Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 1

METRO Market Sinks To 16-Month Low See Page 8, Section 15c 6-Day Home Delivery 90c SUNNY Clear Tonight High Low 55-61 Map and Details on Page 1SD ON GUARD FOR 146 YEARS 1977, Detroit Free Press, Inc. Vol. 147 No. 21 Wednesday, May 25, 1977 HEART FAILURE APPARENT CAUSE Commentator Lou Gordon Dies at 60 SHettoit iftee 3 mi i mufmfcii Mr-" -iMtiffii'inmihnifrirn-triitr'rwfNri In many politician? thought or at least feared that Gonlon's program could make the difference thev courted him. Action Line solves problems, gets answers, cuts red tape, stands up for your rights.

Write Action Line, Box 881, Detroit, Mich. 48231. Or dial 222-6464 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

BY BILLY BOWLES Free Press Staff Writer Detroit television commentator Lou Gordon, a feisty interviewer who was a power to be reckoned with by Michigan politicians, died in his sleep early Tuesday at his home in Bloomfield Hills. He was 60. Gordon's wife, Jackie, who appeared with him on his syndicatetl weekend telecasts, said he apparently suffered heart failure. Gordon had undergone open heart surgery to replace a faulty aortic valve in January 1976 but appeared to have recovered fully, Mrs. Gordon said.

Gordon's program appeared on Saturdays and Sundays in Detroit on WKBD-TV (Channel 50) and was syndicated by the Kaiser Broadcasting Co. and carried in seven other major cities. The show was vaulted into national prominence in 1967 when former Michigan Gov. George Romney appeared on the program and made the famous "brain washing" statement that some observers felt ended his chances as a presidential candidate. On his show.

Gordon relished face-to-face confrontations with the powerful, and his remarks often angered his subjects. Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace once ripped off his microphone and cut short an interview, to Gordon's delight. Frank Sinatra Jr.

vowed after a Gordon interview to tell his show business friends to avoid Gordon's program. In a column he wrote twice a week for When my wife's grandfather died in February 1973 he left a will that, provided she receive $500 from his estate. She's been waiting ever since. We're in the process of buying our first home and the money would give us enough for our down payment. How much longer does she have to wait? D.A., Brighton.

About 10 more days. That's word from attorney for estate in Newaygo, who got ball rolling again after Action Line's call. He explained inheritance delay was caused by several conditions, one being that money was all tied up in house being sold on land contract. Adding to confusion was fact house title was still in deceased grandmother's name which meant reopening her estate as well. All was in clear seven weeks ago and land contract was sent to buyer's attorney for final approval.

Next week lawyer had heart attack. He just returned to work last week and buyer's ready to close deal shortly. Inheritance check will lollow immediately after. I'm a wilderness enthusiast and particularly enjoy backpacking and canoeing. Clothing lor these activities has been somewhat difficult to find because of my size (6 foot 7), but I've managed to come up with everything but a hat.

I want to get a leather mountain-m a style "slanting his political news coverage to support the views on his editorial page." Gordon's detractors denounced him for his ego and his biases, but he was viewed by many devoted supporters as a fighter for the underdog, and he made news, as well as commented on it, in pushing his views. He didn't just criticize Michigan Bell for its rate-increase requests, he led an entourage to Lansing to present 7,000 letters protesting the rates to Gov. Milliken and the chairman of the state Public Service Commission. Gordon had no announced political affiliation. He characterized himself as "a liberal, except on law and ordr," and attacked Democrats and Republicans with equal fury.

A newspaper executive who once competed against him said Gordon's news "sources were unbeatable." "I like to cons'der myself the people's advocate," Gordon once told an interviewer, "the voice of dissent or both. Fate and circumstances placed me in the role, and I like the role. More than that, I love it." For a non-network news commentator, whose shows appeared on UHF television, Gordon achieved unusual power. He told Oakland County Prosecutor L. Brooks Patterson on a recent show that he would quit TV and run against him if Patterson ever ran for governor.

Within ihe past month, Gov. and Mrs. Milliken went to the Gordon home for dinner. The purpose of the dinner, as Milliken knew in advance, was to talk about the governor's political plans and what influence he would have in any future run for the governor's office by either Patterson or Lt. Gov.

James Damman, both of whom Gordon opposed. Gordon's last broadcast was Sunday, although other interviews have been taped. WKBD officials said no decision has been made about whether to air them. MRS. GORDON said her husband had worked late Monday night and that she Please turn to Page ISA, Col.

