davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Later, Please

In one form or another, the idea OF
a scenic drive along the historically in
teresting shoreline Of the Chesapeake
Bay and the Potomac River In Southern
Maryland has been kicking around for
years. Now 1t has been resurrected and,
according to news reports, may be in
cluded in long-range schedule OF high
way proposals TO be submitted TO the
Legislature in January.
The disturbing thing is, however,
that some officials are speaking OF
high priority" for the $l6-million high
way. And II this should be the case,
some other high priority" expenditures
would have TO give way. Where2 The
most obvious target is urban areas,
where the most expensive highway con-
struction OF course is concentrated, but
where financial shortages In the State
roads program over the last several years
already have created delay after delay
IN the completion OF a number OF ur-
gently needed roads No doubt the scenic
highway proposal would be an asset-on
a "long-range" basis-to the southern
counties and TO the State as a whole.
But we trust that the legislators will not
permit either this or any other added
starter TO postpone any further those
freeways already authorization which
the immediate need is greater.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Marking Time

There are periods In history when
even an agreement to mark time may be
considered victory of a sort. In effect,
this is what has emerged from the
West German governmental crisis in
the announced agreement between the
Christian Democratic Union and the
Free Democratic Party to patch up
their differences and continue as the
dominant working groups in coalition
cabinet.
Il there was a strictly party victory
recorded in this agreement, it was scored
by the Free Democrats-the minority
partner in the combination that has
governed the Federal Republic during
the past year. Approximately three
weeks ago, Free Democratic members of
the coalition government resigned in
angry protest against the conduct in
office OF Defense Minister Franz-Josef
Strauss, whose answer to magazine
charges Of deficiencies in the West Ger
man defense system had been to throw
his accusers IN jail. The first price tag
for Free Democratic willingness to re-
join the government was the custer
OF Mr.. Strauss, now accomplished. In
addition, however the Free Democrats
also insisted upon and obtained public
promise that 86-year-old DR.. Konrad
Adenauer, first and only Chancellor of
the postwar republic, will relinuuish
that post by the fall of 1868, approxi-
mately two years Before the next West
German general elections.
Actually, this latter condition is not
uniformly unpopular within the Chris
tan Democratic Union itself-deSpite
DR.. Adenauer's long and magnificent
services to both the CDU and to his
country. Younger, and able, men have
developed within the CDU under the
Adenauer tutelage, and the time-for-a-
change mood has been evident In the
party and In the country for several
years past. Under the present arrange
ment, two of the most competent of these
younger leutenants will remain In their
cabinet poStS-Ludwig Erhard as Eco
Monies Minister and Gerhard Schroeder
as Foreign Minister Currently, Mr.. Err
hard is favored to succeed DR.. Adenauer
as Chancellor, and the Erhard- Schroeder
team is expected to be increasingly in
fluential in the new coalition govern
ment. With all this, there has been a
sufficient. compatibility between the
CDU and the Free Democrats to offer
the best available promise for effective
government. 1t has been strained by the
recent crisis, but the frustrated search
ing for an alternative during the past
few weeks demonstrated that no better
solution could be found.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Man of the Year

Now that a reasonable in
terval has elapsed since the
Presidents warning to So
Wet Russia, the results can
with some assurance be as
seSsed.
The Presidents courageous
action rallied the undivided
Latin American countries be-
hind us in a solid phalanx;
reinforced and renewed the
Western Alliance, reaffirmed
the supremacy and ascend
ancy of democracy and con-
firmed once and for all the
proved superiority OF capital
istic systems over commu-
nistic makeshifts. At home
1t raised the Presidents pop
ularity TO a new high and
most Importantly, his action
has preserved the peace OF
the world.
/ proudly nominate him
the Man Of the Year and
for the next Nobel prize for
peace. r. A. M. Alfsen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Mass Transit View

