Jefferson City Post-Tribune from Jefferson City, Missouri • Page 37

MWS TMUNI, MffwtM Oty, Swfcy, AnfMt II, If f-C NEWS TRIBUNE COMPANY WILLIAM H. WELDON, Publisher ROBERT BLOSSER, President "We shall not fear follow wherever truth may lead nor to tolerate error, so long as reason is left free to combat Thomas Jefferson A conservative Detente fails Saigon 'It was 10 years ago that the U. S. Congress, by an almost unanimous vote, launched the United States on a costly effort to prevent the conquests of South Vietnam by the communists. The Tonkin Gulf resolution, spurred by an attack on U.S.

destroyers off the coast of North Vietnam, served as the basis of a commitment of U.S. forces that sent half a million Americans to Vietnam. Taking stock of these last 10 years is despressing, on the', whole, but not without hope that the communist victory, which the U.S. intervention did prevent, might still be averted by the South Vietnamese now fighting on their own. However, even that hope at times appears slim.

In recent weeks the North Vietnamese invaders have been intensifying the attacks which have been nibbling at government-held territory throughout the period of fictitious ''truce'' that beganin January, 1973. They are doing so with Soviet tanks, artillery and rockets which have flowed at flood-tide into South Vietnam across the Demilitarized Zone that is now an open highway of infiltration. President Nguyen Van Thieu recently declared a military alert. Many Americans bought the liberal argument a few years ago that U.S. support of South Vietnam was prolonging the war that the people of South Vietnam were actually the victims of our effort to preserve the freedom of their country.

But the war has continued, and South Vietnamese people are fleeing by the tens of thousands from towns, villages and farms once protected by U-S. forces and now being overrun by advancing communist troops. History is showing who was right and who was wrong in the debate over the significance of U.S. support. History is also showing that the promises made by Hanoi in the truce agreements signed at Paris in 1973 meant nothing in terms of achieving a peaceful political settlement and dealing with such matters as establishing the fate of 1,100 missing Americans.

The truce simply gave the communists a fresh hand of cards to play out their strategy in Southeast Asia with the United States out of the game. The triumph of the last 10 years is that a free people with the help of a powerful ally could resist a communist effort to enslave them. The tragedy is that statemen on whom they have relied to preserve their hard-won independence; under an internationally supervised truce have left them facing the same menace with only a slender chance of survival. West may still think that detente means peace. The terrorized villagers of South Vietnam know otherwise.

Glorifying killers It has been said that a nation is known by its heroes. If that were true, the United States would universally be known as a nation of homicidal maniacs. For reasons beyond understanding, Americans have long made it a practice to glorify killers especially if they are degenerates, as well. The process of glorification started for Fred Gomez Carrasco even before the bloodbath in the Huntsville, state penitentiary, in which he and three others, including two hostages, died. Already he was known in the dusty barrios along the Mexican border as "El Senor," The Man.

And what a man he was "the Mexican connection" for an cocaine and heroin empire stretching from San Diego to Chicago and Detroit; wanted in Mexico for the murder of a federal policeman; suspected of killing at least five other men in Texas; believed to have gunned down 47 more in dope wars south of the border. In his death by his own hand, Carrasco swiftly is becoming a legend, as have so many monsters before him. A ballad already has been written about him, "La Muerte de Fred Gomez CarrascoV' and sung over a San Diego radio station by a group called Los Socios. "He was muy macho (a lot of man)," a young Mexican-American woman told a reporter. No doubt Hollywood eventually will make him a hero in a blockbuster of a movie, as Hollywood made heroes of Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger.

One can almost see it now. There is Carrasco (played by swaggering across the screen, handsome, insoucient, devil-may-care, a Robin Hood of the Southwest. Hollywood won't have to stretch very far to get in a torrid love affair, for legend already says that he loved his wife Rosa so much that he pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to kill (the crime that landed him in Huntsville) to save her from prison. The police say Rosa smuggled the guns to Carrasco that enabled him to make his desperate bid for freedom. Whether this is true or not, it undoubtedly will be the most touching scene in the picture.

For everybody loves Love. And Carrasco will die with Rosa's name on his lips, joining such other legendary figures as Billy the Kid, the disgusting little homosexual who made a practice of shooting men in the back; Ma Barker, the great American mother, and "poor Jesse" James. What is there about Americans that makes them glorify such creatures? Why do radio stations air ballads about them and Hollywood romanticize them in movies? There probably aren't enough psychiatrists in the U.S. to figure it out. (Phoenix, Republic) Nation sighs in re By JAMES J.KILPATRICK WASHINGTON The meteorologist may be hard put to explain the soft summer breeze that has swept across the country in these past few days, but this happy Capital City knows the source: It is a national sigh of relief.

