The Sedalia Democrat from Sedalia, Missouri • Page 6

Comment THE SEDALIA DEMOCRAT Capital at St'dalia. Missouri, bv Scii.ili.i Di'mocrat LOVK Publisher I) KNKIHKHT Fiiitor Friday, August 6,1971 A Calculated Risk In Safeguard Freeze Prospects of constructing the Safeguard ABM complex in this area have been further dimmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee, which voted Wednesday to provide funds for preparation only in the Sedalia area This means that only preliminary work on the $154 million project would be accomplished, should the Congress adopt the committee proposal There is little reason to hope that the full Senate will be any kinder to the Safeguard authorization than it was when the original Safeguard bill cleared the Senate by only one vote Even Armed Services Chairman John Stennis has predicted that the military authorization bill have a very rugged trip on the floor The Senate's chief Safeguard foe is none other than Sen. Stuart Symington of Missouri, who tried, and failed, to have the entire Whiteman project scuttled. Symington has made no secret of his opposition to Safeguard, which he has called modern technological Maginot and greatest single boondoggle that 1 have seen since I have been In fairness, part of Symington's and the Senate's coolness toward Safeguard is due to the rapidly escalating price tag of the system. Cost estimates on the 12-site system have risen from $9.1 billion two years ago to $13 7 billion today, and keep going up.

This cost squeeze, plus the possibility of an ABM agreement being reached with the Russians in the SALT talks, have conspired to keep Safeguard on ice in this area. If no arms agreement is reached in Helsinki, and the Russians continue to pour record sums into their defense budget, then the United States can accommodate an ABM freeze for just so long. Beyond that, we would run the risk of further widening the already alarming strategic arms gap separating Russia and this country. New China Policy Shakes Up Asians By ARL ROW AN W.ASHlN'dTON When ij major Asian ally fires its foreign minister in an uproar over the shifts by the Nixtin administration, it is nothing to be dismissed lightly Australian FYime Minister William has sacked his fonugn minister, Leslie Bury, as part of his government's effort to adapt to the dramatic announcements without walking into political calamity at home Rowan get some sense of the far-reaching import, the possible benefits and pitfalls, of upcoming journey to the China mainland when we look at Bury's comments hate to see the far-reaehing interests of Australia and our friends and allies to the near north dragged by the chariot wheels of American political he said is deplorable indeed when foreign policy, which runs to the very root of national security, is allowed to become the plaything of party politics In that band of countries that has supported S. policies in Indochina and the Far East for two decades.

Bury is not by any means the only official who believes that trip is being undertaken with the 1972 political impact uppermost in mind Some have gone so far as to argue that he is foisting a tragic situation upon countries like Taiwan. South Korea. Thailand and even the F'hilippines just to avoid the ignominy of being defeated for reelection. I have written earlier of the considerable poUtical benefits likely to accrue from Mr. Nixon trip to China But only the most blindly partisan politician could construe a foreign policy shift of such magnitude to be a mere campaign gimmick In announcing that the will support Communist China admission to the ruled retary of State William said the I'S is to acf ommfxiatc our role to the realities of tfx world tixlay The policy is right, and it is long overdue, and tfiat is ample justification for it The weighing of political fx.melits and impugning of motives is just fun and gami's signifying nothing Wfiat we might do rriori' profitably is to 1( A down the road and try to ponder what this means in terms of the future effectiveness of the which has run on fiard times lately Is statement inviting Red while insisting that Taiwan remain the prelude to a policy of universal rrM'mbershjp'' 'ITie UN might as well not have existed these last several years, considering the nothing role it has played in the Fndcx hina war Any significant UN contribution was virtually ruled out by the fact that two Personal mm 'Its A SPECTACULAR SUNSET, RUT NOT VEW nerry-Go-Round Billionaire Hughes Backed Nixon, HHH By ANDERSON major parties to that war.

North and South Vietnam, are not members of the United Nations A string of Berlin crises have come and gone without major UN contributions to easing tensions, partly because West Germany and East Germany are not The UN had a special role the Korean war, and the hangover is such that for the last several years UN consideration of the Korean question has been marked primarily by efforts to keep North Koreans from getting a propaganda forum in the General Assembly No one can say with certainty that any of these disputes would be settled quicker or easier if all these divided countries were in the UN, but there can be no denying, for example, that the existence of two Germanys is one of the of the world t()day The question is whether the and the rest of the world are ready to accommixlate themselves to that reality. Certainly Mr Nixon's stunning announcement of his invitation to China embarrassed many of our friends McMahon in Australia, Minister Eisaku Sato in Japan, Ferdinand Marcos in the But there is no reason to believe that the policy shift will constitute a long-range threat to the security of Australia or any other country. Peeking is going to play hard to get, negotiating ruthlessly for everything the Mao government can get. But unless the Nixon trip develops into a diplomatic dLsaster. we are moving into an era when Asians will do more talking and less fighting.

