PAGJSt-C
HERALD AND NEWS, Klamath Falls. Ore.
Sunday, January IS, 1961
fcdihfiiaL (paqsL
Agriculture And Chemical
In late years, there has been concern, ac
companied by deep controversy, over the use
of chemicals in agriculture. These chemicals
serve varied purposes to increase yield, to
eliminate pests and insects, and so on. Their
usefulness in these respects is beyond argu
ment. The controversy arises from a belief
that certain of the chemicals, notably the pes
ticides, may produce harmful effects both on
human life and wildlife.
This point of view finds its most eloquent
expression in Rachel Carson's recently-published
book, "Silent Spring." Miss Carson is
a writer of high standing, whose previously
published "The Sea Around Us" is an acknowl
edged classic. So "Silent Spring" has been re
ceived with high respect, is being very widely
read and reviewed, and is, in its field, a con
siderable influence on public opinion.
The book amounts to a virtually blanket
indictment of chemical agriculture. Miss Car
son feels profoundly about this, and makes a
dramatic case. But, whatever one's personal
views, it will be unfortunate indeed if lier
altitude is accepted totally without question,
and if the obverse of the coin is ignored.
A review of the book in Science magazine,
by I. L. Baldwin, is of particular interest in
balancing the scales. Mr. Baldwin is also an
authority he is professor of agricultural bac
teriology at the University of Wisconsin, and
serves as chairman of the Committee on Pest
Control and Wildlife Relationships of the Na
tional Academy of Sciences National Re
search Council. Ho approaches Miss Carson's
book without bias, observing that it is "su
perbly written" and that "the author has made
an exhaustive study of the facts bearing on
the problem." Then he makes his main point:
"It is not, however, a judicial review or a
balancing of the gains and losses; rather, it is
the prosecuting attorney's impassioned pica
Ph.
one Calls -- 'By The Numbers'
(Tha Christian Science Monitor)
Ah, for the days when one picked up a
telephone receiver and, to a pleasant "Num
ber, please," replied something like "Crest
view 8134" or "Albemarle 6700." Or when
the numbers in a fair-sized town could be cata
logued as belonging to cither "Maple" or
"Walnut" exchange.
This seems to be the sentiment of the
Anti-Digit Dialing League in San Francisco.
It has appealed to the California Utilities Com
mission to stop the telephone company there
from introducing the all-digit system that
would eliminate the two remaining letters
from metropolitan and not-so metropolitan
telephone numbers.
THESE DAYS .
Whence President's Power?
By JOHN ClmillKltLAIN
As we move Into I'M a White
House spokesman or "hichcsl nu
thorily" indicates that President
John F. Kennedy lias reflected
profitably on the Mihstam c of two
years' experience in dealing with
Khrushchev. But the lresxlcnt. in
lacing a new Congress, has jet
to prove Uiat he is as quick to
recognize domestic realities as he
is to move with the necessities
imposed by Uie Cold ar.
The reason (nr tlie split in Ken
nedy's sense of realism is rooted
in an odd paradox deriving fiom
his basic commitments When he
moves outwardly from his deepest
convictions, as he has been doing
recently in his conduct of foreign
affairs, he finds ins way to an
Intelligent opportunism. Rut when
he tries to be pragmatic on the
basis of something that he does
not feel strongly about, his auare
ness falters. Hence we witness a
man who is least suivcsslul as
an opportunist wliere he tries his
hardest to be opportunistic.
Since I do not know .I K K. poi
sonally. I oiler this analysis
somewhat tonlauvcly. However, I
once interviewed a number of peo
ple who were close to the Ken
nedy (or a series I was writ
ing on Presidential candidates,
and my impressions as of two
have not been altered by events.
My feelins Uwn was that John V.
Kennedy was a young man fer
vently committed to steering his
country to a sale haven through
the perils of the early atomic
age. He would do what it takes
at the waters' edge In confound
tha plans of foieign dictators. 1 his
commitment, hard and true, led
him eventually to lake the right
stand in the Cuban situation in
spite of misleading advice (nun
the "softs."
