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Show rijj ni '111 f - y"mriJ The Public Forum Slit Salt falie Sfihtntf First Section Monday, September 3, 1973 Jut a Shanty Rethink Labor Day? Maybe its time to rethink Labor Day. The holiday is too entrenched m the American scheme of th.ngs to abolish. And few would want to go that far anyway. But even labor people will concede that the conditions which prompted its inception have, for the most part, ceased to exist. No longer are American laboring men an underdog force struggling for recognition and power. They have both in abundance. Virtually all the goals exploited workers when the celebration were seeking in 1882 have long ago been attained and began surpassed. The National Labor Union of the United States 1886 slogan, Eiight hours for work. Eight hours for sleep. Eight hours for what you will. sounds quaint in 1973. When labor leaders wield great power in Congress, hobnob with presidents, travel in private jets add play golf at the country club it seems strange to dedicate a day to those who, in words of Labor Days founder Peter J. McGuire, from rude nature have delved and carved the grandeur we behold. Itll Davis County is on the brink of embarking on some rather risky pointing with pride. The plan to build two hospitals in the county, one in the north part of the county and the other in the south, might result in more hospital beds than the county possibly needs. Particu. -- larly so, considering that St. Benedicts Hospital in Ogden is going to be relocated very Davis County line. close to the Weber-north Should Davis County go ahead with its plans to build a north county hospital it would mean that two rather large hospitals would be located relatively close to each other. The likely result would be that beds and even more costly facilities would not be fully utilized. The need for a new hospital in the southern part of the county has become more acute since the removal of St. Marks Hospital from the site it occupied at 851 N. 2nd West for about 80 years. St. Marks during those eight decades was in many ways southern Davis Countys hospital. When it moved . ! Even Labor Days old distinction of being the first Monday holiday set by law and the father of the three-daweekend, has been diluted by legislation promoting four other holidays to that status. If it is agreed that Labor Day is more bombast and beer than rededication to a living wage, the question of what will take its place must be faced. y south, Davis County residents lost their hospital. The most logical course of action was for Davis officials to plan a new hospital. happened to southern Davis County residents when St. Marks Hospital moved is going to happen along the countrys northern reaches. A hospital, previously some distance from the countys northern residents, is about to move closer to them. If southern Davis County citizens were able for decades to find dependable and convenient hospital service in a facility just across the line in Salt Lake County, why cant the same apply just across the Weber County line to the north? This is what L. Brent Goates, administrator the Salt Lakes Latter-da- y Saints Hospital, is talking about' when he says, We must ask hospitals to work together in larger geographical segments than counties. The need for a new hospital in southern Davis County can hardly be argued against, but, the same cant be said for a similar move in the north. Not when St. Benocts is going to be relocated so near at hand, here is no reason that what worked so well for nearly 80 years for southern Davis residents shouldnt work equally well for equally as long for folks in the north. Now the reverse of what the evidence of the ' d recently-conclude- University Games in Moscow, there is a real question whether the Russians can meet either requirement. , The university competition was meant in part to demonstrate Soviet abilities to handle a big international sports event, and in so doing to improve Russian chances for getting the 19S0 Summer Olympics. What was demonstrated in fact was organizational political mismanagement, boorishness and a coercive inhospitahty that extended not only to competing athletes but to foreign newsmen as well. 1 Probably the most flagrant and ugly episode was the organized heckling of Israeli athletes by uniformed Red Army soldiers, and the subsequent assault by Soviet secunty police on Russians who had dared to cheer the Israeli basketball team. Later, the official Soviet press tried to dismiss this abuse by attributing it all to Russian fans who 1 I I I Intcrlaiuli earned away by the competitive spirit. Not content with that, Russian papers also warned foreign newsmen who reported the incident accurately that they might be denied visas to cover the 1980 Olympics, if they are held in Moscow. simply-go- t Outside ,the arena, things werent much better. News reports tell of pnson-liksecurity