davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1963-04-24
trary mercy of a strong Fed
eral Government.
George H. Miller, jr.
'EnqIond Hath Need

The Stars editorial Eng
land Hath Need" reflects a
narrow-minded view. It said
that the ban-the- -bombers
". tend to be governed
more by emotion than by
common sense" Nearly every
competent observer who has
made an objective study of
Britain's peace movement
will admit that those in
volved are reasonable and
logical, and that objectivity
is a highly considered fac
tor. According to the edi-
torial, ban-the-bomb propos-
ais g. hardly merit toler-
ance or respect" Yet nuclear
disarmament for Britain
would not endanger its po-
sition militarily (the United
States would still retain her
nuclear deterrent), and 1t
would, in fact, be of service
to mankind by keeping an
other finger off the trigger.
The truth is that British nu-
clear disarmament has the
support Of such able men as
Harold Wilson and Comman-
der Sir Stephen King Hall,
men whose proposals GER
tainly deserve respect.
In regard to mention of
"mob-like unruliness" on the
part of the peace marchers,
let me remind that only a
minority Of the crowd was
violent and then only so
when police tried to confis-
cate the secret" leaflets
which by that time had
spread too far to be secret
anyway.
The peace supporters were
cited as mot too admirable" I"
In answer to this let me
mention Bertrand Russell
and again Mr.. Wilson and
Commander King-Hall, Just
a sampling of the many re-
spectful, objective men con-
nected with the peace move
ment. True, there were some
Though not as many as the
press inSinuated) Commu-
nists and fellow travellers in
volved in the demonstrations,
but this does not mean that
the peace movement is sub
versive. After all, there can
be Communists in any or
ganization.
Contrary to what The Star
implied. the peace movement
is neither negative nor para
lying. Difference. the spread
Of our democratic ideals by
force, has failed. We are
slowly losing to the Russians
in this cold war. The BAN
the-bomb propositions are
designed to change the sit
uation so 1t will favor our
side, that is the spread of
freedom and democracy. It
Is a positive, constructive
change. Douglas Bowers.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
Old Ace Health Care

The Department of Health, Educa-
ton and Welfare is much too involved
in selling" the administrators social
security "medicare" plan to beat the
drums for the Kerr-Mills program as
substitute. But 1t does not follow that
the HEW has deliberately set out to
undercut Kerr-MillS. Actually, there is
no need to. Kerr-Mills is floundering
badly enough on its own, and the rea-
sons were summed up, quite accurately,
we suspect, at House budget hearing
the other day by Secretary Celebrezze
and his legislative aide, Wilbur ]. Cohen.
Under Kerr-Mills, the Federal Gov
ernment offers to pay at least half (and
In some instances up to 80 per cent? of
the costs of State programs of medical
care for the aged. For INDECENT pro-
grams, moreover, the available amounts
of Federal aid under Kerr-MillS are
much higher than under ordinary relief
programs. Yet thus far only % States
are "in"-and four of these, according
to Mr.. Cohen, are getting almost 88 per
cent Of the total Federal dollars being
dispensed.
Why? Mr.. Cohen cites two reasons:
Q) A reluctance by the States to raise
new local taxes, or to divert existing
revenue, in order to provide the local
matching funds required to receive the
Federal grants. (2) A concern by State
officials that participation in Kerr-Mills
might lead to ever-increaSing expendi-
lures, perhaps beyond their control
Certainly there is some basis for this
fear. In 1861, for example, the average
cost Of disqualification in the United
States jumped 81z per cent, according
to HEW estimates, to level nearly four
times above the 1916 COST
Mr.. Cohen'S explanation, however, in
viteS two observations. The first is that
taxes in one form or another must pay
for any public program of medicare
for the aged. Whether they are fun
heled through the Social Security Ad-
miniStration, the tax department of a
State or the Federal Internal Revenue
System, dollars are needed-and they
all must come out Of the pockets Of tax
payers. The point is that Kerr-Mills
affords in the process measure of local
control which is not possible in the
social security approach, and which
should appeal particularly to those poll
ticianS who continually bemoan the
erosion" of States rights. Ironically,
the loudeSt cries against Federal in
tervention" are coming from some of
finger in the direction of Kerr-MillS.
Our second point-and it is good
one for politicians to remember-is that
the medical problems of the aged can
not be ignored or neglected much longer.
The mounting disqualification and other
costs which concern State welfare Off
cialS impose a much more frightening
burden on old people who have no
adequate protection against them.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
Atlantic Union

