Powers & the Press

Sir:

I have been a member of two unions--president of one and an officer in the other, but today unions are simply getting "too big for their britches" and need their knuckles rapped. Too many Powerses, Hoffas and Reuthers--many of whom came up as common street brawlers.

This newspaper strike in New York [March 1] would not take place if Teddy Roosevelt were Governor of New York or President of the U.S. He would lay them low with the linkpin.

Congratulations on your very fine article.

CHARLES E. MASON

Waukegan, Ill.

Sir:

You neglected to mention one other solution that could help prevent such affronts to the public interest as the newspaper strike: make labor unions subject to the provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act by changing the Norris-La Guardia law, which now exempts labor unions from the provisions of the Sherman Act. It is going to take some doing, but this little piece of harness would protect the public, protect the worker, and lead to the greatest business boom in history.

CLARENCE A. BARNES JR.

New York City

Sir:

As a newspaper-hungry New Yorker, I deplore the strike as much as anyone. And I would hesitate to accuse TIME of any bias in its coverage of the "disgraceful strike," where the "intransigence" of Bertram Powers has "caused the breakdown of negotiations."

However, I did find it a glaring omission for you to pass over the fact that New York's news starvation is publisher-imposed. Three newspapers with a total circulation of over 2,000,000 were not struck. They were closed down by their owners. This means that the men out of work on these papers are not out of work through Mr. Powers' choice.

JOSEPH J. JUDGE

New York City

Sir:

As usual, TIME'S view of the American labor scene is neither current nor new. Your lead story rehashes corroded incidents that you have used to prejudice the reading public for the past 25 years. You have chosen the worst of labor in continuing your campaign to malign the great and progressive force that labor in America has proved itself to be.

Not even a mere mention is made of the tens of thousands of labor contracts that are renewed annually without strikes or threats of strikes.

As for Bert Powers, an appraisal of labor-management relations in the past 15 years will reveal to him that reason and justice, rather than strikes, have been useful in the settlement of an increasingly greater number of disputes.

"A plague o' both your houses."

ROBERT K. GARRITY

International Representative

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Omaha

Sir:

I disagree with the "sophisticated labor leaders" that automation can lead to job security. I am one of many telephone operators standing in an unemployment registration line every Wednesday morning since our local office became automated.

(MRS.) MARION S. TURK

New Milford, Conn.

Zantzinger Case

Sir:

The news story about the Zantzingers [Feb. 22] was absolutely shocking. I certainly hope your article helps influence the judge and jury to give Zantzinger his just punishment.

Lois A. STOLAROFF

New York City

Sir:

Your report could place among the best short stories of the year. The easy, conversational style giving way suddenly to chilling horror has been duplicated by only the best of writers.

MRS. E. L. MARTING JR.

Akron

Sir:

I must commend you for the coverage of the Zantzinger case, as our newspapers, through either political or economic concern, saw fit to print hardly more than an obituary for Hattie Carroll, waitress.

THOMAS E. DAVIES JR.

Baltimore

Sir:

You failed to mention that the medical examiner found Hattie Carroll had an enlarged heart, suffered from chronic high blood pressure (for which she was being treated), and that no bruises were found as a result of a caning. Disappointing to a regular reader of TIME--for nearly as many years as you are old.

COLYNE COOPER MILLER

Baltimore

Truly a Shame

Shin a story in the Feb. 22 issue you say that Alabama's Governor George C. Wallace denounced the lavish spending of his predecessor, John Patterson. During my interview with him, Governor Wallace did condemn lavish spending in strong terms, saying "It's criminal, it's a shame, it's a sin." But he was careful to avoid any specific reference by name to any of his predecessors.

EDGAR SHOOK

Atlanta

> TIME is happy to set the record straight.

--ED.

More Guts

Sir:

Your article [Feb. 22] concerning the gutty nature of several courses at Yale has violated a most sacred trust.

Discretion and few words in regard to these matters have been honored by undergraduates for generations.

Academic exercises of such felicity have enabled countless thousands to appreciate better the value of leisure time.

D. BROCKTON JR.

The Yale Record

New Haven, Conn.

Sir:

We at Wheaton College have a course in TIME Magazine. It's called Current Affairs 200. Like you say, "An A is an A is an A."

JOHN PARTRIDGE ('64)

Wheaton College Wheaton, Ill.

Bonne Cuisine

Sir:

I was reading your Feb. 15 issue and found this mention: "The Alphands run what many people consider the only decent French restaurant in Washington."

As the proprietor of one of the best French restaurants in Washington, I was surprised and hurt. First, the French embassy is not a restaurant. Second, Holiday Magazine gave to us and three others its annual awards, and out of a hundred restaurants in Washington, all four award winners were French and much more than "decent" !

Monsieur Pierre Salinger, one of our everyday faithful, can confirm my proud opinion of our establishment.

MME. RAYMONDS GUILBO

Le Bistro

Washington

Wanger's Cleopatra

Sir:

Don't demote D.Z. Darryl Zanuck is the president of 20th Century-Fox, not a producer. Your photograph [March i] shows him approving the shooting of the scenes that Producer Walter Wanger and Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz were restrained from doing properly by a former management and that are now being sponsored by the new president.

WALTER WANGER

New York City

Better Brief

Sir:

The footnote appended to your story concerning the death of Abd el Krim [Feb. 15] indicates that President Theodore Roosevelt was responsible for the famed ultimatum to Raisuli, the notorious Moroccan bandit who had captured and was holding for ransom Ion Perdicaris, a naturalized American, and his stepson, an Englishman named Varley. As a matter of fact it was the brainchild of E. M. ("Eddie") Hood, one of the most revered members of the Washington staff of the Associated Press, Hood was assigned to the State Department many years and because of his knowledge and personality became the confidant of each Secretary who served during that period.

At the height of the Perdicaris incident, Secretary of State John Hay informed Hood that he had prepared another communication to be sent to Raisuli, and offered the text for his inspection.

"It's too long, Mr. Secretary," Hood commented.

"What would you have said, Eddie?" Hay asked.

"Just this," Hood replied. " 'Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead.' "

DUDLEY HADDOCK

Sarasota, Fla.

Counter-intelligence

Sir:

Your generous review [Feb. 22] of my book, The Price of Glory, does me too much honor in rating me a "British intelligence expert."

Before SMERSH opens a file on me, rendering a future trip to Russia hazardous, may I hasten to point out that I relinquished my "00" number and handed in my Smith & Wesson .38 as long ago as 1947, when I left the army.

ALISTAIR HORNE

London

White-Glove Treatment

Sir:

Thank you for the compliment [March i], but although my Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette seems to be in most American embassies and consulates and in foreign embassies as well, I cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called an official consultant on etiquette to our State Department. It helps me.

AMY VANDERBILT

New York City

Ole!

Sir:

Ole!--from a former fashion writer now wintering in Spain to the writer of the Modern Living article [Feb. 15] on the spring openings in Paris.

Ole!--for her perceptive and honest reporting, for her brilliant satire, her splendid writing.

Fashion is important to me--make no mistake. But I thoroughly relished the fact that at last these Paris showings have been exposed for what they are: beautifully staged "salon" comedies in which both cast and audience give equally inspired performances.

To quote Dee-Ann, "My dear, how really truly completely marvelous!" The article--that is!

Lois R. ANDERSON

Marbella, Spain

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