OCR Text |
Show Page 34—THE HERALD. Provo. Utah, Thursday, January 17, 1980 Opinions: TheHerald The Herald Comments Harrison Gets One Quote Editor, Herald G.T. Harrison's Jan. 13 criticisia of Dr. Bateman reminds methat my ancestry gave sweat and life to comeacross the plains on foot and cart to found these beautiful valleys in Utah. From my travel experiences,I rate this valley the best place anywhere in the worldtolive Those that Harrison criticizes did rather well it seems to me and | am very appreciative of all who have built the quality of life here that I enjoy so much. If Mr. Harrison thinks otherwise perhaps he would makethis a better communityif he moved to a community without an LDSinfluence, and he would be hap- pier too. Would President Kimball write a letter like Harrison's about the leaders of Harrison's church? President Kimball has mysustaining vote and appreciation. Harrison quoted much; offer him and his criticisms only one Gamaliel said to those critical of Christians; “. . if this counsel or this work be of men,it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye can- not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:34-39) Richard L. Gunn 1249 E. Oakcrest Circle vo Herald Should Heed People Editor, Herald: I read with sadness your unsigned editorial about John Clarke's position on city government. It confirms myopinion on the depthof the division between the residents of Provo and the commercial interests, the city commission and the Herald sign on my property for Anagene City Council several times, on the problems of the Provo westside. From this experience, I completely agree with John Clarke. I think the City Commission is inept unresponsive, to us, and represents a smallfraction of the people. Witness the turnover on the Commission in the past few years. Perhaps the editors of the Herald eeilts will realize they also needto listen to the peopie. Meecham. I worked on the AntiPower Line Committee and as a member of the Leisure Village Board of Directors, met with the Sincerely, Max H. Russell 30 W. 350 N. Provo represent. I worked on the Ferguson for Mayor Campaign. There wasalso a Administrator Wins Praise Editor, Herald: Reed L. Clegg, one of the most competent, hard-working administrators in the federalsector,is retiring at the end of this month to accept an important missionary assignment with The Churck of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nigeria and Ghana. Mr. Clegg’s retirement from the Salt Lake City VACenter ends a career of unusual accomplishment. During my many years with the federal service I had an opportunity to observe at close range the leadership qualities of Reed Clegg as he directed the complex and technical activities of a major hospital. He not only madesure that the patients who cameto the hospital were treated with the best care available, butalso insisted that the hospital operation be conducted with maximum efficiency. No federal administrator of my knowledge was morediligentin his effort to protect the taxpayer. Beyond that, he wasactive in community affairs and served as a leaderof state and nationalhospital associations. At a time when there is so much Shot-gun criticism of federal employees as “‘bureaucrats,”’ I call attention to this excellent executive who would have been equally successfulin any otherfield of activity. Sincerely, Clark N. Stohl 1050 Oakhills Way Poor Mechanics Pollute Editor, Herald: Untrained mechanics cause pollution and lose mileage. Since we started using an infrared machine in 1977 in Utah, to checkauto pollution, we have found out these important items, having checked hundreds of vehicles: Morethan — More than 90 percent of the shops and garages that do tune-ups on vehicles, don’t have the necessary equipmentand training to do proper tune-ups. They guess and unnecessarypollution results with loss of mileage. — Morethan 60 percentofthe carburetors are set wrong for low and high RPM use. Mixture screw settings for low RPM use shouldbe set right, so gas isn’t wasted and pollution increased. And at high RPM the power values should be set. More than 60 percent of the vehicles tested could haveput outless pollution and gotten better mileage at speeds over 55 mph. Propersettings made on the carburetors and distributors working correctly, and the engines in tune, our pollution problems would be muchless, and UPI Misstates Editor, Herald: The writer of Wednesday's UPI release (Provo Herald, Jan. 9, p. 11) about Sonia Johnson, who said that she was “excommunicatedfrom the Mormon Church asa result of comments madein supportof the Equal Rights Amendment” either wasintentionally misrepresenting the facts or was hopelessly uninformed about the situation. The Mormon vehicle mileage would increase. We don’t need state pollution inspections; what we need are properly equipped shops with trained mi ics. The fault lies in a public that doesn’t know about what equipment is necessary for proper tune-ups, and get ripped off shopping for price. Until they learn it takes an infra-red machine, a scope and a diagnostic analyzer, a distributor machine, and a fact sheet box to give the mechanicall the facts on eachengine, and limit their tune-up business to just those shops, wewill have smog in ourstate. Pollution runs down hill like water. Carbon monoxide and acid to breathe is the result, if an apathetic public doesn’t awaken — and quick!. The lower you live the worse it gets. Some folks wake up now with headaches. If you are your brother's keeper, get your vehicle in