Quad-City Times from Davenport, Iowa • 49

It's house Ine In Dog Business: Why If it wants to stay out of the strait acket, it had better start selling itself 4 To use business' secret weapon-the periodic, informative and factual ad describing just how the company is doing. In stock companies it's all in the annual report, anyway or should be. Business news is hot. People read it. But most institutional ads are slick, meatless and bland.

AN ANNUAL full page, heavy with text written so that the average man can understand it, and laced with photographs and charts would have high readership. It might go for to counter the wild swings of Ralph Nader and bum dope put out by some unions and the New Populists. American business has proved that it can sell its products marvelously. But if it wants to stay out of the straitjacket it had better start selling itself. Fewer Americans are friendly to American business.

More and more think businessmen are callous to public welfare, dishonest and greedy. A rising percentage believes industry could lower prices, pay higher wages, contribute more taxes, increase quality and still make plenty of money. THE MONEY matter is interesting. A cross section of 4,059 consumers, interviewed by Opinion Research Corp. of Princeton, N.J., guessed that the average manufacturer nets about 28 cents on his sales dollar after taxes.

The consensus was that 10 cents would be plenty. Last year the average industrial profit was 4.2 per cent on sales, down from 5.6 per cent six years ago. The 500 largest corporations netted 4.5 per cent. The same survey showed that 81 per cent of those interviewed thought that polluting plants should be closed down. But only 22 per cent said they would be willing to pay higher prices for goods made in plants that installed expensive pollution controls.

The rest either didn't know or felt that the difference should come out of profits. deficiencies and so (in. 2 To go over to the offensive whore the rebuttal is solid. For example, many youths are convinced that automobile recalls are evidence of the worst engineering and workmanship ever. It should be pointed out that the bug-filled autos of a generation ago were never recalled, nor does the car-buyer in any Communist country have such protection today.

3 To throw out those public relations departments which imagine that their chief function is to keep reporters away from the boss. In these parlous times of slipping public confidence, the executive who refuses to answer questions of legitimate public interest is not doing the job for his stockholders. IT IS NOT surprising that their students would reflect this But it would be a great mistake if businessmen assumed that these attitudes would be a passing phase, like acne. Many of the young detractors of the American business system, whatever their misconceptions, are natively smart, articulate and evangelical. Immense damage can be done to incentive, research, profits, prices and foreign trade if impractical or confiscatory theories become law, and these disaffected young people will soon be making law.

SO THE time has come: 1 For business and industry to respond positively to legitimate consumer gripes, particularly those involving false advertising, deceptive packaging, design Ah fin Editor's Outlook Jenkin Lloyd Jones MOST ALIENATED are the young, many of whom believe that business is grubby, and who yearn for a life of "public service," generally on some government payroll. Where a large part of the tax wherewithal comes to make that payroll hasn't seemed to occur to them. but "the young" is an imprecise term. Those who only get as far as high school seem as anxious as their fathers and grandfathers were to just get good jobs, and jobs in private business are fine. There is little antibusiness feeling among business school graduates from the universities, possibly because they have been exposed in their classrooms to the genuine difficulties of making an honest profit.

Nor are graduate engineers, being pragmatic types, "turned off" by private litill 7u7mpC- Tv, fV 11! V- -7 The Quad-Cities The nation The world J1JIIUO 3 0 Sunday, July 9, 1972 DEMOCRAT-, Which is more pleasing to the eye. This? Some years ago, Davenport's riverfront, in the area of LeClaire Park, looked something like this. Today, the bandshell, and the original iron railing along the river, are about all that's left. Even the fine brick wall, built to shield the scenic park from the unsightly railroad tracks, has been removed, and replaced with link fence. M-i enterprise.

MOST OF THE flak which business receives comes from liberal arts students via their professors. As one professor at the University of Iowa told me not long ago: "You have no conception of the economic illiteracy prevalent in our letters and science Such professors find the competitive system abhorrent, as demonstrated by their fondness for rigid tenure guarantees which freeze them into lifetime teaching jobs. They also doubt if business competition really acts to protect the consumer and they generally favor strict government controls if not government ownership as the only feasible means of saving the public from robbery. 4 i i 1 Scenario When The Wheels Took Over The Trees Communications to Jenkin Lloyd Jones may be addressed to the limes-Democrat, llox Davenport, Ion a 5280ft. Jones, a syndicated columnist, is editor of the Tulsa, Ok In.

Tribune. Our Readers Write Forgot To File Editor: I was one of those who forgot (o file for homestead exemption and was not allowed to sign July 3 though a newscaster said the courthouse would be open to accommodate those who forgot to file (by Saturday's deadline). One employe said announcement was made on radio, TV and in the papers. Unfortunately I did not hear or read about it; also, I do not think (hose are satisfactory methods of notifying people. Is a card reminder in the mail a week or so before July I too much to ask? With the terrific taxes we pay (hey could afford this slight expense.