measures," apparently aimed at limiting contacts between Russians and foreigners; of poor medical facilities, and most troubling to the athletes of mediocre food. Said a British competitor: Every day its nee, potatoes and peas, peas, rice and potatoes. And, for a change, its peas, potatoes and rice. e A charitable view might be that the Russians, because of inexpenence, were unprepared to cope with the care and feeding requirements of a multinational gathering like the World University Games. That is a correctable defect. But the crude political behavior that marked Soviet handling of the event cant be attributed to inexperience. On the contrary, the Russians have vast experience in this sort of thing, and that is precisely the problem as far as the 1980 Olympics are concerned. Among the purposes of the games are tc bring nations into friendly contact, to deepen understanding, to give the host country a chance to shine for a while in the .vorld spotlight. The Russians clearly are most interested in this last point, but it alone does not qualify them to play host to the Olympics. the World University Games demonstrated was a Russian interest in putting ideology and political control ahead of sportsmanship and hospitality, and, so long as that interest prevails, Moscows Olympic bid cant be taken seriously. What I I Bill Vaughan's. I I Orbiting Paragraphs 1 I brief respite from Watergate. When it resumes, we trust we will be given a brief synopsis to bring our blood pressures back up to their present levels. We have a ! I It looks as though its going to be a long wait for deliverance for us Prisoners of Inflation. 7 - I think Its fSfrtlS .... , Improved my appearance, nela? T Foreign tourists are expected to flock to the United States for the bicentennial celebration, although its hard to figure what a visitor from, say, Damascus, could see in a place thats a mere 200 years old. Svin'ToUa-- Smith Hempstone Tension Tells on Presidents Visage Washington Star-New- Syndicate The health of a president of WASHINGTON s the United States is a legitimate if somewhat morbid matter of concern not only to Americans but to many people of the world who depend upon his physical and mental for both their economic and well-bein- political security. Details of President Eisenhowers bowel movements were flashed around the world in the wake of his heart attack. Thanks to television satellites, LBJs gall r- Hempstone bladder scar became as deeply graven on the minds of the citizens of Abidjan as upon those of Cedar Rapids. Mr. Nixon, until recently among our healthiest (if most uptight) presidents, has been showing signs of wear. And small wonder: If he is guilty of complicity in the Watergate coverup, he must bear, in addition to the fear of detection, disgrace and dismissal, at least a moderate burden of guilt and remorse; if he is innocent, as he protests he is, then both the betrayal by his closest aides and the failure of the people to believe his innocence must he a source of both sorrow and rage to him. A World 1 Public Forum letters must be submitted full exclusively to The Tribune and bear writers be must Names and address. name, signature withheld printed on political letters but may be for good reasons on others. Writers are limited to one letter every 10 days. Preference will be given to short, typewritten (double spaced) letters permitting use of the writers true name. All letters are subject to condensation. Wearing Task is a wearing task. But the last six months must have been perfect hell with the largest majorifor Mr. Nixon. in American modem ty history, he has had to sit by in frustration while his mandate fell to the lowest level in 20 years, his staff was gutted and his programs came to a standstill. At best, the piesidency From The Los Angeles Times Two things can reasonably be asked of any country that wants to host the Olympic Games, which the Soviet Union is eager to do in 1980. First, it must be able to provide adequate facilities for all visiting athletes and other foreign, guests. Second, it must have an attitude that reflects the friendliness and sportsmanship that the games are supposed to represent. I I Forum Rules is Moscow Too Rude For Olympic Hosting On Ralph Y. McClure and efto decided others have upgrade the image and which ficiency of its animal control department, You see, Commissioner But its too late to do anything like that this year. On Labor Day 1973 the good, honest, hard worker of old who once again should be in the spotlight. And, come to think of it, there are so few of that noble breed in harness anymore they deserve a day all their own, too. So lets keep Labor Day but redirect its thrust to glorify the virtues and rewards of again taking pride in the quality of ones work. Another Viewpoint ( now on. All sorts of needs come to mind. A day devoted to inspiring national unity, a nationwide bring us together festival, would be nice. Or Fairness