4 A-
ttorORDv&TElBUNl
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1963
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD. OREGON
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Flight o' Time
Medford and Jackson County
History from me files of The
Mall Tribune 10. 20, 30. 40
end 50 vean ago.
Casting a Doubt
10 YEARS AGO
Nov. 11, 1953 (Wednesday)
"I will return to the U. S.
Senate in 1956 as an independ
ent," Wayne L. Morse declared
in a speech here last night.
Medford Kiwanis club pre
sented a group hcarine aid to
members of the Junior Service
league yesterday.
20 YEARS AGO
Nov, 11, I'M (Thursday)
Decorations committee for
Medford high school dance ui
i,w .lack Baker. Bill Plaskett,
nav Casebeer, Marvin Doty,
Mmn rmvnrnn. Dean Sheldon
iim i.ni. Dnrrel Riggs, Bob
Watson, Stove Dippel and Dale
Neidermoyer.
BVnm Arthur Perry Yo
The Medford Capital Improvements Commit
tee, at the behest of Mayor James Dunlevy, did
a fine job for several weeks in examining the
immediate and future needs of the city and as
signing priority to the various items.
But in the final few minutes of their last meet
ing, the members, in an ill-advised, one-sentence
statement, succeeded in casting serious doubt not
only over the efficacy of their own labors but
over the city administration as well.
Chairmaned by Councilman Richard Travis,
the committee spent several hours a week for
nearly three months examining the requirements
of the city's departments, and tediously devel
oped a two-phase program for the "imminently
needed" capital improvements.
But then, in a move fraught with civic
myopia, the committee tacked onto the priority
list a dictum urging that none of the improve
ments be undertaken until existing city expend
itures were reduced to "a point more in line with
comparable communities in Oregon."
,
Wiiti tnose tew words, tne committee re
vealprl at. Ipasf fmn thinira'
Their civic vision extends no farther than
the lining of their own pocketbooks, and
That they had, in effect, cast doubt on the
city administration without really taking the
trouble to inform themselves thorouuhlv on the
very subject they were issuing pronouncements
about.
Not all the committee members were a uartv
to tne statement, une member told us privately
tnat ne naci not even been consulted about it, and
another has said since that he wishes it were
possible to amend the sentence somewhat. Other
committee members were not present at the last
meeting, or round it necessary to leave before
the statement was sprung.
Nonetheless, the group's public recommenda
tion that "at this time ... the total cost of the
improvements cannot be added to the existing
tax load of the city" comes like a dash of cold
water on whatever spark of interest their other
work might have aroused among the voters in
making some badly needed and long overdue im
provements in the city.
"Come Back And See Us A Year From Now, And
We'll Explain Things In More Detail"
Foreign News: New Drive in Vietnamese
War Seen; Nuclear force Again veiayeu
. - nl ...... nf hnnnp at t
Notes from the foreign news
cables: ,
VIET NAM OFFENSIVE:
American intelligence sources
in Southeast Asia look for the
new military regime in South
Viet Nam to start a big new
drive against the Communist
Viet Cong guerrilas some time
this month. They say that Lt.
Gen. Duong Van Mihn, or "Big
Minh," the chairman of the rev
olutionary council, is a soldier's
soldier who likes to attack. The
sources say that following the
overnight coup, Vietnamese
troops showed more esprit de
corps than at any time since
the war with the Viet Cong
broke out. Men of the 7th divi
sion marched out of Saigon car
rying their rifles reversed, bar
rel end first, a traditional infan
try symbol that the battle was
fought and won.
COLD STORAGE:
It now appears that the Amer
ican - proposed multi - nation
nuclear force will be put into
virtual cold storage until next
year. Little concrete progress
I AST Thursday night, the council accepted and
4-1 filed a report from the city administration rel
ative to property tax rates, level of expenditures
and revenue for Medford, in conjunction with
several other cities in Oregon.
