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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1951)
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER Alton F. Baker EDITOR William M. Tugman. MANAGING EDITOR Alton F. Baker. Jr. SERVICES Full Associated Press, United Press, Audit Bureau of Circulations. The Register-Guard's policy Is the complete and impartial publication in its newi pages of aU news and statements on news. On this page the editors of The Register Guard offer their opinions on events of the day and matters of importance to the community endeavoring to be candid but fair and helpful in the development of con tsructlve community policy. A newspaper is A CITIZEN OF ITS COMMUNITY. Entered at the Post Office at Eugene, Oregon, as second-class matter. PAGE 4 EUGENE, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1951 "They Have No Alumni Association' In Oregon, as in every other state, Mental Health is a very big public prob lem. We have approximately 5,500 pa tients in three big institutions the Oregon State Hospital at Salem, with more than 3,000 average; the Eastern Oregon Stale Hospital at Pendleton, with approximately 1,000; the Fairviev Home at Salem, with 1300 mentally de" ficient of all ages. We are spending ap proximately $5,000,000 a year to oper ate these institutions. Since World War I we have spent $10,000,000 on new buildings and equipment. We have come a long ways since the days when Dr. Richard B. Dillehunt, then dean of the University of Oregon Medical School used to preach about "the dark continent of the mind," pre 'dicting that the day must come when mental sickness would receive at least as much attention as other forms of disease. But we are still very far from meeting all needs. Robert B. Frazier, In his series of articles in the Register-Guard shows that in spite of all that has been ac complished in recent years: Oregon is still short of mental health clinics, out-patient facilities where much might be done to anticipate and prevent and even cure menial disorders In the early stages. There is a pathetic lack of facilities for the adequate care and treatment of the men tal disorders which accompany old age. In many wards our hospitals are still over-crowded. We are woefully deficient In recreational facilities for patients and In many cases of the therapeutic facilities which aid the cure of mental disease, In October, a special committee of the Portland City Club made a report which criticized sharply some of the conditions in our mental hospitals and the rather haphazard procedures under which many commitments are made. This report drew fire from Lawson Mc Call, secretary to Governor McKay, in which he pointed out a few factual in accuracies in the City Club report guch as their statement' that the Ore gon State Hospital was not accredited, a condition which was corrected in August. The City Club committee has filed a supplemental report in which they acknowledge some of the errors but stick to their 12 major recommen dations, the most significant of which are: Remove mental institutions from the su pervision of the Board of Control (Governor, secretary of state and state treasurer) and put them under a State Mental Health Au thority. . Construct a large facility for the men tally sick In Multnomah county. Modernize the procedures for commit ments. A state-wide system of mental health clinics and a co-ordinated program of under graduate and graduate training at the Medi cal School and the state hospitals for those who deal with the mentally ill. Having visited the major institutions at Salem, Mr. Frazier is merely report ing on what he found. He thinks the City Club reports may have been a bit extreme at least in its implied criti cisms, and he thinks the officials may have been "a bit too touchy." The prob lem, as he sees it, is to make the people of Oregon realize the great need, and he quotes Governor McKay as making this sympathetic commentary: '"The mentally sick have no active alumni associations. If they did, the Legislature and the people would have been more generous long ago." The problem is to make everybody understand that it can happen to you, and what is even more important, to make people understand that by spend ing more money on TREATMENT IN TIME, we may be able to save much of what we are spending now on per manent care in vast institutions. We may be able to restore thousands st pa tients to USEFUL AND NORMAL liv ing. We must shake off the taboo which attaches to "insanity." A person is com mitted, often an able and useful citi zen, because his family and friends do not know of anything else to do with him. In most cases, they proceed to for get him. He is hidden away and men tioned in whispers. If he is lucky enough to be cured and many are cured there is a stigma, due to our IGNOR ANCE. That's why these hospitals have "no alumni." That's the problem. Marquis Child's As