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MAIL TRIBUNE, Msdferd, Or.
A Sunday, Mty 1, 1960
MedfordoTribukb
"Everyone In SouUiem Oregon
Published Dully except Saturday by
MEDFORO PRINTING CO
S3 North Fir St.. Ph SPi-141
ROBFRT W RUM., Editor
HEr.2 r.nr.t Advertising Manager
GERALD T LATHAM. Euj M?r
ERIC W ALLEN JR . Mm Editor
EARL H ADAMS. City Editor
HARRY CHIPMAN. Tele Editor
RICHARD JEWETT. Sporta Editor
OLIVE STARCHER. Women's Editor
DALE ERICKSON. Circulation Mgr
An Independent Newspaper
. EnlrM as second class matter at
Medford. Oregon, under Act of
March 3. 1B7
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Flight or Time
Medford end Jackson County
History from the filet of The
Mill Tribune 10, 20, 30, 40
and 50 yean ago.
: 10 YEARS AGO
Ma? 1, 1350 (Monday)
A United Air lines Douglas
DC-4 landed at the Medford
. airport yesterday, making It
the largest airplane to ever
land here on a regularly
: scheduled flight.
A large warehouse, housing
the Mt. Pitt company, burned
to the ground in the White
: City industrial area last night.
i 20 YEARS ABO
May 1, 1940 (Wednesday)
B. F. Irvine, 77, noted blind
' editor of the Oregon Journal,
nA in Prtrtlnnd Yesterday.
'Irvine gpent much of his
. unth in .Tnrkson county.
Arthur Perry's "Ye
, Smudge Pot" column: "Fisher
. n nro hreatenlnK the an.
nual strike on the Lower Co
lumbia, as usuel. For lnevit
' ability, this strike ranks along
with Death ana raxes.
30 YEARS AGO
May 1, 1930 (Thursday)
' Local chamber of commerce
' efforts to make sure all Med-
j l .n0JAnt nrs rrmnted in
xuru ica,ui-M -
census produces 80 additional
, names so far.
cid vii drivers will be
wearing new uniforms shortly.
' 40 YEARS AGO
May 1, 1920 (Saturday)
. Because of high price of su
r lnonl iialina establish
merits have stopped serving
sugar in sugar bowls ana are
using Individual paper con
tulnnra Instead.
This Is national bicycle
week; there are less than a
dozen In use in this city and
county.
SO YEARS AGO
May 1. 1910 (Sunday)
Pacific and Eastern railroad
will build a new depot two
miles from Eagle Point and
offers to help whole town
move with it.
From Central Point News
letterMrs. IttSwrt Kyle and
Mrs. J. V. Anderson went to
Medford Friday on a shopping
expedition.
What's Your I.Q.7
Nine or fen correct it tuparlor;
, teven er eight It eicellent) tlve w
' ill It good.
1. How many teaspoons In
,one tablespoon?
' 2. Name the curved wood
en missile which if properly
thrown returns to the throw
er. 3. When a cat chews food,
does Its lower jaw move up
and dyn. or sideways, or
both?
4. Name the days of the
week In alphabetical order.
8. What Is the best hard
wood and shade tree in the
U.S.?
6. What Is the name for the
science of earthquake phe
nomena? 7. Does the Federal govern
ment pay a premium on rare
oia ccuuar o
4
8. Are the Black Hills In
North Dakota?
8. Which United Suites pres
ident was a tailor by trade?
10. Did Spaniards or British
colonials first settle in Texas?
Answers) 1. Three. 2. Boom
erang, t. Up end down only.
4. Friday, Monday, Saturday,
Sunday, Thursday, Tuesday
and Wednesday. 5. Oak. t.
Seismology. 7. No. 8. No.
' South Dakota. 9. Ar.d:w
Johnson. 10, Spaniards.
?
Vote of Confidence
As mentioned here Friday, some pretty sleazy
tactics are beine: usd in'Sn attempt to defeat the
school district budget at
We attempted to pfMnt out what they were,
and why they do discredit to their unknown
authors.
