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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1958)
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 is 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. The letters printed in this column do not necessarilv represent the views of the Mper; in fact the contrary i oftKi th case. Editor's note: No letters to the editor on political subjects will be printed by the Mail Tribune election day. To be considered for publication in Monday's edi tion, communications must be received in the news paper office not later than 9 a.m. Monday. Plans and Tactics To the Editor: I am still waiting for Mf . Geddes to de velop his theme of returning southern Oregon resources to the people by telling the vot ers just how he proposes to do this. Does he intend to abolish National Forests and the Bu reau of Land Management? If so, I am sure he would en counter some very sturdy op position both from the people of southern Oregon and from the rest of the country as vell. It has seemed to me dur ing my six years of residence in this area that we are al ready receiving a very fair return on our resourc-t-s under federal supervision and I have no especial yearning for a change in the present status. As to the kind of campaign that is being conducted for Mr Geddes, I see no cause for undue concern on the part of the Democratic opposition, for "it is precisely these tactics that result in making good Democrats out of erstwhile good Republicans. At least it did with me, and I am sure there are others who will wish to make their personal protest effective by changing their registration as soon as the election is over. Meanwhile, they can vote Democratic candidates into of fice to put an end to this kind of "Smea r" campaigning. Such methods only denote panic and desperation on the 'part of those who use them, and imply that they have given up all hope of winning by honest and fair means. Grace N. Pearson Route 2, Box 50 Jacksonville, Ore. Fears "Democrat" Caucuses To the Editor: Since mid March when I accepted an in vitation to speak before a group in Medford I have felt additional interest irr Jackson county politics and have fol lowed your local papers closely. . As you know, I am a for mer Democrat and am now a Republican. After having been nominated and elected by both parties as a Democrat, I changed by registration to Republican as my protest at what was happening to the Democratic party. Many Dem ocrats like myself were re pulsed by the caucus tactics which were directed by the Multnomah county bosses, but I am the only one to take action. I now fear for all Oregon ians when the Democratic party endorses "legislation by caucus". The Democratic party of Oregon just will not tolerate any legislator who hinks independently or has an independent idea. I have watched your own Rep. Robert Duncan willingly go along with the Multnomah Democrat leaders and voting step by step as directed by the strategists who evidently say to him in effect, "... vote as we say or we will see that you are on the outside looking in." He may have privately pro tested at the domination by Multnomah county, but he has never objected publicly or strenuously. For confirmation of this established policy of legisla tion by caucus contact Demo cratic Rep. Katherine Musa. She foug.it the bosses and with the Republicans tried to get all Oregon cijizens a 30 : per cent cut in taxes at the ' special session of the Legisla ture. This courage resulted in her being held up to public scorn by her own party. She was pushed out of their cau cuses. I know, because I was in the Legislature at the time. Ask Democratic Rep. Emil Stunz. He did the same as Mrs. Musa He objected to bossing of the Democrat lead ers and wa. vilified and then purged from his party by members of his own party. This "conform or be purged" philosophy is one all Democratic legislators must now accept. When a man is elected by the Democrats he goes to Salem -to serve the Democratic party and nobody FREE Have Your Roof Checked by an Expert No Cost! STOP Unnecessary leaks . . . Portect Your InvestmentI CALL ACE ROCrlNG CO. SP 2-2513 1150 Court Street else and he must leave his in dependent thoughts at home. I have vatched the Jackson County situation closely and I feel it my duty as an Oregon ian to let the people know what is going on. Joe Rogers State Representative Independence, Ore. Confusing? To the Editor: In the Octo ber 30th edition of your pa per a Mr. Roy R. Picard ob jected, in a letter to the editor, to a statement made by Mr. Paul Geddes on television that one bill introduced by his opponent passed Congress while his newspaper ads say two. I believe Mr. Geddes stated on television, some time before the newspaper ads appeared, that one and possi bly two had passed and that he was checking on the second one.' Apparently