Day. And how about Integrity in Government Day? Sound Economy Day would appeal to many or maybe Keep an Eye on Taxes Day. The possibilities are endless. Work in the North, Too There are many things that communities point to with pride, among them being the number of hospital beds available to residents. But pointing with pride can get to be too much of a good thing and also expensive. This is particularly true when any service exceeds the demand for it. - alarmed Editor, Tribune: I was really quite 8125,000 being the about I read when recently new University of spent for a mansion for the TribUtah president; however, the article in The Take On Controllers Animal une, Aug. 21, County New Look, makes me reevaluate the situation and I amve at the conclusion that the new presiof a dent just may be living in a shanty instead mansion. It seems all those Salt Lake County roaming dogs, the many hundreds of them, are really going to be living it up if they're lucky enough to get if they caught; in fact, I wouldn't be surprised arent going to be begging to be picked up from Finally, on July 12, his health gave way, at least temporarily, as he was hospitalized for eight days for what was described as viral pneumonia. The President has not looked or sounded well since that date. His eyes seem to have receded into his head, the shadows under them to have darkened. There are new lines in his face, his hair appears grayer, his lips tighter, his jowls more flaccid. and gestures, never the smoothest, seem to have an increased jerkiness to them. Once the most precise of public speakers, he now slurs and mispronounces certain words. His movements At Great Effort Normally the most controlled of men, he seems to be maintaining that control at the cost of great effort, and losing it occasionally, as he did in the famous New Orleans incident when he spun around Press Secretary Rona.d L. Ziegler and shoved him roughly toward a group of reporters, wkn the angry instruction to get rid of them. His nervous flittings from the White House to Camp David to Key Biscayne to San Clemente, always a sign that he is troubled, have increased. counselor Melvin R. Although presidential Laird concedes that it might have been better if the President had taken a longer rest after his bout with pneumonia and other aides have variously described his mood as grim," upset and under pressure, White House spokesmen maintain Mr. Nixon is not under medication and is performing the duties of his office. There is no reason to disbelieve them and it is earnestly to be hoped that Mr. Nixon returned from San Clemente a rested and refreshed man. His foes as well as his friends should wish this, for the prospect of having a physically or emotionally ill president in the White Houae is a frightening a cabinet meeting. In the interim, the country was run by Mrs. Wilson and members of the cabinet. attend indeed is needed Vit what an extravagance to spend $400,000 of the taxpayer's money for a new animal shelter. Two new trucks have also been ordered, the bill being $7,132 each. The magnitude of the problem of dogs running at large nect tates, no doubt, sizable quarters; however, I cannot conceive of anyone justifying spending this enormous amount. Those of us who care for our pets properly, and those who do not own pets, resent having our money spent so thoughtlessly. If the impounding fee were high I feel it should not be less than $30 for enough the first offense a shanty like the university president is going to have would, I believe, prove to be more than adequate but $400,000? I can't believe it! MRS. E. BAIRD No Regard for Safety Provides Means Editor, Tribune: Locally in the past few days, a motorcyclist lost his leg in a collision w ith a police vehicle hurrying to the scene of another accident and which was running a red light in the process, its lights and sirens going. As a further insult, the victim was cited for failure to yield Elsewhere, an ambulance had a collision while taking accident victims to the hospitaL Several years ago I treated a nurse who was paralyzed permanently from the neck down following an intersection collision with a speeding ambuBut what happens if the President becomes lance. physically or emotionally incapacitated and is unWhj all this emphasis on speed? As a physias able or unwilling to recognize that incapacity, cian, I can verify that it is only the occasional vicmight well happen in the case of a mental breaktim who escapes death or serious disability bedown? The vice president and a majority of the cause seconds or even minutes are lost. Prompt, cabinet must declare his incapacity. If the Presiefficient care by knowledgeable persons at the dent declares in writing that no disability exists, scene or in the hospital emergency room is cers vote of then Congress must decide. A tainly important, but I deplore the unjustified both houses is required before a protesting Presirisks and