Your editorial on DR.. Ed
ward Teller's talk at George
town University was valuable
in that it should provoke
some much-needed basic dis
cussion. DR.. Teller's strong
conviction of the necessity to
create an Atlantic federation
on the fourdations of NATO
ought not be downgraded on
the theory that his bril-
lance as a natural scientist
somehow makes him less
than a credible authority In
political science.
Are the similar strong con-
victions Of others to be
shrugged off because their
holders are overly brilliant
in various other fields than
international politics? Is the
parallel conviction on Allan
tic Union Of Bishop Stephen
]. Bayne, jr., worldwide An
glican executive, to be dis
counted because of his pre-
eminent position in religious
affairs? That of DR.. Cyril
James, vice chancellor of Nc
Gill University and president
of the International Associa-
ton of Universities, to be
graded down because he is
so pre-eminent an academi-
clan? Is the pro Atlantic
Union stand of Charles s.
Rhyme, past president Of the
American Bar Association to
be questioned because his in
terest is top-heavy In the
field of law? And that Of
Ladd Plumley, board chair
man Of the United States
Chamber of Commerce, be-
cause business predominates
in his point Of view?
The simple fact is that the
Atlantic Union proposal
which DR.. Teller backs is now
supported by towering fig
ures in almost all fields.
1t is time to stop down.
grading the idea of Atlantic
Union because of the per-
sonality or position Of this
supporter or that. The prin-
ciple is the thing: The i'm
mediate need for a stronger
cement for NATO; the grow
ing support for federalism as
that cement; the wide and
immediate need to study fed
eralism, past. present, and
future possibilities.
Mrs. Chase s. Osborn.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
Laos and Dominoes

Events in Laos are at once dreary
and dangerous. Although there is no
shooting at the moment, the situation
remains highly threatful to the peace
and freedom of the whole of Southeast
Asia. After all, with or without the
Kremlin'S blessing, Red China shows
signs of being in mood to move in on
the region with new program of sub
version and aggression.
That is why our powerful 7th fleet
has begun precautionary" maneuverS
around the Gulf of Siam. Last May,
after the Communicated Pathet Lao
had violated the Laotian ceaSe-fire,
President Kennedy-at the urgent re-
quest of the Royal Thai government
sent formidable American military con-
tingentS to Thailand to cope with the
danger that Red guerrillaS in Laos
might be used to attack the That's.
These contingentS were withdrawn a
few months later, but nobody should
be surprised If they are soon dispatched
there again.
At any rate, what is happening in
Laos may well confront our country
with the need to make a number of
bleak and fateful decisions. Wishful
thinkers to the contrary, the Laotian
coalition government-an administra-
tive and political monstroSity organized
last June in keeping with the 14-nation
Geneva accord-Seems to be heading
fast toward collapse. 1t is a thing that
has been at war with itself from the
Start-a troika, three-horSe operation
in which the Communists have galloped
off in one direction, the neutraliSts in
another, and the right-wingers or pro-
Western conservatives in yet another.
AS a result, despite the rhetoric of
the Geneva accord, the Laotian coau-
ton (Which has never coaleSced) has
amounted to kind of burlesque of
government. Yet the pro-CommuniSt
Pathet Lao members with advice from
Peking, If not Moscow have been doing
quite well in exploiting the troika for
their own ends. Indeed, they seem at
the moment to be making great head
way toward taking over the entire coun-
try, and this is menace of major
potentialitieS.
In and of itself, of course, Laos,
most Of whose people are kindly and
would like to have peace and quiet, is
a small land whose natural resources
amount to precious little. Strategically,
however, it is worth great deal, not
to itself, but to others. This is so be-
cause it borders on Thailand and Cam
bodia and serves the Communists as
logiStical corridor for unremitting guer-
rilla warfare against free South Wet
Nam.
Accordingly, however unenviable it
may be as a piece of real estate or
place to live in, Laos has an Importance
that can hardly be exaggerated. For if
1t is taken over by the Communists, as
sort OF staging area for further ag-
greSSion, all Southeast Asian countries
will face the peril of being knocked
down, one by one, like row of dominoes.
This figure of speech was used
some years ago by President Eisenhower.
1t is good one, and President Kennedy
may have 1t in mind as he contemplates
the latest reports from Laos and the
hard decisions that may be forced on
him by the Kremlin'S apparent refusal
to join In efforts to maintain the peace
there.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
WATCHING THE WORLD
By CROSBY S. MOVES
Diplomatic Course Seen on Laos
Foreign Correspondent Of The stor