In view Of washington's
consideration OF a mass
transit system. there might
be interest hereabouts In
comment coming from the
State OF Washington con-
corning Seattle's monorail.
Says the November issue OF
the AAA Washington Motor
list:
"As a Fair attraction, the
sleek elevated train was a
huge success. but when they
took the crowds away from
one end OF the line, the
speedy coaches became q bit
pathetic. Yesterday we
counted three people in the
RedVTrain during q noon run.
That's why we need calm
heads and careful planning
on this thing. A fixed-rail
facility needs concentrations
Of people at both ends In
order 10 make both ends
meet"
Washington I. Cleveland.
Secretary. d. G. Division,
American Automobile
Association.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Up to the Hiqh Court

The disparity between the repre-
sentation Of populous and rural areas
in the Virginia General Assembly is not
diSputable; it is fact. Whether, how
ever, this discrimination is sufficiently
invidious" to clearly violate the consti-
tutional rights of urban voters under the
Fourteenth Amendment is a question
which sharply divided a three-judge
Federal court 1t is understandable,
therefore, that Chief Justice Warren
has stayed the effectiveness of the lower
court majority ruling pending a full
appeal to the Supreme Court by the
State.~
Naturally this is disappointing to
Northern Virginians, whose hopes had
been raised for an immediate and
equitable realignment of seats in the
Legislature. Under the order of the
lower court, the State had been given
only until January 81 to initiate a
correction of the present injustices-
virtually requiring special session of
the Legislature within the next few
weeks. Now that requirement, for the
the moment at least, there is uncer-
tainty about the rules which will govern
the general election next November,
when all seats in both the House of
Delegates and the State Senate will be
up for grabs.
AS one of the Northern Virginia
attorneys fighting for more equitable
apportionment has suggested, however,
this disappointment is tempered by the
fact that the Supreme Court now will
have "a chance to pass on the merits
of our case once and for ALL" In its
landmark ruling in the Tennessee re-
apportionment case last year, the high
court said only that Federal courts
might take Jurisdiction in such dis
putes. And this was pitifully little to
say. The absence of guidelines as to
the specific reforms which might or
might not be acceptable to the Supreme
Court has proved 20 be a hindrance
to orderly remedies in several States,
and no doubt this also would have been
true in Virginia-particularly in view
OF the far-reaching position taken by
the two-judge majority in the lower
court Indeed, it is hard to believe that
all of the issues raised by the lower
court in the Virginia case could have
been resolved by special session of the
Legislature until the Supreme Court,
in one manner of another, was heard
from.
On balance, therefore, we think
that Mr.. Warren acted wisely. The
Chief Justice gave no clue in his brief
announcement as to how the Supreme
Court will arrive at final disposition"
OF the appeal from Governor Harrison.
In whatever form, however, the action
OF the high court will shed much-needed
light on the course which lies ahead
for Virginia. We hope 'that it likewise
will be expeditions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17

There is no doubt OF the strong
influence which the Federal Government
can exert in fostering orderly planning
throughout the National Capital Region.
The fact that there also are definite
limits to this influence, however, was
graphically demonstrated in an ironical
twist OF events the other day.
President Kennedy decreed, on this
particular day, that henceforth all Fed
eral agencies will work toward the goals
OF the so-called Year 1000 Plan, which
include, among other things, the idea
that intensive new development in the
area should be concentrated largely in
specifically delineated corridors" which
would be served by major highways and
by rapid transit facilities. Expanding
on the new administration policy, the
President had this TO say:
The success Of the corridor cities concept
depends on the reservation OF substantial
areas OF open countryside from urban deye-
opment II shall be the policy OF the extcu-
tive branch 10 seek 70 preserve for the benefit
OF the National Capital Region strategic open
spaces including existing park, woodland. and
scenic resources
Within few hours OF this an
nouncement, however, the outgoing
members Of the Montgomery County
Council, In one Of their final actions
voted, 4-to-3, to kill the new five-acre
minimum lot coming category, which was
proposed by the County Planning Board
to accomplish the very purposes Of which
the President spoke. This action is not,
OF course, irreverslble, for II will be pos
sible, II the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission chooses.
10 re-submit the proposal later to the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
The Meaning of Freedom