When it comes to domestic ques
tions, however 1 have never had
for action against the use of these new mate
rials which have received such widespread ac
ceptance accorded because of the obvious
benefits that their use has conferred."
On the specific side, Professor Baldwin
states that most authorities, including public
health, feel that the dangers involved in the
use of pesticides are relatively slight. Known
deaths from the cause in this country run to
less than 100 a year. By way of comparison,
he observes that twice as many deaths are
known to be caused by aspirin.
He also believes that Miss Carson, by
choice of language, has led to false impres
sions as when she writes of a "fall of chemi
cal death rain." The fact is that less than 5
per cent of the country's land area is treated
each year with insecticides.
finally, Professor Baldwin stresses what
he regards as a most serious deficiency in
"Silent Spring." In his words: "No attempt is
made by the author to portray the many posi
tive benefits that society derives from the use
of pesticides. No estimates are made of the
countless lives that have been saved because
of the destruction of insect vectors of disease.
No mention is made of the fact that the aver
age length of human life has steadily in
creased over the last several years. No con
sideration is given to the important role
played by modern pesticides in the production
of food and fiber."
Then, to quote him once more: "Modem
agriculture, with its high-quality foods and
fibers could not exist without the use of pesti
cides." The old, true balance of nature, in
other words, would be a luxury the modern
world simply could not afford. The final im
pression one gets from Professor Baldwin's
review is that there is truth in "Silent Spring"
but not the entire truth. There arc two sides
to this, as there are to the other controversies
that mankind must deal with.
To be sure, 7G7-3425 looks like a more
formidable memory task than RO 7-3425 es
pecially if one can still think of the RO as
standing for Rosccrans. But after all, tele
phone subscribers in some parts of Europe,
West Germany, for example, have been using
all-digit numbers for several years without
apparent hardship.
Telephone company officials say that they
would like to keep exchange names but that
growth of telephone service simply requires
more numbers than are possible with letter
combinations. All-numeral systems add about
250 possible combinations, or about half again
the present supply. Against that kind of num
bers it is hard to argue.
any feeling that the President has
hard and fast convictions. He
lacks the instincts and the atti
tudes of tlvc zealous and frequent
ly self-righteous reformers of lie
Nineteen Thirties, who wanted In
lift Jane Addams' humnnilai uui
Hull House right out of its Chi
cago glum and plant it down in
Washington as a new wing to the
White House. Kennedy was never
really close to what Eleanor Roos
evelt represented in the Demo
craiic Party, which was one rea
son for Mrs. Roosevelt's original
coolness toward his candidacy.
But if Kennedy came along too
lale in the day to relied the emo
tional attitudes of the Harry Hop
kins generation, he derives lioni
a tradition of municipal politics
which has always known how in
give a quid la Christmas tur
key, a New Year's Day scuttle of
coal ' lor a quo 'a vole on elec
tion day1.
Like any successful politician he
knows he must have a power
base if he is to maintain himself
in ollice long enough to carry out
some of the things he really (eels
strongly about. And in seeking lo
preserve his power base, he be
gins ith the elements that made
the Democratic Party ol Franklin
D Roosevelt so successful
The traditional Democratic pow
er blocs include the big lalw un
ions, the local follow mgs of the
eid-time city bosses, the Jess suc
cessful or the less fortunate -
farmers, and the eglicnK w ho
iieiieve that relorm sliouUI lie
Imposed from bureaus Imatod on
the Potomac. Directing all these
Roosevelt won lour elections. In
winning, he kept the IViibviatic
South in his pcnkei despite Ins
altitude toward old hue .Souther
ners such as the late .Senator Wal
ter George of Georgia,
As a party leader who mut
look lo the naluie ol his power
base. Kennedy Is still going
through the motions of holding
the Roosevelt coalition together.
He pleases the centralizing hu
manitarians by his insistence on
Medicare and federal Aid to Edu
cation. He tries not lo alienate
W alter Iteuther of the C I O. He
makes the familiar gestures to
ethnic groups, and he seeks lo
underwrite the agricultural price
structure at a high level.
