davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1963-05-07
odd Ace Health Care

Your editorial on "Old Age
Health Care" was read with
great interest. The state
ment Is made that Kerr
Mills is floundering enough
on its own" and you go on
to suspect why. on the basis
Of data supplied or inter-
preted by Secretary Cele-
breeze and Mr.. Cohen. In
the interest Of good editorial
opinion. the facts are not
that difficult to obtain.
The position Of HEW in
sending representatives about
the country to lobby for COM
pulsory payroll taxes. TO pay
for medical care for all over
65, whether or not they need
II. has been well documented.
Mr.. Cohen in testimony be-
fore Congress has indicated
his belief that compulsory
Government medical care for
all Is desirable and should be
supported by payroll taxes.
A study Of Kerr-Mills imple-
fnentation shows. however.
that more than % per cent
OF the IT'S million Americans
over 6b. live In States which
are using some portion OF the
Kerr-Mills law. Some States
have gone slowly until II can
be ascertained Just how much
nursing home care and other
aspects Of medical care will
cost. Other States have stud
led the problem and decided
they have no need for Kerr
Mills at this time and still
others because OF the rapid
increase In the shift OF older
people into their communities
will have 10 make provision
for some period OF residence
before eligibility.
The concern that partici-
patton In KerT-Mills will lead
10 ever-increasing expendi-
ture Just has not been borne
out and the reasons are quite
clear. More and more people
reaching 65 have more finan-
cial means and more private
health insurance policies 10
care for themselves.
John James Curry, MD,
Member, Speakers Bureau.
ANA.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
Motorists 'Luckier'?

M. H. Ahrendt's recent let
ter, comparing traffic fatal
ity figures In 1862 and 1941,
presents q good case for TAX
ing statistics with q grain Of
salt.
While 1t may very we'll be
true that the total number of
highway fatalities has re-
mained fairly constant dur
ing the past Is years, this in
no way juStifies the conten-
ton that driving Is becom-
ing better and better and
Safer-and safer year by year" :"
In fact, there Is q good bit
Of evidence to the contrary.
A variety Of factors have
served to reduce the annual
death toll, very few Of which
have anything to do with
increased driver skill or en-
hanced social responsibility
at the wheel. Most Of these
factors are the result of i'm
provementS in highways and
in automobiles that tend to
reduce the Importance of the
human element" in highway
safety, such as dual lane and
limited-access highways, au-
tomato transmisSionS, and
more powerful engines that
give the motoriSt more flexi-
bility and control over his
vehicle.
Stricter law enforcement
and more sophisticated en-
forcement tools, such as po-
lice radar. have also entered
the picture; although there
is considerable doubt that
fear Of punishment Is an ef-
fective means Of inculcating
desirable driving habits and
attitudes. A third factor Is
the increasing traffic con-
gestion in metropolitan areas,
which tends to increase the
number Of minor accidents
and injuries while 1t reduces
the fatality toll because of
reductions In the practical
speed at which q vehicle can
travel while in q traffic jam.
A fourth, and probably the
most compelling factor, is an
outgrowth Of advances in
medical science. A greater
proportion Of seriously in
jured accident victims is
being saved today, leaving
fewer fatalities to swell the
statistics, Mr.. Ahrendt has
marshaled.
Are drivers really safer
and better" today than in
l94l? Probably not, although
they may In fact be luckier
RandOIbh Gregg.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
Too Lonq to Woit?

Nine days from now the Alabama
Supreme Court will decide whether
Albert Boutwell, is the duly elected
Mayor Of Birmingham A lower court
has already ruled in his favor, and If
the Supreme Court follows suit the
Birmingham regime, of which Police
Commissioner Eugene "Bulp Connor
has become the symbol, will be out of
office.
Meanwhile, the Department Of JUS
tice is working frantically to keep the
lid on in Birmingham until there can be
meaningful negotiations between mod
crate representatives of both races, a
definition which includes Mayor Bout
well. Burke Marshall, assistant Attorney
General in charge Of the civil rights
division, is on the scene, holding secret
discussions with both white and colored
residents. And everyone in his right
mind will hope that Mr.. Marshall can
pull 1t off, For If he cannot, the pros
pective consequences are frightful.
To parade without a license is, of
course, a violation Of a Birmingham
ordinance. But the world would not
come to an end If the police were to
stop making mass arrests for this minor
offense. Nor would 1t be the end of
everything If the demonstrations were
to be called off, or at least greatly cur
tailed, for the time being. But this
would require that both sides listen to
the voice Of reason. And the danger is
that the extremists are in control.
Back in Washington, Senator Morse
has criticized the Kennedy administra-
ton. He says: The test Of this admins
tration Is whether 1t Is willing to exer-
else It's existing authority to the full
and then seek from Congress whatever
additional authority is needed to put
an end to the public atrocities which
have been occurring"
This implies that the administra-
ton has authority which has not been
exercised in Birmingham. Senator
Morse cited Federal statute, but its
usefulness or even It's application to
the Birmingham situation seems very
doubtful.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
Cultural Ties

