The Oneonta Star from Oneonta, New York • Page 4

in our opinion Waste uncovered in culture funds No rational person will admit ho opposes culture No rational person will agree that wasting $250.000 earmarked for culture is a fine tiling either. And this is what is happening in Albany. Arvis Chalmers, capilol reporter for the Knicker- jocker News-Union Star reports that the "Temporary Commission on Cultural Resources appears to be an ox- pensive shelter for various types, no-show appointees and in-laws at a cost so far to the taxpayer of $250.000." And the veteran newsman has the fads to substantiate this. Here's what Chalmers found: A Democratic committeewoman received $2,500 as a research assistant and as yet has never met or spoken to the commission's executive director. Neither has she had any work assigned by him.

Four commission members are either members of Republican State Committee or related to a member. One receives $4,000 a year for part-time work. Under a Republican-Democratic agreement, 15 per cent of the appropriations is set aside to pay minority salaries. Assemblyman Frank Leichter, the only Democratic member of the Commission, when asked if he assigned any work to any of the 11 Democratic appointees said: "I've never seen any of them. No one told me that the minority party had anyone on the staff." Some of the staffers simply have their checks mailed home.

And they're not all "on the take." Albany County Legislator John C. Bartlett received $1,000 last year as minority clerk. His checks were mailed to his home also. What did he do for the money? "I went to the Bommission office and talked to a clerk or somebody and signed up. I said I was willing to work but nobody ever called me." It seems as though culture is in a wasteful mess in Albany.

What can be done? Deadwood should be weeded out. Assignments should be given and people should earn their salaries. The system of appointments should be overhauled ind "doers" chosen not merely those with political influence. Letters to editor Rise of anarchy seen by reader Editor, The Star; It appears to be popular in these days of near anarchy, to be tried in our courts of law under the title of "City and number." Now we have the Oneonta 14 awaiting trial. I shall not attempt to judge their guilt or innocence our courts are supposed to take care of this little matter.

They do from time to time you know, and every once in a while, the guilty party or parties do receive a penalty. On July 12, 1862, Abraham Lincoln sent a letter to the Senate and House of Representative, stating he signed a bill for an Act to suppress insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion etc. etc. Section 2 of this bill reads: If any person shall hereafter incite, assist, or engage In any rebellion against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or give aid or comfort thereto, or to any existing rebellion, and be convicted thereof, he shall be imprisoned for ten years or less, fined not more than A I've never obtained a legal piece of paper stating that I was a member of the bar, sometimes known as lawyers, it is simple and clear what the above law calls for when anyone attempts to abort its meaning. It is also quite clear that any designated building or space used for the purpose of re- cruiting new members into our armed forces is done with the authority of the United States and conforms with the laws of the United States.

If members of our armed forces are prevented from engaging in their orders to recruit new candidates for any branch of the service by willful force of blockage by demonstration, I call this rebellion against the United States. When United States citizens are forced to detour from their everyday right of travel on city streets due to demonstration, I also call this rebellion against the United States. The right to protest in our United States was given to all citizens as a gift, not a tool to incite, assist or engage in rebellion against the United States or the laws that do govern our way of life. I find many laws that do not suit my personal way nf life. I sometimes protest in writing, but always, I offer or at least try to, a better means of offering justice to all the people, rebellion by force is not my way of life and I will challenge it any time.

1 have not the gift of clairvoyance, but any damn fool can see the name of Oneonta changing to ghost town from the now accepted name of college town, if some action not taken to halt the near anarchy that is smoldering on the campuses of the halls of ivy. JAMES NOLAN Should he have disqualified himseit? Appeals Court judge and credentials case MIAMI BliACH The Appeals Court Judge who ruled in favor of George McGovcrn in the Democratic credentials fight sold his former home to MrGovcrn for a $85,000. Judge David Bazelon cast the deciding vote in a dramatic, 2- to-1 reversal of the lower court. The presidential nomination, itself, was slake. For Bazelon's ruling gave McGovern all of California's 271 delegates, whom he needed to win a first-ballot victory.

Friends of the two men say the house sale was a routine real estate transaction. Judge Bazelon also has an impeccable reputation. But even the slightest appearance of conflict has been enough for judges to disn'ialifv themselves. After selling his home in the late infills, Judge Bazelon moved Into an apartment In the fashionable Watergate West. A near neighbor and close friend, Sen.

Abraham Rlbicoff, is one of McGovern's staunches! supporters. For years, Bazelon's angry antagonist on the Appeals Court was Warren Burger, now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The two jurists became bitter enemies, who often disagreed in open court and badmouthed one another in private. After Bazelon's ruling in favor of McGovcrn, the Chief Justice didn't even wait to be asked before he started to consider the Democratic credentials case. Even before the Democratic National Committee appealed the ruling.

