Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 8

TOM WICKER THE STATE JOURNAL LANSINGEAST LANSING, MICHIGAN FOUNDED APRIL 2e. 1 65 i Comments and Opinions Page Foolhardy Formsheet For 72 1 ft A-8 VOLUME 116, NUMBER 319 FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1971 jj Fumble as OUT uuy 3 WASHINGTON The New York Stock Exchange and the new off-track betting agency in that city have been wrangling as to whether playing the ponies or plunging in the market is the safer investment. Neither is as risky as predicting elections, conventions, primaries, etc. Nevertheless, just one year before the print a i begin, here is one man's foolhardy formsheet on the 1972 Democratic prospects, such as they are: Muskie: The. Republicans circulated a statement last week that Sen.

Muskie's temper was too hot for him to be In Utility Dispute 171. Th Bmwr and Tribun Syndicate it worked on Czechoslovakia, why not on Israel?" mmmtm jl HMMii 'II Letters to this column should normally be limited to 300 words, and the editors reserve the right to edit letters to this limit. Letters must bear the signature of the writer and no letter will be published without the writer's name. Please include address and telephone number for purposes of school board members that the utility board had refused to meet with them or answer their requests. Obviously the Board of Water and Light was well aware of the school board request via the letter to the mayor and news stories.

It did not respond until last Monday, however, after a second school board letter sent directly to the utility was received. Thus, several weeks of public bickering and needling transpired before both sides agreed to a meeting where a little common sense could have settled that aspect of the dispute in five minutes. The school board, in our view, hardly acted responsibly in using what amounted to a "civil disobedience" type power tactic to draw concessions from another public agency. The utility board, on the other hand, certainly could have avoided the public name-calling by responding, even unofficially, to a school board position which had been widely publicized. Both sides have shown a lack of good judgment and a poor sense of community relations.

The ongoing hassle between the Lansing Board of Water and Light and the Lansing Board of Education, whatever its final outcome, will leave neither body looking like heroes. We do not refer to the issue itself, but the manner in which it has been handled by both sides. Early in January the school board voted to withhold payment of some utility bills to the Board of Water and Light to support its requests for financial relief on utility bills in lieu of taxes. A letter was sent Jan. 22 to the Mayor's office by the school board explaining its position and requesting a meeting between the two boards to discuss the issue.

The information, it is understood, was passed on to the Board of Water and Light. The city utility board did not respond, contending later it had received no formal communication since the letter had been addressed to the mayor. Instead, it merely sent a letter to school officials reminding them that their bills were overdue. This led to public charges by some Endangers Deer Herd 'If Meddling Editor, The State Journal: Why are the legislators from the Upper Peninsula trying to kill off Michigan's deer herd? The March 8 State Journal published a photo of Sen. Joseph Mack's secretary and the sign, "Don't Shoot Doe in Meanwhile, after one "No Doe" season, game biologists are counting the carcasses of deer, half does, dying of starvation in their wintering areas.

Superficially, saving the does should mean more deer. Actually it means overpopulation for the food available. Deer ov-erbrowse, killing off edible Easing Doctor Shortage Abortion Means Killing The doctor shortage in Michigan has been a clear fact for a long time and the wheels of change which could alleviate many of the contributing factors to the problem have moved exceedingly slow. Therefore, it is encouraging to observe that combinations of events in this state during recent times are finally starting to change the picture not without trevail, but the wheels are moving. One example was the establishment of a full fledged medical school at Michigan State University after years of debate in the Legislature and other state agencies.

Along with this came plans for expansions of the University of Michigan and. Wayne State University medical schools. Then came the final agreement on establishment of a College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State in conjunction with the MSU College of Human Medicine the first such program of its kind in the nation. And last year the Legislature finally repealed a requirement that graduates of various accredited schools of medicine in other states must take a basic science examination as one condition of obtaining a license to practice in Michigan. The repealer exempted American MDs, Osteopaths, Chiropracters and This requirement had long been a stumbling block in attracting new doctors to Michigan because it involved taking what amounts to basic college-level examinations over again by qualified doctors, many of whom had been practicing in other states for years.

Now another move to improve the situation has been started. The Michigan State Medical Society board voted Wednesday to seek a change in the licensing requirements of the state so that physicians graduating from recognized Canadian medical schools would also be exempted from the basic science examination. This was prompted by reports that numerous Canadian-trained physicians had balked at taking up practice in Michigan because of the basic science exam requirement. Several MSU medical school officials have agreed this law has little more than nuisance value. Qualified doctors coming into the state still must pass rigid requirements of the Michigan Board of Registration in Medicine to obtain a license, and that is to the good.

