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Show Tuesday. January 15, 1980. THE HERALD, Provo, Utah- Page 17 Opinions: Paul Harvey I try to translate technical language into shirtsleeve English but without embellishment. Raising false hope amongsuffering people is not kind. But to leave these things unsaid could lead to false hopelessness which is worse. So,as carefully andclinically as possible, let’s talk about the prospects for the drug Interferon. Inside your body is a wonder drug — a nature-produced substance which fights off germs.It fights off bugs — viruses — so microscopic that they can pass through glass! This protein inside your body is called Interferon because it “interferes” with the growth of infection. And now we can produce Interferon in the laboratory. It is so potent that the body needs it and produces it only in the most minute quantities, yet it appears ableto fightoff all typesof viral infection from hepatitis to the commoncold — and perhaps cancer. Swedish clinical tests indicateit may be effective in Peereatin the spread of a rare form of boas cancer, So encouraging is the evidence that the American CancerSociety last year bought $2 million worth for testing on six kinds of cancer, The National Cancer Institute is buying another$7 million worth this year for othertests. Until recently the only major supplier has been the Central Public Health Laboratory in Helsinki, Finland, where they have to use 65,(00 pints of blood to produce 100 milligrams of Interferon. That's enough to treat about 500 patients. However, the cost remains prohibitive. Enough Interferon to counterattack a commonhead cold costs $2,000. This high cost is the big reason research has not progressed more rapidly. Interferon was discovered in 197 — yet remains in the experimental stage. Now, however, some genetic engineering firms in the United States are determined to produce Interferon in commercial quantities at a reasonableprice. They've been able to duplicateinsulin and human growth hormones; they see no reason they cannotartificially produce Interferon. President Robert Swanson of Genentech in San Francisco believes we will be synthesizing in the laboratory one of the forms of Interferon by the end of next year. The prize — the reward — for whomever is first to develop a patentable process will be astronomical. Don’t uncross your fingers yet. Chemically synthesizing the Interferon molecule — even after the sequence of amino acids is known — wili be a bulky, costly, time-consuming job. We don’t yet know what drawbacks might be revealed in using the synthetic protein on humans. There is no guarantee that the results, so far promising, will be confirmed. But the so far evidenceis so encouraging and the potential for preventing disease is so tremendous thatI will do whatI can to keep you ated, (c) 1980, Los Angeles Times Syndicate Let’s Get Herald Policy Straight Every so often it becomes necessary to explain somesimple basics of newspaper policy to readers. And the comment relating to the Herald editorial on A. John Clazke proves the time has come again. First off, the Herald would like to point out that the criticism in the editorial was not directed at the merits of the present or proposed systemsofcity government. The Herald still has an open mind on that issue andwill reserve commenton it for another time. The criticism was directed rather at a person submitting himself for public office yet not being candid with the voters during the campaign about the entire body of his beliefs. Theeditorial did not take issue with Clarke’s analysis in identifying four areasof problems in Provo City government so much as. it noted that just about anyone could identify them. The comment questioned someone seeking office who would iden- Robert Walters Blow Whistle; Gird for Woe WASHINGTON (NEA) - Government agencies established specifically to protect the rights of “‘whistle-blowers” have instead becomeinstruments for punishing the few brave federal employees who dare engagein boat-rocking activities. Disturbing new evidenceindicates that the purpose of those agencies has been corrupted in at least two major cases, one involving A. Emest Fitzgerald, the Air Force civilian employee who has become the country’s best known whistleblower. Fitzgerald wasfired in early 1970, after he revealed to a congressional committee that cost overruns on the C5-A,the Air Force’s mammoth jet cargo plane, could total as much as $2 billion. After a lengthy appeal to Civil Service Commission (CSC), he wasreturned to the payroll — butin a job devoid of most of his former responsibilities. Pre-trial preparation in a civil suit subsequentlyfiled by Fitzgerald recently produced evidence that his boss secretly consulted ix 1969 with CSC Chairman Robert E. Hampton to obtain advice on how to strip Fitzgerald of his job. Hampun's