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Show ' iiniintiniiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiniiininiuirMiininiitiiiniiiitiinitiinLuinnnfiiiiininnmi Know Lyndon's Secretive , But He Should'ye Told You Thst I'm President Now' DESERET NEWS LETTERS SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH aiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiinniiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiniiiininiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiw Garbage Pay Is Better We Stand For The Constitution Of The United States As Having Been Divinely Inspired ; When I saw in the Jan. 22, Deseret News that a bill had been introduced into the Utah House which would increase the salaries of a number of state officials, my blood started to boil MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1969 12 A EDITORIAL PACE S TO THE EDITOR I am employed as an attendant at the Utah State e pay of $2,880 Hospital and I receive a On this income my wife, and my myself, per year. two children must solely depend. It is most discouraging to see not only my fami- ly, but the families of most attendants at the hospital having to live under such poor conditions,. take-hom- How Not To Guard The Public Interest i What kind of incentive program is it that rewards diligence in trying to prevent government waste with the threat of removal from the job? That is exactly what has happened to two government employes who had the temerity to point out not just millions but. billions of dollars in losses. There is, for example, the case of John M. McGee, a civilian-Navy fuel inspector. McGee informed Congress about alleged lax inspection procedures by his superior which permitted the theft of at least 5.5 million gallons of gasoline and jet aircraft fuel in Thailand over a period in 1967. T What happened to McGee? The Navy attempted to fire him for concealing a default on a $101 debt while working some years before as a government clerk. A review of the records show he had actual! supplied the information, but the Navy still has not withdrawn the charge. It has, however, reduced the penalty from dismissal to an official reprimand. Even more shocking was the treatment of A. Ernest Fitzgerald, a civilian employe of the Air Force who is deputy for management systems in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. Fitzgerald pointed out to a Congressional subcommittee a $2 pillion error in the Pentagons estimate for the cost of its jet transport planes which would almost double the cost. contract figure was $2.4 billion. original Thg Twelve days after Fitzgeralds testimony, he received word that his Civil Service tenure was being dropped opening him to arbitrary dismissal from his job. In addition, the Ai Force drew up a memo pointing out three ways he could be removed from government service. Sen. William Froxmire, who disclosed the memo last week In a hearing on the matter, termed Fitzgeralds case the most shocking retaliation against a pubic servant I have seen in the I have been in the Senate. Viewed in any light, it is a Bhoddy reward for dedicated public service. If any heads should roll, it should be those wanting to sack the watch dog for doing his job so well Just the raise the governor would receive would help many families to obtain not the finer things of life, but the minimum necessities adequate clothing, food, and housing. Some of us qualify for the Federal Food Stamp Program, which has been a help in meeting our needs. However, I cannot for the life of me understand why I have to go to the welfare office and re-- . ceive in the form of federal food stamps what I should get in a pay check. . Beware Of New Russian Trap th C-$- A 11-year- s 1.- - r Pays Off Self-Hel- p By ROSCOE and GEOFFREY DRUMMOND - WASHINGTON The Soviets are setting a trap for President Nixon in the Middle East. They are trying to lure him into Joinsettle- ing them to impose a ment. This may prove Richard Nixons toughest and touchiest foreign problem not ending the war in Vietnam, but preventing renewed war between the Arabs and the Israelis. The war clouds are getting darker. As Arab guerrilla attacks keep escalating, Israeli response keeps escalating. Fortunately, the crisis is no surprise to Mr. Nixon. One of his first postelection acts was to send his personal emmisary, William Scranton, for a firsthand assessment. President Nixon thus can act on fresh knowledge and without undue delay. His choice of action is not great. The United States cant command; it can only influence. But the United States can do one thing, and it is evident that this is what the President and Secretary of State William Rogers have in mind: Avoid the Soiet trap of attempting to enforce a settlement over the feuding Middle East. Have no doubt about it it is a trap. one-side- d R. Drummond 25,000-squar- step toward bettering its lot in life. Just how big a step is indicated by a few stark facts: Of the 120,000 Navajos at the reservation, fully half cannot speak or write English. That means that even when scarce jobs in the area become available, all too many Navajos lack the' ability to fill them. Of those who have left the reservation in pursuit of a higher education, 90 per cent have returned without a diploma, many of them disturbed over the difficulty of adjusting to a strange new way of