The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 6

he Shreueport ime founded oi a Daily and Sunday Newspaper Nov. 28, JS7J, Following th ConsohiUUion and Merger 0 its Weekly Predecessors, 'Sixty' Vindicates the Long Boys Stanley R. Tiner 6 Published Sinre Jan. 7, 1839 HOtJk Times Chief Editorial Writer aaTTvTIr fOLVl 7vn rt Somewhere the Long boys, Huey and Earl, must be smiling, content with the knowledge that even as history rolls on in its never-ending saga that it continues to vindicate their abysmally low regard for the Louisiana Legislature. rubluhfd Every Mominy 0 th Year Thr Shrrwport Tim BuiWmfli, 222 lake St, Shrexjxrt, P.O.

Box 222, 7JJ30. 1 .1 I been getting from these young whippersnappers in the legislature and the convention," Huevsaid. "All their sanctimony's enough to make a feller sick," quoth Earl, "Oh, but Sixty set the record straight," Huey said. "If you can believe what you read in them lying newspapers," Earl said, "and I'm inclined to believe 'em this time," Earl said grinning and wiping his brow with an elegant linen handkerchief at the same time. Huey tapped his two-tone shoe on the old wood-plank floor, and snapped his suspenders in an almost rhythmic motion as he read Sixty's remarks aloud.

"He (Rayburn) said campaign contributions will determine who will be appointed. 'It's just the nature of Huey read. Ratxrt Fuhliahw, 1S0S-19QI Eofcert Esvtnc, Jr. Chairman, 0 John D. Ewbtf Publisher, 1KU-1X4 Published by Th Timet Publishing Company, Limited, who offk-rra and directors ar: Vu-a President and Director John D.

Kwtng, Vice Ptidmt and Director Toulmin Hunter Brown; Secretary and director. Prtrlrla Kwtnjj llendrirk; Trvwurer and Director, fothcr Kwtnf Jemm. Other dirrcUm are: Kenneth C. Bnrranier, Edmund Crave Brown, Robert twin Brown, Mildred Hunt Ew4n, Paula Wrsj Kv.1i. Robert r.wrn HI, Dr.

John A. Hendrlck, and Vb-rtnla CUy Hill. Jack S. Campbell General Manager Allan M. Unni Manain( Editor Raymond L.

MrDanM Kxecutivt Editor 1 SuMAWGArz MAT Charlotte Burrows, AjsirUnt Marurinc Editor; Stanley Tiner, Thief Editonnl Writer; Panny Grant. New Editor; Will MrNutt. City Editor; Sum Strinfelow. Nirht Cky Editor; Norrnun L. Rirhard.in, State Editor; Jevi Rutkin.

Editorinl Writer; William Mclntyre, Sports Editor; Beverly Kin, Womn'i Editor; LangMon MdEachern, Photo Editor. ivu The opinion expressed in the editorials on thu page are tha opinions of The Rhrrvaport Times. The bylined columniMa are expressing their own views. The Times invites letters from readers having views different from those expressed in our editorials and columns. To be used these letters must be sianed.

The Shrevwport Times is an independent newspaper. It prints the news impartially. It airjforU what it believea to be right. It oppopes what it believes to be wrong, without regard to party politics. Even today, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Huey's birth, and despite the fact that a new boy on the political block, Edwin Edwards, refuses to honor the day with the normal day off for state employes, Huey and Earl must be having a good old-fashioned, leg-slap TIN ping laugh at recent events.

The spiritual discourse between the two dynasty-building brothers would no doubt be in a good-natured and light-hearted vein. "Remember, Huey, it was you who said you could buy and sell the legislature like a sack of potatoes," Earl said. "I remember it well," Huey replied. "That was quite a good line, not to speak of it being an accurate description of the situation. As I recall things, it caused quite a stir.