In main, the report was compiled by Assistant
oity Manager Uilbert J. uutjaltr, generally con-
nnAnA U U 1 1 .,,,-, (. U. L 11 .. I 1.1...
c oAi" column: "Morris V":" J" ijcauueo tu ue .uiuntni, 111 uie
Leonard hit two events with one Held ot governmental finance,
observance Thursday, it mark- In some general observations at the con
clusion of the nine-page report, Gutjahr said :
"The cost of operating city government in
Medford during 1963-64 is consistent with the
cost experience of three other cities (Corvallis,
Eugene and Salem) in the state.
"Per capita expenditures in Medford are
below the average of the three cities studied.
"Expenditures per acre of area within the
city are less in Medford than in each of the cities
compared, and less than half the amount in two.
"Operating costs per employee, in four ma
jor categories of expenditures, shows that Med
tord places second in public safety, and third in
general government, public works and park-li
brary costs."
ed the anniversary of the 'war
to end all war.' It was also the
25th anniversary of his not
wearing a hat."
30 YEAHS AGO
Nov. II, M23 (Saturday)
University of Oregon football
team, captained by Bernie
Hughes, Medford, defeates Ore
gon's States "Iron Men" by 13
to 3 score; Oregon unbeaten.
10 YEAHS AGO
Nov. 11, 1923 (Sunday)
Mrs. Sobra A. Coleman, moth
er of J. B. Coleman and a pio
resident of southern Ore
gon, dies at home of her
daughter in Talent.
Medford men's clothing store
offers suits for $18 and over
coats for $14.50.
SO YEARS AGO
Nov. 11. 1913 (Tuesday)
Medtord school children start
nroiect of planting 10,000 roses;
bushes contributed by Mrs. J.
F. Reddy, Mrs. M. L. Alford,
Mrs. J. A. Perry, J. A. Wester'
land and others.
What's Your I.Q.7
Nina el Ian correct Is superior!
seven er eight Is excellent) (Iva or
sli is good.
1. Without turning crabs can
walk In any direction on land;
true or false?
2. Frost Is frozen dew; true
or false?
3. Choose the word which is
most nearly opposite REFRAIN:
undertake, conceal, decide,
identify, address.
4. The disease, leukemia, is
marked by overabundance of
red, or white, blood cells?
i 5. Is cardigan a name ap
plied to a type of jacket, fool
scar or glove?
6. The early part of the day
from morning to noon is called
the f ?
1 7. Four-poster is a name for
what piece of household furnl
turc?
; 8. Is the present annual U. S.
deficit in balancc-of-paymcnls
on Uie foreign market about 3,
4 or 5 billion dollars?
0. Which of th following best
expresses a relationship sim
ilar to bicycle: locomotion?
canoe: paddle, hay: horse, spec
taclcs: vision, statement: con-tentlon.
10. Docs the word austerity
denote simplicity or ostcnta'
tlousness.
; Answers! 1. True. 2, Trufi. 3.
Undertake. 4. White. 5. Jacket.
. Forenoon. 7. Bed. 8. Five
hllllon. 8. Spectacles! vision. 10.
Simplicity.
rFHE Gutjahr Report demolishes the commit-
-tees "comparable communities idea by
pointing out correctly that because each city
has its own "individual identity," its tax revenues
and expenditures will, therefore, be tailored to
its individual needs, and won't exactly "fit" any
ouier ciiy.
borne myths about Medford s millage rate
:ire aiso snauereci Dy tne report:
"The amount of the mlllnge rate is in part beyond the
control of the City Council. Property values and the ratio of
real values to assessed values are determined by the state,
The City Council determines only the dollar amount of taxos
levied. While the millage rate (for Medlord) over the last
30 years has remained relatively constant, the burden on
property has been decreased by more than 60 per cent due
to adjustments in assesssed values."
Communications
t .it.r. in hA FMitor muni bear the nam and address of th writer, although under
curtain circiimiiannei lha use of a nen name or initial for publication is permissible.
