IIEITNER IOKE.) GAZETTE-TIMES. Tfcria). (k-loWr II. tin
Horse sense
Hv
ERNEST V. JOINER
This is National Newspaper Week, an event not
calculated to bnrtg you out of your seat with whoops of joy
unrefined. It is a time when newspapers can. without
appearing immodest, blow their own horns We are
admonished to support the public's right to know what is
going on in government and elsewhere; to remind you that a
free press is the people's first line ot defense against its
Watergaters. real and potential; and that the First
Amendment to the U.S Constitution states plainly that
Congress shall make no laws abridging the freedom of the
press
But Congress is always busy making laws that abridge
the freedom of the press So are state legislatures So are city
councils The laws of libel abridge the freedom of the press,
however needed they may be. The law that prevents
newspapers from publishing accounts of juvenile crime is an
abridgement of press freedom and a restriction on the
public's right to know. A free press is restricted when by law
it cannot accept want-ads for a boy to mow a lawn, a girl to
dance in a chorus line or a man to drive a taxi By law the ad
must state that a "person" is needed to mow the lawn, dance
in the line, or drive a taxi The free press is restricted when
government bodies hold "executive sessions" from which the
press is barred Each year, in Congress and in 50 state
legislatures, additional restrictions are piled on news media
in spite of the First Amendment. For our own good, of
course! Would one say that the federal law banning tooaceo
advertising on television is a restriction on the news media?
Or that if Congress can ban advertising of one legal and
legitimate business it cannot also extend the ban to cover
other commodities''
Fields for regulation of the press are legion. The
legislative minds are forever finding new restrictions to
place upon it. It is argued, and argued well, that legal
controls on the press serve as a "protection to the press" as
an institution "The press." according to Dr. Frank Thayer,
distinguished professor of journalism and member of the
Illinois Bar. "needs the protection established through these
controls in order to function as a private business for the
public interest." I agree. But that is not the point here. The
point here is that, regardless of the desirability of press
controls, they do violate the letter and spirit of the First
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. To believe that we have
a constitutional guarantee of a free press, but knowing that
we do not. is inconsistent and hypocritical.
The nation is well aware of President Nixon's regard for
the press. It has handled him poorly from his viewpoint. But
it has handled him well as far as the American people are
concerned. Witness Watergate, where Nixon loses but the
public achieved its right to know. In retaliation I suspect, the
law now is that newsmen must be forced to reveal their
sources of information to grand juries and court judges,
except in states that have adopted a "shield law" to protect
newsmen. Such a law would make it near impossible to ever .
find out what is going on in the government. Which is
precisely what government wants.
There is another area where the federal government is
bringing new spapers under control, and that is in the matter
of postal regulations. Papers like the Gazette-Times depend
upon the postal service for distribution of its product. The
best w ay to control or abolish new spapers is to hit them in the
pocketbook. Which is w hat is happening. Time Magazine was
forced out of publication by increased postal rates.
New spapers have just been handed a rate increase of 125 per
cent over a five-year period On Jan. 6 there will be an
additional 38 6 per cent increase. We have been promised
more raises to come.
So there is little to brag about this National Newspaper
W eek. from our own standpoint or from yours. Except we w ill
continue to fight further inroads upon a newspaper's
constitutional right to remain free. The public could help, and
should, considering it has much more to lose from
government control of the press that we do. We only lose our
business: you lose vour freedom.
A
17. Ilwl9.twt
n4 Inkvot SrHKOf
Welcome mat
The mail pouch
EDITOR
I wonder if those who seek to put a road through the homes
o( those who happen to live on the side of the hill below the
proposed dam really know wnat they want to do.
Do they realize that at one time the hillside w as a sand pile
fit only for childs play? I'm wondering if it would hold the
heavy traffic and the logging trucks that would grind up and
down it. Sure, it's a parking lot now but not a main highway.
Have they considered that the people who live here are not
people who move every year or two. They are people who
have spent most of their adult life there and planned to spend
their remaining days; that they paid for their land, they pay
their taxes and they have put so much into improving their
homes and grounds.
Do you know what it means to plant a small tree and live
there to watch it grow tall and beautiful'' If it were your home
would you feel the pittance paid for it would be compensation
enough0
I don't know how many homes are involved, but none I'll
oet Belongs to the Corps of Engineers, the planning
commission or the newspaper
MRS N.B GRIFFIN,
Beaverton. Ore.
