Page t THE GAZETTE TIMES,
Horse sense
By
KUNWTV.JOINKR
There is much agonizing and breastbeating over the
collapse of South Vietnam. It should be no surprise, since the
American in the street knew the war was lost five years
ago-intelligence that never seemed to have reached
Congress or the Pentagon. What is sadder even than the
impending massacre of perhaps millions of South
Vietnamese civilian men, women and children is the fact that
we could have won this war. But to win it would have irritated
our Russian "friends" and screwed up the Kissinger detente.
Most of us remember the order that went out to American
troops fighting in Vietnam: 'Don't fire unless you're fired
upon." A strange order, and one an American soldier
couldn't appreciate. For, giving the Communist guy the first
shot he had a good chance of not being alive to return the
fire. I am not an advocate of shouldering a national guilt for
past errors. But if our fearless leaders are at all human they
must have some heavy guilt feelings about not winning the
war while it was still winnable, and now stand helpless as the
slaughter of innocents begins. A well directed hydrogen
bomb would have settled the matter in the beginning.
Horrible, you say? Fifty thousand American dead in Vietnam
would probably disagree. And I disagree. To me, the most
humane act of World War II was the dropping of the bomb on
Hiroshima. But back then, wars were to be won.
One of the newest forms of humor is the "two faced
headlines," the kind that have a double meaning. One of
these headlines appeared in the Evansville, Ind.. newspaper
several years ago. It seems the city recreation department
sponsored a city wide golf tournament. The first round was to
be plaved on the municipal course, the second on the Masonic
course, the third on the Country Club. The afternoon of the
tournament the Evansville Press carried thia headline:
"Intercourse match starts tomorrow."
I am delighted to see so many black actors and actresses
doing TV commercials. For years I thought that only whites
had bad breath, odoriferous armpits, occasional irregularity
and used the wrong detergent to brighten the family wash.
Perhaps our legislators are beginning to read the
handwriting on the wall. They must be starting to realize that
many are losing faith in both parties. As usual they blame
each other for introducing and supporting a bill which would
allow independents to vote in primary elections. I thought our
constitution provided that everyone should have the right to
vote, apparently not. The legislators killed the bill, thus a
growing number of voters again have lost their privilege to
cast their ballots.
Even one registered as Republican or Democrat receives
only the ballot with that particular party's candidates. In
order to vote for someone of his choice, he must remember
the name (this must be exact to count) and write it in his
ballot if he is a member of the other party. It seems so much
simpler the way it's done in Washington. You only register
and receive one ballot at voting time which contains all the
candidates and you can pick your choice. Seems one ballot is
much cheaper than two and everyone gets to vote.
I think for the most part, the days of voting a straight ticket
are past. So. what's the need of registering by party? People
are aware of bad politics more than ever before and I think
they would like the opportunity of voting for the lesser of two
evils.
The increased cases of vandalism at the fairgrounds is
further evidence of a permissive society. One that ignores
discipline in the home, schools and community.
Facilities provided by public funds for public use and
emjoyment has become the target for destruction. Many of
the events held in the fair pavilion are for the youth. As usual,
one bad apple spoils the whole barrel.
The fair board will have to decide if continued use of the
buildings warrant the cost of repair. Perhaps the best way is
for the youth to police their activities if they expect them to
continue. They know the culprits and no one can deal stricter
punishment than their own kind.
Raising fees for usage and charging for the fair may pay
the expenses, however, it doesn't punish the guilty.
If anyone thinks that the girls don't take their Softball
games seriously, they better think again.
The girls take softball as a fun game, so do their coaches
and managers. They will take little league as seriously. What
is important is that the girls are learning a new sport and
having fun. As long as they have a good time, who is
interested in whether a game is won or lost? Isn't this what
sports is all about? Learning to lose before you can win?
Little League coaches will need to be more careful about
their language. You can't tell them to get their butts out in
the field.
If the gals really have the desire to play the game, I'm
certain they will make as good a showing as most of the boys.
Good Luck gals! EC
l-V , .
lao'Nuuv"'-
', .Jl-
The Trouble With Our Foreign Policy Is WeVe
Been Fooling With Too Many Foreigner."
Heppner. OR., Thursday. Apr.
V
"''"WJVJ.
.
A
17. 1975
. . -- .Vis
The ma7 pouch
EDITOR:
This letter is in reference to your statements you made
concerning reading and the Army's teaching of reading.
First of all. you used a very poor analogy. You were
comparing a group of Army rejects who all had a reason to
learn to read. They also were willing to try to bring up their
reading level on their own. . i
You compared these men with students who m high school
had no better than an 8th grade reading level and went on to
college. You never did give the Army rejects reading level
prior to the Army's efforts.
