September 25, 1969 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 4 (4 of 26 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
September 25, 1969 |
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader ![]() |
Editorials:
$kirtsophrenia
The tumult and shouting over the length of skirts on
Montesano High School girls points up once again what
happens when educators forget what they are hired to do.
While angry parents and school administrators argue
before a judge, the main purpose of the schools, learning, is
lost in the noise of the battle as kids, parents and teachers
waste their time in senseless bickering.
Courts throughout the country keep reminding school
officials to concentrate on what is in the student's head, not
how much hair is on it or how much cloth hangs below it.
Fashion dictates that, and fashion changes from year to year.
The school administrator who sticks to hard and fast
rules on skirt length and hair style is liable to spend more
time in court than in school.
The death, attributed to lung cancer, of Senator Everett
Dirksen sent us to the adding machine when we read he was a
three-packs-a-day cigarette smoker.
At that rate, if the late Senator started smoking when he
was twenty, he would have inhaled 1,160,700 malignancy
sticks by the time of his death at 73.
That's a lot of tar over the tonsils.
There may be hope for those frustrated Sunday hunters
who empty their rifles at a disappearing deer two miles away
on the next ridge.
A gun nut has figured out that a .30 calibre bullet fired at
38 degrees elevation would travel 490,000 yards, or 279
miles, on the surface of the moon.
If the same condition prevailed on the earth, a
trigger-happy nimrod could fire from his rooftop in Shelton
and bring down a buck on the outskirts of Penticton, British
Columbia.
The electronic idiot box is numbing the brains of more
and more of the populace, but the book publishing business
is apparently still holding its own.
A Cincinatti priest-linguist and a choreographer have
collaborated in publishing a do-it-yourself "Dancing for God"
manual. The illustrated volume teaches a person to master
such movements as the "clergy stomp," the "step curtsy,"
the "sway step," the "beggar step," the "prayer step," the
"joy step," the "paddle turn" and the "kneel and incense
step,"
Capitol dome:
Go ahead, dear,.
ha ,mhzer
i g ....... the capltOl".ltt. Tc;ilt, but 'don't
At people in theUnitedStafes
be SurpHstl ,it
d6ne.
take drugs to help them get through the day. Thesepeople At Gee. Dan Evans' request,
Atty. Gen. Slade Gotten is
are not junkies addicted to hard narcotics, nor bearded
hippies tripping on LSD; they are ordinary, middle-class
people who take pills to sleep, to keep calm or to stay awake.
These pills, most of them legally available by prescription, are
what are called psychotropic drugs; according to Hugh J.
Parry of George Washington University, researchers until
recently have been so dazzled by the glamour of narcotic and
psychedelic drugs that they know almost nothing about the
psychotropics - the "drug of choice" for most of America's
pill takers. (Public Health Reports, October 1968)
There are three kinds of psychotropic drugs: sedatives
(like Seconal, Phenobarbital, and Doriden); tranquilizers (like
Miltown, Equanil, Librium, and Compoz); and pep pills,
which can keep you awake and help you lose weight (like
Dexedrine, Elavil, Preludin, and No-Doz). Dr. Parry has
available the first data from what will be a four-year study, of
the way American adults use these drugs. The first survey of
a nationwide sample, done in May 1967, showed:
* More people want to calm down than want to wake
up: Of the 25 percent of adults who reported using
psychotropes in the year before the survey, 13 percent have
used sedatives, and 14 percent have used tranquilizers, while
only 7 percent have used stimulants,
* Young people (18-20), on the other hand, would
rather wake up: Only 4 percent are using sedatives, 12
percent tranquilizers, and 14 percent stimulants.
* Women are much heavier users than men: 31 percent
sad been taking psychotropes during the year, compared to
nly 15 percent of the men.
White people are twice as likely to be taking
sychotropes as Negroes: 26 percent of the whites in the
;ample had taken them in the last year compared to only 13
ercent of Negroes.
Jews use far more of these drugs than any other group:
17 percent of the Jews in the sample were taking them,
:ompared to 23 percent of the Protestants and 24 percent of
atholics. Most (36 percent) of the drugs Jewish respondents
ake are tranquilizers.
