Heppner gazette-times., April 10, 1975, Page Page 2, Image 2

Page t THE GAZETTE-TIMES, Heppner, OR., Thursday, Apr. 10, 137S
Council . . . MaVor of Hardman
(Continued from Pace !
i M ' ' j
(Con tin tied from Page !
Horse sense
By
EMNKSTV. JOINER
4
Bill Weatherford's book, "Over My Shoulder," is due to
be officially launched in a few days at an autograph party
and coffee. It is an interesting work. My only adverse
criticism is that it has no foreword to prepare the reader for
what's ahead. He jumps right into his series of vignettes of
family and Eastern Oregon history without preface, which is
like diving into a swimming pool before bothering to see that
it has been filled. Aside from that, readers will find it filled
with historical notes, family history, anecdotes and a "fair to
middling" run of homespun philosphy that makes for
interesting reading even if one doesn't know the
Weatherford family (which would be difficult for any native
Oregonian) or W.W. Weatherford himself (which is
practically impossible!). Bill employs a different technique
in this book. He writes the way he speaks. He also writes as
he damn well pleases, which is enough to endear the work to
anv newsman who has had to wade through reams of "high
sematics" to sift out what most authors really have to say, if
anything. He writes an earthy story, reminiscent of times
when people spoke plainly and forcibly. True, the book was
written for distribution among members of the Weatherford
family. It is intended to give them an insight into what life
and conditions were during his long and interesting life. But
it is good reading for any outsider, too, in that it depicts a
frontier family life-its joys, sorrows and battle for survival
and self-development. It has some typographical errors, but
what can you expect when il was printed by the
Gazette-Times!
A couple of weeks ago I remarked on an API study of our
burgeoning illiteracy, with clear implications that the school
system is doing a poor job of teaching students to read and
write. Last week Cliff Williams of Lexington questioned the
study in a letter to the Mail Pouch. Of course, I have no idea
what went into the study or how the conclusions were
reached. But Cliff's query about how it was determined that a
college graduate would read, on the average, no more books
during his lifetime indicated less curiosity than criticism. I
think. It is natural for school people to defend their schools,
which I think Cliff was doing. Which brings up another
experiment, the results of which can be verified, and which
may be more to Cliff's liking. Back in 1966 Secretary of
Defense Robert McNamara noted that 600,000 men were
being rejected annually for the draft because of physical or
mental unfitness. So the armed forces decided to take 100,000
of these rejects and try to remedy their educational and
physical deficiencies that the school had not. They called it
Project 100.000. Since then more than 300.000 men have been
involved in the study. The Council for Basic Education, a
private. Washington. DC. based organization evaluated the
armed forces' experiment. It found that 45 per cent in Project
100.000 were high school graduates but only 20 per cent tested
at 8th grade or above in reading, and only 7 per cent tested at
8th grade or above in arithmetic. Eighty per cent of the men
satisfactorily finished a crash reading course of up to eight
weeks. The average improvement in reading ability was
almost two grade levels. That should say something about
the value of a high school diploma in terms of actual
accomplishment.
It s sad but true, the days when a man's word was
honored and as binding as a written contract are past. Rural
areas such as we live in are the last to admit to this change.
Unfortunately it strikes home when bad checks and broken
agreements drop like a bomb in our town.
In quick succession these incidents struck the Heppner
merchants and now they are faced with a choice. Instead of
trusting every customer they must now be suspicious of
nearlv everyone. Only those of long standing acquaintance or
business relation will avoid the scrutiny of merchants
suspicious of every new face in town. And rightly so, as small
towns will be. and are the prime targets of check artists and
con men. Larger cities have initiated programs of self
protection.
This is the alternative local merchants must decide. Will
they unite and instigate a program where new area arrivals
wili be required to fill out information forms before checks
will be accepted. This information has proved necessary for
people who have resided here for a period of several months.