your corre spondent missed two state ments by Mr. Porter that ap peared in the Mail Tribune, the first saying it was "tech nically true" that only one of his bills had passed and the second saying, at the Phoenix Grange, that two had passed. It seems to me, that every one, including Mr. Porter, is a little confused as to exactly what Mr. Porter has been doing for the past two years. C. B. Foley , 128 Chestnut st. Medford "11th Hour Attack" To the Editor: I call upon every decent citiz.n of the state, without regard to po litical party, to vote against any candidate associated with the vicious . and contemptible llth-hour attack upon a man of the caliber and character of Mark Hatfield. The tragic accident to which Wayne Morse refers happened more than 18 years ago when Mark Hatfield was a boy of 18 years.' For all these years, the facts have been known and a matter of public record. Nothing has been hidden and concealed. The facts have been known in Mark's own com munity where voters of Mar ion county have repeatedly elected him to the legislature and where they gave him an overwhelming vote for Secre tary of .State. Wayne Morse has waited until the llth-hour before an important election for gover nor, obviously in the hope that the public.would not have time to learn all of the facts with reference to the accident. It is a sad day in Oregon politics. Politics in Oregon have plummeted to a new low with this degrading last-ditch effort from the camp of a de feated candidate. It is unbe lievable that a man who rep resents the State of Oregon in the United States senate which has heard the voice of Charles McNary and George Chamberlain would stoop so low. Did Governor Holmes not have the moral courage to make the attack himself but chose the vicious tongue of Wayne Morse? Since the day of that tragic accident Mark Hatfield has served his community, his state and his country with de votion and distinction even while bearing this ' sorrow. His life has been devoted to public service. His deep re ligious faith and Christian leadership has been an inspir ation to thousands and partic ularly to Oregon's young peo ple. Those who have not had a tragic occurrence in their lives and to 'whom fate has never been unkind may not understand his feeling about what happened to Mark Hat field as a boy. But tens of thousands of Oregon people will understand and will look only to what Mark Hatfield has done and can do for the people of this state. Lamar Tooze, Chairman, Hatfield for Governor Committee, Portland, Ore. From Porter To the Editor: A correspond ent of yours earlier this week claimed in your letters column that I supported high price supports for so-called basic crops and that I "deliberately" attempted to misrepresent my record in this respect. Yes, I know there is a cam paign on. However, let me repeat the facts I have been repeating for many weeks all over the fourth district in answer to the same charges made by my opponent. First, I do not support such legislation. I never have ex cept for a short period as a recession measure. I oppose it. Second, I cannot correct every misquotation that ap pears in newspapers. Third, if, as my opponent has pub licly stated, I am a "past master of distortion and de ception" why would I misrep resent my position on a mat ter so easily checked as a vote -or as here, lack of vote, on a particular bill? Perhaps it is too late in this campaign to meet all the charges with facts. I only take time to write this letter in case some supporters of mine or fair-minded undecided vot ers were in doubt as to the facts. Charles O. Porter, Member of Congress. On "Honor Roll" To the Editor: I have before me a pamphlet put out by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education which "grades" congressmen and senators on their voting rec ords. Congressman Porter of Ore gon made the honor roll! According to COPE, he vot ed right every time! When you look at the heavy contributions made to his campaign by Organized Labor outside of Oregon, both in 1956 and again this time, one begins to wonder if he is free to serve the best inter ests of our people in this area. He cannot be all things to all people and I am not convinced that what is good for Eastern labor bosses is good for us. Leila A. Morrow, 531 North Bartlett st. Medford. The Kind We Need To the Editor: I hope from the bottom of my heart that Representative Charles Port er is re-elecled. But win, lose or draw, Mr. Porter has the elements of greatness and statesmanship in taking a stand for what he believes is right and letting the chips fall where they may. A man who will sacrifice personal gain and political advantage for his principles, whether you agree with him on every point or not, is the kind of person whom we need to represent us, especially in these critical times. Edith Y. Ingle 338 Bessie st. Medford From