December 4, 1969 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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Editorials:
It will be a gas
Okinawa's loss may be Mason County's gain.
if all goes well, the holiday season in Christmastree land
will be brightened by a trainload of nerve gas rumbling
through the county on its way from Bangor Naval
Ammunition Depot to Umatilla, Oregon.
This happy news was conveyed to Governor Dan Evans
Tuesday by representatives of the Department of Defense,
which is stuck with a batch of the stuff it must remove from
Okinawa. The Okinawans, known throughout history as
chronic gripers, have insisted they do not care to make Asia
safe for democracy if that entails sharing their island with
tanks of nerve gas.
Governor Tom McCall of Oregon is apparently another
Nervous Nellie type such as the Colorado scientists and
teachers who complained last year because the government
had stcred lOObillion lethal doses of nerve gas near Denver.
When the governor heard about the coming sh/pment to
Umatilla, he vowed to do evything in his power to prevent
it,
Governor Evans, as this was be/ng written, had adopted
what political reporters call a "wait-and-see attitude," He was
assured by the reds that every precaution would be taken to
prevent a mishap during the shipment, which will be by rail.
This is why Mason County may come up with the prize•
The Department of Defense must know that if the shipment
is unloaded and deposited on a train in Seattle, thousands of
curious onlookers will rush to the scene for their first look at
this star in our arsenal of defense, clogging the right-of-way
and trying to snatch souvenirs.
They know this will not happen in Mason County, where
we are built of sterner and more responsible stuff. Moreover,
if an "incident" did occur, it could provide the opportunity
for the federal government to start its first experimental
program of rural renewal.
That would be truly exciting. The government could call
for bids on a thorough scrubbing of the landscape and when
that was completed repopulate the fresh new county with
living creatures from a disadvantaged comer of Grays Harbor
Cotmty,
This is our community's shining hour and we must do
something to show the world that we both deserve and
appreciate the honor. It will take some hurried planning,
since the shipment is scheduled for late this month or early in
January, but we suggest the event be marked by the First
Annual Mason County Early-Winter Nerve Gas Festival and
Monster Rally.
The prettiest girls in the county can vie for the title of
Mi Ganglia. The winner, attired in a bikini fashioned of
clam shells, will ride in the locomotive from Bangor through
Sparkling Mason Lake, alongside Lovely
waterfront to
Freshly-scrubbed Cub Scouts and Bluebirds can line the
tracks holding lighted candles as the passing taxpayers'
millions roll solemnly toward a hole in the ground in Oregon.
The Jaycees can import some sheep from Utah and
sponsor the First Annual Mason County Early-Winter Nerve
Gas Festival and Monster Rally Mutton Barbecue on the post
office l.awn.
And on every breast will be a colorful plastic button
which proclaims in psychedelic lettering: "Living in Mason
Cotmty is a gas!"
Let's get moving.
(As the old settler said when the cavalry found him with
twelve arrows through h/s body: "It only hurts when I
laugh,")
L I •
--et s talk books:
..... i
t i ..........
i "1 speak for both my wife and myself!"
d
• •
Cap,tol dome.
State reassessing aid to counties may decrease
uncertainties, of an initiative
cam paign.
Initiatives on unemploymen.t
compensation have been filed
with the Secretary of State on
three occasions, 1932, 1934, and
t950. but none obtained enough
signatures to qualify for the
ballot.
Not Without Precedent
Conflicting initiatives on the
same subject, and on the same
halloa, would be unusual, but it
has ha ppened twice before.
In 1944 there were two
initiatives on public assistance.
one sponsored by the Washington
Old Age Pension Union and one
by the Townsend Clubs of
Washington.
Both were rejected by
substantial rnjorities.
By ROBERT C• CUMMINGS
('eL| III it2S now rea ssessing
property with financial assistance
from the state are facing a
possible slowdown for next year.
At least another $4 million in
state funds will be needed for tile
second half of lhe bienuium.
Governo Evans hasn't
decided whethe to ask the 1970
Legislature for the money, but he
apparently isn'l optimistic about
getting it.
lie has instructed the
Department of Revenue to strelch
the $2.85 million appropriated in
1969 to last lhrough the next
year.