life. The new junior college, consequently, should help bridge the two big gaps between the reservation and life outside, between poverty and a job. r More important, it should help overcome that poverty of the soul that results when a man becomes so discouraged that he .gives up trying and hoping, as observers say so many Navajos have. Navajo leaders should be credited with no little foresight and responsibility. Unlike some other tribes that have frittered away their funds, the Navajos have been setting aside substantial amounts of their royalties from oil, natural gas, and uranium for loans to Navajo college students. The Navajos still have a long way to go, of course. But its encouraging to see evidence that the American Indian is p is often the most effective help. discovering that ence and power in the Middle East. The end result would be to increase the danger of war, not decrease it. Because: 1 The Soviet proposal does not provide for removing the conditions which produced the war in the first place. The only way to really secure peace is to remove the causes of war. 2 The Soviet proposal is upside- down. Moscow invites Washington to join in Imposing a settlement which neither the Arabs nor the Israelis will accept by retaining untouched the very conditions which comprised the breeding ground of the 1967 conflict. 3 At the United Nations, the Soviet Union vetoed every evenhanded resolution aimed at bringing the Arabs and the Israelis into negotiation. It now proposes Soviet version of a settlement a and seeks to tempt the United States into agreeing to enforce it. The American Federation of Government Employes, which has 7,000 members in Utah, is one union that has proved better wages and working conditions can be gained more profitably by working with management than by strik-ing. In this respect the government employes union much resembles labor unions in Sweden which have all but conclusively proven that strikes are not necessary for labor to move ahead. Sweden's wages are among the highest in Europe, yet the country has had almost no strikes in recent years. Basic contracts are negotiated on a nation-wid- e basis between powerful with little labor unions and a strong employer organization interference from the government. Labor peace prevails because (1) unions confine demands to amounts that can be offset by increased productivity; (2) member companies cannot put into effect a wage agreement not approved by the executive board; (3) once a contract is settled, there can be no strike over lesser issues; and (4) unions themselves deal harshly with wildcat strikers all lessons for to follow. Americans good Contrast that to the U.S. system where trivial issues often have precipitated crippling strikes. The Swedish success key, says one employer spokesman, is that unions and employers alike have a vivid sense of responsibility toward the community" or the nation as a whole. Could this be what many Americans lack ? rt'HoU0hfrS t A sound touchstone for young people in determining whether its infatuation or the real thing, is perceptive remark: Love d6es not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. - Ita difficult to remember how tasteless tap water is in theity until youve resumed drinking well water in the coun- Saint-Exuper- one-side- d It is dangerous; it is provocative; it is designed by Moscow to put the United States behind an expanding Soviet pres- - How could the United States safe- - 4 A Strange And Perilous By SYDNEY to submit voluntarily) psychiatric examinations, for everyone is a little kinky and could benefit from some objective advice, if not from treatment If Lincolns melancholia had been lifted a little bit, who knows how the course of history might have changed.. I would like to believe that Nixon is complex enough and troubled enough and sensitive enough to have sought such aid if he felt he needed it. Rather than inspiring doubt in his capacities, it would add to my respect for the man. The truly sick people are those who grimly cling to the fiction that nothing at all is wrong with them. Of course, we should be reluctant to submit to the tyranny of psychiatric standards as much as to the tyranny of any other discipline; for psychiatrists are capable of disagreeing as much as decision-maker- ular psychiatric check-upjust as we now insist that they have regular physis, cal Orem A check-up- s. There would be no shame attached to this; indeed, it would become a part of Attitude s any other doctors within the same specialty. But, at least, gross abnormalities could be detected, and secret pockets of sickness could be cleaned out before they begin to infect the whole personality, as they did with Woodrow Wilson. It is an embarrassing reflection upon our national naivete that the story, true or not, drew such a heated repudiation. aversion to any psyOur chiatric probing accounts for incalculable thousands of private tragedies a year, not to speak of the public injury done by men in high positions who are in far more desperate need of help than the creatures they direct, order, sentence or condemn. It is not the obviously psychotic who pose a threat to society; it is the apparently sane, the plausible, who suddenly break from the strain of being able to tell their troubles to nobody at all. Closed State? The proposed land posting law sportsmen and the