"And you, Earl, were no slouch when it came to laying all your cards on the table. I mean, you really knew how to tell it like it was, even before folks thought it to be a virtue. "Remember how you tried to upstage me by saying that you didn't have to buy 'the legislature, that you only had to rent it, that it was cheaper that way?" Huey continues. "Do I remember, Huey? I brought the House down with that one, not to speak of the Senate and 14 state agencies," Earl responds. "Ah, but it's good to have a breath of fresh air to come along every now and then like 'Sixty' Rayburn's talk at the Constitutional Convention last week," Huey said.

"Yep, I always did like that boy, and now he's gone and restored my lack of faith in humanity," Earl said, flicking a watermelon seed away from the seat of his cane-bottomed rocker before easing in for a spell. "Well, our faith needed some restoring after all of this goody-goody talk we've Colson Tale to Gasoline Shortage Distortion Jeff Stansbury-Edwurd Flattau Tage 6-A, Thursday, Sen. Rayburn's Cynical Candor Tells Story of 'Greenback Politics9 Jack Anderson-Les Whitten HOP' 6nk slip the noose around his neck. The API's flack saw red at our' observation that the independent gas merchants were suffering the most from the so-called gasoline shortage, what with 880 service stations shut down across the country. He said a recent survey found that less than one per cent of the nation's 200,000 service stations were closed for lack of gasoline, and of that small number, some were branded outlets.

Over 2,000 Stations Closed Examining current statistics, however, one discovers that between 2,000 and 2,500 independent service stations (approximately 10 per cent of their total number) have been forced out of business, even with the recent greater availability of gasoline supplies. These figures suggest that the squeeze is still very much on the independents. Questioning whether the gasoline shortage might be more one of distribution than supply, we noted in our June column that government statistics showed greater stockpiles of gasoline in June of 1973 than a year earlier. Hurt charges that we didn't take into consideration this summer's' greater consumer'demand, which, in effect, would reduce the size of the reserves. He chose to ignore in our column, however, the API statistic that in the last week of May, gasoline production exceeded consumption by over 3.5 million barrels.

Furthermore, Hurt claims that increased demand in July, 1973, cut stockpiles by 20 per cent from a year earlier. Yet that doesn't square with official data which shows demand in July, 1973, was only 3 per cent more than in July of 1972. Also, if the demand were so overwhelming this summer, why was there more gasoline available for stockpiling? Readers Misled? Hurt says we have misled readers by pointing out that the oil industry has enjoyed record profits in this year of the "energy crisis." He contends that a First National City Bank of New York survey shows that the oil industry realized a lower rate of profit growth than other businesses, 12 per cent less, for example, in the first quarter of 1973. Before you start to feel too sorry for the major oil companies, you should be aware that: The bank survey in question actually revealed that the oil industry's profit jumped 27 per cent in the first quarter of this year and 49 per cent in the second quarter compared to 20 per cent and 30 per cent increases respectively for all business. The oil industry's accounting practices are complex and well suited for disguising profits.

Companies can capitalize a lot on expenses and profit items, report only consolidated profits (a breakdown might show they were reaping monopoly profits on gasoline sales) and don't include as income the oil depletion allowance and other tax benefits which make them the most subsidized industry in the nation. The depletion allowance allows them to reduce the amount of revenue on which they need to pay taxes by up to 22 per cent a savings that ultimately leads to profit in everything but name. The oil industry's arguments, conveyed through Hurt and other mouthpieces, have not convinced the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A complaint was filed July 18 by the FTC against eight of the country's largest oil companies, charging them with collusion to raise prices and eliminate independents' competition. In addition, at least half a dozen states are preparing antitrust suits against the industry.

Oil Lobby Successful Oil men do not seem discouraged by the opposition they have aroused. Company minions such as Hurt keep raising the spectre of a crisis to win concessions for massive exploitation of finite resources, usually at environmental expense. Armed with enormous financial assets and political clout, the oil lobby has been, and continues to be, remarkably successful. Witness the railroading of the Alaskan pipeline through Congress. Thus, the pending court actions signal the beginning rather than the end of the struggle to curb the industry's disproportionate influence over our lives.