Today, we'd like to
about the budget, this
rather than negatively.
And perhaps the best
to the people who are
budget, who have spent
it, and who, as a result,
ve refer to the members of the school board,
the citizens budget committee, and the advisory
members of the committee. All sections of the
district are represented.
"THIS is what they say in the booklet giving
budget information and which has been avail
able to anyone curious about the budget:
"The citizens of Medford have for many years ex
pressed approval of a better-than-average educational
program. A high precedent has been set in this regard.
Medford students have consistently rated among the
top graduates and performers In competition with
other schools of the state and nation. This high rat
ing has been in all areas including scholarship, music,
public speaking, vocations, and activities. This success
can in a major way be attributed to the exceptional
opportunities offered students by the people of Med
ford. "This budget as proposed is the result of extensive
study and evaluation byhe board of education, the
school budget committee, advisory board members, and
the administration. Appreciation is due the many citi
zens who have assisted in preparing this budget. With
out their interest and help, the job would have been
more difficult and less productive.
"Each proposed expenditure has been carefully ex
amined in the perspective of ltsarelationship to the
over-all educationul objectives of the district and in
terms of wise economy. Your board of education and
budget committee believe the citizens of our school
district want good schools and will provide the finan
cial support necessary for them.
"As In previous years and as found true in other
school districts, salaries for Instruction represent by
far, and quite properly, the largest item In the budget.
A general increase In teachers' and staff salaries, as
well as proposed additions to the staff because of in
creased number of students, has added considerably
. to this year's budget. State support has failed to keep
pace with rising costs which makes its necessary to
raise additional funds at the local level. School board
members, administrators and others Interested in the
welfare of boys and girls are attempting to have
slate support programs revised to reiieve property
and equalize the tax burden ...
"Schools are a big, important, and expensive busi
ness. Wo believe that the citizens of this district want
their children to have educational opportunities equal
to the better programs In the state. In order to maln
, tain this high level of educational, It Is most Important
that adequate funds be provided.
"Your thoughtful consideration and approval of
this proposed budget is sincerely recommended."
(signed)
Medford School Board, Budget and Advisory
Committee
William A. Barker, Edward Branchfield,
Otto Ewaldsen, Keith Hockarsmith, Frank
Bash,' P. G. Humphreys, Mrs. Tom Eaton,
Louis Straube, H. D. Chrlstensen, Robert
Minear, Russell Mclntyre, William Edwcrds.
. . . ? .
THAT puts it plainly enough.
If you want a continued high-class, well
rounded educational program, you vote for the
budget. If you don't, you vote against.
You can't have it both ways.
No organization the
school district, with 17 schools, some 8,000 plus
students next year, 361 teachers, a number of
otheemployees, a bus transportation system, and
an impact on the lives of everyone in the commit
nity, can escape criticism.
Mistakes undoubtedly have been made, and
will be made again. We personally have some
reservations about parts of the program of edu
cation in Medford.
DUT the point remains that the things that, to
us, are drawbacks, may be the parts of the pro
gram about which others are most enthusiastic.
One man s wasted time in the schools may be
the most important part of the program to some
body else.
The schools must serve the entire community,
not just part of it.
And the overall effect, the total results, the
"big picture," are what
whether the schoCj are
i J-ll ...1 i
mix aouars, ana translating mem into enecuve
education for our children and our future citizens.
By almost any criterion that can be named,
the Medtord school system compares wen witn
any, anywhere.
XJLTE HAVE no quarrel
T against the budget
honestly and sincerely
money is being spent lor the results achieved.
But we do have a quarrel with people who
will believe rumors, false innuendoes, twisted
facts, and out-of-context references, and use them
as a basis for a "no" vote.
And we have contempt for those who use
these methods actively to seek defeat of a sound
budget, solely because they don't like to pay
taxes.
Anyone who doesn't have the facts has only
himself to blame. And the facts add up to the
conclusion that Medford has a superior school
system, deserving of a strong vote of confidence
tomorrow. E.A.