proper tune. What we don’t need is more regulation by government! H.B.Foutz 490 W. 300 S. * vo Sonia Flap Church has made it abundantly clear that that is precisely not the reason why she was excommunicated. Such misstatements by UPI show lack of professionalism which has no place in the field of journalism. Larry G. Childs 1204 W.580 N Provo Hats off to Juab Purifiers Editor, Herald Hatsoff to the students of Juab High School whoare running a campaign to stampout swearing!!! The students, STAGG and administration of the high school are to be commended for such a worthwhile project. I supporttheir slogan ‘Stamp Out Swearing” and I would suggest, where the need exists in other secondary schools of Utah, that the students follow the example of Juab High A newsstory and picture covering this activity appeared in the Provo Daily Herald, Jan. 3, 1980. Sincerely Ross B. Denham MemberUtah State Board of Education District 7 About Letters: The Daily Herald welcomesletters to the editor on anysubject of broad reader interest. Letters preferably should be type-written, double-spaced and not exceed 400 words (about two typed, doublespaced pages) Without exception, every letter mustbe signed in ink with the writter’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 * What the Herald thinks, what the columnists say and what our readers think edit any letter to removepotentially libelous material, material in poor taste and to makeletters conform to the length requirements. Length re- quirements can be waived in unusual cases where excess material provides exceptionally pertinent information orinsights on a matter of broad community interest. As nearly as possible, all letters which meetthe above requirements will be published in the order they are received, although handwritten letters may be delayed for typing, and letters containing quceticoable Statements may be held back to be verified. Wrong People Getting Hurt In 1976, the former governor of Georgia ran for president on a campaign that characterized him as a moral, born-again Christian whowasout todo away with the old-style, traditional Washington spoils system. In the intervening four years, Jimmy Carter has met the enemy and become him. r Utah received a danger Signal of what might be coming late in 1979 when Carter's Transportation Secretary, former Portland, Ore., Mayor Neil Goldschmidt brazenly told a Senate Committee that the Transportation Department was going to useits distribution of discretionary highway funds as a tool of retribution against local Democratic officials (at the time Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne who had just announced her support of Sen. Edward Kennedy for President) whohad bolted the Carter camp or otherwise offended his imperial majesty. Now the Carter Administration is denying $13 million in freeway construction moneyto Utah on the pretext that Utah — which otherwise stood high on the priority list to get the funds because it has large sections of uncompleted interstate highway and hadspentall the federal money it was allocated last year — was late in submitting its application. Gov. Scott Matheson has written Goldschmidt to point out that Utah’s application was late because the local office of the All probably could care Federal Highway Ad- less. Whoever they voted ministration delayed it and for in 1976, and whatever that the denial of funds their homestate officials “appears to be patently did to support or detract improper and in violation from Carter's political surof the Federal Highway vival efforts, they all Administration’s own probably acted in the now procedures.” Seemingly fatuous belief Highway Commissioner that whatever political Clem Church of Panguitch backbiting went on, their government leaders at probably called it best. “This is political pork Teast would have the combarreling at its worst,” he Mon sense to direct Tesources where they were noted. needed most to provide for Utah had sought the $13 public safety. million to build a section of 1-15 from North Parowan Since the people travelto Fremont Wash in the ing Utah’s yet-to-be comsouthern part of the state. pleted interstate system A large percentage of the will be inconvenienced or travelers on thatstretch of killed with no consideraroad probably are from tion of political persuasion, states whereofficials have perhaps Carter and his sworn Carter fealty oaths, cohorts could find a more but most probably are direct way to slap the tahns hands that have offended. Robert Walters ReaganCould Sink Early By ROBERT WALTERS DAVENPORT, Iowa (NEA) — Former California Gov. Ronald W. Reagan, maintaining a leisurely campaign schedule despite evidence of deteriorating voter support, could becomethefirst major casualty of the 1980 race for the presidency. For more than three years, Reaganhasenjoyed thestatusof beingtheunofficialbut uni acclaimed front-runner in the contest for this year's Republican presidential nomination. That standing always was shaky, however, because it was based almost entirely upon the results of public opinion polls conducted months and even yearsprior to the opening of the current campaign. ~ It’s quite likely that manyof those surveyed indicated a preference for Reagan based moreonhis celebrity status, attained through campaigns for the presidency that date back more than a decade, than on their firm intent to vote for him. Rather than campaigning aggressively to prevent that soft support from further weakening, Reagan has chosen to maintain a travel schedule so