Burger sent to the Appeals Court for the papers in the case. Those who know Burger say he would have enjoyed nothing more thnn overruling his old rival Bazelon. This may have been the reason he was In such a hurry to review the case. Ylpple Oca! The madcap Yippie leader Ahbie Hoffman has promised the Democrats to limit his followers In Miami to 4,000 this week. But he also said he would rally 100,000 yelping Yippies to disrupt the GOP convention in August.

The brash and bubbling Hoffman confirmed to us that he has met confidentially with Democratic National Committee officials and has agreed to try to keep things cool this week. "We have promised the Democrats no trouble," Hoffman conceded. "After all, they got us the campsite at Flamingo Park. Besides, their candidates By Jack Anderton are not what you'd call a healthy show of villains." For the Republicans, however, Hoffman had no such compassion. "We have promised them tsourisl" Hoffman said.

The Yiddish word a trouble, woes and worries. "I've told everybody to come If they want to, but It' they can come to only one, to come for the Republicans in August," he told my associate Les Whitten. "Right now, we're just paddling through, waiting for Big Dick." Earlier, Abbia made a unpublicized visit to Key Biscayne where he'd heard Pat Nixon was at the Nixon compound. "You wouldn't believe it," he marveled. "All that electronic security stuff, wheeeeee, eeeeecho.

I felt I had to get a look at the nests of these birds, to a them." Hoffman is not limiting his harassment of the GOP to Pat Nixon. His Phone Freak Convention will give a top prize to the man who places the first toll-free call to Vice President Spiro Agnew. Phone freaks i wheeze, whistle and neep Into telephones, duplicating electronic which trigger long distance calls. Ihe telephone a i are apoplectic nbout the practice. "We've got Agnew's unlisted number.

We may even want to put a call through to Moscow. The greatest phone freaks In America will be convening right here in Miami Beach," said Hoffman. Footnote: Republicans are genuinely worried about Hoff- man's threat, but they point out that, despite preconventlon publicity In Hoffman and more moderate leftists were able to turn out only about 10,000 demonstrators. Political Potpourri Senator George McGovern's lieutenants have offered Informally to pick up the campaign debts of his presidential rivals after the Democratic convention If he should win the nomination George McGovern has now promised over nationwide television, If he's nominated, to keep Larry O'Brien as Democratic National Chairman. But privately, McGovern Isn't happy with O'Brien and originally planned to replace him, When word leaked out, however, the uproar among party regulars forced McGavern to change his plans.

The Qneonta Star Otsego and Delaware's Independent Newspaper 102 Chestnut Oneonta, N.Y. 13820. Dial 432-1000 M.mb*r, Aiipclottd Prill, Ntwi S.rvlc* Thi Audit Bureau of Circulation! Oneonla Star ll publllhtd by thi Orioonto Star Dlvlilon of Nawlpaperl, Inc.j JamBl H. Chairmen of Boordi Jomai H. Elton P.

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9K.SI.S186 Subscription rates: Single copy nrlco, 15c: 75c weekly carrier delivered to your home. By mall In all areas: one month, three months, six months, one year $30. (Mall subscriptions not accepted In established carrier delivery areas). Second Claw Postage Paid at Oneonla, N.Y. i Thursday, July 13,1972 Taking him for a ride The compromise candidate Convention scenario WASHINGTON Everyone has his own scenario tor this week's Democratic a 11 a I Convention.

The way things have been going with the party, one scenario has as much validity as the next. This is the 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 delegates has taken up three days and those people who were ruled ineligible have refused to up their seats to those who were officially designated as delegates to the convention. Almost every state delegation has two people sitting in every chair.

No one dares leave the floor for fear that someone will grab his seat. When someone tries to speak he is hooted down by the opposition faction. Larry O'Brien, the chairman of the party, has the podium ringed with the National Guard so no one can grab the microphone. The nomination speeches have not been heard, but the candidates have been nominated -McGovern, Humphrey, Wallace, Chisholm. and Muskin.

have been no demonstrations for ihn candidates in the hall because everyone is afraid if he gets up and marches they won't let him back in his section again. On the first ballot McGovern picked up I.2.'M voles, well shy of the 1,509 he needed. The rest were split between the other candidalos with the uncommitted refusing in vole for anyone. The second and third ballot found no one budging. By the tenth ballot of Wednesday's all- night session, the convention wiis hopelessly deadlocked.

The state delegations cai By Art Buchtvald cused right on the floor, trying to get people to change their minds. But it was impossible. On NBC, John Chancellor and David Brinkley became short- tempered and refused to talk to each other. Howard K. Smith and Harry Reasoner on ABC were also not speaking lo each other, and on CBS, Walter Cronkite wasn't talking to himself.

