The Mail-Journal, Volume 7, Number 31, Milford, Kosciusko County, 2 September 1970 — Page 9

The PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY The Milford Mail (Eat 1888) Syracuae-Wawasee Journal (Eat 1907) Consolidated Into The Mail-Journal Feb. 15, 1962 DEMOCRATIC ARCHIBALD E. BAUMGARTNER, Editor and Publisher DELLA BAUMGARTNER, Business Manager Box 8 Syracuse, Ind., — 46567

Thoughts For Labor Day Labor Day has long been an occasion for one last famjly fling to mark the end of summer. Picnicking, boating, swimming and fishing are part of a good old-fashioned American Labor Day week end. The custom of fun has long overshadowed the deeper meaning of Labor Day — which, according to the dictionary, is a day set aside “for special recognition of the workingman.” Labor Day, this year, comes at a time when the pressures of inflation are bringing to a head the issue of wages versus productivity. Living standards have risen steadily for longer than anyone can remember, thanks to the rising productivity of American Safety Week Proclaimed Youngsters in the Chicago Motor Club’s Indiana territory will be returning to school early in September and the club, in conjunction with Gov. Edgar D. Whitcomb, has designated a special “School’s Open Safety Week.” This year. Tuesday, Sept. 8. through Monday, Sept. 14, has been officially proclaimed “School’s Open Safety Week.” Many Indiana state, county, municipal, civic, police and school officials are joining the club’s 23rd annual School’s Open Safety campaign. Gerald W. Cavanagh, president of the Chicago Motor Club, noted that this cooperation lias been an important factor in reducing, by 50 per cent, the accident rate for children since the club founded the lifesaving School Safety Patrol movement in 1920. As Gov. Whitcomb observed in his proclamation, “the travel of our children to and from school is subjected to increasingly hazardous conditions from which there must be greater protection This is the 50th Anniversary of the lifesaving School Safety Patrols, a

Yankees, Take Note

“LAHR — A prevaricator; one who tells lies. ‘Are yew callin' me a LAHR*” ” “Often — So as to be no longer supported or attached. ‘Now stan still so ah can shoot that apple OFTEN yore had.’ ” “Barley 8 Only; just; no more than. ‘Ah can jes BARLEY open mah eyes’ ’’ Those definitions are from “The Illustrated Texas Dictionary of the English Language.” a little tome compiled by Jim Everhart of 9610 Fairdale and published by Creative Books of Houston. 1821 W. Alabama, and now being displayed in book stores and newsstands around the state. Every definition is accompanied by <a photograph of the author (photos by Thaine Manske), in typical “Texan ’ costume, in a pose to illustrate the explanatory’ quote. Everhart is one-half of Creative Books of Houston. The other half is his business podnah. Bill Allison (no

CAPITOL COMMENTS With SENATOR 4 < VANCE HARTKEM J Indiana ,

Labor Day And Industrial Injuries

I suppose it’s because automobile accidents bring death so suddenly and often dramatically that they are the focus of so much national attention this time of year, especially over the Labor Day week end. But whatever the reason. I have always found it somewhat ironic that on the week end traditionally set aside for honoring the American working

EDITORIALS

man and woman and improving their working conditions and income, the spotlight should be turned on automobile mishaps rather than on industrial accidents We’ve all heard that motor vehicles have caused many times the number of American deaths as have resulted from all the wars in which the United States

workers. But, for sometime now, the trend has been toward wage increases regardless of productivity. According to Time magazine, in the auto industry productivity has risen only 9 per cent since 1965 while hourly pay and benefits have climbed 25 per cent. Reportedly, workers in the auto industry are demanding wage increases above 12 per cent in order to better than restore the purchasing power that union men had a year ago. Keeping up with inflation has become the chief argument for wage increases — irrespective of productivity. If ever there were a losing game, this is it, and labor will be the chief loser. movement pioneered by the Chicago Motor Club and now international in scope; and it is essential that during the school year the School Safety Patrols in Indiana be aided by our citizens everywhere in making streets safer for our youngsters.” in observing that more than 19,000 lives have been saved in Indiana and Illinois since 1920 through the efforts of the Patrol. Cavanagh emphasized the parental responsibility for pedestrian safety. He stressed the need for parents to educate their children in the ways of traffic safety. He added, “Parents have the continuing responsibility of teaching youngsters to be cautious and safe pedestrians. They should emphasize that the only safe way to cross a street is at intersections attended by a member of the School Safety Patrol, an adult crossing guard or a policeman.” As part of this year’s “School’s Open Safety Week” campaign, the club is again mailing thousands of traffic posters to school and municipal officials in Indiana.