Certainly so far it has not
seemed to inhibit the Com
munists. The Pathet Lao,
having demonstrated q de-
cisive military superiority
over both the "rightist"
forces of Phoumi Nosavan
and the "neutralist" army of
Gen. Kong lie, is now in a
strong position to negotiate
new arrangements which will
most certainly leave them in
effective control Of the coun-
try.
Sham Settlement Seen
The best that the Western
diplomats can hope for at
this stage is another sham
settlement which leaves IA
cades Of a neutralist govern
ment more or less intact but
the real power in Communist
hands. And such is the
anxiety Of the great powers
to avoid a new conformation
in Laos that almost any So
luton of this kind would be
eagerly accepted.
This attitude, to be sure,
may be eminently sensible.
With its three competing
factions and three contend
ing armies, Laos is a political
and military can of worms
which few sane people-and
least Of all the Laotians
themselves-would like the
great powers to fight over.
And yet, If Laos is to be writ
ten off as a lost cause-as
seems to be the case-one
must wonder what point
there may be to all the diplo-
matte maneuvering. To talk
so loudly about our firm
support" of a regime on its
last legs, which we have no
intention of supporting ef-
fectively, may seem to some
a rather curious diplomatic
tactic.
No doubt for our own sat-
isfaction. at least, there is
some reason for making a
record and fixing the blame
for a breakdown Of the
agreement so solemnly con-
cluded in Geneva. 1t will give
little comfort, however, to
Souvanna Phouma or other
neutralist leaders of South
east Asia whose days may
also be counted on the Com
munist timetable.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
Laws of Economics

month, President Kennedy
Impressed" upon U. S. Steel
that they should not raise
steel prices. Through per-
verted use Of the FBI and
threats of contract rescission,
U. s. Steel backed down. In
this grandstand play Of pa
ternalism, the President JUS
titled his coercive action as a
protection of the interests
Of l80 million Americans" It
was also at this time that he
temporarily lost control of
THE Image" and referred to
businessmen as S.O.B.s. The
President is still trying to
heal the breach caused by
that statement. Thus, he was
understandably cautious in
his reaction to the announce
ment Of Wheeling Steel Co.
that they intended to raise
their prices.
In interesting contrast, we
recently witnessed the ex-
treme patience exhibited by
the President in two instances
the newspaper strike in
New York City and the de-
cision of the Supreme Court
on feather = bedding. The
unions have refused to COM
ply with the Supreme Court
decision, but the President
has so far refrained from
calling out the FBI. He has
adopted a wait-and-See atti-
tude to prevent taking a de-
ciSive stand which might
ALLEVIATE the feather-bedders
At the end Of the cooling-off
period, he has to make a de-
cision in favor of constitu-
tional government or cha
otic labor diSsidence.
The President early DEM
onstrated his adeptness at
tactfully handling the labor
union sources of campaign
funds and broad support.
When j. F. K. was a Sena-
tor and Bobby was counsel
for the special Senate sub
committee to investigate la
Dor, Walter Reuther under
questioning received the kid
glove treatment. Reuther's
radical past was CLOSED over
probably in anticipation of
labor's support of j. F. K.
in 1860. More recently, The
Star on November 81, 1862.
carried a set of three pic
lures indicating the alliance
between the White House and
the labor unions. 1t was a
sequence Of shots of Wally
and Jack sitting at the Pres
ident's desk discussing the
setting up Of a foundation
to foster causes in which
Mrs. Roosevelt was interest
ed" Two frat-boys separated
for 10 years would not have
been as congenial.
Eventually the President
must realize that the mex
orable laws Of economies are
not controlled from the White
House. The consequences of
his interference will even
tually be reflected in the busi-
ness community
II I were given my choice,
/ would rather be left to the
mercy of capitalism, regu-
lated by the laws of supply
and demand, than the arbi-
Evening star., 1963-04-24