Geddes' Manager To the Editor: I consider the news story published in the Mail Tribune Thursday, in which Mr. Porter claims credit for 21 pieces of legislation, gross misrepresentation. At most, only two of these laws came from bills bearing his name. In othtr cases he is tak ing credit for bills intro duced and guided through congress by others. His claim of having sponsored or co sponsored these bills is not factual. He admitted to me on a television show in Eugene on Oct. 25 that a member of the house can neither sponsor nor co-sponsor a bill. A U.S. representative either intro duces a bill or he does not. We asked in a recent release that Mr. Porter name the bills he introduced and the laws they became. You misquoted us in your first paragraph by saying we demanded to know which bills he had "spon sored or signed" in congress. By misuse of our release and implying that Porter had answered our question when he dodged the issue again, I consider you guilty of, at best, unethical journalism. If you will also read the front page of your own pa'per for Oct. 28, you will find that the Mail Tribune quotes Mr. Porter, in a speech at Phoenix, as admit ting that only two bills which he introduced were enacted into law. Curtis Beecher, Campaign Manager Geddes for Congress Committee, Roseburg, Ore. Editor's note: General Beecher is quibbling. The words "introduce, sponsor, sign, co-sponsor" may be tech nically different when applied to legislation, but they are VOTE (X) Robert DUNCAN (X) Marijane DUNCAN DEMOCRATS for & t . ir RE-ELECT BOB Your Present State Representative STATE REPRESENTATIVES Independent thinking and Cooperative Action Means Good Government! "GOOD GOVERNMENT IS YOUR BUSINESS" Pd. Adv. Duncans for Legislature Committee. Mark Norton, Chairman, Phoenix, Oregon similar in common usage, and General Beecher knows it. The undeniable fact remains that more than 20 public laws are now on the books includ ing legislation "introduced, signed, sponsored, co -sponsored'' or initiated by Con gressman Porter, who tells us he believes that it is the legis lation itself that is most im portant, less so whose name appears on the bill. The total record of effective legislation would be higher if the bills he actively supported were in cluded in the total. Wendt Criticized To the Editor: Our Mr. Stathos made quite an issue out of a few pennies Mr. Port er spent mailing out some pamphlets. But let's take a look at how our tax dollars are being spent. I will enum erate a few of the projects and pieces of equipment where our tax dollars have been badly spent. 1. How come the county took over the road now known as Coorey Road when it was only outlined and spent so much of the county monies when it is little used? We know the main one to bene fit was Mr. Hoover as it makes it more attractive to sell off lots on both sides. We need roads, but couldn't this money have been used a lot better on, logging roads where it is as much as your life is worth to travel when the trucks are running? It seems that Mr. Hoover is working for you, but he is 'not en titled to this kind of consid eration. 2. How come, Mr, Wendt, that the bridge over Bear Creek at the Kirkland farm is so low that it will only carry about one third of the water and will allow water at flood stage to flow on. the ranches and nothing is done about it. This also applies to the bridge over Bear Creek at Valley View near Ash land, where piling is in the middle of the creek bed. Per haps you don't know that we sometimes have high water. These are not the only places where new roads have been put in and no provision been made for the water to get away. 3. And how come, Mr. Wendt, that so much heavy equipment is bought when it is so little used? Take the carryall sitting around there that has been used once or twice and the big shovel in a gravel pile. These two pieces cost at least $50,000 and de preciate rapidly. A little load er would do the job better. 4 And why aren't the scrap iron, the junk batteries, and some other pieces of equip ment put up for bids before being disposed of? . The budget for roads and maintenance this year was over one and a half million dollars and this is a sample of how the money is being spent. And don't let's over look the fact that Mr. Wendt signed the voucher for a thousand dollars to save Mr. Keating's neck. We got rid of Keating, now let's get rid of Wendt. It doesn't make any difference how you look at it, our tax dollars are being bad ly spent. Burt Smith P. O. Box 523 Central Point Defends Wendt To the Editor: I would like to say a few words in defense of Chester Wendt, our county commissioner. It seems he is being criticized for not doing his own thinking and for being a yes-yes man to Mr. Keating. No one knowing Mr. Wendt would make this accu sation, and I am firmly con vinced, after ten years of close acquaintanceshop with