Jolly Roger
Sir: Splendid article [Oct. 18] on the college quarterback, featuring Navy Ace Roger Staubach, the leading contender for the Heisman Trophy at this stage of the campaign with Georgia Tech's Billy Lothridge in close pursuit. As a longtime sports editor in the Deep South before coming East two seasons ago, and as a member of this year's Lambert Trophy committee, I find it a pleasure to see that college football is just as competitive in this area as it was in the South.
JIMMIE MCDOWELL
Executive Sports Editor Trenton Times Newspapers Trenton, NJ.
Sir: "Roger Thomas Staubach, 21, Naval Academy midshipman and college quarterback beyond compare. . ."
Beyond compare?
You neglected to mention the name of S.M.U.'s quarterback. You know, the one who directed his team to victory over Staubach.
PHILIP DE BEAUBIEN Ormond Beach, Fla.
> We know. But the man who won that game for S.M.U. was John Roderick, a track man turned halfback.--ED.
Sir:
With Roger commanding the ship, Army at home should remain. Or else they'll take a trip Down to the fishes' domain.
Only the score is uncertain.
PAT PHILIPS Detroit
The Law
Sir: You ignored the poetic justice rendered to Justices Black and Douglas when you cited the Betts and Gideon cases in your new Law section [Oct. 18]. These justices dissented in Betts in 1942 and were vindicated in Gideon in 1963.
Gideon shows that the "due process" clause of the 14th Amendment now appears to compel the states to apply the guarantees of the Constitution's Bill of Rights in toto. Justice Harlan alone expressed serious reservations regarding the legality and wisdom of this principle.
As to your Law section generally, TIME should be commended for furnishing its readers with some understanding of legal problems.
NORMAN ROTHFELD Chairman
Committee on Education Federal Bar Association of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut New York City
Sir: Congratulations on your new section entitled "The Law" and in joining the three "black professions" under one cover.
Religion, Medicine and the Law are inexorably intertwined not only in life but now in TIME, but more so in extremis.
With three staffers, you should have an occasional dissent so that your readers will know that you have avoided the last referred-to condition.
EDWARD M. ZABIELSKI Schenectady, N.Y.
Britain's Other Harold
Sir: Your reporting of Britain's Labor Party [Oct. 11] was very fair. It would certainly seem that Mr. Harold Wilson's party will assume power at the next General Election. As a Socialist myself, I should welcome this with open arms, but unfortunately I don't.
I wouldn't want to see the Conservatives thrown out of power because of the Keeler-Profumo affair earlier this year. For it must be fairly said that the Tories have done their duty in the past twelve years.
Just how many people In Britain are taking any harm today? True, unemployment does exist, but could any other government do any more than is being done at the present moment? I don't think so.
We know Mr. Harold Macmillan has slipped up on odd occasions, but look at his help in getting the test ban treaty signed. Now, thank God, he is making way for a new man, a new image, something that can make the Tories great again.
K. MORGAN Millom, England
The Fiery Madame
Sir: This is in defense of Mme. Ngo Dinh Nhu in defiance of the tendency of the American press to oversimplify and feed us pap with their pulp.
Not too long ago we were served with Castro as a good guy. He had a beard, lived in the hills and headed a people's revolt. Given his head, that character carried the plot into a Red sunset.
Now we have Mme. Nhu as the "Dragon Lady," the compleat villainess. If we are again duped by the Communists because of this prejudice, if we are hoodwinked out of Viet Nam because of dislike for this woman, then immolation by fire would be too good for all who slant the news for the sake of good copy.
(MRS.) ANGELICA ZYLOWSKI Parma, Ohio
Sir: After receiving untold millions of dollars and thousands of U.N. troops (mostly Americans) to help protect Viet Nam, and to bribe her to keep her from going Communist, Mme. Nhu, First Lady of Viet Nam, insults the hand that feeds her, by running down American officers.
SUZANNE TAFT Hollywood, Fla.
Sir: There is something very sick about our country when an anti-Communist Christian lady like Mme. Nhu is vilified by the U.S. press and a Communist gangster like Tito is invited to the White House.
