The Campaign

Sir: ... As I read the Oct. 20 issue of TIME. I found it harder ... to swallow the lump in my throat ... I never thought I would live to see the day in America when the people's votes would be dictated by questionable labor leaders and a politician of the puny stature of Harry Truman. I have about concluded that Americans are not using their heads in this election as clearly as the people in Egypt, who are wholeheartedly uniting to throw out corrupt government. What is the matter with us when we don't . . . read the telltale signs of national decline in the deflated dollar, crooked government, and a "something for nothing" philosophy . . .? Mr. Stevenson is a clever man . . . but I am convinced the present situation of our country will overpower him, much though he would like to put an end to the corruption . . .

THELMA LUMSDEN CLAFLIN Upland, Calif.

Sir: I'm a Democrat but I'm going to vote Republican, because I can remember how Truman squirmed, swore, etc. when some Republicans brought Government men up for trial for treason. The investigations were not Truman's idea at all, but he will now have us believe he had his housecleaning done . . .

MRS. W. A. RICE

Grayson, Ky.

Sir:

... I would like to express my own opinion, and that of all decent-minded people, on how disgusted we are at the manner in which President Truman is conducting his campaign for Stevenson. That a President of these great United States should so belittle himself, and speak so unfairly of a very wonderful and respected man" as General Eisenhower, is unthinkable . . .

MARY T. FARLEY Cresson, Pa.

Sir:

Why does TIME report the names in art and letters that have switched from Eisenhower to Stevenson, as if it were important? This group has never been noted for its political astuteness; and I suspect the switches are based on a fascination with Stevenson's intellectual verbal gymnastics and parlor wit. These are about the least necessary qualifications in a President today . . .

E. L. CHUBBUCK

Ossining, N.Y.

Sir:

Poor Adlai! Here is a man who prepares intelligent speeches, presents them in the best diction, and gets chided for sounding "too good" and not having the "down to earth" approach ... I say he has the right idea and to hell with the Taft clique and smug Republican governors who sit on their thrones and moan for his neck . . .

SGT. S. E. JOHNSON Formosa

Sir:

... It is claimed that the common man has nothing to gain by voting the Stevenson ticket, that he, Stevenson, appeals only to the intellects. Does this not imply that the public is positively stupid and therefore cannot even understand the English language as used by Stevenson ? . .

If we don't want an intelligent man for our President, who do we want? Certainly not a tin soldier whose strings are being pulled by the "Old Guard."

GEORGE T. MIEDL Columbus, Ohio

Sir:

It is good to know that Eisenhower wants to pull the American soldiers out of Korea, and let the South Koreans take over; most G.I.S agree with him on that score. But that this can be accomplished in a year's time is pure hogwash. It takes time, tradition and experience to build an army of 3,000,000, train them and equip them. It is plainly only wishful thinking, compounded of impatience and lack of foresight . . .

CORPORAL WERNER M. COHN Korea

Delaware's "Little David"

Sir:

I have just finished reading the Oct. 13 article about Senator John Williams, and it has made up the mind of this independently registered voter. If the voters of Delaware are foolish enough not to re-elect him, I suggest Ike draft him as his new head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and/or Secretary of the Treasury next January . . . JOE SMITHHISLER Las Cruces, N. Mex.

Sir:

. . . Voters of Delaware should return to the U.S. Senate this "little David" who is slaying the great Goliath of organized crime and unworthy political hacks.

Even a "Buckeye" can see that far.

STANLEY W. WIANT Greenville, Ohio

Sir:

How any self-respecting Democrat, including Harry Truman, can lightly dismiss the disclosure that a department of the Government can't account for a mere $81 million being the inevitable from time to time in life, astounds me ... This is the kind of news that should make banner headlines. Unfortunately, it never does. Orchids to TIME for outstanding public service.

. . . This, above all, is what will lead me as an independent voter to cast my lot with Ike come Nov. 4.

FAY CARLSON

Rockford, 111.

The Bird

Sir:

Concerning your Oct. 13 cover, showing a bird perched atop the Washington Monument: Is it a U.S. eagle or a BIR vulture? It looks like you let "Form 1040" influence your ornithology.

R. A. KANE

Cambridge, Mass.

P:It's a turkey vulture (Cathartesaura] or buzzard.--ED.

Archaic Procedure?