Mr. Wendt, that he is a man of conviction, decision and very capable of doing his own thinking - and that his think ing as a commissioner con cerns the greatest good that can be accomplished for the greatest number of people in Jackson county. My business takes me over every road in the county as I own and operate two tow trucks, and I wish to state my own appreciation for the many road and bridge im provements of the past few years. The many areas of con struction have eliminated a number of danger traps and ELECT MARIJANE Worked with Bob in both '57 Sessions X the many widened and Im proved roads are an advance ment keeping pace with the ever increasing heavy traffic of our day. Our commission ers are doing a good job let's keep Chet Wendt in office. Jack R. Sides 926 Murray ave. Medford More on CP. Politics To the Editor: "Politics makes strange bedfellows," but not so strange in the case of Central Point politics when we find whose bed is being feathered. Friday a "communication" endorsed certain candidates for offices in Central Point over the signature of a man who two years ago wrote let ters to the editor, letters nice ly couched in polite phrases, which started a scandal which then defeated the city record er and put this man's candi date into office. The reason behind this was that the then recorder had re fused sewer and water lines to be run into the 40 acres of farm land for purposes of sub dividing and building homes, a subdivision which, if fully developed, could show a prof it of a million and a half and up to the owner. Efforts on the part of the subdivider vere made to annex to the city and were turned down, at that time the subdivider was cn the city council. We property owners in Cen tral Point now have our sewer and water systems mostly paid for, and could see no rea son for giving such service to a subdivision and then bond ing ourselves again to the tune of half a million dollars for the expansion of the two sys tems. On Aug. 18, 1958 the sub division south of Central Point was given approval by the Central Point planning commission without a by-your-leave or announcement of a public hearing. Freeman Ma son presided and Bill Colley was a member of this planning commission. Lyle Paull is and was city recorder. All this, it seems to me, speaks for itself. As a result many Central Point property owners are go ing to vote for sound, open city government, by casting our ballots, for Mayor, for Merv Gleason, Ward 1 coun cilman, Art Rupp; Ward 2, Dale Bartley; Ward 3, Cal Bowers, and. Mrs. Bette Park er for city recorder. K. C. (Swede) Wernmark, Box 421, Central Point. It Is There To the Editor: Facts we can not ignore are that on 3 mil lion square miles of this Earth exists Red China with its more than 400 million peo ple. Blustering and fuming under the might of Commu nits leadership, they have de veloped into one of the major troublespots of the world to day. Very unpleasant, but, like a cancer, it is there, something we must acknowl edge. Are we to recognize, ignore or destroy them seems to be our problem. We spend millions combat ing and investigating the sources of cancer, a disease we do not ignore, but recog nize. Heretofore we have not had the means of negotiating with Red China because we have not recognized her exist ing government. Our Con gressman, Charlie Porter, has stated that in order to meet and confer with the Red Chi nese Government we first must acknowledge it. Does this show a leaning for Com munism? Absolutely not! We - - M 4 SUB TO BT 15 Of Ml HKPUa 0KNIN6S! from 25' la 28 HIGH and 35' la 41' WIDE Fro 28' la 31 HIGH and 35'to41'WIOE From 28" lo 31 HIGH and 29 la 35 WIW Ftom IS la 28' HIGH and 2V to 35' WIO CMOS TOUt CUSTOM FIT FI0M MOV! SIZES SUPER lOXUROLIOmSS M0BH4 Jl Plenty of FREE Parking OPEN MONDAY NIGHT! SPECIALISTS IN 245 S. Central at 10th I cannot deal with a problem wnen we retuse to acknowl edge its existence. Our government has ac knowledged the existence of dictatorial governments by pouring money into those countries. We do not believe in dictators, yet we still give them financial aid. This Con gressman Porter has strenu ously objected to, even when personal threats were made against him. Does it make sense to ig nore the heaviest populated area on Earth on one hand be cause we do not want to ac knowledge this cancerous area, and yet, on the other hand, dole out millions xi dol lars to dictatorial govern ments? We do not directly pour money into Russia, however, they do benefit by financial and other aid furnished by us to dictatorial countries close ly associated with Commu nist Russsia. Yet we acknowl edge Russia's existence. Red China is not a satellite shot into outer space. It is here and now, on this Earth. We do not abolish it by ignor ing it. We can deal with Red China, just as now our sci entists are dealing with can cer by acknowledging