/ was deeply disturbed by
the unfortunate recent post
ponement Of the Third Inter-
American Music Festival, that
was to have taken place in
Washington, D. C. during
early May. In q continually
changing world, where the
political and theological forces
of West and East face each
other with strong beliefs in
the virtues Of their respective
systems. 1t is important to
remembers that the spiritual
and cultural undermining of
the creeds involved Is Of the
utmost Importance. Para
doxically, buried under spec
tacular m aterial achieve
ments, we tend to undereSti-
mate the value of spiritual
commitments. while other po-
litical and theological systems,
aware Of this Importance,
continuously exploit with in
creasing fervor the shaping
Of their strong culture. His
tory has proved that mere
physical strength, backed by
all sorts Of military machin-
cry, Is never able in the end
to maintain the validity Of
any given way Of life when the
spiritual message of the creed
is forgotten. We must awaken
to this fact and all its i'm
phcationS.
The previous Inter-Amer-
lean Music Festivals that took
place in the Capital were
major cultural feats made
possible by the dedication of
men Of good will, who, with
their effort, strengthened the
position Of the United States
as q country also concerned
with spiritual values. Their
far-reaching message to the
world at large proclaimed
that there was room in
our society for creativity,
and for the RESPONSE
bility Of keeping alive the
Western cultural h eritage
that Europe so magnificently
developed during many q CEN
tury. That the third of these
major festivals had to be
postponed indefinitely, due to
lack Of funds at q moment
when the affluency Of our
society is bigger than ever
and when other ideologies
increase the power Of their
tools in the field Of cultural
achievements. is indeed q sad
conformation. .
DIR. Aurelio de Ia Vega,
Associate Professor of Music,
San Fernando Valley State
College. Northridge, Cali
forY1ia
Evening star., 1963-05-07
A Free Freedom Academy

Academy bill says the Gov
ernment's role Is far more
extensive and embraces the
entire citizenry Of the Ma
ton. If the military danger
to the Nation Is such as to
justify a nationwide man
power draft for military serv-
ice. then presumably the nom
military danger is such as to
justify q nationwide mobil-
ization Of the country'S re-
sources to assure the pres
ervation not only Of peace
but Of freedom.
One can not only sympa-
thize with but share the
imaginative grasp Of the
magnitude Of the tasks con-.
fronting the Nation shown by
proponents Of the Freedom
Academy and at the same
time pause to appraise the
particular means proposed to
meet those tasks. It is all very
well to argue for an academy
In ideal terms and to visual
ize it in ideal terms, even
TO call it q Freedom Acad-
emy," but what would hap
pen II it fell into the hands
Of the wrong people, fell into
the wrong grooves. and de-
veloped into o vast govern
mental machinery Of propa-
ganda? b.
AS a Federal agency, the
proposed Freedom Academy
would be designed to reach
through all parts Of the
country, educating" and
training" every available
citizen. In the hands Of the
right people this could be a
vastly good thing. But what
II 1t we're In the hands OF
politicians or political ap-
pointees seeking votes In the
next election or seeking sup
port Of some posture or pol
icy? .-
Even the more modest
proposal OF the administra-
ton raises serious issues of
this kind. A Board Of Re-
gents is proposed to deter
mine policy and provide
guidance TO the Foreign Az
fairs Academy. The Secretary
OF State Is proposed TO be,
chairman OF the board: a
chancellor, appointed by the
President, a member: and
Jne boaro completed by nine
additional appointees OF the
President, TO be named by
and with the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate. Four OF
these nine are TO be officers
Of the United States; five,
private citizens. This clearly
places this research, educa-
tional and training agency
under political control and
guidance.
Only freedom and origi-
nality OF thought will see
us through our great crisis:
and freedom and orig
inality can survive In a Fed
eral academy only II an en-
vironment is assured favor
able TO their survival.
n. Smith Simpson.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
Men and Nations

