The Mail-Journal, Volume 7, Number 45, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 December 1970 — Page 9

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY The Milford Mall (Eat. 1888) SyracuM-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

Christmas - A Day That Endures

Researchers have come up with some interesting background on Christmas customs that add depth and meaning to the most momentous of all holidays. Many historians believe that Christmas may have had its origins in ancient Greek and Roman festivities to observe the midwinter change of seasons. The use of greenery at Christmas also grew out of ancient Greek and Roman customs. The celebration of Christ begah in the third century but was not officially sanctioned until a century later when Pope Julius I authorized an investigation to determine Christ’s probable birth date, which led to the selection of December 25. On that date, in 353 A. D., the Feast of the Nativity was first observed in Rome. Other Christmas customs originated in many lands over the centuries. The traditional mistletoe

Exposure To Cold

Cold kills hundreds of people in this country every year, and thousands receive cold injuries that leave them especially prone to frostbite upon future exposure. Conducive to cold injury are high wind, wet or tight-fitting clothes, fatigue, old age. prolonged exertion, and smoking or use of alcohol before or during exposure. Early evidences of local cold injury are blanching of the skin and cessation of pain and discomfort in the affected part. Studies now show that severely injured parts of the body should be warmed more quickly than formerly was regarded as advisable. It’s a good idea to use a buddy

Put Pressure On Parents

Youth crime is getting bad enough to make Americans want to get tough on parents. School vandalism alone in the past year has cost taxpayers nearly SIOO million. That’s enough to support 20,000 families of five, or a city of 100,000 above the poverty line, for a year. Then there are car thefts, other kinds of vandalism, and bodily harm. To deal with this toll, some communities in the nation are passing “parental irresponsibility” ordinances. Penalties for failing to supervise a child can be as high as SSOO or six months in jail. The parent usually gets a warning at his child’s first offense. Authorities

YOU CAN MAKE IT Extremists Need To Answer 'why?’

By VIR NON B. BROWN Copley News Service I would like to Jt down with anyone of any race, any color, any time, who has the capacity to hate an individual because of color. My first question to him would be: “Why?'’ Phrases such as racist, bigot, militant, reactionary, should be wiped from our vocabulary. Let's you and I help eliminate them. We black people should offer a sincere “thank you** to the many, many white Americans who are assisting us and who have assisted us in our quest for recognition. I think the President also is concerned about his black brothers and sisters. I would like to tell the white community about black men who have paid the price for success and who are saying to other blacks: “You must also pay the price." Black people like the Rev. Edward Victor Hill of Houston, Tex . now residing in Los Angeles, who was raised in a segregated en- * vironment in a very mixed-up

EDITORIALS

and difficult society Through all of that, this man has no caoacitv to hate. Dr. Hill’s childhood brought him from a log cabin in the backwoods of Texas to the Lincoln Monument in Washington, D C It was Hill who was the host of the July 4, 1970. celebration along with Billy Graham. I would like to tell white America about attorney Charles Lloyd who came to Los Angeles from Mississippi with 12 cents in his pocket Now his life is surrounded by the splendor and glory that success brings. I also want to meet the black extremist groups, such as the Black Panthers. I want them to tell me what is wrong with our American system, because if it weren't for our system, they would not have the opportunity to be heard. I want Huey Newton of the Panther party to tell me, if white folks are so bad and difficult, why he is able, through white folks, to be a free man at this time? This is not the time for black extremists like the Pan-

branch began with the ancient Druids, who believed the plant had the power to miraculously cure disease and counteract poisons. The decorating of Christmas trees began in the eighth century when St. Boniface persuaded the pagans to adorn fir trees in their homes in tribute to the Christ Child. A fourth-century bishop of Turkey, Saint Nicholas, was the real-life predecessor of Santa Claus. And so the stories go. As the great day of rejoicing and renewal — December 25 — approaches, millions will prepare to greet Christmas with a bone-deep feeling of gratitude and thankfulness. It is one occasion, one tradition, and one observance that has withstood the test of time. Those who attempt to tear down all standards by which humanity lives have so far not had the temerity to burn the Christmas tree.

system when exposed to cold. If evidence appears, immediately place the affected part against a warm area of the body such as an armpit. Once severely affected, the body part should be warmed rather quickly. It may be immersed in lukewarm water, or warm, wet towels may be applied. The temperature of the water must not be above 104 degrees F. Ladling heated water, use warmed blankets. Do not rub the affected part. Give warm, nonalcoholic drink. Blisters should not be opened if due to cold, unless a sterile technique and a sterile dressing are used.

