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* ■ *♦* t-SMit Ditv 1 C r? IS: s *• v \: '<' :; t :: V ► . *' • .•* HE SERVED Brigadier General Barringer F. Wingard was a true serviceman. We usually associate the word “ser viceman” with the military and Gen. Wingard was that. But Gen. Wingard has given the word a broader meaning for us. He also was a serviceman in the sense that he served his God, his country, his state and. his community. Gen. Wingard, who died last Wed nesday morning, served his God in his church. An elder in the First Presbyterian Church, he taught a Men’s Bible Class. It is exemplary to see a man of respect who lives his Christian beliefs. He and Mrs. Win gard were in charge of a Young Peo ple’s organization at the church and a^ter they moved to Columbia, they continued to drive back to Clinton each week to meet with the group. Gen. Wingard served his country in two major wars. He was a vet eran of 38 years’ military service. He served in Belgium and Germany with the First Army during World War II and served with the Third Infantry Division in Korea during the Korean War. Gen. Wingard was a highly dec orated soldier but he was ^modest and unassuming. He was not the prototype of the military man. He was quiet and not domineering but he commanded respect. This is evi denced in his rise from his second lieutenant commission from Clem- son College in 1928 to brigadier general and assistant adjutant gen eral of the South Carolina National Guard at the time of his death. Gen. Wingard also was active in the civic life of Clinton and quietly made many contributions to the bet terment of life in this town which he loved. We extend his wife and son our condolences and our appreciation for the service of Brig. Gen. Barringer F. Wingard. m SCIENCE FICTION - Laurens County Agent M. L. Outz writes in today’s Chronicle about the enjoyment of reading seed catalogs during the winter months. We agree, however, with the fellow who wrote in Reader’s Digest as far as he’s concerned, seed catalogs are sci ence fiction. He says he believes the pictures are all posed by professional flowers. § OVERALLS That Greensboro, N. C., junior high principal who sent a youngster home for wearing bib-type overalls to school would have had himself a mess if he’d come along during the 1930’s in either of the Carolinas. Just about every boy would have been so attired.—Seneca Journal. •v* s 3 i GOOD SHOT! A hillbilly visiting an observatory was watching a man peering through a telescope. Suddenly, a star fell. “Good shot!” yelled the hillbilly. —South Rowan (N.C.) Times. UNDELIVERED CHRISTMAS CARD About a year and a half ago Red Chinese agents in Hong Kong stirred up some vicious riots. Several of the agitators, including some news men, were arrested. Thereupon, Peking promptly picked up the Reu ters correspondent Anthony Grey, and placed him under house arrest. The Crown Colony authorities have long since released the Hong Kong rioters. But, Anthony Grey continues in confinement, and what is called house arrest needs to be ex plained in this case. He occupies a small, single room which has been described as smaller than the cells in most British prisons. He is per mitted to receive two letters a month—one from a young lady he was courting before his arrest, and one from his mother. Last fall the British press started a “send-a-card-to-Grey” campaign, to bring a little Christmas cheer to Grey, whose only crime was being a Briton who was at hand when Peking wanted to retaliate. Thousands of cards poured into Peking. Most came from England, but there were addi tional thousands from other countries around the world. At last reports, Grey had not seen a single one of the cards. The Com munist postal workers vere first told to halt the cards. Later, they were instructed to bum them. Many were burned. But, as the flood of cards contin ued to flow into Peking, one of the Red masters had second thoughts, and instructed that the burning be stopped, and the cards were bundled together and locked in an unused room, where they remain. July 1, 1968, marked one full year of detention for Anthony Grey. Great Britain has reported, for benefit of her creditors, that in that month, she sold $9.1 million goods to Red China, an increase of more than $3 million over the previous month. If you think that makes all those Britons who sent Christmas cards to Anthony Grey happier, imagine your own feeling if our country had been doing a $9-million-a-month business with North Korea while the men of the Pueblo were being held. Compliments of IBJ NOTED AND PASSED Student Strike: Japan’s giant To kyo University has suffered a stu dent strike of 6 months’ duration and is contemplating closing entirely for one year. Said Tokyo President Ichiro Kato: “I regretfully see no prospect that we can hold entrance examinations for next year. We recognize the grave impact this will have on our soicety ... At the same time, it would be even more irre sponsible to admit new applcants to a university where no education can be conducted.” "Don’t Expect Too Much... Junior May Not Turn Out To Be Another Joe Namath..." > . 2-B—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C., January 23. 