sistent in that stand since
they regarded the war as an
iniquitous aggression against
Mexico"
1t therefore seemed best to
push through a moderate,
though irregularly negotiated
treaty, even If it fell consid-
erably short Of meeting the
expansionists' requirements.
Prof. Merk shows that by
no means all Of the oppoSi-
ton to the Mexican War was
motivated by noble idealism.
Slavery was banned In Mex
leo and the Wilmot Proviso,
introduced into the House in
August, 1846, provided that it
should be excluded from any
territory acquired from Mex
leo as a result of the war. The
Proviso did not pass, but 1t
was clear that the chances
were good that slavery would
be weakened by the war.
AMORE CENTRALIZED
racism played a role, too.
Mexico's territory may have
been desirable but her people
were not, for they did not be-
long to the Anglo-Saxon
race" whose superiority was
considered obvious by nearly
everybody.
Prof. Merk concludes that
the continentalism of the
Mexican War and the impe-'
rialism Of the Spanish-Amer-
lean War were never true
expressions of the national
spirit. They were the very OPP
posite."
"A better-supported thesis,
he continues, "is that Mani
fest Destiny and Imperialism
were traps into which the
Nation was led in 1S46 and
in 1899, and from which It
extricated itself as well as It
could afterward."
He does not deny the
American sense Of Mission"
which however noble It may
seem to us has so often ir-
ritated others. Indeed, he
considers 1t a true expression
Of the national spirit.
He feels that In its highest
sense-a dedicated but not
self : righteous devotion to
liberty and justice - It re.
mains a powerful force In the
world.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
'KoIoromo Triangle

We were tremendously i'm
pressed by the pictorial es-
say and article on Kalorama
Triangle in your March II
issue Of Sunday" It is q
mastery presentation of the
special character Of Kalo-
rama Triangle and the
restoration undertaken here.
I want to express the
gratitude Of the members Of
the Kalorama Triangle Res
toration Society and Of the
residents Of this area for
bringing our restoration ef-
forts to the attention Of
Metropolitan Washington.
Please accept our thanks
for a job well done.
Frederick p. MasciOIi,
President Kalorama Triangle
Evening star., 1963-04-24
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDriterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
ters are subject to condenSd- =
ton. Those not used tDiH be
returned only iDhen accom-
panied by self addressed,
stamped enpelopes.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
A BOOK FOR TODAY
Fact vs.. Fancy in Growth of u. S.
By DONALD MIMI

MANIFEST DESTINY AND
MISSION IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, A Reinterprets
tiOn. BY Frederick Merk
with the collaboration OF
Lois Bannister Merk. Illus,
266 PIP. (Alfred A. Knopf,
$685.
"An idea," remarks Fred
erick Merk, "even a fanciful
idea, looms larger to politi-
clans than 1t does to hum
bier citizens at the grass
roots. It does so naturally
Politicians gather harvests
from fancies. And historians,
who make a business of gath
ering fancies, PHILOSOPHERS
and ideologieS from orations
speeches and newspaper edi-
torials, and setting them
forth in neat order without
reference to hard facts such
as votes, sectionalism, par
tisanship, and the ambitions
of politicians, are likely to
overemphasize the idea in
history. They are likely to dc
so especially when the idea
is as tenuous and as exten-
sive as the doctrine Of con-
tinentalism."
Frederick Merk is Gurney
Professor, Emeritus, of Amer
lean History at Harvard. Hi:
new book is an essay in the
reinterpretation Of ideas like
Manifest Destiny" CONT
nentalism," and mission.
He is interested in "hart
facts" and his main pur-
pose is to determine how fal
they accorded with politi-
clans "fancies."
But to begin with, what or
earth is Manifest Destinyi
"It meant expansion, pre-
arranged by heaven, over ar
area not clearly defined,
writes Prof. Merk. "In som'
minds 1t m e ant expansion
over the region to the Pa.
cific; In others, over the
North American continent
in others. over the hemis-
phere."
PROF MERK demonstrates
that In its pure form. the
doctrine was sectionalist, al.
lied TO ideas of States rights
and basically non-aggressive
"It meant opportunity Il
gain admission to the Ameri'
can Union," he writes. "An!
neighboring peoples. estab'
lished in self-government b!
compact or by successful rev
olution, would be permitted
to apply. II properly quail
fled, they would be admitted
Any hurried admission
TO the temple Of freedom
would be unwise; any forced
admission would be a con
tradiction In terms, unthink'
able, revolving" But wha
about the Mexican War?
James Polk was a minority
President. and the declara.
ton OF war against Mexico
was pushed through Congress
In a manner that was some.
thing less than savory. Tit
opposition TO the war wal
considerable, the penny pres
Notwithstanding.
The peace treaty thai
ended the Mexican War wa
negotiated by an American
diplomat whose credentiali
had been revoked because II
President Polk's view "he haC
virtually given aid and com.
fort to the enemy" Tht
treaty, nevertheless, wa,
promptly submitted TO tho
Senate.
And no wonderl "Whigi
were opposed not only TO TAX.
ing all Mexico, but TO takinG
any, by force. They were con.
Evening star., 1963-04-24

