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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1960)
Matter of Fact By Joseph Aliep ILAB FORK Slab Fork, W. Va.-This place hlti the unprepared out lider between the eyes, like blow. You wind down a deep . pocked I road into a cramped, p i t like hollow in the hills. Ami there is Slab Fork-the hun- 1 dred or so de- crepit- looking houses; the , tipples of the! Joseph also? two mines; the bare minimum of shabby schools and board - built churches; and the company store and office, all bleak, graceless and scurfy with coal dust. Look beneath this surface, however, and you discover why the minister of the white Protestant church, the Rev. Mr. Charles Eastwood, calls Slab Fork "just a wonderful community - for a mining camp." The point it that the small, independent, long-established Slab Fork Mining Company has quality coal, first-class local management that stays on the job, and a remarkable employment rec ord. Lately, mechanization has reduced the payroll by about a fifth. Yet the remaining 400 employees of the Slab Fork Mines are decidedly better off than the people of almost any other mining camp in this part of West Virginia. They have steady work. Their houses, such as they are, rent for ten dollars a month. Their Wbges average $100 a week. And on this, as will be seen, careful man in Slab Fork can even give his children a college education. THE comparative advantages of life in Slab Fork need to be noted, because they per haps gave Sen. John F. Ken nedy a special, local advan tage over "the poor man's candidate," Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota. The other points to note about Slab Fork are rather simple. If this place were not stern ly, even grimly Protestant, the scrubby hillsides would probably have at least one or nament, in the form of a shrine to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is a saint here. Since his day, every white voter has been a Roosevelt Democrat. The few Negroes, in contrast, are mainly Re publican, perhaps because the ruling majority votes the other way. The white miners also form as purely Anglo-Saxon a com munity as you will find in the whole United States. "The names,", said a bewildered member of the Kennedy staff, "sound like nothing but the membership list of the Somer set club" -which is Boston's citadel of rich Anglo-Saxon privilege. And although the Slab Forkers are not priv ileged by any reasonable stan dard, they are proud, hard working, friendly, and gener ally intelligent people. THIS reporter spent i long and deeply interesting day In Slab Fork with Lou Har ris, the professional poller who tests opinion for Senator Kennedy. We polled an enor mous sample for such a small place, over 80 people in all. The result showed 30 votes for Kennedy, 27 votes for Humphrey, 10 undecided, and the rest either not registered, or not Interested enough to vote, or unable to vote in the Democratic primary because they were Republicans. Slab Fork is in southern West Virginia, which is sup. posed' to be Humphrey terri tory. Hence this result, show ing a Kennedy lead, looks very good indeed for Kennedy, at iri Jr'T GUARDYOUR id FAMILY! FIGHT 4 - CANCER WITH A :f M 4 CHECKUPANDA 1 1 I '- rVsL ' CANCERflj least on the surface. But as with the town, so with the pol'- one must look beneath the surface. We got our first glimpse at the very first house we went to. This was the hillside-perched home, shabby without and cozy and neat within, of Slab Fork's secretary . treasurer of the United Mine Workers, Ernest Martin. A disabled miner, Mac Norris, was also there to talk about his pension. Ernest Martin and his wife, both church-going Presbyter ians, were enthusiastic for Kennedy. They discussed the issues in striking detail. They compared the candidates ju diciously. They declared their choice with warmth. They were supporters to be proud of. But Mac Norris and his wife, when intercepted on the porch, proved to be people of another stripe. They too had seen Kennedy in action on TV, and they "liked his talk." "But we ain't never had no Catholic," said Mrs. Norris angrily. "And that's one thing we're against and we'll always be against. NEXT door, was the neat, sham-eved Mrs. Aubrev Nicely, wife of an electrician who had worked 30 years in the mine. She and her hus band had sent four boys through the state university "It's hard on the old man, but our youngest boy is in gradu ate school now, and we both think it was worth it." Mrs. Nicely said proudly. She too was enthusiastic for Kennedy. In contrast, the coal-grimed. slatternly, barefoot wife of another mine-electrician in a house further down the hill side, was very strong for Humphrey, and for the same religious reason as Mrs. Nor ris. The pattern these contrast ing pairs of voters suggest was by no means universal. Not all Kennedy's support was creditable. At the mine, for instance, H. J. Sturgill ex plained that "being a Baptist," he would "normally be for Humphrey"; but "the guy wants a colored man in the Cabinet." Therefore he chose Kennedy. Two Kennedy vot ers were Slab Fork's only Catholics, moved by religious prejudice like so many of the Protestants. And Kennedy lost votes, too, because "he's a rich man, and Humphrey was born a working man like us." Yet it is still fair to say that the majority of