Freedom is a word banded about
so freely its true significance may be
lost on most of us who have inherited
1t as way Of life. For a real under
standing of what it means, perhaps
one should consult the 1,113 brave men
who fell into the hands of Fidel Castro
in an abortive effort to free their home
land. Since the dismal Bay of Pigs
fiasco they have languished in prison
under the most miserable conditions
while their families and friends have
sought to free them.
At last, after several disappointing
reverSals, there appears to be real hope
for the prisoners release. James B.
Donovan, who has labored asSiduously
toward that end, believes a deal may
be completed before Christmas to ex-
change medicines and baby food for the
prisoners, in lieu of the unconscionable
$62 = million ransom earlier demanded
by Mr.. Castro.
Considerable weight is added to
Mr.. Donovan's words by the co-opera-
tive efforts of the American Red Cross,
and the publicly enunciated support
of President Kennedy. OF course, the
President has maintained his former
position that, officially, the Govern
ment can offer only its good will. But
the portents appear bright that, in
some measure at least, our part in the
Cuban invasion blunder will be expiated
by freedom for the prisoners in time
for happy Christmas.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17

newly constituted county council.
Whether the new council will be more
sympathetic remains to be seen. 1t is
too bad, however, that the rejection oc-
Cured at this particular time. Early in
January, the Planning Commission will
sponsor series Of public hearings on
its new master plan for the entire coun-
ty, which generally follows the "corri-
dor" concept The public will have an
opportunity at that time to express its
own views on the open-space controversy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Sodistic PIunnind

The high curbing which
the National Park Service is
installing along the edge of
the Mount Vernon Highway
is the product of a neat but
sadistic mind. This esthetic
barrier makes it impossible in
an emergency to remove a
disabled vehicle from the
traffic lanes witness Deem
Der lis reasonable facsimile
of the never-to-be-f forgotten
traffic jam Of January 10,
1862 and as for changing a
tire. ones chances for sur
vival are much better In a
game of Russian roulette!
Ames w. Williams.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17

was known to one and all
as the throbbing, drum beat
ing dark continent" land Of
steaming mystery, jungle,
tse-tse fly. and the legendary
habitat of our well-beloved
Tarzan and his Jane.
Then evolutionary changes
among the nations of the
earth catapulted one African
nation after another into
statehood. Emerging from a
feverish sick-bed extending
into hundreds of years, these
African nations have estab-
lished a modicum d law and
order unknown among the
so-called progressive nations.
With the exception of the
Congo, Africa is at peace.
Let's face it, peace on the
African continent is quite a
concession to the basic good
sense of Africans. But for
this quality, and one that
may be a blessing to all man
kind in future years, African
nations could be warning on
one another at the behest of
outsiders whose interests
conceivably could be less than
moral. A stability exists on
the African continent that
has never existed in 800 years
of Western civilization in
South America.
KudoS for Africa!
Jim ArR0daIe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Nature Lover

I experienced the same re-
voting sensation as that of
Dan P. Van Gorder on view
ing the picture of a hunts
mans proud display of one of
the most graceful and beau
tiful wild creatures, the deer,
which he had killed for sport,
presumably to. display his
proves in the hunting field.
This creature had as much
right to life as the hunter,
not asking aims from civili-
cation. foraging for his food
from natures resources, liv-'
ing In a primitive manner,
minding his own business,
probably fathering a family
OF his own ilk, and affording
the humans a beautiful pic
ture Of Gods own creation,
so 1t is heart breaking TO
those of us who have catered
to wild life to know that
man has stopped so low as
to kill such beauty in the
guise OF sport.
Having catered TO the wild
birds for rs years. 1 have
experienced much stealing"
by squirrels from the bird
feeders but have preferred to
shoe them away rather than
kill: nor would I kill a fox
when rode 10 the hounds. /.
also became soft" a few
years ago when I learned
that the pelts OF domestic
animals we're made into
Hudson seal" coats, so I ac-
CURED a Somalliand leopard
coat, which animal is known
as man killer.
I hope 10 live TO the time
when the killing Of Gods
creatures will not be CLASH
fled as an American sport.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Strophonqer's Riqhts