HvJ'-'cNJ, JiVUii ItiTur.t-fr sWxV rjr -1 um 1 urr, IT. William a Publisher, llW-im Donald M. Ewlnf Associate Editor, Emeritus August 30, 1973 bill for the payoff? You guessed it you do. The second point to remember is the loud silence of others in state government. particularly in the legislature You would think that the voices would be speaking loudly, deploring that greenbacks aren't the commodity of value in politics these days.

You would think that there would be a din of indignation from other legislators declaring that Sen. Rayburn does not speak for that body, and adding that the people's will carries more weight than the dollar. We have not, strangely enough, such a widespread disavowal. And the final point that we would like to stress is one to the youth of this state. It is our opinion that the greenback politics will dominate only so long as the people sit back apathetically and allow it to dominate.

There are many in our midst who are idealistic and imbued with the democratic principles which made this nation great. Sixty Rayburn's CC-73 speech ought to be the rallying point for participation in state politics by those dedicated to service for all of the people. Sen. Rayburn's cynicism says to the world that there is nothing high or noble in politics. We say that he is wrong, that the dignity of public service does exist, but that it must be authored by men and women dedicated to more than greenbacks.

And, we believe, there are many in state government, past and present, who have shown the dignity of politics and we applaud them. They must be more vocal, however, in advocating the politics of the people rather than of the dollar. The future, we believe, does not belong to the Sixty Rayburns. It belongs to an unelected generation which will shortly move into power. If it can deny the special interests for the larger interests of all of the people then Louisiana can indeed achieve greatness, a greatness which has too long been sacrificed to the greenback politics.

from the Red side. One runner went down. Two more were dragged away by border guards. Residents on the Western side, some 300 men, women and children, reacted out of deep, pure anger. Yelling and screaming, they bare-handed a six-foot hole in the wall before East German soldiers pointed their guns at them.

West Berlin police finally sent the crowd off to bed. An isolated event? Hardly. Machinegun fire is heard almost every night along the wall. The Wall remains an ugly and physical reminder that East and West are still divided, even in this period of detente. As for divided Berlin itself, Riess said it 21 years ago.

It just goes on and on and on. When State Sen. B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn addressed the Louisiana Constitutional Convention last week on the subject of the power of money in politics, he opened up the guts of political corruption to a rare glimpse by the much soaked state taxpayer.

Sen. Rayburn's cynical candor was almost unbelievable in that it revealed the senator's own shocking disregard for the ordinary person. Money, Sen. Rayburn made it perfectly clear, is what really opens his mind to consideration. Rayburn told the delegates that it is just the nature of politics that contributions determine appointments.

"The best qualifier I ever seen is with those big round marks on it. I. guarantee you, when I'm in a campaign and a fellow lays a little greenback on me, I feel a little better about him. "Every time they lay another one down, they look a little bit better," the Bpgalusa senator said. Sen.

Rayburn, in his own way, has brushed aside the subterfuge of decorum and laid bare the pervasive influence of money in politics. His own attitude, which he so eloquently described to the Constitutional Convention, typifies what has so long been wrong with politics in Louisiana a situation which will never better itself so long as the greenback politics of the Sixty Rayburns of the legislature is perpetuated. There are three major points to remember out of the Rayburn speech. First of all it should be remembered that the greenback philosophy of Sixty Rayburn has dominated Louisiana for years and is directly responsible for the corruption and the high cost of government which has been the standard here. Many contributors to Louisiana campaigns haven't sought to gain good government for the state, but rather have viewed their contributions as an "investment." If their man comes in, like an oil gusher, the investor is paid off in rich dividends, dividends which are paid in state contracts, appointments and soon.