Eric Sevaried stated that
the United States was analo-
gous to q middle-aged ath-
lete, and as the man who
has been active in his youth
finds that age places restric-
ton on him, the United
States must also slow down
and restrict herself. The
analogy is weak for several
reasons. In the first place,
what scale does one use to
determine the age Of q ma
ton? There is no clock which
measures the life Of q nation
and from which one can
approximate the time re-
naming to q nation. Sec
ondly, it Is silly to assert that
the age of a nation should
affect the physical actions Of
its citizens. Mr.. Sevareid
sneers at the 50-mile hikes
and obliquely refers to them
as not fitting Of o middle
aged nation, but q sedentary
populace is often given as one
Of the reasons for the decline
and fall of the classical ma
tions. And lastly. what in
the world are we to do as we
"slow down" and sort our
selves out-contemplate our
demise?
There can be analogies
drawn between men and
their nations, but they can be
drawn only so far, for men
and their nations are two
distinct entities. I feel that
Mr.. Sevareid has failed to
grasp the distinction.
william M. Maury.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
The Tx Decision

Perhaps the most surprising thing
about the Tx controversy is the extent
to which it seems to have surprised
Defense Secretary Mcnamara What did
he expect? In giving the contract for
this new airplane to General Dynamics
instead of Boeing, he was undertaking
to change in mid-game the rules govern
ing arms selection and procurement He
was knocking the services heads to-
gether as they had never been knocked
before, and doing 1t on a closely bal
anced issue. That issue involved not only
the choice Of weapons for our deadly
chronological duel with Soviet Russia;
it also involved billions of dollars worth
of business, and all the economic pres
sures that go along with such outlays
On top of all this, Mr.. Mcnamara
was a prime political target He had
enjoyed a fatuouSly good press as a
genius who could do no wrong-a sort of
political Fauntleroy, in obvious need of
roughing-up. And roughing up is what
he has had.
This isn't surprising, and 1t isn't
wrong. Congress has duty to inquire
Into the sort of decision Mr.. Mcnamara
made on the Tx. The contention that
the Mcclellan committees investigation
is improper because it questions the
Secretary's integrity or undermines his
authority hardly fits the political sophis-
tication of this administration.
For all that, however, we are in
clined to think the Secretary will win his
case on the merits of the argument, and
that he deserves to.
A clear-cut Tx verdict which will
leave everyone convinced is most unlike
ly. This is the most obvious conclusion
to be drawn from the detailed analysis
Of the cases for and against Mr.. Nc
Namara published in The Star last Sun
day. Nevertheless, on balance, the Sec
retary'S side of the story seems the more
persuasive.
1t is not, really, such complicated
story. There was record indicating
that past cost estimates for projects
like the Tx had been ludicrously opti-
mistic, no matter how expert the esti-
majors. There we're two airplanes, each
acceptable to the services. One Of the
airplanes was of simpler design than
the other, promising less complications
in the. development process. Mr.. McNa-
mara chose that airplane. He relied on
his experience as production expert in
concluding that 1t could be produced
quicker and cheaper than the other.
It will not be easy to prove that the
Secretary was wrong. And unless he can
be proved wrong, his judgment must be
sustained. The decision was his to make.
Time, we suspect, may show that it was a
historic decision, as we'll as the right one.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
Monument Morred

When the First Division of
the American Expeditionary
Forces came home In 1919,
hailed as one Of the greatest
lighting forces Of all wars,
one Of the first actions taken
under the leadership Of Gen.
Charles P. Summerall, one
Of its great leaders, was the
formation Of a memorial So
ciety to honor the battle
dead Of the division. Up
wards Of 5000, 900 was raised.
Clark Williams, one Of our
great architects, designed
and built the monument and
Daniel Chester Frenchi came
out Of retirement to design
and produce the Winged VIC
tory that surmountS it, both
refusing any compensation
for their admirable efforts.
The monument stands as
a memorial to the battle dead
OF the division, between the
White House and the Cor
coran Art Gallery. It con-
tains on bronze plates the
names Of the officers and
men who died in battle. No
others are included. The
number Of names Is more
than 5000.
On the morning Of April
q / drove past the monu-
ment and there witnessed
one Of the truly degrading
acts / have seen in four
decades. Some 80 or 40
young boys and girls were
climbing around on the
bronze name plates. They
were under the direction of
some young women who saw
no desecration In letting
these youngsters spill liquids
and otherwise add destruc-
ton TO age in cutting short
the names Of our honored
war dead. One OF the leaders
thought that our battle dead
would be happy TO know that
the monument was being used
by the boys and girls. An
other In q SNUG what-are-
you-g o g-t o-d o-about-it
manner, said she saw no
harm, even II there was
damage done.
/ believe that there should
be some way TO teach teach
ers that respect for men who
died fighting for their coun-
try cannot be too highly
emphasized.
Charles Coulter.
Evening star., 1963-05-07