President Conant Sees It The Bend Bulletin For nearly a year and one-half the Korean war has been going on and, for the greater part of that time, the American people have accepted the ituation with a degree of equanimity which has approached indifference. But of late the war is being increasingly felt, both directly and indirectly, in nearly every phase of the nation's life. It was only natural, therefore, when James Bryant Conant, Harvard's great president, spoke Friday at the convo cation of educators held in Eugene on the occasion of the stale university's seventy-fifth anniversary, that the prob lems which war lias saddled on the institutions of higher learning should receive prominent attention. Dr. Conant recognized them in their application to teachers and in their ap plication to students. After defining the theory of higher education which is peculiarly American, that which con ceives the functions of the university as centering upon the preparation of the individual fur understanding and compatible living, he turned to com munism which, when you get right down to it, is pretty much the issue in thus current war. An American fac ulty is no place for a card-holding communist, he declared, when he point ed out that such an individual, because of the party's record for persistent con spiracy and downright dishonesty, is definitely "out of bounds." For such a one, he made plain, the defense of "academic freedom" does not apply. It was the sole exception, however, that he would make. That was plain talk, strong talk, Ihe kind of talk that representatives of some of our Pacific coast institutions have needed to hear. Dr. Conant faced facts just as real istically when he considered the eco nomic problems arising from the war and recognized that those problems will take harder work and a long-drawn period of something akin to the Brit ish "austerity" before there could be any possibility of return to what we have come to look upon as normal liv ing. This period could go on for years for a quarter, perhaps half a cen turyhe warned, one of those things which have now become unavoidable. The need for continuing large scale military preparedness would underlie it. Some listeners with whom we talked afterward professed to be somewhat disappointed at what they chose to refer to as the speaker's "lack of pro fundity." Perhaps they meant by that that ho did not parade the batallion of technical terms at his command. No, he did not. He used plain, interesting, forceful English to get over some pretty plain and not especially pleasant facts. But the facts are those of the nation's (yes, the world's) most baffling, most far-reaching question today. 'He had no panacea, for there can be none; he stayed away from idealism, and properly so, Facts were what were needed, and he gave them. CHILDS Weapon Shifting Calculated Risk WASHINGTON The risk involved in sending most of the weapons to come off American assembly lines to Europe to equip European divisions of the NA1U was very carefully weighed by top offi cials in me ueparimem of Defense. One factor, and one factor alone, was in the end decisive. The risk, of course, is that these European divi sions would be over whelmed in an all-out assault by Soviet Rus sia. The mass of guns, tanks and so forth provid ed by the United States would then be left on European battlefields to be seized by the Russians. America would have to start more or less from scratch to provide American divisions with modern equip ment. The factor which makes it possible to take this grave risk is the tremendous change occurring In atomic weapons. The latest atomic tests at Las Vegas, Nevada, confirm what had already been pretty evident. The small atomic bomb is a practical weapon to use against enemy troops in the field. The-incidental effects atomic radiation, etc. do not endanger the forces employing the weapon. NEW SMALL BOMB Most important of all is what this means to America's atomic stockpile. The feasibility of the small atomic bomb means that in effect the stockpile is quadrupled. With an abundance of atomic weapons they need no longer be hoarded for care ful, calculated use against top priority targets. As it was put by one military man: "We can drop them out of every plane we've got and blast the army that any enemy puts in the field." This knowledge, incidentally, may well be stilfenlng the determination of Ameri can negotiators in Korea to refuse even minor concessions asked by the Commu nists. Whether these new small atomic weapons will be available in numbers in three months or six months is a top se cret. But it is believed now to be a mat ter of months rather than years. So, in the view of defense planners, Russia's mass armies can be stopped with the revolutionary new weapon in a show down. But to prevent such a destructive showdown the creation of a western Eu ropean army in the shortest possible time is essential. This