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Show I llll I I II Mil TIMES Opinion at ,w .rr.'N3 (0MMENM& Opinion ed at 538 South' Monday 10:00 a.,,, 5: All submissions are subject to m ? and TheOrem-Geneva Times e?5' publish or not to publish a su&? A2, Thursday, June 26, 2003 Submit r, r:,T?'l vuesr hj Editorial fltocExs on fest-toed ioDdMsif aire atadss on psrssiDBiali friresdtoDin Among the discouraging news headlines head-lines recently were reports of more action and planning by forces conspiring conspir-ing to attack the nation's fast-food industry. The Washington Times online edition, edi-tion, found on the Internet at washing-tontimes.com washing-tontimes.com and dated June 23, 2003, noted in an article by Marguerite Higgins, and datelined Boston: "More than 100 lawyers and consumer advocates advo-cates yesterday pledged a broad series of lawsuits against fast-food chains, food manufacturers and even school boards that sell high-calorie soft drinks without with-out offering healthier choices. On the final day of an obesity-litigation conference confer-ence here, the lawyers and advocates, many of them veterans of the legal assault on Big Tobacco, yesterday mapped out a plan to sue companies that advertise and sell food contributing to obesity without disclosing information informa-tion to consumers." The article went on to quote one of the principal figures in the movement, John Banzhaf, a George Washington University law professor who was one of those involved in the lawsuits against the country's major tobacco companies. The pressures of that litigation eventually eventu-ally led to the companies' $246 billion legal settlement in 1998 with state gov ernments. The money from the settlement settle-ment was intended to go to help cover the costs of smoking-related illnesses. But back to the fast-food lawsuits, Banzhaf was quoted as saying, "The goal is not to put fast-food companies out of business, but move them to offer healthier alternatives and give consumers con-sumers important product information." Couched in such language, "the goal" can sound benign, helpful, and even instructive. But for the cynical among us, a number of questions are raised. Why are "deep pocket" companies the first to be targeted for such litigation? Why do "nanny state" advocates think that their social engineering is more important than individual freedom and personal responsibility for choices? And, if the lawyers and "consumer advocates" are as successful in ' wresting money from Big Food as they have been in extracting it from Big Tobacco, what industry will be next? Robert A. Levy, a senior fellow in constitutional con-stitutional studies at the Cato Institute, wrote an opinion piece for National Review Online that was posted August 19, 2002. In that piece, Levy stated: "Five years ago I predicted, without much risk of being wrong, that tobacco lawyers would soon be attacking other products deemed by our moral overseers to be bad for us. There would be no shortage of candidates, but the immediate immedi-ate target would probably be the food industry sugar, dairy products, red meat, and French fries because obesity obesi-ty allegedly causes 300,000 deaths each year. The anti-tobacco crowd laughed off the slippery-slope argument, but now we know the risk is real and imminent. Yesterday it was tobacco, today it's fatty foods, tomorrow it could be skis, motorcycles, motor-cycles, cars, you name it. 'Our choices may be foolish or self-destructive,' said George McGovern, 'but we cannot micro manage each other's lives.' When we no longer hold people responsible for their choices, civility and common sense will be diminished." A disheartening fact is that there are those who fervently believe that they can micro manage other people's lives and that they can make money doing it. Government, too, is always looking for new sources of revenue, and in some quarters has begun to look at ideas such as establishing a "fat tax" on certain products, or suing food companies for recovery of Medicaid funds spent in treating obesity-related illnesses. The key question: Where does it all stop? Hopefully, before civility, common sense, and personal freedom are extinct. Oram's Citizen ov Ike Cenftury Pres. Eisenhower thanks Watkins for the fair and orderly hearing CLYDE E. WEEKS, JR. Times Correspondent Part 5 After the U.S. Senate had censured Joseph R. McCarthy on December 2, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower invited Utah Senator Arthur V. Watkins to the White House, where he 'thanked the Senator for the fair and orderly hearing he had conducted, and for the way the McCarthy censure resolution had been presented present-ed to the Senate. The work of the Select Committee, of