involvement is significant because the commission chairman was the senior governmentofficial in charge of protecting the federal merit system against precisely the type ofpolitical abuse that dominated Fitzgerald's case. In addition, Hampton headed the commission throughout Fitzgerald's appealto the CSC, without ever indicating that he had any involvementin the whistle-blower's dismissal. Hampton's untoward action is revealed in a verbatum transcriptof an interview with Robert C SeamansJr., Air Force secretary at the time Fitzgerald wasfired. Intheinterview, conducted under the auspices of an Air Force oral history project, Seamans says that in May 1969, when be became‘‘quite certain that Fitzgerald should leave the Air Force for his good and ours," he conferred with Hampton. Seamons says he asked Hampton: “What are you supposed to do when you’re managing a large govemnment program and you've got a guy like ... Fitzgerald on the payroll?” Hampton replied, according to Seamans: “It’s frankly one of the problems we face in running the government.... On the basis of what you've told me,I don’t believe you could ever sustain a separation for cause. So your only alternativeis to abolish his job.” That's exactly whatthe Air Force did, reorganizing Fitzgerald's office under a schemethateliminated his Position. The CSC itself has since been eliminated, replaced under President Carter’s widely touted Teorganization plan with two new agencies, the Office of Personnel Managementand the Merit Systems Protection Board. The board is supposed toactas the guardian of employee rights, investigating allegations of prohibited personnel practices. In addition, a quasi-independentspecial counselto the board is specifically charged with protecting the rights of whistleblowers. But the board hasjust rejected, on highly questionable technical ‘ounds, a Claim that three deputy federal marshals in Atlanta were transferred to unwanted posts in Florida and Texas in retaliation for blowing the whistle on their bosses. The marshals’ offense: They complained to members of Congress abouta office party at a government pistol range that featured barbecued ribs, drinking and gambling. Urging the board to rescind the arbitrary transfers was Special Counsel H. Patrick Swygert, the first man to hold the job described by Carter as the defenderof those in the federal services ‘who do point out violations of ethics.” But Swygert was rebuffed and has just quit in disgust — after less than a year in office. The White House now is searching for a replacement, who probably won't be so conscientious in the pursuit of his duties ANEWSERE R ENTERPRISE AS.) 4 tify the problems and then confess as well a total lack of experience in dealing with them. If Clarke comes up with plans and proposals for dealing with those problems, the Herald will lead theline of those offering congratulations. Now to mattersof policy. Herald editorials are un- signed for one simple reason Editorials published under the label “The Herald Comments’ are the official position of the newspaper and not any single individual. Although most Herald editorials are written by the manging editor, they also are concurred in by the publisher and often are About Letters: The Daily Herald welcomes letters to the editor on any subject of broad readerinterest. Letters preferably should be type-written, doublespaced and not exceed 400 words (about two typed, double-spaced pages). Without exception, every letter must be signed in ink with the writer’s full name, home address and phone number (Phone numbers won't be published.) Names can be withheld for good reason but only after personal consultation with the editor. The editor reserves the right to edit any letter to removepotentially libelous material, material in poor taste and to makeletters conform to the length requirements. Length requirements can be waived in unusual cases where excess material provides exceptionally pertinent information or insights on a matter of broad communityinterest. Asnearly aspossible, all letters which meet the above requirementswill be published in the order they are recieved, although handwritten letters may be delayed for typing, and letters containing questionable statements may be held back to be verified. the result of discussions with several other staff members or ideas offered by staff members. In some cases they are written by other members of the editorial staff. Anyone wishing to take issue with any Herald editorial is welcome to direct any comments to Managing Editor, Ben Hansen, whois not hiding anywhere and who is available at the Herald at almost any time during regular business hours. Other columns on the editorial page are the opinions of the individual writers so credited and not necessarily the official opinion of The Daily Herald. The Herald requires Signatures, addresses and phone