The Mail-Journal, Volume 7, Number 37, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 October 1970 — Page 9

The Mail L PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY The Milford Mail (Eat. 1S88) ) Syracuse-Wawasee Journal (Eat 1907) Consolidated Into The Mail-Journal Feb. 15, 1962 f. ■ ' DEMOCRATIC ARCHIBALD E. BAUMGARTNER, Editor and Publisher DELLA BAUMGARTNER, Business Manager Box 8 Syracuse, lnd„ — 46567

EDITORIALS I. . J 7 ~, ' e== !Jßl MF ••A 't’U, ■ . . ... ■-

Something Should Be Done!

We don’t know if officials of the Penn-Central Railroad company are aware of the shape their crossing markers along the spur that runs through Milford are in or not. but we are hoping they will find out soon and do something about them. Not too many years ago these crossing markers were kept in A-l shape at all times. Today they leave much to be desired. Many residents of the town feel they should be repaired and all crossings marked properly as it could mean the difference between life and death to an unsuspecting motorist. Buildings, trees and bushes in Milford block the view of approaching drivers at many of the crossings and

There Are Two Sides To Every Question

As the political season waxes, remember that there are always two sides to every question. By the way of example, consider this senatorial response to a voter s query. “You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. Here is how I stand. If, when you say, ‘whiskey,’ you mean the devil’s brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty — yes, literally* takes the bread from the mouths of little children, if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacles of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation and despair, shame and helplessness, then certainly 1 am against it with all of my power.

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All-Important Question Os Electoral Reform Occupies Senate

WASHINGTON - The allimportant question of electoral reform occupied the attention of the United Slates Senate for several weeks this September. Unfortunately, as of this writing. 1 cannot report favorably to you on the outcome of this debate Just last week, the Senate refused to cut off a filibuster against the proposal, so the matter has still not received a vote on its merits. As you know. I have been involved for several years in the 1 effort to reform our antiquated, dangerous method of elected Presidents and Vice President ! intend to coritmue my efforts on behalf of electoral reform, in order hopefully to bring about meaningful reform before the next Presidential election I am convinced that the matter of electoral reform demands immediate attention if we are to avoid another near-crisis as in 1968—0 r possibly a real crisis the next time around Many people have already

strangers to the town are quite often unaware of the tracks until they are on top of them. This could spell disaster if a train was approaching the crossing at the same time. True, engineers now blow their whistles to sound a warning of their approach, however, with radios, tapes, air conditioners, etc. drivers often can not hear the warning. We feel the company should take pride in its property and repair signs like the one shown in the above photo which marks the town’s most used crossing on Catherine street. Larger towns and cities would not have to put up with such poorly marked crossings. Why should Milford?

“But, if when you say ‘whiskey,’ you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in an old gentleman’s step on a frosty morning; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm, to build highways, hospitals, and schools, then certainly I am in favor of it.” Succinctly expressed too! (From the Lapeer County Press)

forgotten the closeness of the 1968 Presidential election, when this country came with an eyelash of not electing a President. You will recall that the third-party candidacy of George Wallace nearly prevented Richard Nixon from receiving a majority of the Electoral College votes—even though Nixon led in popular votes—and thus brought us to the brink of constitutional crisis. We must not permit ourselves to conveniently “forget” the dangers of the Electoral College system from election year to election year Confronted by the very of electing a man who is not the popular choice of the voters, we have no alternative but reform. A ten-month study by the American Bar Association concluded that the Electoral College is “archaic, undemocratic. complex, ambiguous. indirect. and dangerous." Why’ The Electoral College is undemocratic because you and I do

not vote for our President. We may think we do. but we don’t. Instead, we choose electors from each state to do the voting for us Few voters know who the z electors are. or that they are completely free to vote for whomever they please They are not bound to vote for the choice of the voters who elected them The Electoral College is inequitable because each citizen’s vote does not count the same. In Alaska, one electoral vote represents 75.000 people Here in Indiana, one electoral vote represents 360.000 people In addition, the unit rule enables a President to be elected by carrying the largest states by the slightest margins even if he is soundly defeated in the rest of the country. The Electoral College system is dangerous because it permits the election of a President who does not get the most votes. This has actually happened three times in our history, and on seven other occasions in this century alone a change of less than 1 per cent of the popular vote would have sent to the White House an electoral vote winner who had actually lost the popular vote election. Thomas Jefferson opposed the Electoral College 180 years ago. calling it a “contrivance in the Constitution" because “it does not enounce precisely the true expression of the public will." I believe that we should have an electoral process for President and Vice President that does ‘ enounce" precisely the true expression of the public will

> ? ■ Ma jft £z i <s\ i ;llk?ku O' pW* A ■ ; * ft BltH iHh if *1 " .' \ < II / _ ( ';B» '*■— ■* /Mr YOU couldn’t PRINT WHAT I THINK OF THAT CANDIDATE-BESIDES,I didn’t resister.!

