L
Page 2
Portland/Obaerver
Thursday. October 11, 1973
, WE SEE THE WORLD
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THROUGH BLACK EYES
Open letter to the Mayor
Dear Mr. Goldsrhmidt,
ALFRED L. HENDERSON 1
E d itor/P ub lish er
EDITORIAL FOCUS
It’s Blanchard’s problem G r e e n SO yS HO
P rincipal D avid M cC rea's rem arks a b o u t Boise
school, in c lu d in g his statem ent th a t the students
create an atm o sph e re n e g a tive to le a rn in g , m et
w ith an im m e d ia te a nd n e a rly u n a n im o u s d e m a n d
from the Black co m m u n ity fo r his re m o v a l.
’
Then som e in d iv id u a ls began ta k in g a second
th o u g h t — p erha ps M cCrea d id n 't re a lly m ean
w h a t he sa id ; m a yb e he is d o in g a p re tty goo d
•jo b, co n s id e rin g ; m a yb e som eone else w o u ld be
w orse; p erha ps he should be fo rg iv e n fo r his racist
w ords; m a yb e he is just a scapegoat.
Mrs. Edith G reen b ecam e the first m em ber o f
Congress to speak in o p p o s itio n to the H om e Rule
Bill th a t w o u ld b rin g D em ocracy to the District o f
C o lu m b ia .
Mrs. G reen says she is opposed to
hom e ru le because she w an ts a ll o f the p e o p le in
th e n a tio n to c o n tro l the ca p ita l b uildings.
This is a ra th e r strong a rg u m e n t fo r a R epre
se nta tive from O reg on , w h e re so m uch lan d is
o w n e d by the fe d e ra l g ove rn m e n t.
A lth o u g h
loca te d in the State o f O regon, these lands are in
the co ntrol o f " a ll the p e o p le ". The same holds
true o f our state c a p ita l b u ild in g s — a lth o u g h
loca te d in th e city o f Salem, they b e lo n g to a ll
the p e o p le o f O regon.
The rea l issue is not fe d e ra l control o f the
c a p ita l b u ild in g s a nd historic sites — the real
issue is w h e th e r the Black p o p u la tio n o f W ash
ing to n , D.C. w ill co ntrol th e ir o w n destiny.
U n fo rtu n a te ly , th ere are s till p e o p le in the
U n ite d S ta te s — lik e E d ith G re e n
— w ho
ca nn ot to le ra te the idea o f the c a p ita l c ity o f the
U nited States in the co ntrol o f Black p eo ple.
D em ocratic as w e profess to be, c iv il rig hts law s
have n eve r been passed by a vote o f the p e o p le .
Schools h ave not been dese greg ated by th e e le c
to ra te — it to ok a Suprem e C ourt d e cis io n and
the U.S. A rm y.
Equal e m p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n ity
does not co m e fro m a dem ocratic e le c tio n -- it
comes th ro u g h the th re a t o f w ith d ra w a l o f fe d e ra l
funds.
Justice has n eve r been p o p u la r in this
; country.
Some Boise parents fe e l that a lth o u g h th ey are
u n h a p p y w ith M cCrea, they w ill h a n d le the m atter
th em selve s, w ith o u t the assistance o f e ith e r the
school d istrict or the Black co m m u n ity. But a c h 'ld
is not o n ly va lu e d by his parents — he is va lu e d
by a ll o f society.
W ho w ill b e n e fit th ro ug h a
The b oa rd o f the Associated G e ne ra l C ontractors
c h ild 's e d u ca tio n ?
N ot o nly his parents a nd his
a
nd
U.S. Secretary o f Labor Peter Brennan m et
p a re n t's PTA, b ut the e n tire co m m u n ity. W ho w ill
Friday
in a closed m e e tin g to discuss m in o rity
be p ro u d o f a Black c h ild 's a ch ie ve m e n t? N ot o nly
h irin g — a m o n g o the r things.
his parents, b ut e ve ry Black parent. A n d w h o w ill
Secretary B re nn an 's o p in io n s and actions to w a rd
su ffe r fro m a Black c h ild 's fa ilu re ?
m in o ritie s are w e ll kn o w n .