There will be occasions when he must determine whether to
take a check or have the customer use a bank charge card. It
will be necessary to form a habit of requiring himself, as well
as employees, to obtain certain information about the check
writer before accepting the check. He will certainly have to
learn more about the "whys" of laws pertaining to these
specific crimes to understand if he is a loser or may regain
part of his loss. More importantly, he must learn the
problems and become familiar with the people he has elected
to uphold the laws and their limitations.
Heppner merchants are showing reluctance in giving up
counter checks even though this is the only area in Oregon
that has them. Perhaps, like other places, they will continue
to have counter checks until the banks say they will no longer
furnish then-. The adjustment period and inconvenience
without these checks is very brief.
I firmly believe the Heppner merchants will formulate a
program of unification and in no way will the customer feel
insulted In these times everyone realizes the plight of the
businessman and will cooperate with whatever program of
self protection he may develop.
A national organization. Action for Children's Television,
i ACT i is striving for better television programming with
emphasis on reducing violence. The "boob tube" can be a
marvelous source of education if properly directed.
Educational programs have proved to be an effective
learning tool. Likewise, and most unfortunate, violence and
crime are also studied and copied. Many robberies and
violent criminal acts are copied from indentifiable
programs.
Certain businesses that spent millions of dollars as TV
sponsors have cancelled all their advertising until
programming has improved.
The only elimination of violence I've noticed is In a
commercial sponsored by the manufacturer of a certain
analgesic. It used to be that two villainous characten would
attack some unsuspecting person, while one used hammer
to the head, the other was punching the pour soul in the
midriff with a huge boxing glove. It's comforting to know the
same result is now obtained by Just pointing finger. Well,
that's some progress.
Speaking of TV advertising, I wonder if more customers
might be lost by some of the sickening commercials rather
than selling more of the product.
I've warned my cat that If he doesn't land a singing
commercial Job soon, it'i back to table scraps for him.
The plight of the city over the location of the new
reservoir it further evidence of the need for written
agreements. Whether officials were relaying on verbal
agreements is not known, but it appears to be rather late In
the game to find the location hat not been oblained. Someone
apparently dropped the ball. NP
W . i-
7 7 i
"...Because He Was There
it
hospital area to prevent
damage to the valves.
In other business lo come
before the countil, it was voted
lo accept the budget as re
commended by (he budget
committee and members of
the council present at the
meeting.
A public hearing for a Block
(Irani Application was held
prior to the regular council
meeting wiih citizens urged to
lake an active part in com
munity projects.
Income tax
rebates
The U. S Department of
Agriculture has sent a tele
gram lo the states saying that
the income lax rebates and
special payments will have no
affect on the eligibility of food
stamp participants. Those
rebates and payments were
provided for in the Tax
Reduction Act of ItlTS which
President Ford signed into
law on March 29. I!75. The law
provides refunds on l!74
individual income taxes and a
spfi;l $."() payment to recipi
ents of social security, rail
road retirement, and Supple
mental Security Income
Henef ils
The T;i. Reduction Act of
!'" requires that refunds and
sc-ial payments shall not le
counted as income or
resources for purposes of
determining eligibility or the
amount of benefits received
under any federal assistance
program.
The ma7 pouch
EDITOR:
Enclosed are the results of the survey of issues before the
Oregon Legislature that you so kindly printed several weeks
ago.
The response to the poll was tremendous, as over 600
residents of Senate District 28 took the time to fill out the
questionnaire and return it to this office.
Again, let me thank vou for your help in this effort. You can
be assured that the views of North Central Oregon
residents-as shown in this poll-will be weighed carefully as
these issues come before the Senate.
KEN JERNSTEDT
Salem.
Survey results
Cattlemen take lead in
reducing cow herds
Results of a three-week-long
survey of Dist. 28
residents show strong feelings
on eight top legislative issues,
according to Sen. Ken Jern
stedt. R Hood River.
Over fioo district residents
li)M'd and mailed the sur
vey, printed in area news
paX'rs as a public service
Those responding said "no" to
lowering the drinking age to
lt. requiring fluoridation of
community drinking water
supplies, increasing the gaso
line tax by two cents and
requiring the use of sent bells
in all automobiles in the state.
