The Peninsula Times Tribune from Palo Alto, California • 27

An editor emeritus may yet produce a pontificus maximus A personal view Leonard Koppett as wide a variety of items as possible, with no preconceptions about what will be tomorrow's news. They can't be all-inclusive, of course, any more than a supermarket's shelves can be; but they dont impose on themselves the a priori limitations the special-subject publications da Consequently, the general-interest newspapers' reach a much broader spectrum of readers and the soapbox element, in the form of signed columns, becomes even more vital. Imbedded In pages of other material about the-news-as-it-happens, the properly labeled opinion columns provide the necessary crystallization that can aid understanding. BUT THE KEY element here is variety. Opinions shouted from soapboxes are of value to society only when they are many and diverse.

A single outrageous view is merely outrageous; a single well-reasoned analysis is dangerously convincing; only when we have a chance to compare conflicting ideas can we form the best conclusions we're capable of reaching. That's the essence of the free press idea, and the rationale for the First Amendment: the best chance for the best available solution comes from a consensus derived from the widest variety of views, however annoying any one particular view may seem. From my soapbox, I want to contribute to that WHEN IT was announced Tuesday that my title henceforth will be "editor emeritus," with Mike Kidder taking over as editor of the paper, I received a call from a very high-ranking Stanford official. "I never knew they had emerituses in your business," he said. I never did either," I replied, "but it seemed to hit the right combination of subliminal dignity and overt ambiguity." The ambiguity, I believe, represents something important- To the outside world, we hope it will reflect UMHIUngness to experiment with new forms, to seek ways to add a dimension to the dally paper, and to maintain continuity of viewpoint To ourselves, it indicates maximum freedom for me as a writer to explore whatever seems worthwhile without regard to the traditional boundaries of straight reporting, personal col-.

umns, specific-subject commentary and orthodox features. ACTUALLY, HOWEVER, what we plan to do Is fairly straightforward. My prime responsibility, and pleasure, will be to write as much as possible, far more than I could do when I still carried the managerial responsibilities I have given up. exact format remains to be worked out. but I will certainly contribute more to the sports section Allow me, then, to wind up this column with a bit of pontificating on the subject of the soapbox.

Journalism Is much older than the modern newspaper, and began as a written version of soapbox oratory. It has never lost that element of Its function, and most of the worlds newspapers today are avowed advocates of some specific view. Where governments do not allow a free private press to function, newspapers are either the direct voice of the government or, by being circumscribed, forums for "safe" subjects only. In countries that do not have formal restrictions on the press (as In the United States), many publications choose to limit themselves to narrowly targeted specific subjects and are therefore advocates for a certain class of Information rather than for a particular ideology. ONE EXAMPLE is the Wall Street JournaL Others are fine magazines dealing with photography or electronics or travel Publications of this sort often display the highest Journalistic virtues and professionalism, but they differ (Tom the daily "full-service" general-circulation newspaper in that they are consciously committed to one type of subject matter.

The large, standard American papers evolved in a different direction, and only since the middle of the 19th century. They operate on what I call the supermarket concept collecting and offering the public than I have the last two years. The main thrust, however, will be local and eclectic. The mid-Penlnsula communities are overflowing with good stories, fascinating people and mind-boggling activities. Standard news coverage, even if we had twice the space and twice the staff we have, and even If everyone were absolutely perfect In execution, could never deal with a tenth of what deserves attention In some way.

I'll try to mine some of that rich material. THIS AREA is also, of course, more vigorous than any I've ever seen In expressing, absorbing, disputing and enjoying comment on anything and everything. I certainly won't turn bashful all of a sudden, and my peculiar viewpoint will remain on display without Inhibition. In fact, if I ever have to Invent another title, I'm going to bold out for Pontificus Maximus. So the way I look at It, I'm not losing an editorship; I'm gaining the largest collection of soapboxes I've ever had.

vw REACTION "WELL, NOBOFY CAM ACCUSE OS OF BEING OME-SIPEP Stop growth other ways OLIVE MAYER'S statements concerning the Devil's Slide realignment consist of vagaries and partial truths. There is very little basis for comparison between the realignment and the Big Sur repair job. In Mayer's misguided zeal to prohibit growth on the Coastslde, she completely ignores the needs of the people here for a road that is safe, reliable and permanent. There are better ways to prohibit growth than dangerous and inadequate roads. Not an unsafe road AN OVERWHELMING majority of people are misinformed on the Devils Slide issue.