He fo u g h t lon g and
Some a d m in istra to rs said he must go.
O thers
hard to keep m in o ritie s o ut o f the construction
said he has o n ly re ite ra te d the unstated p h ilo so p h y
tra d e in N e w York.
o f the school b oa rd a nd u d m in is tra tio n . Still others
W h a t is the excuse fo r th e Associated G e ne ra l
w e re a fra id o f w h a t m ig h t hap pe n w e re the c o m
C ontractors?
W hat is th e ir record on m in o rity
m u n ity a b le to have a p rin c ip a l rem ove d.
tra
in
in
g
a
nd
h
irin g ?
Every ye a r AGC receives
So the d ecision b ecam e a p o p u la rity contest —
m
o
n
e
y
fro
m
the
Federal
H ig h w a y D ep artm en t fo r
w ith letters fro m both sides b e in g counted.
th
e
tra
in
in
g
o
f
m
in
o
ritie
s
.
M ost o f this m o n e y goes
N o w the a d m in is tra tio n has d e c id e d thdh M cCrea
unused.
W
e
h
ave
seen
no
g re a t e ffo rt on th e part
■ w ill re m a in a t Boise a nd the a d m in is tra tio n must
o f AGC to assist m in o rity contractors. In fa ct they
ta ke th e re sp o n sib ility. S u p e rin te n d e n t B lanchard
have been a h in d e ra n c e , not a h e lp , in n e g o tia
c a lle d M cC rea's statem ents, as q u o te d in the
tions
b e tw e e n the A lb in a C ontractors Association
n ew spa pe r, "s te re o ty p e d ” , but d id not consider
a nd w h ite contractors.
They have not assisted
th em g rounds fo r re m o va l.
th e ir m em bers to m ee t fe d e ra l a ffirm a tiv e action
A re w e to co n clu d e that M cC rea's statem ents
req uire m e n ts.
w e re fa c tu a l — th a t the a tm o sph e re at Boise is
W e do not consider the Associated G eneral
not co n d u cive to le a rn in g ?
Dr. B lanchard said
C ontractors — an association o f w h ite co ntrac
" a n y school a tte n d e d by a vast m a jo rity o f lo w -
tors — to be a u th o ritie s in the tra in in g and
in co m e ch ild re n is unsound e d u c a tio n a lly . Further,
h irin g o f m in o ritie s fo r the co nstruction trade, a
it is m y social, as w e ll as e d u c a tio n a l, co n victio n
tra d e th a t has lon g been ope n o n ly to w hites. We
th a t this is e sp e c ia lly d a m a g in g in the case o f a
do no! b e lie v e Secretary Brennan has e ith e r the
lo w -in c o m e school th a t is also B la c k ."
interest or the e xpe rtise to do a n y th in g w he re
This g ive s the school district tw o a lte rn a tiv e s :
m in o ritie s are concerned.
close Boise or tran sfe r in an e q u a l n u m b e r o f
T he refo re w e consider this closed m e e tin g to be
w h ite u p p e r a nd m id d le class c h ild re n .
Black
a w aste o f the ta xpa yers m oney. If th ere w as any
c h ild re n a nd th e ir fa m ilie s have b o rn e the burden
interest at a ll by e ith e r o f these tw o p artie s they
o f th e tra n sfe r p ro g ra m .
N o w le t the w h ite
w o u ld have in c lu d e d the A lb in a C ontractors As
fa m ilie s share the re s p o n s ib ility to p ro v id e an
so cia tio n , the U nite d M in o rity W orkers a nd any
e q u a l e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n ity fo r a ll o f P ortland's
o th e r o rg a n iz a tio n interested a nd e x p e rie n c e d in
c h ild re n .
the e n try o f m in o ritie s in to the construction fie ld .
If th e re w e re a n y rea l concern, they w o u ld have
sought th e a d v ic e a n d assistance o f the m in o rity
co m m u n itie s.