And a lot of new voices will be heard around the UN One would be quite naive to suggt'st that this will add up to what Rogers called framework for a stable peace. Fiut it will be a darned sight better than what we have had tor a quarter century 25 Years Ago William Davis of the Ruby Lea apartments, a combat veteran, the first World War II commander of the FMtis County IB, American Legion, at the annual election of officers held night at the armory 40 ears Ago Four suits were filed in the Court tiKiay by the City of Sedalia for alleged gasoline tax due the city under an ordinance which provides for the payment of a tax of one cent gallon for all gasoline sold and transported over the streets of Si'dalia 95 Years Ago Keek receivcKl a eash offer of for the organ in his saloon, but he refused to take the offer Charley says nothing less than $2.000 cash will ever cause the removal of the organ from his saloon F.AS 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. Maheu, to help Richard Nixon win the presidency our sponsorship and Maheu allegedly siphoned off $100,000 from the Silver Slipper, a Hughes gambling emporium, for 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 word to (Fiubert Humphrey! on a basis of secrecy that is REALLY.

REALLY RELIABLE that we will give him immediately FULL, UNLIM- support for his campaign to enter immediate $50,000 contribution was supposed to have been made Although Humphrey heard Maheu had contributed to his campaign, no record the $50.000 was ever received. lieutenants also offered to subsidize Larry so he could serve without pay as Democratic national chairman during the 1968 campaign. Humphrey acknowledges the offer was made, and confirms he was sounded out by Maheu in 1968 But both insist never drew a dime from the Hughes interests during the campaign. Several months later, however, he was retained by Hughes for a son, Robert, was also employed by a Hughes company as a sales representative startling strategy was to help elect Nixon as President in 1968, then to groom articulate and attractive Gov Paul Laxalt for the White House. The fabulously rich recluse saw a Kennedy-like quality in who gave up the governorship this year.

On March 14. 1968, Hughes instructed Maheu: 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. 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. FFe owned the casino as a personal holding, therefore the money pass through his corporate books. We have evidence that Silver Slipper 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 close crony, Bebc' Rebozo The participants talk about the tran.saction Responded Maheu tersely: 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 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 Hughes instructed Maheu, is one man who can accomplish our objective through (Lyndoni Johnson and that man is FLH we get word to him on a basis of secrecy that is FtEALLY, RELIABLE that we will give him immediately FULL, UNLIMITED support for his campaign to enter the White House if he will just take this one on for The hand-scrawled instructions indicate help had been secured. Hughes sought order from LFU inspired by to halt all Nevada testing or, at least, at 90-day delay to give him more time to prepare a case against the tests.

concur Hughes wrote Maheu on April 16. 1968, telling the V.P that he is free to tell the people in Washington if they grant the 90-day delay, I am going to the public He threatened to make public scientific opinions that the tests may have triggered an earthquake Hughes added, leave this WORLD ALMANAC FACTS The Louisiana Purchase added 827,192 square miles of land to the United States west of the Mississippi. The World Almanac says that Napoleon promoted the sale of the territory, which the United States took possession of at New' Orleans on Dec. 20, 1803, at a cost of $15 million. Mail whooe campaign in vour 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 appointment suggested a personal message from Hughes to the President would be more effective. Replied Hughes on April 24; know I am perfectly willing to write a short personal message to Johnson, which we could ask Humphries to deliver hand deliver to Johnson. 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 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 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. Bell-McClure Syndicate No Fixed Tenure Only Congress, among the agencies of the federal government, has no fixed tenure of office or date of retirement for its members. Senators and representatives alone decide when and if they should no longer seek re-election.

Revived Custom President Woodrow Wilson revived the custom of addressing Congress in person when he called a special session of the body to pass a new tariff bill. This was the first time since the days of Thomas Jefferson that the President delivered his message to Congress in person. Average Age Pages at the U. S. Capitol range in age from 14 to 17 and are paid $5,000 yearly.

They work and attend school full time at the Capitol Page Sc-hool. Promises Better Poll This is our first letter to the editor in all of the years we have represented Pettis County in the United States House of Representatives. I hope this may be published in your section. First, may I say the fact that I am writing this letter should serve to demonstrate that we read all of the editorials in The Sedalia Democ'rat. Over the years these have always proved helpful on pending issues during legislative debate.

Next, let me say that when an elected official or his office is the subject of an editorial, he must try to make an objective or impersonal appraisal to avoid a hasty reaction. In this case. done my best to try to put myself in the place of a disinterested reader. With the foregoing as a preface, this letter is to say that your criticism of our poll questions, both the one on committee assignments and the one on executive reorganization, was well taken. Stated differently, our office is in full agreement with the point of your editorial My further response to the criticism of asking questions is to conless there has been criticism of these questions in the 1971' opinion poll from scattered areas of our district.