relation to the motorman of this department). Everhart has a keen ear for (sob) the way a great many Texans handle the English language. His dictionary’ should be of great help to visitors from other parts of the nation who are often puzzled by what they hear here, and Everhart hopes a lot of them will take it home with them. The foreword explains: “Nobody enjoys a joke on himself more than a Texan. This bode has been done in good fun to share one small facet of Texas humor with you.” And the final definition is: “Thank — To have judgment or opinion of. ‘Ah hope yawl enjoyed raidin’ this book. But jes THANK of what yew must sound lack to a Texan.’ ” There’s a bit of promise in that. Everhart is now at work on another book whose tentative title is “How Easterners Sound to Southerners.” -AUTHOR UNKNOWN

has participated throughout its history But very vew people realize that accidents on the job cause even more disabling injuries than motor vehicles. It also comes as a surprise to most people that on-the-job accidents cause about 10 times as many lost working days as do strikes and other work stoppages. During the past year. 55 Americans were killed in industrial accidents per each working day. some 8.500 were disabled, and 27.000 per day were injured less seriously. And in the next 12 months, safety breakdowns on the job will cost the American worker more than $1.5 billion in lost wages, will cost in the neighborhood of 5700 miUion in medical expenses for occupational accidents, and will result in workmen’s compensation payments of more than $2 billion.

jL / /• 11 ON THE TAIL-ENP!

rnow Your Indiana Law By JOHN J. DILLON ’ Attorney at Law

This is a public service ’article explaining provisions of Indiana law in general terms.

’Don't Fence Me In' - Part II

Last week I wrote about fences in cities and towns and urban areas, this week I will touch on the age-old problem of fences in rural areas. People living in rural areas are more aware of fence problems and the laws relating thereto than people in urban areas, but nevertheless many a gentleman farmer is surprised to find that the law requires him, under certain circumstances, to build and maintain partition fences on his land. In the rural areas, in the absence of an agreement between abutting owners. I the law provides that the owner of the land east of the fence shall build and maintain the north half, the owner of the land west of the fence shall build and maintain the south half, the owner of the land north of the fence shall build and maintain the west half, and the owner of the land south of the fence shall build and maintain the east half. If the owner build the wrong half and maintain it for five years, then the other owner is legally responsible for the

Special Report From Washington

WASHINGTON — Several weeks ago, the editors of TV Guide magazine, the pocketsized weekly with 15 million readers, prepared a rare editorial viciously attacking retired NBC newscaster Chet Huntley for his criticism of President Nixon. TV Guide is controlled by Walter Annenberg. the multi-millionaire pal of the President who made huge contributions to the Nixon campaign (in his wife's name). He was appointed Ambassador to England for his loyalty. Thus it is not surprising that Ambassador Annenberg s editors at TV” Guide did not take kindly to Huntley’s published assertion that Nixon was a “shallow” man who “frightens” him “Goodbye. Chet.” their editorial concluded. "and good riddance.” However, just as the attack on Huntley was about to be published in the magazine's August 1 edition, a last-minute wire — obtained by this column — was sent to all of TV Guide s publishing plants '“We will not — repeat not — carry the Huntley editorial. This editorial is to be k ’ed.” the message said. “Also please destroy all copies of the Huntley editorial. . . Although the editorial did not appear, the next issue of TV Guide contained what purported to be a letter to the editor which embodies whole chunks of the same language. The letter had the same ending, “Goodbye. Chet, and good riddance.” and referred to precisely the same quotes by Huntley It even put one Huntley quote in italics, just as the editorial had The “letter” was signed by a “P. H. Lyon” of Montgomery . Ah. All efforts to locate such a person have been unsuccessful He is not listed in the local directory and the phone company says no one by that name has telephone service Reached at his office in Radnor. Pa.. TV’ Guide editor Merle Panitt insisted that the letter was not a fake. He acknowledged, however, that he had never seen the original. Instead, he said, he had seen an edited “typescript" of the letter. Panitt explained that the editorial was

