August 12, 1971 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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'1'1
II
Letter box:
Io
A crystal-clear example of a public official attempting to
avoid responsibility for a boo-boo by claiming to have been
mis-quoted by the press was provided last Thursday by Justice
Charles T. Wright of the Washington State Supreme Court.
Justice Wright, a native of Mason County and long-time
superior court judge, had been invited to address the western
district meeting of the Washington State Association of
Counties at Alderbrook Inn on the subject: "The Individual
and Local Government."
He was the final attraction on the afternoon's program
and, after assuring the assembled commissioners that he
would keep his remarks short so they could adjourn to the
cocktail hour, he commenced a discourse on the benefits of
keeping government close to the people.
He praised Thomas Jefferson, quoted Abraham Lincoln,
and rambled through a list of textbook cliches to prove his
point that the only government worth a damn is local
governmenl particularly - he is a shrewd judge of his
audience - county government.
Suddenly, in the middle of Justice Wright's exceedingly
ordinary speech, he launched an attack on a mysterious
"they" who are part of a plan to destroy local
self-government.
He mentioned only one "they" by name - Indian activist
Hank Adams.
"There are people like Hank Adams and his agitators who
try to make the Indian tribes look bad," said Wright. "To put
them in disrepute and eventually to destroy them. I am
pleased to note we have not heard much of Mr. Adams lately,
but it is part of the plan of that type of operators to destroy
Indian tribes. They (the Indian tribes) are a part of local
sei f-government.
"Those same people would destroy the school districts
and get everything run out of Olympia and Washington, D.C.
They would destroy county government. These problems of
taxation in which control is taken away from county
government are part of a plan to destroy local
self-government.
"These same people that would destroy counties, and
local self-government, all fit neatly together. Bring elected
public officials into disrepute. All you have to do is see the
slurring remarks in the news media time after time about
legislators and congressmen to know what it means.
"Fortunately, county commissioners have not been the
victims of so many slurs, but it is part of the program. They
have been able to infiltrate certain parts of the judiciary, and
caused certain people to be too lenient with crime; too lax -
too kindhearted, maybe - but, anyway, too lenient...
o
"It's a stew for Senator Jackson's fund-raising dinner, containing codfish balls, ham hocks
and black-eyed peas, pasta, frijoles, grape leaves, lutefisk, sub gum chow mein,
matzo crumbs, sauerkraut, golabski, foie de veau, chutney..."
"Another thing they do is get control of the news media
in an attempt to get people interested in all sorts of things
that are not in their best interest - in pornography, in filth
and scum, and in any type of subject that will keep them
fpam thinking about their future and things that are good for
like thinking about curing the ails of our society today?
"Those people would disarm the people just like they did
in Czechosh)vakia. They use all these things together to
destroy the people, it is in our best interest to build up local
self-government."
During a question period following his remarks, we asked
Justice Wright to identify the mysterious "they" he
repeatedly rctL'rred to as responsible for attempting to
destroy our form of govermnent.
His answer was that he had used the word "communist"
earlier in his speech.
Wright's gratuitous naming of Hank Adams during his
otherwise nameless indictment astotmded the newsmen
present, since Adams had appeared in his court when he was
a superior court judge and there is reasonable probability to
assume that the Indian activist may be involved eventually in
a case before the state's highest tribunal.
The story was put on the wire by the Associated Press,
which had a reporter at the commissioner's conclave. Justice
Wright was immediately the center of attention of newsmen
seeking additional comments.
His first reply was that he had been rots-quoted. When
informed that the Associated Press reporter had a tape
recording of his entire speech, he conceded that he would
probably have to disqualify himself if Adams ever appears in
court before him.
The facts in last week's drama are evident. A Washington
State Supreme Court Justice took advantage of a small,
isolated forum to disgorge a string of his prejudices.
Newsmen were there and did their job of accurately reporting
what he said. He then tried to cover his mistake by
questioning the accuracy of the newsmen, but was brought
up short of that goal by a tape recording.
We ask our readers to determine who is responsible for
waning faith in government.
Is it an obscure conspiracy of "theys" which includes
reporters who faithfully report the utterances - asinine or
sublime - of public officials?
Or is it a conglomerate of inept public officials who ask
to govern, are paid to govern but are incapable of governing,
and blame a convenient list of "theys" for the results of their
inadequacies?
Mailing Address: Box 430, Shelton, Wa. 98584 Phone 426-4412
Published at Shelton, Mason County, Washington,
weekly, except two issues during week of Thanksgiving. ,
Entered as Second-Class Matter at the Post Office, Shelton, Wa.
Member of National Editorial Association
Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $5.00 per year in Mason County,
in advance -- Outside Mason County $6.00
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ...................... Henry G. Gay
Page 4 - Shetton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, August 12, 1971
By ROBERT C. CUMMINGS
A spirited campaign against at
least one of the initiatives to the
Legislature, and its alternative,
appears assured for the 1972
elections, and its results could
have a lasting effect.