.
tomorrow's election.-,..
have a few final words
time stated positively,
way to do this is to
most familiar with the
long hours poring over
have recommended it.
size of the Medford
count in determining
making good use of-ou;;
IV 1- -!
with anyone who votes
tomorrow because h
believes that too muc
Dennis the
l
' MY OAD ISNT HOME. WHO
IS7HA7YW,MQM?'
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 istters with a
view to clarification and condensation. Letters submitted
for publication must not exceec400 words. The letters
printed In this column do not necessarily represent the
views of the paper; in fact the contrary is often the case.
School Facts
To the Editor: Mrs. Vivian
Collins recently commented
on the Medford school budget
and raised a pertinent ques
tion relating to the six per
cent limitation.
She following facts are pre
sented:
1. Oregon law limits the
amount which a school dis
trict may increase its budget
for the next year to 8 per
cent of the district's highest
'base of the last three years
unless the legal voters ap
prove Bfsjhigher amount. Be
cause of rapid growth during
the war and post-war years,
the Medford district's tax base
is totally Inadequate to oper
ate the schools, and It has
been necessary to vote on the
budget each year for many
years. w
2. It is obvious that this tax
base is far short of the amount
needed to operate the schools
for 1960-61, even If there were
no increase for any part of
the program in the proposed
budget. In other words, if the
district operated on the same
budget amount we are using
this year, the voters would
still have to approve $1,699.-
051.07, less the allowable
per cent of $30,631.97.
3. The only way the proce
dure can be changed Is to
have the district vote a new
"base." This would not change
the amount of taxes to be paid.
4. The financial condition
of the Medford School District
is good. The estimated valua
tion for IOBOaBI is $45,000,
000. The DlsWict is bonded to
only 41.4 per cent of its limit
of $9,107,000. (This has no
connection with the operating
budget being voted on, but the
question of jeopardizing , the
Medford district s credit was
raised.) We point out that
Medford's proposed budget
would use only about 68 per
cent of the property tax dol
lar for schools; state-wide
this is 70 per cent. Further
more, the Medford district
mlllage rate is next to the
lowest in the county.
The budget committee, con
sisting of 13 lay members, 10
regularwd 3 advisory mem
bers, representing all areas of
the district, made a thorough
study of all facts and infor
mation obtainable on we
budget. It is their judgment
that it is realistic and is
needed If our schools are to
continue a quality program
for the children of this system.
P. G. Humphreys,
Chairman
Budget Committee
William A. Barker,
("Chairman, District 549C
School Board,
Medford
Reminiscences
To the Editor: I often won
der, and think of changes that
normal progoss has made in
the city of Medford, and sur
rounding area, during the past
69 years.
Indeed a long, long time to
be away from the community
.vhere I was born in the mid
80s.
In the year of 1891, then the
eldest of four children. I set
out with our parents, Thomas
J. and Harriet Allen, In a new
Studebaker covered wagon
and spike team headed for
Washington state.
Grandpa Allen's homestead,
located In the Derby area, is
one of tho outstanding recol
lections, The memory of the
old log house with large
fireplace, a spinning machine,
a yard filled with wild flow
ers, honey bees, and an occa
sional ratUesnake. This to
gether with the deer that
roamed with the cattle, all a
wonderful panorama picture
Menace
T5"
IS THIS? My DAOOys 60SS ?
of my boyhood days.
Our mother was the eldest
of the Martin Perry family
(and a sister of the late Wil
liam Perry) who were early
pioneers in the Big Butte area,
have all passed on except an
aunt, Mrs. Lottie McQuoid,
who resides in Walnut Creek,
Calif.
Both the Allen and Perry
families, typical early day
pioneers like many others,
were rugged individualists.
People those days, with a
light of destiny in their eyes,
possessed with faith and hon
esty, indeed played a big part
in the building of all the
western states. They set forth
some interesting examples
that this young generation
might well evaluate and ad
here to.
If our progress and re
sources could be managed on
the basis of facts gained from
sound long - range research,
much duplication and exces
sive high cost of government
would of course be substan
tially lower.