Scnaic District 28 residents
favored resumption of the
death penally for first degree
murder convictions, opening
the Oregon primary election
lo independent voters and
banning commercial gillnel
fishing on the Columbia River
In addition, those respond
ing said stale employees are
not jtislified in seeking pay
increases of 37 per cent.
Sen Jernsledl commented:
These figures give a clear
indication of the feeling of
North Central Oregon rcsi
Henis Their views will be
neighed carefully as these
issues come before the Oregon
Senate in the coming weeks "
VKS
I. Should the gasoline tax be
increased two cents a gallon? r, R
2 Should the drinking age
be lowered to 19''
3 Do you favor mandatory
fluoridation of drinking water
supplies in Oregon?
4 Should the death penalty be
legalized for first -degree
murder convictions?
5 Are siae employees justi
fied in set-king 37 per cent
pay increases'
21 t
7K 4
in H
itVrccnl i
NO
w.rt
70 7
74 2
16.3
7 4
2 0
6 Should the use of seal
belts be made mandatory
in Oregon? 17 K
7. Should registered Inde
pendents be allowed to vote
in Oregon's Primary
Election? Tl
8. Should commercial gill
net fishing be banned on
the Columbia River? r
81 8
78 0
14 7
22 3
53
74
42
56
122
Seedstock producers are
taking the lead in reducing the
nation's cow herds, according
to an announcement by the
I" S Reef Breeds Council
Mirts indicate producers
are culling back cow numbers
hv more than 10 per cent to
help alleviate the extreme
financial problems beef pro
ducers are exH-riencing
The Council, representing
loo. nun 1'S lecf cattle seed
slixk producers, says that the
in per cent figure is the
surplus number ol cows in Ihe
country according to I'S
Department of Agriculture
statistics The Council is
urging voluntary cutbacks in
all cow herds because cow
numbers are in such great
surplus they will be comcling
on the market with fed cattle
for a long period of lime unless
cow numlwrs are adjusted to
optimum numbers quickly.
"The amount of beef we're
asking to be slaughtered
immediately is alxiul the
same amount as is In-ing
jinHtried." says Council Pre
sident Orville K Sweet. Kan
sas City . Mo
The i'.S currently has the
largest cattle herd, our basic
beef factory, in history at I'll 8
million head, according to the
American National Cattle
men's Association And IH74
beef production was a record
21 billion Kiunds The results
of culling is seen in the long
run as a way lo improve
elficiency and productivity
and will be good for the entire
industry.
"The move we're calling for
represents a positive program
In encourage cattlemen lo
self -impose measures lo sta
bilize the cattle market which
was wrecked by government
price ceilings, unrestricted
imports and high prices of
grain resulting from record
exports of grain." Sweet says.
"Also. U.S consumers need to
be aware that in spile of all
this, cattlemen have never
been subsidized by Ihe gov
ernment." He adds that consumers
need to be considering several
questions as cattlemen con
tinue to suffer financial losses,
"If Ihe domestic cattle indust
ry is allowed to continue ils
the SOVEREIGN STATE of AFFAIRS
I5M T IT T
( THAT WE'RE 60iNtTD
Bt fcfTTlNfaA
r . c
heavy losses as a result of
excessive imMirts of low
quality foreign beef, can the
American consumer afford to
IxTome dependent on a for
eign supply of lieeC Does this
situation parallel (he oil crisis
u hen w e become so dependent
on foreign suppliers who could
control the price and supply?
Should there lc a relatively
quick amputation of this 1 -r
cent of Ihe cows or do we
prolong the adjustment in
numbers and the deficit oper
ahng conditions over several
yens''' he asks
The Council is asking cattle
men lo use their own discre
tionary aits, liming and
disposal, but are encouraged
to reduce their cow herds by at
least III ier cent in the next six
mouths Some may choose lo
market their lower producing
cows for slaughter or they
may make tax deductible
donations of cattle for slaugh
ter to orphan homes, hospitals
or oilier bcneyolenl organia
Imns
Members of Ihe I' S Reef
Rieerls Council are the
meiiran Angus. American
Brahman Breeders. Interna
tional Ri angus Breeders.
