TT
Page Four
EDITORIAL
Attic Sales
A unique form of gambling takes hold of some
Back Mountain women in the early fall after the
kids are squirreled away at school and the fall
cleaning’s done.
The lady of the house gets out and goes to the
grocery, the cleaner’s, the shoe repair, the depart-
ment store.
Yes, but there’s another place that’s more fun,
and it’s positively addictive—almost against the
law, even—the garage or attic sale, sometimes
with home-baked goodies on the side.
The ladies are betting their time and gasoline
against the possibility of finding a rare piece of
china, an antique samovar, or a pair of kid's
pajamas without holes in the knees.
Over a period of weeks, tracking down attic
sales through the classified ads and by word of
mouth, the ladies find themselves a part of a cara-
van of the same cars going from one sale to the
next.
When the same faces keep showing up at
church bazaars, white elephant booths, fall fair
counters, and garage sales, it is easy to believe that
there is such a thing as a professional shopper for
these types of sales.
After covering a dozen or more of these events
we're convinced that not only the same faces show
up, but it’s the same collection of items floating
around from sale to sale. The identical vase that
went for 35 cents at one booth shows up discreetly in
another place two weeks later for 50 cents.
But bargains are to be found, and that’s what
keeps the ladies going.
Cannikin
Early next month the largest underground
nuclear test ever attempted by the United States is
. scheduled to take place on Amchitka Island in the
Aleutians. It seems that this test, like others before
it, has caused a good deal of worry from environ-
mental quarters, and for good reason. The Aleutian
Islands are part of an intricate and sensitive
geological fault system, the same system that
causes so much apprehension to Californians. A
blast with the power of the forthcoming Cannikin
test could be extremely dangerous under these cir-
cumstances, not only because of the danger of
earthquakes but also because of a high probability
of the release, through fissures in the earth, of
radioactive energy.
The most disturbing aspect of nuclear testing is
that although the Atomic Energy Commission has
repeatedly assured us that testing is safe, post-
blast monitoring in Nevada has revealed ‘‘unex-
pected’’ seepage of radiation into the atmosphere,
seepage that the AEC has either played down or
attempted to suppress altogether. The Environ-
mental Protection Agency has submitted a report
termed ‘highly critical’”’ of the forthcoming blast,
but the report has been “classified.” William
Ruckelshaus, Administrator of EPA, has sent a
letter to a Presidential committee concerning the
test, but the letter is being kept secret contrary to
the advice of Mr. Ruckelshaus himself.
The reason for all of this, of course, is “national
security,” in whose interest the Cannikin testis
being undertaken in the first place. We are, by now,
fed up with the government’s indiscriminate use of
“national security’’ for the supression of in-
formation vital to the people of this nation, and
would submit, with a tinge of disrespect, that, if it is
‘not within the realm of “national security” for us to
know the possible dangers of nuclear testing, we
would like to know what is.
T= DALLAS DosT
. An independent newspaper published every Thursday morning by the Greenstreet News
Co. from 41 Lehman Ave., Dallas, Pa. 18612. :
Entered as second class matter at the post office at Dallas, Pa., under the Act of March 3,
1869. Subscription within county, $5a year. Out-of county subscriptions, $5.50 a year. Call
675-5211 for subscriptions.
The officers of the Greensfreet News Co. are William Scranton 3rd, president and
managing editor; J.R. Freeman, vice president, news; William W. Davis, vice
president and general manager; Doris Mallin, secretary-treasurer.
Editor emeritus: Mrs. T. M. B. Hicks
Editor : Doris R. Mallin
"News editor : Shawn Murphy
Advertising: Carolyn Gass
THE DALLAS POST, SEPT. 9, 1971
Insights
a
by Bruce Hopkins
‘You're the absurdist’s absurdist,
Bruce.” Frank said as we munched peanuts
in the Ninth Circle, chucking our peanut
shells on the floor and sipping our respective
glasses of escapism on the rocks. We laughed.
For whatever it was worth.
Frank is this person who recently came
along, adding himself to the list of persons
who have shared in the absurdity of living
absurdly with Bruce Hopkins. Frank is
unique. He entered absurdly through friends
who knew us both and figured we were right
for each other. The first evening we met we
became old friends—it was like we’d known
each other for years. I think maybe we have.
