The Mail-Journal, Volume 8, Number 44, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 December 1971 — Page 9

YI The Ma it J>'\ •#o if fti it f L c=^/ PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY The Milford Mail (EsL 1888) Syracuse-Wawatee Journal (E*L 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

December. .. December has once again arrived on the scene with its special, almost magical winter days, and the rush of the holiday season. December is the 12th and the last month of the year. It has 31 days and every one of them are equally full. December brings with it cold, blistery days with sharp winds and blankets of soft, white snow covering the landscape to insure a white Christmas. Even the letters of December mean something special . . . D is for the Decorations that have become a very important part of the holiday season. Soon a Christmas tree will appear in every window and red and green finer> can be spotted here and there. E is for Entertainment which plays a very impoi tant part of the season as friends and neighbors come to call and families get together for holiday feast. Hunting Safety CARELESS acts that could be prevented will kill or wound many hunters this season. Among the most common of all hunting accidents are those involving an unloaded gun that turns out to be loaded after all. Most of these mishaps could be avoided by checking and doublechecking all firearms, and by never pointing a gun at anyone for any reason. Pot In The Colonies? The argument over whether George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, along with other founders of the nation smoked pot, is the kind of a discussion that could only arise in a democratic society, A story about the marijuana habits of American revolutionaries of the 18th century originated in the underground press and has resulted in the surgeon general of the United States being gulled. Dr. Jesse Steinfeld told the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse that a Dr. Burke (who later turned out to be either elusive or nonexistent), identified as the president of the American Historical Reference Society, (an elusive or non exist-group) and consultant to the Smithsonian Institution (they never heard of him), including Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Taylor and Pierce had smoked marijuana. The idea promoted by those who would legalize marijuana that the founding fathers were sometimes stoned is a kind of innocence by association argument that would be deplored if it were turned around. Dr. Steinfeld, while gulled to the ears by the underground press which planted the false testimony in the

FAMOUS TEENS Stilwell Had Strict Father Editor’s Note: Joseph W. StihreU, 1883-1946, was a West Patel graduate who became cammaader of all Chios’s armed forces dm teg the Chtea-Burma-lndia tevoivetnest te World War tt This Is soother la a series sa what fa moot pteplt were lfce te their teeas. Joseph Warren StihreU attracted nicknames, even as a ° teen-ager. His family always used his middle name, Warren. Most of his friends called him Joe. Later, as America’s No. 1 man in China, he was affectionately dubbed “Vinegar Joe.*’ As a general in a scarecrow outfit of wilted hat, muddy shoes, and weathered

EDITORIALS

lumberman’s sweater, he was known as “Uncle Joe." Life with father in the Stilwell household was not always easy. Mr. StihreU was a strict disciplinarian, believed in his own charm and commanded the fearful respect of his children. Joe managed to avoid his father’s watchful eye often enough to lead a fairly rambunctious life. In his 16th year, he went in for athletics. He was a teg man on campus at Yonkers High School. The principal there described Joe as a “model boy." Farced by his father to take a postgrad course at Yonkers instead of going on to college, Joe tired of his halo. He organised ice cream raids, smeared Limburger cheese on school desks and accidentally gave the principal a shiner. Mr. Stilwell thought the Army might cool off his juvenile delinquent A rather surprised Joseph Warren Stilwell found himself at West Ptent. As a plebe. Joe was subjected to strenuous hazing. It was

