Published by Southern Oregon Publishing Co.
S4S S.E. Main St., Roseburg, Oregon
Charles V. Stanton
' Editor '
George Castillo Addye Wright
Assistant Editor Business Manager
Member of Ihe , Associated. Press, Oregon Newspaper Publishers
Association, the Audit Bureau of Circulation '
Entered as second class matter May 7, 1920, at the post office at
Roseburg, Oregon, under act of March 2, 1873
Subscription Rates on Classified Advertising Page
EDITORIAL PAGE
4 Tht News-Review, Roseburg, Ore. Thur., Mar., 9, 1961
WHAT TO REPORT?
By Charles V. Stanton
One of the major faults of the press newspaper, ra
dio, television in my opinion, is the tendency to exag
gerate, sensationalize, or overplay the news.
When the press encounters a piece of news that has
Jiigrh readership value it all too often exaggerates its' re
port. An example is found in the Solovich case.
This is an unusual situation. It has a dramatic angle.
It is a tear-jerker. It arouses sympathy. It plays on the
emotions. People follow avidly all the "hot" news they
can obtain., Too often people not only are furnished ob
jective news, but every drop
from the situation. .
We observed, for instance,
lished in Roseburg that "Ten deputy sheriffs armed with
revolvers and rifles moved out of Roseburg on horseback
Monday." That certainly makes most interesting reading.
The reader" pictures an army
prancing steeds, armed to the
down one poor, mentally unbalanced veteran.
The impression is vivid
avert t true.
The "ten deputy sheriff's"
were simply guards to prevent the fugitive from leaving
1he area in which he is believed to be ranging, they
weren't moving ont, they were already on the job. They
weren't heavily armed, and
"chase." The weather was
vich was riding out the storm in one of his many shelters.
Many Untruths
One of the handicaps faced by a newspaper is that so
many people "know" so many "facts" that simply aren't
true. All too often the newspaper is apt to accept some
thing from someone who passes on a piece of information
without first checking the accuracy of what is told.
Another thing is that so many people seemingly prefer
word-of-moulh rumor to what they read. Reading letters
concerning the Solovich case, and hearing conversation,
particularly people who call up the editor to bawl, him out
for something that appeared in the paper, it is quite ap
parent that people find rumors to be much more fascina
ting than the facts related in the newspaper. The news
paper, we have been told a number of .times, is deliber
ately withholding information. No amount of argument to
the contrary will convince some people that such isn't the
case. ' - - -
Then there's the person who only half reads. .That's
one of the big complaints made by every reporter and
editor. Time and again we have people declare that some
certain information wasn't given by the newspaper when,
in fact, it not only was given but was repealed.
A few days ago a lady quite roundly berated me for
the fact that I had failed to make a statement which she
declared should lave been contained in an editorial. The
statement was quite clearly printed. She simply had fail
ed to read it.
A writer of a letter recently made a statement com
pletely contrary to fact a fact that has been mentioned
in the newspaper time and time again.
Who Is To Blame
' We liave some newspapers that deliberately- sensation
alize the news. We call them "yellow journals." But they
sell! ' ,
One of the nation's top writers grossly exaggerates,
sensationalizes, fakes news, colors his reports, is, in 'my
opinion, completely unreliable. Yet his readership out
ranks most reporters seeking to be honest and objective.
Every newspaper worth its salt seeks to please its
readers. Unless it gives its raiders adequate service, they
won't long remain as subscribers. Readers, however,
would seem to be more interested in something of a sensa
tional, colored, opinionated character than an objective
news item written for its news
paper pander to the appetites of a good many of its read
ers, or should it strive to project news in the area of nor
mal values?
It has been the policy of
jective in iU news report. ,
earnestly to put no more sensationalism into a news item
than the item itself produces. Yet we find in the Solovich
case that people invent all sorts of "facts" and spread them
as gospel, and the newspaper gets criticized on the grounds
that it isn't reporting, all the news.
It's certainly true that a story of ten heavily armed
deputies mounted on horses and proceeding with intent to
shoot down a fugitive makes a lot more interesting read
ing than a story of two men slogging through rain and
mud, while engaged in a tour of guard duties, and with
no intent of shooting unless absolutely forced to do so for
self-protection.
