Communications
Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the writer, although
under certain circumstances the use of a pen name or initial for publication
ic permissible. The Mail Tribune reserves the right to edit all letters with a
view to clarification and condensation. Letters submitted for publication must
not exceed 400 words.
Short Time for Help
To the Editor: In a recent edi
torial, you contend it is a greedy
minority rather than the Amer
ican people as a whole, who
bear responsibility for the pres
ent plight of the American In
dians. I disagree.
To be so apathetic as most of
us have been that we neither
knew nor cared what was hap
pening, is to be equally as guilty
s the greedy minority. Certainly
in me iamiuar story 01 xne uooa
Samaritan, the apathy of the
Priest and the Levite who were
able to avert their pious gaze
from a wounded man lying in the
ditch, is not condoned by Jesus.
On the contrary it is, by implica
tion, even more roundly con
demned than is the greed of the
thieves who put the man there.
Most times I am proud of my
American heritage, but in. this
whole field of race relations, I
am ashamed even of belonging
to the so-called white race. Mere
confession of guilt and wrong
doing, however, is not enough.
I feel the need of at least trying
to make some restitution.
As far as Indians are concerned,
we in Jackson county have a
marvelous opportunity to be
"neighbors" to the Klamath peo
ple by helping some of them find
jobs and housing off the reserva
tion, and by assisting such relo
cated individuals and families to
become really integrated in our
communities. The Klamath peo
ple are one of the first groups
scheduled for termination as
wards of the government, the
date set by Congress for ending
all federal controls and assistance
for them being August, 1958.. If
they are to exist after that date,
many of them must find homes
and a means of livelihood else
where now.
Interested citizens committees
are already setting up such good
neighbor programs for Indians
in other areas. This may be our
last chance to unburden our own
consciences of guilt for our part
in what the writer you quoted
terms "the most shameful story
in American history the story
of the white man's treatment of
the American Indian."
Let's not have any more apa
thy. Let's have action, for the
time is very brief.
Grace N. Pearson,
Route 2, Box 50,
Jacksonville, Ore.
"Four-Flushing" Seen
To the Editor: Something new
has been added to the power con
troversy and it raises some im
portant questions.
Our Republican Congressmen
nave spent tne last three years
parroting the private power
"line" that the Federal Govern
ment has stopped building power
dams. The record clearly demon
strates that these men have
dragged their feet on every au
thorization or appropriation bill
for Federal dams in Oregon and
the Northwest. "
But on March 1, all three voted
for the enormous all-Federal
power project on the Upper Colo
rado River system when the bill
passed in the House.
They say the Government
won't build dams. If so, how did
the bill sail through the House
with a 120 vote margin? .
They say the High Federal
Dam at Hells Canyon, for exam
ple, costs too much money and?
we have to balance the budget,
But power facilities at Hells Can
yon would only cost $270,000,000
while the Upper Colorado power
facilities will cost $470,000,000.
Do our Republican statesmen
figure Hells Canyon can't pro
duce enough power? It can pro
duce 5 billion kilowatt hours per
year, compared to 3V& billion
from the Upper Colorado.
Get that, please. Hells Canyon
power facilities would cost 43
per cent less and produce 42 per
cent more powe$ than the Upper
Colorado, yet Norblad's, Coon's
and Ellsworth's votes went to
the Upper Colorado. Where is
that hard-headed, Republican
0 business sense we've heard so
wmuch about?
I am not attacking the merits
of the Upper Colorado Project.
The people in that area need
power and they need water. The
Upper Colorado Project is their
best hope of getting either, and
the project is undoubtedly worth
what it is going to cost. It is
soundly engineered and no mem
ber of Congress need apologize
for voting in its favor.
However, the people of Ore
gon are entitled to know why
their Republican representatives
are willing to vote for high-cost
Federal power projects a thou
sand miles from home but are
absolutely unwilling to vote for
low-cost Federal power projects
right here on the boundary and
even inside the State of Oregon.
This sort of behavior is not
the simple-minded, country
bumpkin type of four-flushing it
might-appear to be. This is four
flushing with a vengeance and
with a purpose. If these men can
think up a single, sensible reason
for their behavior they ought to
do it now and it ought to be good.
Howard Morgan,'
State Chairman,
Democratic Party.
Attitude "Unfair"
To the Editor: There seems to
be a sort of superior attitude, or
so it seems to me, against the
natural foods people,-and this
seems undemocratic ana com
pletely unfair. These people are,
in my opinion, setting a very
good example of what God in
tended man to do. When God cre
ated man He also created good
food for him foods necessary
to his bodily upkeep and health.
Are man's methods superior to
God's? (Maybe you and I would
do good to join the group instead
of looking for chemicals to aid
our health.)
Another thing I'd like to bring
out something that has come
to my mind that you may wish
to ponder is the recent death
of the beautiful little twin and
her soon-to-die sister, both leuke
mia victims. They are from
Grand Rapids, Mich., where they
have had artificial fluoridation
for a long time. The opposition
warns of such possible danger
due to fluoride poisons. Do we
have the right to gamble with
innocent children if there is the
least possible call to doubt?
