Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 1973)
PPNKR ORE. GAZETTKTiMKS. Trtity, OflW t. IfTl The mail pouch Horse sense KHMKST V. JOINKH I f 0 n When President Salvador Alicnde of Chile was deposed br a military junta a few weeks ago, the first order of business for the new government was imposition of military law. The second order of business was to forbid the civilian population to have guns. This is the standard procedure for maintaining dictatorial power over the people. For good reason. Guns in the hands of a free people is the best insurance against sudden and unpopular seizure of governmental powers. Always, the first act of a despot is-disarm the people. This country is moving, as it has been for years, toward a dictatorial form of government. This movement has been coincident with the mounting pressure for laws to prohibit the ownership of guns by civilians, or laws to severely restrict their ownership and use. The excuse given the people for passage of such a law is that guns are involved in many crimes of violence; and, by outlawing guns violent crime would end. Just like outlawing liquor sobered - up all the people! Any government, in my opinion, that disarms its citizens is a government that knows it is headed toward acts that will outrage the people and inspire them to defend themselves. Residents of this section of Oregon should, of all people, recall that long before there was law, a court of law, or even a government in this area there were people with guns who - made and enforced the law, however crude the law or however drastic the method of enforcing it. In fact, the Old West is remembered as an Era of Extreme Politeness among men To be other than civil could (and did) get many a man killed. A man can be mighty pleasant and reasonable and polite when he considers that an impolite word or gesture could earn him a slug in the innards. Over the years laws were passed forbidding people to carry handguns, and over the same years people kept getting nastier and nastier to each other! I look with certainty to a letter stating the theory that "guns are no deterrent to bad manners." But experience indicates that they are. I don't know what time it is going to happen, but people ought to know that there is going to be an Old Fiddlers Contest put on by the Blue Mountain Fiddlers at the Heppner Elementary School the evening of Oct. 20. Ivan McDaniel of Long Creek is president of the organization. It will be a good chance for Morrow County residents to enjoy an evening and to get acquainted with the type of music that echoed through these hills a half-century ago. These musicians do not read music, I am told, and the music they play is handed down from one generation to another without ever having been written down. If attendance is good, it will strengthen the hand of this newspaper and a few interested residents of Hardman in organizing an annual Old Fiddlers Contest at the Hardman Opry House. Regardless of what good purpose parking meters served in the beginning, they exist now solely for revenue, not traffic control. To prove the point, anybody can buy an annual parking permit from the city for $35 a year. If the owners of 500 vehicles decided to solve the problem of being "nickeled and dimed" to death by taking out annual permits to park anywhere on the streets for any length of time, the congested traffic situation that prompted installation of the meters would be with us again. Thus, it is not traffic control, it is money that keeps the monsters in business. How much money? Well, at Monday night's meeting of the council it was announced that during September a total of $176.06 was collected from the meters, and $27 was received in parking fines. That's a total of $203.06, hardly enough to pay a man to tend the meters for 30 days. Wavel B. Wilkinson, who voted to keep meters in during the recent newspaper poll on the subject, has offered what seems to be a happy solution to the parking meter problem. Instead of going to the expense of taking them out now, she writes, why not ask the city to hood the meters and put them on a non-use basis for a trial period of, say, three months. During this time the situation could be studied and, if problems arose, the meters could be put back into operation. During this trial period city police could mark tires and issue citations to anyone found parked in the same place for more than two hours. Is there a second to the motion? The Terror of Willow Creek stands in danger of antagonizing Women's Lib. Why, he was heard to mutter over coffee cups at the Wagon Wheel, is it that nobody ever asks a man how he manages to combine a marriage with a career? COW POKES By Ace Reid "Wul. we're out to swipe sumpin' tonight, I don't know whether it outta be a 400 lb. calf 'er 50 bushels of wheat!" GAZETTE-TIMES MORROW COUMTV'S NEWSPAPER Mni Hipiiir, Ore, tflM. Tal. Mt-fMt. P.O. Sal V. Ta llipaaar Gtwffa wt ritaliJa Mtrd M. HM Taa Hipp.tr Tam MUMiM Mw. II. It7. CaaaaMMa Faa. IV mi. MmMr: tutMMl miim Awn- Oraaae WrwMf a.ainaan Ataa. Craatt V. Era Cams. PatHwar Paatiai aa taartl Jataar SUtSCRiPTtO) RATES: tS aar raar ta Onaaa. U ruln SMtatacaay. Itcaan. mil null caar. Ucaan. Minaw attuaa. tl. EDITOR: I am one of the few who voted to keep the parking meter. I also Mid I did not like them, but felt they have their place. 