Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 19

A jump DETROIT FREE PRESSSUNDAY, DEC. 9, 1979 sound off More airwaves open for religion rii Should Le Flora bo traded? The Detroit Tigers have traded center-fielder Ron LeFlore to the Montreal Expos for left handed pitcher Dan Schatzeder. Do you approve of the deal? RELIGION, from Page 3A springing up at the rate of one a month. Detroit radio station WBFG (whose call letters stand for "we broadcast for has applied to the Federal Communications Commission for permission to open a new UHF (ultra high frequency) channel exclusively for religious programming. WXON-TV (Channel 20) is the only Detroit outlet for the satellite-transmitted program "700 Club," which, sponsors claim, has a national audience of more than 18 million persons with as many as two-million viewers in the Detroit area.

The name "700 Club" was given to the program after its first telecast when 700 persons called in to offer support. Christian Broadcasting Network, which produces the "700 Club," can reach 150 radio stations and 150 television stations. Most carry the "700 Club" twice daily for a total of three hours seven days a week. THE GROWTH of religious broadcasting has become worrisome to officials of established churches and religious groups, wno are feeling the pinch of decreased financial contributions AP Photo William Mestice, Nick Belluso, Earl Blackjack Stevens, an unidentified security officer, and Charles Reinert. All are attending the Presidential Kookie Candidate Convert-tion in Atlanta.

Not all the presidential candidates this year have household names. Here, from left, are a few of the unknowns: Frank Ahern, Joe Bongiovanni. Eddie McDowell, Bill Carlson, James Montgomery, Don Badgley, Leon Pickett, Bow you voted NO, 64.7 percent. COMMENTS: "It's a ridiculous trade and obvious of the fact that Detroit fans make no difference to the baseball industry" "Campbell wants a winner but won't pay the price it takes" "What's Campbell gonna do when Kemp and Thompson want more, trade them, too? "It's like tuna fish for cavier" "It's tragic that they want to save money at the expense of speed and excitement in a player." YES.35.3 percent. COMMENTS: "I'm all for it, we need pitchers and left-handed ones are harder to come by than outfielders" "Yes, it would've been a shame to trade LeFlore and get nothing" "LeFlore was not worth the money he was asking" "LeFlore's head was growing faster than his abilities" "Campbell made a wise decision in giving up something but getting something valuable in return." Sound off is a non-scientific poll Intended to give Free Press Far off the campaign trail and reduced attendance.

The Rev. Edward B. Willingham executive director of CONVENTION, from Page 1A the Christian Communication Council of Metropolitan Detroit Churches, said: "The electronic church is giving the illusion of participating in religious community life and that's what the word 'church' means, 'the gathered together ones' but it does publicans, those candidates held their convention in a converted grocery store. Redesigned and renamed, it was not give the substance or reality. readers a chance to express their opinions.

Today percent signs were everywhere, and there was even a man in stilts dressed like Uncle Sam. The jostling crowd numbered perhaps 80. "Be for a Kook, the clowns have been in office long enough," was the convention theme. Belluso said he got his list of candidates from the Fed eral Election Commission, and wrote letters of invitation to about 100 persons. Sixty responded and 35 initially agreed to come.

Belluso said the whole thing cost him about $1,200, which covered a newspaper ad, some posters and hotel bills for some of the poorer candidates. ages are based on approximately 4,300 calls. Tomorrow's question called the Rhein Garten Ballroom. Like any convention, it had a platform with stars, stripes and red-white-and-blue bunting. Bumper stickers and "Personally," Mr.

Willingham said, "I am fearful of the theological implications of these programs, that fund raising is what's central to religion and that making a contribution by mail and then passively watching other people sing and pray constitutes commitment. Well, it doesn't." The "700 Club" has telephone numbers for local counseling centers its sponsors have established across the United States. CHUCK YOUKEY, the "700 Club" Detroit area counselor, State officials are considering a plan to merge Detroit Recorder's Court with the Wayne County Circuit Court, saying such a move would cut down both on costs and on controversy. Do you favor the merger? To vote YES To vote NO Call 961 -3211 Call 961 -4422 said local callers are counseled by him or one of several volunteers who answer phones at the Royal Oak center. "We pray with those who want prayer, we try to help them Exodus of skilled workers is Chrysler's latest worry deal with whatever spiritual problems they have and many commit their lives to Christ right on the phone," he said.

TO BE SURE, this group is generally a long way from Lear-jetting along the campaign trail. Charlie Reinert, 58, a bald, graybeard from California, had to wait until his Social Security check arrived before he could buy his bus ticket to Atlanta. And then tragedy hit. During a 45-minute wait in Los Angeles, he was robbed. A pickpocket snatched his wallet, taking his new driver's license, his oxygen prescription have trouble his Medicare card, his burial arrangements, his VA hospital card, his Social Security card, $20 in cash and a Social Security check for $60.