The percentage of users increases with income: For
hen, from 15 percent of those with incomes under $5000 to
',2 percent of those earning $10,000 or over; for women,
tom 26 percent of those with income under $5000 to 42
rcent of those with $10,000 or more.
Parry has some interesting speculations about the source
bf these patterns. The rather heavy reliance of women and
ews on psychotropes may be the obverse of their higher
ales of abstinence from alcohol. Where men and gentiles
ake to drink when life is too much for them, women and
ews are more fikely to reach for a Miltown. The finding that
legroes, who have relatively high rates of "escape drinking,'"
re far less likely than whites to use psychotropic drugs seems
back up Parry's thesis.
n00u.'lwi0000Jfi..-
Founded 1886 by Grant C. Angle
Phone 426.4412
ailing Address: Box 430, Sheiton, Wash. 98584
Published at Shelton, Mason County, Washington, every Thursday.
"Our public relations department has come up with one
answer for both air and water pollution."
Rock festival legislation is probably doomed
Entered as Second.Class Matter at the Post Office, Shelton, Wash. _ while Lieutenant Governor, also
;a 4Shelt0n-Mason C0unty Journal- Thursday, September 25, 1969
By: ROBERT C. CUMMINGS without success, though both he
There has been a lot of tall and Cherberg did survive the
recently about legislation to primaries to make it into the
control rock festivals, such as the finals.
one recently in "the shadow of Why anybody with political
looking into the possibility. Most
discussed is legislation which
would make sponsors of such
events responsible for what
happens at them.
The idea, of course, is to curb
the open sale and use of
dangerous drugs, which was
reported by everybody who went
near the recent festival. Legal
experts say, however, that in
order to pass constitutional tests
in the court, such a law couldn't
single out rock festivals as such.
It would have to be broad
enough to cover numerous other
events, such as sports events,
possibly county fairs and maybe
even conventions. And the
responsibility would have to
extend to all illegal acts - not just
violations of the narcotics laws.
Such a bill might generate so
many objections from such a wide
variety of groups that it wouldn't
have a chance.
HIGH COST OF MONEY
It wasn't because of legal
btrriers that the State Board for
Community Colleges rejected the
7.37 per cent interest bid on its
revenue construction bonds.
The 1969 Legislature had
raised the interest ceiling on these
particular bonds to 8 per cent.
But if the board had sold the
$22 million offering at 7.37 per
cent, the interest over the 40-year
life of the bonds would have
amounted to $45 million, more
than twice the amount being
borrowed.
An earlier maturity date would
have resulted in a lower interest
rate, but the anticipated revenue
wouldn't have met the retirement
requirements.
The trustees decided the bond
market couldn't remain in a
chaotic state indefinitely and it
might be wise to wait a while.
SEATTLE'S MESSAGE
The message in Seattle's recent
primary election seems to be that
its voters don't want a state
elective official running their city.
Legislators they will accept,
elect them to their council, and
poss/bly to the mayor's office.
(The present mayor, Floyd Miller,
is a former legislator, as well as
the two nominees).
But a statewide elective official
is another story.
Secy. of State Lud Kramer isn't
the first to try and fail. Lt. Gov.
John Cherberg tried four years
ago. After he ran the first time as
a gag, Victor A. Meyers made two
serious bids for the mayor's office
'r atlgiog+ .w.gnts to be mayor of
t'atai'ge city remaill&,&
mystery. The position served as a
springboard to the governorship
for former Gee. Arthur B.
Langlie, but for all others it has
been a political dead-end.
During 80 years of statehood,
there has been on," Governor out
of the Seattle Mayor's office. It
doesn't look like very good odds.
WHAT NOW?
A failure in the Seattle
mayoralty election, on the other
hand, just about kills any chance
of a sertous bid for the
governorship. Kramer probably
could be re-elected Secretary of
State, if he wants the job, but it is
doubtful if he will run again.
He is ambitious and the
Secretary of State's office never
has been enough challenge for
him. Stymied for advancement in
polities, he undoubtedly will go
into some other field. If an
attractive opportunity opens up
in private industry, he might
retire before the end of his term.