Know Your Indiana Law By JOHN J. DILLON Attorney at Law This is a public service article explaining provisions of Indiana law in general terms.

With the frigid blasts of winter just around the corner, people will begin thinking of installing snow tires on the traction wheels of their automobiles. Recently the snow tires with metal protruding studs have become popular because they are much'*" more effective in providing better traction on snow and ice than ordinary rubber snow tires. It is only since 1967 that these tires with metal studs protruding from the rubber surface could be legally used in Indiana. In 1967 the Indiana General Assembly passed a law making it permissible from the Ist day of October until the Ist day of Maynext following to use tires which have ice grips, or tire studs, of wear resistant material installed in such a manner so as to provide resiliency upon contact with the road, projecting not more than three-thirty seconds of an inch beyond the tread surface of the tire, and constructed to prevent any appreciable damage to the road surface. It was necessary for the Legislature to pass this law to

SPECIAL REPORT FROM WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON - The Egyptians' late President Nasser, just before his death, tried to persuade the Palestinian guerrilla leader. Yasir Arafat, to accept a negotiated Middle East settlement. In his dramatic way. Nasser asked the guerrilla chief how long he thought it would take to liberate Palestine Arafat replied: “About 20 years." “What." retorted Nasser, “if I can offer you half of Palestine in 20 weeks?” Arafat replied flatly that he would never settle for anything less than replacing Israel with a new Palestinian nation Nasser looked Arafat straight in the eye and declared: “If you would rather wait for Israel to disappear, you will still be waiting several generations from now “ Arafat has recently repeated Nasser’s warning to associates. The drama of Nasser’s sudden death, apparently, has helped make the warning sink in. American diplomats, meanwhile, have made it clear to the Soviets that a Middle ELast settlement would be impossible without the support of the Palestinian commandos. Their hijacking of airliners in precipitation of civil war in Jordan has convinced Washington that the Palestinians must be included in any future peace talks. Soviet Premier Alexsai Kosygin, while attending Nasser’s funeral in Cairo, encouraged Arafat to join in the negotiations. Arafat, who has sworn never to accept a settlemen. short of military victory’, is expected to accept Kosygin's invitation. But he won’t be able to influence the extremists.

Snow Tires

make it permissible to use studded snow tires because Indiana. like most other states, had a statute which prohibited the use of spiked wheeled farm vehicles on paved roads. These laws were passed in practically all states in the Union to prevent these vehicles from causing severe damage to the highway surface. Although practically all farm vehicles now have rubber treads also, these old laws made impossible the use of the metal studded snow tire. While the Indiana law now permits the use of metal studded snow tires, if you are going to be driving in other states you should be certain that it is permissible to use these tires in the other states. Most states now permit metal studded tires but some states have not amended their laws to make them permissible. Vehicles having complete metal tires are not permitted in Indiana and all tires must have at least one inch of rubber above the flange to protect the road surface. Chains of reasonable proportions may also be used in

Nasser Wanted Mid-East Settlement

Indiana when conditions exist which would cause your vehicle to skid. If you decide to buy metal studded snow tires, make certain that they comply with the Indiana law with relation to the size of the studs, and also make certain that you will not be driving in states which prohibit their use.

GIVE FDR THE MANY!

splinter guerrilla groups, to follow his leadership. GOP WOOS CATHOLICS Republican strategists who have already broken up the Democratic control of the South are aiming next at wooing conservative Catholics away from their traditional Democratic support Quiet hints have been made to President Nixon’s appointees on the Supreme Court that it would help to relax the constitutional ban on federal aid to parochial schools. The court has already allowed states to supply transportation and textbooks to parochial schools. As a result of the Republican prodding, the Supreme Court is expected to go even farther and allow federal aid to be paid directly to parochial schools. VIOLATIONS UNIMPORTANT Soviet diplomats have been anxiously attempting to reassure American officials that the Middle East truce violations have been unimportant. Most of the missile movements, the Russians have said, were no more than a shift from one place to another within the truce zone. In any case, they have confessed, some of the-missiles were no more than plastic decoys. The Americans, however, have learned not to accept Soviet assurances nor to take them at their word. AID TO GREECE The decision to renew military aid to Greece was made personally by President