This is a poor comparison in that high school students feel a
stigma attached when they need extra help in any given area(
Also, the reality of needing reading skills does not "set-in
until a high schooler is out of high school.
Problems in reading can be caused by a multiple of
reasons You never did quote your sources. Exactly where
are you getting your information. Before you start giving
statistics in reading, you'd better be careful of the validity of
the test scores. Reading scores vary with the tests given.
Some reading tests end up being a "multiple guess test and
do not measure a childs reading level; let alone pin point
deficient reading skills.
Problems in reading can be caused by one or all of the
following: physical problems (visual, auditory, or organic),
intellectual problems, emotional problems, and, or
educational problems (e g. placed in the wrong type of
reading program).
Also when you start complaining about reading problems
children and adults have, and about the educational system
as a whole, please consider (if you can) your sources, types
of tests given, areas of the U.S. where tests and statistics
were compiled, that ghettos and slums do exist, all high
schools have drop-outs, many schools are over crowded, and
last, the emphasis each school places upon reading may vary
within each district.
KAREN BECK.
lone.
EDITOR:
I think I received a free psychoanalysis in your last edition.
Thanks!
My query was just a plain, straight-forward query-a
simple question as to how any educated group could produce
figures like the one you printed. I wonder who the API group
thinks is reading all the books that are being printed in this
diy flnd
I don't question the validity of your statement that the
schools are doing a poor job of teaching reading. Studies
seem to indicate the illiteracy is increasing, and few can
deny that there are plenty of problems in the schools. But you
must admit that we're doing an excellent job of teaching all
phases of athletics-both boys' and girls'. Look at the records
fall ' There will be no doubt when I want to criticize or defend
the schools. I'll do it in words that won't require
interpretation!
In accordance with that thought. I recall that just a few
months ago you printed story in which our own
superintendent of schools. Matt Doherty. is quoted indirectly
as telling the Associated University Women that we can now
look forward to the end of the "non-reader" because of the
large amount of money poured into school reading programs.
You can put your mind to rest! You worry about problem
that will soon be solved!
CLIFFORD A. WILLIAMS
Lexington.
EDITOR:
The federal tax rebate of $100 to 1200 for the American
taxpayer was granted for the sole purpose of stimulating tin
economy. The Congress passed the bill In the hopes these
funds would help get America moving again.
To assure that all those funds are available to the taxpayer,
I have Introduced SB 619 to exempt Oregonlana from paying
state income Ux on the rebate. Under present law, the rebate
is counted as taxable Income.
It is estimated that unless SB (19 is passed, M0.000 Oregon
taxpayers will pay the State of Oregon W,000,000 la additional
.
I believe the slate will benefit mora by letting Oregonians
have the full amount of the rebate to generate new business
which In turn will generate additional legitimate taxes.
If you agree, I ask for letters of support lobe written to Sen.
Vern Cook. Chairman of the Senate Revenue Committee, to
your own legislator and to me, urging passage of SB 619.
BLAINE WHIPPLE,
Senator.
Am-- A
Senator Ken Jernsfedl
reports on legislation
While this session of the
Oregon Ix-gislaiure is moving
along considerably faster than
its I'm counterpart, there are
sever.il obstacles which could
rtVlav ad)ournmenl past the
hie May estimates of some
legislative leaders
Senale President Jason Boe
predict that Oregon's law
makers will go home by the
firsi of June However, the
general feeling among the
legislature leans toward ad
jourmnenl at a later date, and
I would tie surprised if the
M-ssmti concludes by the end
of the first week in June
Si ill wailing -and posing
imii'iiti.il holdups in Ihe ses
sion is the unsettled slate
employee salary issue, a
Irciiieiidous number of hills
hackloggid in committees, as
more bills have been inlro
dmed this session lhan ever
before, and many slate bud
net measures, which require
careful review by Ihe Ways
and
causi
Means Committee lie
of Ihe current slate of
1 1
economy.
There is one significant
change in this session of the
legislature from those of past
years, as we are not considcr-
ing
The
i major lax reform dim
lack of such a measure
has caused many legislators
lo fight againsl new taxes, or
increases in existing taxes.
The public is so opposed lo
higher taxes that any other
action by Ihe legislature would
Ik- going against the wishes of
Ihe people.
Four measures that would
have increased Ihe role of the
controversial land conserva
tion and development com
mission in Ihe permit process
have been tabled by the joint
committee on trade and eco
nomic development. Conclud
ing lhat Ihe measures in
creased, not decreased bur
eaucracy, the committee last
Thursday tabled measures
adding Ihe IX'DC as a "permit
slop"; providing that the
agency reviews applications
for major development; and
encouraging the creation of
new communilics in Oregon.