C is for the well loved Carols that ring out everywhere during December. Throughout the Christian world the ever popular “Silent Night,” “Joy to the - World,” and other songs can be heard where ever people gather. E is for the Ever popular Santa Claus who adds much to the legend and lore of Christmas. M is for the Mistletoe which has a story all its own as its mysterious powers give a license for Yuletide kissing. B is for the Blessed Christ Child. The reason we celebrate Christmas. E is for Everlasting friendships that are made and so often renewed during the holidays. R is for Ready since that’s what you’ll be in just a few short weeks — ready to start a new year as December brings 1971 to an end and 1972 is ushered in on January 1. Other good rules are: Never carry a loaded gun in an automobile; never carry a gun while crossing a fence, and never pull a gun through a fence after you; never shoot unless you are sure of your target; never drink alcohol when you expect to be using firearms. If someone is hurt in a hunting accident, give first aid and call for medical assistance at once. bureaucracy (a singular accomplishment), cited more tangible sources about the historic use of pot back over the years to 2737 B.C. But what gives such charges on air of authenticity is the fact that hemp plant was raised in the colonies for thejines of the clipper ships. Dr. Lester Grinspoon, author of “Marijuana Reconsidered,” says historians agree Washington, and probably Jefferson and Madison, raised hemp which produces the dried flower clusters and leaves for marijuana. But even if a case could be made for George Washington’s puffing on pot before crossing the Delaware, what is the point? That would not be an argument that it is socially desirable to legalize it today. Colonial Americans used hard liquor, but that does not in any way dispel society’s problems with alcoholism. If it could be proved Washington was stoned when he tossed those dollars across the Potomac, it might make pot smoking more acceptable, among American colonial buffs, but would it be a guide to modem conduct? Washington also had his own liquor still; but try getting away with that today. —Portland Oregonian

1900, a time when first-year students had to swallow quantities ot Tabasco sauce, have ice water thrown on them, eat 200 prunes at a time. Joe was homesick. His father’s strictness seemed like child’s play beside the academy’s discipline. To escape the hardships of a plebe, Joe began to read rough-and-ready adventure books. Finally Joe left his first year be tend and became an upperclassman. Military subjects, such as gunnery, field reconnaissance, surveying and map drawing were given precedence over history, literature and languages. Joe took to French like a Frenchman. He also took to demerits like “Peck’s Bad Boy.” Gen, Joseph W. Stilwell became commander of all of China’s armed forces at the height of Work! War D. He spoke fluent Chinese and understood the Chinese people as completely as if he were one of them.

WINDS CFCUAN6E

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

'Controlling Marijuana'

It has been the law in Indiana since 1939 that every person, firm or corporation owning real estate in Indiana, or any occupant or tenant of real estate is required to destroy and eradicate all marijuana plants growing on their land. The 1971 session of the Indiana General Assembly saw fit to strengthen and enlarge various provisions of this law requiring every person having marijuana growing on their land to destroy it. Whenever any owner or person having charge of real estate is notified in writing by any conservation officer or federal, state, county or municipal officer whose duty it is to enforce the narcotics law of this state that marijuana is growing on their real estate, this person must within ten

v SPICIAI REPORT FROM WASHINGTON

Weather May Force Hanoi To Make Concessions

WASHINGTON — We have reported in the past that the Joint Chiefs of Staff expected North Viet Nam to launch a final offensive against the withdrawing American forces. The Joint Chiefs were so alarmed over the danger of an American Dunkirk that they had prepared detailed contingency plans for protecting the US. withdrawal. One contingency plan even called for nuclear weapons in case the situation became critical. However. North Viet Nam has been lashed by the worst storms in four decades. The floods have washed out North Vietnamese roads, destroyed villages and caused more damage than the four years of U.S. bombing There are whispers that U.S. weather makers, who have been seeding the clouds along the North Vietnamese supply routes, may have increased the precipitation and contributed to the damaging floods. In any case, the storms have been a disaster. This has curtailed the infiltration of men and material down the Ho Chi Minh trail network into South Viet Nam. The Joint Chiefs, therefore, have revised their estimates. They now doubt that North Viet Nam has the capability of striking a massive blow against the dwindling U.S. farces. But the Joint Chiefs expect North Viet Nam to step up its hit-and-run guerrilla attacks upon allied positions in South Viet Nam. However, there will be no all-out offensive until die Americans have safely withdrawn Meanwhile, intelligence reports say that Hanoi is planning a diplomatic surprise. The North Vietnamese leaders are known to be highly concerned over President Nixon's visit to Peking. Apparently, this has persuaded than that they must, at least, make some concessions to end the war. There are signs that the Hanoi politboro is working on a new diplomatic overture. What it will be, however, is still uncertain. DOES HE MEAN IT? Egypt’s President Sadat's warning that only military action can settle the Middle East issue is taken seriously by Donald Bergus, the State Department’s man in Cairo.