which Senator Watkins served as Chairman, had been impacted impact-ed by the handiwork of pro-McCarthy pro-McCarthy factions in generating gener-ating a tremendous volume of mail from McCarthy's admirers. Because of Watkins' position posi-tion as Chairman of the Select Committee, he felt that he could not read that mail, or let himself be influenced influ-enced by public opinion at that time. His staff pointed out that hundreds of thousands thou-sands of postcards and letters let-ters would arrive within days of each other, with each using almost identical language lan-guage and showing other signs of originating from a common source. Describing the nature of the mail, which flowed in to the U.S. Senate, Senator William J. Fulbright, speaking speak-ing on the floor of the Senate on Nov. 30, 1954, just one day before the McCarthy censure vote, and commenting on the mail which he and other Senators had received, described the letters as "vicious often anti-Semitic anti-Semitic and frequently referring to Senator Fulbright, himself, as a "louse," "skunk," "coward," "dirty red," "jackass," and other epithets. Bitter attacks were made on Senator Watkins, and they were answered by such Senators as Senator Stennis of Mississippi and Senator Fulbright, members of the Select Committee. Discussing the letters, Senator Fulbright said further: fur-ther: "The junior Senator from Wisconsin, by his reckless reck-less charges, has so preyed upon the fears and hatreds and prejudices of the American people, that he has started a prairie fire, which neither he, nor anyone else, may be able to control." Just before the final action of the censure vote, Senator Fulbright said: "We owe a special debt to the distinguished dis-tinguished chairman of the committee. We are indebted to him for the manner in which he retained control over the hearings. I confess that last August, when this question arose, I was very dubious about the ability of anyone to cope with the junior jun-ior Senator from Wisconsin in a committee hearing. I do not think anyone had done so successfully before the Select Committee. During the election campaign cam-paign in 1958, Senator Watkins received the following follow-ing letter from President Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Dear Arthur: Your reelection campaign is very much on my mind, and I most earnestly wish you success. No doubt many citizens, far from the activities of Washington, must find it difficult dif-ficult to keep abreast of excellent service, such as you have been faithfully giving, day after day, month after month, during all your years in the United States Senate. I hope you can yourself make this known to all the people of Utah, and by all means I hope you will make clear how deeply I, and many others oth-ers in responsible places, both in the Congress and in the Administration, value your service and how constructive con-structive and useful it always has been. Instances of your important impor-tant contributions are many to cite a few, our Middle Eastern policies, in respect to which I received your helpful report in December 1954, and had the benefit of your recent effective effec-tive speech to the Senate the giant Colorado River Storage Project and many reclamation projects the Emergency Refuge Act of 1953 (fittingly known as the Watkins Act) plus a host of other measures important to all our people. In respect to all of these, your leadership and thoughtful advice contributed con-tributed much to administrative administra-tive and legislative actions needed by our country. It is because of this, and because yours is the kind of dedicated service needed in the Senate, that I gratefully send you this message. I feel sure you will find that the people of Utah value your experience, judgment and effective service as highly as I do. I anticipate that they will prove this by overwhelmingly over-whelmingly supporting your candidacy on election day. With warm regard, Sincerely, Dwight Eisenhower" By late October, the latest professional poll in the Senate showed voter sentiment senti-ment as follows: Arthur V. Watkins 37.7 percent; Frank E. Moss 31.3 percent; and J. Bracken Lee 22.8. It appeared that only an unusual or dramatic event could change the situation in favor of one of the other candidates. can-didates. Nevertheless, with limited time available for campaigning, campaign-ing, and with practically no funds on hand with which to campaign, Watkins made a valiant run. The final count showed a close race. Watkins .lost the election by some 11,000 votes out of some 35,000 votes cast. Seven months ' after Watkins' second term in the U.S. Senate had expired, President Eisenhower appointed him to the Indian Claims Commission. After