The question is. however, wheth
er lie has ever made the intellec
tual ellort to comprehend the ba
sic lealignments of power groups
in the altluent Nineteen Kilties
and Sixties. Since Roosevelt's hey
day a whole new middle class
has come into being. That middle
class can pay lor its own medi
cal insurance. It can finance its
own local schools, lis paycheiks
have boon coming in regularly,
and it is sick of legislation that
takes bigger and bigger cuts from
weekly income. It does not mind a
.social Security floor lor old pco
p!e. but it has no hankering to
pay the tnll.itionaiy bill that will
be presenter! if that floor contin
ues to gyrate upwaid toward the
ceiling
So it is a question whether (he
country, on balance, wants the
President's proposed domestic leg
islation. Will a Kennedy who is
keen alsuit relurhishing t h e
sources of his power take the hint
boloie I'.W
THEY
SAY...
We and the Russians are like
lo lighting coks en cling round
and round each olher in a bain,
unonng the fact that the bain is
burning down
Ilr. Benjamin Spmk.
"But
l . .''"'4f'i- l-'J I . - ' . :y. i-atf-VA l f
EDSON
By PETKR KDSON
Washington Correspondent
Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
WASHINGTON (NEA The ex
tent to which U.S. government
actions influence the national and
world economics is emphasized in
practically all major business fore
casts made for 13.
Almost every analysis predicts
with guarded optimism barring a
war, of course that this will be
a good year. NoUiing sensational.
No boom. But no bust, cither, if
Letters To
Proposal
Zoning may be okay. How about
turning it down now, incorporate
the district that is to be zoned,
and doing our own zoning?
John Gysbers
2742 Dayton Street.
Free Speech
The evening of Friday. Dec. 2a,
11X12, the Herald and News pub
lished a letter to the editor. This
note is meant to be a reply to
some of the statements made in
the letter.
Quoting from the "28th letter"
. . . "the actual question here is,
do we have Uie right to question
every action made by our law
enforcement officers, after we,
ourselves, elected them?" The
author's answer is a serious error
in the judgment of the author.
We. the people, have the right and
obligation to criticize our public
officials. The criticism is an in
strument to be used to discover
if our public officials are work
ing i quoting; from the letter' ". . .
to the very best of their ability,
trying lo uphold the laws that we
do have."
Without criticism of our public
officials, our two party system of
government would be impossible.
We would have to conform to
the dictation of a single party be
cause we could not criticize the
public officials. They, the puhlic
otticials, would stop being our rep
resentatives and would become
representatives of only the party.
If we cannot criticie our govern
ment and its members, we would
have a totalitarian slate like Ger
many and Italy of the early 1940 s
or like Communist Russia. Cuba,
and China.
Secondly, the definition of an ed
itorial should be established. An
editorial can be a critical discus
sion or simple, straight forward
criticism. The author of an edi
torial must have a topic to write
alioiit and must have opinions
lo express. If it does not contain
opinions then it is not an edi
torial, but. a simple commentary,
a series ol explanatory notes.
The author of the "IVc. ISih
letter" savs. ". . . he i referring
lo the public ollicial by name' is
entitled lo his own opinions and
to the right of freedom of speech
..." Then if the puhlic otticial
hai the r:i;ht to his own opinions
and l!ic right ot tuisiom ot speech
so docs every oilier citien. a
the public ollicial is also a citizen
The editor. a a citizen, has the
right to his own opinions and the
right of trcociom of speech The
editor's rigiit of tree-loin ot speech
may take any toim. even .nlici-m
of a public OliK l,ll.
lastly, the "ivcc 2sih" author
says, in eflcct. that the edilor
should not ciiticize another man
I Only Have Two
IN WASHINGTON
Predict Good Year Ahead
the government docs the right
tilings.
The gloomiest forecast that has
come to this department's atten
tion is Bank of America's warn
ing that a recession is a possibil
ity by mid-1963 unless substantial
federal income tax cuts are made.
There are many doubts in Wash
ington that Congress can make
lax cuts effective by midyear. A
more likely target date is Jan. 1,
1964.
Assuming the tax cuts come.