1969 SENATOR STROM THURMOND REPORTS TO THE PEOPLE ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFORM Nixon Faces Labor Problems WORTH m&asiifa ABOUT BY BABSON’S REPORTS, INC. Wellesley Mills, Mass.,-Many labor bigwigs were dead-set a- gainst Nixon before the elections; some still look upon him with un disguised suspicion. Now that the White House is his, most union leaders have adopted a watchful- waiting attitude and are ready to give the new Chief Executive the benefit of the doubt until he proves himself. CAMPAIGN PROMISES Actually, union officials don’t expect Nixon to seek anti-labor legislation, if only because of their confidence in the strength they hold over Congress. They do, however, want to see whether or not he will stick to his pre-elect ion claims. While campaigning, N ixon made statements in support of free collective bargaining. They were neither pro-business nor anti-labor promises, but many unionists responded warily. The then-candidate said that he did not approve of the government's sitting in at every bargaining table. That if he were elected there would be a hands-off ap proach toward union negotiations. The federal government would step in only if the health or safety of the nation were en dangered or if existing legisla tion -- such as the Railway La bor Act -- required. GOVERNMENT’S ROLE NEUTRAL If the government were forced to take part in bargaining at any time, he guaranteed absolutely unbiased intervention with no fa voritism for either management or labor. Nixon appears sincere in his labor pronouncements, and those closest to him expect him to follow through. One touchy issue: The need for early action on strikes of public employees. Few insiders doubt that legisla tive proposals will soon be draft ed for resolving disputes affect ing state and city workers. Laborites are anxious to see what, if anything, the new Presi dent will do to checkrein wage- price inflation. Both Nixon and his Labor Secretary appointee George Shultz have expressed skepticism about the effective ness of guideposts. Neither labor nor employers are likely to pay much attention to the retiring Johnson Administration's swan call asking unions to hold the pay- raise ceiling for 1968 below 5% and management to keep profits in line with the 1967-68 average. BREATHER FOR NEW ADMINISTRATION There are some factors work ing in Nixon’s favor which could give him time to settle into his berth in Washington for a while before having serious labor prob lems forced upon him. For example, multi-year contracts are now in effect for such key lines as steel, autos, trucking, bituminous coal, telephones, rub ber, and aerospace. During the year just ended. close to 5 million employees covered by big agreements were engaged in negotiations, many in pattern-setting fields. But in 1969 only 2.7 million big-contract workers will be facing expira tion or wage reopening. Most 1968 agreements will run until 1971, almost all at least until 1970. WALKING A TIGHTROPE There will, however, be some situations that could come to a head this year and reveal the stance of the new Administration. Perhaps most threatening are the deadlines for railway engineers, shop workers, and road em ployees. Also, beginning at mid year, seagoing workers in the maritime industry will have a number of expiring contracts to argue out. Construction could well breed more trouble as con tractor employers try to hold down labor costs that have soared so spectacularly that building has been curbed and pay differentials with other union groups have been knocked entirely out of whack. AFL-CIO President George Meany has summoned citizens of all political persuasions to support responsible efforts of the new Administration to meet the problems of our time. Should President Nixon be placed m a position where he would feel he had to side against the unions on a fundamental labor issue, a flare-up against him on the part of the Federation and other union groups would be instantaneous. It will be an interesting tightrope that Nixon walks during 1969, with the eyes of all union and pro-union leaders upon him. The truth is that an intel ligent society will always give education top priority among the social services. In many ways, it is the key which un locks the door to everything else, including investment, be cause, other things being equal, money will follow skills and brains every time. It is no accident that the common denominator of these countries and parts of the world which enjoy a high standard of living is a high level of education spread over the whole population. It is lit erally true that wherever we look in the world widespread ignorance and prosperity sim ply do not go together. —John R. O’Dea Newfoundland As the new Administration begins. Congress is once more considering the possibilities for improving the method of elect ing the President. Th# present system of the Electoral College was designed to preserve the im portance of all States, large and small, in the Presidential process. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE The idea behind the Electoral College was to combine the two principles of representation worked out as the great compro mise of the Constitutional Con vention. In the first place, each State was admitted into the Un ion on an equal basis. To *eflect this equality, each Staid* was granted two Senators, and two votes in the Electoral College. Secondly, the Framers of the Constitution recognized that the States were unequal as regards the sise of their populations. To reflect this inequality, each State was granted United State* Rep resentatives in proportion to its population, and additional elec toral votes in the same number. For these reasons, the Electoral College is apportioned not only according to mere population, but also gives a bonus of two votes which are very important to the small States. The electoral strength of more than one third of the 60 States benefits significantly from this special bonus. THE PROBLEM The problem is that the Fram ers did not foresee the “winner- take-all” situation created by modern party organization. The winning Presidential candidate in each State gets all the elec toral votes of that State. Thus a bloc of a few thousand votes— even if assembled by fraud or by appeal to special interests— can swing the election in the entire State. The disproportionate strength of a small bloc of votes in pop ulous States has come about be cause all States have adopted the practice of voting for an entire slate of electors at large. In practice, this means that a voter in South Carolina, which has eight electoral votes, casts eight votes for President, while his counterpart in New York casta 43. To correct this situation, it is necessary to amend the Consti tution. Some people mistakenly believe that the process could be reformed by an amendment to abolish the Electoral College and hold a nation-wide, direct elec tion of the President and Vice President. This so-called “direct election” plan would destroy the Federal principle and allow a handful of States to dominate our Presidential elections. One vote could decide such an elec tion. The problems of “winner- take-all” would be multiplied, in stead of cured. The “direct elec tion” plan would be an invitation to corruption. TWO GOOD PROPOSALS Fortunately, there are two proposals available which would preserve the intent of our Consti tution’s Framers, and strengthen the unique features of our gov ernment. One is called the “pro portional plan,” and the other is called the “district plan.” Either would be acceptable, but the dis trict plan would be preferable. Both plans refine the present system of electoral votes, pre serving the two bonus votes. Both introduce a significant reform in the event that the electoral vote is inconclusive—namely, the elec tion would revert to a joint ses sion of Congress, with each Member having one vote. However, there is an important difference between the two plans. The “proportional plan” simply distributes the electoral vote in each State in proportion to the popular vote in such State. Na tion-wide, the electoral vote total would reflect the popular vote. The “district plan” has the additional merit of reflecting diverse geographic areas within the State. Under this plan, the States would be divided into compact districts of nearly equal population, probably using pres ent Congressional districts. Each voter in each State would have exactly the same weight; he would participate in selecting just three electors, one for his district and two State-wide. This plan would ensure that rural, suburban and urban areas would have their distinctive interests fqjt. Such a plan would have the effect of improving .our Federal system, and preserving our lib erties. (Not proporod or printed at govonmmt Wish I’d Said That •> ^ lolte toMfo \ Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. — Madge Sheline,, Hessville-Woodmar (Ind.) Lite. “The Lord helps those who help themselves. All others should contact the govern ment.”—A. J. Hudson, The Olustee (Okla.) Chieftain. “No American is so heart less that he won't help a per son in need.”—Bill Trimble. Editor, The Ellicottville (N.Y.) Post. Two-Party System The Editor: I read with interest former Senator Dobbins’ comments, blaming the growth of the two- party system for Laurens County losing its resident Senator. What Senator Dobbins is really than fairness in representation. This, many of us have suspected for a long time. He also says “I have seen good legislation defeated because of the party label of the person who introduced it”. This certainly does not speak well for the South . . x. * i-, * ^ uwt oL/xraiv wcu 1U1 lilt! OUUU1 Party who has more influence in the State Senate than he. Also, he seems to be saying the South Carolina Demo crats put getting rid of a Repub lican Senator as more important 'With more time moon, Lady Bird Ah CO uld' ve done lots more. An^ the , could've used a little beautifyin , ... , ' been in complete control of this state. Senator Dobbins went on to say “From the state and local level, I believe we were better off with out the two-party system”. I do not believe Senator Dobbins or very few other democrats would argue for a one-party system at the national level. The arguments for a two-party system at the national level are just as valid for the state and local level. One argument being that the only countries with one political party are Totalitarian Countries. The above cited examples of arbitrary action by the one party, South Carolina Democrats, taken from Senator Dobbins’ own speech are good examples of why we should strengthen the two- party system rather than abolish it. In the spirit of fairness, I would think the Clinton Rotary Club would want to invite a Re publican spokesman of their choice to present the other side. Very truly yours, Niles E. Hanna Enoree, S. C. * * Apparently women still tend to prepare for jobs with which they have traditionally been asso ciated. The Labor Department reports that the most popular vo cational training courses for wo men and girls are those which prepare them to become secre taries, typists, practical nurses, cosmetologists, sewing mnriu«w> operatiors, and food service workers.