state. Big-Pow- J. HARRIS civic virtue for all public leaders and The recent "disclosure that Richard Nixon had gone to a doctor who may or may not have been a psychiatrist at the time, and who may or may not have given him psychiatric help, struck me as a complete reversal of what our attitude should be on the subject. Nixon's blunt denial that he sought psychiatric advice may or may not have been true what is sad is that any man in high public life in America today would feel forced to make the same denial, for fear of being, labeled as ' unstable. Yet, in a civilized and rational society (which is perhaps asking for too much), we should insist that our leaders have reg- , Is detrimental to This cattlemen-propose- d law will prove to all that Utah is a closed state. This is contrary to Gov. Ramptons huge and costly efforts to entice tourists, and new business to Utah. We need both badly. The almost 200,000 sportsmen in Utah feel this law is restrictive and The real sportsmen resent the indictment and mass punishment of all because of the stupid, idiotic and vicious acts of a few. Intelligent and necessary game management, controlling, stocking and harvesting would be Impossible under this law. Revenues from sportsmen to state, business and landowners themselves run into several million dollars through licenses, trespass fees and sports equipment of all kinds. All legislators and Gov. Rampton should consider the ill effects of thic law. -L- LOYD J. MERINO SR. Ogden The Termite Case In his basement, Mr. Smith discovered some crawly creatures which he accurately identified as termites. Call the exterminators, he yelled to his wife. Observing the little bugs, she was hesitant. Have they done any harm? she asked. Not yet, thank heaven," Mr. Smith replied with relief. Then, said kindly Mrs. Smith, I think it would be unfair to get rid of them. One day some Utah taxpayers observed a Students for a Democratic Society chapter on a local campus. Better get rid of them, they strongly urged. University officials asked, Have they done any harm yet? Observation: Some people have to have a house fall in on them. -D- AWN BALLANTYNE Bountiful . Economy-- Or Politics? The newspaper stated that in the Interest of economy, 15 men have been let out at the County Complex. Having a slight knowledge of politics and reading between the lines, I might venture to sa that economy had nothing to do with letting them out. Marv Jenson being a Democrat (a good one)! being opposed by two kind of Republicans, waq graciously allowed the County Complex department to run, the only department where he had anything 1o say. These 15 men were probably Mr. Jensons key men and important cogs in his political machine. Marv would find work for his key men be-fore hiring anyone else. Now Mr. Blomquist has taken over the County Complex and these 15 men must go (in the interest of economy). I would venture to say that within three months (Mr. Blomquist must build his political machine) 15 men and possibly more, not Mr. Jensons men but Mr. Blomquists men,, will be hired for the County Complex. After all, what Republican wants 15 Democrats to have a Job? LAWRENCE ROCK 2470 E. 3720 South 1 Pres. Nixons First Seven Days self-hel- For Labor Peace G. Drummond ly join Russia in policing a peace between the Arabs and the Israelis without first removing the principal causes of conflict? Moscow could interpret any action by either side as requiring our two nations to intervene. When you think of Czechoslovakia, it is obvious that Moscow doesnt even need a basis for intervention. U.S. policy cant be at the disposal of the Soviet Union. 5 The Kremlin proposal is a means of expanding Soviet influence through the d Middle East and of making the Arab governments even more dependent upon Moscow than many already are. 6 Under all the circumstances, any settleattempt to impose a ment in the Middle East would increase the danger that a major outbreak would briug the Soviet Union and the United since States into direct confrontation we would quite likely be holding opposite views of whos to blame. This doesnt mean that there is nothJohnson-Nixo- n ing the President can do. The reply to the Soviet proposal urged two lines of action continuing consultation and, more important, active support for the U.N.s Jarring mission to get the Arab states and Israel to come to terms themselves. a mutual Another step would help agreement between the United States the level of and Russia to arms which each is supplying the other side. Soviet-oriente- Big-Pow- The Navajo Reservation of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico 'passed an important milestone last week in the continuing effort to bring the American Indien up from the bottom of the economic ladder. e mile reservation was Until last week the area land in United continental the States without thj' largest a college. But with the opening of me new Navajo Community, College at Many Farms, Arizona, the tribe is taking a big A few of the attendants, after attaining some seniority, bid off their attendant jobs and go into other areas of the hospital operations, such as the carpentry shop, electrical shop, garage, or the garbage detail Why? Because the pay is better on those jobs. Do the people of Utah actually think more of caring for their garbage and buildings than they do of caring for their