The Editor
for attempUng to fulfill his obliga
tion to the public. Then, accord
ing to the above, how can the
"Dec. 28th" author criticize the
editor in attempting to fulfill his
obligation to the public? The
author cannot, but this is proven
false by the letter.
L. A. Bunyard,
Route 3, Box 56.
Punishment
Is this 1963 or 1693? W'c have
just read w ith alarm that t h e
death penalty has been decreed
lor another one of your citizens.
Herbert Mitchell; and we fail to
see where anyone, individually,
or society as a whole, can pos
sibly benefit from such inhuman
acts of revenge.
Surely the greater population of
the state of Oregon, wlio realizes
that criminal behavior is a sign
of illness, would never ask that
this man be put to death; but
rather, that he be given the neces
sary treatment to restore him to
a normal useful life. It is being
done with other prisoners all the
time, and with wonderful results
Why must Herbert Mitchell,
then, be singled out as the scape
goat of an antiquated law? Is
he colored? Does he lack finan
cial moans? If so. then he f i t s
the description of another Man
who. 2000 years ago. was also
sentenced lo death, after being
betrayed by his own people. Will
Herbert Mitchell also be betrayed
by his fcllowmen? Or will their
conscience remind them, while
there is still time, that "there, hut
for the grace of God. go I''"
Lest I appear to be the "p o t
calling the keltic black for I
am quite aware that capital pun
ishment still exists in my own
.stale let me hasten to assure
you that I pass up no opportuni
ty to expound these same argu
ments to our o w n' newspapers,
citizens, and even the governor
himsell.
However, as far as I am con
cerned, a human life in Oregon
is just as precious as a human
life in Washington; And I have
a feeling that God (rels the same
way about it'
Mis Lincoln A Saver.
32 -10 41st Avenue S W .
Seattle 16. Wash
i Identical letter sent to editor n
the Portland Orcgnnian i
QUESTIONS
AND
ANSWERS
Q What metal makes the hrl
magnets?
A Hard stce!
Q-Whirh was the first Axil
capital In (all k the Allies In
World War II?
A Rome.
Hands!"
however, the California financial
giant predicts that consumer
spending will be up four per cent,
plant and equipment spending up
4 to 5 per cent, government spend
ing up 10 per cent.
This rise in government spend
ing t'.m will account for one
third of the increase in gross na
tional product to an estimated $577
billion for the full year.
On the East Coast, First Na
tional Bank of Boston points out
that, "the poorer the economic
outlook, the more likely a tax cut
to thwart it The better the busi
ness Outlook, the more likely
would seem to be delay
for debate on Uie size, shape and
timing of tax changes. . , .
"The safest assumption seems
to be that there will be no tax
reduction in 1963 or that it will
have small influence on the year
as a whole."
National Association of Real Es
tate Boards thinks new home sales
will be "at levels similar to
1962." Associated General Con
tractors predict that total con
struction, the nation's largest in
dustry, again will reach a new
high dollar volume of work put in
place.
Association of American Rail
roads takes h"pe on narrow mar
gin gains mi.e in 1962, after two
rock-bottom -s n improved
outlook for 1963 is made depend
ent, however, on a green light for
mergers, an end of feaUierbed.
ding and congressional approval
of the President's transportation
program.
From New York. National In
dustrial Conference Board predicts
pretax profits (or the first half
of 1963 will surpass the first
six months' profits in 1962. But
the 1963 improvement is expect
ed to stem mostly from increased
outlays by consumers and govern
ment. From Pittsburgh. VS. Steel
Corporation's year-end survey
notes that while steel consumption
in 1962 was close to the 1935-57
high of 115 million ingot tons, do
mestic production was only 98
million tons. The difference was
accounted for by foreign steel im
ports. From Detroit, the 1963 outlook
is for another year of seven mil
lion cars and a million trucks pro
duced, w ith foreign car sales con
tinuing their decline below 350.000.
This is based on record-rate
consumer spending and continu
ously rising government expendi
tures. The inference is that if the
latter is cut. the outlook might
change.
Internationally. Morgan Guaran
ty Trust of New York finds that
the government has used foreign
exchange strategy effectively in
defending the dollar and stem
ming l!ie outllow of gold Federal
I!eirve Systems "currency
swaps'' are commended.
