The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 1

Poll gives big lead to Bennett A dog's work is never done! Whenever John Thelander, Salina Rt. 3, takes to the field, Cain, his Irish Setter, likes to ride along. Here he balances atop a wheat drill. With the beautiful fall weather of the past few days, area farmers have been out in force planting the new wheat 15 CENTS The HOME EDITION Salina Journal 107th YEAR No. 282 SALINA, KANSAS, MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1978 20 Pages Smith clings to hope for Rhodesian peace WASHINGTON (UPI) Prime Minister Ian Smith said Monday Rhodesia remains committed to hold general elections by December 1978 and believes there is still a chance to restore peace.

Smith spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference before meeting with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance later in the afternoon. The Rhodesian leader said he hoped Vance would have "some new plans to offer us." Smith was asked, at the news conference, if he believed peace could be brought to his strife-torn country despite rising guerrilla terrorism. "I believe so, but I believe it is going to be more difficult and a lot more innocent Rhodesians are going to be killed," he said. "That's why we hope to have the support of the countries of the free world, particularly in view of the fact that we are going along a path which will align us with the free world and our opponents will be the very reverse." Smith brushed aside a suggestion he might travel to London to seek British support. Faces British prison "They told me they would put me in jail if I do (go to Britain)," he told a reporter after the news conference.

Smith conceded it will be difficult to hold elections in December although the transitional government remains determined to make every effort to do so. "The whole of the country is under government control," he insisted. "I think we admit there will be complications as long as intimidation goes on because the terrorists have said they will make sure there are no free elections. "I believe that despite that, we will hold the elections." The United States has agreed to suspend sanctions against Rhodesia if a black majority government is installed through free elections by Dec. 31, 1978, and the Rhodesian government demonstrates willingness to enter into ah "all parties" conference to compose differences with guerrillas.

Ian Smith at press conference. crop. (Journal Photo by Bob Kelly) Journal kernels Audience will determine ending RUSSELL (HNS) A play to be presented by the Russell Arts Council could end up with three different endings. "Night of January 16th" will be presented Oct. 12, 13 and 14 in the Russell County Courthouse Courtroom.

A jury of 12 will be chosen from the audience to decide the fate of Debbie Parks, who portrays a young woman on trial for murder. The play has three short endings, to be presented in keeping with the verdict rendered. Irene Jepsen and Joan Hunsley are co- directors. Inside features Area News 15 Markets 7 Comics 19 Opinion 4 Courts 7 Sports 9-12 Crossword 16 Thosteson 20 Deaths 7 TV-Films 14 Fam. Hospitals 7 Weather 7 Local 7, 8 Women 6 Kan.

(UPI) Gov. Robert Bennett holds a 16 percentage point lead in the gubernatorial race over House Speaker John Carlin, a political poll indicated Monday. The survey, conducted by Central Research Topeka, for WIBW-TV and radio, showed Bennett with 47 percent of the vote, compared to 31 percent for Carlin, 21 percent undecided and 1 percent for other candidates. Bennett was shown leading in all congressional districts and among all age groups. Central Research said its survey of 1,000 voters, 200 in each congressional district, would produce an estimate that would vary no more than 3 to 4 percent from actual results.

The results also indicated the GOP incumbent is leading among both urban and rural voters. The survey said 49 percent of urban voters support Bennett, compared to 28 percent for Carlin and 22 percent undecided. Of rural voters, 42 percent back Bennett, 36 percent support Carlin and 21 percent are undecided. The governor was reported leading in all five congressional districts, with his home 3rd District his strongest area. First District results were: Bennett 47 percent, Carlin 24 percent, undecided 29 percent.

Second District results: Bennett 45 percent, Carlin 39 percent, undecided 15 percent. In the 3rd District, the poll showed: Bennett 54 percent, Carlin 25 percent, undecided 21 percent. In the 4th District, it showed: Bennett 41 percent, Carlin 33 percent, undecided 25 percent. Fifth District results were: Bennett 46 percent, Carlin 33 percent, undecided 18 percent. The 5th District, home of American Party candidate Frank Shelton of Cherryvale, listed the highest support 3 percent for other candidates, although specific candidates were not named.

In a breakdown by age groups, Bennett also led: 18-29 years, Bennett 53 percent, Carlin 29 percent; 30-49 years, Bennett 45 percent, Carlin 33 percent; 50-64 years, Bennett 48 percent, Carlin 31 percent; 65 and older, Bennett 44 percent, Carlin 30 percent. The governor also led among males 50 percent to 33 percent and among females 44 percent to 28 percent. On Kansas campaign trail President leading parade of politicos TOPEKA, Kan. (UPI) The president, a former president, three U.S. senators and the U.S.

House minority leader will be visiting Kansas this month on behalf of political candidates. President Carter is to campaign in Wichita Oct. 21 for Senate candidate Bill Roy and gubernatorial hopeful John Carlin, both Democrats. Details have not been released on that appearance. Former President Gerald Ford will be in Topeka Oct.