Q. From what poem does
"boomlay, boomlay, boomlay.
boom" come?-F. Y.
A Vachel Lindsay's "The
Congo. a Study OF the Negro
Race" The poem begins:
Fat black bucks In a vine
barrel room,/. Beat an
empty barrel with the handle
OF a broom Hard as they
were able,/ Boom, boom,
BOOM With a silk UNI
brella and the handle OF a
broom,/ Boomlay, boomlay,
boomlay. BOOM"
Q. What did the Gold Dust
Twins" advertise?-W. B.
A. The original twins were
the trade mark for Gold Dust
Washing Powder. produced by
the N. X. Fairbank Co.
The trade mark. registered
with the United States Patent
Office In the i880s, depicted
two little Negro boys sitting
in a wooden tub filled with
suds and labeled Gold Dust
Washing Powder. The boys
became popularity known as
the Gold Dust Twins"
Evening star., 1963-04-24
PARIS

TAfL1O.
In the wake Of Averell Har-
riman's lightning visit to
Paris, one has the impression
that the rescue operation in
Laos is to be a diplomatic
rather than a military ex-
erciSe.
Despite the maneuvering Of
the 7th Fleet and the dis
placement Of Admiral Felt,
the atmosphere at this end
of the Laos operation is sin
gularly unwarlike. Outrageous
and intolerable as everyone
admits the Communist action
in Laos to be, no one seems to
be in a mood to do much
about 1t except talk.
The give-away on this point
is to be found in the attitude
of the French, who are re-
ported to see eye to eye with
the British and Americans on
the approach to the problem.
If fighting were even remote
ly envisaged, this unanimity
Of view would be most un-
likely.
At the height Of the Lao
tian crisis in 1861, when
intervention was seriously un-
der consideration, the French
were outspokenly reluctant.
And there is no reason to
believe they are any less so
today.
Diplomatic Exercise
The diplomatic exercise
which is under way seems
aimed at squirting the Inter-
national Control Commission
in Laos into activity. Espe-
cially there is hope of rally
ing the Russians to their re-
sponsibilitieS under the
agreement reached at Ge-
neva a year ago. In short the
effort is to make full use of
the diplomatic machinery
available to the end of res
cuing the tottering neutralist
regime Of Prince Souvanna
Phouma before it is too late.
The extent to which this
"firm support" for Souvanna
may frustrate the Commu-
mist power play, however, re-
mains to be seen. One may
even doubt how seriously the
diplomats involved take this
twisting Of knobs and pulling
Of levers of diplomatic ma
chinery" to avert military
takeover In Laos.
Evening star., 1963-04-24
Answers to Questions
By THE HASKIN gFRvI1,

A reader can get an answer by
writing The star Information Bu-
Iean. $50 street NV. WaShineton
=. ID g Please inclose return post-
ns OF seif addressed. stamped
The Sidney herald., 1963-03-20
ReseoI Programs
Are Announced

Reseal programs which per
INIT the extension for one year
Oh loans ON 1962-crop barley,
oats, and wheat now under
tarm stored price support have
been authorized, according to
an announcement by Mrs. J.
Viola Herak, chairman of the
Montana Agricultural Stabili-
zatlon and Conservation State
committee.
The program will also per-
NIT a one year extension of re-
seal loans covering 1961-crop
barley now in farm storage.
The 1961-crop wheat which was
placed under reseal for two
years in 1862 may be continued
under reseal until March 1864,
although producers have the
option of delivering after
March 81, 1868, if they wish.
No further extension of reseal
loans on 1960-crop barley, oats,
and wheat now in farm stor-
age will be permitted and the
loans on barley and oats will
be called as of April 80, 1868,
and loans on wheat will be cal
led as Of March 81, 1868, the
maturity dates
Market prices in most areas
have been above the 1860 price
support rates, and thus the
extension of loans on these