ate propose 70 create a ma
tional civilian academy to
educate and train citizens in
foreign affairs. Both bills
emphasize the thrust Of COM
munism but the advocates Of
both point out that the need
of better education and
training of citizens In foreign
affairs would exist independ-
emily Of the Communist chal-
lenge. Both convey an ad-
mission we have not done all
we could to mobilize, the Ma
ton and its vast and varied
resources in our effort to
promote adequately the cause
of freedom. Both express the
urgent need Of an improve
ment In that effort. Both
propose this needed thrust Of
improvement be sought
through our Federal Govern
ment.
8. 414 proposes to effect
this thrust through a Free
dom Academy which, through
research and the education
and training Of citizens would
develop q more positive,
broad scaled effort, public
and private, throughout the
world, on behalf Of freedom.
It envisages the education
and training not only Of
Government personnel but Of
private citizens, and indeed
emphasizes the role Of pri-
vate citizens in the great
challenge TO freedom. It also
contemplates the education
and training, Of foreign stu
dents.
8. S65 is q more modest
proposal. II represents the
administrations thinking and
makes the training Of
Government officers its pri-
mary concern. II would admit
Others" when deemed to be
In the national interest but
all indications are that its
proponents contemplate no
large-scale effort beyond the
governmental establishment.
Within that establishment
the effort would be limited,
apparently, TO officers deal
ing with foreign affairs and,
with respect to them, only
10 the extent funds are avail
able. The funds envisaged
are so modest that II seems
fair TO conclude only a mod
est amplification Of the pres
ent program Of the Foreign
Service Institute Is planned.
Both bills propose acad-
emies under Government
control and supported by
Federal appropriations. Both
would be In effect Govern
ment agencies. The training
role OF the Government in
the battle for freedom is
therefore involved in both
bills. The administration bill
says In effect the training
role Of the Government is
primarily with respect 10 It's
own officers, along with q
thin, dainty fringe Of pri-
vate citigens. The Freedom
Evening star., 1963-05-07
NAN AND THE TIMES
Cuban Issue Not Clear for Debate
BY ERIC SEVAREIE

Cuba may well be, as now
predicted, the prime issue in
the national politics Of 1864.
But unless the issue is clari-
fled far beyond its present
state It will be q rhetorical
question, not a question for
true debate. Alternative poll
cies are required for true de-
bate and all we have on
either side, so far. is attitudes.
With justice. the President
has insisted that his critics
show more precision in their
prescriptions for handling
Cuba; but with equal justice
his critics can insist on more
precision from the admins
tration. What we are now
witnessing Is q collision Of
two fog banks. This never
clears the air, In nature or in
politics; it merely produces
fog of double thickness.
what Has Gone Before
How uncertain the future
course. there can be little
uncertainty about what the
immediate past has pro-
duced:
!. The Russians now pos
sesS q military. political and
propaganda base in the heart
of our area Of security and
influence.
2. Their troops in Cuba
constitute q "trip wire" para
lying to American action, as
our troops in Berlin consti-
tute q trip wire there.
3. Cities and installations
Of the United States main
land are now open to damage
by conventional weapons,
and have become, therefore.
in some degree hostage to
Communist purposes. Theo-
retically, at least, the Rus
slams could damage us by
proxy, their method else
where, without themselves
being directly involved.
4. Fidel CaStro's physical
hold on the island is COM
plete, with the underground
movement facing probable
extinction.
5. The mass Of Cuban man
power in exile is now a
blown instrument" q handi-
cap and thorn in our side,
not q weapon for our uses.
6. A foreign policy quarrel
Of serious proportions Is en-
quilting an administration
which has not yet found its
feet in the area Of its domes-
tic policies and programs.
7. Once again, world com
munism had succeeded in
choosing the point Of conflict
and crisis in the cold war,
and once again, as with
South Korea or South Wet
Nam or West Berlin or Laos.
the focus Of contention is in
side the realm Of the free
world, not in the Communist
realm.
Whatever the precise de-
grees Of blame to be placed
on American administra-
tions. past and present, or on
Cubans, past and present,
the net result Is as described
above; and in spite Of the
trade restrictions and the
partial efforts Of the OAS at
diplomatic isolation" Of
Evening star., 1963-05-07
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDriters' correct
names and addresses. All let
terS are subject to condenSG-
ton. Those not used mill be
returned only tDhen accom- =
panied By self addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
Puzzled by Hoffo