But the basic science test has outlived any usefulness in the area in question. We hope legislators will see it that way, too, and eliminate the Canadian requirement as well. it rr -v. '1 Election Facts Are Explained Editor, The State Journal: I have reacl many letters in your column and it is my hope that you can print the facts direct from the records of Bath Charter Township. Petitions have been received from the residents of Bath Charter Township asking that the electors be given a chance to vote on the Township Zoning Ordinance No.

13 and the Township Building Code Ordinance No. 14. These ordinances were part of the original reason for becoming a charter township back in January 1966. The record shows that Supervisor Shepard appointed a planning commission in January 1966 and they were charged with the development of the following items: 1 Mapping and Planning of the township. 2 Comprehensive Development Plan.

3 Land Use Study. 4 i Ordinance and Building Ordinance. The Township Planning Commission has worked many hard hours on doing just this and I for one am proud of them, for the five years of time they have given to the township. The township has spent approximately $9,000.00 for this work. The electors of the township have a right to call for a vote on questions of interest to them.

The township election commission is required by law on receipt of valid petitions to ask the Clinton County. Elections Selection Commission for an approved date to hold a election. On March 4, 1971 the Clinton County Elections Selection Commission approved the date of April 17, 1971, for a special election to be held in the Charter Township of Bath. It is the sincere hope that all registered electors will acquaint themselves with the two ordinances and on April 17, the date set for the election that you, the electors, will exercise your right to vote on these important issues. LEE D.

REASONER Township Clerk Bath EDITOR'S NOTE The letter written by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fineis published Thursday concerning the Bath Township political controversy should have carried an East Lansing, Rural Route address rather than DeWitt. The State vegetation and destroying their habitat so that the whole herd starves over winter. Those does who survive produce weakened young more susceptible to disease, and debilitated does may be unable to nurse their young properly.

Corn fed to starving deer unaccustomed to it bloats their bellies, and deer filled with hay have been known to die of starvation beside a haystack. In this way more does mean fewer deer. This was brought vividly home to me when I was a biology teacher in Minnesota watching slides shown to my class by a game biologist. He showed deer lying dead in the word. Please, will some of the respected men of the medical and osteopathic professions, particularly those who specialize in obstetrics, step forward and explain that an abortion as allowed by the Abortion Bill does involve killing.

And then please explain how we can still respect a physician who violates his oath "to protect life." Our lawmakers could do much to improve the image that "politician" implies. They could prove that even under pressure they attempt to see the issue clearly, with its implications for the future. Defend laws which protect life whether that life be intra- or extra-uterine, young or very aged restore our trust, and help reverse the "anti-life" trend. JOHN L. GREGG STEPHANIE L.

GREGG Holt Drop GAP Editor, The State Journal: I am under the impression that the voters in last November's election soundly defeated the proposal to lower the voting age to 18. If a governor's commission can persuade my elected legislators by fiat to overturn a ballot box decision, I will find no reason to vote and will allow the Politburo-crats to rule. If the will of the people of Michigan means nothing, then the social service agencies better crank up their machinery to generate more millions and the welfare case workers poise their pens to fill out forms for the largest influx of clients in many a year. Can you think of any reasons other than aspiration and true love that would keep overtaxed parents feeding, clothing, housing and educating our 18-19- and 20 year old anti-war, bearded long hairs and our hotpants-wearing It's quite possible us ole' revenue producers may DENNIS THE MENACE wintering areas, and the exposed marrow of their bones which proved starvation was the cause of death. He showed the destruction of a forest of seedling trees overbrowsed by deer in the deep snow.

And he illustrated the solution, the cutting of mature trees to provide emergency food from the tops while opening the forest to provide opportunity for new edible growth and cover essential for deer survival. Finally he showed how deer hunting had to be planned to keep the deer in balance with the annual food production. Since the constant change in habitat is not recognizable to the average person, this meant a hunting season controlled by professionals in game management. Talk about a "No Doe" season beclouds the real issue. The issue is forest management, with lumbering, wildlife, and recreational interests of various types all having their place.

These various pressure groups must compete for the available forest. Hopefully they will leave decisions to trained individuals who will permit use according to the need and the fitness of the area for a particular purpose. Meanwhile the "No Doe" deer season has to be labeled a political gimmick perpetrated against an ignorant public and designed solely to win votes for the legislators espousing it. The end result of politician management instead of game management will be the destruction of Michigan's deer herd. MRS.