The Mail Tribune reserves the right to edit all letters with a iew to clarification and
i-nnrUncatinn. Leltars submitted lor Dublication must not exceed 400 words. The letters
printed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of the paper) in fact the
contrary is oitan the case.
THERE are some in this community, doubtless,
U'lin nftnr nvumininn tins nrlm .tiict.nttA.' n
"..v- uvit v.iuuuiiiiij Ulllll tiuon atiun o It
port would still feel that costs of city government
in Medford are too hitrh.
Others might feel there were certain savings
uiat migiu ue eitectecl in a particular area of city
government, or greater efficiency achieved
through reorganization in other areas.
Fair enough. We will respect their points of
view so long as they are presented in a construct
ive, positive manner.
But the Capital Improvements Committee
with its uninformed "pockctbook" conclusion
demonstrated negativism at a time when strong,
affirmative leadership should have been shown.
The items on the group's priority list are not
frills or fancy. They are bedrock necessities
which must come if Medford is to grow and uros-
per wim tne rest oi tne state.
Tedious delays in such matters as land ac
quisition will inevitably end up costing the tax
payers more as property values increase. If this,
In fact, is what happens, much of the blame for
the added costs will have to be accented bv those
membei-s of the committee who supported that
statement. u.m.jb.
MID Questions
To the Editor: The reports
and editorial comments about
the Medford Irrigation District
lead to some questions.
Is the controversy you des
cribed due to a clash of per
sonalities, or selfish interest on
the part of a fruit grower? In
the articles written, evidence
shows the obstructionist on the
board is a fruit grower who has
prevented efficient operation
and continues the turmoil.
Here are other questions: How
did the fruit growers obtain par
tial records from the irrigation
office? Were they obtained by
permission or after hours by
some district employee?
Whv have the critics attempt
ed to discredit Mr. Hueners for
an authorized expenditure of
$110.40 for a Bureau of Recla
mation lour? Why do we have to
pay $418.75 for their flagrant
manner in trying to discredit
such expenditure?
Should not the business of the
district be functioning within
the control of the elected board
members? Interference is out of
order. Under such circum
stances, Mr. Hueners has been
well within his rights as chair
man of the board to protest
these ridiculous interrogations,
interruptions and audits t h e
board has been subjected to.
The audit was accepted by a
majority vote of the board and
that is enough for approval.
These gentlemen have been
elected to carry' out the dis
trict's business and such busi
ness must not be delegated to
outsiders. Chairman Albert
Hueners has been subjected to
unscrupulous attacks in defend
ing equal rignts lor an waicr
users. Support him now with
your vote. This is also a vote for
Mr. Hoffbuhr.
Are we to be lulled into no
action from the ridiculous
smudge screen and charges
made, while the critics continue
their plans to take over an irri
gation district worth m excess
of $15 million? The smudge pots
I've tolerated. This I cannot.
Congratulations, Pies i d e n t
Hoffbuhr, for your election as
the leader of the Oregon Recla
mation Congress. The Mate ol
Oregon Reclamation Officials
have given their unqualified ap
proval of your knowledge, in
tegrity and administrative abili
ty by electing you lo tins im
portant position. No longer can
your administrative ability be
questioned by sidewalk super
intendents.
Mr. Hueners and Mr. Cam
eron have had the foresight to
see beyond those "who operate
outside the field ot irrigation
to recognize your leadership and
abilities. They have placed
themselves in conflict with those
who are strong in personality
and acid in expression. Now
their good judgment has
proven.
Olive Fountain
B14 Cherry St.
Medford
thinirs. To the individual, it is
a promise of job skills and high'
er income a chance to exer
cise his best talents at the high
est level. To the employer, it
is a certificate of skill plus a
promise of capacity for growth
and advancement, lo me com'
munitv. a college degree is a
promise of responsible citizen-
shin. And to tne nation, n. is
a guarantee of skills needed to
achieve new levels ot national
prosperity and strength.
Oregonians, knowing of these
vilues, will not jeopardize them
by curtailing their support. Our
colleges and youth are caught
in the aftermath of the flood of
war babies, increasing costs, in
adequate facilities and meag
erly trained college personnel.