hope to cut down on the present practice of asking parents to simply pay for any damage a child may have done, in exchange for no action against the child. The constitutionality of the new parental irresponsibility laws, of course, will be questioned. It also may be questioned whether such laws are the best way to alter the larger social trend, in which children and their parents spend even more time from each other. But the fact remains that the toll of youth crime in America is so high that many are demanding that somebody be made accountable. And it should not be surprising that a list of somebodies starts with the children’s own parents. —Steuben Republican

thers or white extremists like the Ku Klux Klan or White Citixens Councils. If our country is torn between “black, white” problems, and the smoke from “black, white” fires make it difficult for us to breathe, what really have we accomplished’ You And Social Security Q — How long do I have in which to send in my Medicare claim for 1970 services? My neighbor told me it had to be in before January 1, 1971. A — You have all of 1971 to file a Medicare claim for 1970 services. December 31, 1970 is the deadline for filing claims for services received October 1,1968 thru September 30, 1969. Q — I have a Medicare card showing my social security claim number. 1 recently obtained a social security card for Indiana drivers license purposes. Should my Medicare card be changed to this number? A— No, your claim number is based on the social security number of the individual o|f whose record you are drawing. It remains the same as long as you continue to be entitled on that record.

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

The Fifth Amendment'

“I respectfully decline to answer on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me”. With these majestic words, any person, no matter what station in life he represents, can refuse to testify in a criminal action being brought against him. The fifth amendment to the United States Constitution provides that no person “shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself”. This same provision can be found in Article 1, Section 14 of the Indiana Constitution. The Indiana Constitution provides “no person, in any criminal prosecution, shall be compelled

SPECIAL REPORT FROM WASHINGTON

Willing To Moke Deal For Prisoners Os War

WASHINGTON — The dramatic attempt to rescue American prisoners from a prison camp in the suburbs of Hanoi was authorized by President Nixon out of desperation. He has appealed to every head of state who has visited the White House to intervene with Hanoi on behalf of the prisoners Several heads of state have made pessimistic reports back to the White House Hanoi leaders have become so annoyed by the pressure that they have coldly cut off the conversations when the POW subject is brought up. The President concluded that it would take drastic measures to help the imprisoned Americans. He has threatened to use unorthodox means to rescue the prisoners This has been interpreted in the press to mean that new commando raids will be attempted. Military strategists have warned, however, that the North Vietnamese have now been alerted and will guard the prison camps against surprise attacks As another security measure, the prisoners probably will be moved more frequently in an attempt to conceal their location. Therefore the President will not attempt another helicopter rescue. Instead, he will offer to make a deal with Hanoi and cite the release of the Pueblo crew from North Korea as a precedent. As part of the deal, he will offer to keep the released prisoners away from the press so that Hanoi won't be embarrassed by stories of terror and brutality. By offering an unorthodox deal that would allow the North Vietnamese to save face, the President hopes to get our boys back. WEAKENING FORCES The real reason for the air attacks upon North Viet Nam was to cover up the increasing American weakness in South Viet Nam. General Creighton Abrams, the American commander, has expressed grave alarm over his inability to protect the U.S. withdrawal. The North Vietnamese have been massing both men and materials along the demilitarized zone. Captured documents also

to testify against himself”. These constitutional provisions arose from the distaste our founding fathers had for the procedure wherein a person was forced to take the witness stand and testify against himself. This obviously led to unbearable pressures if not torture being used on the person to force him to admit that he had committed a crime. To insure that this could never happen in this country, the provisions that a person must be convicted of a criminal offense upon testimony other than his own is one of our greatest constitutional protections. The question of the right to

invoke the fifth amendment is seldom raised in the United States, when the person testifying is a defendant in a criminal action. wherein he is charged with the commission of a crime. The difficult legal questions arise when a person is put on the witness stand either in a court of law or a tribunal where he is testifying under oath as a witness. and not as a defendant, thereby being called upon to give testimony that might be used against him in a criminal action at a different time in a different forum. Our courts have held that the witness, under oath, is the judge of whether or not the answer he is asked to give would tend to incriminate him and he cannot be forced to answer on the basis that the judge will make the decision whether or not the answer would tend to incriminate him. The logic of this position is obvious, since once the sworn testimony is committed to the record the defendant might well have to face it in a criminal charge brought against him. To protect a witness when his testimony is absolutely essential to convict another person of a crime, the United States Congress and the individual

indicate that the North Vietnamese may be planning a massive offensive against the weakened American positions. This could give the communists a dramatic military victory over the powerful United States. President Nixon ordered the air raids as a warning to Hanoi that the United States will retaliate against the communist plan. 1 can also report that the President definitely wiH resume heavy bombing of North Viet Nam — including military targets in Hanoi and Haiphong — if Hanoi attempts to take advantage of the U.S. withdrawal. SKIRMISHING STARTING J. Edgar Hoover, the all-powerful FBI director, has been getting into the headlines lately. Next month he will be 76 — the oldest appointed U.S. official — however, he has shown no inclination to retire. Before the 1968 election, he ingratiated himself with both Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Hoover assigned men to augment the security forces at both conventions. His men also trailed bothersome newsmen to report on their activities. There is a growing realization, though, that Hoover can’t last forever. Already skirmishing has started over his successor. Southerners on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who seek a return to sheriff-style law enforcement, have served notice that they expect to be consulted by the President on the new appointee. Hoover and his publicists are quick to deny any stories in the press, or statements by men in public life, that are less than the adulation which Hoover has come to believe is his due. The refutations are frequently coupled with barbed attacks on the character and patriotism of anyone who possesses the temerity to question Hoover’s sainthood. The successes of the FBI have become so much a part of the American culture that people can be bored by their retelling. Yet it would be a serious mistake to ignore the superb job that Hoover has done in building the FBI into an extremely effective fighting unit. The cult of personality has had its