The major thought here was
Ihe original goal of
LCDC-land use plan
ning -not economic develop
ment The trade and economic
development committee, a
statutory committee which
will continue indefinitely, pro
THE GAZETTE-TIMES
MORROW C'flL'NTY'S NEWSPAPER
Box 337. Heppner, Ore. 978M
Subscription rate : $6 per year In
Oregon, 17 rlsewhere
Ernest V. Joiner, Publisher
Published every Thursday and entered as a
econd class matter at the post office at
Heppner, Oregon, under the act of March 3, 1879.
c, a.,.iu. nosiatfe naid at Heppner, Oregon.
problems!
Problems plague news
papers also. Portions of our
last two issues have had light
spots that were difficult if not
impossible to read.
After many consultations
with experts, we have made
and remade adjustments, ex
perimented and hopefully we
mav have the problem cor
rected this week. If not, we
will go through the process
again until we have a suitable
solution.
We hope you will bear with
us until this annoyance is
remedied
New Gl loans
now available
Now Gl loan .policies that
npply In all veterans with
miliiarv service since the
siarl of World War II make
more lhan 20 million veterans
eligible for the Veterans
Administration guaranteed
loan
Among them are more than
four million veterans whose
Gl loons have been paid in
full. VA Administrator Rich
aid I. Rotidehush said Those
who have never used I heir
eligibility are still eligible
evrn though they might have
Keen mil of the sen ice more
than Ui years Also potentially
eligible fiw new loans are
those veterans with current
lan outstanding. The only
condition for restored chgibi
hiv is thai the first loan be
paid off and the home be
disposed f
pcrlv addresses Oregon's eco
nomy One issue in Salem that is
mm ing from Ihe background
lo the forefront is legislative
versus executive power The
legislature seems lo tie stak
ing out its ground ". by
considering and passing mea
sures requiring 'he review of
at'cnrv rule and regulations
and broadening Ihe economic
development powers of Ihe
joint trade and economic
development committee.
measure expanding Ihe
role
of thai committee wnitn
las.fdh substantial margins
ill In
mih Ihe senale and Ihe
house was Die fust bill vetoed
bv the governor in his admini
stration He felt lhal Ihe
measure infringed on Ihe
right
of the executive bul
mam
legislators disagree. A
mov e is on in Ihe legislature lo
overrule Ihe Slraub veto, as
I he
tit ling here is lhal Ihe bill
In.
..ulcus the power of the
li L'isl.ilive branch lo a degree
vv lni.li we feel does nol infringe
on Ihe realm of Ihe executive
A measure lhal would
require legislative counsel lo
review and comment on Ihe
administrative rules and reg
ulations created by slate
agencies is working its way
through the house, after
passing convincingly in Ihe
senate last month This is
another area where there
could lie conflict with the
executive. The house is cer-
lain
to oass Senale Bill
then Ihe legislature will
wail on Ihe governor to see his
reaction when Ihe measure
hit
hi desk Personally. I
doubt
lhal Governor Slraub
will veto this bill
The shoplifting bill lhat I
have introduced will be the
subji-cl of a second hearing in
Ihe Senate Judiciary Commit
tee soon, as Ihe first hearing
recently did nol provide
enough lime for all those who
wished lo testify to stale their
views The bill -which would
cut down on shoplifting in Ihe
slate, by giving the merchant
a cleariy defined role in the
apprehension of suspected
shoplifters-is supported by
statewide business groups and
faces lough questioning in
committee, but has a good
chance of reaching Hie floor of
the senale.
-Sen. Ken Jernsledl
Mayor of Hardman
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
A feller has got to git up early to stay rZVIH
life and to g.t ahead in the game of politics it s best not to go
to bed at all. I see by the papers where the head of prisons tta
North Carolina set up lale studying his plan, and he almost
caught members of the stale legislajure napping,
but the state has a Republican governor who appointed his
own director of prisons. If you have any doubt about tf
Preappointed people, think who Is ry toJlht
country these days from the White House and the State
Sister Editor. North Carolina ha. been doing a lot
of studying about its prisons, so Director David
up Willi the idee of giving ever member of the leg Mature a
pass to visit the stale's Central Prison. This looked
help in the legislature's research til a Democrat perked up
enuff to relize'the pass would git em in Central Prison but U
didn't say nothing about gitting em out. They all rode Jones
prilly high over his plah fer a full Republican takeover of
state guvernment. .... ,
Serious, the road to a heap of places people don want o go
is paved with politicians good intentions The fellers at the
.country store Saturday night was discussing what has
happened to the No, I all time sweetheart of every po i t.cian
Social Security. Fer 38 years, whenever a candidate let
practical any office started making promises he
Social Security It gits Ihe old folks attention quick and it has
been a safe subject fer ever other voter cause politicians and
everbody else think of Social Security as somepun you git. not
somcpun you pay. ..il.j i
For instant, politicians got Social SH-ur.ly benefits hiked n
1970 1971. 1972 and again last year. What folks didn t stop to
look at was that payments went up 56 per cent in hopes of
covering these benefits. Now it looks like we can t jump
Social Security income enuff to keep up with outgo, and I leave
folks anything at all to take home of their wages Zeke Grubb
said he had saw a report where Social Security now has
promised to pay out two trillion dollars more than it can
dram out of people now paying into it. And as more folks are
laid off from work. Ihe income goes down.
