating record Of a
time strikingly like ours. The
writer was a doctor and first
Of all he looks at the symp-
toms. Here we find what
someone has called "a de-
vastating catalogue of crises
and commissions, of for
midable ruthless forces play
ing havoc with good mems
dreams, of prosecutions, ra-
cial hatreds, and martydom:
OF wars and rumors of war"
Then come the physicians
directions and advice as to
what to do when these things
come to pass. What is it?
Cast yourself to the ground in
depression and defeat? Aban-
don hope and wait for the
worst? No, just the opposite.
When these things come to
pass" the early Christians
were exhorted Lift up your
heads for your redemption
your salvation is not far
away; it is drawing near"
That is the sound of the
trumpets we desperately need
in these days. Too often our
craven doubts make us trail
tors to the faith we profess
and send us scurrying to join
the ranks of the defeatists.
The truth that will keep us
on our feet with heads erect
is that the Lord God omnip-
otent reigneth! His great
white throne is not empty!
Already evil has been sent
enced to death. The crash
and thunder of today is the
signal for the salutation of
the dawn. To the trumpet
tune lift up your heads, lift
up your hearts," increasing
millions under all skies cry
with a faith invincible, I'VE
lift them up unto the Lord"
The voice of the Waterman
ringing in the darkness is
heard with the assurance:
THE morning cometh!" To
doubt that is spiritual trea-
son. Heads Up"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used IL
letters carry 1UriterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
tiers are subject to condenSd-
ton. Those not used tDiH be
returned only tDhen accom- =
panied by self addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
Heads Up
BY DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

Look up and not down"
was the motto of a great
American, an outstanding
preacher, Edward Everett
Hale, once chaplain of the
United States Senate. Prac-
ticing this life prescription
across his many fruitful
years, always he was a per-
sistent .optimist. Long ago
with glorious morning face
he went to his reward. But
never was it more imperative
for those determined to see
the best that glimmerS
through the worst, to obey
Hale's injunction to face to-
day and all the days with
heads up"
In contemporary America
the voice of the pessimiSt
is in the land. Sounds and
scenes too often suggest a
bog full of croaking frogs
vocal with a mournful chorus
prophesying doom's day. It's
always sad when today's evil
succeeds in making men
whose heads have been up
play Judas to their once de-
fiant faith. Martin Luther
seemed like a full-fledged
optimist when he wrote a
hymn containing the lines:
And IL the World NTH deUils
filled,
Should threaten to undo
We will not fear for God has
tUilled,
His truth to triumph
through US.
But later the COLLINS of
pessimism got him! Hear
him as he exclaims-"I am
sick of life, If this life can
be called life-no hopes Of
any improvement-the age
is Satan's own-gladly would
I see myself and all my people
quickly snatched from it."
In Norman Vincent Peale's
new book, The Tough
Minded Optimist," he quotes
the following dictionary def
milton of optimism-"The
doctrine that the good of life
overbalances the pain and
evil of it, that life is pre-
ponderantly good. The in
clination to put the most
favorable construction upon
actions and happenings min
imizing adverse aspects. con-
ditions and possibilities; a
cheerful and hopeful tenn
permanent"
What an elixir it is when
in a world such as this one
comes face to face with an
unbending character whose
faith refuses to be brow
beaten by rampant evil. Such
an experience was mine as I
looked at the radiant coun-
tenance of Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek and heard
his confident testimony with
regard to the things to be.
He sees the vast mainland Of
his beloved country over
run with Communist maraud-
ers bent on vindicating their
fanatical social theories by
ruthlessly trampling into
dust that ancient lovely civil
iZation and breathing out
cruelty toward him and the
free world to which this
apostolic Christian has
pledged his dedicated life.
On an island, which for all
the world to see, is a labora-
tory Of an emerging good life
for all. this practitioner of
his faith daily reads the Holy
Bible in which is the assur-
ance though an host encamp
against me my heart shall
not fear. though war should
rise against me even then
will I be confident" And he
is confidentl I've communed
with him and I have seen and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01

more people register and vote
so that we may have a Gov
eminent that is truly re-
Sponsive to the people.
Stephen Thatcher.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-01
FROM THE STAR FILES.
SO Years AGO

Representing himself as a
true Progressive" and label
ing President William How
ard Taft as a "reactionary,"
Theodore Roosevelt stumped
furiously so years ago for the
Republican presidential NOM
ination. The Star of April 4,
1912, quoted from a speech
Teddy" made the day before
at Louisville, KY: &c. >.
Every man who fights fear
lessly and effectively against
special privilege in any form
is to that extent a progress
sive. Every man, who, directly
or indirectly, upholds a
privilege and favors the spe-
cial interests, whether he acts
from evil motives or merely
because he is uzzle-headed,
or dull of mental vision, is
lacking in social sympathy. or
whether he simply lacks in
terest in the subject, Is a
reactionary. A well-meaning
man may vaguely think of
himself as a progressive with
out having the faintest con-
ception of what a progressive
is. When the President
supports those courts which
declare that the people have
no power to do social justice
by making laws . and when
he opposes the sober judg-
ment of the American people
against indefensible and re-
dictionary court decisions,
then he shows himself to be
a reactionary. :"
The theater was the
thing" in Washington so
years ago. The Star of April
7. 1912, listed these offer
ings: Belasco: FIRTH Scheff
in the Night Birds a no
table production of Johann
Strauss, plus Victor Herbert
and his orchestra: soloists
Alice Eversman. soprano of
the Chicago Opera Co."
Miss Eversman is The Stars
former music criticD: Ma
tional, Raymond Hitchcock,
in the sensational musical
comedy, The Red Widow
book and music by Claiming
Pollock, Rennold Wolf.
Charles Gebest":: Columbia:
The Columbia Players in a
complete and inspiring pro-
duction of Edwin Milton
Royle's four-act comedy
drama success, The Squaw
MAN..