However, life holds much
for every individual, as each
day paints a new luster on
the sky. Each day sticks out
with something bold and ne
Most of man's efforts thus far
have met with victory-and
rewarding too.
Life has been good to me,
and have thoroughly enjoyed
chatting with you in the lew
moments I turned back "Old
Father Time."
Martin P. Allen,
RBB West Nickerson St.
Seattle 99, Wash.
Young Rowdies
To the Editor: There are
times when effects must be
dealt with. But the primary
purposes is to search out the
cause and at least try to cor
rect it.
What Is the cause of this
crowing juvenile delinquen
cy? It Is nigh 40 years ago
when lecturers were sent from
our high state educational
headquarters, at least with
their blessings, to reorient
the then burgeoning parent
teacher line of thinking.
There was to be no more dis
ciplining of young trouble
makers. If left alone and
their willful wills left unop
posed, they would, the lectur
ers opined, soon see the error
of their ways and all be good
little angels.
This rather startled many
parents who. had supposed,
and had been taught by many
a trip to the woodshed, that
respect for law and order and
rights of others was first in
teaching the future citizens
ttiaJvthcy must learn to obey
thftu in authority. Aiso. many
a good teacher had to quit
itifir school work as they
could not see how it could be
done without discipline.
The effects today of this
starry-eyed planning is, our
new juvenile detention houses
and prisons are rammed and
jammed with spoiled braU
craduated to high crime and
,,,prf..r Todav. peacefully in
clined people are loath to be
the only ones at camp and
picnic grounds. Like members
of our family at a coast picnic
place. When a bunch of rowdy
rammed their jalopy
into a roundish gua'd stone,
luckily, it "ilea t0 rou lmo
th family busy with their
picnic lunch. It was all the
parents could do to keep their
own teenagers silent. Seeing
theo rould not stir up fight.
h Blggllng and drunk ap
pearing rowdies backed out
nrt milled away to better
chances for trouble-making,
Then cropped up another
cause, featured and encour
aged by would-be funny car
toonists, the husband dog'
In the Day's News
By FRANK
At dawn the other morning,
a Korean family came to
gether, in a small apartment
in the premdanuainuanaion la
Seoul, the capital of the Re
public of Korea.
It was a formal occasion
and the members of the fam
ily had dressed for it care
fully, but simply. The hus
band and father wore a white
dress shirt and gray trousers.
The wife and mother was at
tired in a flowing traditional
Korean dress. The elder son,
a Korean officer, wore his
army uniform. The younger
Editorial
Comment
SAME OLD STORY
It's the same old story but
it bears repeating. In fact, as
long as state laws governing
school finances remain as they
are, it must be repeated each
year.
The majority of Oregon
school districts are holding
elections Monday, and most
of them are asking, as they
have had to ask year after
year, that their voters give
them authority to levy taxes
"outside the 6 per cent limi
tation." Just what are taxes "outside
the 6 per cent"? They are
property taxes that the dis
tricts cannot levy without spe
cific approval of the voters.
But, more Importantly, they
comprise the biggest share of
all local property taxes paid
to support the schools. With
out authority to exceed the 6
per cent limitation, few, if
any, Oregon schoj districts
could stay in business-Eugene
Register Guard.
house that puts many a father
out on the fringe of the fam
ily circle. Especially as chil
dren older grow and with
ideas of their own that Mom
all too often sides In with.
leaving Pop a lone minority,
fit only to be a provider for
family sustenance and shelter.
and a sort of mute totemlc fig
urehead at Sunday family
church services.
F. J. Clifford,
Route 2, Box 200F
. Central Point, Ore.
Basket Day
To the Editor: Let's take
time out from all the serious
discussion of the problems
around us to reflect upon the
thought that every evil has
its opposite good, that every
dark has its contrasting light;
and who knows this better
than the mother with a grow
ing family to prove it to her
in little ways every day?
As, for instance, on May
Day
O Joy of Joys
It's basket day,
A dreary first of Mayl
I've clothes to wash
And clothes to iron
And more to put away.
Basketful
and basketful
of weariness, I say!