other half. Simply stated, the law requires that adjoining landowners are required to erect, maintain and keep in good repair one-half of the fence that partitions their land from their neighbors. Since the statute makes this a duty, if refuses to build a partition fence, he can be given a twenty-day* notice by the township trustee that he must build the partition fence, and if the owner refuses, the township trustee can then build or repair the fence, using materials most commonly used in the locality, and pay for the fence from county funds. The county auditor then places the cost for the fence upon the tax duplicate and payment can be enforced by the county as in any other tax lien on real estate. The partition fence statute sets out the general measurements for such a fence and requires that the fence must be strong enough to hold livestock within its confines. The law also requires that six months notice be given before

a partition fence is removed. The adjoining neighbors can agree upon the building and maintenance of a fence, but an oral agreement is not binding upon subsequent owners in regard to maintenance, and if a subsequent owner refuses to keep the agreement, then the adjoining owner must rely on the statute providing for the method of maintenance. It should be noted that sometimes partition fence agreements are in deeds and become covenants that run with the land and are, of course, enforceable against subsequent purchasers of the land. Although some lawyers have questioned w’hether constitutional objections could be raised against the partition fence act in Indiana, it has been in force for many years, and has been construed as mandated in the law, in favor of the objects and purposes of the law, which is to enclose lands, in rural areas. You And Social Security Q — I signed up for Medicare a year ago when I was 65. Because of my work I have not received any benefits. My wife will be 65 in October. Does she need to do anything? A — Yes. Your wife should file her claim now. She can be entitled to Medicare beginning October. When you later begin receiving monthly benefits she will receive them also.

killed after Huntley disowned his criticism of the President and contended the comments had been “jazzed up.” Harold Clemenko. head of the magazine’s letters department, also said the letter was real. But he said he could not produce the original because all letters to the editor, even those published, are destroyed after a week. Asked if TV Guide had made any effort to g authenticate the letter, Qemenko said. "That would be an impossible job” PATTERN OF BRUTALITY Eyewitness accounts assembled by this column make it clear that the inhuman prison conditions uncovered at Con Son Island are only part of a pattern of brutality, overcrowding and torture in jails throughout South Viet Nam The shocking report comes from a former Viet Nam Christian Service volunteer who worked inside the provincial prison at Tam Ky in Quant Tin province for more than two years. The volunteer. Douglas Hostetter, 26, taught a sewing class inside the prison, located about 40 miles south of Da Nang. He was there from November. 1966 to June, 1969. Officials of the Mennonite Central Committee and of Church World Services, who sponsor Viet Nam Christian Services, described Hostetter as dedicated and truthful. From the detailed journals which Hostetter kept of his experiences in South Viet Nam, here is his description of life in the prison at Tam Ky: “There would be from 50 to 100 prisoners kept in large rooms with concrete platforms to sleep on but since there were far too many people to lie down, most of the prisoners had to sit or stand throughout the night. “All of the torturing was done inthe interrogation center across the street. In the interrrogation center there was the usual dectrical shock, beatings, sticking with pins, burning with cigarettes and, at times, water torture. “Os the prisoners I talked with personally in the prison, none had ever had a trial and

2.Bayh-Lines [al FROM WASHINGTON IMI ■iiefcr-TSLIKL IMF A REPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF INDIANA FROM U. S SENATOR B.RCH BA’H