days destroy and eradicate the marijuana plants. If the marijuana plants are not destroyed and eradicated within ten days and a complaint is filed with the township trustee by the law enforcement officer who discovered the plants, then the trustee is empowered to enter the lands in question and employ the requisite number of persons to remove and eradicate the marijuana. The law specifically gives the trustee the power to enter on the land to do this and he cannot in any way be deemed or held to be a trespasser when so acting. To aid the trustee in identifying marijuana plants the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is charged with the duty of identifying the various forms of marijuaha. The Legislature also required

that governmental units having marijuana plants on their property are required to destroy and eradicate it. Any owner or person occupying lands who tries to interfere with the township trustee or any other law enforcement officer in their efforts to destroy and eradicate marijuana can be charged with a misdemeanor. If found guilty of this misdemeanor, the person obstructing the township trustee can be fined up to SIOO. To insure the enforcement of this law the Legislature has required that the township trustee report annually before the Ist of March to the State of Indiana as to the progress made in eliminating marijuana plants in his township. It is also a misdemeanor carrying a SIOO fine for the trustee to fail or refuse to perform his duties with reference to the eradication ofr marijuana in his township. Since marijuana, Indian or wild hemp, or loco weed all grow in moat parts of Indiana, every landowner, particularly in the rural areas, should be aware of the requirement to destroy all forms of marijuana growing on his property. If you are suspicious that plants growing on your property are marijuana but you are unable to make that determination then you should contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and ask that they examine the plants to

Sadat recently called in Bergus and toid him that the U.S. peace initiative in the Middle East had failed. Sadat indicated that he is prepared to fight' for Egyptian objectives. The policy makers in Washington at first didn’t take Sadat’s warlike words seriously. But Bergus has warned in a secret dispatch that they had better believe Sadat. The Egyptian President has been goaded by some of his militant neighbors into taking action. The most outspoken Arab militant, Libya’s President Muammar al Quaddfi, is reported to have told Algeria’s President Bournedienne. during a private meeting, that “you don’t make war by encouraging tourism.” The Libyan leader referred to President Sadat’s efforts to increase tourism and improve Egypt’s economy. Hus word got back to Sadat,who is eager to maintain his credibility with other Arab leaders. Bergus predicted in his secret dispatch that the Egyptians will take at least limited military actions against Israel. CONVENTION REFORMS Republican leaders are growing concerned over the Democratic convention reforms. The reforms almost guarantee a larger percentage of women, blacks and youths at the 1972 Democratic convention. The Republicans are holding up reforms far at least another four years. This means the same old delegates are likely to show up at San Diego to renominate Richard Nixon. In 1968, 42 of the state delegations had no member under 30 years and only two per cent of Republican delegates wore black. GOP leaders are now worried that the contrast between the Democratic and Republican conventions in 1972 could cost them votes. WATERED POULTRY Federal regulations restrict the water content in poultry, hot dogs and sausages. Chicken and turkeys, after slaughter, are dipped in ice water to cool off their carcasses. The amount of water they are allowed to absorb is restricted to 12 per cent Hot dogs

Congressional Comer: John Brademas Reports From Washington

Congress To Study Political Campaign Spending Reform

Congress took a few days off this past week for Thanksgiving, but returns on Monday for a very busy schedule, beginning with the important issue of campaign spending reform. Last week end was one of the busiest I have spent in many weeks, my travels taking me into several states and I might take a few minutes to tell you about what I learned. On Friday I was in Cleveland, Ohio, to testify before a Democratic Policy Council on Problems of the Elderly. Along with Governor John Gilligan, former colleague in the House, and Wilbur Cohen, former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, I reviewed the record of the Nixon Administration on problems affecting the twenty million older citizens of our society. Hie coming White House Conference on Aging, which begins later this week, will be commanding the attention of Senators and Congressmen who have a legislative responsibility in this field. Chairman Mills and I then went on to Michigan City where the Arkansan, increasingly mentioned as a possible Democratic Presidential candidate, spoke to /several hundred people at the Sinai Temple. On Monday I went to Massachusetts to attend a meeting of the Board of Overseers at Harvard University and to conduct further hearings of my subcommittee on problems of the aging. We met in the state house of Massachusetts and heard the articulate and able Governor of the State, Republican Francis Sergent, tell us of the activities in his state to solve some of the dilemmas facing our older citizens. When the House reconvenes on Monday, before it will be three major bills on political campaign spending. Regardless of party affiliation or geographic region,