1 suggest that instead of going to the expense of taking them out now, why not cover them and put them on a non-use trial basis for. say. three months. Then, about January, take another vote on the matter. WAVEL B. WILKINSON, Heppner. EDITOR: Although I have given you card of thanks to print concerning my recent stay at Pendleton Community Hospital and surgery and stay at Providence Hospital in Portland, I do not feel that it entirely expresses my thanks for all the expressions of sympathy, etc.. given to me by my family, relatives and a host of friends. For instance, the Lexington Rebekahs at one of their meetings signed a get well card by their ladies and men and sent it to me. I am not even a member of the lodge. I received long distance telephone calls, flowers, cards and gifts until it was really something. I told the nurses either I would get well or I'd have lots of flowers and all for my funeral. They asked me jokingly if I was the mayor or something up here. "No," said, "I am only a dry land farmer in Eastern Oregon." The reply was. "where would one get so much attention unless you were from Eastern Oregon." What I really wanted to say is that in most instances my well-wishers were from Morrow County or had lived here in the past. I want to say that I am proud to say I'm from Eastern Oregon and especially from Morrow County.' I admit I have been badly spoiled by the nurses, doctors and all of you folks, and even if I didn't deserve it, I surely aPPreCia,? NORMAN NELSON. Heppner. EDITOR: Dr. William E. Hazeltine has read me parts of your editorial on the Tussock Moth, by Ernie Ceresa, during a telephone conversation. I thought is was extremely well written, and I would like to give it the widest possible circulation. I wonder if I might have two or three copies of the original article to send to appropriate places? I am president of Sponsors of Science, based in Madison, Wise., and we wish to duplicate your editorial for our 120 scientific members, most of whom are Ph. Ds. . . . My files are at your disposal. I have over 8,000 studies covering all DDT arguments, and I have not found any indication that DDT use in forests cause severe environmental damage. Enclosed is a copy of my recent editorial published in the Portland Oregonian, which I believe will be of some interest to everyone who is seriously concerned with environmental pollution, general ecological considerations, and the potential starvation of mankind throughout the world. Although the editorial is self-explanatory, space limitations prevented the inclusion of the hundreds of published references upon which my statements were based. Most of those reports appeared in highly respected journals (Science, Nature, Condor, Clinical Toxicology, Archives of Environmental Health, U.S. Public Health publications, and various medical journals). If every concerned biologist and "ecologist" would actually read those articles, fewer of them would be making misstatements and taking untenable positions concerning DDT. I am deeply disturbed and sadly disillusioned by the actions of numerous educators. For years they have almost made a fetish of the "scientific method" of investigation, and have stressed that method of analysis in their classes and their writings. I had presumed that they also followed their own advice, but it is now obvious that often they do not. Despite dozens of scientific studies proving that DDT is broken down rather quickly by the environment, many so-called "ecologists" are heard telling the public that exactly the opposite is true! Why do they do this, when it is certain that they will later be exposed as being either ignorant of the facts or being deliberately untruthful? Perhaps the reason is simply that they are either ignorant of the facts or untruthful! I submit that professional biologists do not have the right to be deliberately untruthful when speaking to classes or through public communications media, and I very strongly resent their misstatements because I am sure the public will ultimately paint us all with the same brush. Perhaps equally reprehensible are the biologists who make erroneous public statements because they have not even bothered to read the scientific literature about DDT, but have relied only on newspaper articles and strongly biased non-scientific publications to shape their views. I dread the time, not too far in the future, when an informed public reacts against these teachers and scientists. They may well deride our future statements, withhold financial support, and condemn us heartily. The present public concern with ecology is marvelous, and it should be strongly encouraged. When our younger citizens realize that this highly-publicized controversy about DDT and its alleged ill-effects has been such a phony issue, what might be their reaction? We could hardly blame them if they then question the truth of statements about air pollution, water pollution, public health, malnutrition and overpopulation... and I feel that such loss of faith would be disastrous. Perhaps there is still time to remedy the situation with regard to the deceit concerning DDT. If the emphasis in our classrooms and in the public media can be shifted toward more concern for the truth, no matter whose sacred cows get gored, then we'll be on the way back to the proper role of scientists in the American scene. To begin with, we must discount the erroneous beliefs that have been perpetuated by certain scientists and conserva tionists concerning DDT, and attempt to inform the public as to the truth about those topics. DDT is not terribly persistent (under environmental conditions). People in U.S. only ingest about .0005 parts per million of DDT daily (and excrete all excess DDT from their body). A diet containing thousands of times the amount we ingest daily does not produce cancer, sterility, mutations, or other undesirable effects, even in experimental mice, birds and fish. So-called "substitutes for DDT" are more toxic than DDT to most organisms, and are much more