Anyway, those who wish. to
take a chance could certainly
buy bottled fluoridated water,
fluoridated milk, etc. for their
children. But why should those
who want it have the right to
force it on our children, or for
that matter on all of us. Sounds
more practical to me anyway
since children only up to 12 years
would benefit anyway so why
waste dollars fluoridating the
lawn or washing the car?
Mrs. B. A. Miller,
728 Newtown St.,
Medford, Ore.
Hopes Benefits Soon
To the Editor: I have been in
terested and often quite amused
at the letters opposing fluorida
tion which have appeared in this
column. However, when I stop
to realize that there may be
some who are influenced by
them, it becomes more serious
and I hope this letter will help
clear up some of the facts.
One assertion is that it will
cost the "overburdened tax
payer" too much.
With the exception of the com
mon cold, dental decay is the
most universal and prevalent dis
ease of man. The results of
drinking our "pure spring water"
are that our children have about
twice as much tooth decay as the
national average. Our water is
deficient in fluorine.
Without changing the taste,
color or harmless nature of our
water, we can make up that de
ficiency through controlled flu
oridation. We are told by the
water commission that this can
be done for less than four cents
per person per month. (This fig
ure includes initial expense of
building and equipment plus an
nual cost of maintenance.) Aver
age dental expenses per child
per year in Medford run around
$58 for children up to 15. (Fig
ures from a random selection of
case records by a group of five
Medford dentists.) It has been
shown that fluoridation at a con
trolled rate of one part per mil
lion Of water will reduce tooth
decay by two-thirds. From these
facts it is obvious that fluorida
tion offers a considerable saving
to the "overburdened taxpayer."
I also have a specific objection
to a letter that appeared in this
column suggesting that fluorida
tion should be opposed by those
professing the Catholic or Mor
mon faiths. As a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints (Mormon) I strongly
resent the incorrect inference.
The 'Mormon' religion has never
opposed anything that has been
for the promotion of the better
health of man. Furthermore,
since religion is irrelevant to the
subject, this represents an un
scrupulous form of attack.
In conclusion I should like to
point out that physicians and
dentists have families who will
be drinking fluoridated water in
Medford too. In view of the fact
that they have the data and in
formation of all the allied fields
of science available to them,
doesn't it seem ridiculous that
they should be so eager to give
their children " anything that
might be harmful?
I respectfully submit this let
ter with the hope that my five
children will be benefiting from
a supplemented water supply
soon.
Dwaine E. Nelson, D.M.D.,
832 East Main St.,
' Medford, Ore.
Put It On Ballot
To the Editor: My dentist said
that "Chemically speaking, flu
oride is fluoride."
However, that found naturally
in water is calcium fluoride and
that added artificially is sodium
fluoride.
Calcium fluoride in 'small
quantity is beneficial and assim
ilated by the body in a natural
way. But sodium fluoride, an
aluminum waste product, ac
cumulates in the body and be
comes increasingly harmful.
Even if it does harden tooth
enamel and even if doctors found
no harmful effects in children
who drank fluoridated water for
10 years, I believe they would
find different results in those
same children when they reach
middle age.
What is going to happen to
the children whom we are so
anxious now to help after 20 to
30 years of accumulating this
poison.
If fluoride has built up in vital
organs and caused damage it
will be a crime. Would the var
ious organizations who have
"recommended" fluoridation be
responsible?
Mr. Kurtz, local manager of
the New York Water Corp.
stated, "The water company will
have to be fully indemnified be
fore it agrees to fluoridation."
Only six years ago the secre
tary of the American Medical
association testified, "Sufficient
time has not elapsed to evaluate
water fluoridation in the older
age groups."
Many tests already have been
made that show what long-range
fluoridation will do. Two British
physicians, Bond and Murray,
gave one such report covering, a
number of years. I quote, "In
these experiments rats were
given small amounts of sodium
fluoride in an"" effort to deter
mine what organs might first
react to the , toxicity of the flu
oride. (Pros claim nothing . but
the teeth are affected). The rats
showed very definite kidney dis
orders . . . suffered from excess
thirst and urine ... showed
diminished growth, low . body
weight and loss of fat stores. On
autopsy their kidneys were dark;
shrunken and modulated.
Throughout the kidneys . . .
there were growths."
On the basis of this experiment
alone should we not have the
right to say whether' or not we,
and people who already have
weak kidneys will drink fluorine
in our water?
I agree with Dr. Brandenburg
that the majority should rule,
and appeal to our city council
not to yield to pressure and rail
road this thing through. Their
job is to represent the people.
At least put this issue on the
ballot and see what the majority
want, as the Eugene council is
doing.
Dorothy Roelfs,
714 Dakota st.,
Medford, Ore.
Unanswered Questions
To the Editor: As a mother of
young children I have been in
terested in the articles and let
ters published in this paper about
fluoridation. I have discussed
this subject with both my dentist
and physician and they are very
much in favor of fluoridation.
Now, the question comes to my
mind, with all the major agencies
responsible for public health in
favor of it, why are some people
so violently opposed to it?
