The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 11, Milford, Kosciusko County, 12 March 1986 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., March 12,1986

Editorials

People Power, a powerful force We’ve been hearing a lot about People Power lately. More than that, we’ve seen its heavy hand at work. Most notable is the work of People Power in the Philippine Islands, where a little known woman in yellow upset the longstanding and well entrenched dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. She didn’t do it alone. Os course not; she had People Power behind her. We saw People Power at work right here at home, when a large group of Milford citizens got up in arms about a proposed mobile home park just west of their community. No one said it wasn’t to be a good mobile home park, nor that those proposing it were not people of good character and honorable motives. Those objecting said they simply didn’t want to see a mobile home park at the location, and thus shut off conventional home expansion. The objectors turned up over 100 strong at the Milford Community Building to voice their objections, and the county Board of Zoning Appeals heard a smaller group of objectors at the courthouse court room Monday morning. The BZA upheld the view of the objectors, and so a mobile home park west of Milford is a dead issue. We see it as People Power at work. 'No' to SIOO million for the "contras'' — As President Reagan returned Sunday night from a weekend trip at Camp David it became increasingly apparent that congress would not cotton to his request for a slop million for the Nicaraguan “contras” rebels. In spite of heavy lobbying on the president’s part, his efforts appeared to fall far short of enough votes to pass his controversial request. And now, if any further American aid goes to the rebels, it will be scaled down and be given on a conditional basis. We find ourselves among that growing rank and file that applauds this independent stand on the part of congress. The president has waved the specter of Central America turning into a communist camp if we don’t support the rebels against the Nicaraguan government with our money. He and Defense-Secretary Casper Weinberger have dark illusions that, without the aid, there’s a real possibility of sending American troops into that area. Actually, the General Accounting Office says the administration cannot give a full accounting of the last $27 million congress sent the rebels. And all of this in the face of a mounting sea of red ink in the federal budget. Rebel strength has been seriously declining, and it would appear an infusion of enormous funds at this stage would do no more than feed the president’s obsession with a military solution to that troubled area’s problems. News articles on the wires suggest that on several occasions the Contradora nations — Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela — have come close to reaching reasonable agreements with the Sandinistas only to have Washington thwart the efforts with its refusal to cooperate. The administration refuses to see the Nicaraguan problem for what it is: a social and economic problem, more than it is a political problem. This little country has too many people with too little productive land. The Catholic church could help, if only it would change its rigid stand on birth control — but don’t expect this to happen. Our quick answer to the president is: More money, “NO”; more negotiations, “Si.” ■ Life would be a great deal more simple if we did not try to make people think we are what we are not. Statistics reveal many things, but first, they must be intelligently gathered and then fairly studied.

What others say — Don't close your eyes to all the facts ... During the recent short session of the Indiana legislature, a joint resolution calling for a referendum vote on changing the Indiana constitution to allow a state-run lottery was passed. If the next session of the legislature sees fit to pass the bill, the voters of this state will be asked to vote on the issue. While the idea of a state-run lottery sounds good on the surface, maybe the voters of this state should take a closer look before they cast their votes for a constitutional amendment. With neighboring states sponsoring lotteries, the theory is that Indiana should benefit from the monies generated by such a program, rather than having all that money going to neighboring states. But there are some serious questions to be asked before we plunge into the lottery scramble. First, is it only a lottery that lawmakers are suggesting? Will the proposed amendment to the constitution be limited to a state-run lottery or, as some have suggested, is this merely a cover for the introduction of parimutuel betting in Indiana? Are the sponsors of this bill the same legislators who have argued in favor of legalized gambling in Indiana and is this a back-door attempt to foist legalized gambling on the people in Indiana? Secondly, how profitable will this lottery be in the long run? Before the bill has even been passed, there have been questions about the eventual use to which lottery profits will e applied. Exactly where will the money go? And how much will that money benefit the people of the State of Indiana? If Michigan and Pennsylvania are any indication of the good a lottery will do a state, then perhaps the people of Indiana would be wise to vote against such a proposition. Unemployment is high in both those states and both are near the bottom of the economic ladder, despite their lotteries. With the exception of those people who are direct recipients of lottery profits and those who win the lottery jackpots, are the people of those states really any better off for being able to participate in legalized gambling? n A Finally, there is the moral question. Despite all the flag-waving about what “good fun” a lottery is and how “harmless” it is, a lottery, state-run or otherwise, is gambling. Is this really the example we in the State of Indiana want to set for generations to come? If a state-run lottery is acceptable, where do we draw the line against legalized gambling and all that it entails? There is still .time to let our legislators know how we feel about this issue. At the earliest, the question could be on the 1988 ballot. Before that happens, we should all take a good hard look at the issue. Does the State of Indiana really need a lottery or can we be financially sound without legalized gambling? Before we assume that this is an acceptable 3 form of fun, let’s get all the facts. K _THE WAKARUSA TRIBUNE