RETIREMENT Medical Data Called Vital

Q. We participated in the recent national health tests and were disappointed in our poor knowledge and un derstanding of the questions. For instance, if it is important for people to know their blood type, where can they go to find out? - Mrs. G.Q. A. Everyone should know his blood type, particularly if it is a rare type, as well as other personal emergency medical information that could save his life in an emergency If you are not over age 60 you may donate blood to your local blood bank. They will type your blood and give you a copy. If you are between 60 and 65 you must have a written consent from your doctor before you can make a blood donation. Those over 65 are not acceptable. Otherwise, your doctor can give you an order directed to a medical laboratory where you may have your blood . typed for a reasonable fee. Emergency medical information may save your life. There are over 40 million Americans suffering from a hidden medical problem, an acute allergy to certain drugs, even bee stings. The American Medical Association recommends that everyone with a serious medical problem should wear an emergency medical information emblem around his neck or wrist. Q. I am almost 80 years old and retired from the Chicago Sanitary District where I worked for nearly 50 years. I have a Social Security number but have states have passed so called immunity statues. That is. the officials who are prosecuting the crime, are given the power to offer the witness immunity from any prosecution against him that might arise as a result of his testifying against another person. Once this immunity has been granted, by a person authorized to grant immunity, the courts are very diligent in protecting the witness from future prosecution. However, many jurisdictional questions arise wherein the defendant points out that the immunizing power cannot be granted in all or various jurisdictions. There has been no simple answer yet to this problem in the United States. Because the fifth amendment protects all citizens from any form of self incrimination, it is probably one of the most rigidly enforced of our constitutional rights in the courts of this land. Copyright 1970 by John J. Dillon

positive aspects. When Hoover took over as director, the FBI was loaded with hacks, misfits, drunks and court house hangers-on. In a remarkably brief time, he transformed it into a close-knit, effective organization with an esprit de corps which exceeds that of the Marines. Under Hoover’s regime, agents have been fired for drunkenness, for insubordination, even a few for homosexual behavior. Yet not a single FBI man has tried to fix a case, defraud the taxpayers or sell out his country. This amazing scandal-free record has been accomplished by hiring the best men available, training them well, and convincing them that they are the best. WAS IT OFFICIAL? UN fact finders still haven’t been able to get to the bottom of the alleged invasion of Guinea Our own intelligence reports confirm i. thana major invasion attempt by trained mercenaries — complete with naval and air support — was undertaken. The invaders clearly came from neighboring Portuguese Guinea. Our intelligence has been unable to determine, however, whether the invasion had the official sanction of the Portuguese government. The Portuguese military is fighting Marxist guerrillas who receive both aid and sanctuary from Guinea. It is known that some Portuguese generals wanted to give Guinea a taste of their own medicine by supporting an insurgency in that country. NEW BASE At President Nixon’s personal request the Italian government has cracked down on drug smuggling to the United States. The smuggling was directed by four Mafia organizations based in Sicily. A police dragnet resulted in 170 arrests and 96 drug seizures. This has hampered the smuggling but hasn’t put the Mafia out of business. Police reports assert that the Mafia has merely abandoned Sicily as a base and has moved its operations to Syria, Lebanon and France.

never received any Social Security benefits. What should I do to find out why? — E.L.B. A. It may be possible your work was not covered under Social Security. However, as you have a Social Security number, and in view of the recent changes in the Social Security Act, you snould call at your local Social Security office for information and advice. Q. When I reach age 62 I intend to start collecting Social Security retirement benefits which will be quite small. My husband, although 65, is not planning to retire at this time. When my husband does retire later, can I change over to a wife’s benefits under his account or will I have to continue collecting benefits under my own account? — Mrs. W.M.R. A. When you start receiving benefits under your own account and later qualify for a wife’s benefit under your husband's account, you will be eligible for the larger of the two benefits. Q. Both my grandparents were considered old in their early 60s. When I look back to their way of living, as compared to mine at 76, I note an alarming difference. They were contented to sit by the fireplace and both were relegated to physical inactivity, living with their children yet held in high esteem as family advisers. My children no longer need me and I “prefer living alone as I am financially and physically able to maintain my own household. I am now interested in exploring the life in a retirement community. Do these communities tend to narrow or broaden the lives of the elderly?— G.C. A. Most of these retirement communities provide recreational, cultural and social activities for the elderly and for the retired. They give them access io new interests, companionship and encourage far more activities than is usually available-in their old communities. These general benefits will broaden their lives.

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By JACK ANDERSON