EDITOR:
I wish to tell as many people as possible how I feel about
the young people of this county.
In recent meetings in the county I have heard many
parents and concerned citizens publicly and privately
speaking out against the behavior and attitude of a few of the
teen agers in the area. I am afraid our concern" for the teens
and our awareness of the potential drug problem has caused
an exaggerated fear and suspiciousness on the part of many.
I confess I have misunderstood the comments of others and
nave been misunderstood about my genuine concern for
young people.
I fee! we have a very fine group of young people in the area.
I am very impressed with their maturity, sensitivity and
sense of responsibility as growing young adults and I feel
they deserve to be commended. The teens need our love and
support to fortify them as they face the difficult alternatives
before them.
EDITOR:
Regards to Willow Creek Dam, I never thought I would live
long enough to see it go in, but I guess they are to start next
-.rine.
It won't be much of a dam. It will go just above Terry
Thompson's ranch house, and won't be as big as Penland
Lake. It will not be for irrigation or for recreation; I would
call it a frog pond I don't think there are enough people in
Heppner to pay to put in a frog pond.
I will go along with Terry Thompson. People in Heppner
should look into it and see what they are getting into. You
displace families that have put half of their lives in building a
home, garden, yard, terrace, trees and a good lawn. Some
people in Heppner don't think this amounts to much, and
means nothing to lose a home. If the house could be moved,
where would they live while they were moving it. and where
would they relocate the house?
Bill Weatherford thinks losing a home doesn't amount to
much to him. Him and the editor get together and gets a few
shots of bourbon and blow off steam. What would they think if
a man took a dozer and started to push their places of
business over in the creek? They would yell so loud you would
hear them for four miles, and raise more hell than the 8-hour
law.
They make it sound so good. 385 men working by the end of
three years. What kind of equipment are going to use to build
this frog pond, a wheelbarrow or a hand shovel?
r BEN COX.
Heppner.
EDITOR:
Please renew our subscription,
paper.
We enjoy reading your
DAVID E.
MITCHUM.
Heppner.
This is a good time to restate our policy concerning
letters to the Mail Pouch. We want these letters. They can
deal with any subject. But they should be held to 300 words
one and one-half typewritten pages . The editor reserves the
right to edit these letters and to accept or reject them on the
basis of good taste. Where there are a number of letters
received on a single subject we will choose representative
ones representing opposing views of the subject. This avoids
repetition of the same ideas. It also conserves newsprint,
which is in short supply. And. please sign all letters. If you
have written a letter that has not been published, it is
because of one or more of these reasons.
We do pay attention to legitimate complaints from
readers. For example, we have been criticized for printing
the classified ads in small type. From now on they will
appear in larger type. Readers also have asked that we use
more "personal items." like who had dinner with whom last
week. Fine We want more of these items, and hope you will
phone or write when you have news briefs of this nature.
resigns and Agnew is automatically sworn in as the
president. Agnew then names Nixon as his vice-president.
Agnew is impeached, whereupon Nixon is automatically
sworn in as president . Then Nixon appoints Agnew to fill the
vacant vice-president post. Everybodv has been vindicated.
Everybody is home safe. The administration has yielded its
pound of flesh. The national honor is restored. And I'm going
out for a drink.
Drug education
programs held
Carolyn Davis, Morrow
County Juvenile Director,
brought a timely educational
experience to Heppner and
Boardman by offering drug
awareness programs in each
community recently.
The programs were attend
ed by concerned parents and
future parents. Dick Harp,
criminal investigator of the
Oregon State Police. Hermi
ston. brought a display of
drugs and drug-using acces
sories with him and gave
information concerning var-
changing uses.
After Harp's presentation, a
citizen panel continued dis
cussion of this problem and its
impact on Morrow County
communities. On Oct. 5.
Oregon's new law on the
possession of one ounce of
marijuana became effective.
This law reduces the penalty
for possession of one ounce
from $1,000 and one year in
jail to just $100.
Oregon has thus become one
of the most lenient states in
respect to marijuana use. and
the results of the new law are
fe:sg-fbW4-2HdHsdied by-
officials everywhere.
MR. 4 MRS. FRANCIS REA.
Portland.