I'nder this plan, the Federal
Reserve draws on foreign eurren.
cies from foreicn central banks tn
buy tlicir surplus dollars which
might be presented on claims
against IS gold. Later,
when the pressure is otf, the cur
rencies are snapped back
Morgan Guaranty notes, howev
er, there are limits to what gov
ernment operations in foreign cur
rencies i, in do to balance interna
tional payments. Again this em
phasizes the important role that
government pi.iys in the world
c, ononn .
Q
The Gazette-Times at Corvallis
recently observed the 100th birth
day of that eminent Oregon news
paper. In a special section pro
duced to celebrate the event, the
numerous community activities
and accomplishments of the news
paper were reviewed. The Gazette
Times has been and is a credit
to the newspaper industry, and
is one of only three Oregon news
papers to join Uie select century-of-service
ranks. I can only hope
that when the Herald and News
marks 100 years of service to this
community we can point with the
same degree of pride as do the
owners and operators of Uie Gazette-Times
to our achievements.
That nagging worry that has
pestered some of us as we read
of all the unusually stormy wea
ther around the globe has been
funfortunately) confirmed by no
less an authority than Dr. Irv
ing P. Krick, the Denver mete
orologist. He says flatly that re
cent weather disturbances con
firm his thesis that high-level
nuclear blasts have altered the
earth's weather patterns.
I don't have enough space here,
and I don't possess the know-how
to boil the article down. But fou
those cash customers who want to
know all about Dr. Krick and his
discomfiting conclusion, come on
down and I'll lend you my copy
of the National Observer which
carries the interesting story.
Closer to home, Uiere's a slorm
brewing that doesn't have much
appeal, either. It stems from the
proposal (or request) to the City
Dads for a reclassification of zones
adjacent to the new OTI campus.
The object is to change the zon
ing to permit multiple-story build
ings at the fringe of the campus.
There are many ramifications to
this situation, but I doubt that
there is sufficient merit to the
proposal to warrant serious con
sideraUon by the Council at this
time. It would appear reasonable
to me that such moves could be
better considered after the OTI
campus is completely installed
and we get a good idea of what
is needed to provide services and
housing in the immediate area.
Lest this attitude be misunder-
WASHINGTON REPORT . . .
Red Living Standard
Concern To Leaders
By FIXTO.V LEWIS JR.
Ycgorycvsk. a textile center of
60,000 population, 72 miles south
east of Moscow, is one of many
towns clustered in a broad belt
around the Soviet capital Uiat are
scaled off to foreigners.
Recently Pravda carried a let
ter from a 32-year-old working
mother who lives in that city.
Published to impress upon party
agitators Uie need for more in
tensive "counter propaganda," the
leUcr indicates widespread con
sumer unrest behind the Iron Cur
tain. It asks:
"W hy do we send so much mon
ey to underdeveloped countries
when the need is so extreme at
home?
"Why have food prices gone
up?
"Is it really necessary to spend
so much on armaments?
"Is Uie U.S.A. really threaten
ing us with war?
"Why are thing's so much
better in the U.S.A. than here?"
To Pravda editors the letter was
significant: "Alter all. Ycgorycvsk
is not the only place where there
are people who fail to understand.
There are lots of them every
where." "Everywhere" includes Novo
cherkassk, the industrial city of
94.000 in southern Russia, where
last June several hundred persons
were killed while demonstrating
against high prices and low wages.
The Soviet standard of living
not Berlin, nor Cuba, nor Laos
is now the greatest problem thai
faces Nikita Khrushchev. Five
years ago. the Soviet Premier
promised that by I W0 the average
Soviet citizen would be eating as
much as docs his U S. counter
part. In many parts of the Soviet Un
ion, housew ives must begin stand
ing in line at 6 a m. if they are
to buy food. Meat is scarce ev
erywhere and often sold at sky
high prices by black marketeers.
Large quantities of meat must
now be imported from Poland,
five and seven-year plans to the
contrary.