The governor originally had
asked the 1969 Legislalure for $4
million, with the intention of
asking for additional funds next
amounl lO g2.85 millioN, ballot. Initiative 176. which was
however, and many have sponsored by the old age pension
displayed a marked lack of union• and Initiative 179.
enthusiasm for appropriating sponsored by Gee. Arthur B,
more. Langlie's administration.
Some 31 of the 39 counties Initiative 176 was defeated by
are participating in the program an overwhelming n-ajority, but
Double or Nothing. Initiative 179 was approved by a
If the unemployment margin of about 102.000.
compensation issue goes to the Initiative 179 drastically
ballot box nexl year there will be amended Initiative 172, which
two initiatives on the subject ..... had been sponsored successfully
two or none at all. by the old age pension union two
If the Wash/ngton State Labor years prev/ously.
Council files an initiative, the "Wait 'Til Next Year"
Association of Washington The Legislative Council's
Business also will file one. But if judiciary committee is working on
labor doesn't file, neither will credit'card legislation, but this is
management, one of the issues which will be
Both are hesitant of the held over until the 1971
expense, as well as the tegislativesession.
Old flattop in the stormy Tokyo Boy strike
combat duty Until, in an atr show
in San Fran (and half drunk), he
looped the Golden Gate bridge.
He was disciplined, and, later,
assigned to Annapolis to train
midshipmen.
It was here that Ben, now
roan'led to Terry, mei "Golden
Boy" Lee, a bigtime football star.
"Ferry invited Christy to have
dinner with them, after which --
to Ben's dismay - he became a
steady visitor. One night, on
coming home late, he found his
wife and Lee in bed. In a fight,
Lee was knocked out. Much later,
by coincidence, the two men were
assigned to the Shenandoah.
The big battle at Tokyo Bay
was a bloody one. It began in a
howling typhoon that churned
the sea. Men were swept
overboard, planes broke loose and
crusLed them, fires were
everywhere. It was then, in a Jap
attack, that Ben saw Christy Lee
abandon station and jump into
the sea to save himself.
As the storm died down, more
kamikazes came. Worst of all was
the baka "fool bomb." with its
human pilot, carried by a plane,
loaded with a ton of TNT. These
rockets came so fast they could
not be tracked, much less shot
down• Hit after hit was made on
the Shenandoah and other task
force ships. It was after the
carrier's commander Capt. Milch
was killed that Ben Caste took
charge•
Ihmk c;.].. Ire ;mlhol. i,,; an
air and sea vel.ra, iloltxl I¢)r Ills
combat tales. IIc wriles front
carrier with Christy Lee, then a
junior officer, and both know he
is not fit for high command.
Barney wants to face Lee at the
hearing with eye witness accounts
of his cowardice. Ben, knowing
how Lee tends to panick under
fire, wants to get to him ahead of
the hearing, force him to
withdraw his name. The
unforeseen way this matter turns
out ia the climax of the tale.
Ben Casco came out of the
hawtm pipe, so to sltmak. A poor
boy, an athlete, set on a
higlchool degree. He almost had
it when Ter, whom he had
dated, said she was pregnant, and
Ben left town in a hurry. He
enl/sted in the Navy and was sent
to Pensacola for pilot training. He
got his wings and was headed for
By LLOYD A. COOK
The Hero Ship. By Hank
Searls, NAL, 1969.
Force 10 from Navarone. By
Alistair MacLean, Doubleday,
1968.
Ben Casco, Capt. USN Ret., is
on his way to a Senate hearing
but stops off for a last look at the
old Shenandoah, soon to be
junked, lie came aboard the
flattop in '41, before Pearl
Harbor, and took command near
the end of the war. The hearing
was to confirm Admiral Christy
Lee as U. S. Chief of Naval
Operations, an assignment that
Ben intended to block.
On reaching Washington, Ben
confers with Barney Epstein, an
old friend. Both served on the
lIll1IIlII1lIlIllIIIIIlIIIIIIlIIIl1I1llIlI
experience witlf ships, with men
and their problems above and
below decks. His characters talk
like men at war, which is pretty
rough• Battle scenes are quite
convincing, as is the plot as a
whole.