Frank and | have done a number of similar
things in our lives. Last Christmas we both
made our own Christmas cards and sent them
to our own friends. We didn’t know each other
then. We both wrote the same thing on our
Christmas cards. That’s a bit weird when you
think about it. Frank and I think very much
alike, which is good when it isn’t bad. We
were discussing this fact or something like it
as we munched peanuts and chucked shells in
the Ninth Circle. The Ninth Circle, named
so for reasons I have never thought
about, is a place to go which is something
we all need. It’s cheap and has good food and
drinks and all the peanuts you can eat and all
of the peanut shells you want to throw on
the floor. The bar is upstairs and the dining
room is downstairs, which is as it should be.
Although it could be the other way around and
no one would mind. It doesn’t really matter
what your position is as long as you know
what you're doing there. The Ninth Circle has
a very pleasing atmosphere as long as you
don’t give it much thought. If you do, you
might begin to find it a bit ‘absurd to be
walking on peanut shells.
“I wonder what’s happening downstairs.”
Frank said.
“I've often asked myself
remarked.
“You aren’t going to be very good for
me.”’ Frank speculated. ‘I mean we think too
much alike. I'm afraid we’ll just sort of
complement each other’s hangups.”
“Oh I don’t know,” I replied not knowing.
“Basically we're different. I mean you think
there’s hope. You think there is a purpose to it
all, whereas I don’t think there’s any hope. I
think it’s all absurd.”
Frank was a theological student once.
that.” 1
Changes
-
Wherein the King faceth a decision and
maketh nothingiclear...i “2
It is the custom in the kingdom of
America, where democracy is said to prevail;
that rulers rise slowly for dubious reasons
only to be cast out quickly for good ones. So it
was that King Richard, whom some call the
Tricky and others call worse, viewed the
coming year of election with trepidation.
Saved once by a dog, relegated to kitchen
jousting, caught finally by the many headed
serpent Press and thrown into the grim Pits of
Political Oblivion, the King had no wish to
lose the prize that his skill in the art of the
hatchet had won.
But his overfed realm rumbled with spir-
itual indigestion and the jaws of defeat
breathed hot against his back. In the dead of
the night the ghost of his predecessor dragged
credibility chains through the venerable halls
of the White Palace, lamenting lost mandates
and the tyranny of history.
Poor King Richard’s jowls filled up with
concern and drooped toward his lapels. His
eyes retreated back into the shadows under
his brows to peer out, like feral creatures
. from their dens. Little wonder he fell to all
manner of political conjurations.
But as morning dawned on the marbled
Footnote
(Editor’s Note: Mr. Freeman gained
national prominence in 1968 with his stories
dealing with the nation’s richest mineral
resource, oil shale. With charges of a scandal
in the Federal Government concerning the
resource beginning to appear, his third article
in a series follows.)
by J. R. Freeman
Washington was shocked last July when
the U.S. Interior Department, guardian of the
public’s rich oil shale lands of the West valued
at $6 trillion, decided to grant sodium leases
to a host of land barons, one of which is repre-
sented by President’s Nixon’s former New
York law firm.
Interfering with the Federal Govern-
ment’s clear title to the 17,200 square mile
shale rich lands is a 20,000-acre cloud in-
volving sodium preference right lease appli-
cations for which former Interior Secretary
Stewart Udall must be judged solely respon-
sible.
The sodium preference right lease appli-
cations are based upon sodium prospecting
nermits issued by Interior with Mr. Udall’s
blessing in 1964. They post a. complex legal
problem because it ‘would be impossible to
remove the sodium minerals without disturb-
ing the oil shale. Yet the shale cannot legally
be removed under sodium leases. And as
before, many Interior employees privately
feel that the sodium permits and lease appli-
cations were filed only as a pretense to get
control of the shale. The precedent setting
n Illusions
»,
Now he’s an artist. I was a teacher once. Now
I'm an actor-writer. We both hate the
question “What do you do for a living?”
because we both live for a living. We do what
comes along. One of us, I forget which, used to
be a teacher and the other of us used to study
theology. Actually we both still do both be-
cause we're both artists, or so we tell our-
selves at the Ninth Circle in between peanuts.
“I hate my ankles.” I said noticing my
ankles propped on a chair.
“We had to do that once in a sensitivity
course.” Frank said. “We had to name two
things we disliked about our bodies. I said I
disliked my hands and the fact that I was
short.”
“Yeah, I don’t like your hands much
either.” I said, not really having noticed any-
thing dislikeable about his hands, but
knowing that people like to think you’be
noticed their strong features.
pa
“I'd say I hate my ankles and my collar
bones.” I said because my collar bones stick
out so much it looks as if I once swallowed a
wooden hangar.