Senators Favor
SALFf AP) The Senate
State and Federal Affairs Com
mittee voted 5-2 Wednesday for a
bill to shrink the site of the fu
ture Canitol Mall.
The bill would lop (he area be
tween Union and I) streets from
the proposed mall. This area is
1.2O0 feet long and' Iwo blocks
wide.
Under (he bill, the null would
he shrunk to an area five blocks
long and two blocks wide.
The stale already has acquired
4n per cent of the property in (he
Union-D SI. area at a cost o(
$636,000. The Board of Control es
timated it would cost $945,000 to
acquire the rest of the properly in
that area.
Sen. Pan Thiel; DAstoria. Spon
sor of the bill, said he fears that
the stale wouldn't be able to build
in the L'nionl) St. area lor an
other 50 years. In Ihe meantime,
he added, Ihe property would de
teriorate. The committee also recom
mended passage of hill that
would move Ihe Secretary of
Slate, Stale Treasurer and the
Land Board out of the Stale Cap
of sensationalism is wrung
in a newspaper not pub
of policemen, mounted on
teeth, riding out to shoot
except that the "facts"
actually were two men. They
they 'weren t engaged in any
terrible. Unquestionably Solo
value only. Should a news
The News-Review to be ob-
We have endeavored quite
Capitol Mall Cut
itol. ,
The idea is lo make more room ;
in Ihe rapitol building for legis-i
lalive offices' and more hearing i
rooms. I
The bill would appropriate $300,- i
,uou lo gel Ihe joli stalled and pro-
vide for a capilol planning board. I
The committee estimated it
I would cost about $100,000 lo move!
(various offices from the cepitol m-
lo vacant space in the new Labor,
I and Industries Building when it is !
! completed. . j
! Secretary of Stale Howell Ap-1
I pling Jr. said he felt Ihe estimated i
I moving cost loo low in view ot ,
Ihe need to move five massive.
. specially equipped vaults required t
; by the offices of Ihe Stale Treas-!
Hirer and Secretary of State. i
"I will be glad lo move mv of- i
flee to a quonset hut if it will help ;
reduce Ihe cost of state govern-i
ment." he said. I
Appling estimated the move
would cost more than a half mil-1
lion dollars. He said this seemed 1
like a big expense lo provide ,
space that Ihe legislature would
use only a few months everv two I
years. ' i
In The Day's News
By FRANK
By FRANK JENKINS
What of the news today?
It isn't very exciting. For
which let us he thankful. In these
modern days, the EXCITING news
gives us the shivers.
Secretary of Labor Goldberg, re
porting on the job situation, tells
us this morning that in February
unemployment rose 320,000 - over
January to a total of 5,705,000
the highest idle total since the
summer of 1941, just before World
War II, at the tag end of the
great depression.
But. he adds
EMPLOYMENT in February was
UP 200,000 from January to a to
tal of 64,655,000, which is the high
est February total jn our history.
Which is to say:
In February of this vear more
Americans were OUT OF WOHK
than at any time in the past 20
years, but at the same time more
Americans ,were WORKING than
in any previous February in our
history.
What's happening to us?
There could be two answers:
1. Our populalion is rising faster
than our capacity to provide jobs.
2. Prices are rising faster than
our capacity to pay.
The EASY solution is to pass
some more laws. But passing more
laws doesn't seem to provide a
permanent solution.
More problems'.
Starlings are reported to be in
creasing in this country at a dis
turbingly rapid rate possibly even
doubling in number every year.
They are a nuisance. They dirty
up city buildings. The make rau
James Marlow
Kennedy's Subtle Technique
Is Still Developing On TV
By JAMES MARLOW
: Associated Press Ntws Analyst
'WASHINGTON (AP) On TV
screens around the country Pres
ident Kennedy's news confer
ences look quick and simple.
They're quick. But they are not
simple. '
He's now had six meetings with
the press, enough to show at least
this much:- He follows a deliber
ate pattern which he established
himself; and his technique, much
more subtle, is slill developing.
This is the pattern:
From the very beginning Ken
nedy, who won election by a
squeak, has used his news con
ferences to get across an impres
sion of himself as a man in mo
tion. Example: The series of an
nouncements he makes at the
start of each conference.