! see d. c. Transit is con-
templating an increase In
fares, due 10 the fact that
they have 10 pay their en-
ployes more, and are planning
10 purchase new equipment
and new buses.
How come. under the same
circumstances, U. s. Steel
was not permitted 10 increase
the cost Of It's product7
President Kennedy's strong
stand is equal rights. no dis
elimination. Here Is the Pres
ident's chance 10 prove he
means what he says Rider
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
A BOOK FOR TO-DAY
Our Land Is DespoiIed and Restored
By DONALD MINTZ

THE Care of the Earth" will
find much that is appealing
and much that is not. And
readers will disagree as to
which is which. Mr.. Lord
spends a good deal Of time
discussing the agricultural
policies Of the New Deal in a
manner that is both deeply
personal and highly partisan.
For all that. the discussion
makes sense, and many a
confirmed city dweller may
find that for the first time
he understands what that
was all about.
But there is a reason, and
Mr.. Lord defends himself:
THE main story line from
the first has been quite sim
ply from cover to cover re-
lating what has happened
throughout history and be-
fore history was written
whenever natural cover was
violated; and then some ac-
count OF the advancing and
receding efforts OF civilized
man TO establish permanent
systems Of agriculture-sys-
TENS designed 10 restore and
maintain cover; thus TO pre-
serve fertility at the ground
line, TO sustain increasing
yields OF the basic essentials,
and so support more and
more people all the time. Il
Is a story inseparable from
the principles and rites OF
governance."
Thus, II THE Care OF the
Earth" is sometimes disor-
ganized, II is because Mr..
Lord has failed In a task
that is certainly difficult and
perhaps impossible. But this
failure is better than an ar
tificial limitation OF the sub
ject matter. Mr.. Lord de-
serves praise rather than CEN
sure, and the would-be reader
Is advised 10 put himself in
a tolerant frame OF mind and
proceed.
THE MAIN POINT Is that
fertility can be maintained,
that we do not have 10
plumber ourselves TO live, and
above all, that IL is neither
necessary nor moral TO be-
queath a depleted land TO our
descendants.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
THE CARE OF THE EARTH,

THE CARE OF THE EARTH,
A History of Hushandry by
Russell Lord. With draw
ings by Kate Lord. 480 pp.
Thomas Nelson g. Sons,
$7.50)
1T is something to think
about, really" writes Russell
Lord, 1.-The complacency and
blindness Of American farm
ers and agriculturists who let
this soil run down under our
very feet, with attendant
symptoms Of decadence APP
pearing at every hand, with
out ever seeming to realize
what was going on. For my
part. I did not see land
scapes. rural and urban. and
seascapes and cloudscapes as
part OF q unified organic, liv-
ing structure until I was
30; and not until I was 40
did / see the American scene
In its carbohydrates, farms,
wildlife. gardens, streams.
factories. fisheries, livestock,
cities and people-as a living
structure going dead on us,
running down" se
Mr.. Lord is an agricultural
writer and editor, and he has
served various Government
agencies In technical posts.
He is far from an orthodox
agriculturist. Perhaps he Is
a bit of a mystic; people who
love the land sometimes are.
He Is also an ecologist and
he knows that while there
may be a no-man's land be-
tween science and metaphys-
les, most things are plainly
one or the other.
THE Care Of the Earth"
Is not really "a history OF
husbandry." True. there is a
historical section which
sometimes is intensely inter-
esting and sometimes merely
confusing. But basically the
book is about the American
land, It's deterioration and
restoration. And II is plainly
also something OF a propa-
ganda tract Mr.. Lord .lives
In Hartford County, northeast
OF Baltimore, and he sees
much that saddens and an
gers him. .
EVERYONE WHO READS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Potomac Protection