Alistair MacLean is best known
for his The Guns of Navarone,
made into a feature movie, but his
"Force 10" novel is just as good.
On the Beaufort scale, Force
10 signifies a major storm. Here,
in this novel, it is the name for a
commando team sent on a
mission in World War II. Capt.
Mallory leads the men and only
he knows the true (or primary)
objective.
The problems, ostensibly, is
to make contact with Tito
Partisans m a rocky gorge of the
Neretva River who are in
desperate need of arms, food,
and medical supplies. They are
blocking the path of several
German divisions which now
threaten to destroy this motley
army and to break through. The
real point of strengthening the
Partisans, however, is to cause the
Germans to pull in some of their
divisions on the Anzio and
Cassino lines, where the
Americans are attacking.
MacLean tells the story with
dash and lots of derring-do. Plots
and counterplots are numerous,
and so are double agents, acts of
violence, and heroism beyond the
call of duty. Scenes, while very
readable and entertaining, are set
up no doubt to be filmed. There
is, as usual, one beautiful girl.
Founded 188G by Grant C• Angle
Mailing Address: Box 430, Shelton, Wash. 98584 Phone 426-4412
Published at She/ton, Mason County, Washington, every Thursday.
Entered as Second-Class Matt' at the Post Office, Shelton, Wash.
Member of National Editorial Association
Member of Washington Newl41pr Publ ishers' Association
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $5.00 Pot year in Mason County,
in advance -- Outs|de Mason County $6.00
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ...................... Henry G. Gay
PLANT SUPERINTENDENT ........................ J,m nrum
NEWS EDITOR ................................... Alan Ford
h
Page 4 - Sheiton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, December 4, 1969
Under study is a bill which
would relieve recipients of
unsolicited credit cards from
liability in case such cards should
be lost or stolen.
The committee will hold
hearings on amendments
proposed by the Washington Slate
Bankers Association before
deciding on the final draft of the
measure.
Slowdown Insignificant
Some feel deflation is on the
way, but there still isn't any solid
evidence in state figures.
The latest reports from the
state department of reventie show
sales tax receipts about 8/10 of I
per cent below estimates: too
slight to have any significance.
St rip mining legislation, which
remained bogged down
throughout the 120 days of the
1969 legislative session, will be on
the agenda for the 1970 session,
but its troubles aren't over.
It qualifies as environmental
legislation, and Gov. Dan Evans
has it high on his priority list.
With only a little more than a
month before the special session
is to convene, however, much still
remains to be done.
A Legislative Council
committee has been working over
Substitute HB 495, which passed
the liouse twice ths year, once in
the regular and once in the special
session, only to die both times in
a Senate Committee•
To date, the measure still is in
Continuously rismg prices
have counterbalanced effects of the same form as when the 1969
Legislature adjourned last May
an increase in unemployment, the , "" • "
under consideration.
outer s pace.
Revenue from the excse tax Bonding Dilemma
on real estate sales is down about Among other things, the
$3.5 million, but this particular committee is seeking enforcement
revenue source fluctuates so much alternatives to the bonding
that it never is considered a provisions.
reliable barometer. The requirement for operators
About the only significant to post a bond to guarantee
factor is that all of the compliance has raised objections
"'insignificant" signs point that bonding companies would
downward instead of upward. "skim off the cream" of the
business, but wouldn't provide
bonds for small operators.
Indignant taxpayers
all pull together
By BOB GANS
1 received my income tax statements today, and all I can
say is "OiVay and Good Grief!" This tax bit is not only out
of hand but it is absolutely ridiculous. They have now figured
out a way to tax me for more than I earn. The way they do
this is to make me pay taxes in advance on my anticipated
next year's profits. The only thing left is to tax me on my
taxes. I don't mind paying reasonable taxes or even
extraordinary taxes but where will all this fantasia end?
We held a mass-meeting in Beverly Hills, to protest these
high taxes. What a meeting! The entire Hawthorne Grammer
School Assembly Hall was full to the brim, with irate and
• angry taxpayers. Signs were everywhere denouncing the
politicians and their henchmen and demanding relief. I
particularly liked the one that said, "Up Your Bracket" and
the one that read "Taxation, With Representation is
Tyranny."