serving as a member of the Indian Claims Commission for two years, Senator Watkins was named Chief Commissioner of the Commission. In later years, Watkins reflected, "it all turned out to have been best for me. Upon being named Chief Commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission by President Eisenhower in 1959, 1 found a quieter, more healthful life, and greater net income. My life has undoubtedly been lengthened, length-ened, and today I must honestly hon-estly admit that I was and am better off." He retired on November 1, 1967. At 80 years of age, Watkins wrote a book about his service in the Senate, including the McCarthy affair. It was published under the title Enough Rope in 1969, when he was 83 years old. On September 1, 1973, on the 32nd anniversary of the dedication of his beloved SCERA Auditorium, Arthur V. Watkins died at his home in Orem, which was located across the street from SCERA. Throughout his nearly 87 years, Senator Arthur V. Watkins accomplished much good and reached great heights. He was a notable sponsor and champion of the Upper Colorado River Project, as well as other water conservation projects. He carried out with skill and honor, the many assignments, assign-ments, which were given to him, and he was recognized for such achievements by the numerous awards and honorary hon-orary degrees, which he received. In 1979 the Orem Chamber of Commerce instituted insti-tuted an annual award, to be .known as the ARTHUR V. WATKINS OUTSTANDING AWARD. The award is made in Watkins' name, because "he is regarded as one of Orem's most famous citizens." citi-zens." In 1989 the Congress of the United States designated the Orem Post Office building build-ing at 222 West Center Street, as the "Arthur V. Watkins Building" in his honor. On January 1, 2000, Senator Arthur V. Watkins was recognized by the Orem-Geneva Orem-Geneva Times, as the outstanding out-standing Orem Citizen of the Twentieth Century, in its City of Orem Millennial History, featuring his picture on TIME MAGAZINE'S cover of October 4, 1954. M t Uin C A 1- Xr iNuw in ma ym rear! Gordon B. Hinkley: Bo June 23, 1910 Hi A golden strand, unbroken, truly ties The Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley to the Lj From Joseph Smith until the present d How many happy hearts and joyful eyes Sustain the Prophet's call and look toward His ministry! How many people pray! The Gospel Plan, once more, has been explain The Prophet's call was, surely foreordained His calling and election are sustained! Apprenticed in the Gospel, Gordon grew In testimony. As a seasoned youth He sailed for England, there to pray and prearl The word of God. The spirit that he knew Sustained him, as he tracted light and truth To every precious soul within his reach His witness was a power and a prize To bless the people with eternal ties. In London came a promising surprise: To preach the precious Gospel, and baptize! The corner of Hyde Park, where people spoke Became the pulpit, where young Gordon gained The time to test his tongue, before a crowd In silver sentences he would invoke The word of God: and there, he was sustained Returning home, his family was proud. His journalistic talents stood him well As callings in the Church began to swell. As many men who knew him would foretell His roles in radio would, soon, excel The efforts of some other personnel! For sixty years the Church became his work, Administering, and member of The Twelve. In Nineteen Eighty-one the Prophet called Him as a counselor. He did not shirk, But placed his hand and heart upon that shelf (How many holy temples he installed!) He served three presidents for fourteen years, While traveling the earth's two hemispheres. The thousand Temples, seen by Brigham Young, Were stars on which the Prophet's hopes were hung A hundred Temples, and their chandeliers Would take the Gospel light to new frontiers! And now, at ninety-three, his polar star Shines down to mark the mantle of his call, . As constellations twinkle from afar, Illuminating him, who stands so tall. He perseveres, as solid as a rock, Inspiring those, who see and hear him talk. He loves and challenges the Church's youth To carry on, in virtue and hi truth! The podium of walnut from his tree Becomes, for some, the symbol of his key, And represents his Gospel pedigree. And millions, now, revere him, most distinctly, Who came to be the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. The Orem-Geneva Times 538 South State Street Orem, UT 84058 An edition of The Daily Herald, Pulitzer Newspapers, Inc. Subscriptions & Delivery 375-5102 News & Advertising 225-134C Fax 22bi E-mail oremtimesnetworld.cop USPS 411-711. 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