According to this piece Zeke reported on, Americans will
draw out It i billion more Social Security this year than they
will put in. This means the fund will lie cut lo M billion, enuff
fer jest over six months of benefits.
What makes the hole business so bad is another politicians
promise. Zeke said. While payments go down on account of
people being out of work, benefits keep going up wi n
inflation because of automatic cost-of-living increases put in
recent fer the 30 million people who are drawing Social
Security.
Yours truly,
MAYOR ROY.
LmnnWli miifaw. JLi
CHICAGO -"Our people are being killed by guns from
America." said Ihe attractive, middle aged Irish housewife.
Massive sums are pouring into Northern Ireland for
more weapons rather than relief projects." added Anne
Sloane. a member of Ihe Church of Ireland (Anglican, or
Protestant I. , . .
Sealed next to Mrs Sloane at a press conference arranged
bv National Council of Churches, was Sean Cooney
Itoman Catholic, a neighbor of Mrs Sloane'i in the battered
Ard vne section of North Belfast. Added Ccy
-This blood money is being collected by groups such as
Irish Northern Aid' in major US. cities who have an
Irish-American population. This money goes to the
Provisional Wing' of Ihe IRA. This is the group lhat says that
Ihe IRA isn't entitled to be called an army because it isn I at
Cooney is a plumber who has six nephews detained
(imprisoned) by Ihe British Army in Longkesh. Mrs. Sloane
has seen her husband's store bombed six times. Moreover he
has been either robbed or assaulted on five different
occasions.
Either Conney or Sloane might be bitter under these
circumstances. Instead, they are in the lead of those who are
trying to make the best of a tragic situation.
Cooney is the co-organizer of a construction company
which specializes in rebuilding bombed or burned wit houses.
As head of the North Belfast Community Council, he is trying
to bring frightened families back Into the city's
nondiscriminatory housing areas.
Mrs. Sloane heads the Community Shop, where 12
community groups meet and where programs have been
established for more than 6,000 children, who might
otherwise have to be kept inside due to the continuing
terrorism.
In recounting one of these meetings, where a nearby bomb
explosion necessitated everyone shaking glass and plaster
off their heads and laps, she manifested only candid good
cheer-none of the melodramatic hostility seen in some press
conferences.
"We condemn violence from wherever it comes,
emphasized Cooney. "Neither the Provos nor the Ulster
Defense Association have any real mandate from more than
two per cent of the people. And may I particularly emphasize
that this is not a holy war."
Cooney s Protestant companion Immediately agreed,
'""Not a religious war, but a social, economic and industrial
conflict which will come to an end only with reconciliation."
The two also agreed that American aid to the IRA, along
with the personal ambition and self serving of certain Irish
politicians, are the leading obstacles to such reconciliation.
For when asked about Northern Ireland'a two best known
politicians-Bernadette Devlin and the Rev. Ian
Talslcy-they both scoffed.
"They are two of the most ridiculous rveople In Northern
Ireland." contended Mrs. Sioa. .hough Paisley is
admittedly making a good living msclf with all that
Income from both church and politic, sources."
"Bernadette and Paisley are both demagogues." affirmed
Cooney, "a pair of con artists. He Is less a man of God than ha
is a man of wrath."
The two left assembled newsmen profoundly Impressed
with their candor and abiding senses of humor, In the midst
of a continuing toll of terrorism. Both Mrs. Sloane and
Cooney pleaded for volunteers to help, particularly during
the coming Summer. In their programs to alleviate suffering
In one of the world's most dangerous areas.
Heading the U.S. liaison with Cooney and Sloane la the Rev.
David Bowman, S J the first Catholic priest ever appointed
to the staff of the National Council of Churches-whlch
organization has been edified by Father Bowman'i afforU
for a Just peace In Ireland.
Ireland
receives
weapons
IU lf STHtklSll l;