fellowmen and loved ones? I hope not. I believe we must reassess our value systems and see to it that those who are struggling just to exist are considered for pay Increases before we so generously give to those who at least have enough to meet the needs of their families. -T- HEODORE TERRY ART BUCHWALD Richard Nixon has WASHINGTON now been President of the United States for seven days, and so it is not too early for historians to judge what kind of We are no nearer the moon today than we were when Mr. Nixon was sworn in last Monday. President he has been. So far, the This has many people concerned, as it was hoped that we could have an American on the moon as soon as a Republican President took office. Nixon Administration has failed to make any gains in the fight against crime. If anything, the crime rate has gone up since he Mr. Bnchwald has been in the White House, and when historians write about his first seven days, they will have to say that Mr. Nixon was unable to solve law and order, the No. 1 problem in h country. As far as the economy goes. President Nixon has not been able to bring about any great tax reforms during his first week in office. But here he cannot be Demosolely to blame. A recalcitrant cratic Congress has been sitting on its hands since Tuesday and has refused to take up any of Mr. Nixons legislation. The peace talks have been moving at a snails pace in Paris, and many Americans are disappointed that they may go on another week. It was hoped that when Nixon moved into the White House wed have a peace treaty with the North Vietnamese by Friday. Also, President Nixon's promise to improve relations with the Soviet Union has yet to bear fruit. Since he has been in office the Russians have given no indication that they want to talk about mutual matters concerning our countries. Critics of the Nixon Administration fee! something should have been started by now, and the big question they are asking is: How much time does he need to $t the ball rolling?" ft -1 fh When historians write their books about President Nixons first week in office, they will also point out that he was unable to resolve the Middle East crisis by Sunday. People' close to President Nixon say this was one of his biggest disappointments, because he wanted to get that part of the world settled so he could go on to otlier things. Other areas where the Nixon Administration has failed are Latin America, Biafra and San Franrisco State. Defenders of the Administration said that Mr. Nixon would turn his attention to these problems in his second week. But opponents of the Nixon policies say hes had enough time to get them resolved al- With only 1,453 days to go in his term, the President can do little more now than tidy up the things he started in his first seven days. The question people are now asking is whether Richard Nixon will run again, or whetiier he is fed up with the job that has made so many demands on him. Those who know him well say that he believes he has a mission and despite the disappointment of the first seven days, he likes the job and is thriving in it. Perhaps, said an aide, After a couple of weeks he may think otherwise. But I can assure you that if he had his first seven days to do all over again, Dick Nixon wouldnt have done anything differently. GUEST CARTOON It iP? rt iT r- n fin ri Tjifrn rti mm non-prof- it. Now that the fluoridation promotors can't get people to accept fluoridation, they are trying to force it on the entire stats by means of Senate Bill 122. On the plus side, Mr. Nixon's relations with the press have been excellent, and no President has been treated as well during his first seven days in office. t-- A liquor control bill now before the legislature would require private clubs to present letters from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service certifying that the club is, indeed, Have the authors of the bill never heard that Utah's Tax Commission has its own audit division or is it that they question the competence and-o- r impartiality of that audit division? --GEORGE M. LOERTSCHER 1 y.8 Montgomery St. Opposes Fluoridation ready. While his legislative record, so far, leaves much to be desired, when the history of these first seven days is written, r.o one will say that Mr. Nixon didnt fy. Mysterious, pragmatic, a loner, devoted to his family, a man who came back from the ashes of defeat, Richard Nixon will go down during his first week as a strong President seeking to heal the wounds of a nation wiacked with fear nd despair. Utah Audits , Too A M'sieur Cabot Lodge enquiring about our annuol rates." Toronto Te'tQrartr jtwi mi The fluoridation bill boils down to whether the State Board of Health has the right to prescribe a drug, chemical, nutrient or whatever you wish to call it, for your children in order to treat them against your wises. Even if fluoridation was absolutely safe, it would not be morally right. The scientific case against fluoridation can be uncovered by researching the issue at the University Library. I hope that our elected representatives are not hasty in their consideration of SB122 and that they realize the implication of mass medication. It has already been suggested that compulsory birth control could be instituted by adding an appropriate drug to the water supply similar to fluoridation. FRANK A. GRAF JR- Brigham City |