The Express from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania • Page 3

editorial Gettysburg tower We have mixed emotions about the proposal to erect a 307-foot observation tower on the Gettysburg battlefield. If the battlefield were a public park, properly landscaped with the monuments and graves grass-covered and mowed, and there were no commercial developments in the area, we would be against the tower. It would then destroy the character of the battlefield, and would indeed be an eyesore. However, considering what development is there already, it is hard to oppose an additional tower. The government already has three sight-seeing towers on the battlefield, none of them, of course, as high as the tower proposed.

In addition to the government tourist center, there are a large number of private tourist attractions. There are bus tours, helicopter tours and other aids in getting around, in addition to the private guides. This commercialism of the battlefield may be decried, but it's there, and it's unlikely that it will go away. The tourists don't seem to be upset about these things instead they visit the tourists sites in thousands and buy hundreds of the souvenirs offered for sale, most of them gimcracks. Unless the government is prepared to buy the whole battlefield, and then put restrictions into force, we believe that the promoter has the right to erect the sight-seeing tower.

It may not be beautiful, but we don't think it will ruin the aethetics in view of the commerical development already there. Daffynitions LIE: An abomination that's an ever present help in time of trouble. ORATOR: A man who gives his life to a wordy cause. MODERN HUSBAND: A do-it- yourself man with a get-it-done wife. PREPAREDNESS: A preparation for war based on the theory the other fellow is just as muddle-headed as you are.

HOUSE WARMING: A last call for wedding presents. CANNIBAL: One who is honest in his love for hifrfellowmen. OLD-TIMER: One who remembers when people were more interested in the product than the box top. Old plctun album Howard Washington The Express, Lock Haven, August 3 Oratory falls flat to man of candidates in 1968 By JACK ANDERSON LAS VEGAS The private papers of phantom billionaire Howard Hughes reveal how he attempted to manipulate both presidential candidates in 1968. Although the papers are still under court seal in Nevada, we have had access to them.

Here are the highlights: Hughes directed his former factotum, Robert Maheu, to help Richard Nixon win the presidency "under our sponsorship and supervision." Maheu allegedly siphoned off $100,000 from the Silver Slipper, a Hughes gambling emporium, for Nixon's campaign. The money was delivered by Richard Danner, a Hughes exec, to Bebe Rebozo, a Nixon confidante. At the same time, Hughes suggested Maheu should "get word to (Hubert Humphrey) on a basis of secrecy tha't is really reliable that we will give him immediately full, unlimited support for his campaign to enter the White House." An immediate $50,000 contribution was supposed to have been made. Although Humphrey heard Maheu had contributed to his campaign, there's no record the $50,000 was ever received. Hughes' lieutenants also offered to subsidize Larry O'Brien so he could serve without pay as Democratic National Chairman during the 1968 campaign.

Humphrey acknowledges the offer was made; and O'Brien confirms he was sounded out by Maheu in But both insist O'Brien never drew a dime from the Hughes interests during the campaign. Several months later, however, he was retained by Hughes for a "substantial sum." Humphrey's son, Robert, was also employed by a Hughes company as a sales representative. Money on Nixon Hughes' startling strategy, was to help elect Nixon as President in 1968, then to groom Nevada's articulate and attractive Gov. Paul Laxalt for the White House. The fabulously rich recluse saw a Kennedy-like quality in Laxalt, who gave up the governorship this year.

On March 14,1968, Hughes instructed Maheu: "I want you to go to see Nixon as my special confidential emissary. I feel there is a really valid possibility of a Republican victory this year. "If that could be realized under our sponsorship and supervision every inch of the way, then we would be ready to follow with Laxalt as our next candidate." Hughes used his gambling profits from the Silver Slipper to make political contributions. Re owned the casino as a personal holding, therefore the money didn't pass through his corporate books. We have evidence that Silver Slipper LADIES IN THEIR FINERY -Hats perched atop their hairdos, capes immaculate, and gloves on, the ladies were ready for either a social call or perhaps to go to church.