And guss who really foots the I 1 Earl Long 'The best qualifier I ever seen is with those big round marks on Rayburn said. 'I guarantee you, when I'm in a campaign and a fellow lays a greenback on me. I feel a little better about him. 'Every time they lay another one down, they look a little bit Huey read. "Now that's a talk to warm old Earl's soul," the younger brother said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Yup, old Sixty really told 'em how the cow eats the cabbage, and it just goes to show you I wuz right when I sed you could buy and sell the Louisiana Legislature like a sack of potatoes," Huey said with an accompanying gesture of conviction. "Yer right, Huey, but at the price a sack of potatoes is bringing these days you'll have to find a better example to low-rate them boys," Earl said, gazing out across his late August pea-patch, confident that the spirit of Longism was still alive and well in Louisiana in 1973, and smiling in the knowledge that state legislators could publicly describe corruption in a brazen, no-brag, just-fact manner that them lying newspapers reported in a ho-hum fashion. Discredit Dean Besides his activist role, Colson received "Chapman's reports," the memos sent to former Nixon aide Murray Chotiner from two of Chotiner's spies in the McGovern press party. "Colson has no knowledge of any other dirty tricks type activities," insists the summary of Colson's statements. In fact, Colson denied vehemently a claim by Magruder that Colson pushed him to implement the Watergate bugging plan.

"Colson called Magruder, who he did not think was doing a very effective job, and told him in no uncertain terms that he should give Hunt and (Watergate conspirator Gordon) Liddy his ear," the Colson summary admitted. But Colson has repeatedly denied he knew bugging was part of the plan. When the Watergate scandal did break, claimed Colson, he "had a meeting with campaign people wherein he strongly urged that those responsible should be cleaned out." Footnote: In the confidential four -page summary, obtained by our reporter Ruth Jones, Colson is quoted as saying he thought he told Haldeman certain details of Dean's cover up efforts in January 1973. Colson told us this is inaccurate as well as other sections of the memo. 3tt past tittpa (FROM OUR FILES) 100 YEARS AGO Aug.

30, 1873 The train yesterday from Dallas brought in 49 bales of cotton, three cars of cattle, and one car of Texas hay. The day before there were five cars of cattle and one of hay. The hay was sold before it was taken from the car. 75 YEARS AGO Aug. 30, 1898 Architect E.

K. McKibben is home for a few days from Vicksburg where he is superintending the construction of one of the largest iron and steel buildings in the state. 50 YEARS AGO Aug. 30, 192.1 The illustrious name of one of Louisiana's chief executives during the turbulent days of reconstruction, Gov. Allen, is chronicled in the pages of American history, but Wednesday night the name of Gov.

Allen was written in every Allendale child's heart. Shreveport 's newest recreation center, Gov. Allen Playground, at Allen Avenue and Anna Street, was officially opened by Mayor L. E. Thomas with an assemblage of more than 2.000 persons in attendance.

25 YEARS AGO Aug. 3fl, 1948 CHICAGO Better supplies of beef and pork are on the way for the fall months, a market analyst said tonight in condemning consumer boycotts. Increased supplies of grass-fed cattle will reach market beginning next month, and more hogs from the spring pig crop will come along in the late fall and early winter. Huev Long Robert Hurt, public relations director for the American Petroleum Institute (API), had a letter published in rebuttal to a column we wrote on the gasoline shortage several months ago. According to Hurt, we viciously blasphemed the major oil companies by the mere suggestion that they might have artificially created the shortage to jack up prices and drive their chief competition the independent refiners out of business.

How could we treat so shabbilv an industry which realizes a STANSBURY relatively modest profit from enormous capital outlay and operates first and foremost for the public good? Hurt's defense of the oil industry on the face of it strains one's credulity. But since he wrote a nasty letter about us, we would prefer not to stand idly by while he hangs himself. Rather, we would like to help him Forum of QThe (limes Times Article Sparks Letter On Right to Life Issue Editor, The Times: An article in the Aug. 12, 1973, edition of The Shreveport Times particularly interested me because it raised no doubt unwittingly a question of legal and moral significance. I refer specifically to Mr.

Will Bernard's "The Family Lawyer' article entitled "Courts Changed Views on Injury Before Birth." Mr. Bernard states: "Today, almost everywhere, a child is entitled to collect damages for a prenatal injury that was inflicted negligently." This statement seems quite inconsistent with recent court rulings which have "established" that a child is not really a "life" until birth or late in the pregnancy. This statement, rather than providing for the protection of the child's rights as a human, seems to me to be providing merely for the protection of the mother's property rights, as she may of her own choice go so far as to terminate the life of the child, with no real fear of legal prosecution. But my concern here is not primarily with the legal' aspects of the abortion issue. I am concerned with the moral or ethical aspects.