American Hereford. Ameri
can Polled Hereford. Ameri
can Shorthorn. Red Angus.
Santa (ierlrudis Breeders In
ternational, and American
International Charolais As
sociations ii(.i: in
Ml TIIOM OK
It I .VlltUIO
The President has changed
Ihe method of Registration
Willi Selective Service from
Ihe presenl 30-day -before lo
todays alter Ihe IHIh birth
day . loan Annual Registration
of a few days duration In Ihe
future, registration will be
accomplished sometime after
each new calendar year for
those reaching IH years of age
in Ihe year before.
Thus, those young men
registering on April 1, 1975
will be Ihe last registered until
Ihe first annual registration
early in 1'.I7 At that time all
I hose who have nol registered,
but would have done so under
regulations up lo now, will be
registered
BOYD and Wood
.'" m i l mnmxmwm . in m n i - i
x ( TMIN mi ) J IT'U ALMOST & )
AtArt v. Vu K ABcf S ( ENDUfcrt TO PAY THE
( JUST W) ( 0 W,TH V V-r cM1E?,(r
V7 (j)CTKA MWEY...-7 CWft TAlf RETURN, f
C" TVV 6 kV'Vy,
cLsrn
DKAK MISTKR KDITOR:
The feller that runs Ihe country slore was l'""1
s.m k S i nlav nighl .luring Ihe meeting, ami he was back n
Ml he does he said, is order the groceries When I ton s
hrn slhe cases, figgers the price he's got lo g. fmmthe
. ,. uuu ks i. and puts ,. on Ihe sh r to J
Lnocent victim of Ihe inflated prices, and II gits his goat t r
s, I , mehiin ,lesa.dhehad.opy25perce,.tnmrefr
s,e candv that, he dul jest a year ago. and he am t o. no
, , ,icc but lo pass along the increase lo his e .sto i ns.
eke Crubb heard the slore feller talking to hisself to.
Mister Kd tor. and the next lime Zeke got the floor in he
, c , s . he hruntt his remarks almul prices before Ihe ful
,m o I momic eNperts. Zeke said he fer one was gm,l
I , e feller, cause it was clear o bun thai llta. hole
m rx is caught in the .....Idle of nil the problems. They . .. t
Iv round .hat starts problems, Zeke med an I he y
inn nobody that slops em, so everbody must be in the
' '"Kartlierniore. went on Zeke. everbody is tired of nol bemg
, , ,he blame on somebody. Right no, he said, we
go ., ,. as much control over Cambodia as we got over the
weather. and we're gi.ting M .irk of both . Jem Mjxly
caused em and nobody is doing a thing about em. It alt. t no
lYlilcr we go. folks healing up .he TV wea hcrmen , .nd
hiring pie throwers lo splatter newspaper reporters when al
is floods, higher prices, more folks out of work and
more places fell lo the cominiimsls. '
Kd I'oolit.le was full nitreed Hh flein. Kd old the fellers
,ha. back in the days ol the Old Testament, the Inrrn. bad
mlings lost their heads on the spot, and he rec koned that put a
,,.,, ,,, hes. reporting We all g"l lo shift the blame off
,,) selves. Kd said, so we ouglil lo understand folks thill use
, ,e then troubles on Ihe back of o go.tl and chaw Ihe
,., ,!,er off Since eve. bodv is in Ihe middle of our problems
;1M( nnlMHlv is causing em or curing em. It"' only people we
cat. find to pile our troubles on is Ihem lhal tell us about em.
was Kd' words .