24 for a luncheon in honor of GOP Senate candidate Nancy Landon Kassebaum. Oct. 16, Sen. S.I. Hayakawa, will speak at Kansas State University, Manhattan, on behalf of Mrs.

Kassebaum. The following day, Oct. 17, Sen. Edward Kennedy, will attend a breakfast in Kansas City, and a brunch in Overland Park on behalf of Roy. On the same day Carter is in Wichita, Oct.

21, House Minority Leader John Rhodes, will appear for Mrs. Kassebaum. Rhodes, a native of Council Grove, will attend a reception and dinner at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg. Another Arizonan, Sen. Barry Goldwater, will attend a reception and dinner for Mrs.

Kassebaum Oct. 25 in Kansas City, Kan. The appearances are a continuance of recent stops by dignitaries on the campaign trail across the state. Sunday, Treasury Secretary Michael Blumenthal appeared for Roy in Kansas City, Kan. Thursday, former California Gov.

Ronald Reagan appeared for 2nd Congressional District GOP candidate Jim Jeffries, as did former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Sept. 30. Proved 'em wrong? On the Chris Columbus is favorite of the flat-earth set LANCASTER, Calif. (UPI) Charles K. Johnson swears he is on the level.

The president of the International Flat Earth Society spends his time trying to prove the world is "flat as a penny." Still, one of the society's super-heroes is Christopher Columbus, whose day is today. "Contrary to the history books, we claim Columbus proved the world flat," Johnson, 54, said from his five-acre Mojave Desert ranch. "At the time Columbus made his voyage everyone believed the world was a ball except for Columbus. He was not one of them. They were afraid they would fall off the edge of the earth because it was round, not flat.

"Columbus is one of our heroes because he didn't fall off gravity wasn't invented yet. Gravity was invented by a priest in England. There was no gravity in Columbus' day. "Every year around Columbus day," Johnson said, "there is a great controversy" about the earth's shape. "The average person believes the world is round because modern science says so," John- son said.

"But it's just not true. Columbus did not fall off so that proves it." Johnson was born and raised in Texas. His family moved to San Francisco and then to the Southern California desert. Indeed, from his porch on the sandy, parched desert floor near Edwards Air Force Base, the world does look flat. Johnson's Flat Earth Society boasts 1,500 members worldwide.

"Most live in the United States, but we have many others in 167 countries. We publish the Flat Earth Quarterly with the objective to restore the world's sanity," Johnson said. "We consider this the world's most superstitious age. From integration to going to the moon, the world is a vast and complex place. We try to get people to use their minds logically." But what about the space shots? Millions remember live pictures from space showing Earth spinning in the distance.

"The whole thing was a science fiction TV movie," Johnson said. "We aren't accusing the government of anything. The whole thing is a plot by Nazi German scientists. They are the nucleus of the U.S. space program.

"The movie 'Capricorn One' proved that the moon shot did not happen that it was faked. "The idea that the earth is round comes from Greek superstition." Surprisingly, the flat earth concept is usually met with polite interest, rather than rudeness or hysteria. "There is a lurking sanity in the American public's mind, no matter what the American space program claims," Johnson said. "People don't condemn us." But how is it that one can go "around" the world? "Simple," Johnson said. "Magnetic north is the center of world and a ring of ice surrounds the land which is floating in a sea of flat water.

It has nothing to do with the earth being a ball. It's like going around an island. "Ships disappear on the horizon, but it's only an optical illusion. After a ship goes six miles it doesn't disappear over a hump of water. I can prove that with a telescope." The Flat Earth Society has recently declared the sun does not set.

"The sun is on a circular course over the earth, like a spotlight on a dark night." "We can support it all with lots of evidence and facts." Johnson says his Australian-born wife, Majorie, becomes particularly annoyed when someone says she comes "from down under." "My wife is one of our major proofs," he says. "If the world were a ball, Australia would be down under. That would have meant my wife got on a ship upside down and came over a hump to the United States. She swears she has never hung by her feet in her life." Dear Sal Apparently, the desert sun has either supercharged Johnson's brains or poached them. Yours, Ina A tribute to Oakie Four hundred guests mingled at Pickfair Mansion (the home of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

and Mary Pickford) in Beverly Hills, for a Sunday soiree to pay tribute to the late Jack Oakie on what would have been his 75th birthday. Proceeds went into the University of Southern California's Jack Oakie Archives and Scholarship Fund. Standing next to a photo of Buddy Rogers and Oakie (picture at far left) from the movie "Someone to Love" are (from left) Oakie's widow Victoria, Buddy Rogers, Alice Faye, Virginia Mayo and Toby Wing (who worked with Oakie in the late '20s). In the second picture, actress Rita Hayworth dances with actor Cesar Romero. Alice Faye does a dance step (third picture from left) to the music of Bob Crosby and his Bob Cats as Buddy Rogers plays the trombone.

And actress Jane Withers (far right) poses by a picture from her favorite Oakie movie, "Tin Pan Alley." With Oakie in the picture are Betty Grable and Alice Faye. (UPI Photos).