numbers on letters to guard against misuse of the Herald letters forum by personsusingfictitious names and addresses or the literary equivalent of the telephone heavy breather. The Herald stands legally behindits editorial commentary and expects those using the letters columnto be similarly accountable. Letters to The Daily Herald Editor City Needs Trained Chief Executive Editor, Herald: I wish to add this suggestion to the peneeale favorable comments rinted about the new imageof The lerald. Unless theeditorials represent unanimous, or even majority, opinions Cr Aik The Herald Comments Bh Interferon Offers Hope When any potentially significant medical development is announced, I try to report it to you without Superlatives. What the Herald thinks, what the columnists say and what our readers think of The Herald staff they should be signed as we are requested to sign our comments.It seemsto meto be grossly unfair for anyone, by virtue of the nature of his job, to be in a position to launch a scathing attack on the integrity of John Clarke, or anyone, while hiding behind the anonymity of The Herald Comments. John Clarke is a good, honest man whose obvious lack is in the knowhowof beingpolitically deceptive or expedient. Hopefully he will never acquire this knack because we have had enough governmental deception in this country to last forever. His comments may have been politically poorly timed, but what he said wasright, you know. ProvoCity is now big business and desperately needs a trained city manager. He did not specify this and promised to support fully whatever type government we choose, but hopefully we willnot forever continueto ‘‘wander in the wilderness” until all of us who remember our unfortunate experience in this area die out before we return to this business-like approach in our city government. I feel sure there are many people in this city who would willing! contribute their time, talents, and knowledge freely or for a nominal sum to cover expenses to work with someone who has been specifically educated in city management. As Pat Glenn saidin her letter to the editor, Provo does ‘‘vote out the incumbent” ruthlessly and seemingly arbitrarily whether the performance has been excellent, mediocre, or poor, leaving the city with constant change and with people forever learning on the job. Needing a city manageris in no waya reflection on the honest, hardworking, well-meaning commissions we have had, but we badly need continuity; so we don't have to hear the too-familiar explanation that ‘that commitment was made before we were in powerandis not our responsibility.’ We need someone where ‘‘The buckstops.” hat when they function as administrators to administer the laws they have previously enacted. We do not do th’s on the state or federal level. The state legislature enacts the laws and passes the budgets and then they are administered under the direction of the governor. Nationally, Congress passes laws and provides the budgetsandthe administrationcarries them out under the direction of the president. size of Provo away from the commission form to the council manager orcouncil - mayortype of government. Provoneedsto seriously consider it and as citizens we Provo Needs to Change Government Editor, Herald: T should like to take this meansof extending sincere congratulations to our new city commissioner, Mr. A. John Clarke, first, on his election, and then for his comments at the time of his swearing in, about the desirability of Provo considering a change in its form of government from the present commission to a council-manager type. That Mr. Clarke would use this occasion for his comments indicates a firm belief in his proposal which would assuredly comeas a result of much thought and consideration. Unfortunately, the problem that usually comes up when anyonesuggests a changeis thatthere is an implied if not expressed opposition to or lack of confidence in the then elected commissioners. This is certainly not the casebutit is a belief that we should make comparisons of systems and not individuals. As it presently functionsthe city commissioners wear two hats, one when they act as legislators and adopt policies and budgets, and the other Sincerely Ramona Clarke Patton 1766 N. 1350 W. Provo should be grateful to Mr. Clarke for calling this to our attention at the beginning of his term. Hopefully he will continue his efforts and enlist the support of Provocitizens in this project. John H. Zenger 1589 W. 1050 N., Provo It is interesting that there has been a dramatic shift by cities the Time Has Come to Change Government Editor, Herald: I greeted your editorial concerning new Provo City Commissioner A. John Clarke with mixed emotions. On one hand, I waspleased to see that the Daily Herald was willing to express itself on an important, controversial community issue. On the other, I