Mexico Ledger from Mexico, Missouri • Page 1

And Now, Talk Of Landslide By Robert M. White II Ledger Editor and Publisher NEW YORK, N. Y. (Special to The Ledger) I never thought I'd live to see the day when the Democratic Party would nominate a candidate from the Deep South. Sure, there was LBJ.

But he was an incumbent by the grace of a Massachusetts President and a tragedy in Dallas. But this peanut-eating, cotton-picking convention did just that last night Jimmy Carter is the man- who. Of course it came as no surprise. Most of the delegates here have been talking with a drawl all week and ordering grits for breakfast. 1 went to a party the other afternoon and Jimmy's brother, Bill Carter was there.

He was surrounded by New York City politicians asking the most detailed questions about peanut farming. You would have thought Central Park was about to be plowed up for a crop of goobers to replace the muggers. So wonders never cease. Now, in a more serious vein, Jimmy Carter went all the way. No matter what else can be said about him, he had the dream as many politicians do, he had the guts to try which fewer politicians do, he had the skill to set a brilliant plan and the will to follow it which still fewer politicians do, and, he did it.

He did that which almost all other politicians wish they could do and never do. Most of the press here is so impressed they expect a Carter landslide. You even hear a few people a few but some are respected political reporters asking if, for the first time, America will have a candidate winning all 50 states? Eight Years Meanwhile, the politicians here are now counting in eights. They are pointing out that Teddy Kennedy may have missed his chance and during the next eight years can do no better than become another Tip O'Neill (majority leader). Of course this is normal last-day talk at a political convention when a strong candidate has been nominated.

Counting by eight from 1976 to the 1984 convention you find Teddy Kennedy has moved from 44 to only 52 years old. But Hubert Humphrey will go from 65 to 73, Sen. Jackson from 64 to 72 and Sen. Muskie from 62 to 70. Birch Bayh will go from 48 to 56; Gov.

Brown from 39 to 47; John Glenn from 55 to 63; Sen. Mondale from 48 to 56; Sen. Stevenson from 46 to 54; and Mo Udall from 54 to 62. So age itself isn't all that important to most of this year's army of Democratic candidates. What is important are the pitfalls, the booby (excuse the word) traps congressmen and others face before the 1984 races are at hand.

In political years, 1984 is a long time from now. The Super-People Political conventions always set up a whirlpool of interest drawing the super-people. Those from television: Barbara Walters who is not as tall as she seems to be, is more blonde than she appears on television, whose voice is even thinner and whose eyes are even bigger. Walter Cronkite looks exactly the same, smiles the same, sounds the same, acts the same as on camera. Around the convention he is just as big a celebrity or a bigger one, than all the candidates except Carter.

At one after-convention party where the entrance was jammed by people invited and trying to crash, the crowd was reported to have parted like the Red Sea when Cronkite arrived and walked in. Rodger Mudd comes off as an unassuming, thoughtful, impressive, handsome man. Ed Newman seems pre-occupied. John Chancellor is quick, friendly, able. Harry Reasoner is likable and seems like he is ready to laugh.

John Hart seems up tight. Either that way or very important. Larry Spivak is shy, quiet, able, considerate one of the really nice people. Ann Compton is bright, smart, an ail-American young lady. Catherine Macklin is a classic beauty, a razor-edge brain, withdrawn.

James Kilpatrick is penetrating, informed, professional. Hollywood types we've seen here include: Paul Newman, who is comfortable in a suit with an unbuttoned coat and his hands in his pants pockets. He comes across a little shy and old shoe. He's a handsome man. Ja.ie Fonda is intense, with beady, bright eyes and a thin turned-up nose.

Warren Beatty is no-coat, open collar, quick, nervous like he was running between, say, raindrops. One More Day 14 PAGES THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT Mexico, Thursday, July 15,1976 Phone Year No. Fifteen Cents Carter Chooses Minnesota's AAondale NEW YORK (AP) Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter acted today to complete the Democratic ticket by designating Sen. Walter F. Mondale as his choice for the vice presidential nomination.