casual that one knowledgeable political reporter, Lou Cannonof the Washington Post, has suggested he ought to be called the “‘front-walker’’ instead of the front-runner. In the first 55 days after declaring his candidacy last Nov. 13, Reagan spent only 13 days campaigning (including two days in which he traveled but made no speeches) while other candidates were campaigning four or five days a week. Even when traveling, Reagan maintains an unusually light schedule. During those first 55 days as an announced candidate, he delivered only 20 s; es — a quota the active contenders in the racefill in little more than a week. Whatever Reagan's traveling entourage lacks in zeal it more than compensates for in an extravagant style of campaigning that befits an incumbentpresident. When the candidate arrived here recently for a single speech, his retinue included no fewer than 42 aides and Secret Service agents. Virtually the entire senior staff — including the campaign manager, the political director and the pol- Ister — joined a four-day tour that also included later appeararices in the South and New England. Reagan’s entrance to the hall “first lady” (his wife Nancy) bear- Berry's World = where his speech was to be made was anelaborate, well-orchestrated event complete with clashing cymbals and drum rolls from a marching band, cheer-leaders waving red and white pom-poms and a 7 © 1980 by NEA, inc Gr-Cne,,, “., And standing in for President Carter in tonight’s debate we have life-sized photograph...” ing a bouquet of roses. e only disappointment wasthe candidate's speech. Throughout the 1970s, Reagan was the best stump speaker — Republican or Democrat — in Americanpolitics, but his address here was a flat, uninspired lecture rather than a rousing speech. Part of the problem maylie in the factthat for years Reagan has been delivering the same basic campaign speech, calling for unity in the Republican Party and criticizing federal meddling in business, education, energy and otherfields as the source of virtually all the nation's problems. Reagan ought to winthe straw poll the Republicanswilltake at the upcoming ‘precinct caucuses in Towa,not only because of his status asthe best-known candidate but also because of his roots in the state. Born in the small town of Tampico in neighboringIllinois, sports broadcaster ‘‘Dutch” Reagan began his career in the 1930s at radio station WOC in this city, then moved to state WHOin Des Moines. “Dutch Reagan doesn't have to learn Iowa. He's almost a home townboy,”’ says his lowa campaign chief, M. Peter McPherson. But Reagancouldfall far short of the 49 percentsupporthereceived in the contest with then-President Gerald R. Fordin the 1976 precinct caucuses. His paulical operatives here are openly concerned that many potential Reagan backers won't bother to attend this year's caucuses because their commitmentto his candidacyis a weakone. Reagan typifies the candidate with mile-wide but inch-deep suprt. Victories here and in states jolding early primarieswill provide needed reinforcement — but only a few defeats will have a devastating effect Paul Harvey Afghanistan a Religious War Is this in Afghanistan yet another “religious war’? By now you knowthat Soviet Russia sent 100,000 troops to Afghanistan, figuring that would be enough. It wasnot. They are experienced winter fighters, determined to crush all resistance before spring. Yet in several sectors they have been stopped by Moslem mountain fighters headquartered across the border in Pakistan. The Afghan night fighters have some guns but they prefer meat cleavers. It is bitter cold in Afghanistan right now. A lot of bodies lie unburied on the frozen ground.In the wakeofthe fighting the stink of war. And any dogtace who did up-front time in Korea or Nam will smell that smell for the rest of hislife. And there are other obvious similarities between this war and those. I can’t know,butI’m thinking that Soviet President Brezhnev, old and sick — and Soviet Prime Minister Kosygin, old and sick — that they may havehadlittle or nothing to do with this misadventure. It sounds more like something Gromyko and Ustinov would cook u "Otticial Washington has sent a warning to Russia not to moveits military forces beyond Afgnanistan — implying that we are prepared to oe them if they o n the White House-Kremlin hotline, Brezhnev hassaid that Russian troopswill be withdrawn‘‘only after they have completed their work"’ — whatever that means. Most Western observers have assumed that Russia is in Afghanistan asa first step to further conquest of the oil-rich Middle East. That could be: But Soviet communism is threatened by any otherreligion. Oh, yes, communism is a godless religion, to be sure, buta religion, nonetheless, Thus Soviet communism is careful to limit freedom for any other religions inside the Soviet Union. Butthereligion of Islam — in Iran and in Afghanistan —.has beenspilling across those borders into the Soviet Union And this thrust may be primarily intended to contain that. Before young Americans are asked again to go to war, they deserve to know whatfor. If it is to protect Mideastoil supplies, it would be a lot cheaper to spend the same moneyaccelerating the development of substitutes for ‘oil. If it is to make the area safe for Moslems our sons deserve better thanto be sentintothe crossfire of a religious war . If it is to oppose the advanceof communism, we don't need to travel 6,000 miles from hometo do that; wecanstart 90 miles from Florida. (c) 1980, Los Angeles Times Syndicate |