was disappointed to see a statement which concentrated its criticism on the person rather than the issue, and which totally ignored the obvious merits of a very valuable suggestion. Contrary to the impression created by the Jan. 10 editorial, Mr. Clarke's stand should not shock the Herald or the community Even before the primary election, CommissionerClarke refused to rule out the possibility that he would support reforming city governmentfrom the top. Immediately after his defeat of the incumbent commissioner, he suggested thatalternative forms of government should be studied. His comments earlier this week were simply a reaffirmation of his belief that we shouldnotblind ourselves to the possible advantages of change. { am sure that a few of Mr. Clarke's supporters,after reflecting upon the ‘‘unpleasant experience” of Provo's last experiment with alternative forms of government, were disappointed in his suggestion that such a possibility be studied again. I hope that that disappointmentwill be offset by the support of those of us who havelived through the similarly ‘‘unpleasant experience” of the malaise which has inflicted Provo City government since that experiment ended. What wasan appropriate form of government50, 20, or even 10 years ago maynotbe today. Provo nearly has doubled its population since the last city council was removed from office. The city bureaucracy has grown considerably. The composition of the population continues to change. Needs and resources are different, and may require different approach. Mr. Clarke's criticisms of the commission form of government areclearly justified. For example, a recent study of Provo Cityelections over the past 40 years shows that commissioners have represented only a very small geographic area Many of the most important segments of the population — such as Geneva employees, housewives and those who workfor the University — have been excluded almosttotally since the council was disbanded. These are people who, despite their interest in serving, are unable to take four years away from their careers andfamiliesto serveas fulltime commissioners. Alternative formsof government also may present problems, butstill merit study nonetheless. The beginning of a new decadeis an excellent time to hegin a close evaluation of the future of Provo government. Mr.Clarke's proposal deserves the support of the Daily Herald and ail Provo citizens who wantto insure that their city continues to grow underthe direction of a competent, representative city government. James R. Layton 431 Stadium Ave. Provo Pro-ERA People Get Too Much Publicity Editor, Herald: I am writing to protest Renee Nelson’s article on ‘Mormonsfor ERA." Does EVERY proponentof ERAhaveto be headlined on the Women's Page when they visit Utah? Only the pro-ERAsideof this issue has been headlined — especially on the Women's Page. Isit her proERAstand which causes this onesided reporting? Is it because Mormonsaretrying very hard to be fair and give everyone a chance? But this 1s going a little too far. Sonia Johnson was headlined in a similar manner by Ms. Nelson previously. Why can't Ms. Nelson find someonewith the opposing view to be interviewed? Nothing has beenheadlined on the Women’s Page about what Barbara Smith, President of the Relief Society of the Mormon Church has said. The anti-ERA womenare not seeking publicity as the pro-ERA women are. President Spencer W. Kimball is still giving the reasons why the Church is against ERA. Why net give these reasons some space on the Women’s Page? ‘The pro-ERA womensaythey are speaking for the majority of the womenin the Mormon Church, but thatis far from thereal truth. Only a very small minority speak against the policy of the Mormon Church.In myopinion they do notdeserveto be called members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) Let's soft-pedal these militant ERA women. The large majority of us women against ERA know they are fighting tooth and nail against a losing cause and are pushing every advantage they can to try to keepit alive Sincerely, Provo EDITOR'S NOTE: It just so happensthatat this momentthe newsis being made by the people who say they are part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who also support The Equal Rights Amendment. Renee Nelson's ‘Here's Looking At You’’ often is based on interviews but also contains heropinions andis so labeled. The Herald has been the target of manipulative publicity-grabbing schemes by both sides of the ERA question andis trying to present both sides. The antiERA forces have more than had their say in these columns, and the Herald is planning interviews with anti-ERA spokeswomen, In the meantime, the Herald will report the news — whoever is making it — without fear of or favor for any Individualor institution, and the Herald will continue to say whatis on its editorial mind. |