It was obvious to everyone in and out of the convention hall that a compromise candidate had to be found who had not already been nominated. But who? The Democratic Party leaders call recess behind the porlium. argue and thrash out for several hours. The only man whose name is proposed as the compromise candidate is a very fa mous, but controversial, figure on the Amercan scene. He has announced many limes that he is not a candidats for the Presidency or the V'ce Presidency, and has said under no '-'onditiops would he accept a draft.

TheNeedle By Harold Coffin Even if you don't have a government job you still havt; to work for ihc r. in I irrording lo ihe Tax Foundation, Inc. An American puls in 2 hours and ,14 minutes every day to pay federal state and local taxes. And this doesn't count the 15 minutes he spends complaining iihoiil taxes during his coffee break. Tax Foundation I work full time dreaming up statistics lo worry taxpayers.

Workers 1 hour and 28 minutes daily earning non essentials such as food and clothing. The moral is obvious. This has the best fed, overdressed taxpayers in the world. Yet, the leaders argue he is the one person who can save the party. This young man, whose name has been associated with a very embarrassing incident, is a houseword now.

Because of the deadlock at the convention, he is the only one who can possibly beat Nixon in November. The compromise candidate is not at the convention. He has purposely stayed away so people would believe he was not interested in the nomination. O'Brien puts in a call to him. Everyone, in turn, gets on the phone and tells him he has to be the candidate.

The compromise candidate speaks to George McGovern, Humphrey, Muskie and Wallace. They urge him to run. The candidate finally agrees to a draft and says he will take the next plane to Miami. And that's how Bobby Fischer, the U.S. chess champion, became the Democratic presidential nominee for 1972 Know your legislators Sen.

Jacob Javits, United Slates Senate, Washington, D.C. Sen. James Buckley, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. If you live in Otsegn County your state representatives are Sen.

Dnlwin Niles, Assemblyman Donald J. Mitchell, State Capilol, Albany, N.Y. 12221. If you live in Delaware Coun- ly your slate representatives Sen. Warren Anderson and Assemblyman Edwyn E.

Mason, State Capitol, Albany, N.Y. 12224. Your congressman Is Rep. Hamilton Fish House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515.

Conventions make cynics Nothing is as it seems This typewriter is about 45 minutes by oxcart from the Democratic National Convention but will not attend. This applies to the Republican National Convention, too. The fault is mine. I have attended too many of them and I can't imagine anything more dolorous than a third seconding speech for the nomination of Wilbur Mills. Nor the reading of a party platform which is never strong enough for a nominee to stand on and not weak enough for him to fall to his death.

In time, the reporter becomes more cynical than the delegates, and that is cynical indeed. The sweaty delegates who grab a microphone hollering hoarsely, "Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman.

A point of order," seldom have a point of order. They coin clunky cliches like: "From the rock bound coast of Maine to the sunny shores of California Increasingly, the political pundits spend time explaining what they think is going to happen because there is so little inspiration in what is happening. 24 Votes for My father led me by the hand to Madison Square Garden in 1924 to watch the first one. Alfred E. Smith and William G.

McAdoo forced the Democrats to 102 ballots in a dead heat. At each roll call, the chairman of the Alabama delegation opened with: "The sovereign state of Alabama casts 24 votes for Underwood." He was a Senator. The Wyoming delegation thought he was a typewriter. On the 103rd ballot, the Democrats, after much cogitation, came up with a compromise nominee who couldn't possibly win: John W. Davis of Wall St.

The Republican, Calvin Coolidge, knocked him over, 15,725,000 votes to 8,386,000. The Midwest Progressive a nominee, Robert La Follette, drew 4,822,000. Most of the experts, who believe that a party which purges itself in public will lose in November, should restudy the Democratic Convention of 1932 in Chicago. Al Smith fought for one more try at the Presidency. His protegee, Governor Franklin D.

Roosevelt of New York, broke the party wide open in a battle to kill his -mentor. Matters got so out of hand that Smith's floor manager, Frank Hague of Jersey City, stooped to a new low when he stated: "If you cannot nominate Smith, for God's sake don't nominate a cripple." The cripple won, fought a great Depression and a great war. He was elected to four terms and Bob Hope said: "I always voted for Roosevelt. So did my lather." When Koosevelt ran for a fourth term against Thomas E. Dewey, FDR resorted to an unfair subterfuge.