Congressional Comer: John Brademas Reports From Washington

Organized Crime Control Bill; Drug Abuse Control Bill

Racketeers, mobsters and terrorist bombers suffered a stiff blow this past week as the House of Representatives passed the Organized Crime Control Bill of 1970. This complex measure gives the Justice Department the power it needs to collect information on organized crime and to stop the flow of money from racketeering into legitimate businesses. By enabling special grand juries to investigate links between criminals and public officials. the bill will make it possible for voters to throw out politicians who make life easy for crime syndicates. And by allowing the Attorney General to protect the families of government witnesses, we have made it easier to collect information from frightened men. The law contains provisions to reduce the ways in which criminals can use the courts to suppress evidence, and it gives judges the power to jail habitual or dangerbus criminals for up to 25 years. Running a gambling operation will now be a Federal crime, and it will be illegal to invest “dirty money” from gambling or other rackets in legitimate businesses. Since organized crime has become a sophisticated business, this bill is long overdue in giving lawmen the powers they need. I was pleased to see. by the way. that the bill contained two measures I had proposed in the House, bringing about Federal control of the sale of explosives and making the setting of bombs a Federal offense. The terror bombing of the Army Mathematics Center at the University of Wisconsin has of course impressed us all with the lengths to which some militants will go. Recent figures show that with the inclusion of Molotov cocktails, there have been over 1300 bombings in the last year causing a total of over $22 million. DRUG ABUSE CONTROL The Senate this week passed a Comprehensive Drug Abuse Control Bill similar in many respects to legislation passed earlier by the House. The Senate bill included the substance of my Drug Abuse Education Act, previously approved unanimously by the House of Representatives. Both bills are based on the principle that there should be harsh punishment for the drug pusher, preventive education for our young people, and rehabilitation services for the drug addict. The death this week of Janis Joplin, the young blues singer, of an overdose of heroin reminds us of the closeness of drugs to our youth subculture and the urgency of action to keep this menace from our children.

Nixon. Foi two years the president has tried to pressure the Greek military government into adopting democratic reforms. These were supposed to be a prelude to full military aid. The crisis in Jordan, however, persuaded the President that he couldn’t wait for the reforms. He decided that Greece was essential as a military ally in the Mediterranean. ARMY REFORMS STUDIED The Army brasshats are preparing unhappily for the inevitable day that the draft will be abolished and they will have to per suade young Americans to sign up. Army studies have already come up with more than 200 suggested reforms to make military life more attractive. For example, recruits no longer are required to drop their sideburns and clip theirhair down to a stubble. The next annoyance that may be abolished is the bugle call to rout Gls out of bed at six a m. at Army posts around the world. General William Westmoreland, the Army Chief, is considering giving the troops an extra hour’s sleep and awakening them more gently. FBI WARNING The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned police officers across the country that revolutionaries have already started lowgrade guerrilla warfare in the ghettos of our great cities. The FBI has warned that the guerrilla warfare will spread to the suburbs and that suburban police should prepare for snipings and bombings.

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS CUT Last Thursday, after long discussion and some debate, the House passed the bulk of the defense appropriations for fiscal year 1971. The bill we passed made available $66.66 billion for military personnel, operations, new equipment and research programs. This is $2.09 billion less than the amount requested by the Pentagon —a considerable saving to the taxpayer. Nevertheless we have appropriated enough to maintain America’s military strength and to enable that strength to<be kept up in future years. CREDIT UNION INSURANCE Hoosiers who belong to credit unions — and that means thousands of people in Northern Indiana — will be glad to hear that the House voted affirmatively this week to provide Federal insurance for credit unions. This means that savings at Federally chartered credit unions will now be insured, just as bank savings are. HIJACKING LOOPHOLES CLOSED Congress extended the country's anti-hijacking legislation this past week to make it apply to American civil and military aircraft wherever they are flying' and to foreign aircraft when they are flying to or from the United States. The new bill extends the present penalties of twenty years in jail or death to cover these foreign aircraft as well as hijackings which take place when a plane is on the runway. Earlier this year I introduced in the House a resolution to encourage the United States to negotiate treaties with other countries for extradition of hijackers to the country of registry of the plane they attack. I am hopeful that Congress will move favorably on this resolution. DISASTER RELIEF In California the ground is still smoking in the coastal hills where fire raged last week, and in few stages of the Deep South people are still cleaning up the billion dollar mess made by Hurricane Camille last year. That's why I was glad to see Congress act last week to update the old 1950 Disaster Relief Act. We brought the law up to date and extended the provision of Federal aid to state and local public facilities destroyed in such disasters. Laws like this, which we pass every session, enable us to meet real needs of people and communities that need help, on a continuing basis. Next week the House of Representatives will recess for the fall election, and I’m looking forward to getting back home for more than a couple of days at a time.

By JACK ANDERSON