Carter's decision will be ratified at tonight's closing session of the Democratic National Convention. Asked why he had settled on Mondale, Carter said he had found "a remarkable compatibility between his stands on the issues and my own." Mondale described Carter as "an uncommon man, terribly gifted, committed, experienced, ready, but, above all, a good man and I'm proud and honored to be a part of this team." Carter kept his choice a secret until the moment, a few minutes after 10 a.m., EOT, when he strode into the Royal Ballroom of the Americana Hotel to make his announcement. It was the only suspenseful moment in a convention that belonged totally to the man from Plains, whose capture of the nomination the night before represented one of the most remarkable coups in American political history. About an hour before Carter left his suite for the press conference, he received a telephone call from President Ford, who is fighting to be the Republican nominee whom Carter will run against. According to White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen, Ford told Carter he hoped the campaign could be conducted on "a high level" and "I look forward to a good contest this fall." The vice presidential selection process was drawn out over 30 days during which Carter said he changed his mind three times.

"This has been, as you can well imagine, one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make," he told the news conference. "But I have absolutely no doubt that this is the right decision." Carter called the Minnesota senator "the best person to lead this country if something should happen to me." He added that Mondale has "a very clear concept of what the presidency should be." Mondale arrived at the Americana during Carter's news conference. He was accompanied by his wife, Joan. Carter said Mondale had suffered from mild hypertension, but that "since he has been taking medication he has had no problem." Carter said Mondale's medical records had been examined by a doctor and they showed nothing unusual for a 48-year-old man. With his wife at his side, Mondale joined Carter at the ballroom podium and said, "I am proud and honored to be a Mondale Seen As Liberal Choice Tonight, Thursday, is the night of the love feast.

All conventions end that way. And as good as these final night love-feasts are, they are also historic. NEW YORK (AP) Sen. Walter F. Mondale is probably the most liberal of all the men seriously considered by Jimmy Carter as possible running mates, and many feel he offers the best political and geographical balance to the Democratic ticket.

Mondale, of Minnesota, beat an early retreat from his own presidential effort in November 1974 after a yearlong exploratory campaign, saying he lacked the "overwhelming desire" he felt was needed to go on for the job. "To begin a campaign without a total commitment on my part is unfair to everyone," Mondale said then. "I admire those with the determination to do what is required to seek the presidency, but I have found that I am not among them." Mondale found those remarks returning to haunt him. Some critics said the early exit showed Mondale did not have the stomach for the rigors of a presidential campaign and was, perhaps, a bit lazy concerns which reportedly also troubled Carter at first. Same Old Battle Ahead, NEWARK, N.J.

(AP) Ronald Reagan said today the Democratic party's Carter- Mondale ticket will be "waging the aame old ideological battle" this November as Democratic candidates before them. Jimmy Carter, the Democratic presidential candidate, announced a few minutes earlier in New York that Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota was his choice for the vice-presidential spot on the ticket. Reagan, the Republican presidential challenger trailing President Ford by 33 delegates, said Carter's choice of Mondale was "right in the Democratic leadership philosophy." He said it showed Carter was devoted to the Washington establishment "We all knew it would happen," he said when asked for his reaction to Carter's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate. "Liberalism is pretty much out of fashion.

They will be waging the same old ideological battle," he said. Reagan and his wife, Nancy, shook hands with a dozen supporters at Newark International Airport before leaving for a day of meetings with Republican delegates in Harrisburg, Pa. Reagan had received a friendly welcome Wednesday from New Jersey's delegates, most of whom are publicly pledged to support President Ford. He said some of the 87 delegates were "sincerely uncommitted, "I saw a few Reagan but- Today's Selling is a little like hog isn't the noise you make, it's the appeal in your voice. part of this team." Asked about his trip to Plains where he was interviewed by Carter, Mondale said they had a long talk about the role of the vice president in a Carter administration.

"I was not interested in a ceremonial post," the senator said. "I was pleased to see he plans to use his vice president in a broad range of responsibilities." "I am determined to put major responsibilities on the head of the vice president," Carter told the news conference. Mondale said he expects Carter to be president for eight years. "I'm not taking this job with the expectation of becoming president," he added. Two years ago, Mondale made an exploratory run at the presidency but dropped the idea when he failed to generate widespread support.

Carter said that in the last But those close to Mondale saw his decision as that of a political realist one who knew he was making little progress and who, despite speaking and traveling in 30 states, was still not widely known. Running for the No. 2 spot is a different question entirely, Mondale said recently. "When you campaign for the vice presidency, it is over very quickly," he added. He noted that in such a campaign, there isn't the drawn out drudgery of a full-scale presidential effort.