EDITOR:
Your column on swearing was most interesting; however, I
thought you were in error on the origin of one of the words, as
it had always been my impression that it came from the early
custom of repairing pots by the tinker who then threw away
the useless bit of clay he had used as a dam and thus came
the "don't give a tinker's dam" later abbreviated still
further.
Your assertion that swearing needs proper "orchestra
lion" was interesting, but it seemed to me that using it in
print against a faceless group or individual whose viewpoint
differed from yours, was not very good orchestrating. Now, if
you wanted to set the might cymbals clashing and the drums
rolling, use that term on a specific person downtown some
morning! To avoid bloodshed, you could carry a list of
literary greats who've used the words and pummel the guy to
the ground with it.
Being a "fightin' country editor" must have its drawbacks,
but you seem to have the spirit for it and the new life in the
Gazette is much appreciated. The pictures, style, format, all
make for interesting reading. However, at the risk of being
hopelessly backwoods. I would really like a few more squibs
that tell who had who to dinner, and who went to Pendleton to
pick up who that is visiting for a week. It isn't earth shaking,
but it is the stuff a community is made of. and though long
away from it. I like to share in the everyday happenings of
the people I see much too seldom.
Guns are stolen
COW POKES
RUTH McCALEB.
' Portia ndr
By Ace Reid
Nominees listed
for co-op board
The Nominating Committee
of the Columbia Basin Elec
tric Cooperative met Sept. 27.
and selected nominees for the
Columbia Basin Board to
appear on the ballot to be
voted on at the annual meeting
at Condon. Nov. 1.
The following nominations
were made: City of Fossil.
Herb Wright and Bob Boyles:
Rural Zone 3. territory served
east of Morrow - Gilliam
fourr'y line and north of
Wilttamefte Meridian. Dick
Krebs and Art Ltndstrom.
Rural Zone 4. territory served
east of the Morrow - Gilliam
line, south of Williamette
Meridian, north to Gilliam -Morrow
County line, west of
range line between range 24
east and 25 east. Elmer
Palmer and Milt Morgan:
Rural Zone at large. Entire
system. Van Rietmann and
Fritz Cuisforth
In addition to nominations
by the committee any 15 or
more members may make
nominations by their signa
tures and have this posted at
least 15 days prior to the
meeting at the Heppner office
Kevork Alexanian. Board
man, has reported the theft of
several shotguns and rifles to
the sheriff's department.
Stolen from his home were a
20-ga single shot shotgun, one
20-ga. pump shotgun, one
22-caliber rifle with scope, a
7-mm Magnum with case, tv.c
jij Where to write
antique shotguns, a 12-ga.
single shot and a 12-ga. pump
gun made by J.C. Higgins.
Paul Proudfoot. lone, has
also reported the theft of a
30-30 rifle from his pickup
parked along the road north of
lone. Oct 3
a
8
I
X S-n. Mark Hatfield, m Old Senate Office Bldg.,
Washington. V.V. 20510. D. .
Sen. Robert Pack' d. 6327 New Senate Office
: bldg.. Washington. !.(. 20519.
$ Rep. Al lllman. 2410 Kabum House Office Bldg...
jj- Washington. P.C.203I5.
v Rep. Wendell Wiatt. 414 Cannon House Office Bldg.
$ Washington. D.( . 25I3.
I
1-U
.VWVAVAV.V.V.V.'.V.V.V.,.V.V.VA -............ -V.W.V.V.V,V,.S
"Tell 'em the reason we've got this meat out
here and not cold storage is 'cause we're con
cerned about the engery crsis."
Mayor of Hardman
DEAR MISTER EDITOR;
While Ihe electorage in debalin Ihe fate of the Mayor of
Hardman. 1 am constrained (like them cultured folki alwaya
ay) to make mention of the pet situation, which m mat out
ot hand. , .
Is there any critter In the world that folk won I lake for a
pet' Zeke Grubb told the fellers at the country store Saturday
night that not only is there a heap more pets in this country
than people, the pets is eating better. Zeke said he told his old
lady jest Ihe other day that he wished he could get treated
like a dog around his house.
Zeke's old ladv said she had to look after the dog cause he
was a pore dunib animal that couldn't take care of hisself.
Zeke said it was jest like he alius had heard. Ihe dog adopts
the family Instead of the other way around, and it looks to
him like the dog is dumb like a fox.