FREE-WAY REVOLT
The Legislature's Joint
e
Committee on Highways ]s
becoming increasingly concerned
over the "revolt" against freeways
in metropolitan areas. Sen.
Richard Marquardt, R., Seattle,
chairman of the subcommittee on
urban transportation, says it must
be recognized. He estimates the
Seattle city council's decision to
study the R. H. Thompson
Parkway will delay that project
another two years.
Rep. Al Leland, R., Redmond,
vice chairman of the joint
committee, says that when the R.
H. Thompson was authorized in
\\;,
'I
1959, its cost was estimated at trailers and campers, but the
$59 million. Today, the estimated study probably has come too late.
cost is $1 I0 million. There already are so many of
Leland said the cost of six both - trailers and undersized
projects in the Seattle-King cars - that it will be difficult to
County area was estimated at a impose restrictions against either.
:' t0f#d, of .$218.12 Inllhon at th ..:: ,: .,. . . ......
time of authorization. The M*anWhtle, the Legtstative
estimated cost for those six
projects today adds up to $360.6
million.
The six projects, besides the R.
It. Thompson Parkway, include
the third Lake Washington Bridge,
authorized in 1963 at an
estimated cost of $26 million,
which has soared to $55 million
as of today.
HIGHWAY "TRAINS"
The 9e-day "trial" permit for
three-trailer motor freights on
Interstate 5, which was granted
by the Highway Commission last
July, will be expiring soon. There
ts considerable speculation
whether it will be renewed.
A spokesman for the
commission staff reports very
little mail has been received on
the subject since the first flurry.
The Automobile Club of
Washington has gone on record
against it, and a resolution
opposing the practice was
introduced at the Good Roads
Association convention recently,
but it died somewhere along the
way without reaching a vote.
COMPACTS EYED
The Joint Committee on
Highways' subcommittee on
motor vehicle standards headed
by Sen. Hubert Donohue,
Dayton, meanwhile is studying
hazards created by undersized as
well as oversized vehicles. It has a
legislative mandate to determine
appropriate standards of speed,
power and size of vehicles.
Undersized vehicles not readily
visible to drivers of conventional
cars are receiving attention as well
as slow-moving vehicles towing
"Come in, gentlemen. You're just in time for cocktails!"
Council's committee on
commerce, trades and professions
is tackling the problem of
industrial site inventories. The
committee has learned that when
land is zoned to reserve it for
industrial site purposes, the land
owners often boost the price to a
point beyond which a company is
willing or able to pay.
On the other hand, when land
is permitted to remain
unidentified until needed by
industry, local services aren't
available to assist the industry in
its establishment.
Possible approaches under
consideration include statewide
zoning; revolving funds for small
communities so they could
provide public facilities to
industries wanting to locate in
their area, and cataloging of
available industrial sites now
existing within the state.
MYSTERY IN DRUGS
This same committee also is
delving into the unrelated
problem of disappearing drugs,
which came up during a meeting
to discuss proposed legislation to
put public members on the State
Board of Pharmacy.
As discussion diverted to other
subjects in the pharneeutieal field,
disappearance of drugs between
the time they are produced and
finally sold was mentioned in
passing.
One company estimated that
5 0 per cent of legally
manufactured drugs are diverted
to illegal uses.
The committee decided to
pursue this subject further, and
see if legislation could be enacted
to alleviate the problem.
HIGHWAY FINANCE EYED
In the field of highway
financing the Joint Committee on
Highways is preparing to provide
for more careful legislative study
of budget increases than ever
before.
A subcommittee on
appropriations and budget headed
by Rep. Al Leland, Redmond, has
been interviewing candidates to
fill a new positiort of fiscal and
program analyst. Some 65
applications were received as the
result of nationwide recruiting
activities.
The purpose is to have all
members of the committee fully
briefed on all aspects of the
highway budget which is
submitted to the 1971 session.
With the budget approaching $1
billion biennially, it has become
necessary for the committee to
rely heavily on staff analysis.
The Flapdoodler-
Don't knock grass
ef you haven't tried it
By STEVE ERICKSON
She was probably thirty, but she looked like she had
through a mangle with a tl
50-year cycle.
Standing there before the judge she did everY
compels the human body to do, except die. And thai
imminent.