“What two things do you like most about
your body?” I asked Frank.
“Uhm, my face because it’s so mobile,
and probably the fact that I'm so agile.”
That surprised me because those are the
two things I would have to say I liked most
about my body. Not my face to look at neces-
sarily but—
“But, because when your face is doing
something, you know it’s exactly what you
want it to do.” Said Frank although it could
have been me saying it. We made faces at the
Ninth Circle for a while.
The door to the dimly lit bar opened, and
a dimly lit figure entered wearing sunglasses
and carrying a plastic bag. He stealthily
approached the peanut barrel and after
From The Peanut Gallery
A Greenstreet Publication
darting his eyes around the room, began
stuffing his pockets and his plastic bag with
peanuts. Pockets bulging, he darted his eyes
around once more and slithered out the door.
“I'm a bit tired of people looking just like
their dogs,” one of us said as we looked at the
girl across the room with long, straggly,
unkempt hair. She had a long, straggly,
unkempt-haired poodle with her. The other of
us said something about people seeming to
take their dogs almost everywhere anymore.
As Isat crunching peanut shells under my
feet I thought for some reason about the
Trident Gum Commercial on the radio where
the lady says what she likes most about
Trident Gum is that it’s sugarless of course
and that, well, she thinks your teeth are just
about the most important thing I guess next to
your health. I laughed. 3
“What's so funny?” Frank asked.
“All of it.” I replied. ‘“The whole thing.”
A little while later we went home.
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| At King Richard’s Court
splendor of the fabled city of Washington, the
King's thoughts were far removed from such
conjurations; far from his. Asian children’s
crusade, far from oriental pilgrimages, far
from his sporting in the fields of economy. It
was with the utmost solemnity that he donned
his working attire, clothing. himself in an
impregnable armor of opinion polls and mid-
west. receptions. A star spangled shield he
hefted, and at his side hung the sword of
power that men have named democracy.
Over all he pulled the invisible cloak of the
Silent Majority—that magic rainment
wrought by court sorcerers from 44 percent.
And thus caparisoned, as if for a great battle,
King Richard left his chambers, the dwarf
Kissinger at heel.
He went out into the courtyard where
lines of gray visaged men waited to purchase
wisdom at the influence counters. Some
perhaps would buy wisdom enough to advise a
future ruler. The sight must have cheered the
king, or maybe he spoke in an attempt to
drown out the dark murmurings of the Wind
of Doubt that swept incessantly out of the
east, chilling the realm.
He said, “Why so glum, friend Henry?
Remembrest thou not how I vanquished the
Red Knight in his own kitchen?”
“Aye” replied the dwarf gloomily. ‘That
‘twas then, and indeed the pans did rattle. But
Big Oil Controls the
decision to award these leases was made by
Interior Secretary Rogers C. B. Morton last
July 6. Prior action in the department has
been continually pigeon-holeing the requests
since 1964.
In January and February of that year hun-
dreds of sodium prospecting permits, cover-
ing at least a quarter of a million rich oil shale
acres, were filed with the Colorado Land
Office of BLM. Udall’s critics insist that he
should have recognized this for what it plainly
was: just another way to get control of the
public’s shale reserves. They say he should
have protected the public interest by reject-
ing the permits.
Most of the sodium permits later expired
due to inaction by their owners, but eight of
the so-called prospectors did file sodium lease
applications and requested a hearing so that
they might obtain the 20,000 acres of rich
shale lands for their alleged sodium mining.
Mr. Udall and his former legal advisor, solic-
itor Edward Weinberg, granted their requests
at the urging of former Secretary of the Inter-
ior Oscar Chapman.
It is interesting to note that Chapman’s
law partner, Martin L. Friedman, former
legal counsel of the Democratic National
Committee, represents Advance-Ross Corp.,
a diversified firm of Chicago wanting some of
the sodium leases. But to illustrate how non-
partisan oil shale has become politically, Ad-
vance-Ross is also represented by Franklin B.
Lincoln, assistant secretary of Defense under
Eisenhower and a former member of Mr.
now the people murmur amongst themselves
saying, ‘Buyest thou a used cart ‘from, this.
man?’”’. R
At this the King’s face darkened and he
said no more till he had entered the Temple of
Vested Interests where Those Who Know
awaited his coming.