While friends claim Mondale is a good campaigner who enjoys meeting people, giving ipeechts they say he finds other aspects such as fundraising distasteful. "What I said at the time was that I didn't want to spend most of my life in Holiday Inns, but I've checked and they've all been redecorated," Mondale quipped. Mondale, 48, boyish in appearance and well-dressed, is viewed as one of the foremost liberals in the Senate, where he is most active on the (Continued on Page 5) Ideological Reagan Says tons before I left," the former California governor said Reagan said Carter and Mondale represent a big government philosophy, while he would rather turn over much of the power vested in Washington to state, county and municipal leaders. "I've taken my case to the people," he said. Reagan met Wednesday in a closed session with delegates from New Jersey and Delaware.

His comments were applauded several times, but there were no announcements of any new Reagan support. But the chairman of the Ford campaign in New Jersey said Reagan made a good impression. He conceded to Reagan five to seven delegates in what previously had been considered a 67 to 0 Ford slate. RATTLESNAKES are more common in areas of Missouri than most people would like to think. This Timber Rattler, which measured 49 inches long and was nine inches at its largest circumference, was killed by Dallas DeOrnellas of Santa Fe on a road four or five miles north of Santa Fe.

Mr. DeOrnellas said he ran over the snake in the roadway with his truck. When he got out, the snake was striking against the wheel, sounding like a hammer hitting the tire, he said. The snake is probably an old one, although it had only three rattles. Denver Camden, area supervisor for the Conservation Department, says the rattles are not a good indication of age because they break off.

Popular thought is that rattlesnakes grow an additional rattle for each year of age. (Ledger Photo by Richard Vance) Spencer's Body Is Found Today In Lake Of The body of Donald Spencer, 41, of Route 1, Mexico was found at 10:30 a.m. today at about the five mile marker on the main Osage arm of the Lake of the Ocarka according to the MiHOuri State Water Patrol. A spokesman for the patrol Mid the body, which found floating on top of the water, was not far from where Spencer disappeared from his boat July 3. The coroner there ruled the death an accidental drowning and the body was taken to the Reeds Funeral Home in Candenton, patrol officials said.

The search began the night on July 3 when his boat was found drifting in the main channel of the lake of the darks. The water patrol theorized that the Mexico man had fallen overboard. The patrol office said the Spencer boat, an 18-foot open run-about, was seen drifting with its running lights on at about 7 p.m. that night, the eve of the Fourth of July, in the main channel. The persons who saw it drifting said the boat eventually drifted into their cove and they retrieved it and called the patrol.

Found in the boat were Mr. Spencer's wallet, diamond ring, shoes and other items, a spokesman for the patrol said. Mr. Spencer and his wife, Mary, were staying at their cabin on the lake that weekend, the patrol said. Mrs.

John J. Dawson, Mr. Spencer's mother-in-law, said Mr. Spencer and his wife had been out riding on a boat during the late afternoon. They then returned to their cabin where Mrs.

Spencer began to prepare for supper. Mrs. Dawson said Mr. Spencer then asked his wife to take another ride on the lake, but Mrs. Spencer said she was busy fixing supper.

Mr. Spencer then said he would be back for supper and took off for a ride on the lake, Mrs. Dawson said. Mr. Spencer was the former manager of the Production Credit Association branch in Mexico.

He was employed by the Co-operative Assn. few days "I have had very serious allegations" made against the six senators on his final list but that no evidence was found to support the charges. "I don't know of anything that would have been embarrassing about the six," he said. After the delegates ratify Carter's choice of Mondale they will hear acceptance speeches from the two nominees and then adjourn. They will leave Madison Square Garden more united than they have been in years and hopeful of regaining control of the White House after eight years of Republican administrations.

Since the last primary elections on June 8, there was no doubt who the Democratic presidential nominee would It was Carter all the way and his firm control of the entire process gave him a rare opportunity to choose a running mate at leisure, free of the political horse trading that has characterized such decisions at past conventions. Carter said he would recommend that future conventions recess for 30 days after the presidential nominee is chosen to give him time to make a careful choice of a running mate. Mondale arrived at the Americana Hotel during Carter's news conference. "Everything is great. Everything is great," he told reporters, as he entered the hotel.

Carter's own process for choosing a vice presidential candidate involved personal interviews with seven individuals and requests for background information including financial and medical data. By the time Carter was nominated he had narrowed the list of potential running mates to six. WALTER F. MONDALE Mondale, regarded as a liberal with strong support from organized labor, always was considered one of the leading prospects. The others on Carter's list were Sens.