O joy of joys
It's basket day,
A weary first of Mayl
A basketful of garbage
And another 'stuffed with
trash,
A basket heaped with emp
ty jars,
Another bulged with ash.
Basketful
and basketful
of stuff and junk, I say!
O joy of joys
It's basket day,
A Junky first of May!
What's this? A basketful of
flowers
For your mommy, did you
say?
One from Pete, one from
Dan,
A third from Mary Kay?
Another one from Tootle
And, Larry, one from you?
And still that isn't all of
them
For Barbara brings one,
Ot00?
There are basketsful
and basketsful
of love for me, I sayl
O Joy of joys
It's basket day,
A LOVELY first of May!
Marjorle M. Hochstatter,
924 Jasper St.,
Medford
P.Sn With my apologies to
REAL poets!!
Asks Responsibility
To the Editor: I wish
take issue with the title
your recent editorial "Attack
on the Schools." Perhaps it
could have been titled At
tack on the School Budget" or
even "Criticism of the School
Budget." It is important to
distinguish between "attacks
on schools" and questions and
criticisms regarding financial
expenditures. If citizens of a
community do not question or
criticize issues to be voted on,
then we are guilty of creating
an authoritative system to
which we must Quietly and,
JENKINS
son was attired in a gray
Jacket and brown trousers.
They seated themselves for
mally cn a small couch.
IT WAS a rendezvous.
It was a rendezvous with
death.
At the appointed hour, the
elder son arose and stood be
fore his father, his mother and
his brother. He stood at at
tention, eyes front and center.
Then ... his right hand
dropped to the butt of the pis
tol in the holster at his belt.
He drew the pistol. First he
shot his father. Then he shot
his mother. Then he shot his
brother. He was careful in his
aim, using only one bullet for
each.
Then he shot himself.
To make sure, so that he
might not be left alive, dis
honored and alone, he shot
himself first in the abdomen
and then squarely between
the eyes.
rpHE family?
It was the family of Lee
Ki Poong, who as vice-president-elect
assumed personal
responsibility for the situation
that led to the revolt that
overthrew the government of
Syngman Rhee.
WEIRD?
Beyond human under
standing? Remember that it happened
In ASIA.
FOR comment, we should
perhaps turn to Kipling's
lines in his Ballad of East and
West:
"Oh, East is East, and West
is West, and never the twain
shall meet,
"Till Earth and Sky stand
presently at God's great Judg
ment Seat."
THE moral for us?
I think it's this:
Let's treat Asia with kindli
ness and tolerance and friend
liness. But let's not try to
RUN ASIA'S AFFAIRS. As
Kipling suggested nearly
century ago, we don't know
and can't know enough abSit
Asia and Asians to make a
success of it.
meekly submit.
We must also keep in mind
that if the proposed budget is
defeated it will not be be
cause the people of Medford
are against the schools. It will
be because they disapprove of
certain items in the budget
perhaps the proposed admin
istrative salary schedules or
monies spent for things they
feel are unnecessary. They
will be expressing a desire for
a new budget to be prepared
that is more in keeping with
the wishes of the community.
Of course, this is time con
suming and will require addi
tional expenditures xo pre
pare, but sucn are me ways
of democracy.
Each individual must de
cide for himself whether to
vote for or against the pro
posed budget. I sincerely hope
each vote will be carefully
considered and will express
responsible attitude toward
our school system. However,
the voters of any school dis
trict should not feeLforced to
pass a budget outSaV fear of
the consequences it tney vote
it down. If this situation ex
ists, then our community is
not receiving the type of crea
tive leadership necessary to
provide the best education for
our children.
Hazel E, Kagy
Route 2, Box 443
Medford
Love Lacking?
To the Editor: What next?
Rebellion in Cuba, rebellion
in Argentina, riots in Korea,
riots in Turkey, the Air Force
bombs the Churches, The Na
tional Council calls the Air
Force manual a liar, etc., etc.
What next?
It reminds me of the little
boy sitting on the curb at the
street corner sobbing as only
a dirty faced little boy can
sob. A policeman stopped by
and said, "What s the matter
sonny, why all the tears?"
