Closing Bases Sir: Re McNamara's plan to close military installations [Nov. 27]: for years I have been hearing that the Federal Government is getting too big and powerful.

If Government projects benefit individual states, the people there are all for the project--but if the project is not in their own state, they are against it. Now that the U.S. is trying to be a little conservative, just listen to these same people bitch and holler! DARWIN B. HILL Roscommon, Mich.

Sir: When at long last a federal administration has had the good sense and courage to take a positive step to cut out major causes of waste and expense, it is shocking to read that some Congressmen, Senators and Senators-elect are proposing to sabotage this sound decision.

DOUGLAS CAMPBELL Cos Cob, Conn.

Sir: (Deep breath): "We will terminate operations at 95 installations with a loss of 63,000 jobs. We will save $500 million by this trimming of the defense budget." (Next breath): "We shall press for passage of laws for our war on poverty, creating new jobs. It will cost only $1 billion." (Under the breath): "We'll lose the scattered 63,000 votes, keep the consolidated depressed-area votes." Result: another sweeping mandate in '68.

JAMES M. MELLON Toledo Sir: Add my name to those petitioning for the resignation of Defense Secretary McNamara.

DAVIS SHRYER West St. Paul, Minn.

Better Living Sir: Your cover about the fascinating firm of Du Pont [Nov. 27] provided an enlightening picture of a famous name in one of the most baffling areas of modern science and industry. Aside from wishing the company success in making Methuselahs of us all, I hope that it enters the pharmaceutical field in the traditional spirit of hot price competition against those firms that were recently collecting scandalous profits from the sale of miracle drugs.

EMMELINE BARBOUR Anaconda, Mont.

Sir: Du Pont is far ahead of its competitors, but not as far as is suggested by some of the sales figures in your story. The sales of Union Carbide in 1963 were $1.7 billion, of Monsanto $1.2 billion. This year will find five companies in the billion-dollar class, with Allied and Dow also passing this milestone.

ALLAN E. SETTLE

Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc. Washington

> TIME'S figures for Union Carbide and Monsanto were for the first-half 1963 sales rather than the whole year.

Controversial Cop Sir: When J. Edgar Hoover, a public servant, publicly sympathizes with Walter Jenkins, insults a leading citizen, berates a Government agency and vilifies our highest court [Nov. 27], then, sir, his public usefulness has come to an end.

JAMES I. MORTON Madrid Sir: Since Mr. Hoover's outburst, the American people have a right to know whether he is suffering from extreme stress or has personal animosity toward Dr. King--and if he is still competent in his powerful position.

MRS. RICHARD GRESLA Muskegon, Mich.

Sir: Are there not enough honest nonCommunist, non-coward citizens in our country to stand behind J. Edgar Hoover? He is one man in our country who is neither a Communist nor a coward.

MARGUERITE G. HARRIS Canoga Park, Calif.

Pigskin Experts Sir: I am of Irish extraction, I'm a Roman Catholic, I'm a member of a religious order, I can't pronounce Parseghian [Nov.

20] and I love to see Notre Dame lose for the same reason I love to see the Yankees lose. Am I still an American? THOMAS SPRING, S.M.

Most Holy Trinity High School Brooklyn Sir: Advancing an inflated pigskin toward a white line might not be beneath the dignity of man, but why must he also implicate his deities in such activity? Does the Mother of God really belong in a locker room? STEPHEN B. SHUGRUE New Brunswick, N.J.

Sir: Re your remark, "the Fighting Irish were in a fighting mood," they certainly were! Not only was the Spartan football team beaten, but the Michigan State band was beaten up as well--with fists. Poor losers are one thing, but it is a sick age when we have college students who are such disgusting winners.

HUGH GARLOCK Lansing, Mich.

Sir: We have thrilled and marveled at the aggiornamento of football at Notre Dame. Now TIME has divulged the reason.

Hail Marys led by a French-Armenian Protestant--truly ecumenism on the playing fields of South Bend.