costly. Substitutes for DDT are exterminating honey bees and we will not have them around to pollenate the crops and orchards and "set" the crops. DDT is not widespread in the environment... not even in United States or in the states that have used it most heavily. DDT has increased the numbers of birds in U.S., rather than causing declines, and the recent British government report stated that DDT has not been responsible for any decline of bird populations in that country, either. DDT probably causes wild birds and animals to be healthier if they are exposed to moderate doses of it. because it reduces tumors, inhibits cancer "(at least humans), eliminates insect-transmitted diseases, and induces the production of enzymes that destroy harmful substances in the body. The World Health Organization relies almost entirely on DDT for the control of malaria the hope of millions of human lives rest solely upon DDT). In addition to malaria, many other deadly or'debilitating diseases are controlled by using DDT to kill the insect vectors of the disease organisms (river blindness, sleeping sickness, elephantiasis, Oroya fever, and many others). aJJJ "Jl 1973 Th.lao.Mti aBHaMla Doing what The chemical and insecticide industries will make at least ten times as much profit by selling "substitutes" for DDT as they have been making on DDT itself. If you desire further documentation of any statement in this letter or in the enclosed editorial I hope you will allow me to provide it for you. We stand at the crossroad, now. and it is only with support such as yours that we can provide the facts to the public... and they certainly deserve those facts! There are many hundreds of scientists and many thousands of professional people who share my concern and are striving to publicize the truth about DDT and all other insecticides. My allies include most toxicologists, cancer specialists, medical physiologists, agriculturists, entomolo gists, pest-control specialists and public health authorities, as well as world-wide health and welfare organizations (WHO. AID. UNESCO, etc.) In view of the massive and well financed propaganda campaign against DDT in 1969 it would be surprising if YOU have not been at least partially convinced that DDT constitutes some threat to man and the environment. Persons in your profession retain a high degree of objectivity, however, and because of that fact I dare hope that you remain receptive to reasonable analyses as opposed to unreasonable emotionalism. If you would publicize (even very briefly) any of the facts presented here or in the Oregonian editorial, you will be impressed by the strong favorable reactions generated. I earnestly hope you will respond to this urgent appeal for unbiased publicity, and I thank you very much for your consideration. DR. J. GORDON EDWARDS, Professor of Entomology, California State University, San Jose, Ca. Onward Christian sailors By LESTER KINSOLVING The Rev. Dr. Carl Mclntire, whose radio station WUXR was forced off the air by the Federal Communications Commission (on the grounds that he violated the "fairness doctrine" by not giving equal time to opposing viewpoints), is now attracting international publicity - and unprecedented sympathy. The attention focuses upon "Cannonball Carl's converted mine-sweeper, which he has renamed "Radio Free America" - and which "pirate" radio ship he has anchored just outside the three-mile limit, off Cape May, N.J. The sympathy is exemplified in long-time Mclntire-critic Louis Cassels of United Press International who sent a donation of $10. Mclntire, who has for years been regularly roasting Cassels with Scripture-studded excoriation, is apparently becoming slightly mellow in his senior years. For he promptly designated the radio ship's broadcasting booth the "Louis Cassels Room." The Bible Presbyterian pastor was, however, obliged to do this designation from a distance. For he and several dozen disciples, who chartered an excursion boat ("The Wild Goose") in order to board the pirate ship, were not allowed to transfer on the high seas - by order of the captain-owner of the Wild Goose, aged 22, who claimed they would be violating immigration and quarantine laws. Already enraged by this stripling skipper's having loaded the Wild Goose's cooler with beer, the Rev. Dr. Mclntire loudly threatened to leap into the Atlantic and swim to Radio Free America. He finally relented ( there are occasionally sharks out there) and, as the Wild Goode returned to shore, he led his flock in the singing of "Onward Christian Soldiers." (One observer suggested that -under these circumstancea-ihe lyrics should be changed to "Onward Christian Sailors.") Somehow, the spectacle of the FCC taking time and lots of the taxpayers money to force this (unintended) comic off the air seems like an angry Chief Justice Earl Warren, mounted on a Sherman tank and brandishing a horsewhip in hot pursuit of the Birch Society's Robert Welch. If an hilarious and colorful ranter like Mclntire is actually capable of damaging anybody, there is still the recourse of litigation. Otherwise, a growing number of responsible people are beginning to regard the FCC's so-called "fairness doctine" as being strikingly similar (in its assault on the First Amendment) to the hoary Florida law which forces newspapers to provide equal space to any politician thev criticize. ' But the tairness doctrine has some strong supporters -such as the United Church of Christ's Director of Communications, the Rev. Everett C. Parker. Dr. Parker, an intense, hot -eyed liberal, has attracted national attention by using the fairness doctrine to pressure or even to close TV stations. It would be interesting to