So much has been said as to whether abortion is morally defensible that I only reluctantly comment here. But the issue of the morality of abortions for Jews and Christians is indisputably settled by the Bible at Exod. 21: 22-25. Here the point is made that if a man were to cause a pregnant woman and notice that the stage of pregnancy is not specified to lose her baby, he was to pay with his life, for, under the law given to Israel, "Thou shalt give life for life." This establishes beyond any doubt in the minds of those who claim to accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16) that an unborn child is a life and that deliberate termination of that life constitutes murder.

Let the courts rule on this as they may. I am quite certain that by this time we have all heard the whining arguments that have been advanced by the proponents of abortion: "Pity the poor unwanted child; he would be better off dead," ad nauseam. Concerning these pitiful excuses I ask: To what extent will people go to justify their own failings? What manner of reason leads people to believe that the sin of fornication, in the case of unmarried persons, or lack of restraint or forethought, in the case of married people, can be somehow ameliorated or even covered completely by the sin of murder? BRANT N.BORDELON Rtp. Box 375 Coushatta, La. 7101'J Former White House aide Charles Colson secretly told the Senate Watergate committee a tale that meshes closely with those of his ex-colleagues John.

Ehrlichman and H. R. Haldeman. We have one of the closely guarded summaries of Colson's closed -door interview with committee staffers in preparation for his testimony next month and have verified its authenticity with Colson. In it, the brisk, buccaneer Colson sided with the White House Hans and Fritz team and painted a slippery picture of former presidential counsel John Dean.

Nowhere ANDERSON did Colson deeply implicate himself or indicate that President Nixon knew of the Watergate cover-up as Dean has charged. Indeed, Colson charged Dean with his own cover up. Told to Destroy It Colson asserted that he sent a memo to Dean outlining some incriminating evidence. "Dean came to (Colson) that day or the next day and told him to destroy (his copy of) it because it impeaches (Nixon campaign deputy Jeb) Magruder," recorded the summary. "He did not destroy it," the committee document goes on.

Later, Colson told Haldeman and Ehrlichman about his talk with Dean. The handsome Dean also ordered Watergate conspirator Howard Hunt out of the country after the Watergate break -in, according to a Hunt conversation with Colson's secretary. In the same conversation, Colson reported, Hunt said that "the big boy" presumably former Atty. Gen. John Mitchell "demanded they go through with the (Watergate) operation." Mitchell has denied similar charges by others.

Moments of Contrition Missing from Colson's talk with the staffers is the brash tone that was his hallmark at the White House. To the contrary, there appear to be moments. of contrition in his statement, some details of which already have been revealed. "I approved two ads which were worked up and presented to me for approval and I possibly contributed something to the ads," he conceded. The two ads used names of persons without their permission to attack opponents of the White House Indochina policy.

At another point, he admitted that "Hunt came to me and said he had some hot information with regard to Chappaquiddick and I told him to get it. It did not turn out to be anything significant." "Hunt," he went on, "made only two trips at my request, one was for the Chappaquiddick papers and the other was to Denver to interview Dita Beard," whose famous memo tied a huge ITT antitrust settlement to a $100,000 GOP campaign offer by ITT. Berlin: the Continuing Story While the prospect of renewed endless conferences about the future of Berlin took on more definite shape, it became more certain than ever: there is no ending to the Berlin story. It goes on and on and on." Curt Riess closed his book "The Berlin Story" on the passage above. He wrote the lines in 1952, more than two decades ago, but the ending remains current and appropriate even in an era of "good feeling" between the Soviet Union and the United States, the two primary actors on the Berlin stage.

And the play remains a tragedy. A recent event brings the picture into focus. Three people made a dash across the Communist searchlightcd area toward the Berlin Wall. Machineguns erupted.