Edmund S. Muskie of Maine, John Glenn of Ohio, Henry Jackson of Washington, (Continued on Page 5) School Board Widens Code For All Student Activities Not just athletes, but all Mexico High School students this fall will have a general code for conduct. It says: "The board requires all participants in interscholastic activities to conform to the citizenship, scholastic and training standards required by the MSHSSA (Missouri State High School Activities Association). Standards shall be established by participating departments and administered in a consistent manner within the department." With unanimous approval of the general code, the Mexico school board last night ended a mild controversy concerning the establishment of a set of guidelines for students within the district who engage in interscholastic activities. Tabled from the board's previous meeting, the code was extended to include all interscholastic activities, rather than singling out athletics, as had been proposed earlier.

"We are not grouping together everyone in the athletic department because other interscholastic activities are of equal importance," board president Dr. Leonard Davis said while members worked for agreement upon the code's exact wording. At its previous meeting, the board had considered an 11- point list of stringent guidelines, complete with penalties for violation, which was proposed by the athletic council and submitted as "athletic standards." However, most board members preferred not to single out athletic participants, but to extend the standards to include participants of any interscholastic activity. The approved general code is based upon one recommended to the board by Supt. Board In Brief: Adopted general student activity code.

Sold student-built house at $36,500. Heard reports on education program for handicapped. Hired 3 teachers, accepted 4 resignations. Donald Palmer, with the last sentence added after a lengthy board discussion. That allows each individual department to set up and enforce its own standards, with standards imposed by the MSHS AA to be used as a With approval of that code, therefore, thei.

department may establish for its own participants the original 11-point standard which varies from drug and alcohol use to getting proper rest and eating a balanced diet. The school board, however, preferred not to invoke such guidelines for a specific activity. "Board of education policies must be general," Mrs. Howard Copeland said. In other business, the board accepted a bid of $36,500 from Robert L.

Westhoff on the house built at 1801 Cherry St. by the vocational school carpentry class. A single bid of $33,579.91 had been declined at the previous meeting as too low, and while Mr. Westhoff's was the lower of two sealed bids opened at the meeting, he voiced the highest oral bid at the meeting. The board also accepted bread, milk and ice cream bids for the coming school year.

Holsum Bakers of Boonville, which currently serves the school district, submitted the only bid of 41 cents per loaf of sandwich bread, 42 cents per one dozen hamburger buns and 61 cents per 16 coney buns. It was accepted. The board also accepted Central Dairy Company's bid of 8.9 cents per half-pint of whole white milk, 70 cents per dozen three-ounce bars of ice cream and $1.05 per dozen four-ounce cups of ice cream. A report submitted by Supt. Palmer revealed that the past year's lunch program had operated in the black, with a total income of $340,797 and expenditures of $327,456.

"It was a real good year," Supt. Palmer said of the program, which served a total of 491,078 lunches last year. "It being a solvent program, there will be no need to increase the costs of lunches next year." He also reported on the district's Title VI project, scheduled for final approval Aug. 1, which is designed to find and assess the needs of handicapped children in the Mexico and Community R-6 School Districts. Under the program, the school district is to receive $120,000 in federal funds and approximately an additional $20,000 from the state.

Another report, this one concerning the school district's transportation program, was given to the board by administrative assistant J.R. Houchins. It showed the number of students utilizing the district's bus system increasing by 367 per day, to but the program's local district cost dropping $43, to $54,706. Mr. Houchins noted that the extended program, which operated an additional six buses and covered an additional 171.4 miles per day last year, had received sufficient state reimbursement to compensate for the higher operating cost.

Last year's figures showed state reimbursement of $84,059, up from the previous year's $58,300. Other board business last night saw the hiring of three new teachers. Charles A. Johnston was accepted as COE Coordinator and Adult (Continued on Page 5) ONE WILL BE PORK These five young ladies will compete for the title of Audrain County Pork Queen at the annual picnic of the county's pork producers which begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Old Oak Club.

From left, they are Cathy Fair, Centralia, Debbie Kirchhoff, Mexico; Patty Morris, Vandalia; Cathy Householder and Janette Vomund, both of Martinsburg. Miss Susan Kroeger, 1975 pork queen, will crown her successor. The queen contest is sponsored by the Audrain County Porkettes. (Ledger Photo by Richard Vance).