I have read the paid adver
tisements and letters in this pa
per from , anti-fluoridationists,
and it seems to me that they are
talking about something entirely
different than that w h j c h is
proposed for our water supply,
namely: One part of fluorine to
one million parts of water.
I therefore would like to sub
mit some questions for their
answers and also the source of
their information.
1. Where and when were
studies made that show one out
of five children will have mottled
teeth from drinking water fluor
idated at one part per million as
proposed for Medford? (Adver
tisement 21256).
2. In what cities were surveys
made by' medical , authorities
which show physical damage
from drinking water fluoridated
at one part per million?
3. Will water fluoridated at
one part per million kill rats?
If they can answer these ques
tions with documented proof
from recognized authorities, then
I certainly feel that the medical
and dental societies should with
draw their support of fluorida
tion. If these questions cannot be
answered with documented evi
dence, then it would appear that
the ads and letters from anti-fluoridationists
are part of a sinis
ter plot to withhold the benefits
of healthy teeth from our chil
dren. Mrs. Norton Smith,
41 Eastwood Ave.,
Medford, Ore.
Fluorides and Gadgets
To the .Editor: In regard to
the fluoridation of Medford
water, we up here near the Big
Butte Springs are, of course,
not affected in any way by the
proposal
But I agree most heartily
with some of those who oppose
fluoridation.
Those who want their water
charged with sodium fluoride
should consider the rights of
others and not force their ideas
onto those who do not want
them. After all they can pro
cure the material themselves.
If someone comes to me and
tries to make me add or sub
tract some item from my. food,
drink, or what I wear they can
go plum to hell. I think others
are in agreement with my attitude.
Now to change the subject
Many people are complaining
Editorial Comment
WATER FLUORIDATION
SHOULD BE ON BALLOT
The issue of fluoridation of
municipal water is being raised
in practically every area of Ore
gon since the State Supreme
Court held, in the Bend case,
that city officials have author
ity to so treat the water supply.
The opponents of fluoridation
in Bend had held that it was a
violation of religious liberty in
that some church groups are
opposed to medication.
The Supreme Court rejected
that contention.
Most of the opposition here,
and throughout the country, for
that matter, seems to stem from
an organization having certain
natural food standards.
The membership in this group
is not large but it certainly is
militant.
In addition to an energetic
pamphlet campaign, the group
appears to be fostering letters to
the editor of the various local
newspapers.
This office recently received
one from a Medford citizen. The
Medford Mail Tribune received
one from a Texas physician,
head of a living foods group.
Generally, the most dogmatic
opponents of fluoridation are the
ones least qualified to discuss
medical matters.
Supporting fluoridation as a
health measure are the federal
and state health departments, the
medical and dental associations.
The National Congress of Par
ents and Teachers is on record
in support of fluoridation. The
Oregon P-TA Congress has not
gone as far as its national organ
ization but has asked its local
units to "study the problem."
Most of the opposition is based
on the constantly reiterated
charge, "Fluorides are poison."
So is chlorine, but municipal
water supplies generally, are
chlorinated. Many ' other sub
stances used as medicines are
"poisons" but frequently are the
means of actually saving lives.
The local city council does not
want to become the center of a
fluoridation battle if it can avoid
Sunday, March II, 1956
MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE FIVE
it, probably because the mem
bers feel they are having enough
trouble, for the moment.
Local opposition to fluorida
tion is highly vocal but, in our
opinion, if those who use city
water ever have a chance to pass
upon the issue, it will be sup
ported more than two to one.
We are equally convinced that,
within a very few years, fluori
dation will be as widespread as
chlorination.
In any event, we'd like to see
the local citizenry have a chance
about the cost of maintaining
their - automobiles. If they
weren't so lazy they could do
their own driving without an
automatic mixmaster to do it
for them. I find myself capable
of doing my own steering, gear
changing, and a good part of
my repair work. I can also put
my arm out the window and do
my own signaling and find it a
devil of a lot simpler than main
taining -a more or less expensive
electrical system which is al
ways subject to shorts and other
assorted troubles. Yet the auto
accessories lobby in the state
capita! says I must use signal
lights if my vehicle is over 14
feet long. If one can't signal
with his lazy arm maybe he'd
be too lazy to work the signal
switch. Me for greater simplic
Personally, I am becoming
more and more disgusted with
the tendency toward more me
chanical complications and for
that reason if I had the money
I'd never buy an American auto
mobile, period. American prod
ucts are becoming worse instead
of better, and when I buy a new
car I'll buy one made in Ger
many where good workmanship
is not old fashioned.
Floyd R. McCabe,
Mt. Pitt Star Route,
Butte Falls, Ore.
Use Mail Tribune Want Ads
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Announcer Gives Clue For Ready Car Thief
San Bruno. Calif. (U.P.) A the narkins Int. I
public address announcer told
the 9,000 fans at Tanforan Race
track Friday someone had left
the engine of his car running in
to express themselves on the
issue.
The city council could easily
"get itself off the hook" by put
ting the issue to a vote of the
city's electors. Grants Pass
Courier.
Two people reacted immedi
ately the owner and the person
who drove it away before the
owner got there.
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