St. Patrick's Day St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, died March 17, 493. The anniversary of his death has been celebrated regularly in recent times by not only Irishmen but those of other races, and not only Catholics but those of other faiths. ' The New York organization in memory of St. Patrick, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, was organized by both Irish Catholics and Presbyterians, and its first president was a Presbyterian. The most famous tale about St. Patrick is the one which tells of his banishment of snakes from Ireland. Yet Cardinal Moran, who some years ago wrote an article on St. Patrick for the Catholic Encyclopedia, fails to mention it. He does mention the ordeal of St. Patrick when he was surrounded by demons in the shape of vultures, and tells of the drowning of the demons in answer to his prayers! Whatever the tale, and there are those who believe several different versions, a great number of people enjoy celebrating the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick in the middle of this month. Irishmen take pride in the occasion, and on some occasions have even brought pieces of the “ould sod” from Ireland to observe the occasion.

Letters to the editor

Hie Contra War Dear Editor: The Contra (counterrevolutionary) movement began immediately following the Sandinista Revolution of Nicaragua in 1979. Their centers of operations have always been outside of Nicaragua, either in Costa Rica to the south or Honduras to the north. Who are the Contra and how are they organized? According to the Indianapolis Star the four major groups are: 1. FND (Nicaraguan Democratic Force) based in Honduras. This is the largest Contra group. They favor democracy and a free-market economy (estimated troops 15,000). 2. ARDE (Revolutionary Democratic Alliance) has a political branch led by Alfono Robelo and a military branch led by Eden Pastora. The latter favors a socialist democracy (estimated troops 4,000). 3. MISURA, an alliance of Misquito, Sumo and Rama Indians based in eastern Honduras and led by Steadman Fagoth, who was deported by Honduras (2,000 troops). 4. MISURATA, a separate alliance of the same Indian tribes, led by Brooklyn Rivera who has been negotiating, with few results, with the Sandinistas for antonomy of Indian tribes (1,000 troops). The New York Times, in a January 9 article, states, “ . . . the Contra military force is directed and controlled by officers of Somoza’s National Guard, who fought at the dictator’s side until the very end and then fled to Honduras. My knowledge is confirmed by an April 1985 congressional study that shows that 46 of the 48 positions in the FDN’s military leadership were held by exNational Guardsmen. kA local South Bend resident, James Rauner, who recently visited Nicaragua, made some of the following observations and has the documentation for his statements. “1. The Contras focus on specific human targets. They seek out doctors, health workers, teachers (180 teachers were assassinated by the Contras last year, 15 schools destroyed, 138 forced to be abandoned) and agronomists for torture and assassination. '“2. The Contras focus on economic and infra-structural targets. “3. The Contras systematically kidnap civilians.” The Contras have received more than SBO million in official United States aid since 1980 and President R. Reagan will be asking Congress for an additional SIOO million this year. Our government is funding an illegal and immoral war against the people of Nicaragua. It is time to stop! Write House Representative John Hiler and Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Quayle to show your opposition to what our government is doing in Central America. Fred Driver 23645 CR 30 Goshen Easter Seal season arrived Dear Editor, It is spring, Easter Seal season. For your Kosciusko County Easter Seal Society, this Easter Seal season will be somewhat different. Because of rising postal rates, our mailing has been limited to those of our neighbors who have supported Easter Seals in the past. While our mailing will be smaller than in years past, the need is as great as it has ever been. We trust you understand this is so and will join us in our efforts to do what is necessary to make this Easter Seal campaign a successful one. Spring is a season for all senses. Because you cared enough to give in the past, 15