AGC no authority
Agnew resigns
The n a tio n 's " la w a nd o rd e r" vice-pre sid en t,
S piro A g n e w , has resign e d because he pla ced
h im s e lf a b o v e th e la w . He has a d m itte d to incom e
tax e va sio n a n d is ch arge d w ith a d d itio n a l crim es
W e p re d ic t the p re sid e n t w ill soon fo llo w
—
th a t p erson al use o f ca m p a ig n co n trib u tio n s w ill he
d isco vere d.
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company,
2201 North Killingsworth, Portland, Oregon 97217. Mailing
address: P.O. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208. Telephone:
283 2486.
Subscriptions: $5.25 per year in the Tri County area. $6.00
per year outside Portland.
Second Class Postage Paid at Portland, Oregon
The Portland Observer's official position is expressed only
in it's Publisher's Column (We See The World Through
Black Eyes). Any other material throughout the paper is the
opinion of the individual writer or submitter and does not
necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer.
MEMBER
member
a W Oregon
■ ■
B ï W
■ ma
N ew spaper
Publishers
Association
The Ad Hoc Police-Com
munity Relations Committee
heard Clarence Harper, Jr.
this morning describe his
treament by members of the
Portland Police Bureau.
I
am assuming that you know
by now the details of the
incident which from our un
derstanding would seem to
be a clear instance of police
mis conduct.
I am writing this letter to
encourage you to make this a
case in point to illustrate for
the police bureau and the
community what is acceptable
police behavior and what is
unacceptable police behavior.
Some of our concerns which
our committee hopes you will
deal with point by point are
as follows:
1) We believe mace was
used improperly Mr. Harper
says that while he was in the
police car at the scene of the
incident and while he was
handcuffed with his hands
behind his back he was sub
jected to macing.
This
seems to be conduct that is
without excuse.
2) When Mr. Harper's
mother posted bail he was
not released. What explains
this?
3) Twelve hours after he
was picked up Mr. Harper
was allowed to make a phone
call. We want an explana
tion for this delay.
4) It was not until 11:30
p.m., according to Mr. Har
per. that he was informed of
the charge against him. He
was picked up at 7:30 p.m.
This tim e interval badly
needs explaining.
5) When he requested
medical treatment after being
beaten Mr. Harper says it
was denied to him.
6) Throughout this exper
ience Mr. Harper tells us he
was subjected to abusive Ian
guage reflecting on his racial
origin and that provocative
language was resorted to by
the officers involved and the
corrections personnel.
Our committee would In-
very curious to know what
the content of the report of
Lt. Brown was to your office.
Mr. Harper indicated this
officer investigated the inci
A
Sincerely yours.
Reverend Austin
Richardson
To the Editor:
it is not surprising that the
little crooks don't get as
much attention (tar and
feathers) as they deserve.
The vicious attacks of
Emanuel Hospital, Lloyd
Center, the School District,
and the Portland Develop
ment Commission form a
pattern of injustice and per
secution.
Our children will not be
Labor C om m issio ne r N orm an O. N ilsen has a n
nou nce d th a t he w ill not be a ca n d id a te fo r re-
e le c tio n in 1974
A n u m b e r o f persons have expressed interest in
this p o s itio n , a m o n g th e m :
State Senator Bill
Stevenson, State R epresentative Bob E lliott, Assis
tant Labor C om m issio ne r John G ustafson, State
E m p lo ym e n t D ivisio n A d m in is tra to r Ross M org a n ,
Sate Senator Dick G ro e n e r a nd C ounty C om m is
sioner M e l G ordon.
The Labor C om m issio ne r is o ne o f the m ost im
p o rta n t e le c te d o ffic ia ls to m in o rity p e o p le .
The
Labor Bureau is resp o n sib le fo r the e n fo rc e m e n t of
the state's c iv il rig h ts law s a nd is in charge o f the
A p p re n tic e s h ip Program .
Both o f these fu n ctio n s
are v ita l to the e c o n o m ic a nd p o litic a l d e v e lo p
m en t o f m in o rity co m m un ities.