The boy said, Dad came
home drunk, Ma chased him
out of the house with a broom,
my sister ran away with my
bike, Old Spot chased Tabby
up a tree and I got nobody
to play with. Don t nobody
love nobody no more?"
And now, to cap the climax,
the M-T and KMED draw
swords and square off. My,
my, don't nobody love nobody
no more?
Wonderingly,
L. G. Weaver,
301 Haven St.,
' Medford
Editor's note: We love
everybody, but some less than
others.
Aeklln en Medicine
To the Editor: In der first
vorld var, everyvun had 80
bugs, und der Army Doctors
shot us at least vunce for
every bug.
Today, der Army Doctors
fire yust vun snot, und kill
der whole vorks.
Ve sure vasted der ammu
nition. Everett Aeklln,
Ashland, Ore.
IP0TLUCK
(By M-T Staff and Contributors)
We see by the United Press
International newswire that
"the Society of Presidential
Appraisers" is going to rwvet
in Salem soon. About l.DuO
members from three states are
expected.
For the information of UPI,
we'd like to report that the
Society of Presidential Ap
praisers is not limited to three
states. It has members in 50
states, it includes everyone
over 21 years of age, and it is
particularly active every
fourth year, particularly just
before November.
Now if the UPI means "Res
idential Appraisers," that's
something else. . .
e
"My boy friend 1 a ead,"
a pretty young thing was
overheard to admit. "But,"
she added after a thought
ful pause, "so is his con
vertible." "Would you like a real pot
for pWtluck?" we were asked
the other day.
We mumbled something
non-committal, not knowing
just what was meant.
We were informed that a
local business establishment
(name on file) uses a pot, the
kind our forefathers kept un
der the bed, in place of a con
ventional cash register. S
Our courthouse reporter,
a sharp-eyed type, the other
day spotted the automobile
of a local funeral director
parked in a courthouse
parking space which had a
sign saying it was reserved
for a county assessor's office
car. "Hmmm." our man
muttered, "death and taxes
have finally gotten to
gether." When all" else . fails, the
Hoover Hi-Lite comes through.
We record for our readers,
as well as those of the Hl-Llte
who may have missed it, the
observations of David Stock
ton, of 1C in Hoover school,
Washington Report
By WILLIAM
BY MARQUIS CHILDS
(Guest Columnist)
Washington - Hearings are
to be held shortly on a modest
proposal that might contribute
in this Presidential year to
two highly desirable ends.
One Is to foster serious de
bate between the Presidential
candidates on the grave issues
of the day and the other is
to reduce the high cost of
politics.
The proposal is to require
the television and radio net
works to give an hour and a
half or two hours a week of
prime time to a debate be
tween the candidates during
the last eight weeks of the
campaign. The free time
would be limited to the Presi
dential nominees of the major
parties. The bill specifies that
to be eligible the nominee
must be the choice of a party
that at the last election re
ceived more than 4 per cent
of the vote cast.
As initiated by Senator A.
S. (Mike) Monroney, taking
up an idea advanced by Adlai
Stevenson, this is a modest
proposal indeed. It has no
overtones of government own
ership or operation of the TV
and radio networks which no
one wants, since the dangers
of political domination and
government censorship are too
great. But it would require
that a small fraction of the
time given over to entertain
ment to the great profit of the
networks be devoted to a
public service.
IIIONRONEY'S original idea
was tor an nour ana
half a week to be carried on
all networks. The two candi
dates would each have half
an hour for an initial presen
tation on a given issue and
then an additional 15 minutes
for rebuttal. The current bill
which is sponsored by a dozen
senators, including one Repub
lican, calls for two hourf of
time each week. But in the
hearings before Senator John
O. Pastore's subcommittee of
the Interstate and Foreign
Commerce committee it is
likely to be modified.
In the 1956 campaign the
Republicans spent $4,036,935
on radio and TV and the Dem
ocrat!) $2,971,143. The total
of $7,008,078 comes largely
from favor-seekers who never
fail to try to get a return on
their investment after the
election is over.