The targets are Initiative 43,
the shorelines management act
sponsored by the Washington
Environmental Council, and the
legislative alternative which was
enacted as HB 584.
The presence of two measures
on the same subject and on the
same ballot can be enough to
confuse the voters. It is a political
maxim that when the voters are
confused on an issue, they usually
vote "no.' An organized
campaign against both could
clinch the rejection of both.
Such a result could encourage
future law-makers to enact
alternatives to any initiative to
the Legislature which wasn't to
their liking. It also could
discourage sponsorship of future
initiatives to the legislature, and
more concentration on initiatives
to the people which, if approved,
arc safe from legislative
interference for at least two years,
except by a two-thirds vote of
both houses.
East Side Origin
Thougla the two shorelines
Ineastlres have attracted more
attention on the West Side, the
organized campaign against them
was born east of the Cascades.
Adopting the name,
"'Washington Citizens for
Shoreline Protection," it is being
organized by Clifford Groff,
Tri-Cities area newspaperman.
One of its sponsors is Rep.
Carlton Gladder. Spokane
Republican, who voted against
the legislative alternative.
Though the legislative act is
milder than the initiative, its
provisions for state regulation are
too broad to suit its opponents.
There also are objections to the
eminent domain provisions in
both acts.
Never before has an
alternative to an initiative been
placed on the ballot by the
Legislature, though th~
constitution has provided for it
since 1914. This time there are
two.
Different Situat~
No widespread opposition has
developed so far to either of the
litter control acts, Initiative 40 or
its legislative alternati~te. While
money for implementation of the
alternative hasn't been
appropriated, it will be there
when the 1972 Legislature
convenes.
The 1971 Legislature enacted
a tax earmarked for litter control
which willraise an estimated
$850,000 ayear. This will be
collectible next January. The
Initiative also enacts this tax.
The l)epartment of Ecology,
which is charged with
enforcement, is taking care in
advance to get public
cooperation, and make everybody
aware of its provisions before
enforcing the act. Ecology
Director John Biggs thinks it the
best litter control law in the
nation. Fie believes it will
eliminate any need for a
bottle-refund law, which in the
last election proved so distasteful
to so many.
First Time For Bell
When Pacific Northwest Bell
applied for emergency relief to
offset thy effects of wage
increases granted with settlement
of the telephone strike, it
represented a first for the Bell
System in this state.
The company has asked the
Utilities and Transportation
Co,nmission to grant an
immediate increase totaling $16.2
million, without a hearing. Of
this, $11.3 lnillion represents the
effects of the wage hike, and is on
top of the $24.9 million for
which the company originally
applied last January in a case still
pending before the commission.
The balance of $4.9 million is to
offset increased costs of
borrowing and is included in the
original application. If granted, it
would be deducted from the
original.
Not Without Precedent
Though Bell never before has
asked for it, the conamission on
occasion has granted emergency
increases to other utilities. This
has been necessary in the case of
gas companies when the Federal
Power Commission authorizes
pipeline companies to increase the
wholesale rates it charges for
supplying gas to the distributing
companies.
If an emergency increase is
granted to Bell, it won't effect the
regular monthly rates for
residence or business telephones. It
will be spread over increases in
service charges, charges for special
equipment, etc.
Crumb Or Whole Loaf?
The Legislative Council's
Committee on State Government
has recommended abolition of the
Toll Bridge Authority and its
merger with the State Highway
Commission,
Thit represents little more
measures
..... ~,. ~q
than a c'rumb of what (;ov. l)an Highways and all related agencies
F.vans wants in his bid for a into a single agency. The
Department of Transportation, Governor probably won't settle
which would merge, besides thefor less than the whole loaf.
TBA, the Deoartment of
n
By STEVE ERICKSON
He died at 47 with a Kennedy half-dollar taped tightly
over a navel hernia, this man described in a post-mortem
magazine epitaph as "an innocent."
Actually, Jack Kerouac was a truth-teller, one of the few.
Perhaps that unpopular characteristic was the reason for
whatever decline and falls he may have suffered during the
insane 60s, the decade after his heyday as a writer.
Whatever the reason, Kerouac died last year in St.
Petersburg, Florida in what was gioatingly referred to by
detractors as "total oblivion."
This is the same Jack Kerouac who is credited with
starting the Beat Generation of the 1950s withhis superb
novel-memoir "On the Road."
Incidentally, the Beats are accorded the very dubious
distinction of spawning today's hippies, which Kerouac
vigorously denied. He blamed a "Communist conspiracy" for
the hippies, although the reds probably don't want the
blame, either.