Sacrifices and adjustment must
be made by those who support
and who receive a college educ
ation in these times. The Ore
gon taxpayer met the elemen
tary and secondary school crises
occasioned by burgeoning en
rollments and now we, in high
er education, must marshal our
resources so that the basic
principles of democratization
and enualitarianism in our SO'
c i e t v may continue to be
acheived at the college level.
Higher tuitions are proposed
as a source of more funds to
operate Oregon's colleges. Do
we want an intelligent, moneyed
elite in our state? Most Ore
gonians do not. In the U. S.
Department of Health, Educa
tion and Welfare report on
"Basic Student Charges f o r
Higher Education, 1962-03" the
median charge ot public institu
tions in the U. S. A. to resident
undergraduates was $170. Ours
in Oregon was $315. Another
SIM addition is contemplated.
We are already the highest west
of the Mississippi. Lack of funds
is the chief reason why students
cannot go to college. Are we as
a people being fair to our youth
of college age;
It is hoped our legislators and
governmental officials will give
deep consideration to this dis
criminatory matter in this time
of ensis. Every Oregonian who
urrt.Tstands is willing to do his
shur
Elmo N. Stevenson
President
Southern Oregon
College
Ashland, Ore.
tMn
of the law restricting export of
storage grain, the President
made the deal. The Attorney
General, his brother and ap
pointee, justified the action by
saying it was a private deal be
tween Kennedy and Khrush
chev. Since when did Kennedy
own millions of bushels of wheat
in government storage?
Abraham Lincoln said if ever
a dictator came to power in the
U.S. it would be by legal means
of our own making. Whither are
we drifting?
L. G. Weaver
301 Haven St.
Medford.
Why the Secrecy?
To the Editor: Not lone aeo
the Governors' press a e e n t.
Travis Cross, made a public
speech which raised the ques
lion about whether he was con
fessing to a personal practice
when he talked about lulling the
press to sleep or whether he was
only making a scholarly obser
vation about what he considers
a primary tunction of a press
agent.
Certainly, Governor Hatfield,
with or witnout the help of Trav
is Cross, has "tranauilized"
Oregon journalists and lulled
them to sleep with respect to
the name of the employer for
whom Freeman Holmer was
working on his recent leave of
absence.
If any editor or reporter has
tried to insist that the Governor
reveal the name of Mr. Hoi
mer's business connection, I
have yet to see any mention of
it.
Freeman Holmer as Finance
Director is in effect a member
of the Governor's cabinet. If he
wants to resign permanently, he
can go under ground and try to
avoid the press to his heart s
content. But if he intends to
come back to work for the
State of Oregon, as he has done,
then the public has a right to
know,, and journalists have a
duty to . insist upon this right,
for whom he was working and,
now, why all the secrecy in the
first place.
Charles O. Porter
858 Pearl St.
Eugene, Ore.
has been made in exploratory
talks. Britain, approaching a
general election, still is cool to
the idea and only the Germans
appear to believe in its effec
tiveness. NATO ministers will
discuss it again when they meet
for their annual review of
NATO defenses next month.
SHOWCASE:
British Prime Minister Sir
Alec Douglas - Home's excellent
showing in winning his own seat
in the House of Commons
means that the Conservatives
will push him into the limelight
at every possible opportunity to
build a winning image for the
upcoming general elections. By
implication and by direct at
tack they will seek to contrast
Home's forthrightness as
against the alleged devious
methods of Labor leader Harold
Wilson. There will be some
plain speaking from both sides
when Home and Wilson con
front each other in Commons.
Both will be talking right at the
voters.
ON WAY OUT?
Western political experts are
speculating that East German
Communist strongman Walter
Ulbricht at last may be on his
way out of power either vol
untarily or involuntarily. The
speculation is based on the fact
that Ulbricht missed meetings
of the East German politburo
and the state council, both of
which he heads. He did not
lead the East German delega
tion to the Moscow Red Octo
ber anniversary ceremonies,
nor did he attend the top-level
Soviet - German reception in
East Berlin. On one occasion
his absence was attributed to a
"cold." Ulbricht is 70 and may
be considering an elder states
man's role.