Ken nedy's Slab Fork support was composed of the serious citi zens, who had studied their choice and chosen without prejudice. By the same token, it is fair to say that a majori ty of Humphrey's support were people who were influ enced by religious prejudice.. By actual count, 13 of the 27 Humphrey voters frankly ad mitted as such. 17IOR these reasons, his crit- ical West Virginia Demo cratic primary looks like be ing an ugly business, in which Hubert Humphrey can only win-if he does win-for ugly reasons. In Slab Fork, alas, one heard enough un-American prejudice to be downright glad when William Sturgill announced a Kennedy vote with the defiant statement: "I'm a Baptist, but I don't thing religion should have anything to do with it. By God, this is a free country, isn't it?" The young shop fireman was coal - blackened from head to toe. He gave his ver dict when the shift changed, standing by the cage, where the entrance of the mine yawned darkly, like the portal of hell. But a vote has not been better justified in the well-dusted confines of the Somerset club itself. BAKERY PRODUCTS Gates Hints Ike May Further Revamp Defense Program Philadelphia - IUPD - De fense Secretary Thomas S. Gates Jr. has hinted that President Eisenhower may further revamp the nation's defense program to bolster U. S. military might, Gates said the United j States already is the strong est, military power In the world. But he said rapid changes in modern technol ogy require shifts in weapons planning if the nation is to maintain its position. He cited Eisenhower s ac tion In altering the military budget to put more emphasis on missiles, military satellites and missiles submarines. There could be other" such changes. Gates said with out elaborating. Runia Said Lagging Although he recognizes Rus sian power as formidable, the defense secretary repeated his oft-stated contention that the Soviets have not caught up with the United States in mil itary power. He said any such impression was "simply not supported by the facts." Gates also said the Geneva Disarmament Conference has given no reason yet for ex pecting agreements that will ease America's arms burden. "At this time, we cannot as sume the negotiations will re sult in any substantial agree ments that will ease our de- In the Days News By FRANK JENKINS In Geneva, the United States offers to negotiate an immediate agreement to BAN PRODUCTION OF FISSION ABLE MATERIALS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. U.S. Ambassador Frederick M. Eaton told the ten-nation disarmament conference the U.S. is willing to throw open its nuclear plants to interna tional inspection and control if the Soviet Union does like wise. -An international c o n t r ol would supervise the conver sion of military fissionable materials - including nuclear bomb warheads-to EXCLU SIVELY PEACEFUL PUR POSES, Ambassador Easton said. IVHAT happened then? Well, what happened was by no meant unexpect ed. Soviet Delegate Valerian N Zorin promptly arose in his place and REJECTED THE PROPOSAL, saying it con tained "more control than dis armament." DOES that end it all? Of course not. What is going on at Geneva is a propaganda battle. The United States is seeking to prove that Soviet Russia is the aggressor in a new colos sal scheme to conquer the world. Russia is seeking to prove that the United States is the aggressor. Geneva is simply the for um for the debate. riiHIS is the big issue: A Will nuclear weapons be used ii a future ALL-OUT war that could destroy the world? T THINK its too early to A attempt an answer to that question. We must remember t n a t poison gas was used as a weapon in World War l. it wasn't too effective then. But the glimpse of poison gas we got during World War I was enough to put in our mmas the thought that it MIGHT become effective enough to destroy the world. Since then, scientific re search has confirmed that thought. Already poison gases potent enough to destroy lite on earth have been develop ed. But- As yet, no nation has been willing to accept the appall ing responsibility of using them in all-out war. That leads to the thought that per haps no nation will be will ing to accept the responsibil ity of using nuclear weapons in ALL-OUT war. IiHE last best hope of earth that all-out war with all out modern weapons will be come so terrifying that man kind will have the plain com mon tense to forswear it. Let's continue to cherish that hope. 1 While They Last! I PLANTERS (or your Yard or Patio FIRMAMENT PLANTERS. Your Choice. ONLY $1.11 It. Sittt: I"i17" .f 12". 