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
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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