PHYLLIS ANDERS LAND East Lansing Generation? be very willing indeed to drop this 'GAP" generation of trapped minimum-wagers and unskilled kids right onto the welfare rolls. Happy release from the struggle to pay for school and college credit card accounts, pocket and date money, sky high teen car driver insurance, gasoline, stereo payments, rock albums and Playboy. Gone will be the parental right to worry about companions, hangouts, drug abuse, sex, pornography, gay liberation front picnics, provocative movies, sensitivity training and how to beat the draft counseling groups, etc. With 18 year old majority comes contractual responsibility, alcohol, law, penalties and judicial rights in a hard-nosed, tough old world for the young and impressionable outside the family circle of protection. I can hear Attorney General Mitchell laughing.

BETTY GREER East Lansing By Hank Ketcham WICKER entrusted with the presidency. This is a dangerous tactic, as the Democrats are in possession of the video tape of President Nixon's "last press conference" in California. Everything suggests that Muskie is the front runner but the polls that show him the choice of more people than Nixon are inconclusive; the primaries, the conventions, the campaign must intervene before voters privately make a "real" choice, a far different thing from stating an abstract preference 18 months ahead of time. TWO PROBLEMS Muskie has two major problems, not counting his temper. One is to carry most of the 23 state primaries, a tall order.

The other is to win substantial support in the old antiwar factions of 1968 without alienating the Johnson-Humphrey forces of that year, and vice versa. This is an even taller order. Polls or no polls, the jury is out. McGovern: The South Dakota senator already is better organized, with more experienced supporters, than any other candidate or potential candidate, owing to his inheritance of the antiwar factions of 1968. This means that he is considerably stronger than is generally understood, despite the cliche view that he lacks personality.

McGovern's first problem is the same as Muskie's to win heavily in the primaries. His second is that there appears to be no way he can get much support from the Johnson-Humphrey supporters of 1968, particularly in the South. But will the announced Democratic Party reforms in fact result in greatly increased convention strength for blacks, young people and women? If so, McGovern ought to be a substantial beneficiary, if he's still around by then. SEN. JACKSON Jackson: Setting himself against the antiwar trend of the party, Sen.

Jackson of Washington is off by himself on the right of the spectrum. That appears at this distance to be an unlikely position from which to win the Democratic nomination in 1972. But the senator's presence in the race gives hawks, cold warriors and big-bang defense men a substantial candidate round whom to rally. Bayh: At his tender age and with his substantial backing from labor, what's to lose? Indefatigable, attractive and midwestern, the senator from Indiana could (A) grab off the vice presidency (B) get a head start for first place in 1976 (C) with a little bit of luck and a string of primary victories maybe surprise everyone in a contested convention. Hughes: Big, thoughtful and impressive, the Iowa senator could sell you a used car on the first pitch, and it would probably turn out to be a good buy.

He has more personal presence than any other possibility, good credentials with the antiwar left, solid rapport with the hardhats, and a certain air of character honed by travail. MAYOR LINDSAY Lindsay: The New York mayor's greatest attractions are his fresh face (among Democrats) and his non-partisan independence. With such assets, he could be an attractive spokesman for urban interests and a formidable vote-getter. But will he be able to maintain that independent new look when and if he becomes just one more Democrat among a halfdozen scrambling for the brass ring in 23 primaries? Humphrey: As a former vice president and presidential nominee, he is the only potential candidate with a valid reason for remaining aloof from that lethal run of state primaries. And if the other candidates take turns defeating each other in those party brawls, as may well happen, don't bet the Democratic convention won't turn again if only by default to II II, the man who missed by a hair in troubled 1968.

Kennedy: A riddle wrapped in a mystery. McCarthy: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. (C 1971. y. Time New.

Servic A 'XT' I Editor, The State Journal: According to the front page article "Senate Gets Abortion Bill," the time for the showdown has arrived. But are the senators aware of the real issue? I wonder. A written reply from a senator tells us that he believes a woman has the right to do with her body whatever she pleases, and thus he promotes abortion-on-demand. Is this senator ignorant of the scientific fact that the embryo, the fetus, the unborn child is not merely an extension of the woman's body, but a separate being? Or has this senator been a victim of subterfuge? Perhaps the public has also been given a "snow job." Could it be that the real issue has been hidden under the blanket of "women's rights?" The "easy abortion law" places a relative value on human life, and therefore sets a precedent for destroying life "for any reason." Having the physician participate in procedure seems to give this killing social acceptance. A new ethic for medicine? Doctors deciding who lives and who dies? When "euthanasia" is legalized, will the doctors' decisions be based on something more substantial than the abortion bill's "for any reason?" We believe that the reality of abortion has been softened by the social acceptance of the Hits Board 'Demands' Editor, The State Journal: Apparently the only way to tell the players in today's educational game is to use the ballot score cards.