Kosciusko County children will be better able to hear the birds returning to the lakes; we assisted their families in obtaining hearing aids or ear tubes. Five county children have new glasses to better see the flowers bloom, because you cared. With your support, we were able to provide assistance to families with children suffering from asthma, heart defects and scoliosis. We were also able to provide children with walkers and corrective shoes. In all, 65 Kosciusko County families received assistance from Easter Seals, because you cared. Please help us continue to provide these much needed services to our neighbors. Sincerely, Joyce Lee Volunteer Board of Kosciusko County Easter Seal Society Bedtime Story II Dear Editor: With reference to “Ole” Jim Martin’s letter to the Editor in last week’s paper, I would like to add the following P.P.S. to his letter — the only winner in the Syracuse Lake “Name the Condo” contest was the Lakeland Community Day Care Center, they were the recipient of the $50.00 prize! Respectfully submitted, Joseph K. Todd, REALTOR GRI, CRS, CRB, CCIM To the rescue Dear Editor: Some folks must go through fire and brimstone before they figure out that what they had was pretty dem good, and so it was with the 1986 Syracuse-Wawasee Winter Carnival Committee when they made the decision to try a new source for Saturday evening’s grand finale fireworks. The flashy colorful brochure and lots of long-distance phone calls encouraging us to buy lured us to the change. All seemed to be in place, until 4:30 p.m. the day before the event was to occur. The out-of-state fireworks company called to let us know that they were “between insurance companies” and could not find coverage for our display and must cancel! To the rescue: Gerald Perri of Princess Fireworks in Mishawaka called telling us that he was aware of our problem and would be happy to handle our fireworks as he has for the past seven years. Rather than harboring resentment over our desertion, Princess Fireworks stepped in and put together what has to be the most magnificent fireworks display seen yet over Syracuse Lake! They began with a seven “boomer” salute to the astronauts and moved through the flash of color and sound to a crescendo that lit up the winter sky and reflected kaleidoscopically off the frozen lake. Jeanne Gardiner Syracuse

THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S.P.S. 3258-4000) Published by the Mail journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, Indiana 46567. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: sl6 per yoor In Kosciusko County, $22 outside county POSTMASTERS: Send change oMddress forms to The Mail-Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