They try to contact homeowners by phone, they told me, but unless they reach the party what good does that do? Years ago people did not have to go to the courthouse to file for the exemption. It was signed for at home when the assessor called. Why couldn't a form be enclosed when (he tax hill is mailed so it could be signed and returned without one's having lo go to the courthouse? I could see where a 5, 10 or If) per cent penalty might be imposed but to take away the entire exemption Is that even legal? Anna Kotucs BilO State St." KcUvmlorf, Iowa 52722 (Gratitude Editor: An open letter to residents of East Moline's upper hill area We're aware that to hear the beat of drums and strains of martial music is not an ideal way for some people to begin the day (at 7 a.m.). Because of summer school, jobs and vacation schedules, the students and director of the United Township High School band found this to be the only time they could get together to prepare for (heir always thrilling performance in the Independence Day parade and evening concert. Many of them had to roll out of bed at 5 a (o accomplish (his.

Be that as it may, we wish to express our gratitude for your patience and tolerance We wanted you to feel that as this hardworking group marched by and thrilled thousands on (he Fourth you had a part in making il possible. Rob Snauwaert Silvis -East Molinc Amvet Post 145 Parade Committee Sound Judgment Editor: Noticing a Times-Democrat picture and news item the other day mentioning the rehabilitation of a house makes me wonder if our governmental bodies in Davenport know where they are going in their housing lor elderly and low income families ami rehabilitation of distressed areas. What studies have they made of housing plans anil area betterment, whether two-story or mulli-storied units or (he betterment ot a dhlicsscd area or going into new areas and leaving the old to become more distressed'' II is a new development and sound is needed. Sidney E. (Jarry Fulton Ave.

Davenport 528111! Animal ontrol Editor: Several weeks ago a petition with almost (KID names was presented to the Davenport City Council and the Scott County supervisors for financial help and supervision lor a new animal shelter. As yet I luvo seen no concrete evidence that either the board or council intend doing anything but wait for donations. We have an animal controller who carries a gun at all tunes. For years (two other persons) picked up animals here and I don't recall seeing a gun on their person. Shooting animals.

keeping them alive lor two days until it's determined if they bit someone. not my idea of good animal control. The practice seems in violation of the Iowa Code, I guess the only thing we taxpayers and voters can do is know the candidates and vote for those who will keep this a government of, by and for the people. Mrs. John Early U07 W.51st St.

Davcnpor ft I A i t. v-r'; Con ven lion date is riot the convention lie has purposely sl.iyed awav so people would believe he w.is not iiileiested in Hie nomination O'Brien puts in a call to him. Everyone, in (inn. on the phone and tells him he has to fx1 the candidate; The compromise candid. ilc speaks to (ieorge MKiovern.

Humphrey. Mir kic arid Wallace They urge him to run The candidal? finally agrees to a (halt and says he will take the next plane to Miami. And (hat's how Bobby Fischer, the S. chess champion, became the Democratic presidential nominee for 1172. t' 4 -i i For The Or This? This is precisely the same area today, taken from the same spot as the photo above.

About 20 years ago, in an era when ecology and beautification and tree-saving were of little concern in Davenport, the park was stripped of its grass, trees, fountains and plantings and replaced with concrete and parking meters. City officials recall there was little public protest to the action. The park board complained, but the city council overruled the group and went ahead with the parking lot. It would be interesting to consider whether such an act would be possible today in view of the great interest in saving our trees and natural beauty. (Staff Photo) I I Art Buchwald Kveryone has his own scenario ior this week's Democratic National Convention.

The way things have been going with the party, one scenario has as much validity as the next. This is (he one that I have written and if it comes true, remember, you read it here. It Is the fourth day of the convention and the Democrats have been unable to decide on a presidential candidate. The fight to seat delegations has taken up three days and those people who were ruled ineligible have refused to give up their seats to those who were officially designated as delegates to the convention. every the will he the the grab have and famous, but controversial, fig ure on the American scene He has announced many times that he is not a candidate lor the Presidency or the Vice Presidency, and has said under no conditions would he accept a draft.

Yet. the leaders argue he is the one person who can save the party. This young man, whose name had been associated with a very embarrassing incident, is a household word now. Because of the deadlock at the convention, he is the only one who can possibly beat Nixon in November. THE COMPROMISE candi and David Brinkley became short tempered and refused to talk to each other.

Howard K. Smith and Harry Rcasoner on ABC were alo not speaking to each other, and on CBS. Waller Cronkite wasn't talking to himself. It was obvious lo everyone in and out of the convention hall that a compromise candidate had to be found one who had not already been nominated. BUT WHO? The DcmixTatic Party leaders call a recess behind the podium.

They argue and thrash it out for several hours. The only man whoso man is proposed as the compromise randidate is a very dates in the hall because everyone is afraid if he gets up and marches they won let him back in his section again On the first ballot MKiovern picked up 1.2.'i4 votes, well shy of the 1.509 he needed. The rest were split between the other candidates with the uncommitted refusing to vote for anyone. The second and third ballot found no one budging. By the tenth ballot of Wednesday's all-night session, the convention was hopelessly deadlocked.

The state delegations caucused right on the floor, trying to get people to change their minds. But it was impossible. ON NBC, JOHN Chancellor ALMOST EVERY state delegation has two people sitting in chair. No one dares leave floor for fear that someone grab his seat. When someone tries lo speak is hooted down by the opposition faction.

Larry O'Brien, chairman of the party, has podium ringed with the National Guard so no one can the microphone. The nomination speeches not been heard, but the candidates have been nominated McGovern. Humphrey, Wallace, Chisholm, Jackson Mihkie. THERE HAVE been no demonstrations for the candi.