We agree the 1971 Slants effort was not our hest-worded poll. The only avoidance or possible explanation is that this opinion poll was prepared hurriedly and without a careful personal review or restudy prior to mailing. Nonetheless, the fact remains my office was responsible for sending poorly- worded questions. We accept this criticism because it is justified. We promise to avoid a repetition of this kind of thing in the future.

To be certain next year that the questions are neither leading, loaded, nor partisan, it is my intention to employ a professional pollster as a consultant when we prepare our 1972 questionnaire. Moreover, we intend to ask all segments of the news media in our district, printed and electronic, to suggest which issues or matters of current interest they believe ought to be included in the next poll. Over the years we have enjoyed wide approval of this sampling of opinion. In this, our 13th year, we have experienced our first criticism. We agree it is justified.

We pledge all of our constituents we will work hard for a better questionnaire next year. Washington, D. C. Rep. Wm.

J. Randall By DOKiKNEIBERT as the Hollywood saying goos may better than ever, hut one thinii certain cartoons are in sad shape When IS the last time you laughed at a version certainly hard, what with abstract drawings, splashy color and sophisticated voice animation Everything hut humor Along with Red economu portents and the Pentagon Papers. I have been doing some serious thinking about what modern cartoons such losers I think it has to do with heart Take the genius of a Fred Quimby. for instance His Tom and Jerry stand as a monument to the genius They had wildly imaginative visual humor (there was a memorable classic of Tom and Jerry romping atop a Thanksgiving dinner tabic fast pacing and good plots and they even talkies' But most of all they had characters Tom and Jerrv' Both had and you knew where you stocKl with each and what to expect By virtue of their continuity, the moviegoer watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon had the feeling that he was among old friends Contrast this with pallid cartoons Who knows the Who I tell you it is sad that a whole generation of kids is growing up without the benefit of Tom an(i Jerry Or Sylvester Pussycat for that matter, or the Road Runner and Wiley Coyote, or Bugs Bunny, or Goofy, or Donald Duck And who has heard of Tweety Pie lately The Democrat-Capital has been invited to send a reporter to the Miss Nude America Beauty Pageant to be held Saturday at Rose Lawn. Ind In perusing Naked colorful brochure.

I noted one item that strikes me as utterly discriminatory. A single man must pay $15 at the gate to see the pageant, while unaccompanied women are admitted for a mere $2 Lib. are you going to take this sitting The wildest part of the Miss Nude America contest is the list of judges. In the words of the press release they are: Guccione (Editor and Publisher of Penthouse Magazine), the comedian George Kirby. Ted Tuschinsky and Mrs Rene Hardin (Famous Beauty Pageant Judges), the genius Buckminster Fuller, beautiful Babette Bardot cousin and an entertainer in her own right), the black and white comedy team of Tim Tom, and the longest living heart transplant recipient.

Louis Russell, Buckminster Jim Atkinson, manager of Cablevision. says we were unfair in stating in a recent editorial that there have been no improvements in the local operation. He says an agreement with Channel 6 on power output has cut the interference with Channel 5, Kansas City. And a switching device has been installed in the office and with the answering service, making it possible to correct programming errors as soon as they are noted. One comforting thought about being an editor; if you make a mistake, you can rest assured prompt help will come from one or more of your readers.

I am indebted to an anonymous reader who caught me with my Caesar down. In a editorial I used the expression, the in regard to a decision. Well, maybe old Caesar did cast a little dye every now and then (perhaps helping Calpurnia with the wash), but in this case he meant obviously, now that I think about it Sorry about that. Julius. The Sedalia Public Library is taking steps to give Scott Joplin his own nook Librarian Don Morton is designating a shelf in the third-floor Local History' Room for Joplin material.

pretty scant right now, but Larrv Melton, a graduate student in history', has offered some of his material, and Morton has ordered a two-volume collection of music, to be published soon by the New York Public Library. A good picture of the Ragtime composer also is needed, as well as any other material citizens might have. Melton, incidentally, has suggested to the Chamber of Commerce that Sedalia's on-again, off-again highway welcome signs include the words, to Sedalia. the Cradle of Classical Ragtime Whv Thought what were its bases sunk, or who laid the cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy Job 38:6, 7 Fast Writer 0. Henry is said to have written his famous Christmas short story.

Gift of the in three hours on a November afternoon for the New York magazine section in 1905. Hearing Insects have simple eardrums on thei legs or on the sides of their bodies. Thes organs help them to hear vibrations in th ground as well as sound vibrations in th air..