A choking stench emanated from an open
door at the far end of the meeting room. The
cloud lifted from the King’s face when he saw
this and was replaced by a deathly pallor.
Only too well he remembered the entrance to
the stinking Pits of Political Oblivion. He
could still see those cold stone steps leading
down, down into the rustling, moaning dark-
ness where rising politicians wasted their
promise in dank obscurity, and fallen leaders,
yolked to minor embassies, degenerated into
elder statesmen.
The head priest of Those Who Know came
forward to greet the King. His face flickered
like a guttering candle, forever changing its
form while still retaining its identity.
“Have you thought on the problem, your
highness? Times are hard and the election
draws near. Are we again to unleash the
Terrible Tongue?” As he pronounced the
dreaded name, the priest’s voice dropped to a
silken thread, and simultaneously a hideous,
alliterative babble issued from the murky
Pits.
Nixon’s New York law firm. Another member
of Mr. Nixon's firm is, of course, John B.
Mitchell, now U.S. Attorney General, whose
job is to give legal advice to the President.
This is all part of the reason Washington
was shocked when Interior awarded the
leases. The fact that Secretary Hickel had it
in his power to grant the leases on 20,000 acres:
of the richest mineral land in the world is not
disconcerting since his White House dis-
missal. But his successor, Mr. Morton, has
yet to prove himself an active guardian of
public lands. Washington sources in Interior
suspect that Mr. Morton will weaken under
the pressure of the powerful oil lobby still
further and award oil shale leases near elec-
tion time next year.
Testifying recently before a Senate Appro-
priations subcommittee on the controversial
Alaska pipeline proposal, which has been ap-
proved by most Interior bureaucrats, Mr.
Morton declared that Alaska had ‘‘sold those
oil leases too early.”
The new secretary was quick to point out
that “Any decisions that we make are not
going to be made on a profit-loss factor inher-
ent to ary economic group. They will be
determined on the national need.”
Still addressing the pipeline question,
Secretary Morton said that first a national
energy policy should be established, with
review of such factors as the impact of the.
Mid-East conflict on world oil supply. It can
be assumed that he might take the same posi-
tion with the shale controversy. But he hasn’t
yet.
.. King Richard’s hand fell.trembligg to his
sword hilt. He ‘was seme bering th fhumil
iation of the last election.
“Nay” he breathed. “Nay. For when the
Terrible Tongue is once unloosed no maa can
rule its lash. Friend falls with foe. Tha®#huch
have I learned.” :
Now the dwarf Kissinger spoke up. ‘But
Majesty, in the southernmost realms, in the
half civilized lands where the Biggites dwell,
cavorting each sabbath with the hides of
swine, the powerful chief Wallace threatens
your supremacy. 'Twould ill beseem you. to
banish the Tongue without providing for a
suitable successor.”
“That is so’ said the King, his jowls flap-
ping their agreement, his eyes darting about
as if in search of an answer. ‘But consider
you this. There is one man in this realm to
whom I have awarded the highest Medal of
Servitude. He is that glorious hero ?
praises are sung far and wide by the trou-
badors. Bold Rusty they call him, defender of
freedom.”
With this King Richard turned abruptly
and departed from the noxious temple #fhe
dwarf Kissinger scurried off toward the lair
of the serpent Press. The King, he thought,
would soon appease the creature with another
tasty bombshell.
Show
Rather, Mr. Morton has decided to lease
away a portion of the richest shale land in
hopes big oil will move toward a more scdpus
development stage. :
The President expressed the belief that
“the time has come to begin the orderly
formulation of an oil shale policy—not by any
headlong rush toward development, but
rather by a well considered program in which
both environmental protection and the recov-
ery of a fair return to the government are
cardinal principles under which any leasing
takes place.”
But he did not elaborate on the fact that
the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission has set
off four test explosions already this summer
on the Nevada test range, specifically de-
signed to help extract oil from the shale beds
at a later date. If the plan works, and if big oil
will later foot part of the cost, there will ob-
viously be hundreds of such nuclear explo-
sions in shale country, which would appear to
be running headlong into a clash with envir-
onmentalists everywhere. ;
At the same time, Secretary Morton has
put feelers out to determine if enough envir-
onmental safeguards can be overlooked to
entice the big oil boys to lease two tracts of
land each in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming in
late 1972. And it goes without saying that at
about the same time the Nixon Administra-
tion will have forgotten about Vietnam
Papers, and trips to Peking and have its at-
tention focused on huge campaign con-
tributions from the oil barons. :
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