EMIL D. CRISCITIELLO Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Sir: I have an intuitive respect for "fiery" Mme. Nhu. She is a moralist and a woman who courageously upholds the teachings of Christ.
Though it is difficult to listen to an alien who so frankly divulges our faults, we should not fear her. Perhaps it would do us good to heed her admonitions.
MRS. D. A. SMITH North Babylon, N.Y.
One Man's Bite Is Another's Bread
Sir: A control on trade does not decrease the military stature of the Soviet Union and its satellites. It is ridiculous to assume that trade restrictions will hinder development of Soviet military power. Since we are only hurting ourselves, and not the Communists, with our existing trade policies, why not increase trade with Communist countries?
HENRY J. LYONS Boston
Sir: Everyone knows it's a fool who bites the hand that feeds him. Now to top that comes the New Frontier fool: one who feeds the hand that bites him [Oct. 18].
PHYLLIS M. KLEIN Warwick, N.Y.
A Rave & a Lump
Sir: Thank you for employing and publishing a theater critic who exhibits acute sensitivity to the medium, keen judgment of both general and particular values, and a capacity for genuine enthusiasm. Your Ted Kalem is specific about what he likes and dislikes; consequently, one can learn much from his reviews without having to agree with their evaluations (though I admit to the latter tendency).
My praise is triggered by Mr. Kalem's characteristically incisive comment on Osborne's Luther and Anouilh's The Rehearsal in your issue of Oct. 4. He could be mistaken for no other critic, though his unique excellence is akin to that of our greatest theater critic, the late Stark Young.*
PAUL R. BARSTOW Wellesley College Theatre Wellesley, Mass.
Sir: Good Heavens! What kind of a Scrooge do you have working for you as a critic?
Here's Love is a delight in every way. Meredith Willson has given us another gem, chock-full of all the gaiety, excellent performances, good dancing, music, etc. needed to guarantee theatergoers a perfect afternoon or evening of the finest entertainment.
See it--one and all--and do not pay the least bit of attention to this "monster" who wrote such a sarcastic and completely untrue review of it [Oct. 11]. He is sure to receive just one small lump of coal in his stocking this year!
ALICE C. MclNTYRE Philadelphia
Sir: I would have you know that Laurence Naismith's beard, which you imply is false, is real, real, real! How do I know? I pulled it hard at a dinner party when he was in this country with the English company that presented us with School for Scandal.
Don't judge all Santa Clauses by the ones you meet on Fifth Avenue.
MRS. M. P. WILKINSON Shelter Island, N.Y.
> But TIME said that Naismith had a Monty Woolley beard, and that was real Woolley.--ED.
Pride of Workmanship
Sir: Your [Oct. 11] story on NASA's report concerning Mercury contractors confirms my feelings regarding the "lack of satisfactory quality of workmanship" and general integrity displayed in many too many American-made products and services.
I charge business and union with neglect in meeting their responsibilities in giving the consumer what he is led to believe he has paid for. Whether I pay $2.50 for a toy, $25 for wearing apparel, $2,500 for a car, $25,000 for a home, or $25 million for a Mercury shot, the product too often contains the same careless construction and careful avoidance of detail, quality and followup. There is more than quality of workmanship lacking--there is pride of workmanship.
DON WOOLF Seal Beach, Calif.
Pickled Pigeons
Sir: Boston may be backward on matters of education, but on the extermination of pigeons [Oct. 18] it surely ranks No. 1! I submit the following method, which we used three years ago at our apartment in the Back Bay section:
Soak one pound of split peas for two days in 100-proof bourbon. Distribute the peas outside your windows, on the ledge or fire escape, and then sit back and wait. Soon hordes of pigeons will descend to eat the peas. The effect of the 100-proof bourbon on a pigeon's constitution is amazing, and soon they will fall to their own natural death.
True, it is killing pigeons, but perhaps it would appease sentimentalists to know that they died with a smile on their faces.
WILLIAM C. SPEIDEL Omaha
* Who wrote for the New York Times, the New Republic and other publications.
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