further injuries caused by police and dent can be relieved of his duties. ambulance vehicles operated with reckless haste and light regard for the safety of the general That prospect is really entirely too horrrible to PUbhC' CHARLES C. HALL, M.D. contemplate. The 25th Amendment, ratified only in 1967, provides a mechanism for the transfer of power to the vice president in the event of the incapacitating illness of a president. This is easy enough if the president is able to recognize his own incapacity: He need only send a letter to that effect to the Speaker of the House (Carl Albert) and president pro tempore of the Senate (James East-land- right-of-wa- ). At that time, the Constitution did not prescribe who takes over the functions of a president when he becomes incapacitated by illness but neither dies nor resigns. Wilsons wife had to guide his hand while he signed official documents and it was more than six montns before he was able to V i two-third- Jack C. v Landau Richardson on Wrong Track? Newhouse News Service - WASHINGTON Atty. Gen. Elliot Richardto remove efforts sons politics from the Justice undermined by his could be seriously Department direct intervention in the criminal investigation involving Vice President Spiro Agnew. Richardson has said it will be my ultimate responsibility to decide whether there is enough evidence involving Agnew to be presented to the grand jury; whetner the grand jury should be asked to hand down an indictment, and whether it is constitutional to indict a sitting vice president. In short, President Nixons attorney general is deciding whether or not to pursue an investigation involving President Nixons vice president of a poscenario which replays litical all the Watergate criticism of the Justice Department. conflict-of-intere- Committee Wary Three months ago. Richardsons own nomination was held up by the Senate Judiciary Committee because the committee did not trust Richardson to conduct the Watergate criminal investigation. Richardson's Over the Senate protests, required him to accept special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox as the political price of his own confirmation. And the Senate was so suspicious of Richardson it forced him to agree to a written statement guaranteeing the complete independence of Cox to conduct his investigations. largest steel companies. When the Agnew investigation came to light several weeks ago, Richara-socalled in Cox and together they decided the investigation was outside Cox's Watergate mandate. n However, Richardson could have asked Cox to undertake the investigation under a regulation which says the Watergate special prosecutor ran look into any ottier matters which he consents to have assigned to him by the attorney gem ral " Richardson's statement that he might even stop the grand jury from hearing evidence involving Agnew appears to conflict with the position of Cox, who has argued that Nixon has no immunity from being investigated by a grand jury. Issue Defined The issue has never been whether or not Richardson is fair and impartial. The issue m his confirmation hearings was the appearance of impartiality stemming from his relationship with the President and the Presidents relationship with John Mitchell, H. R. Haldeman, John Ehrhchman and other Watergate figures. The Senate forced Richardson to remove himself from investigations involving a former attorney general and former White House aides. He should voluntarily remove himself from any part in the investigation of the vice president. The Grant Cartoon Richardson realized his first job as attorney general was to remove the darkening cloud of suspicion and distrust engendered by Watergate . . . Cut Confidence maFA!? ?0WiAi - -- toy' -i He said the suspicion that political considerations or political influence can color the administration of justice had contributed to diminish confidence in the Department of Justice. m one. Celebrated Case Perhaps the most celebrated case of presidential incapacity was that of President Wilson, who collapsed from fatigue and nervous tension while traveling the country in an effort to sell the American people on U.S. membership in the League of Nations. A week later, on Oct. 3, 1919, Wilson suffered a paralytic stroke. y In his first major policy moves he announced he would require records be kept of all outside contacts on Justice Department cas' i and would appoint an inspector general to investigate any allegations of political pressure on Justice Department lawyers. He also said he would require all Justice Department political appointees to give up any active political campaigning an would even deny to congressmen advance notice of federal grants in their districts. Nixons Southern strategy by filing a voting rights case against Mississippi and upset Northern GOP politicians by indicting the nations x. He upset r mzJs Is specialty of House - . . . rNbomb ton soup T |