But actual, went on Zeke. he had saw where they is only 50
million American dogs, and that don't make but one fer ever
four people. Trouble is. Zeke allowed, dogs is jest a drop in
our bucket of pets.
General speaking, the fellers was agreed with Zeke that
folks in this country probably is supporting enuff pet animals
to feed another United States, and we got no call to poke fun
at folks in India that let all that beef walk around and eat up
all the grain they can beg from us. Clem Webster said he had
saw by the papers where Americans bought 100 million
goldfish last year.
Ed Doolittle, that will jump into any conversation except
politics these days, said he had saw a piece in the papers
where this feller had a collection of 35 snakes in his house,
and they went from a foot long to one that was nine feet loni
now and would hit 18 feet when it is full grown. The Item
didn't say if this feller had a old lady around the house, Ed
said, but chances are he ain't and he ain't got any poker play
ing buddies that drop around at night neither. Ed said he
couldn't speak fer the next man. but as fer him, he never met
a snake he really liked
Old Bill Weatherford came over from his wash house in
time to final up the discussion by pointin out that there is a
legend amongst snakes that there was a mama and a papa
snake in the Garden of Eden and they wuz corrupted by
humans. Bill has been known to pull a leg now and then.
Practical speaking, went on Ed. the pet business might
work to keep nature balanced He said pet shops do a big
business selling mice and rats for folks to feed to snakes, and
somebody is busy catching or raising them mice for the pet
shops. Farthermore. Ed said, snakes that don't have to git
out and look fer supper can't be much of a snake anyhow.
What he's waiting to see. declared Ed, is that Lock Ness
monster the Japanese is looking fer in Scotland If they find
that thing, what country is going to git to make a pet out of it,
Ed wanted to know.
Mister Editor, I figger people got a right to pet what they
please. As fer feeding em. folks general feed one kind of
animal to another, so it probably evens out.
Yours truly,
MAYOR ROY.
1
Zeigler's
worship-as-
weapon 1
Bv
LESTER KINSOLVING
On Sept. 12 the New York Daily News reported my question
during a White House press briefing, as to what happened to
those White House Sunday religious services.
In my capacity as a newly accredited White House
correspondent I had greatly looked forward to reviewing one
of these services. I was more than surprised, therefore, to
discover that the last one was on April 15. and. as of this
writing, none had been scheduled. The replies to my question
only confirmed my fears.
Deputy Press Secretary Gerald Warren answered,
somewhat taken aback, that these services are scheduled
according to "no regular pattern." and added that Nixon
"will continue to have them."
The Daily News went on to report regarding President
Nixon's Press Secretary Ron Zeigler that:
"Zeigler made the same point in his chat with reporters,
adding that a worship service might be scheduled shortly -'just
to keep Kinsolving off balance'."
As a reporter and syndicated columnist, I have received a
few kudos along with assorted fusillades of negative fan mail.
But what can one say when Presidential Press Secretary
announces to one's colleagues of the Fourth Estate that the
possible purpose of a potential White House service could be:
"Just to keep Kinsolving off balance."
In gratitude for such an unusual distinction, this column is
happy to provide suggestions for Mr Zeigler's KKOB (Keep
Kinsolving Off Balance i Campaign.
Mr. Zeigler ought to contemplate the fact that while the
House and the Senate both have official chaplains, the White
House has none
For the post of White House Chaplain, this column would
like to nominate not a fellow clergyman, but rather that
leading laymen and close friend of both the President and
-Veircstdent.-Fraftis"Slwaffa:
Mr. Sinatra, it should be remembered, was once seriously
considered by one Hollywood producer to plav the role of St
Paul. 1 1 remember this fact well, for I can recall suggesting
in my parish bulletin that this same producer should consider
giving the role of the Virgin Mary to Zsa Zsa Gabor i
It is true, admittedly, that some of Mr. Sinatra's public
pronouncements have been somewhat saltv But since the
most celebrated of these was directed towards a ladv writer
for The Washington Post, the Nixon Administration should
have no grounds to disqualify his appointment
Moreover, there are some who regard Mr. Sinatra as
attractively earthy, and besides he could double as both
preacher and soloist.
Chaplain Sinatra m.ght even surpass the beneficence of
frequent White House preacher Norman Vincent Peale who
said recently:
"There's nothing wrong with the political leaders of this
country. They are doing a good job."
THE
GAZETTE-TIMES
MOBHOW COUNTY- NEWJI.fR
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