12" II" hih) 1 BUILDERS SUPPLY CO. I 727 West McAndrtwt Rd. SP 3-4575 fense requirements," he said. "The objective of the Soviet Union for world leadership and world domination re mains unchanged. Moreover, the Soviet Union has increas ed its military capabilities, et- pecially its modern weapons systems." Replying to critics who have expressed fears over Russia's lead in long-range missiles. Gates said that "matching missile for missile is not the answer" to the Rus sian challenge. Variety Needed He said America needs a variety of forces, dispersed in under-ground and mobile sites, along with fast warning. to enhance Us war-deterring ability. He said there were both strengths and weaknesses in each type of strategic weapon. America's B-52 bombers, for example, can deliver the de structive power of several bal listic missiles and with great er accuracy, he pointed out, but on the other hand are more vulnerable to enemy defenses. Bombers can be re called in event of false warn ing of attack, but are not as susceptible to protection in hardened underground sites as missiles. Gates asserted that there is "no gap in our deterent." He also replied to critics who contend this nation's limited war forces have been short-changed in administra tion budgets. There is "no clear line of demarcation" between big and little war forces, he said. He said the strategic air command's big bombers could be used in lim ited wars if needed. In any event, Gates said, "the so-called limited war forces of the United States" are adequate in conjunction with those of allies to deter or rapidly defeat limited ag gressions. Pays Tribute Gates paid tribute to Amer ican forces in Europe which he recently Inspected. De scribing armored units patrol- mg the Iron Curtain, he said it was a "startling experience to realize these few men might be the first Americans to react in retaliation should general war occur." He said that so-called Iron Curtain is marked on the Communist side by barbed wire, electrified fences and plowed fields 50 feet wide. "You can not help but won der whether the world can continue forever to live In this manner," he said. Gates also said that the U.S. forces he saw in West Berlin had plans for defend ing the city that were "as thorough and detailed as any I have seen." Parrish Submits Apparent Low Bid Stanley G. Parrish, contrac tor, submitted an apparent low bid of $2,241 Thursday for renovation of the Medford city jail. The city plans to turn a por tion of the existing jail facili ty into office space for the po lice department by building a wall across the east section of the jail and turning the en closed portion into three of fices. The plan was decided on after a report recently submit ted by Lt. William Bcall of the Berkeley, Calif., police de partment, pointed out that ex pansion of present office space here is a necessity. Lieuten ant Brail, an authority in po lice organization, made a study of the Medford depart ment at the request of the city. City Manager Robert Duff pointed out that reducing the size of the jail for office space was one possibility recom mended by Lt. Bcall. Work on the offices will start as soon as possible after the city council awards the contract, Duff said. The coun cil probably will consider the matter at its meeting April 21. he said. Other bids submitted were from D. M. Blickenstaff for $2,309, and from Jacobs Con struction company for $2,911. The cost of the project had been estimated by the city at $2,500. Money for construction will come out of the police depart ment's 1959-1960 budget, ac cording to Chief of Police Charles P. Champlin. United States To Help Save Relics Along Nile River Washington - HTD - T h e Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voted to let the United States spend for eign aid funds to help save tombs and temples dating from the dawn of history. The committee has tenta tively agreed to let the United States participate in a GETS IKE REQUESTS Tokyo -fl.TIi-.The Japanese Foreign Ministry reported Thursday it lias received a flood of requests for permis sion to invite President Eisen hower to various functions during his June visit here. Ladies Car Women's Fashion- C) $T Coals and Toppers Tailored Suits .J iy Values to 19.98 Valucs to 24 98 V , UH y - CHARGE IT! to M A 2gSMfeS '' ''""! ! You'll be amaied when -W- WV. Ma " f it '' you iee ,hese .uali,y yffiifeyy j ( '; L J okf" f fabrics at such value See these fashionable suits today, perfect for after- V f TiPTT: j'1 '.'"Sea ! W V I'' " ' prices. Try them in as- noon or evening wear. In several styles and colors. A SFysaF t Yp''' it ' " 5 sorted pastel shades. Try them now for immediate fashion flattery. Shop rfiL vM'jSW I J' - 7 Yv' . -V 'I Think how they'll set off early. 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The committee approved an amendment to the foreign aid bill which would permit the U.S. government to contribute up to one-third of the cost of OPEN After the big international program. It has been estimated that the proposed explorations and excavations might cost up to 90 million dollars. Other na tion are being asked to help also. DETERMINED SWIMMER Milwaukee, Wis. -l-Neil Hansen, 31, bet his girl friend Thursday he could swim a half mile through Lake Mich igan's icy waters and tried it. . . twice. The first time, two fishermen fished him out. The second time, police re trieved Hansen and charged him with disorderly conduct. MONDAY & FRIDAY TIL 9 P.M. - IEaster Clearance SENATE FEAftS SNEAKS jacKson, miss. - WD - The Mississippi senate Thursday r.jictcd a proposal that sher 1s be allowed to make se cret payments to persons in forming them of violations of that state's prohibition law. "Some sneak might turn us all in for Tiavlng a pint of whiskey in the house," Sen. P. M. Waikins argued. "We OUR "GOOF" It Your Gravy! BE A K-BOY Blooper-Snooper A5 would end up hating maybe 75 or 80 people and not know who it was." See Courtesy Chevrolet's IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Back Page, See. 2 and Classified Page Today'i Mail Tribune MAIL TRIBUNI, M.df.ra, Or. Sunday, Apiil 17, 1960