This is one reason the
AmerijOn political system is
so costly. It's not the original
cost but the upkeep - the
constant pressure for govern
mental largesse in one form
or another, with the consumer
ultimately paying the bill for
the favors handed out as a
quid pro quo for campaign
contributions.
-
4 VIVID recollection of this
reporter's campaign
travel torn years ago was
concerning "Polliwogs," as
follows:
"I went down to the creek
and I saw some Polliwogs. I
had a jar and can and caught
them. I brought them to
school. Pretty soon they will
turn into frogs. Then I'll put
them in my garden so they
will eat the bugs."
.
From the Haven Herald:
"Long ago the pioneers
biased the trails. TodeyQ
their descendants are burn
ing up the roads."
Ross Youngblood tells the
story of the college class re
union of about 25 years after
graduation. As the evening
wore on, liquid in form, people
began to miss "Old Stupid,"
the class nitwit, who every
one had helped coach through
graduation.
Some time later a Cadillac
rolled up, a chauffeur jumped
out and opened the door, and
"Old Stupid" emerged, and
was warmly welcomed.
He was asked, in due
course, how he happened to
have a Cadillac. He replied:
"Well, I'm really worth a
lot of money now. You see, I
buy for $1 and sell for $2. And
you know, that l per airtit
really mounts up."
There are certain points
of similarity between our
farm editor and Bob Dun
can, speaker of the house of
representatives. Both have
short-cropped, slightly gray
inpjhair. Both favor tweedy
sorts of clothes. Both puff
on pipes occasionally. But,
since the FE is a staunch
Republican, and Duncan is
a Democrat, we still aren't
quite sure about the FE's
reaction when, during Sen
ator Kennedy's recent visit,
a woman came up to him,
gushed a bit about the Sen
ator, and assured the Farm
Editor, "And I'm going to
vote for you, loo, Mr. Dun
can." S. WHITE
talk with the governor of one
of the poorest states in the
Union. He was about to run
for re-election in the primary
for a two-year term. The of
fice at the time.paid a salary
of $7,500 a year.
How much would his cam
paign cost? About a half-mil
lion dollars, he allowed. And
who would pay the bill? The
highway contractors and the
liquor people. His opponent
would be financed by the big
utility company that domi
nated the state and he would
spend rather more than a
a half-million, the governor
gussed. So here was at least
$1,000,000 whichhe consum
ers of the Improverished state
would unknowingly be paying
out several times over as the
contributors pyramided the
cost of their investment in
passing it on to the public.
Th clean elections bill
adopted by the Senate early
in tlW session through the
efforts of Sen. Thomas C.
Hennings Jr. of Missouri is
still held up in the House.
There is strong opposition
from the Southerners because
it covers primaries as well as
other elections and it will al
most certainly be stopped.
With prime TV time costing
from $70000 to $90,000 a
half hour the proposal for a
national debate on the net
works would help to cut down
the high cost of politics.
A NUMBER OF measures
have been put in to give
free time to representatives
and senators in campaign
years. Obviously the airways
would be hopelessly cluttered
if this were carried very far.
But surely, as Monroney
avgues, the candidates of the
two major parties could de
bate on free time once a week
without endangering the free
enterprise system as prac
tised by private radio and
television. The airways are
held, after all, only by aQn
chise granted by the govern
ment of the United States. .
Frank Stanton of CBS has
declared his opposition to the
proposal. He argues that the
networks would provide
ample time for debate if the
law requiring equal time for
candidates was changed to
cover only Republican and
Democratic candidates. The
networks have been plagued
with the demands of splinter
parties.
Hill In tha i-nmlntf dortinn
when voters will be making sP
choice as grave as any in the
past hundred years the oppor
tunity for a national debate
should not depend on the
generosity of network execu
tives who are under conflict
ing pressures. This is one way
to answer those who say our
political life has been de
based by Madison Avenue.
(Copyright, 1960, by United
feature Syndicate. Ine.f
7 "I
C2o