RED CHINESE PUSH:
French officials believe the
Red Chinese are making a
strong bid to win influence in
Strictly
Personal
By Sydney J. Harris
(cl Field Enterprises, Inc.
Higher Education
To the Editor: By the verj
nature of our social and gov
eminent organization, we are
committed to the general educ
ation of all citizens, for only
enlightened people can govern
them selves. Democratization
and equality of opportunity are
basic principles in the American
democracy. To these principles
our public schools are dedicated.
As our society becomes more
complex and our scientific civ
ilization grows, education must
be extended beyond the sec
ondary school to all who can
profit, so that our nation's
progress, safety, and leader
ship may be assured.
Americans have not given
their generous support to a great
and growing system of public
colleges and universities in an
effort to confer wealth and
l'niiiKlalions of Freedom
To the Editor; In the first
Charter of Virginia, we read,
"James, by the Grace of God,
would vouchsafe to our loving
subjects to make habitation . . .
of our people into Virginia. We
commend their desire for the
furtherence of so noble a work
which may tend to the glory of
His Divine Majesty, in the prop
agation of the Christian religion
to people in darkness and ignor
ance of the true knowledge and
worship of God."
Fundamental Orders of Con
necticut, June 14, 1639: "For as
much as It has pleased Al
mighty God so to order and dis
pose of things that we ... do
associate and convey ourselves
. . . to maintain and preserve
the liberty and purity of the gos
pel of our Lord Jesus which we
now orofess."
When the Constitutional Con
vention was on the point of
hroakina un. Benjamin Frank
lin said, I have lived a long
time .. . and I am convinced
that God governs in the affairs
of men . . ." A little Inter he
said of the new Constitution, "1
believe that this is likely to be
well administered for a course
of ven.s and can only end in
despotism . . . when the people
have become so corrupted as to
neorl despotic government, be
ing incapable of any other."
Today, by our increasing de
pendence on government hand
outs of taxpayers money, we
have endowed the presidency
status on a chosen few. Ore- (the office, not the man) with
aoninns Invest In higher educa-!more and more despotic power,
lion because it offers many 1 Witness the wheat deal. In spite
Tranquilizer
To the Editor: All praise to
Maurine Neuberger for her ef-
lorls to inlorm tne people ot
the awful effect the tobacco
habit has upon the human body
home of us have lost loved ones
with cancer that we feel cer
tain would be here today had
they listened to the counsel that
had been given them, and not
m a moment of weakness start
ed a habit that was considered
all right by many, or the world
in general. I believe it has an
effect on the generations follow
inn, too, and gives them a ten
dencv to the disease, because
of destroying something in their
systems that would be strong
enough to combat it.
Are women coming to the
front to preserve the lives that
we have gone down to death's
door to bring into the world?
We talk about wars, and have
had two World Wars, and the
first one was supposed to be the
last according to the three great
leaders of that time. Have you
ever observed the pictures of
the three taken together at that
time, one with a cigarette, one
wilh a cigar, one with a pipe.
All three dummed with a Pipe
of Peace according to the habit
of the Indians of our country,
whom we were supposed to con
quer but who in reality con
quered us, by destroying our
ability to think with clarity.
This tranquilizer which has
swept the world Is as tjcadly as
a narcotic and should be shouted
from the house tops, so that the
generations following would
have a chance lo live as God
wanted them to live.
Mrs. F. Corcoran
1070 Ross Lane N.
Medford.
OLD SCHOOL TIE
Despite the criticism, some
of it from within his own party,
Lord Home, the new British
prime minister, seems to be
admirably fitted for the post.
His qualifications are impecca
ble, in the British tradition.