UNDAUNTED, Charlie proudly announced in Atlanta that he had written his own campaign song. He said, "It goes, 'Oh, oh, oh, Charlie; oh, oh, oh, Charlie I got that far and I'm undecided how to go on." James R. Montgomery, 38, of Oronogo, a former action line To the charge that the dramatic increase in religious radio and television broadcasting hurts the churches and saps their financial strength, Youkey responded: UAW, from Page 1A greener across the "But we always try to get our callers matched up with a call us: 222-6464 said Richard Martin, director local church. We're not a church and don't pretend to be. We're of the UAW skilled trades de partment.

in the referral business. We co-operate with over 150 clergy, including a number of Catholic priests. The financial contribu "A lot of them could be taking off after the holidays if there is no action before Congress adjourns Dec. 21," the source said. THERE ARE other indica Action Line solves Martin said eligible skilled proDiems, gets an tions people make to the program they do of their own free will." Two days before Chrysler spurned the Senate bill, UAW President Douglas Fraser and the union's 250-member Chrysler Council had rejected it with resounding unanimity.

Fraser later expressed swers, cuts red tape, tradesmen may opt for 30 and-out early-retirement pen stands up for your rights. 1 I TS IN ADDITION to WXON-TV, WGPR-TV (Channel 62) is an Write Action Line, Box 881 even some wno are young enough to continue Detroit. Mich. 48231. Or dial 222-6464 between 8:30 a.m.

and outlet for religious programming in the Detroit area, though WGPR uses mostly taped broadcasts and a few locally produced religious programs and does not now use the working. 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. "If times, were better, the satellite transmissions. graduate apprentice might just grab his certificates and WHO asked for it? I recently received a WGPR is the local outlet for another widely viewed take off, too, he said.

religious television program known as the "PTL (Praise The Lord) Club." phone call from a credit card marketing company asking me if I would like a Visa or Mastercharge card. I said no, since I already had a Visa, but they sent me one anyway. Can these Matt McClelland, presi casket maker, was another one to take the bus, and he even planned to hitchhike back. With thinning, flyaway The "PTL Club" format is similar to the "700 Club" in that people just send me a credit card I don want? viewers are urged to contribute to the program, which includes L.L., East Detroit dent of UAW Local 412, which represents engineering employes, said the dropout rate is not extensive yet in his gospel music, preaching and Bible reading. Three Detroit area radio stations broadcast religious pro hair, a grimy suit from three days and nights on the bus and They can and they did but they shouldn't have.

According to a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission in local. grams exclusively: WBFG-FM (98.7), WMUZ-FM (103.5) and WEXL-AM(1340). his striped sneakers, Mont "The grapevine says that if they had to take a freeze, a lot fears that a freeze would trigger a "brain drain" that would hinder Chrysler's survival. "I asked the council for evidence that our tradesmen and salaried members are leaving or thinking about it," Fraser said. "There was a lot of response from the floor.

Die-makers, for example, are in short supply. Chrysler wouldn't be able to keep them with a wage freeze." He told of a conversation with a young engineer from Chrysler's design group who said 1 1 people have either left his department or are planning to quit. Fraser repeatedly has stressed the need for swift congressional action on the bail-out legislation. CONSUMER confidence in Washington, an amendment to the Truth in Lending Act prohibits credit card firms from sending out unsolicited cards. They can only be sent if requested by customer or sent gomery presented one of the more remarkable pictures at the convention.

A DETROIT AREA clergyman, who asked not to be identi would quit if they could find other work," McClelland said. fied, said he has begged his bishop in vain "for years" to put some of his denomination's money into electronic media. as a replacement for a lost or missing card. Unfortunately, Seemingly unsure of We can let these big-time TV evangelists walk away with where he was, Montgomery At week's end, despite the announcement that Chrysler FTC says it's hard to enforce law since it's your word against credit card company's that plastic was unsolicited. If feds get number of complaints against any one firm, matter is declared in a high nasal whine, "I'm glad to be in At our people's commitment, their money and their spiritual lives.

The real church and I mean as opposed to the phony electronic church has to fight fire with fire," the clergyman said. easier to pursue. To file your beef, write Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580. lantic, Ga.

He didn even mind passing through A communications officer of the Congressional Church has "Chatta-nootie, Tenn." Movie pay Can you help my 11 -year-old daughter get paid for her first movie role? Her talent agent tions that prospective employes are having second thoughts about going to work for a firm that faces bankruptcy without, government help. "They are trying to hire 200 professional engineers to work in their tank program for the Defense Department, and they are having one hell of a time getting them because of the wage-freeze talk and the general atmosphere," said one UAW official. "Those are good jobs and that's federal money. They are even advertising on the radio." Chrysler for years has had a reputation for engineering excellence, numbering among its triumphs the first solid-state electronic ignition and the first domestic subcompact with front-wheel drive. But the company began scaling down that department in the early 1970s, and the retrenchment continued after the 1974-75 recession.