””~—=r — SNOWMOBILERS ARE a hardy lot. Everyone knows that. But it took route 3 resident John Patrick Burns to authenticate it with the above photo. Burns wrote, “I thought you might be interested in seeing what snowmobilers do when the ice starts to thaw. This photo was taken in front of the fish hatchery on Sunday, March 2.” The melting ice on the Big Lake was no deterrent to this snowmobiler. AS IF the melting snow (above photo) were not enough, Mayzel Miller, nee Kline, of Harrison Street, North Webster, called this column on Tuesday, March 4, to say she has seen the pussy willows coming out, “and that gives one a feeling of spring.” She said she saw the willows on the previous Sunday. SUSAN CORN, long time (124 years) bookkeeper and advertising manager at Thornburg Drugs in Syracuse, and her husband Jeff plan to open their own business, to be known as Corns’ Wood-N-Cloth, a consignment shop, along with crafts, in Clarksville, at the south edge of North Webster. They plan to open their new business around mid-April, in one of the log cabin buildings. They are both well known in the area, both graduates of Wawasee High School — Susan in 1973 and Jeff in 1971. Jeff is a driver for Fidler Ready-Mix in Warsaw, a job he has held for the past 12 years. He plans to keep his job. ANOTHER CHANGE in ownership came to light during the past week with the posting of a large sign in front of Das Keller in Pickwick Place. Wally Young, owner of Quackers in the Village for several years, purchased Das Keller from Gene and Sheila Berghorn a year ago, but it was last week that the sign went up noting the name change to Dangles. No one is sure what “Dangles” stands for, says a friend of Young and a regular at Quackers. Here’s the Berghorn history in the quick food business in this area: They opened the popular Palace of Sweets in North Webster April 1, 1971, opened a similar outlet on West Main Street in Syracuse April 13, 1972, then opened Das Keller September 13, 1975. They sold the North Webster outlet, but it is now closed, the property still owned by Gene and Sheila. They closed the Syracuse Palace of Sweets in 1975 when they opened Das Keller. October 17, of last year the Berghorns bought Ye Olde Pub in North Webster from Guy and Charlene Atkinson, owners for a number of years. As Gene points out, “Augsburger’s store is located just in front of Ye Olde Pub in North Webster.” THE PASSING last week of former Second District congressman Charles Abraham Halleck jogged a lot of local memories of how Kosciusko County and Turkey Creek Township in particular figured in the young attorney’s early political career. Halleck, a native of Demotte in Jasper County (former home town of the late Syracuse Journal publisher J. Barton Cox), graduated from I.U. in 1922. 10th in his class of 450, was a Beta, which fraternity also included Wendell L. Willkie and Paul V. McNutt. Halleck came away with a coveted Phi Beta Pin and Order of the Coif, and his role as a comer seemed to be cast. He was elected prosecuting attorney for the 13th Judicial District which includes Jasper, on the Illinois State Line, and Newton Counties at age 24, in 1924, with a vote count over one Harold Fitzpatrick of 3,755 votes to 1,875 for his opponent. He was re-elected four times. When congressman Frederick Landis fell ill with pneumonia and died on November 15, 1934, nine days after the election, there were four contenders for his replacement, including his widow Bessie Landis. Republicans met at the Winamac Court House December 11, 1934, to name a candidate, and with the strong backing of Warsaw attorney Morrison Rockhill led 15-11. He was 34 years of age at the time. Republicans were chafing that there were so few of their persuasion in office in the wake of- 4 Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal victories. In solid GOP Turkey Creek Township a Republican Constitutional Club was formed with the ardent help of the late Charles W. Kroh and Roscoe Howard and others. Halleck, then still a firey prosecutor, was asked to address the group at the Syracuse High School gym, according to the Thursday, Oct. 18, 1934, issue of The Syracuse Journal. Halleck was not at all a household word; in fact, The Journal on Thursday, Oct. 25, headlined CROWD HEARD HALLICK AT HIGH SCHOOL, mispelling his name in the headline and in the article. - Some 275 to 300 party faithfuls from throughout the county attended, The Journal article stated, in spite of a heavy rain. Attorney Rockhill introduced Seth Rowdabaugh, a Syracuse native and candidate for county prosecutor (he was later elected judge of the circuit court), who in turn introduced Halleck who spoke for 45 minutes. He flailed the New Deal to the delight of his listeners, and in time earned the appellation of “the boy Lincoln of Jasper County.”