Wednesday there were eight,
ranging from plans for a White
House reception to orders he has
given lo relieve hardship among
Indian and Eskimo children. All
could have been announced by his
press secretary, Pierre Salinger.
By doing this himself Kennedy
slays in the public eye as a very
busy President. He Is, indeed,
busy as his various programs and
messages testify.
The news conlerence announce
ments', even though many are of
secondary importance, add to the
total impression. ...
His technique:
He handles himself easily,
ftuidly, and fluently. He's relaxed.
He's relaxed because he did his
homework, knows what he's talk
ing about, look the trouble to in
form himself before confronting
questioners.
Two hallmarks of President
Joy Stilley
Laugh Week's
Tune Up Your
NEW YORK (AP) Gel your
funnybones tuned up folks. You'll
want to be ready tor me big evem
coming up April 310: National
Laugh Week.
Some of you may be out of con
dition for this, for lack of enough
things to laugh about these days.
In that case, you'll doubtless want
to prepare for the big ha-ha fest.
So here is our handy program
of easy exercises, especially de
signed lo ginger up jour guffaw
ing by April 3:
For Ihe rest of this week: Try
smiling for a minute or two once
an hour while working on your
income tax return.
Second week: Turn on a big
grin at assorted moments such
as when you keep getting threat
ening letters about overdue hills.
Third week: Prartice giggling
after household disasters, such as
Junior spilling a gallon of molas
ses on the living room rug.
Fourth week: Time now for the
restrained helly laugh. An excel
lent occasion would be upon learn
ing you've got to have a new roof
put on Ihe house.
Fifth week: A'ou should be
ready now for the big showdown
test: The howler. Oo it while con
sidering that your rich uncle has
cut you out of his will.
Friends, if you can do all that,
you are obviously ready for Na
tional Laugh Week.
Nalional Laugh Week is a proj
ect of Nalional Laugh Enterprises
of New York. A memo from Ihe
NLE says:
"The Nalional Laugh Enterpris
es was formed in 1045 lo promote
a national sense of humor. It rep
resents Ihe National Association
of Gagwrilers, which tries lo dis
cover, develop and encourage cre
ative performers and writers in
the Seven lifting Arts radio-TV,
stage, screen, cartoons, literature,
music and dance."
The NI.E also sponsors meet
ings al which people get together
and laugh, anvtime-and anvwhere
(hey feel like it.
Furthermore, it has a broad
program lo try lo keep people
chuckling all the vear round: Save
the I'un Week in January, Nation-'
al Laugh Week in April, National
JENKINS Ea
cous noises. They have been
blamed for air crashes, they seem
lo be fond of airnorts and when
planes encounter flocks of them the
birds are sucked into the jet en
gines, causing power failure.
They do considerable crop dam
age, but on the other hand they
eat a lot oi Dugs, so lar, the proo
lem is concentrated chiefly in the
cities, t.ilorls to get rid of them
have been confined largely to
frightening them away. But scar
ing them, away from one place
doesn I seem to result in any per
manent relief. They just go some
where else.
What to do about it?
Well, an Arkansas congressman
has a solution, tie has just intro
duced a hill to appropriate $400,000
to Ui) AWAY WITH STARLINGS.
That is to say: - , i
PASS A LAW.
That ought lo do , the .trick
Question:' . '7 i " V "'
When problems face us, is PASS
ING A LAW all we need to do?
One can't help wondering.
, In conclusion:
How did starlings get, started in
mis country.' i . .
- Well, some sentimental people
who tnougnt the starlings in Eng
land were cute brought over 60 of
ttiem back in 1800. They . were .set
free in Central Park in New York.
From there, they have spread over
a considerate part 01 the United
States. '
A lot of our troubles in this coun
try have arisen out of the actions
of people who are more liberally
endowed with sentiment than with
common sense.
Eisenhower's news conferences
were vagueness and generalities.
This was particularly true in his
early White House days Kennedy
at most times is specific.
Eisenhower, because of his life
time in the Army, didn't know
government details, well when he
took office. Kennedy has an ad
vantage here: Because of his 14
years in Congress, he knows gov
ernment pretty much inside out.