Mister Kditor. after talking the situation up one side ami
,lown ihe oilier. Ihe fellers was or a mind thai what you new
got to do is hit the good news harder. Fer instant, you
,. , reix.il how hard times is gmnl fer Ihe shoe repair
business cause iioInmIv can afford new shoes And you can tell
us how church going and giving picks tips when everllung
cNe goes down, cause the Um scaieih a cheerful giver
Yours truly.
MAYOR HOY
Council of Churches
make charges
against FBI, CIA
lh I I si Ml ktvsoi aim;
The need (or iitmo-l care and restraint m the current
,iiveiu!.,lions ol the CI and Kill should be obvious nol
,.k in the mipoi lane col these agencies III Ihe security of Ihe
I s l.ui in iheir haying Miflered for five years under
h li.it il ixon
loiMi.itu-e ... (lie National Council of Churches iN('C
h. i however. Ie.iil into this sensitive area in such a
i, i. inner a I" suggest Ihe Keystone Cops, under lh joint
(i'inni.in.1 ol Hal ( Marx and lloo The Clown
lo a bai kground statement published by the SCC, this
i niiiiiiiltec v Ii.ii ged
Iheie are indications and allegations - though no hard
eiiileme lhal from l(7l lo R73. jmtsoiis showing what
purported lo be credentials of federal agencies. CIA.
I l'.l and in one instance threatening an Interchur. h Center
.CC he,idiii,ulersi employee with a gun if be 'opened his
mouth' alxiiii their visit gained admittance to the premise
ol ihe Intel chinch Cenler at night
This vviitlen ieMiit made no mention ol Ihe fad lhal last
v. ii a hand ol black militant thugs from Harlem occupied
the entile lliMir of the Inlerihurch Center for 2H hours and
M M.itellv inspected all files No dun ges were filed againsl
these people bv the NCC authorities
lint in ils apparent ellor I lo smear Ihe Kill and the CIA. the
CC has published a statement of serious charges, based
cum civ on indications and allegations - though no hard
evidence" Il this seems incredible for an agency of 32
religious denominations, Ihe NCC staff produced even more
along this line:
'm.ilour electronics lesls seemed lo indicate Ihe
piesem eol bugs' on several telephone lines, including that
ol the Depulv (ieneral Secretary of Ihe NCC."
Commented the Rev. (ierald McAllister, NCC Governing
Hoard member front San Antonio, who eventually succeeded
in having Ibis NCC staff rexirl amended
I gather thai those using these 'amateur electronics tests'
didn'l know whether their equipment was working "
But al Ibis point. Chicago Sun Times' religion writer. Roy
Larson noted that the Rev Sterling Cary, President of Ihe
NCC, had lold hut. during an interview:
There is proof positive lhal there were bugs."
Rul ihe Rev Dean Kelley of Ihe NCC staff promptly
conceded
"We couldn't afford Ihe electronic surveillance-which
would have cost us $l.(nw per room."
i The Rev. Mr Kelley was Identified by Ihe NCC Dept. of
Inlormalion as Ihe NCC's "expert on religious and civil
liberties." Yet Kelley served on this committee which
produced the set of unsubstantiated charges against Ihe Kill
and CIA. Morroever. Kelley angrily refused to confirm or
deny his reported authorship of this report which
information NCC authorities are continuing to conceal. I
Considering the NCC's dwindling but still multi million
dollar budget, $l,nno per r.xim would have been far less
exM nsive in the long run than the serious Increase In the
NCC credibility gap, occasioned by charges without
ev idence along will, conflicting statements from President
Cary and Liberties K.xpert Kelley.
!NMNNNNNMMMMKNMNNMNNMMMNXMNNNNNMNNMNaMK
5 THE GAZETTE-TIMES
S MORROW COt'NTY'8 NKWSPAI'K.R
Box 337, Heppner, Ore. 978:18
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Ernest V, Joiner, Publisher
Published every Thursday and entered as
second class mailer al the post office at
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SiTiuid elaxs MMtago paid at Heppner, Oregon,
MtnniMI(MHIt4UlirX1MIIIHIIIIHIMBMMIIIlttl