Now, with federal mileage and safety standards to be met, and with changing customer preferences, engineering looms in importance and Chrysler can ill afford personnel losses. "They have lost some professional engineers and there is a big need for them now," said Harold Schauer, UAW coordinator for Chrylser salaried employes. Some engineering staff members who were laid off already have taken jobs with other automakers and don't want to return to Chrysler, Schauer said. said the radio and television preachers "are on the air to make money so they can expand their television exposure and make WHILE candidates dif fered from each other (and the more money. arranged for her to appear in the movie "Jimmy B.

and rest of the world) dramati BUT SPOKESMAN for the National Rroadrasiers cally, their ideas agreed. has eroded and will disagreed. "The programs of the established churches are Oj Most wanted to give the another era and just not what people are demanding," he said Andre" when it was being filmed in Detroit last summer. She was supposed to be paid $25 for her work, but never was. The other children who government back to the peo pie.

And many were ex The facts support his claim. An analysis of ratings over the tremely conservative. past 18 years show that unpaid (or public service) religious programs have declined to just eight percent of all religious Blackjack Stevens wanted broadcasting. prayer back in the schools, a appeared with her were paid almost immediately. Can you make sure her film career gets turnaround in the liberal Su Only 92 stations now carry the once-popular CBS network would shutter its Hamtramck assembly plant Jan.

4, workers' hopes were buoyed by Chrysler's rejection of the freeze and recurrent reports that a compromise bill might be put before Congress next week. THERE WERE even some attempts at gallows humor. A sign taped to a rest room wall in Highland Park read: "Will the last person to leave Chrysler please turn out the lights?" A post-script suggested: "Take a bulb. Things are tough and Edison doesn't give freebies any more." A tongue-in-cheek flyer being circulated in the payroll department offered a scheme to rescue Chrysler and resolve the Iranian-hostage crisis at the same time. Kidnap the shah of Iran, collect $25 million in ransom from the Iranian government and use the revenue to bail out Chrysler, the flyer suggested.

In another vein, Martain religious programs "Lamp Unto My Feet" and "Look Up and preme Court, freedom of the off on the right foot? Live. In 1971 they were carried by 127 stations. press, the right to bear arms G.S., Southfield In Detroit, though, the health of public service religious Your daughter will have stars and a stronger free enterprise system. He also was against programs seems robust. on her paycheck, as well as in as long as the Chrysler story is in the news, Fraser has said, and now worker confidence is waning.

This concern about the effect on employe morale has surfaced in the last few days, leading some to believe it is posturing designed to speed up Congress. But there is evidence Chrysler has seen it as a problem that could snowball. One Chrysler executive said he sent out inquiries several days ago about resignations or threats by employes to leave the firm. "There is nothing noticeable yet among skilled tradesmen, and this apparently applies in the salaried area, too," abortion and her eyes. Wages for brief ap MR.

WILLINGHAM said there are three "widely appre pearance in "Jimmy B. and Andre" will come in form of While all of this may seem ciated" television offerings which the Christian Communication Council produces: $25 check signed by Alex Kar- like sheer silliness, never forget for a moment that these candidates are in deadly ras and Susan Clark, co-stars WXYZ (Channel 7) airs a black-oriented program called "Soundings" from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Sundays. of movie and joint owners of Georgian Bay Productions, company that made flick. Why "Look, these people may WDIV (Channel 4) broadcasts a five-minute program called "Newsworthy," focusing on religious and church news at 1 0:55 your budding starlet didn receive her pay is a mystery.

But not be like the guy who's got $35 million of other people's money to campaign and buy a.m. bundays. TV time," Belluso said. "But WXYZ also airs on Sunday mornings "Daedal Doors," a he said. However, another Chrysler source said it is common once Georgian Bay representatives confirmed her appearance, they agreed to mail check.

When movie is shown in Detroit this winter, your daughter can watch for herself in background of playground fight scene showing Andre's early years in city. popular children's religious program. TWO FACTORS are working in Chrysler's favor the recession talk and the current industry-wide slump in auto sales. Neither factor encourages job-jumping. "The grass isn't much Four radio stations carry other council-produced talk and Brozowski, a committeeman with UAW Local 1248 of Center Line, is pushing a boycott of all products made in Wisconsin home state of Sen.

William Proxmire, a foe of federal aid to Chrysler. just consider this guy who spends his whole life's savings to run for office because he believes in it. "Who is more noble?" he asked. knowledge that "many salaried employes have sent their resumes" to prospective news shows, which, Mr. Willingham said, "are definitely religiously oriented and have the confidence of the stations and their programmers and seem secure, so far as I know." Numbers racket now bets on lottery Attention carolers Get those voices in tune because the 14th Annual Action Line Christmas Sing is only eight days away.