Senate Makes Effort To Abolish Our Outdated Electoral College

WASHINGTON, D. C. — The United States Senate marked another milestone last month in an effort almost 200 years old — — effort to abolish our outdated and dangerous electoral college. The Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member, finally filed its report to the full Senath endorsing the direct popular election amendment. And as chairman of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and chief Senate sponsor of the Constitutional amendment, it was my pleasure to present the report. We still have a long, uphill fight, of course, in winning final Congressional approval for direct election, and it is precisely because of the difficult nature of this movement for reform that I regard last month's filing of the committee report in the Senate as a “milestone.” Since the very beginning of our nation, we have recognized the perils involved in a system that leaves the choice of a President to a group of independent electors, men whose freedom to disregard the will of the people is actually guaranteed by the Constitution. We have recognized the inequities in a scheme that allocates all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who wins a popular vote plurality in that state — regardless of whether that plurality is 1 vote or 1 million votes. We have recognized the grave risks that the will of the people can easily be thwarted—either by the strange arithmetic of the electroial system or by the treacherous deeds of a few power brokers in the event no candidate could secure a majority of electoral votes. Having recognized these blatent inadequacies, however, we have yet to. correct them. Repeatedly, in the past, we have failed to achieve agreement as to the need for reform, but little consensus as to what particular type of reform. Now, however, we are on the verge of achieving that long sought-after national consensus. We are on the verge of eliminating one of the most imminent threats to the continuity and stability of American government—the outmoded electoral college system—and replacing it with direct popular election of the President. It is an effort to substitute popular choice for political chance. This vital reform has achieved

many had never even had a hearing, and none knew how long their sentence was. “Another tragic aspect of the prison situation is the children. It seems that being a VC is a hereditary problem in Viet Nam. When I did a survey ... on May 17, 1969, I discovered that there were 60 VC under the age of 10 being held by the prison at that time. “Nine mothers with 10 children were being kept in one small room with no beds or toilet facilities. In another large room, 31 mothers were being kept along with their 50 children. “I complained often to the American .Agency for International Development officials in Tam Ky and also the public safety advisor (also an AID official), but no one did anything about the situation except once a week an American doctor would stop in to see the children. ...” In addition to his journals, Hostetter compiled succinct case histories on a number of prisoners. Here are a few examples: “Nguyen thi Mai, 18, 10 months in prison. She was arrested when she came from her country village to visit her mother who had been picked up in a military operation and put in the Vuong Lai refugee camp. “Le thi Kieu, 30 years of age, in prison 10 months. She has children 8 and 11 years old at home. She lives in a country village and was arrested for suspicion of being a VC.” AGNEW S MANNER South Korean President Chung Hee Park was infuriated more by Vice President Agnew’s manner than by what he had to say. Diplomatic reports reaching Washington say the Vice President pulled boo-boo after booboo during his long meetings with the Asian leader. > Agnew had been exhaustively briefed by ‘the State Department on what to expect from President Park so he was well aware that his news of American troop withdrawals would not be welcome. Nevertheless, Agnew was blunt where he should have been gentle and evasive where he should have been specific. The result was that the cool and collected Korean head of state all but blew up in Agnew’s face.

the most universal support and enthusiastic endorsement ever accorded a proposal for revising the antiquated electoral college. It is supported by the American Bar Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Small Business, and the National Federation of Independent Business. It is also supported by the League of Women Voters, the AFL-CIO, and the UAW. Needless to say, this is a remarkable combination of supporters. Direct popular election is supported by more than 80 per cent of the American people. And, in these troubled and critical times. I believe that is indeed a remarkable consensus on a major issue of public policy. Direct popular election was supported by 65 per cent of the legislators responding to a recent poll of the legislators of the 27 states thought least likely to approve of direct election. And in September of last year, the House of Representatives passed a direct popular election amendment by the lop-sided margin of 339-70. That is an incredible show of strength, revealing the strong grassroots support direct election has throughout the country. We are also pleased that President Nixon, who had previously favored a different electoral change, has since endorsed our direct election plan. With the filing of the Judiciary. Committee report endorsing by an 11 to 6 vote, the passage of our plan, we have now taken another historic step on the road to reform We reported the measure in a form identical to that passed by the House, with but one exception. The Senate amendment provides that direct election will go into effect one year after the April 15 following ratification, rather than the January 20th date of the House resolution. This change provides some possibility — admittedly a slim one—that direct election could be ratified by the states in time to be in effect for the 1972 election. We now face a very difficult struggle to secure Senate passage of the amendment. I wish I could say that victory was at hand, but at this time I admit to an uphill fight ahead. Frankly, though, I welcome it, for I have great faith in what we are doing. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will read and consider the view’s set out in the Judiciary Committees report.

By JACK ANDERSON