AS the Committee for Pre-
serving the Potomac has
predicted, the Merrywood in
cident was obviously just the
opening wedge of a large
number Of efforts to destroy
the sanctity and beauty Of
the Upper Potomac Valley.
Montgomery County is be-
ing plagued by developers and
the high = rise apartment
plague has moved to the Dis
trict itself.
We note that, in instruct
ing all departments and
agencies to implement the
Year 1000 Plan" the Presi-
dent recently, stated:
1T shall be the policy of
the executive branch to seek
to preserve for the benefit
of the National Capital Re-
gion strategic open spaces,
including existing park, wood
land, and scenic resources.
Il am requesting each de-
partment and agency head
concerned to give full con-
sideratiop to these policies in
all activities relating to the
planning and development Of
the National Capital Region
-"
While Secretary Udall's re-
sistance to permitting the
Merrywood developers to put
a sewer line under the
George Washington National
Memorial Parkway has been
helpful, we need more EVIL
dence Of action in the Ex-
ecutive. Several excel Il n t
bills languished before the
last Congress.
We would hope that those
persons and organizations,
especially in the District and
Montgomery County, who are
interested in preserving this
national heritage, will COM
municate with our commit
tee at P. o. Box 1856, Nc
Lean, Virginia (ELmwood g.
3915).
We would also hope that
the Presidents State of the
Union Message will point
out the urgency of this mat
ter to Congress, and that
Congress will enact urgent
legislation, despite the in
evitable and powerful oppoSi-
ton which will come from
special interest groups for
whom preservation never
stands in the way of profits.
Samuel E. Neel,
Chairman
Robert L. L. Mccormick,
Co-Chairman
Committee for Preserving
the Potomac.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Africo Progresses

II was courageous on your
part 10 editorialize on Sena-
tor BLENDERS remarks on
the Africans inability TO pro-
gress on his own. II that re-
mark is true. your editorial
said, then there is dignity In
truth.
AS recently as 1910, Africa
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
PARIS.

PARIS.
To Judge from American
arguments, the astonishing
thing about the Skybolt con-
troversy would not be the
decision to cancel the project.
The astonishing thing is
that 1t should have ever been
undertaken to begin with in
defiance to weighty scientific
advice that the problems
might prove insoluble. That
the British should have
pinned their whole future as a
nuclear power on the success
of so doubtful q project
strikes an outsider as almost
incredible.
These judgments are, to be
sure, based on factual argu-
ments marshalled by the
American side to justify q
decision to scrap the Skybolt
and counter British charges
of betrayal. But the record,
even II one sided, is still i'm
presSive.
Skybolt, as originally con-
ceived, was a weapon to be
carried by American B-52 and
British Vulcan bombers. Its
delivery to the air forces,
planned for 1865, would have
prolonged the usefulness of
these manned bombers pos
sibly until 1870. After this
date. most experts conceded
that development Of Russian
anti-aircraft defenses would
make these weapons hope
lessly obsolete.
Immensely Complex
From a technical point Of
view the project raised i'm
mensely complex problems.
A ballistic missile with a
range of up to 1000 miles
to be shot from a swiftly
moving platform, Skybolt,
from the outset, was looked
on with grave doubt by many
leading Western scientists.
Shortly after the program
was authorized by Defense
Secretary Gates in 1860; a
strategic weapons panel of
the Presidents Science Ad-
visory Committee recon-
mended against it. Later the
same year, a weapons system
evaluation group of the De-
tense Department urged that
Skybolt be scrapped.
These recommendations
were reviewed again in the
fall Of 1861. After consider
able debate, and under prod
ding from the Air Force, it
was decided to continue the
project in the coming year.
The British first entered
the picture at a meeting be-
tween former President Eli
senhower and Prime Minister
Macmillan at Camp David in
1850. At the time and con-
Sistently thereafter, accord
ing to American officials,
the contingent nature of the
Skybolt program was care
fully emphasized.
.f British Confident
The British, on the other
hand, seem to have been
sublimely confident of event.
ual American success. On
the basis of the Camp David
talks a memo of intent"
was signed in which the
United States undertook to
try to supply 100 missiles to
Britain on a reimbursable
basis by 1866 or thereafter
depending on the success of
the project.
A technical and financial
agree emit between the
United States Air Force and
the British Air Ministry was
the next step. Among its pro-
visions: Agreem emit that
either party could terminate
its interest in the Skybolt
project after consultation.
There was the additional
provision that If the United
States decided to cancel,