Monday Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m., Action Line and its friends will be spreading Christmas cheer at Kennedy Square in Detroit. P. McCarthy will be our master of ceremonies and Fui Taylor, the Singing Plumber, will lead the group in song, the Salvation Army Musicians, an organist from Anderson Music Co. and the Bishop Gallagher High School Chorus will also be on hand.

Inland Press will provide song sheets with words to our favorite yule tunes and Prophet Foods will have hot chocolate to chase away Jack Frost. Make plans to join us and help us ring in the holidays. LOTTERY, from Page 1 A multimillion dollar business annually the majority of it in Detroit. "A conservative estimate is that they do $100 million in business every year, and the majority of that $75 (million) or $80 million comes out of the Detroit area," he said. "WE ESTIMATE that Detroit's weekly handle (proceeds from numbers betting) is about $1.5 million," said "Playing the numbers" is probably the most basic form of gambling, according to the investigator.

Numbers bets are placed and taken almost from race results at a pre-selected track, making it harder to control who wins and who doesn't," he said. O'CONNOR SAID the standard payoff on a numbers bet is 500 to 1 (or a $5 return on a one-cent bet). "The normal bettor puts up about a quarter or 50 cents, and when you're putting up small amounts like that, it really doesn't matter where the number comes from," he said. "In addition, numbers operations prey on poor people, which explains why so much action centers in Detroit. They're looking for the pot of gold for a 25-cent bet." Trying to add to their illegal proceeds by covering the lottery number is a predictable move for the operators of the gambling combines, according to O'Connor.

"First of all, they're betting people, and, if they can make money off the lottery, they're going to," he said. "In addition to that, the fourth race at a local track is usually the last one used for numbers purposes, and that happens about 3:30 p.m. every day. So, covering the lottery number means combines can get four more hours worth of business (because the Michigan lottery number is drawn at about 7:30 p.m.) every day," said O'Connor. He noted, however, that most numbers operators pay less than the 500-to-l return to winners who are betting on the Michigan daily lottery number.

SINCE THEY HAVE' no control over the illegal lottery number drawn, numbers operators sometimes bet on the Michigan daily lottery number to prevent drastic losses, he said. "Say, for example, that an operator sees that 61 1 is being heavily bet" illegally in the state lottery, he said. "If that number's drawn, he (the operator) could get wiped out. So he'll bet the same number himself. If 61 1 is drawn, he wins too, and can guarantee that all his bettors will get paid.

Which means he's essentially using state money to pay off on illegal bets. "Obviously, if 611 isn't drawn, he cleans up. Covering yourself that way is known as a layoff bet in the trade," said O'Connor. ANOTHER TYPE of layoff could mean that numbers combines will try even harder to solicit additional business from legitimate lottery players, O'Connor said. "Numbers have historically been big business in the auto plants and, as more and more layoffs occur, we may well-see increased moves to get more action on the lottery number," he said.

That prospect doesn't seem to bother James Culber, Michigan's state lottery commissioner. "We've heard talk that numbers people would try to get involved since the first day we opened for business, but our game has been going very well, especially recently," he said. "Last week, in fact, we had our best week ever. We took in $6.2 million on the daily game. Normally, we take in about $5.3 million," said Culver.

During the past fiscal year (which ended Oct. 1), the state lottery took in $410 million. A net revenue of $175 million was deposited in the state's general fund, he said. anywhere. For years, places such as housing projects, factories and neighborhood stores have been prime locations for numbers betting.

"Basically, all you do is bet money on the number you think the combines will pick for any given day," O'Connor said. Carter looks at Iran CARTER, from Page 1 A call for release of all hostages takes precedence over any commission. The president believes the UN could provide an adequate forum for airing Iranian grievances. He also thinks the courts in the United States, in Switzerland or in Iran itself might properly take up charges against the deposed shah. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance will make stops in London, Paris, Bonn, Rome and Brussels next week and he will discuss the possibility of a general embargo with America's allies, it was learned Saturday.

(It was learned Saturday that Lord Carrington, Britain's foreign minister, has sent Iran what he calls an "Oriental message," delaying deliveries of spare parts and other goods as a mark of displeasure. (The foreign secretary has disclosed his tactic to American officials trying to curb trade with Iran as one lever for freeing the hostages in Tehran). Historically, he said, there have been two major num bers picked the "Detroit number" (considered arbitrary and therefore risky to bettors) and the "Pontiac number." The Detroit number is randomly selected by a person within the particular organization to the liking of all the operators concerned. By that, I mean that all the operators know how much has been bet on any given number and they usually make sure a heavily bet number doesn't he said. "The Pontiac number, on the other hand, is computer.