determine whether in fact they are a form of marijuana. If you find that marijuana is growing on your property but you are financially unable to bear the costs of the removal then you should also apply to the trustee who can, under law, have the marijuana plants removed. Copyright 1971 by John J. Dillon.;

and sausages are not supposed to contain more than 10 per cent water. However, federal inspectors have been allowing a one to three per cent variation. The General Accounting Office has estimated that just a one per cent increase in the water content of poultry costs the consumer $32 million a year. CAPITAL NOTES AFL-CIO President George Meany was more grumpy about President Nixon in private than in public. Meany has described Nixon to intimates as a weak man and has warned sourly that “a weak man can be a dangerous man.” Cuba’s dictator Fidel Castro has just completed a triumphant visit to Chile. Other South American countries have made friendly overtures to Havana. The boycott against Cuba by the Organization of American States shows signs of breaking down. President Nixon, not wishing the United States to be the last to come to terms with Castro, will make his own overtures to Havana. The President will test out his Peking policy closer to home in Havana. The withdrawal of American troops from Viet Nam is running ahead of President Nixon’s schedule. But significantly no cutback is planned in U.S. air power over Viet Nam. The Air Force and Navy have reduced their peak air capability in Viet Nam by one half. This still leaves more than 400 fighters, bombers and gun ships in Viet Nam. President Nixon has quietly agreed not to reduce this level during the next six months. Vice President Agnew has continued to assure Republican leaders that he is perfectly willing to step aside as Vice President if President. Nixon wants him to. He has repeated to visitors that “no one is expendable next year and that includes me.” Intelligence reports say that Red China’s communes have been ordered to increase their contributions to the nation’s food supplies. This reportedly has caused discontent down on the communes, and many commune workers have run off. Some of them reportedly are trying to escape to Hong Kong.

there is not a member of Congress who is not directly affected by campaign spending legislation. Each of us—from the most senior to the most junior of Congressmen — must run for office every two years. Political campaigning has come a long way since Abraham Lincoln first ran fra* Congress. In 1846 his supporters raised S2OO for his campaign. He won — and gave back $199.25 of it, saying: “I did not need the money. I travelled the district on my own horse; my entertainment, being at the house of friends, cost me nothing; and my only outlay was 75 cents for a barrel of cider, to which some farmhands insisted I should treat them." These days a congressional campaign is far more likely to cost $75,000 than 75 cents. Experts estimate that spending by, and behalf of, all political candidates came to S3OO million in 1968. If the election laws remain as they are, total campaign spending next year may reach S4OO million to SSOO million, s The money has to come from someplace, and 90 per cent of it comes from less than l per cent of the people. The funds often come from special interest groups which expect to get a return in the form of favored treatment. In my opinion, the result is a tendency for some elected officials to bend over backwards to please their campaign contributors. This tendency, in turn, threatens to undermine public confidence in elected officials. The three proposals before the House all differ in their approaches to this problem. All of the three provide the stiff disclosure requirements needed to make campaigns honest and fair. All of them provide overall campaign spending limitations so that no one candidate will have an unfair advantage merely because he has access to large contributors. And two of the bills limit the amount of individual contributions. The purpose of this provision is that no one person or family can single-handedly control a campaign to his own advantage. j All of these bills, despite their many differences, are a marked improvement over present campaign spending rules. And so, by this time next week I hope to be able to tell you that the House has passed a bill that win bring genuine reform in the financing of elections in the United States.

By JACK ANDERSON