first that it is here. Congressman Porter does not approve .of Communism because he believes we should deal with Red China, just as he does not approve of our financial support of dictator ships. Wilda M. Hegdahl 721 Faith ave., Ashland Home Rule Measure To the Editor: The county home rule amendment has been widely discussed and ap proved in Jackson county in the last two months. However, the writer of a recent com munication seems to misun derstand the measure. In or der to clarify a few points, may I set forth these facts: The county home rule am endment, if passed, will not in itself change any county government but will make it possible to change it if, ?Jter proper study, a change would seem to be an improvement. The necessary steps would be as follows: 1. The passage of the con stitutional amendment (County Home Rule). 2. Passage of enabling leg islation by the legislature. 3. Selection by local people of a new statutory form of government designed to fit lo cal needs. 4. Approval or rejection of the suggested change by ma jority vote of the people of the county. This measure merely auth orizes the legislature to de vise a system whereby coun ties may adopt a charter that will give them authority over matters of purely local con cern. The legislature could then set up a number of sta tutory, forms of county gov ernment which would be as varied as the counties are varied. This is not a new and un tried theory. California has the longest and most comprehen sive history of home rule for counties. Up to 1956, 10 Cali fornia counties had changed to county home rule. All of them have various , elected county officials, according to their needs. All of them elect the district attorney and the assessor. Only one, one of the three having "county manager" types, elects that few in addi tion to its board of supervis ors and its school administra tor. The rest have from two to eight more elected offic ials. I give these details to FinESCREEH FIREPLACE GRATES All Sizes ' To Fit Any Fireplace HOMEWARESI Phone SP 2-5201 i show there is nothing hostile either to political parties or to county officials in our neighboring home rule state. County home rule will not do away with service districts. It would make this difference: at present when a local ser vice district needs a change or enlargement of its powers it can only be by the authority of the state legislature; un der county home rule such a need could be fulfilled by local authority. The passing of this amend ment just means that we, the people, go along with the leg islature in thinking that county government could be more efficient and effective, and that we think it is right for a county to have author ity over local matters if the majority of the voters of that county think it will mean better local government. Mrs. Ben Day, County Home Rule Chairman, Medford League of Women Voters Hatfield Supporter To the Editor: I very .sin cerely believe that Oregon industry and business cannot survive another four years un der the unfriendly, restrictive atmosphere created by Gov ernor Holmes. Under his gov ernorship new industry will not come to Oregon and exist ing business and industry can not operate, cannot prosper and cannot expand. I would suggest that each voter make a thorough inves tigation of business conditions in the state and of the heavy burdens placed on industry during the past two years un der Governor Holmes. Everyone interested in in dustrial growth and expan sion in Oregon, economy in government, and in a gover nor free of entangling al liances should vote for Mark Hafield next Tuesday. Wallace G. Iverson 1316 Queen Anne ave. Medford Fears Sales Tax To the Editor. Eve Nye's answer to the sales tax ques tion leaves her in the position where most politicians are be fore election directly on the fence. Afraid to make a def inite statement as to where they stand on conroversial subjects. She seems to favor what she call 'tax equalization' plus helping to relieve the tax bur den on the low income groups, state supported old age pen sioners and those with fixed incomes. While helping these groups with one hand she would be taking away from the with the other via the sales tax gimmick. Most of those favoring a sales tax are people in the upper income groups and own ing considerable property. They are laboring under the delusion that if only they can foist the sales tax on the peo ple of Oregon the revenue received would lower or elim- Your new car can cost up to $500 less ...the Insured Savings and Loan way You can buy your next car for as much as $500 less if you buy it outright with savings instead of buying it on the installment plan. You save two ways because your savings earn extra money, and because you eliminate the financ ing cost Save at our Insured Savings and Loan Association, and here are four reasons why: (1) Your money earns excellent returnsi (2) You get back what you have saved-plus earnings. (3) There are no charges for putting your money in or taking it out. 4) Your savings are insured up to $10,000 by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. 