I Free PressTONY spina LOU GORDON, in a photo made three months ago. the Detroit News, starting February 1975, Gordon took on politicians and others with the same relish, including his own editor, Martin Ilayden. Gordon accused Hayden of Pods or my Slaughter hat but filling my size 8i head hasn't been easy. I've called all over the country trying to find a hat, but so far no luck. Can Action Line help? J.S., Grand Ledge.

You'll travel woods and rwers in style this summer with custom-made hat from a Leather Works in Ann Arbor. Wally Meyers, one of store owners, will be artisan of hat, ard he said headwear will be ready in couple weeks. Outdoor enthusiasts can find pisnty of prime rivers and trails for canoeing and hiking in Michigan. The Department of Natural Re Falls from Russian Hierarchy From AP, UPI and N.Y. Times Service MOSCOW Soviet President Nikolai Podeorny was Warn Dutch oiuccans niw- Vh.

.1 sources reports there are over 500 miler of backpacking trails in state as well as more than 50 navigable rivers, many with boat rentals available. Folks interested in obtaining Deadline Issued on Demands Pictures on Back Page abruptly dropped from the ruling Politrwro Tuesday in a move interpreted by U.S. experts as a step by Communist Party Chief Leonid I. Brezhnev to strengthen his power as undisputed Soviet leader. The ouster of Podgorny, one of the three most powerful men in his country, was the information on outdoor activities in Michigan can write DNR Service Center, Information and Education Division, P.O.

Box Lansing, 4 5 Action Line From UPI and AP BOVENSMILDE, The Neth- A few months ago I ordered a replacement contact lens from 202!) Contact Lens Service, Inc. in Whitehall, Ohio. When the lens arrived I knew it was the wrong kind, but the company suggested I give it a try and send it back if things didn't work nut. I returned the lens in March, but 2020 sent it right back aloi with a letter stating I couldn't get a refund. I returned the lens again, since it's no good to me, but it looks like I'm out S23.S0.

Is there anything you can do to get my money? V.G., Detroit. Company saw more clearly after Action Line call and dropped full refund in mail. Rep for 2020 Contact Lens Service was not surprised at refund refusal, explaining that employe gave you bum information was fired recently for many similar incidents. Rep said problems created by pink-slipped employe are slowly but surely coming to surface, and company is clearing them up as they arise. Rep tracked down your file after Action Line call and penned $23.90 refund same day.

erlands South Moluccan terrorists who seized a train and a schoolhouse threatened Tuesday to slaughter their hostages including 105 children if the government fails to meet their demands. "There will be many deaths" if the Dutch government refuses to free other jailed Moluccans and put them on a plane out of the country by Wednesday afternoon, the extremists warned in a letter. Prime Minister den Uyl said his government will not bargain until the children are freed. s- "1 first major reshuffle of the Soviet leadership since the downfall of Nikita Khrushchev in 1964. A brief communique over Moscow radio and television gave no explanation for Pod-g y's sudden departure from the ruling council of the Soviet Communist Party.

It also did not say whether Podgorny would retain presidency, a largely ceremonial post, but observers pointed out that the position would be virtually impossible to hold without membership in the Politburo. NEWS OF Podgorny's downfall came in a terse announcement, which said only that the Communist Party Central Committee meeting in secret plenary session in the Kremlin "relieved Nikolai Podgorny of his duties as a member of the Political Bureau." There was no immediate in-Please turn to Page 2A, Col. 1 ei tM-y WM Vff I MrV i If 1 If Action Line "The government has made it quite clear that it gives absolute priority to the release of the children in the school," Justice Minister Dries Van Agt said in a nationwide television address. "In the first place our full energy and al-tention is directed at the children." The terrorists were holding the 105 children and six teach ers in the schoolhouse of this northern Dutch village. TEN MILES away, near the town of Assen, a second grout) of South Moluccans held 50 to fiO other hostages on a hijacked train standing in the Please turn to Page 2A, Col.

4 The children in my kindergarden class ordered 50 Mother's Day plate kits from Makit Products of Milford, N.H. They each drew a picture, then returned the kits to the company to be made into plastic plates. The plates came back after Mother's Day, even though we gave the company sufficient time, and five of the plates were defective. The students weie very upset, particularly those with the defective plates. Can you help get replacements for the five plates? L.K., North Branch.

Five moms will have belated Mother's Day gifts shortly. Replacement kits were sent out after Action Line brought complaint to Makit Products in New Hampshire. Rep for company said new kits will be processed at no additional charge and mailed directly to students' homes. Detects were caused by reproduction problems and rep said whole shipment was late because of flood of Mother's Day orders. AP Photos Rep.