Suddenly a hush fell over the shouting, noise-filled hall.
Our leader took the rostrum and started to speak. He told us
of the intolerable situation in Washington, Sacramento and
Los Angeles. He spoke of stupidity, inequities, inefficiencies
and nepotism. We all screamed and yelled our approval. "Tell
us what we must do" we shouted, and he raised his hands
high and answered. "First we must stop spending billions of
dollars in foreign aid, especially to countries who despise us."
The place became quiet and three Indians, two Peruvians and
four Yugoslavians walked out. "Then we must stop allowing
churches and religions to go into business and not pay taxes."
Three priests, two ministers and a rabbi stalked out the side
doors. "Now we have to stop those billions spent on Pork
Barrel projects, like flying to the moon and building rest
homes for retired generals!" Seventy-eight scientists and
sixty-five white collared men and a man who looked like
Howard Hughes, left the room snarling. "We must stop
cheating on Veterans Disabi/ities and relief checks!" Up
jumped the Amertcan Legion and marched out.
"We must stop subsidizing communist-oriented college
professors and militant students!" Fifty-five long-haired,
bush-topped screaming kids started a riot and the police
threw /hem out, Now the hall was empty except for the
speaker and me• We stared at each other. I smiled
encouragingly. "And finally," he ejaculated, "we must stop
businessmen and salesmen from cheating on their expense
checks." I rose from my seat, left the hail, went outside and
burned the jerk in effigy.
Letter box:
Long-whiskered things
Editor, The Journal:
I would like to congratulate
Mr. Eugene French for his letter
to the Journal.
1 also think it is high time that
we in our community made an
issue of what is going on around
us and definitely try to put a stop
to it.
Last Weds. a group of young
people seemingly did not like Mr.
French's ideas.
(1) It doesn't matter how a
person looks, acts or talks they
said.
(2) Children do not as a rule
have a luxurious hi-powered car.
(3) Watchful parents are liable
to cause a child to become
rebellious.
(4) You say Mr. French was
speaking of the masters and
mistresses of tomorrow.
(5) You also said unselfish
idealism is fine but it has now
developed into materialism. Your
letter was well written and
showed that you are gaining
knowlege at an average rate.
Now if (and I hope you are)
decent clean kids, I am sure Mr.
French's letter was not aimed at
you or your parents.
ltowever, I would like to say,
knowledge you may be gaining,
and that is fine, but knowledge is
not worth a cent without wisdom•
That is one thing most of us lack.
You said the unselfish
idealism of your parents who
struggled to raise you is now
turning to materialism. ! say
Colossal Egotism•
You say it doesn't matter how
a person looks, acts or talks.
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness
and where you walk and how you
talk certainly shows what you are
inside."
You say Mr. French was
speaking of the masters and
mistresses of tomorrow. ! say God
help us. These dirty disheveled,
long whiskered things in
Evergreen Square are the ones Mr.
French was speaking of and if you
are trying to defend them; wg.are
speaking of you.
You say watchful worried
parents are liable to make you
rebellious• 1 say those same
parents are sure nice to have
around when you have to go to
Police Court. Child raising is a
100% job and it should be
appreciated.
You say -not many kids
have luxurious cars.
I say - Perhaps not but it
seems to take a juvenile and a lot
of adults a long time to learn that
a car is not a toy. In the hands of
the wrong person it becomes s
dangerous murder weapon. I
think there are far too many cars
brought to school.
We pay taxes for busSeS and
the cars should be left home. We
also pay funeral expe.ns.es;
hospital bills, and htghe
insurance rates. Railroad Ave.
clear to Dayton is a popular dog
striP'nstead of being indi.gnant
Mr French and crying necau.,
• . OIJI
you and your friends got Y .
toes stepped on, why don't you
take his letter for what "
intended it and help clei
town up. Don't tell me it
need it. Read the Police blotter
this paper.
When a person has to w_eaa [
long hair, dirty clothes and teat_
to show that he is an intelleCtUu,
he is a fraud. He is merely g o!.n$
along with the HippY, AnarclUS"
and Communist.