JOSEPH J. BURNS Haddonfield, N.J.

Bamboozled Trooper Sir: As counsel for the Supreme Court of Alaska, I wish to comment on your article about the unfortunate controversy in Anchorage between bench and bar [Nov.

13]. It arose because of the efforts of the Alaska State Bar Association to defy regulations issued by Alaska's Supreme Court. The court had been requested by Alaska's senate to prepare these regulations, which conform closely to those of the Supreme Courts of Michigan and Wisconsin. The state trooper who served an order of sequestration upon the bank in Anchorage displayed his gun only because the bank's counsel falsely represented to him that the law required him to do so.

The state trooper did this reluctantly and under protest. It is a sad commentary upon members of the Alaska bar that they would bamboozle a state trooper for no purpose other than to impugn the motives and methods of the state Supreme Court.

GEORGE COCHRAN DOUB Weinberg & Green Baltimore Two Views of Union Sir: Re your article "Ecumenism" [Nov. 20]: the interesting illustration given regarding the four churches that voted to combine into one United Church of Schellsburg augurs well for the solution of problems of church organization and effectiveness in communities of this size.

May I commend you on the fine coverage of such an important event in the religious life of this community.

RALEIGH E. SAIN Michigan Council of Churches Detroit Sir: I must disagree with TIME and the National Council of Churches on the assertion that Schellsburg's United Church presents "an example that can be followed with profit." You note that compromise was involved. Indeed so. A compromise of truths that Lutherans have been proclaiming for 447 years.

The only valid basis for union is doctrinal agreement, unity of faith. In view of the tremendous doctrinal differences among these four denominations--Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and United Church of Christ--the "merger" that took place in Schellsburg, Pa., is ridiculous.

M. SCHMIDT Ann Arbor, Mich.

Preparing for Death Sir: I pray I am only one of countless to commend you on your superb and compassionate article on thanatology [Nov.

20]. The insight and sensitivity of its content should do much to stir up the consciences of medical men as well as of people of all religions to face their obligations at the time of others' death. Few people in their secret hearts want to die alone.

JAN PINKUS Alexandria, Va.

Sir: You vividly illustrated that a thanatology without theology inevitably leads to an anthropology without eschatology.

JOHN L. AMSTUTZ Royal Oak, Mich.

Acid Critic

Sir: Your article about TV critic Jack O'Brian [Nov. 20] was a perfect description of him. It reminded me of the time in 1956 when 1 worked at a gambling casino, in Nassau, Bahamas, where he was a guest. He was so uncouth and ill-mannered I had all I could do to restrain myself from doing him bodily injury.

CHARLES C. HAIMO New York City

Sir: We need critics of Jack O'Brian's caliber who see through the hokum and drivel of what passes for TV entertainment today.

MICHAEL RIBOTTA Don Bosco College Newton, N.J.

Sir: After reading how so many consider Jack O'Brian an Ogre, 1st Class, I feel mighty lucky. After seeing me on a Groucho Marx show, he described me as "a nice colonel," but didn't mention my name. I gather he is seldom generous with either flattery or anonymity, but he was in my case.

COL. BARNEY OLDFIELD, USAF (RET.) Beverly Hills

Protected

Sir: As the mother of one of the contestants in the Miss Teenage America contest in Dallas, I hasten to take great exception to your flip reporting of the event [Nov. 20]. These young ladies were fine, dignified representatives of their cities and states. The only time they did the monkey and the bird was at a purely recreational function, after putting in grueling rehearsal hours for the telecast. At all times they were protected by security officers, in addition to their mothers or chaperones.

(MRS.) ELIZABETH H. MCDONALD Milwaukee

Watery Surroundings

Sir: It was an astute and subtle photographer who captured the "maritime interests" of Witness (and Body Dumper) Kendal [Nov. 20] by picturing her with a copy of Rachel Carson's The Sea Around Us. JEFFERY L. BARKER Cambridge, Mass.

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