A good example of Kennedy's
specific knowledge was in his
statements Wednesday on federal
aid to education. But his tech
nique began lo show a change
Wednesday. The best, example,
again, was on federal aid to edu
cation. While Eisenhower rambled,
Kennedy usually has been direct
and terse, Wednesday he was for
the most part direct but less
terse. He not only explained his
thinking on federal aid at great
length, but did it repeatedly.
It looked like a deliberate,
planned effort to educate the pub
lic, through press and radio, on
the problem as he sees it: That,
while federal aid to public schools
is needed, similar, aid to paro
chial schools hits constitutional
blocks.
This change i in technique long
explanation which took up a lot
of time gave newsmen less
chance lo ask varied questions
and cover more ground. The re
sult, from a news standpoint,
was pretty dull.
That ought to give Kennedy
something to chew on. He can de
feat his purpose educating the
fiublie on his viewpoint if, by
ong explanations, he winds up
diminishing public interest in
what he has to say.
Coiriing--So,
Funnybones
Humor Week in June and .Pass
the Laugh Week in October.
Between times, the NLE tries
lo maneuver Ihe mirth movement
with a number of projects.
One ot these is, according to
the NLE, a "humor report to Ihe
nation" presented annually lo
Congress.
"Remember." says Ihe NLE
memo, "humor is therapy. Won't
you join our crusade for a happi
er world through humor? Laugh.
It's good for you." .
Virginia Tech Students
Set Bunk-Stuffing Mark
BLACKSBL'HG. Va. (API-Virginia
Tech students were laying
claim today to- Ihe national col
legiate record , for i bottom-bunk
stuffing.
Bottom-hunk stuffing, the new
est collegiate fad. is getting as
many paiama-clad students as
possible into a bottom bunk of a
double-deck bed.
Students al Tech's Campbell
Hall waged their "contest"
.Wednesday morning
Through diligent effort, grunt
ing, groaning, and just plain in
genuity, 65 male students were
parked into Ihe bunk.
Then H collapsed.
The students claimed the rec
ord anyway,
Multnomah Co. Seeks j
Jean Lewis' Successor j
PORTLAND (AP) The Mull-!
nomah County Democratic Cen-j
tral Committee says it probably j
will meet next week to decide j
who it thinks should replace stale j
Sen. Jean Lewis. I) Portland, who!
has been appointed a circuit court :
judge. i
The Multnomah County Com
mission will fill the post, but has j
ssked for recommendations from i
Ihe parly orgamration. j
One candidate appeared Wednes
day, Wat Brown of Portland, who
last lo Mrs Lewis in Ihe primary j
election last year. He asked thct
central committee for support. I
Solon Presents Views
On Reflectorixed Plates
To The Editor: . .
$800,000 plus is the cost of a
brand new set of reflectorized li
cense plates if House Bill 1059,
now in the House Highways Com
mittee, passes. Here are the facts
about this bill: ., ..
1. A set of plates now costs the
Stale of Oregon 38 cents per pair.
Reflectorization would raise the
total cost to $1.05. the charge per
year to the' consumer is $10.00,
but he doesn't get a new plate
every year of course.
2. Minnesota Mining and Manu
facturing Company holds an ex
clusive patent on reflectorized
sheeting, the best type of reflec
torization available. They have
hired Eugene Laird to represent
their interests and to induce the
legislature to pass this bill. Their
monopoly on the process will pre
clude the , state from requiring
competitive bids for license plate
production.
3. The cost' of Minnesota Mining
and Manufacturing Company's re
flectorization per set of plates was
given as 58 cents last summer be
fore, the Highway Interim Com
mittee, but is now 67 cents. This
is in addition to the present 38
cents. There is no assurance that
once the bill is passed mat me
price will not go up again and
advance still further in the future.
Minnesota Mining and Manufac
turing Company is the only firm
in the . United Slates with whom
the Stale of Oregon can deal until
their exclusive patent runs out.
4. There is no necessity to pass
this bill since the Motor Vehicle
Department already has the power
to issue reflectorized plates if they
think the safety factor justifies the.
added cost. The Legislature should
not make Iheir issuance manda
tory. The Motor Vehicle Depart
ment has testified mat mucn more
safety could be gained at less cost
with student driver training, bet
ter policing, driver education, etc.