It is hard to imagine how Gerald Ford could have moved off to a better start. His swearing-in speech on the 9th was superb; his address to Congress on the 12th hit precisely the right note. Those who had feared that Ford would come on like Joe Palooka, murmuring gosh, golly and gee whiz, have had their fears removed. With this changing of the watch, no one asks who's in command. Ford is in command.

And the word in Washington is "relief." The local weather bureau maintains an air quality index. Off and on this summer the index has wavered between hazardous and poor. Metaphorically speaking, the air quality has been poisonous impeachment hearings, court proceedings, tempers rising, the political humidity soaring out of sight. The climactic moment of resignation followed hours of apprehensive waiting. Many persons had feared that Nixon would exit screaming, and that Ford would stumble as he carne on stage.

What a relief! Nixon went quietly, even pathetically, and Ford strode from the wings with a nice spring in his step. The smog lifts like a curtain going up. Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious by this sun of Michigan. How pleasant it is to draw an uncongested breath! What has equipped Ford for this admirable, start? He is peculiarly a man of the House. You have to look all the way back to McKinley to, find a President with anything approaching Ford's particular experience.

Nixon, Johnson, and Kennedy, each served for a few years in the House, but each moved on to the Senate before gaining executive office. 'This is on easing of The mail bag Why no arrests? Dear Sir: At the recent debacle held at the state fairgrounds in Sedalia, the news media reported that some 1,000 persons in attendance were treated for overdose of drugs, that sellers of drugs operated openly, and that consumption of drugs was done with no attempt at concealment and by many of those persons present. It was further stated that some 110 Missouri Highway Patrolmen had been delegated to police this gathering but that they had been "instructed" to pay no attention to, and to make no arrests for, drug violations. I would like to know who had the temerity to give these instructions, because no person in the state of Missouri not the governor, not the attorney general, not the superintendent of the highway patrol has one scintilla of right to order the suspension of a duly enacted state law, such as the law against the possession, use and sale of such drugs as were used and dispensed at Sedalia. For an individual to take upon him? self the suspension of the law is a very serious matter, and whoever did so in this case should be brought to account.

The fact that the state of Missouri would allow its property to be used for illegal and immoral purposes requires no comment. Hugh P. Williamson Fulton Resignation thoughts Dear Sir: In the last few days we have been bombarded by the processes of a democratic society. I feel the greatest statement of this process in action was made by an English tourist interviewed in one of our largest cities. His comment was somewhat as follows: "I'm amazed to see that what is being done is.done without having to dodge As I watched television, I felt inclined to jot down these thoughts: The farewell speech of parting made And o'er a carpet, red, quite slow, They made their way from the mountain peak To the valley far below.

Emotion ranged from tears to jeers As the crowds their farewells made, Then their thoughts were turned to another day When new structures must be laid. Oh, for a chance tograb the earth And the paths we've trod re-roll, And take the script of history To bleach the ink from every scroll. But once the act is said or done We are longer free, How prayerfully we should speak and walk Through our page and history. A grateful citizen Thanks Dear Sir: Eva and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of Cole County for their support during our recent bid for state auditor. We were humbled by and deeply appreciative of the strong support given us by our fellow Cole countians.

We trust we can continue to be deserving of your support. Our only regret is that we couldn't win for you this time. Thanks. Eva and Dwight Fine 1406 Rehagen Blvd. Ford served in that great cave of winds for almost 13 terms, from early 1949 to his confirmation as vice president in December, 1973.

The conventional political wisdom tends to low-rate the House. It is not nearly as exclusive as the Senate; its members serve for two years instead of six; it is known as the lower chamber or "the other body." A gentleman from Virginia who served as governor and then went to Congress brice complained that even the doorkeepers were better known than the Representatives. Yet the founding fathers knew what they were doing when they created a legislative body that would have to stay close to the people. There is something about the hurly-burly of the House that works upon the character of the men and women who serve there. They have less time for pomp and circumstance.

They are often of the earth, earthy; and the rules of the chamber instill both a need for brevity and a spirit of compromise. Ford's quarter of a century in the House gave him no eminence in his party or in his country, but the years gave something else an ease of quality of speech, a mastery of the 2nd tumble. Politics is a body, contact; sport Ford has been knocked flat from; time to time, as in his fumbling attempt; to impeach Justice Douglas, but he long; ago learned to get up smiling- Yes he will make mistakes. Of course he will. He has inherited a double- digit inflation that will riot go away with; the summer breeze of his arrival.

He wffl; have trouble winning the confidence of; blacks. His experience in foreign affairs; is bound to be a source of concern. He has problems aplenty But the ternble tensions of the past two years have vanished with the lifting of the fog. The high pitched of the Nixon years yield to a softer movement Carlyle once observed that the happiest hours of mankind are recorded on the bank pages of history. Ford will perform a tremendous service if he provides an exhausted people a few blank pages now.