Soviet agriculture is in worse
shape than ever. While the Soviet
population has increased by in
million since 1958. agricultural
production has remained virtually
stagnant, and gram production fell
beiow the 195! figure in 19,"9. I'M.
and 11. Final figures for 192
aie not yet in. but it is knwn
to have been another disastrous
year
Editors of the higKy-authonta-tive
"Prohiems of the Peopies of
NOTHING
SPECIAL
IW. B. S.)
stood as "stand-patism" let me
add that I am referring here only
to retention of a so-called "buffer"
strip around the campus bounda
ries. I don't see that this would
prevent orderly development of
any of the other areas in Uie vi
cinity. For those who like air-travel
to Portland aad Seattle, it Is
encouraging to hear of West
Coast Airlines' new schedule
which has stops only at Med
ford and Eugene before landing
at Portland, This eliminates the
torture of the previous pattern ;
of landing at .Mcdford, North ;
Bend, Koscburg, Eugene and ;
Corvallis a nightmarish sehed- ;
uie. I have always chosen tn
drive to Salem and Portland j
with the thought that I could
make faster time than West '.
Coast. So, it is a real pleasure
to acknowledge that WCA man
agement has recognized our situ
ation and has done something
about it. i
Despite all of the advantages of
saving time and what-not by trav
eling by air, I sUU prefer long
distance traveling by train if I
can afford Uie time and leisure
such travel entails.
And. by gosh, while I'm at it,,
let's make some acknowledge-'
mcnt here of the excellent bus!
service (both passenger and pack-l
age) that we have in and out of,
Klamath Falls. The bus compa-;
nies do a whale of a job in pro-;
viding a set of schedules that get
one to his destinations north and
south, almost at the same time
he can drive it by private automo
bile. And, economically, too.
Fascinated by the dispatch
with which the youngest mother
on the block got rid of pesky
salesmen, a neighbor asked for
"Oh, it's very simple." the
girl smiled. "I tell them I'm so
., .A UAU,. MmB kflflaova I
want to show them my latest -line
of greeting cards."
Note to pre-med students: It is"
absolutely without foundation tliat.
you can get through your courses '
by reading Ben Casey.
the USSR," a quarterly published!
by exiles in Munich, recently:
culled the following items from:
Uie Soviet press:
1. "Kommunist" magazine
quotes a customer at a grocery
store in Soviet Armenia:
"The store is most unsanitary.
Food is unmarked by price la
bels. Customers are often cheat
ed in weighing and measuring.
Saleswomen chronically short
change. The inspectors notice none
of this and the swindlers go un
punished." ;
2. lzvestia reported that of 2
TV sets sold in one town recently,:
every one had to be repaired from!
four to eight times during the:
guarantee period. It said: "In cv-;
cry (Soviet! Republic, tens of
thousands, hundreds of thousands,
of television sets are out ef or
der. In the small towns of the
Soviet Union there are neither
workshops nor spare parts. In the
rural districts television owners
have an even harder time."
3. In Saransk, capital of the
Mordvinian Soviet Socialist Re
public, plans were made to bring
gas heat to 2.00 apartments dur
ing 1961. More than 1.700 were
without heat at year's end The
local press reports that despite
grandiose plans only one factory
has been outfitted with gas heat.
4. Homeowners in Ufa are
having their troubles One wrote
to the local party organ: "The
house we live in was built oniy
two years ago. but Uie floor is al
ready cracking Doors and win
dows arc warped. There is plumb
ing, but it is out of order."
5. Shopping in Kubybyshev ran
be exasperating. "Trud" publishes
one shopper's complaint; "The
sale of summer gois in summer,
and winter goods in winter is very
badly organized In the summer
you can't get bathing suits or
shorts: in the winter you cant-
f.nd warm winter clothing " '.
Al
manac
By I nited Tress International
ToiUy is Sunday. Jan 13. the
nth day of !9M with to iol
low . The moon is appioaining its
last quarter
The morning si.irs arc Man
and Jupiter.
Those born on tins day include
author Horatio Alger, in js.;i.
On this day in history.
In 1868. composer Stephen F
ter died in Bciievue Hospital New
York City.