is the essence of the de cisions taken in' the wake of Eisenhower's visit. MONET APPROPRIATED Transfer to European divisions of the American weapons requires no specific authorization from Congress. The money for the rearmament program was appro priated under the broad interpretation that it be spent to provide security for the United States. Responsibility for that security rests with the joint ehiefs of staff and the Na tional Security Council. The decision p make the transfer could be taken in the interests of America's own security. That security could best be served by building a western European bulwark as quickly as possible through a radical shift in .the allocation of weapons. While this authority clearly exists, President Truman has nevertheless been advised to consult with top Democrats and Republicans of key Congressional com mittees on the new program. What is likely to happen is that ranking members of the Senate Armed Services and For eign Relations committees will be called to Washington In mid-December for con sultations on decisions that, as now be lieved, will be confirmed at the meeting of NATO council in Rome next week, Possibly the full committees will be in vited to Washington, with the House For eign Relations committee also included. Since this drastic revision of the west ern defense program was initiated by Gon. Dwight D. Elsenhower, it is bound to affect his personal fortunes and espec ially since those fortunes are so closely linked to politics here at home. Eisenhower was undoubtedly motivated in part by a desire to show greater accomplishment in a shorter time. If he could return by mid-1952 with that more tangible accomp lishment well launched, his own position would be strengthened. ENEMIES ATTACK TLAN His enemies will therefore impugn Eis enhower's motives and in all probability attack the plan itself. There were many reasons, of course, why the revised pro gram seemed of vital Importance. One was the increasing strain being put on the economies of Western Europe in the effort to build armament facilities with the cost of raw materials mounting in the inflationary spiral. To one reporter It has seemed that even in this early stage of the change over the American public could be given far more information about what is be ing undertaken. As so often in the past, everything is being officially held back, presumably on the theory that it must be unveiled for public view as a com pleted whole. The basic decisions are being taken in Europe, where American cabinet' mem bers and their staffs, together with top military men, are working to get the broadest possible agreement on the new approach to the defenses of the west. When this appears in print, this reporter will be in Europe seeking to learn what those decisions mean. ICopvniM. IMl. by Vnlll fatm Syndics. Inc.) Woman's Intuition IF YOU ASK we, - xC -we&xtfe-I WOMV HEAR (. S&U-s HIMSAVAMYTH4& ,V Skf?If I In The Editor's Mnilliag TOO LITTLE: TOO LATE! LOS GATOS, Cal. (To the Editor) A friend sent me news clippings of Peter Horn's tragic death and the accompanying edi torial you wrote regarding traf fic fatalities. Although our family 'presum ably is on sabbatical leave from academic and civic duties there in Eugene, I find I cannot refrain from writing in regard to this matter. I will add, however, that I am not writing this letter for newspaper publication necessarily, but trust that through your con tacts and influence, some sugges tions I am about to make may strike a responsive chord with you or some civic-minded group in Eugene. This was the third Eugene traf fic death that has meant more to me than just a statistical item in the paper. The tragic death of young Michael McKenzie received very little newspaper publicity or police action, I believe, although eye-witnesses verified that the 12 year-old lad was obeying traffic rules and the 16 year-old auto driver who killed him was not. The death of Mrs. Armstrong on East 15th Avenue bears down on my conscience, for perhaps the neighborhood could have pre vented that unfortunate accident. Two years ago, while I was act ing as president of the Condon School P-TA, our Executive Committee tried, through the ear nest efforts of the Safety Chair man, to get the traffic section of the Eugene Police Department to place STOP signs on 15th Avenue to insure safety for our school children as well as the neighbor hood itself. The efforts were met with apparent indifference. Too late, I can see now, that we. should not have- accepted defeat but should have circulated an other of the famous Condon School petitions for action. Is the barn door locked now; that is to say, does 15th Avenue now dis play STOP signs at the dangerous intersections? Any penalties that might be placed on the guilty persons who have-caused traffic accidents are of little avail after the damage is done. Prevention of the acci dents is the answer. In response to the questions put forth in your editorial, I would like to make some suggestions for the better ment of the situation as I see it, striving toward prevention through education and community pctlon. ; 1) The value of auto-driving classes in producing careful, sound-thinking . and courteous drivers has been proven beyond a doubt. Unfortunately, learning to drive by this means is prohibiive in cost to many persons. Could not this important . and life-saving service,, therefore, be provided through other and less costly channels, such as the city or the state traffic departments? 