5. The state of Connecticut nad
reflectorized license plates for a
short time but abandoned them
because of the cost. ,
6. Eugene Laird has now intro
duced an amendment which will
charge every person who buys an
automobile license an extra sum.
The suggested amount is $1.00.
This means that you and 1 will
pay $1.00 every year for a license
in addition to the present $10.00.
7. A reflectorized license plate
has no value at all for identifica
tion or visibility if it's dirty. No
demonstrations using dirty plates
nor even plates using silver and
blue colors have been given to the
legislators. Reflectorization does
n't show up well under these con
ditions. I would suggest that citizens who
do not want this inflationary and
unnecessary bill to pass should
write or telephone their legislators
and particularly those members of
the Highway Committees. There
was a motion in committee to table
this bill last week. It failed 6 to 2.
Beulah Hand, Member
Highway Committee in
House and Interim High
way Committee
House of Representatives
Salem, Ore.
Understandings Said
Need In Solovich Case
To The Edilor:
I did not voluntarily involve my
self in thinking about the contro
versial issue of Big Steve it
was forced on me. 1 casually tuned
in a radio program one night and
heard a few people expressing
their opinions on the subject. 1
thoroughly agreed with the idea
that ho should be left alone aft
er all, all he wanted was to be
able to commune with nature in
peace, which is what a great manv
of us would like to do.
Gradually I began to assimilate
more facts on the subject and 1
began to understand the feelings
of some of the people who had had
not so pleasant experiences with
Steve. Presumably, many people
who live on farms and ranches con
sider privacy one of the assets of
such a life. I must admit that were
I living out like this 1 should dis
like anyone sane, insane, cood.
kind or otherwise lurking on my
back forty without my consent.
I began to wonder which faction
was right should Ihev brine
Steve in or leave him alone or
could it be possible that Ihe two
seemingly incompatible views were
both true to a certain extent?
I think we might he able to un
derstand the problem better if we,
rin twn Ihinw t at all !, f.i
aoout Steve and (2) gam a better
understanding of mental illness
We should he able lo understand i
and keep in mind that disease andj
disability tend to change or modify
nenavior, wniie me basic nature!
may remain Ihe same. If vou had j
friend with a broken lee or!
hearl disease it is doubtful that ,
you would find him whooping it up
at the Senior Prom although he
had been a very good dancer.
I have no doubt that the state-1
ments lhal "Big Sieve'' is basical
ly a kind and gentle man are true.
However, mental illness definitely
tends lo modify behavior lo Ihe
extent that a person may engage
in behavior which he normally
would avoid. Whether or not Steve
mentally ill is something I
would not be qualified lo say nev
er having even met him. hut I
would assume that the fart that
he was referred to Ihe V.A. would
be a pretty good indication.
I tninK everyone win agree on
one Ihing: the whole case is a
very unfortunate situation, but I,
don't think we can accuse the law
enforcement officers of being '
bloodthirsty. I believe Ihev are
most sincere in not wanting any
blood shed and are simply trying
to serve a warrant as Ihey are
required to do.
I would hope thai adults express
ing Iheir opinions on Ihis or any 'crops and farming methods lo the
other subject would do what I region
encourage my sixth grade students Carrier attended Bluefield Col
lo do: Think logically and con-1 lege and the I niversity of Ru-h-stiurtively
and get all the factsimond in Virginia. He was grad
belore coining to a conclusion. uated Irom Mary Washington Uni
Pat Sparks i versily in Virginia and holds a
920 llolhs B n degree from Southeastern
Roseburg, Ore. i Baptist Seminary, ,
Opinions. From Readers
Local Resident Says
Winston Can Have Steve
To The Edilor:
There has been so much in the
paper about "Big Steve" that 1
want to get into the picture too.
1 can't see why the people of Glide
should be forced to feed him and
have their homes entered and so
many things taken when, I under-
s,and: he has several thousand dol-
lars in the bank in care of the
Veterans Administration.
I know that when , you give a
man a bad name, everything is
blamed on him. But when people
have found their stuff in his camps,
I believe that would be a clincher,
don't you think.