While at Eton, he scorred 66
runs for his school in the 1922
cricket match with Harrow. We
are informed "he has remained
a devoted cricket fan and is
also rated a good shot, an ex
pert fisherman and an enthusl
astic butterfly collector and bird
watcher.
This profile is made to order
for the British public, who like
their leaders to have the sport
ing spirit, a good eye for grouse
and rapport with the world of
nature. The Establishment has
scarcely yet recovered from the
prime ministership of Disraeli,
who wore vivid velvet waist
coats and didn't know a part
ridge from a pear tree.
a 8 a
In this rapidly changing
world, it is comforting to see
that some of the old verities
remain. In a world arena peo
pled by such figures as Tito
and Castro, de Gaulle . and
Nasser, it is good to know
that we can rely on the Brit
ish to provide us with an ar
dent cricketeer, a butterfly
collector and bird watcher.
What other nation would
proudly recall, 40 years later,
that Its premier scored 66 runs
In a prep school ball game?
England may be on a sticky
wicket in world affairs, but It
has a jolly good batsman.
It was said of the ruling
Bourbons of France that "they
forgot nothing and they learn
nothing." There seems to be
something of the same case
with the British Tories. They
never forget a cricket score,
and they rarely remember
that the Battle of Waterloo
was not won on the playing
fields of Eton, but by the
bloody British private.
Algeria, and with some success, given a place oi nonor di "
It was noted that a Chinese Algiers parade on the ninth an-
military delegation in full-dress niversary of the rebellion
Communist-style uniforms was against France on Nov. l-
In the Day's News
By FRANK JENKINS
From Salem:
Did voters in the October 15
special election mean for the
level of Oregon state services
to be lowered PERMANENT
LY, or were they more con
cerned about a new tax base
possibly a sales tax?
That is the overriding ques
tion confronting members of
the legislature at the special
session that convenes today.
IT'S an interesting question.
This is the probable answer:
It was a little of both.
The people of Oregon, along
with the people of other states,
are getting fed up with the big
and ever growing burden of tax
a t i o n especially federal tax
ation. Taxes are beginning to BITE.
FROM Washington:
Senator Margaret Chase
Smith, of Maine, is giving
serious consideration to sugges
tions that she seek the Repub
lican Presidential nomination
and enter the New Hampshire
primary next March, her top
assistant said.
I'WE Washington story adds:
Mrs. Smith docs not plan
to comment on the matter un
til Dec. 5, when she speaks be
fore the Women's National
Press club, her administrative
assistant said.
For the past year she has
been urged by supporters
throughout the country to enter
the GOP Presidential sweep
stakes. But she has been most
frequently mentioned in recent
months as a possible vice presi
dential nominee. 1
She is considered an inde
pendent or
Republican.
middle-of-the-road
QUESTION:
Could a women be elected
President of the United States?
Well, it is possible, and is be
coming increasingly possible.
BACK in 1958, George Gallup,
probably the nation's best
known pollster, put it to a vote
in a poll in which botli men and
women participated. Fifty-two
per cent of those questioned
said they would vote for a wom
an. Forty-three per cent said
no, they wouldn't. Five per
cent of those questioned said
they had no opinion.
Earlier this year, five years
after his first poll, 55 per cent
of those polled said they would
vote for a woman for Presi
dent, 41 per cent said they
wouldn't and four per cent said
they didn't know what they
would do.
Which is to say:
The idea of a woman for
President is GROWING in ac
ceptance. ODDLY enough, the idea of
a woman for President 4s
more widely accepted among
MEN than among woman.
In a poll conducted by Mr.
Gallup recently, 58 per cent of
the men questioned said Jes,
they would, 37 per cent said no,
they wouldn't and 5 per cent
had no opinion. Among the
women questioned, only 51 per
cent said they would vote for a
woman, 45 per cent said they
wouldn't and four per cent had
no opinion.
In other words, women are
more opposed to the idea of a
woman President than are men.
Our Leaders ill
Never Lie vj
By Arthur Hoppe CjVJI
HOPPE Our Leaders - 24 pt
I'm sorry. I take it all back.