By this speech and others like it in the well- J gerrymandered Second District Halleck was gaining wide recognition and his name was in the forefront when incumbent Landis died unex- - pectedly. Governor McNutt designated January 29,1935 as the date for a special election to fill the vacated Landis seat. Halleck’s opponent was George R. Durgan, Democratic mayor of Lafayette. Durgan, the congressman whom Landis had earlier defeated, cloaked himself in the Franklin D. Roosevelt mantel, and Halleck went for the independent farm vote and convinced that element that it should have nothing to do with government interference in their operations. Apparently Halleck’s appeal did the job, for in a final vote count of paper ballots he received over 5,000 votes more than Durgan — 50,324 for Halleck and 45,089 for Durgan. A bonfire was built near the courthouse in Rensselaer and there was dancing in the street. A supporter threw Halleck’s hat into the fire. Halleck was the only Indiana Republican in the congress when there were only 88 from the GOP out of 435 in the entire House. His rising political career, that took him into the highest halls of counsel in the federal government, has been well reported. He had a near-miss in his bid for the second spot on the GOP ticket with Thomas E. Dewey in 1944, and he eventually became a confidant of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson; One of Halleck’s last appearances in the Turkey Creek Township area was in August 1978 when he stumped for Phil Oppenheim of Tippecanoe Lake in his unsuccessful bid for congress. He was nearly 80 years of age at the time, but the fire for a good political fight was still in his eyes. (NOTE — Whenever Halleck spoke in Syracuse after his first election he never failed to point out that it was at that first appearance at the Syracuse school gym that anyone mentioned to him that he would make a good candidate for the U.S. Congress.) SPEAKING OF politics, Patricia A. Brown, the certified public accountant who announced her candidacy last week for the office of Kosciusko County Auditor, is getting a healthy boost from one of the county’s foremost vote-getters. E. Mazie Alexander, of route 9 Warsaw, who held that office two terms, from 1967 to 1974, is taking Mrs. Brown around the county to introduce her to friends and supporters. “IF I was ten years younger I’d attend a lot of those things.” That is how 93-year-old Blanche Mason responded, when asked if she would be going to Washington, D. C. for several galas being planned by Republican bigs. She’s obviously on a select mailing list from the White House, for she has received an invitation to dinner with President Reagan and Nancy. Blanche, residing for the winter in Apartment 4 of the Pine Terrace, plans to move back to her home at Sunrise Beach April 1. How she got on the select White House mailing list is a mystery to her, she claims, inasmuch as she has never given a contribution to the Republican Party. She obviously has friends in high places, for two years ago she had a similar invitation, to a dinner for Vice President George Bush and Barbara. She said her invitations come from a group called The Inner Circle. COL. JOE (USMC Ret.) and Joan Gray, r 3B Syracuse (south end of Lake Wawasee) arrived I home at 3 a.m. Saturday from an 18-day trip by air I and ship that took them to some exotic cities in the I South China Seas. 1 The well known couple flew from Chicago to Narita, Japan, then on to Hong Kong for five days. The voyage aboard ship took them to Canton, China, Manila, Sabah, Borneo, Bali, Jakarta, Indonesia, Singapore, and finally’ to Bangkok, Thailand, where they took a thrilling boat ride through the famous Klongs. They made their return trip by Thai Air to Seattle, Wash. MICHAEL AND Shirley Fitzgerald of 6915 Invemes Trace, Fort Wayne, have purchased Pier 9A on Ogden Island, Lake Wawasee, and will be summertime residents in the area, with their son and daughter. Fitzgerald is owner of Fitzgerald Cadillac/SAAB at 515 West Main Street, Fort Wayne. SANDE WAPPES was back at her old stand at Village Hair Trends Tuesday morning following a four-day Caribbean cruise with her husband Mike, who won the cruise for two for his proficiency as route supervisor for RKO Bottlers of Warsaw. It’s well known that cruises ply their passengers with a wide assortment of cuisine and that avoiding excess poundage is one of the big problems for passengers. How Sande is going to work this out will be of interest to her customers. Meantime pretty Denise Leismer held down the fort during Sande’s absence. WE MAY see the gradual fading out of road signs in Wawasee Village, situated between Highway 13 and the limited access roads on both sides. A State Highway Department representative was in Syracuse last week notifying store owners they would have several weeks to remove the signs; otherwise, the state would do it. The signs, thought by some to be distasteful, have been a concern of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce for some years. The current C-C leadership has zeroed in on the signs as part of their 1986 program. LITTLE KNOWN fact: Vera Hall, Girl Friday at the Wawasee School Corporation administrative offices, returned to her post Monday following a recovery period of just over two weeks, from a broken right hip. She fell at her home at 171 North Shore Drive on February 17 and was a patient at the Goshen Hospital during much of her recovery time. She’s being temporarily assisted by a pair of sturdy crutches.