You say -- The child should
be allowed to speak up in sc_ho
I i say .... True. But we
send ng our children to schO:
learn and not to teach. 1 am -.',
many of our teachers are d °a
too much listening• • r
So my hat is off t°il
French. ! sincerely wish wean d
more Superintendentn "-
teachers like him.
Ralph Endicott
Rt. 2. Shelton.
Tweak their feathers
Editor, The Journal
Thank goodness for an editor
with a slightly mocking pen. Life
would indeed be grim if we were
forced to view with awe and
reverence the shinanigans and
chicaneries of the political arena•
It's a long time since we've
seena politician :with ahalo and
every year our chances gr°W2:
of electing just an honest, mu q
self-made candidate. We just car,
buy them like that anymo,re, their
So, go ahead, twearn'.0n
feathers and roast tile
occasion. You and [ won't aWsyS
agree, but how dull if we did ....,
Mrs. W. L. Collins
Help for teenagers
e t and their
would be k p -ld be
ob'ectives in all cases w°_,,s
that of steering youngste,::vc
"Course of Constt
Editor, The Journal:
We adults shouldn't sit back
and criticize unless we can come
up with some possible solutions
to teenage problems.
I have lived here for ten years
and very little has been done to
solve these problems• So now 1
offer the following solutions:
1. A County Multi-Purpose
Recreation Park. We would need a
minimum of 40 acres and an
additional 40 acres for future
expansion. The buildings would
have to include swimming pools,
game room, snack bar,
Gym-Dance area, space for crafts
etc. etc. The park area would
include picnic facilities,
playground, ball field, tennis
courts and other features that
may be desired, with a future
expansion to include a library, a
zoo of local wild life, and nature
trails• The possibilities are
tremendous. It would be put into
service with a paid director,
volunteer help and a board of
County teenagers who would help
set up policy and organize
activities.
2. A County Inter-District
Vocational Training Complex•
This could be achieved through a
recently passed Senate Bill 88,
Chapter 140, laws of 1969
allowing for interlocal agreements
between local taxing districts.
This vocational school could meet
the needs of all teenagers in
Mason County• This would allow
schools to set up education
programs for the vocationally
oriented as well as the college
bound students.
3. Hire at least two people
whose job would be to work with
teenagers, completely separated
from the school or the law. They
would have to be very
understanding, dedicated people
whom the kids could talk to
without fear of being prosecuted
or hauled into court• No records
d
Citizenship." aroiised a t ]
4. Only an can crste, ri
concerned public ;s S L ',
mobilize and implement res
to deal ad uatelv with pro o-.£, l
' q - ' tO"" ,,11
of teenagers in all their corse 7
rofessiona
themselves to th all tlt ::
newspaper could spearhe enf'l[
improV e idl •
program of County you coo 'i:i
and, Mr. Editor,
provide the leadershiP.
5. The all mighty
needed to the tune ol
million dollars.
valuation of Mason
have to be used
purposes. We have
hospital for $2.35
$1,000.00 valuation
llarstine Bridge for
each $1,000.00 valuat
about aria extra $5.
teenagers of Mason
got them into this rut;
generating a little stea
them out. at to steP. ,i[(
l withcertainlYthe firstmea'letter' ![/
twO:: not entirely °.st#'..;:
content but quoteO ducStolr
from leading AmeriCan ,-itta ::
of today. I am n°tryi0$t,i
teenagers, lust frustrateu -
help kids ' ,
hgure out a way to --d acltt4:
Peovle have haa L01t#
needle "the teaching °t'tT!,
tame when t
but not ths " - wi t
of society starts slaal0V¢,7]i
interest- yes, and plaintive" 0 ss :>
in its dealing with cmo_ /ill
American teacherS, w,d $ 0,tl ;'
well on the way to.SO l[
greatest national PUZZlellatlOCg !
Gene French ;f
Will miss Bill
Editor, The Journal:
Will miss Bill Dickie's Sideline
Slants very much, but do agree
that he has earned a rest in
Arizona's valley of the sun.
Maybe you can prevail upon
him to be a guest sports writer at
times .... surely he will want to
comment on such things as Wes
Stock, recently hired
coach for the Seattle
other such happen'
To have his
altogether from t
Journal would be a
whatever his decision,
him the best.
Claude A. Dailey