He culs sections from fences for
bed springs and to hold up his
tarps, and I don't believe even
Ihe woman from Myrtle Creek or
the man from Winston would be
willing to stand still if it was their
fence being cut, their sheep stolen
or their rifles taken. I believe it
makes a difference whose ox is be
ing gored.
My suggestion to the sheriff and
his deputies, would be to drive
Steve in the general direction of
Winston or Myrtle Creek and let
him live off those people for a
while.
The mill at Glide has been shut
down for so long the men that
work there can ill afford to have
their sheep slaughtered and their
food stolen.
How long is it going to be until
Steve's poor sick mind tells him
lo kill someone? I am just selfish
enough to hope that when that
time comes it won't be any of my
people.
And, by the way, just how many
were in the posse when he shot
Mr. Talcott. Letters have placed
the number anywhere from seven
to twenty-seven.
The people around Glide are
scared, and they have a right to
be. When a mental patient is run
ning loose most anything can hap
pen. That is the general reason
for putting so much money into
mental hospitals.
- Let him go to Myrtle Creek or
Winston and give Glide a rest!
Belle Crenshaw
416 N.E. Jackson
Roseburg, Ore.
(Editor's Note The search
ers who contacted Solovich at
the time Talcott was shot con
sisted of seven persons, six dep
uties under the direction of Dep
uty Sheriff Gail Carnine. CVS)
Reader Prays Steve
Won't Be Killed
To The Editor:
Along with many others, I too,
would like to use the freedom of
the press to express my personal
opinion regarding Steve Solovich.
On record at Douglas County
Courthouse is my discharge from
the army as a sergeant of World
War II. I am a veteran as Steve
is. As such I feel I know him and
why he acts as he does. I know
Steve cannot stay in the woods as
he wants because modern society
will not allow it. But, in order to
capture him without harming him,
we need men with consideration,
sound minds and sound hearts.
We need good woodsmen to search
out Steve as a friend, not as a foe.
I am sure there are such men
available here in Roseburg if we
cared enough to look.
As for Steve being a thief, I
understand he has money due him
which could be used to pay for
anything taken, it seems to me. It
occurs to me that if I were in his
place and he in mine that society
would have more problems 'ban
with him, for I am sure 1 aid
not stand to be badgered and
treated as Steve has been.
So help me, I cannot see how
those who gave so much, and so
ciety which gave so little in com
parison, can be so heartless. Some
veterans are still idle. Some are
slill fighting a war that has been
over for 17 years. I kaavr this is
true because I spent 17 months
overseas in combat and I know
what war can do to a man men
tally as well as physically.
Te speak of God in this modern
age is considered naive. But 1
wish to thank God I am not Steve!
1 am a- woodsman and a logger.
I was born in the mountains. Like
Steve, I love nature as God created
it. I also love the outdoor life.
I am also a red-blooded American
who believes in Christ's leaching.
Christ says in His word: "I
was hungry and you fed me. 1
was naked and you clothed me.
I was in prison (a mental hospital)
and you visited me. Because as
much as you have done it to the
least of these, my brethren (even
Steve Solovich) you have done it
, ,.
I know Christ would never say
... i,;... "'m' i.'ihat ho
.nn't hp killed
Frank J. Galvean
8.17 N. E. Church SI.
Roseburg, Ore.
First Baptist
Slates Speaker
The Reverend Cecil E. Carder,
American Baptist Missionary to
Thailand, will speak at the First
n,ict r'lixprth Uncn inH t ana
Slrre,'s Roscburg, at 7 p m. sun-
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Carder were ap
pointed as missionaries of Ihe
American Baptist foreign Mission
i Society in 1954 and have completed
their first term of service in Thai-
land. Thev are in America on
year's furlough,
The Carders have been stationed
in Bangkok, Chiengmai, and most
recently in Chiengrai where Ihev
have supervised education work
which has included starting a pri
mary school and helping in evan
gelistic outreach in the area. They
have also started a small agricul
tural program lo introduce new
Little River Resident
Says Steve Gets Worse
To The Editor:
Commentators please ' make
room while I dip my oar in the
swirling waters of public opinion.
I, too, would like to express my
opinions concerning our so-called
"Nature Boy," Sieve Solovich.