In this im p o rta n t e le c tio n w e must w e ig h each
c a n d id a te c a re fu lly — not o n ly on his stated
p h ilo s o p h y a nd proposals, but on his record.
This is one tim e th a t w e ca n n o t a ffo rd to e nte r a
p o p u la rity or b e a u ty contest a n d ju m p on the
b a n d w a g o n o f o u r fa v o rite p o litic ia n .
Harper
Several recent issues hit at
the core of what's wrong
with Portland. The articles
about the Portland Develop
ment Commission expose a
conspiracy against low income
people in Portland.
The
grants that are supposed to
help those in need go to the
ones with the greed. The
PDC is like urban renewal
in that respect.
Special interest groups ac
tually make money by in
flicting additional misery on
people. Programs which are
Dear Dr. Blanchard:
supposed to help people are
used to bankroll fly-by-night
Speaking on behalf of the
contractors.
The hard
parents of Boise, by no
working quality craftsmen
means do we accept the ac
lose the fine reputation they
tions
of our principal. Mr.
deserve because some crooks
David McCrea, but we feel
swindle people.
that this is our problem and
The problem with Boise
we should be allowed to
Elementary certainly goes
solve it ourselves. We, as
beyond the office of David
parents, have a lot at stake
McCrea.
The same white
trying to help our children
school board made the deci
sion to funnel children into
Boise until it is swamped by
the flooding traffic from the
Fremont Bridge.
The school board has cer
tainly abused its authority to
condemn property for public
(Continued from pg. 1, col. 9)
use by tearing down neigh
fied prosecutions of d is
borhoods to put the land into
senters and corrupted the
a land specualtion bank.
constitutional function of
The school board will prob
grand juries to make them
ably "make a few bucks” by
instruments of political sur
selling out the neighborhoods
veillance and harassment.
so that “big shots" can build
He has perverted and at
hotes and office buildings on
templed
to pervert the oper
that property.
ation of various federal agen
In a time when political
cies including the Depart
corruption is rampant in the
ment of Justice, the National
highest offices of our nation,
safe in the streets when the
Fremont Bridge starts fun
nelling rush hour traffic
through the neighborhood.
The smaller business along
Union Avenue will be forced
into bankruptcy if the traffic
is intensified.
dren and communicate to
school ,iersonnel whether a
1 do not believe that schools different kind of performance
standard is worth diminishing
in transition should be stig
matized by unfair publicity. future circum stances re
1 feel that it is essential for garding equal opportunity.
I found the academic en
all students that an atmos
phere conducive to learning vironment at Boise compar
able to la-wis and Woodstock
prevail.
As a concerned citizen, I (schools for which I have
spent moat of the October 2, served as room represents
1973 school day visiting six tive and as a volunteer in
classes at Boise School to Portland Public Schools). I
did not observe undue ar
observe and evaluate class
room conditions and student tivity in the hallways of
To me, Boise ap
behavior. I found teachers in Boise.
control of their respective peared to In- a school in
classes with obvious student which all children, irrespec
rapport in an atmosphere tive of rare, ran safely bene
fit from the education pro
conducive to education. Stu
dents demonstrated interest, gram. In my opinion, the
cooperation, and discipline. earlier negativisim reported
Profane or obscene language in a daily white newspaper
was not evident. Students regarding Boise is unjusti
were energetic but not un lied!
ruly: I observed only one Sincerely.
disruptive student (an eighth Mrs. O.J. Gates
grader) whose teacher dem
onstrated capability in hand
ling that situation. One dis
ruptive student is not un
usual for any school.
Gentlemen:
I urge other interested
persons to visit Boise ami
Boise School is not likely
personally evaluate the aca
to get a better man than
demic atmosphere. I realize David McCrea.
the impossibility of assessing
I believe his letter pub
the quality of the instruc
iiahed in your October 4,
tional program under the cir
1973 issue.
cumstances of a visit.