At any rate, Kerouac is depicted compassionately in an
old (March 1970) Esquire Magazine article by a Florida
newspaper reporter who befriended Kerouac in his last days.
They drank beer together and talked, and became good
friends, as beer brothers often do. Kerouac also drank scotch
from a medicine vial.
By this time Kerouac was no longer the lean and reckless
young wanderer of his earlier books, but a paunchy, sick and
disillusioned middleaged has-been. But still a truth-teller.
The reporter referred to "how the ravaged face looked in
the •harsh light of the refrigerator," where Kerouac had gone
for a beer, which he took in etadless half-quart cans.
He also noticed during their visits that "It was almost as
if Kerouac had burrowed, in his last years, farther and farther
back intohis own personality..."
"You got the impression that... Kerouac was determined
to remain out of fashion, or at least to appear that way."
But the article's basic premise is that "Like a little boy,
an eternal innocent, he had no defenses. He seemed neither
to need them nor to care for them, although he was sensitive
enough to understand that many people do."
Somebody said once that Kerouac mellowed late in his
life, quoting him as saying near the end: "You can't fight,
City Hall, because it keeps changing its name."
Kerouac needn't have given up and become a recluse. He
could have been in great demand by mankind, because he was
the kind of guy who was addicted to telling the truth, and
therefore could easily be taken advantage of.
His dogged determination not to lie meant that he was
vulnerable in the most spread-eagle way to the rest of us, not
nicely concealed and safe behind a buffer strip of protective
lies.
Editor, The Journal:
This is in regard to Mr. Rand
Petersen's saccharine letter that
was printed in last week's Journal.
After reading his letter, I knew
that it must be refuted.
The only reason that Mr.
Petersen's letter was written was
obviously to gain self-sympathy,
now that Shelton High School is
finally rid of him. It seems that he
is attempting to set up a grand
facade for the townspeople,
hoping that they will all clamor
for him to stay and bless us longer
with his presence.
In his letter, Mr. Petersen
makes himself sound so fantastic,
it's unbelievable. And he is
unbelievable! Never before have I
met a person who is so terribly
inefficient in all of his work, yet
who goes on believing that
everything is running ideally!
1 have been to a few high
schools, but never have 1 seen one
with a more ineffectual library
system! Mr. Petersen says that
usage has increased five times.
This I find impossible to believe,
as it is terribly hard to find a
wanted book in the Angle
Library.
Having beenin that library
day after day in study hall, I had
ample time to observe it. What
first amazed me, was that it
seemed that Mr. Petersen had
discarded the Dewey Decimal
System entirely. Although the
books were numbered thusly,
there was absolutely no proper
order to them ?
I also n0lJ
people ever
In contrast,
Library
where
research.
around and
the books are
checked out.
more than
Petersen and
Mr.
"his" AFS
success. Little
truth?
To many
excuse to
there was
Very little
accomplished,
done, was done
help from Mr.
actually more
a help to the
that could
Petersen's ine
no need to
high school
All I really
this letter W
townspeople
Petersen is
humble
as in his letter.
his next
may be, will
may the
U n S U S
give them
Mr. Petersen'S s
Editor, The Journal:
In the early days of Shelton,
there were a few outstanding
families who carried on the
business and the achievement of
various improvements that started
Shelton on the way to becoming
the thriving community that it
has become in later years. It took
foresight and energy, as well as a
feeling of fellowship for all
citizens to carry on the necessary
work to build a town in which all
could feel pride,
The Fauberts were such a
family and Ed, as the only son,
carried on the hotel business for
many years after the death of his
father, Henry Faubert, who had
established the Shelton !lotel, a
very important enterprise of the
time. The family were all good
citizens and took part in all the
various activities that go to make
up a good
church,
And Ed
as well as
As a pro
lnany years,
have been
with his picttW
paper, rather
page. We older
credit shown
Mrs.
Editor,
Just a rtot
Young
it won't heal.
One of the Pacific Northwest's larger
has very little in its files on Jack KerouaC,
be ranked among the most important
figures of recent years.
Maybe this omission is because K,
considered a wild-eyed liberal and that'S
newspaper's stance.
Or maybe it's just an example of sor0
deplorable - disregard of a legitimate neWS
This newspaper's files (morgue)
Kerouac items. One is an obituary. The
1961 editorial about Kerouac's "stuff,'
terrible."
Well, who's to argue with the editors
or even to suggest that they are just
nibbled Jack Kerouac to death? If theY
to embrace truth, they're not alone.
Obviously, truth hurts, especially if
innocent enough to go around telling
confusing and unusual enough even to
Maybe the lesson to be learned from
while you shouldn't let it all hang out,
it all inside, because if you try - evea
half-dollar - it rolls up in their and kills
Kerouac died of "massive
his death, even more than his writing,
is the world's loss as well as St. Peter
yours and mine.
If only we realized that - and whY-