Considering that most everyone
else has more or less taken issue,
one way or the other, with our
sheriff,. I had just as well start
there.
I believe Steve could have been
apprehended last summer most
any Sunday while' he was watch
ing the swimming holes, by using
a bit of strategy and having sev
eral husky men gang up on him.
It would have taken several, as an
insane person has exceptional
strength.
But I must say thai I can see
the sheriff's side of this, as at
that time he would have had to
turn Steve over to the V.A. and
what was the usel He'd just be
allowed to escape again. I also
realize that the weather has been
bad lately and not much could be
accomplished fighting the wind and
rain.
Nor do I think that the sheriff
should give us, in this area, his
undivided personal attention. Aft
er all this is a large county for
him to direct his forces over for
the welfare of all, and this is best
done from the center of control.
The method used to catch this
insane man is for the lawmen to
decide. However, I think credit
should go openly and honestly to
the men who nave actually warned
at the job and 10 the ones who
will also actually finish it.
But all this does not hide the
fact that Steve must be caught,
and the sooner the better. The
man is insane and is getting pro
gressively worse as time goes on.
Who knows when that slender
thread will fray to the breaking
point and he will throw all caution
aside and begin taking openly
whenever he wishes. Anyone who
tries to stop him will be eliminated
then. Do you who say, "let him
alone," want the possible murder
of whole or any parts of families
on your heads? And it may well
come to that.
A number of years ago he might
not have caused too much of a
disturbance, but Ms past year has
been a "Lu Lu" for everyone
whose property "Dear Old Steve"
chose to haunt. He is far from
self-supporting, as some would
like to believe, nor does he live
way back in the mountains. He
steals everything and anything he
wants, a lot of which he can't
possibly use. He exists like an
animal, skulking around in the
brush on the edges of our com
munity, waiting and watching for
a chance to steal more. He steals
not only for himself but also for
his imaginary guerrilla forces. And,
don't forget, his thievery could
also serve as a cover for anyone
else so inclined.
Also, .don't forget 'thai, come
hunting season, and he is still
running loose, there are going to
be a number of people shot and
one could be you.
He butchers people's sheep reg
ularly as clock work. There are
people who say he should be al
lowed to take what he wants; that
they would be glad lo let the poor
old man have meat. Could be!
But would they be as generous if
they had any livestock, to give?
Do (hey ever slop to think that
these animals are the farmer's
source of income, the living for
his family. His taxes, insurance,
upkeep and general running ex
penses are paid for with the mon
ey received from the sale of these
animals. In other words, his pay
check. What would these people do
if, say, the bookkeeper at their
places of employment stole about
$20.00 a week regular from their
paychecks? Would they then say
"let the poor old bookkeeper
alone?" I doubt it. They would be
screaming "Thief! Sheriff do
something!" as much as anyone.
Sieve has done nothing but tres
pass, vandalize, steal and cut 1
fences on everyone's place where
he has chosen to live ever since
he left the hospital. Have we, who
have paid and worked for this
land and other possessions, no
rights? Would you, who live in
town or just have a house and
yard out a ways, gladly let any
one get away with destroying
your propertv?
He has cut fences for several
iiiiilts muuiiu in ine area wuere ne
runs. 1 doubt if he uses the same
opening twice. 1 know my line
fence looks more like spaghetti
than a fence. He cuts out and re-j
moves lengthy portions to use. Do'
any of you have any idea of the.
work and expense involved in re-1
pairing and building mountain j
fences? And. al present, take the 1
risk of being shot? What happens!
if we all stick together and re- i
fuse lo pay our taxes, because the1
law and order and protection
against vandalism for which we!
pay, is not doing its job? Do we!
hire it done and send the countvi
the hill so you can all heb nav'1
Or will the county send the law to
fix our fences?
A lot of people express opinions
las how to catch this character'
but I notice that when the red
carpel is literally rolled out for
them to come try their method.!
You Are Cordially Invited To Attend .
REVIVAL
Services
WINSTON MENNONITE CHURCH
East End Suksdorf St Winston
NIGHTLY 7:30 .. . SUNDAYS 7:00 PM
SUN., MAR. 5, thru SUN., MAR. 12
Evangelist JOE ESH (Mt. Vernon, Pa.)