The charge was illegal possession of narcotiCs.
"Marijuana?" asked the judge.
She couldn't speak.
"Morphine," said her attorney.
_.aft#
She sagged and drooped and hung and leaned.7e0
had physically come apart at the joints and fallen w ,f
the " uld It#w "
noor nobody m the courtroom we
surprised.
"You'd better take her back to the jail and #,,re !
something," said the judge. "She's in pretty bad shape.
Pretty bad shape.
A quivering, quavering monument to drug abte and
ignorance that.produces such total wrecks. . _. s0e of
and should be legalized. ,, d,
Only it's not marijuana, it's "pot," "mary jane,
especially, "grass." why did the judge take one 100t
But if it's really harmless
at the human garbage heap in the front of him and assur
she was a marijuana case? ,oi
On the way out of the courtroom she muttered t.°f:tt."
matron that "Y' better get me outa here b'fore ls
to
Too late, She did pass out. They had to carry "
jaiL Back to jail, where I suppose they followed the judf's
instructions and "gave her something." about the only
Gave her what? More dope, probably. It's
thing that works when you get that bad. ttt
Fighting fire with fire is what this sort of treatte
and about now she's probably wishing she had never li#
tt
that first match.
The one she used to burn her first, harmless pass.
Oh, well. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.
People might think you're afraid.
Besides, everybody's doing it.
Isn't even habit-forming.
Booze is worse for you.
No hangover.
Puff.
Go ahead. If it gets too bad, they can always takeY#
back to your cell and give you something.
If they're real cruel, they'll even give you a mirror.
Let's talk books:
A very angry
ex-Peace Corpsman
By LLOYD A. COOK
Mr. Alan Weiss is a very angry
young man. If his aim was to
upset those in authority, make
them seem timid and inept, he has
done well.
In his fast moving, funny yet
bitter book "High Risk/High
Gain" (St. Martin's, 1968), he
tells about Peace Corps training as
he found it in a summer
workshop at Columbia University
in 1963. He would, he hoped,
after two months of intensive
preparation, be sent to Nigeria as
a teacher, along with some 200
fellow trainees.
Weiss left M.I.T. when in reach
of a doctorate, traveled the world
for a while, then was accepted as
a Peace Corps volunteer. He
wished, in his words, "to be part
of something bigger than myself."
The task he wanted to undertake
was to carry to less welloff
countries at their request the
best of American ideals and
technical know-how. This would
cost these places nothing and any
place could end it at will for any
reason. This struck the author as a
unique kind of foreign aid.
What went wrong with the
training program? It was not at all
what Weiss had anticipated, in
fact nothing was right. An
I l-page application to flu in, a
Civil Service check, a series of dull
lectures, written content tests,
psycho-stress tests, several self
reports, group therapy, more dull
lectures, individual conseling and
constant surveillance. "We got the
works, the gold fish bowl." Not
included in this inventory was the
pleasure of watchg girls undress
in an adjacent dorm by use of
binoculars.
The program was, says Weiss,
"a sick circus," bitten by the
great American disease of "play it
safe, do not tip the apple cart."
The summer in training was
dominated by a fear, not of
failing in Nigeria, but of never
getting there. A fifth of the
trainees were terminated, though
Weiss himself got to Africa. It is
not known how he did there for
he was kicked out for breaking a
rule when he sent for his fiance in
order to marry her. No
importation of women in Peace
Corps work abroad!
There was an imcompetent
teaching staff. For instance, a
most academic
"head shrink"
came on late,
left in a huff.
made to teach
when any
too much.
error of all was'
Weiss group
had spent a
Puerto RICO.
workshop
outgroup,
this implies.
overconcern
I would
example of
from its
sad errors in
too much
war times, l
workshops
one quite
methods are
badly used, t
But there is
consider.
The author it
man, a verY
from what is
the ego
leaning
apt retort,
not
precedure. !
rebel in anY
and what
short and
done.
A word
Corps.
that foreign
funds that
home.
budget
1966,
Corps
in fact,
crRies of
The
strings" fort
the host
needed. In
13,800 me
limit) in
ecpeets
number
ratio of men
two to on
are
black and
service in
3,000
volunteers