I trust that Boise parents Yours truly,
will closely monitor the aca
Philip H. Lowthian
demic progress of their chil Attorney at I j w
Dear Sir:
McCrea ok
Very truly yours,
Ralph laiVelle Blondell
1806 N. Haight
Exie Publishing
Company
283-2486
PTA wants no help
get a better education.
We would appreciate you
giving us a chance to solve
our own problems.
If we
find that we cannot, we
would appreciate your help
in the future.
Meet your ¿^irmattve ¿¡ctioe
'^e^ut/enteei dte taty wuf f
Contract your p rin tin g to a m inority firm
Respectfully yours,
D rothy Hardy
Boise P.T.A. President
Use minority printers
ACLU asks impeachment
Security Council, the Secret
Service, the State Depart
ment, the Defense Depart
ment and the Central Intelli
gence Agency by engaging
them in political surveillance
and in the falsification of in
formation made available to
Congress and the American
public.
Photo Typesetting, G raphic Arts and Printing
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AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The
STA TfM lNT O f O W M P S H fP . M A N A G E M fN T AND CIRCULATION
¡Act of August 12. 1970 Section 3685. Titlo 39. Umtod Stntot Codo]
Vital election coming
SUPPORT
YOUR ADVERTISERS
A ttn clllo n - Founded IM S
I hope you ran relieve
some of our anxiety con
cerning this entire matter
and that you might encour
age Chief McNamara to dir
ect Lt. Brown at our request
to explain how the police
in v e s t ig a t iv e procedures
function and how the police
bureau responds to com
plaints of "police brutality"
such as is being alleged by
Mr. Clarence Hurper, Jr.
Power Structure at fault
OBSERVER.
D a lt o l filin g. October 26, I »73
J f-Y o u r
lyewspaper
Title of Publication
Portlond Observer
Frequency of «»Sue
Weekly
location of known office of publication
2201 N Killingsworth
Porflond, Orogon 97217
location of the headquarters or Central
Butin»»» Office» of the publishers
2201 N Killingsworth
Portland, Oregon 97217
Publisher
Alfred I Henderson
2737 N E 10th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97211
Editor
Alfred I Henderson
2737 N E 10th Avenue
Portlond, Oregon 972,1
Owner
E n e Publishing Compnoy, Inc
2201 N Killingsworth
Portland, Oregon 972 ,7
Alfred I Henderson
2737 N f IOth Avenue
Portland, Oregon 972,7
Known bondholders, mortgagees. and
other security holders owning or
holding , percent or more of total
am ount of bond, mortgages or other
securities
None
THE PORTLAND OBSERVER
P.O. Box 3137
Portland, O reg on 97208
Please a rra n g e to have the OBSERVER m a ile d to m y
hom e.
• $5.25 per year in the Tri County area.
• $6.00 per year elsewhere.
N am e
A d d re s s ,
MEMBER
NÊWW pe *
dent at your request.
What this rase of pre
sumed mis treatment by po
lice of a citizen points up to
us is the need for procedures
to deal with such rases that
are clearly spelled out. We
believe the issue here is po
lire accountability.
What
assurance ran be given to us
that in this instance there is
police accountability?
We have heard one side of
the story: if the police have a
side of the story that needs
to be told we would be very
happy to hear their side.
School publicity
not justified
City
A pt. ( if a n y ).
State & Zip
Telephone
Eiteni ond nature of circulation
A Totol no copes printed
B Paid circulation
I. sales through dealers and carriers,
street vendors and counter soles
2 M oil subscriptions
C Total paid circulation
0 Free distribution by m ail, corner or other means
1 Samples, complimentary and other free copies
2 Copies distributed to news agents, but not sold
E Total distribution
F Office use, left over, unaccounted.
spoiled after printing
G Total
I certify that the statements m ade by
m e above are correct and com plete
Average no copies
ech issue during
preceeding 12 months
single issue published nearest
to filing date
6000
6500
4544
742
5286
4723
902
5625
65
300
5651
265
290,
6 ,8 0
349
320
6500
Actual number of copies of
6000
G loria Fisher
Business Manager