Another view falls British people By HENRY J. TAYLOR socialism has put the cat among the a scale that even the most alarming reports fail to recognize. Parliament began a lengthy summer recess on July 31. And the hard-pressed British see the defeat of Prime Minister Harold Wilson's Labor party the only hope. But Mr.

Wilson is largely free to time a general election to his party's best that's a rub. The Labor party's current move to nationalize the great ship-building industry merely caps a climax of nationalization disasters. Wilson's formula, however, remains "more of the same," in spite of the fact that the Labor party's whole nationalization program runs from bad to worse. On July 31 the Electricity Council reported that its loss for the fiscal year ended in March totalled million. This compares with a $4.6 million surplus in the previous year.

The Gas Council shows its own colossal loss. So do the nationalized railways. So does the Coal Board. For the first time in history more ships are carrying coal to Newcastle (chiefly from the United States and Poland) than are carrying British coal abroad. The Post Office, in turn, discloses that its operating loss for fiscal 1974 has more than doubled from the year before; It is $294 million.

The government-owned British Airways has lost $32 million this year. Managing Director Henry Marking states that the airline must raise up to $46 million merely to meet its wage bills alone after September. As with the other government-owned operations, the money must be, raised through "public borrowing." This means that the British taxpayers would still foot the bill, as before. The losses of just the Electrical Council, Gas Council, the nationalized railways, Coal Board, Post Office and British Airways alone come to more than $1.7 billion. Ten years" ago Britain had the third highest Gross National Product per capita in Europe, exceeded only b.y Swit- zerland and Sweden.

Today Britain is nv ninth place, behind Switzerland, Sweden, France, West Germany, Denmark, Norway, Belgium; arid, Netherlands. It is the world's most industrialized nation. But Britain's productivity is now lower than any Western' European industrialized 'nation. Yet Britain is spending only $6 in research for each $9 spent in the original six Common Market" countries. Having seen Britain reduced from the- world's greatest.creditor to the world's'; greatest debtor, the Empire gone, pound repeatedly devalued, say the British have grown accustomed, to an insular life.

But now they must look, again since joining the Common' Market on Jan. 1,1973. Moreover, British unemployment intensified by the influx of untrained for-' i mer colonials, chiefly from Pakistan, Bangladesh, British Africa and the West Indies. At the.same Britons fear the influx of Common Market labor. In fact, when Welsh coalmines, attempted to import Italian labor to.

relieve an acute labor shortage, Welsh coal miners struck. if this were not bad 1 Britain has only two natural resources coal and limestone. She must import" four-fifths of her raw materials two-thirds of her food. Her imports, course, must be paid for by her The United States is her largest single-. customer.

We take about 15 per cent oft. Britain's exports. The enlarged Common. Market it has 50 million more people' than the United States can take 30 pet' cent, with France the best customer. But British wages have goh'e'; up, up, up along with the inflation arid' this is lethal for British exports and vital employment which exports supply.

Meanwhile, Britain's 1974 strike loss in labor days of work lost is appalling. And, in addition, one man's 'stifike another man's layoff someplace else. The Labor government's not change the economic facts, but 'it does promise to change the method dealing with them. And if there is any-' other hope in that glorious land, it 'is 1 utterly impossible to see it. Capital City memories 10 Years 18,1964 The City Council received a request for a zoning change from Julius Schott to rezbne a 23-acre tract off West Main Street at the end of Ware Avenue which would allow the construction of a 90-bed nursing home.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Krieger, Sun Valley Drive, today are observing their 25th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs.

Krieger were married Aug. 18, 1939, at Columbia. Mrs. Richard Schell entertained with a golf luncheon at the Jefferson City Country Club yesterday complimenting Mrs. W.

R. Wallace of Denison, a house guest of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Spencer. Word was received here today that Pfc.

Donald Rutledge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rutledge, 517 E. Capitol has arrived at England Air Force Base, Pensacola, for duty. 18,1934 Looking back over thirty years of progress Monsignor Selinger, emeritus of St; Peter's Church, satisfied with Jefferson City.

venerable pastor was receiving well 1 wishes at his suite at the occasion being the thirtieth, 7, anniversary of his arrival in City. Mrs. Forrest Smith and daughters; Forrestine and Mary Jo, have returned 1 from Detroit Lake, where they spent the last month. li SO 18,1924 Starting this a will be given each day at the tourist- camp on the Ten Mile Drive, according! to Manager Schell, Schell said yesterday; that he postively guaranteed the meats to be clean and fresh in every respect. Among those injured in accidents over the weekend were William Forth and Henry Dissen, employes of the Hugh Stephens Printing Co.

The Essex coach driven by over turned in a ditch along the side of a road. Both occupants escaped injuries, sustaining only cuts bruises. i.