29 North MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Oregon, Sunday, November 2. 1958 S inate their property taxes. It sounds good but it does not work that way. Talk with people from a sales tax state. Many veiled promises are made to them by the greedy politicians hoping for the ad ded revenue. Once the tax is on the books the promises gradually fall by the wayside and the only thing the people have is still another stiff tax to pay plus the ever-present possibility of the sales tax be ing raised again and again without your' vote, even by county and city governments when once legalized in a state. Note the state of Cali fornia. You are flirting with sales tax pressure by voting for Nye or Durno. M. J. Olsen Route 4, Box 325 Medford Opposes No. 10 To the Editor: The electric power provisions of the Ore gon Constitution are the finest in the nation. The purpose of ballot meas ure No. 10 is to cut the heart out of this basic reservation of authority for Oregon's peo ple to take any direct steps sn electric power supply or rates. Since many of Oregon's 29 public and cooperative elec tric power systems are on record in opposition to ballot measure No. 10, 1 do not hesi tate to urge your readers to vote against this poor pro posal. This bill, then known as S.J.R. 40, supped through the Legislature at the last minute. There was not even a printed copy available. Some Legislators voted for it when assured falsely that public power leaders favored it. Our people not only op posed it but didn't see the worst amendments until after passage. j The ballot title. is mislead ing. The measure practically ties the hands of the Legisla ture. No investment house would buy the electric reve nue bonds under the drastic restrictions of ballot measure No. 10, unless they were guar anteed by means of tax subsi dies. The many labor, farm and citizen organizations which comprise the Oregon Electric Consumers Council are on record urging a vote against No. 10. Gus Norwood Executive Secretary Northwest Public Power Association - 212 West 13th St. Vancouver, Wash. Support Reasons Told To the Editor: Shortly, be fore election day in 1956, I wrote abetter to you regard ing my " personal convictions about Robert Duncan. I said I was going to vote for Bob Duncan because: - 1. Of his high personal in tegrity; 2. From close personal rind I ftUEKML ggfe Savings & Loan Assn. of Medford ;il? Ivy Street Robert F. Kyle, Convenient Street Parking friendship and association I knew he represented no spe cial interest group or groups; 3. Mr. Duncan would be in dependent in thinking and ac tion and that he would vote on all issues honestly and in telligently. . .keeping in mind what would be best for the state, local constituents and the nation; 4. I was aware of his su cere interest in good govern ment and the continuing suc cess of the State of Oregon and its people; 5. In my opinion Mr. Dun can was the best candidate running for the office of state representative. As a registered Republican, I wish to strongly reaffirm my convictions of 1956.- From Bob's record in office he has earned your vote again in 1958. On more than one occa sion he voted for the best in terests of the state even though he was in opposition to his own party, and that it . was entirely possible the vote he cast would be politically unwise, personally; at elec tion time. i Again I unequivocally re affirm my support of Mr. Rob ert B. Duncan for State Rep resentative. Dan Hull, 7 Eastwood Dr., Medford. Pope John To Explore Vatican; Travel Considered Vatican City - (DPD - Vatican sources said Friday that Pope jonn AAlli plans to explore every corner of the Vatican and later may travel abroad. The sources said the Pope, who never has lived in the Vatican,, also wants to meet - every one of the 1,000 per sons in . the Holy City and eventually to get to know all about them. He told a former aide that he hoped to travel to France next February to attend the closing of the Lourdes cen tenary. He said he would like to stop off in Venice en route to re-visit his former parish ioners. To Depend on Situation However, Vatican sources cautioned that much would depend upon the situation of the church at the time of the projected trip. . The visit of a reigning pope to any place an appreciable distance front the Vatican would be an epoch-making event. A papal visit to France would have added signifi cance in the annals of the church. The last pope to, travel out side Italy was Pius VH, who went to Paris in 1804, osten sibly voluntarily, to crown Napoleon emporor. Investments mad by the 10th of the month earn dividends as of the first Manager