2) At the time of issuance of new driving permits, each driver should be required to view the films showing the results of acci dents when traffic rules have been violated. 3) Eye-catching markers should be placed at every spot where an accident has occurred. (What a long list ot statistics would be revealed at each intersection on East 15th Avenue, for example!) Where death has occurred, a cross should be placed. (The state of Ohio uses this means of caution ing drivers to take heed.) 4) Newspapers should not shield its readers by a failure to print revealing pictures ot bad auto ac cidents. 5) Speed limitts should be stu died. Allow drivers to proceed at a fair speed where traffic con ditions permit, but give plenty of warning signals when speed lim its change. 6) Lastly, why cannot some service club, the Chamber of Commerce or the Motor Vehicle department undertake to put on an intensive campaign to eradi cate the "speed bug" and poor driver from the road? Just as the state of California stops all in coming traffic to prevent its soil to becoming infested from blight ed fruit or plants, why cannot the State of Oregon or even the City of EUgene stop all motorists to ac quaint them of the need of driv ing safely to protect its citizens, and when the information .has been given, to provide the car with a windshield sticker pro claiming same? Very truly yours, MRS. KARL J. BELSER --niiunnj FLUOR rvp EUGENE fT ,l Just WHY , I10 tt Editr- nity residents to be h! J?" V a hoax thatwfllH money and rmerv d hoax that i ' the hundreds of oxhvS1 uiuiKing water n, " ago discovered that catalytic asent l?" ; and DhosnW. "H n't stream combine to fott.l b; enamel of teeth, ritt M the fluorine that m. and harden. . T. he the teeth is not an if " ' fluorine., .v.. , ."Ut 'end to use Th( fllinririA . WAS an taZ."? PtJ is altered i' tens n the soil and & organic flunri quantities ',8e' Id is the i I Zl SWV a good effect When the inorganic flu-, comes in mnt teeth it matebror,,! on them and aetul'&i aiKUYS THE ENAMeJ ........ OUUJCtu neaa wh!t had to sav ahnut u tain business interests made' worthwhiln fnr . ... i. ' . chemical, and scientific J! groups to forget the facts tJ Known. How strone a hnlri j. a. a w.u uw y,e . minum manufacturing gentlej have on the American pub wny are so many officials, n papers and ma?a7lni . of the facts, or afraid to put anything that mav hurt tw. terests? We accept chlorine our drinking water with! tnorough. consideration of i mate effect on the human iysi Will Eueena and viHn!f . dents do the same with Dil GANIC fluorine .... wild and useless by-product In iluf num manufacture? Why not make an TMPAffl TIAL STUDY FIRST, the decide whether we are to shackled with this mat R. H. CRAM Dr. Elliot, Optometrist f Eyes examined, ghssej fillet 62 W. 10th Phone 4-lf VISIT OUB LENOX ROOM Largest single display of Lend on the Pacific Coast IIOFFMAXS 873 Willamette- Officials over the nation have cracked down on football pool tickets making it quite clear they're not taking any chances. The elections over the country prob ably reminded a lot of people not to vote. We suggest solitary confinement for the first person who says, "Only a few more weeks until Christmas." An Ohio woman Identified a robber who snitched her husband's pay envel ope. Now she probably has it. When you make promises to friendj nd fall to come through, you arel According to a college professor, a man's laugh reveals his character. Espe cially if he has heard the joke before. THANKSGIVING EVE "Girp fhiink to the Lord." Luke 2.-.1S We link Thanksgiving with Plymouth Rook . . . But Paul thanked God at Antioch . . . While David sang his thankful chord . . . And Anna "gave thanks unto the Lord" . , . We find the chief thanks-giver of all . . . Was Job. who under affliction's pall . . , Could find much to be thankful for , , , So why can't we, In spite of war . . . Un certain future and world privation . . . for all we have be a grateful nation? JUL1EN C. HYER a thrill 4& 'A Cj fosee yourpcfares fJremmufe yousitapMem . There s no thrill like seeing your pictures the minute you take them with a Polaroid Land Camera. Aim . . . snap sixty seconds later you hold in your hand a beautiful, lasting print. its, its as simple as that to use the Polaroid Camera. 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