I thought our leaders in Wash
ington had a hand in that mili
tary coup in South Vietnam.
Mainly because they'd been
saying for months they sure
would like a military coup in
South Vietnam.
But it turns out they didn't
have a thing to do with it.
They didn't even have the faint
est idea the coup was coming.
Not an inkling. And for that we
have our Government's solemn
word. I'm sure it makes us all
feel much better.
Moreover, it speaks highly for
the professional soldierly quali
ties of our 16,500 military ad
visers out there in South Viet
nam. They did their duty to a
man. And kept their mouths
shut.
For example, take out mili
tary advisers with the 7th Viet
namese Division, Which, as you
know, climbed out of its trench
es in the Mekong Delta and
marched 80 miles north to Sai
gon to help overthrow President
Diem. Now it's hard to believe
our military advisers merely
waved good-by to them without
asking where they were going.
So obviously our military ad
visers had a hand in the plans.
Giving, I assume, military ad
vice.
(Scene: Headquarters, 7th
Vietnamese Division, Office of
Colonel Taylorwell G. Max
Chief U.S. Military Advisor. En
ter General Thim Buc Thu.)
Colonel Max: Morning, Gen
eral. Off to the attack, eh? And
what s our objective for today?
General Thu: Saigon.
Loioncl Max: uood, a major
offensive. Any special target
General Thu: Ah so. The Pres
idential Palace.
Colonel Max: Ah, an interest
ing tactical proble.n, that. Let's
see what we've got in the li
brary here that might help.
Hannibal, Clausewitz, Seven
Days in May . . . Wait, I'll get
the Pentagon on the phone.
Gcneraal Thu: It is most kind.
Colonel Max: We like to help
where we can. Hello? Opera
tions? Oh, hi, Charlie. Have you
got any plans in the files for
attacks on Presidential Palaces.
Good. Let me get it down. A
tank corps up Pennsylvania
Avenue. Yep. An infantry di
vision deploys over South Lawn.
Right. Assault troops hit a Rose
Garden. Got it. Take Caroline
Garden. Got it. Take Caroline
and John -John alive. Good
thinking. Thanks, Charlie, and
say hello to the Mrs.
General Thu (scribbling): We
are most grateful.
Colonel Max: Glad to be of
service. And as you go into bat
tle, let me say as one soldier to
another that I'm sure you'll give
your all for your country, your
people and your President.
General Thu (bowing): More
or less.
So the coup went off like
clockwork. And it certainly was
a feather in the cap of our
military advisers. At last. But
it's too bad they didn't know
what was going on so they could
have also advised our leaders
in Washington.
But, no sir, our leaders were
as ignorant as our advisers. We
have their solemn word for it.
And I'm sure they wouldn't lie
to us. I'm sure. Because in a
democracy we must have faith
our leaders wouln't lie to us. So
let's all have faith in the ignor
ance of our leaders.
There now. Don't you feel
much better?
One of the conscouenccs of
the recent scandals in England
should have been the slowly
dawning realization that the old
school tie is no longer a reliable
recommendation for high office.
Old school boys tend to cover
up (or one another, to believe
the absolute best until the ab
solute worst has been proved,
and to present an uncommon
front against the commoners.
The virtues of the aristocracy
are many; but it is the great
irony of history that one of their
greatest virtues loyalty
can so easily turn into its oppo
site vice of protecting the in
competent and supporting good
old stupid "Bongo" because "we
were in Uie fifth form together."
No other people have remained
so resolutely schoolboys as the
upper-class Englishmen, with
results that are almost equally
admirable, touching and disas
trous. Lord Home may prove to be
a good, bad or indifferent prime
minister. But would he have
been chosen if he were a poor
shot, a punk fisherman, and had
made only the freshman chess
team at a red-brick school?
"Overthrowing a dictator for a mllllarv dictalnr.vhip s just mm
exchanging power. When women take over, that'll lie a REM
-rvnhitiftn ' "