To appreciate the effects of each road-bed alternative requires more extensive reading and research than most of us have time for. This represents a major foiling of the draft environmental Impact statement Even such an adept statesman as former San Mateo County Supervisor Jim Fitzgerald has declared the Marine Disposal Alternative as ridiculous because It would close the road for three years. The fine print identifies road closure as an optional addon feature available to any one. I have yet to hear an MDA proponent recommend road closure. Concerning safety: In 1982, Caltrans reported to the Board of Supervisors that the accident rate over Devils Slide was about average and needed no expenditure on safety issues If Mayer's narrow viewpoints represent the true philosophy of the Sierra Club, then the Sierra Club had better take a closer look at itself and give serious attention to vital situations such as this and be broader in its vision.

Jean McCandless MONTARA Continued from C-l increased development here, but rational enough to realize that It is evidently inevitable. If she wants the Coast rural and undeveloped, what was her Influence on the Local Coastal Plan? Why do she and her group continually encourage people to use the recreational facilities of the Coast, thereby adding to the Increased congestion and pressure for development? The Local Coastal Plan is complete and approved, and there will be more growth. The bypass will not add or subtract from the approved growth. What is Mayer proposing, then, other than to punish those of us who have invested our lives In homes here by making it impossible to Uve here and to be sure of being able to get to a place of employment? Perhaps she has the luxury ofbelng able to travel Devil's Slide on a sunny mid-morning and thereby pronounce it beautiful and safe. I don't know where she gets her traffic figures but if she would sit by the road in Montana at almost any time she would soon discover it inadequate and dangerous.

Or take Devil's Slide in the winter rains and wind. Or have to plan a weekend around when you can get on and off the highway in Moss Beach. Or commute to San Bruno from Montara via San Gregorio and Woodslde because it is easier and faster than trying to get over Route 92 when Devil's Slide was closed The utter disregard of the Sierra Club for those of us who live here, and the inability to face the reality of the situation, unhappy as it may be, is a perversion of the environmental movement and may tragically affect its efficacy. Richard B. Warren MONTARA Handguns and crime I WOULD NOT favor a constitutional amendment to ban further gun laws in California because guns, in the hands of citizens, would be used either for crime or murder.

The shotguns or rifles, however, that are used for hunting game for food, are not nearly as disastrous as a pistol in the city, when all one could do with a pistol in a city is to use it for crime. The police in these same cities, however, need their pistols to protect themselves and others from those who have pistols and endanger the lives of the other citizens living in that city. Therefore, to ban further gun laws in California would be a disastrous and terrible mistake. Scott R. Campbell LOS ALTOS Most of the testimony and debate about safety beyond the above two points have been Just so much smoke.

Certainly, you have not heard Brian Beer recommend closing the beaches so as to reduce traffic and the resulting accidents and deaths. To tolerate the bypass as a solution to the Devil's Slide Issue is to place a non-miiigatible imposition on backwoods Montara and Moss Beach and to destroy McNee Ranch State Park with a road that will cut 20 percent into the skyline and be everpresent to users anywhere within the park. All growth on the Coastslde can be met with the already planned lanes on Highway 92. This bypass will only serve to bring pressure for far more extensive development Kit Dove EL GRANADA WE'RE REDUCING OUR PROFIT 50 TO MOVE OUT ALL NEW CARS TRUCKS IN STOCK! CHOOSE FROM OVER as The difference between dealer Invoice and federal sticker price is the usual dealer markup. We are reducing this markup amount by 50.

Invoices shown on request. 1 HI ii a- CARS and TRUCKS ARE OUR BUSINESS 4180 El Camino Real Palo Alto Just North of Arastradero South Palo Alto Phone 493-6900 350 El Camino Real Menlo Park Just North of the Stanford Shopping Center Phone 328-8260 Ii lib Open Mon-Frf 8:30 am to 9 pm, Sat 9 am to 6 pm, Sun 11 am to 5 pm. LUTZ FORD HAS BEEN SERVING THE PENINSULA SINCE 1950. THIS AO EXPIRES APRIL 9, 1U4 -i.