Who they were is uncertain, They had their "tintype" taken and they appear today through courtesy of Ben Seybold, of Mill Hall, who brought the old daguerrotypes to The Express. money was slipped to a number of Nevada and national politicians. In 1968, Maheu turned over $100,000 from the Silver Slipper to Danner, who delivered it to Nixon's close crony, Bebe The participants won't talk about the transaction. Responded Maheu tersely: "I have made it a matter of policy never to discuss political contributions on behalf of any client unless I have specific authorization in writing. In this case, I doubt whether the authorization would be forthcoming." Danner, who now runs the Sands hotel-casino for Hughes, refused to comment.

And Rebozo wouldn't take our calls. While Hughes was supporting Richard Nixon, he also courted Hubert Humphrey. The secretive billionaire hoped to use Humphrey, then Vice President, to stop nuclear testing in Nevada. "Bob," Hughes instructed Maheu, "there is one man who can accomplish our objective through. (Lyndon) Johnson and that man is H.H.H.

"Why don't we get word to him on a basis of secrecy that is really, really reliable that we will give him immediately fall, unlimited support for his campaign to enter the White House if he will just take this one on for us?" Humphrey helps Hughes The billionaire's secret, hand- scrawled instructions indicate Humphrey's help had been secured. Hughes sought "an order from LBJ inspired by Humphries" to halt all Nevada testing or, at least, a 90-day delay to give him more time to prepare a case against the tests. "I concur completely," Hughes wrote Maheu on April 16, 1968, "with telling the V.P. that he is free to tell the people in Washington if they don't grant the 90- day delay, I am going to the public immediately." He threatened to make public scientific opinions that the tests may have triggered an earthquake. "Bob," Hughes added, "I leave this whole campaign in your hands.

I am sure you should personally go to the White House after we have obtained the 90-day delay and endeavor to sell the President on a permanent policy. I am sure H.H.H. would be glad to go with you and to set up the Maheu suggested a personal message from Hughes to the President would be more effective. Replied Hughes on April 24: "You know I am perfectly willing to write a short personal message to Johnson, which we could ask Humphries to deliver hand deliver to Johnson. "Or if we feel it would be more prudent, I could ask to deliver it.

In that way, it need not interfere with anything Humphries has going "I feel we must start a negotiation with the A.E.C. just as if we were negotiating a business deal. I think we can go through Humphries." Humphrey, whose last name the billionaire could never get straight, acknowledged to us that he had opposed the Nevada tests. But he had taken this position, he said, before the approach from the Hughes people. COULD TAKE A BIT OF DOING! it seems like yesterday Trains collide at Monument; swindler takes LH businessmen 70 yoort 1 A HEAD-ON COLLISION between a heavy freight train going east and an empty one going went occurred a short distance west of Monument.

The trainmen escaped by jumping, and no one wag hurt. Milford strunk brought a large string of eels into town which he caught in Bald Eagle Creek during the, night. He war the best fisherman in Work itopped at the Couderiport tile factory. It wai not yet decided what to do with the Ralph 0. Hall was elected principal of the Howard schools, 60 poors SEVERAL LOCK HAVEN BUSINESSMEN were given some practical tenons In the fascinating game of frenzied fiance when Charles Kline, of Hagerstown, visited Lock Haven to purchase ties and poles for a new trolley road.

He opened negotiations with several firms in this city and Wiliiamsport, and turned out to be a genuine horse thief and The work of erecting a parsonage joining the Bethel A.M.E. Church was ordered suspended pending an investigation by the School Board as a result of objections being raised by Mrs, Lavine Cummings and her daughter, Mrs. Lottie Rokenbroke, neighbors, who pointed out that the plot of ground belonged to the school district. 50 FIFTY-SEVEN TRAPSHOOTERS, including five professionals, took part in the first day's shoot of the annual tournament of the Lock Haven Gun Club on the Hilltop grounds. Logue, the noted bear trapper led all the local amateur shooters by breaking 142 out of 160, thus sustaining his reputation ai one of the crack shots of the The 86 horses and baggage of Troop 103d calvary Pa.