The nation was in the final year of a great war, and he ran, not as President, but as "Cominumlor-in-Chief (if the Armed Forces." Dewey and his manager, Herbert Browncll, found the title so hard to beat that they wore ihomsc'lvtis mil referring to FDR and his Cabinet as "Those tired old men In Washington." Nothing is us It seems. The Republican party blamed their own man, Herbert Hoover, lor the Great Depression. Richard By Jim. Bishop E. Berlin, his friend, arranged for me to meet Hoover when he was 85.

The Iowa engineer was no more responsible for that Depression than a Chinese kid who sneezes is responsible for Asian flu sweeping the world. The G.O.P. refused to invite Hoover to conventions or party councils from 1932 to 1956. Then, as I sat in the Cow Palace in California, I heard the strains of "Hail to the Chief" and out of a cadre of Secret Service men, the plump smile of Hoover emerged forgiven at last. One Got a Job The delegates whooped and hollered.

Then they nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower, victim of a heart attack. In the 1960 election, John Kennedy drew 34,227,000 votes; Richard Nixon got 34,108,000. Tight? One became President of the United States; the other became unemployed. Something is wrong with the system, or something is wrong with me.

I can appreciate naked greed; I just can't tolerate it when it is wrapped in patriotism and the American flag. The new religion William F. Buckley, Jr. MIAMI BEACH There are those who say that the politics of George McGovern is a new -politics based on great shifts in ideological sentiment. Professor Galbraith, using to be sure a kind of shorthand, says that the new issues are 1) global communism, 2) the redistribution of wealth, and 3) economic growth.

Concerning which the Democratic avant garde believes 1) that we have done quite enough of containment, 2) that we should have more of it, and 3) that it isn't a cure to all human problems. But there is something else in the McGovern Spirit, and it is quite countable here in Miami. It is the sense of absolute, total 1 i hteousness. It is manifestly intolerant of different opinions, and disposed, towards those who hold them, to dismiss them as cretins. It was worth noting, for instance, the attitude of typical McGovernites toward Hubert Humphrey.

They hate him. It seems an odd word to use but it is something like the appropriate word. They feel an utter contempt for him. I attempted to probe this attitude, in talking with a young delegate who is highly placed in the youth-McGovern hierarchy, and I said to him: Why arc you so very much opposed to Humphrey? After all, his ideological rating, as handed down by the Americans For Democratic Action on the basis of his lifelong record, is 97, which is higher even than McGovern's 93. Ahh -said the young man quick- willedly but the record in question was earned during the period lhat Scnaior Humphrey was a senator, mostly before he look the Vice Presidency in 1964.

We hate him for the positions he took while he was Vice President. This of course has lo mean the position lhat Humphrey took on the Vietnam war, shire on all domestic matters, Lyndon Johnson was an exemplary liberal. So I said, but Isn't It to he expected lhat. a Vice President lakes the same position as the Prcsidcni? That has been the case since the great disengagement of Vice President Calhnnn from President Jackson, Well, (laid the youth, hut Ihe fnc.t nf It Is that Humphrey took Johnson's positions cnthutlamicaJly. Well, I said, Humphrey takes everj position enthusiastically it is his mode.

One could hardly stand up before a crowd as Vice President to President Johnson and speak listlessly one's orisons to President Johnson's policies. No, the thing of it is that Hubert Humphrey George McGovern, and in the New Politics that isn't as simple as that Humphrey's emphases are different from McGovern's. What it is, is sacrilege. McGovernism is something of a religion, and the test in the ahead will be whether the McGovern shock troops can move with sufficient tact. It will have to be a cultivated tact.

It will not, that is to say, come naturally. Because they do not feel it naturally. The young man in question told me that he would desert the Democratic Parly rather than back Humphrey, in the event the Convention chose him. Note the interesting failure to meditate the symmetry. The distance between Me Govern and Humphrey Is no greater than the distance between Humphrey and McGovern.

Yet although they expect that Humphrey people will work for McGovern they would not make a commitment the other way around. The reason is quite simple: they are right, the others are wrong. It is to be expected that the heatherjs will work for the saints if the saints are confirmed. It is not in prospect, failing that, that the saints would turn to the cause of the heathens. Now George notwithstanding the a seismic fault in his temperament revealed ihc week In which the Credentials Committee applied to California the democratlst i i ol George McGovcm, knows how to be conciliatory.

And he Is going lo have to do a Int. of that kind of thing in order lo conrenl from (he mass of Democratic voters the prigglshncss, the clhlcnl chauvinism, of his followers. II Is off-putting lo hr nskcd In vole lor McGovnrn as ii religious exercise. II Is ona thing to reduce the Humphrey Democrat by appealing lo his parly loy.illy or lo his dls- iipprovnl of Itlchnrd Nixon, It ll somelhlng else to try to coopt Jilm Into a now religious order,.