Posfor, Roy E. Hottetlcr, OS 9-5426
they prefer to have business else
where. And i don't blame them.
They could get shot. Let the law
take care of this matter the best,
quickest and most, efficient way ,
possible. There is a job for it.u) ..
do, and get it done it must.
No one has gone out after Steve
with the express purpose of shoot
ing him down first and talking .
after. But in my opinion, if it
comes lo a choice of either him
or some upstanding young family
man who is a credit to his com
munity, I would not hesitate, if, I .
were in the sheriff's shoes.
Does this sound unchristianlike?
If you will but read the scriptures
you will find plenty of instances
where our God has sanctioned
quantities of bloodshed in order to
protect His own. And did He not
sacrifice His own Son so that we,
His people, could have life? I hope
Steve can be caught without hurt
ing him or anyone else, but I sure
have my doubts if this is possible.
Perhaps in his warped mind he
prefers it that way rather than
being cooped up. And when they do
catch him, we hope he will be
cooped up a good long time.
Mrs. J. C. Livingston
Little River Rd.
Glide, Oregon
Assistant Librarian
Valuable Says Reader :
To The Editor:
' I have read with interest the
several letters published in this
column concerning the need for a
children's librarian. I am surprised
that our school teachers have not
made some public endorsement of
the suggestion. Having been a pri
mary grades teacher, I know how
very valuable an assistant a good
children's librarian can be..
One of the major problems in to
day's classroom is the wide spread
of abilities, in a tnird grade room,
for instance, there may be children
reading and working on every lev
el from the low second grade to
the fourth grade. This is a real
challenge to the teacher who hopes
to present science, social studies
and literature in a meaningful way.
With the help of a librarian who
has an up to date knowledge of
children's books, and the time to
search out the books a teacher
needs, a teacher can provide re
search and reading material at
the levels needed by her class. In
this way all the children can go
beyond the text books in learning.
Having a selection of books avail
able also encourages independent
reading and study, essential skills .
for success in our crowded educa
tional institutions.
These habits of independence are
also developed in a library where
a child can go to an informed per
son with his requests for reading
material, and be guided quickly
and satisfactorily lo the books he
wanls. Successful experiences in
using a library can turn a maze
of shelves filled with titled book
backs into a place where one can
find pleasure and information
whenever one wants or needs it.
So much of great value lo living ,
a satisfying life is to be found in
books that every child should be
allowed every possible chance to
feel at home in a library, the home
of books. Our library is an excel
lent facility. As a community, we
are not using it to its fullest ad
vantage if we do not provide a
librarian for our children. This will
not cost us any money, as the
funds are available. It will cost
us a little gumption in making the
need and desire for a children's
librarian known.
Mrs. James W. Pratt, Jr.
1212 N.E. Beulah Dr.
Roseburg, Ore,
Reader Offers Ideas
On Potato Surplus
To The Edilor: '
I read the other day that the
U.S. will subsidize the fall crop ot
potatoes, as the farmers produced
loo many.
That statement brings to mind
Ihe conditions as they were back
in the twenties, before people ex
pected the government lo take
care of all their little mistakes.
At that time Ihis writer was pro
ducing potatoes in Colorado, and
he will tell you how they handled
overproduction (hen.
The farmers had a co-operative
sales agency, and all potatoes were
sold through this agency. I remem
ber one summer in particular that
Ihere were loo many potatoes pro
duced. The manager of the sales
agency received the government
report on bushels produced and he
already knew how many the mar
ket could handle, so he culled close
enough that Ihe No.ls would sup
ply the market. There were only
two grades. No. l's and culls, and
no culls were sold at any price.
They were taken back to the farm
and fed lo Ihe hogs and cows.
Any" potato that had a skinned,
place on it the size of a fingernail
was a cull. We fed belter pola--toes
lo the stock than we were
ever able lo buy here at any price.
And in fact our cows and hogs
would have been insulted beyond
redemption if they had been offer
ed such potatoes as we eat every
day. Our price that fall was 65
cents per cwt sacked and on the
cars.
C. E. Young
Old Highway Rd., Box 2t
Glendale. Ore.