N.Q., were loaded on cars in the upper freight yards, and the troop, numbering 70 men, left for Mt. Gretna, where it would camp and be in training for 15 days. 25 yoori 1946 THE FLARE UP OF KU KLUX KLAN activities in neighboring states led the young pranksters in the area to police were investigating such actions near Curtln and Blanchard. Ralph R. Ricker, head football coach at Lock Haven High from 1930 to 1933, was named to the coaching post at Dickinson The Veterans of Foreign Wars started a fund raising drive for a Labor Day celebration with a donation of $1,000.

raptors DOROTHY WARNER, guidance specialist with State Department of Public Instruction, in a'letter to Dr, commented on the excellence of the high school guidance Myron Danowsky, Antes Fort, won the Lycoming County plowing contest trophy, for the second time. Avis Council voted to build a new borough hall on the property already owned by the town at Ross and Fairvlew St. 5 yoors PERSONS UffOSED TO KLORIDE in Willlamspoi city water placed 20,260 ballots in the mail to Wiliiamsport residents asking them, "Do you want poisonous fluorides added to the resort to the burning of crosses. State public's drinking water?" THB With toning Mww Ml Main It, folaahaM (TIT) TU4TM Jiwy Stow aHlat, ftraM BalUtag, it. ai 0.0'Rallly proaldonl and frank 0.0'Rollly III, ytco ppaldont aad odltor.

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Baiond at Ham, Pa. Port Ofllco aa Clan Matt Manor. EiiaMlahod March LIM OarMhYoar in Assembly By WILLIAM DIM ASCIO Associated Pren Writer HARRISBURG (AP) The House and Senate chambers are ideally laid out for public speeches. But the oratory there, like the imported chandeliers, exists primarily as ah adornment. No matter the subject under discussion, it's not uncommon to find lawmakers reading newspapers, holding private conversations, or even taking naps.

The reason for the indifference is that the pros and cons of a bill are spelled out in advance in closed-door party caucuses. When legislators get to the floor they almost always have their minds set on how they will vote. Many lawmakers, especially the newer ones, view the caucus sessions as invaluable. That's where the practical effects of votes for or against a bill are explained. For instance, when the current general appropriations bill was before the Senate for the first time, floor speeches by the GOP focused on holding the line on state spending because that's what the people want.

During the party caucus, however, it was pointed out that this stand would bring the GOP favorable headlines in the press. In the Democratic meeting still another tact was followed. A member of that caucus confided that some leaders appealed for party unity. "They said the budget was a party bill and all Democrats should vote against any amendments and for the budget," he explained, adding that the leader said, "We're supposed to be Democrats, let's act like Democrats." Although they are not bound to it, sources say, a sample vote is usually taken in caucuses on major bills. After the nose count, one senator said, party leaders know who they have to work on to get the votes for passage.

He added that two Democratic senators who said in caucus they would vote against the budget later were offered sponsorship of the administration's liberalized unemployment compensation proposal. Each party in each house elects a caucus chairman and secretary who officiate at the secret sessions. They maintain varying degrees of order. Although the meetings begin with one person speaking at a time, they sometimes wind up in shouting matches. The sessions are informal and a Democrat said "generally pool room language" prevails.

But many lawmakers view caucuses as the most democratic part of the legislative process, when legislators can be themselves and speak freely on any issue. For the public, however, which gets fragmented reports of the political horse trading that goes on in the private sessions; caucuses can be bewildering. The taxpayer might puzzle over why his representative didn't vote in line with some of the lofty sentiments voiced in a floor debate or participate in the public discussion himself. This could lead the voter to ask if he elects a legislator or a caucus. Drought ends The drought of the spring and early summer ended recently with a vengeance.

The rainfall has been almost constant for the past week or so. Fortunately we escaped without any flood- Ing. The ground has been so dry that it soaked up almost every of precipitation. Even the streams in the vicinity showed little effect from the series of storms. Farmers, greenskeepers and home owners worried about their grass and gardens are happy again, But enough's enough.

The deficit has been made up..