imagine the effect if agents of the FBI, CIA, or Secret Service were to attend services of United Churches of Christ throughout the land, on a specific Sunday - for the purpose of standing at the end of the sermon to announce: On this tax-exempt property, you. Reverend Sir, have criticized, yea attacked, the President of the United States. "Next Sunday s sermon, therefore, is being written and distributed by Mr. Dean Burch of the FCC. It is entitled: 'Equal Time Under God'." comes naturally. EDITOR: Would you please tell your intelligent readers from what kind of egg Ernest V. Joiner was hatched? He Just had to be hatched! .... This is not to say that ecologists do not at times carry things a bit too far. as is every other man-made project, but if it were not for the ecologists the mountains would be bare of trees, the valleys would be covered by cement, the oceans covered with oil. and hills eaten bare of grass by sheep and cattle to the ooint of no return. Joiner is not using good horse sense. It could be that the ecologists could be responsible for his having good food on his table. Take away all the ecologists and he just might not have any food. V. JOHNSON, Seattle. (ED. NOTE-For the answer, please read the Mail Pouch letter on this page written by Dr. J. Gordon Edwards, etomologist.) Mayor of Hardman DEAR MISTER EDITOR: The boys at the country store Saturday night was setting as an impeachment board on me account of, as Zeke Grubb put it blunt, I'm short on culture and too long irritatin them who think I'm insulting Hardman folks in letters to the editor ever week. Figurin I been Watergated, I took the fifth and turned the floor over to the boys. Ed Doolittle, that will jump into any conversation except politics these days, showed some spirit anH demanded fare trial. His opinion was that Hardman aint in much position to shoot down the only and best publicity the town has ever got since Tom Evans give the name of Rawdog to the towy which het up the ladies culture club to where they moveti down the road a piece and set up a competition town named Yallerdog, which wuz loaded with culture. Clem Webster said he had saw by the papers that being a country reporter is a tough proposition and usual takes more thinking than culturing. He said he had read where this leading medical insurance firm was now accepting 10 years of being a country reporter as legal proof of permanent brain damage, and that it could be good, community-wise, to have this mayor's condition looked into by some bump-feelers at Pioneer Hospital. Mostly, Mr. Editor, I kept my temper and words to myself. But gettin educated aint no greased pole to culture. Take Orville Cutsforth, for instant. Nobody ever acused him of tying up all those education facilities and learnin how to stick his finger out from a coffee cup. But old Orville talks like I do, and he's got more of what is actual culture than nine-lOths the folks who use college campuses like a wild game refuge. It don't take a lot of culture, Mr. Editor, to be kind and forgivin and helpful to one's nabors, or to love his town and the folks he whittles with. Old Orville is like that, and a man could get his head busted in sayin it ain't so. Josh Clodhopper butted in to grab the floor to recall that Bill Weatherford is kinda like Orville, a filosopher who is witty and funny while bein practical and loaded with good sense. Bill, in Josh's words, is a feller you can ride the range with, but he's apt to take a singletree to anybody should hang a culture tag on him. Josh said he had gone to the school house fer a dictionary to find what is a cultured person, and found one definition was "perduced under articifial conditions." Clem, who reads books, said culture real meant developing intellectual and moral faculties, especial through education. Mister Editor, there ain't a man on the road whos better educated and has got more moral fibers than Bill Weatherford and Orville Cutsforth, and I know there is more ways than cultivatin ivy halls to firm up them fibers. Being democratic but not always voting the ticket straight, I wus overcome and said, boys lets have us a vote on whether Hardman people wants me fer mayor anymore. The boys was all agreed, and Zeke said most of the fuss had come from outside Hardman anyway, so bar everbody from voting except them as attends dances at the opry house or buysjjroeeries and stuff-at-thestore Like most politicians I hate to step out without completing programs already undertook in administration. Like the gent's outhouse me and my advisors is working on. We want to get the one at the opry house inside. You know what I mean. You were there Sat. nite in your new boots, and somebody fergot to tell you the gent's room ain't through the door where the sign is, exactly. Afore. I could stop you, you had opened the outside door and stepped out into 10 feet of air and prairie and rolled down that embankment the highway crew ain't fixed yet. It was kind fer you to lay there and claim it didn't matter much any more, but I put it on my agenda fi get that outhouse inside. If the votes goes wrong, Mister Editor, I submit to thi electorage and will pack my trunk and move over to Turkey Knob. Being the only habitant there I reckon there won't be much trouble getting elected so we can continue these weakly commentarys. That about puts the stopper in the jug for a week, Mister Editor. You be ready for those cards and letters, like the disk jockeys alius say, and mabe we can find an opra singer or a poet who can double as mayor of Hardman and we can git about the business of gettin culture. Yours truly, MAYOR ROY. i-tz&m 'J rThe hummingbird k the only bird that can fly backward