Students making "demands" of things not rightly theirs are not followed by the Board of Education making "demands" to which they have no right. In Judith Brown's article in The Journal regarding the Board's refusal to pay utility bills because the Board of Water and Light will not contribute some portion to the school bills, we see a refusal to pay just bills amounting to a "demand." It seems the school board wants something for existing, like some students (fortunately only a few) who want passing grades for attendance and breathing. Good leadership is best shown by good example. Writh such poor examples what can we expect from immature minds who follow those in leadership roles? Is a blind Board following blind students? As taxpaying referees, we have the obligation to assess penalties for unfair play. The nature of the game makes it hard to blow the whistle immediately to award a charity-toss (out), but at election intermission hopefully new players can be substituted.

Ebersole appears to be the only player ho knows the rules. Board incumbents, we tax-paying spectators see you joining the demand game. We may not be the best referees, but we do have a principle of justice, which comes before charity, by which we mark the score card on election day. TOM MOORE Lansing FIVE YEARS AGO Saturday Survey teams have begun evaluating business and residential property in the northeast section of Lansing as part of the city's community renewal program. Apart from changes in food prices, which have increased rather rapidly, Lansing area residents feel changes in the past ten years only slightly ia other cost areas About 100 Lansing Community College stu-dents went to work Saturday to put the finishing touches on their pride and joy a new $100,000 library Ground was broken Friday for the new Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ Center at Park Lake Road and M-78 Ground will be broken within the next two weeks for the new education-administration building of Mt.

Hope Presbyterian Church, it was announced by Rev. John C. Fuhremeister, minister. Quirks In the News BRENTFORD, England (UPI) Laborer Robert Saville was cleared of theft charges Wednesday when he said he only took a basset hound from a police kennel because he felt sorry for it. Saville said he saw the dog chained up in a police kennel but was denied permission to take it for a walk.

He went home but returned in the middle of the night and released the animal. Police caught him a short distance away. 'Taking the dog was not theft," he told the court. "It was an act of kindness I was just giving it a run out." -k DEFIANCE, Ohio (UPI) A burglar hit a coin box at a service station here a month ago. Since then, the operator has been cleaning out the coins every night.

Wednesday he found the box pried open with a note inside saying: 'I was here again. Please leave some money the next time." ir MOSCOW (UPI) Russia is being invaded by rabbits, according to Tass, the Soviet news agency. Tass said heavy snow and frost in the north is driving great armies of rabbits across the tundra in search of food. "There has not been such an invasion of rabbits in a long time," Tass said. 'They are devouring all the haystacks in their path, and hunters complain that they even eat white partridges." TEN YEARS AGO Sunday The "Old Shanty Towns" around the ML Plesant ice fishing lakes were showing a sharp population decline this weekend as fishermen write the final chapter on a dismal season Trade was up Saturday at municipal market as sellers experienced one of their best days of 1961, officials said Michigan's registered nurses will embark on a campaign to raise $42,000 as their share of a nation-wide fund-raising drive by the American Nurses Foundation to support its program for better health through research Two new labor room beds, resulting from several fund-raising projects of.

the Captol Osteopathic Medical Assistants' Association, have been presented to Lansing General Hospital (Osteopathic). AAEAT.S 1 gag" 3 -''2- Journal regrets the error. Quotes "The bureaucracy in Washington is impeding the creativity of county and local governments." Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, asking support for President Nixon's revenue-sharing plan before a group of New York stockbrokers and investment bankers. "I almost stayed home and painted my kitchen, but I just couldn't stand this thing running away from us." Louise Bruyn, 40-year-old housewife of Newton, Mas passing through New York on a walk to Washington to protest the Indochina war.

A Bible Thought For in him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28. With some measure of truth those words may be reversed. What a challenge to responsible living and stewardship! God in us the hope of glory. t'i TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Tuesday A resolution asking that street lighting in Lansing be restored to its pre-war volume of candlepower was adopted Monday nighi by the City Council and referred to the Board of Water and Light Commissioners A resolution asking President Truman to use all the efforts and influence at his command to bring about a settlement of the General Motors strike was unanimously adopted Monday night An offer to transfer operation of the municipal canning project, which has cost the city nearly $6,000 in two years to the East Side Commercial club was extended Monday night by the City Council Lansing is going to have a gardening program this spring.

"When I get big I'm not gonna buy no groceries from his store! I'm just gonna hunt an' fish an' eat berries!".