SIR:

NO DOUBT BOTH THE GENERAL AND THE GOVERNOR ARE WELL QUALIFIED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. EQUALLY WELL QUALIFIED ARE THE VEEP CANDIDATES FOR THE DUTIES FOR

THE VEEP. BOTH ARE UNDENIABLY UNQUALIFIED TO SUCCEED THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. IN THESE TIMES. IT IS CERTAINLY TIME TO CHANGE THIS ARCHAIC PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING AN EMERGENCY PRESIDENT. ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

NORMAN R. JOFFEE

HIGHLAND PARK, ILL.

A Bucket of Bolts with Dings

Sir:

"I got eight bills for a barefoot bucket of bolts that was down on its knees with 38 on the clock, and two dozen for a loaded cream puff with a few dings." I was reminded of some more lingo that one might encounter between two used-car dealers when I read your Oct. 13 article on the adman's jargon: "Dog, lemon, roach, bucket of bolts, Southern beauty, Detroit taxicab," etc. (a used car in very poor condition); "piece, piece of iron" (any car); "heat and music" (radio and heater); "bill" ($100); "dozen" ($1,200) "cream puff" (a used car that was well taken care of) ; "dings" (minor dents) ; "down on its knees" (bad front end) ; "on the clock" (on the speedometer) ; "barefoot, no rubber, no shoes" (wornout tires); "stick and no box" (aerial but no radio).

WILLIAM B. REED

Maiden, Mass.

Seed into Stone

Sir:

Re the contraceptive, gromwell [TIME, Oct. 6]: may I say that this business of scientists working their heads off trying to discover something the old Shoshone Indians have known for ages is discouraging enough in itself, but why don't these myopic researchers take a course in simple Latin and discover what the old Roman botanical titles of these herbs meant in the first place? Even a schoolboy can tell at a glance that Lithospermum officinale means "seed petrified in the laboratory" . . . Gromwell indeed ! . . .

POLLARD GARRISON Hollywood, Calif.

Sir:

It is interesting to note in connection with your article on the herb, gromwell, that the scientific name Lithospermum officinale may well be translated "stone sperm." This would indicate that the taxonomist who tacked the name to the species was aware of its fertility-inhibiting properties . . .

It appears that the name was given to the herb by Joseph Pitton Tournefort [1575-1626], an eminent botanist of the pre-Linnaean era. Tournefort, it may be noted, studied medicine for two years; could it be that in Europe the qualities were known as well as they were to the Shoshone Indians?

MARY TRAVIS ARNY

Montclair, N.J.

Sir:

... I would like to get some of this gromwell extract. Our cat is only five years old, but she has had 48 kittens. In the future, I would be satisfied with about four or eight kittens a year.

ROGER DORR

El Cerrito, Calif.

A Page from the Past

Sir:

I was very interested in your Oct. 6 review of Recollections of Three Reigns. Fifty years ago I was a page boy in the Naval and Military Club in London. I paged Sir Frederick Ponsonby, calling his name, as it was then, "Colonel Ponsonby," but no response. Back at the desk the caller said: "I know he is in; try again." I made a second round of the rooms, calling "Colonel Ponsonby." This time a sharp voice responded: "Boy! I am General Ponsonby." He had been listed general in that same morning's Gazette. An example of protocol if ever there was one.

(THE REV.) THOMAS J. BUCKTON Alton, 111.

The Word of God

Sir:

In your Oct. 6 review of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, you state that the translators "approached their translations not as theologians, but as scholars seeking the most authoritative text," and cite, by way of illustration, Isaiah 7:14, where they have substituted "young woman" for "virgin," supposedly on the basis of a 2nd century text. If the age of a manuscript is to be the determining factor in the choice of a translation, it should be stated, however, that the Isaiah manuscript of the Dead Sea Scrolls, written probably before the birth of Christ, has "virgin." Unfortunately, the substitution of "young woman" for "virgin" reflects a persistent effort on the part of some modern theologians to obviate the miracle of the Virgin Birth.

L. W. SPITZ

Concordia (Lutheran) Seminary St. Louis

Sir:

. . . The 32 Protestant scholars may have attempted to revise the Scriptures in the "clearest, most accurate English of our time," but, in so doing, they obscured the original meanings. Moreover, by rendering some original Hebrew names, such as Jehovah, in English words that never convey the original meanings, the translators have greatly transgressed and committed a grave sin. For by using the word "Lord" for Jehovah, they only add confusion to the readers, who will now not know when "Lord" refers to the Father, Jehovah the Creator of All, or to the accepted Christian Son who is so referred to throughout the Evangelical works . . .

What the world really needs is not a "streamlined" King James Version, but an almost literal, unadulterated rendering of the original languages without deviation . . . DAVID HOROWITZ New York City

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