I am puzzled about an item
that was reported May l in
the news. Appearing before
a Congressional committee,
Mr.. Hoffa objected 10 en-
forced arbitration OF labor
differences, because such ar
bitration forces men TO work
when they do not choose to
work. What is the moral
difference between such ZEN
forced" work and the en-
forced idleness caused by Mr..
Hoffa and his pickets who
restrain those who desire 10
work?
: Dlogenes.
Evening star., 1963-05-07
Touoh Talk on Cuba

Nelson Rockefeller continues to re-
mind us Of one horrifying thought, to
wit: The nearer we come to the next
election the more we can expect to be
clobbered with get-tough- Cuba talk
It has happened before and 1t hap
pened again at the $lOO-a-plate Cincin-
naN dinner, a gathering Of Republicans
Evening star., 1963-05-07

Cuba, no persuasive evidence
has yet developed to Justify
optimistic assumptions about .
the future effects Of Castro
ism in the Caribbean and In
continental South America.
At the moment Guatemala
is holding and in Venezuela
the local Communists have
been weakened and disor-
ganized. But quick reVersals
have been a hallmark Of the
volatile politics Of Latin
America, and 1t strains cre-
dulity to assume that o gen.
eral era of stability is now
beginning, For countries like
Peru and possibly Brazil 1t is
hard to convince oneself that
the fundamental forces for
integration are stronger than
the fundamental forces for
disintegration. Latin Ameri-
can Communists believe the
contrary, and are relatively
quiescent right now only as a
matter Of strategy, waiting,
for the time when the United
States will relax about Cuba,
take its nervous finger off
the trigger, and gradually
slip into q state Of de facto
co-existence with Mr.. Cas-
tro. AS we drift in that di-
rection, most Latin govern
ments as well as those Euro
pean allies anxious to re-
sumo trade with Cuba will
try TO force us further in
that direction.
Strategy Seen Changing !.
When northern opinion Is
adjusted to accommoda
Communist strategies will.
change again, and with the
present electricity dissipated,
we shall find 1t far harder
to rouse ourselves to force,
full action in the case of
some attempted uprising in +,
Cuba or in the case Of Com
munist coups in nearby ma
tions. This Is the prospect
unless somehow We will find
a way to increase our pres
ent presSures on Cuba. If
they are not increased, they
will decrease; it is not in the
nature Of these things. that a
status quo can be indefinitely
maintained. 90 A-- T.
Wise and good men are
reminding us that q COmmu-
mist Cuba Is not o mortal
threat to our vital interests.
In and of itself. of course, 1t
is not. But that opens, it
does not close. the argument.
A Communist Wet Nam, or a
Communist Laos. or, Indo-
neSia. or Venezuela or West
Berlin would not be mortal
threats, either-in and of
themselves and separately
considered, But the Commu-
mist world strategy Of pro-
tracted conflict is q strategy
Of the piecemeal advance.
There are only 50 many
pieces on the board. With
the capture Of Cuba they
have taken q tremendously
important piece. Dozens Of
Russian ships would not be
plying the Cuban trade and
thousands Of Russian citi-
bens would not be turned out
to cheer Castro. II the Krern-
lin didn't think so.
Can RIGHTS Reserved b,
Evening star., 1963-05-07
For Stern Justice

Judge Thomas c. Scalley
has taken positive action 10
make the District Of Column
bia a safer place TO live by
melting out a severe and
sensible Jail term TO one John
ID. Irby, assaulter. / respect
fully request that the other
honored members OF the
bench consider similar meth
DDS 10 clean up the Capital
Of the Nation and In fact -
the Capital Of the free world.
James Chochos, jr.