Walter Flowers, pumps up a respectable bubble with his well-exercised bubble gum, only to have it burst as did his title hopes when he takes a key shot in the second annual Congressional Marbles Tournament. Flowers was ousted in the semifinals Tuesday on the Capitol's west lawn; the winner in the 20-man competition was last year's champion, Rep. Bill Burlison, a Missouri Democrat. Burlison won a $1,000 scholarship, which he will award to an institution to be named later. The champ said he hoped the spectacle would encourage youngsters to take up marbles and not watch television so much.

A Bubble Bursts on Capitol Hill Mideast Prospects Boosted race eased THE QUESTION In a recent Harris survey, the majority of those polled placed a greater emphasis on teaching people how to live with essentials than on attaining a higher standard of living. Do you agree? From AP and UPI Mideast peace prospects brightened on two fronts Tuesday. In Washington, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Fahd and President Carter discussed a possible homeland for Palestinians alongside Israel. Fahd said he saw signs of optimism despite the tense Mideast Kalamazoo Busing Plan Works Ann Landers 3C Business News 8-12D Comics 13-150 Death Notices 10C Editorials 10A 13-15B 1-I2B 10C I ID 1-7D 9-12D 6C 1-4C There has been a dramatic decline in reports of interracial violence and tension among students. Although student achievement scores dropped in the first year of the program, they have risen consistently since then.

0 While white enrollment declined rapidly before desegregation, the decline has slowed and finally almost stopped under the program. Entertainment Food Guide Obituaries Real Estate Sports Stock Markets Television Women's Pages KAI A.MAZOO (AP) Racial tension amoiv. students have decreased during the six years of Kalamazoo's court-ordered school desegregation, a report of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights said Tuesday. In a report en the plan-, the commission's midwestern regional staff said it was very impressed with the way the program has worked out.

"Student achievement scores and attitudes about school have been higher after desegregation than they were prior to it," said Murray Saltzman of Indianapolis, one of the commission's five members. He said such gains cannot be traced entirely to improved racial balance, for "they are obviously the result of simultaneous new programs and procedures designed to improve the educational process and the learning environment." HOW YOU VOTED YES, 77.fi percent. COMMENTS: "Our standard of living is much too high now" "We can't keep striving for bigger and better when we still have people in this country starving" "People today have it far too easy" "Our ancestors would be ashamed of all of us" "Anything above and beyond essentials is vain." NO, 22.4 percent. COMMENTS: "We need non-essentials to help make our dismal daily existence a little better" "Living is more than just survival" "That sounds like communism to me" "What incentive would be left to work?" "I might as well go on welfare." Boy, 11, Burned as Children Discover Deadly Chemical At the United Nations, Syria agreed to a six-month extension of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping forces in the Golan Heights area between Israel and Syria. Israel had earlier agreed to keeping the buffer forces.

UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim recommended that the Security Council keep the force through November. He said that the presence of UN troops is essential for the maintenance of pcaee in the Mideast. The Fahd-Carter talks concentrated on the Palestinian homeland question, a key issue any permanent Mideast eitlement. "The United Slates is not pushing for any particular solution at this point," Jody Powell, Carter's press secretary, Please turn to Page 2 A. Col.

2 TOMORROW'S QUESTION Legislation signed Monday by President Carter will provide a tax cut for 47 million Americans using the standard tax deduction. Are you satisfied with the new law? The Kalamazoo plan was put together between and 1971 by administrators, school board members and citizens. Its implementation was delayed in June 1971 when a newiy elected board opposed it. The Kalamazoo chapter of NAACP and several individual black students then sued the district, charging unlawful racial segregation. U.S.

District Court Judge Noel P. Fox Jr. ordered the original plan implemented in 1971 and. his order was upheld on appeal. Among other things, the commission found: Racial imbalance in the district's schools has been significantly reduced by the desegregation plan.

BY ROBERT DeWOLFE Tree Press Staff Writer Police in Inkster and Westland Tuesday night were seeking children who mav have taken vials of a dangerous chemical from a field owned by Wayne County General Hospital. The search began after Clinton Martin, 11, cf Inkster, went to the hospital's emergency ward for treatment of chemical burns on his face about 7:30 p.m. The hospital called Wayne County's sheriff's deputies who determined that the boy was splashed when he picked up and threw a vial he found in a field south of Michigan and east of Merriman. Sheriff's department' chemist Bohdar Ko-monytsky determined chemical ua phenol. Undersherift Loren Pittman said it is highly dangerous if ingested and can burn skin.

Please turn to Pae Col. I To vote YES Call 961-3211 To vote NO -961-4422.