The Publisher's Page BY HAROLD T. BECK

AUGUST 19 - AUGUST 25, 2000

AUGUST 25, 2K

The Wizard of Oz 

Good morning. It is 50.7 degrees at 4:54 A.M. 

The idea of changing the name of Bradford to Oz isn’t half bad. I don’t know what is wrong with the people who are pushing for the Marilyn Horne naming, but L. Frank Baum is a much more famous and notable personality with respect to his accomplishments. If there is any way Bradford could claim him, the whole community is missing the boat. But that would be nothing new. The last ship this place caught was the Titanic and look at what happened. 

Instead of trying to salvage an old shoe that has been resoled and mended over and over again, it is time for a total overhaul. The Oz idea is just that. After the voters change the name officially then we get started.  And we can start with city government. 

The Office of Mayor would be eliminated. Every four years a Wizard would be elected instead of a mayor and the Wizard’s power would be supreme.  City Council would be a group that would vote on the Wizard’s decisions ratifying or rejecting them after the fact. That would give Oz a better and more streamlined governmental body because politics and behind the scenes dealing would be out of the picture. It would either be a good idea or a bad one, and if City Council voted against a popular decision of the Wizard, then the people of Oz could bring pressure to bear. 

We wouldn’t need an Office of Economic and Community Development. No. Changing the name to Oz would give us all the notoriety that we would ever need. CNN would cover the changeover and everyone would know where and who we are. 

The Wizard would be our ambassador to the world and promoting Oz would become a major and full time job. Everyone would want to know what this place was all about. And think about it. What fool would ever think of putting a nude club in a place named Oz? Not even Tom Riel would do something like that. 

Then we would have to start changing the names of places in and around Oz. 

-The Allegheny National Forest would become The Enchanted Forest.

-Mutants on welfare would become Munchkins and be required to dress as such at all times thus justifying their handouts from the state and federal governments.

-US Route 219 would become the Yellow Brick Road and that in itself would finally force the Feds to make it the limited access high speed highway that has been envisioned for the past thirty some years.

-Of course Bradford Regional Airport would become Good Witch International Airport.

-Penny Eddy would officially change her name to the Wicked Witch of the East.

-The position of Wicked Witch of the West would be up for grabs with a few former City officials in the running along with the ladies of City Council and a few others in strong contention. 

Those would be the initial changes. Streets could change their names as long as a majority of the people on those streets agreed. For example, the business owners along East Main Street might want to rename the area Munchkin land. Downtown would become the Emerald City. Bradford Regional Medical Center would become Emerald City Regional Miracle Center. Bradford Area School District would likewise become Emerald City Regional School District and so on and so on. 

The Bradford Club could save face. No one would mistake it for an adult web site anymore. It could become the Emerald City Club thus changing its tarnished image. I would be happy to get them the URL so no one could do the same thing to them again. 

And some of our readers agree with this idea, too. 

Great idea, Bud. Imagine, they could host conventions like the Oz Club does and turn the forest into the Emerald one.  Conduct tours, sell memorabilia, even Zippo might market a lighter after them.  They could sell Oz oil from the old oil fields.  After all, Baum's family was in the oil business there, you know. 

I didn’t know that. 

You have gone off your rocker but it is a great idea just the same. Forget a tourism office,  the name would do it all for nothing. People would flock here just to see what kind of nuts would do such a thing. 

True. Very true. I guess the Bradford Hotel would become the Emerald City Hotel, too. 

Oh well. I am interested in what you have to say about this. I am sure you have ideas that can help make this more appealing to the people of Oz. 

Your comments are welcome at editor@mlrmag.com.

AUGUST 24, 2K

Red Jacket’s resignation 

Good morning. It is 59.9 degrees at 4:39 A.M. The morning fog is forming in the forest and on the open land. And I have been up for hours with a disappointed and angry old man. Red Jacket resigned from the staff of The Mountain Laurel Review.

I should have expected as much. The business over the skunks and then me becoming mildly irritated with his expenses were only small bricks in the wall. It was me turning down his story about an Error writer being a race hater followed by the furor over Tom Clark’s writings that sent him over the edge. I would like to say that it is for the better, but somehow I know that it isn’t. We lost a real asset when he left my porch an hour ago and took up hunting skunks again. 

“I just don’t understand,” he insisted. “The guy hated Indians. He wrote that he hated Indians and he was right in there when Sitting Bull was murdered. He was a bigot. No doubt about it.” 

He was talking about L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz and alleged former writer for the then Bradford New Era, now the Bradford Error. And he did his research, too. He quoted notable men of the time to support his thesis. He wrote: 

Congressman James M. Cavanaugh of Montana, in a debate on the floor  of the House of Representatives in 1868, is remembered to have said: 

       'I have never in my life seen a good Indian (and I have seen       thousands) except when I have seen a dead Indian.' This statement was, sadly, the general attitude of the white Euro-American population of the late nineteenth century. Cavanaugh went on to say: 'I believe in the Indian policy pursued by New England in years long gone. I believe in the        Indian policy which was taught by the great chieftain of  Massachusetts, Miles Standish. I believe in the policy that exterminates the Indians, drives them outside the boundaries of civilization, because you cannot civilize them' 

That floored me. I had no idea that Red Jacket could write so well. I asked for verification. He produced tons of verification. He gave me a chronology of the man’s life.

He pointed out that  in 1875 The Empire, of which Baum is editor, is discontinued. Baum opens his own print shop in Bradford, Pa., and works for The New Era newspaper, now The Bradford Error. The Chittenango city directory also lists him as a salesman for Neal, Baum & Co. Wholesale Dry Goods. 

From there he moved west. When the owner of the weekly Dakota Pioneer, John H. Drake, is appointed consul to Kiel, Germany, by President Benjamin Harrison. Baum takes over as editor/publisher for $20/week. Several local papers present a competition. 

Jan. 25 - Baum publishes his first issue of The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer. During his time as editor/publisher, Baum's writing includes everything from descriptions of the elaborate costumes worn by members of a local girls' marching troop to editorials  supporting women's suffrage such as a Feb. 1, 1890 article that reads, "We must do away with sex prejudice and render equal distinction and reward to brains and ability, no matter whether found in man or woman." More than half the 8-page paper uses boiler plate, or ready print copy. The remainder endorses the Republican party, includes locally produced reports on the Farmers' Alliance, carries syndicated columnists Bill Nye and Thomas Nast and editorializes. He writes about Theosophy, occultism and the mysticism of eastern religions. A May cyclone is reported. 

At the height of public hysteria fueled by the Indian scare that ended with the death of Sitting Bull and the killings at Wounded Knee, two editorials discuss Native Americans in a tone that is, perhaps, the least tolerant of Baum's writings.  

It was here that I thought Red Jacket crossed the line. He cited “The only good Indian is a dead Indian” phraseology in five of his columns and the two editorials. Red Jacket insisted that Baum was a racist, hence The New Era and the subsequent Bradford Error were racist publications along with The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer. 

“What has that newspaper done for Native Americans?” he asked me. 

“What are they supposed to do?” I asked. “What do you expect?” 

“You wrote about my friend, Cornplanter. You raised awareness and you gave the story the way it happened. I didn’t care for the way you portrayed me as a land speculator but that was basically what I was and you could have said a whole lot worse. They have done nothing. They have to be a bunch of racists. I know I have heard you say worse than that about the whole bunch of them.” 

“Just because I have had my differences with them,” I told him. “That has nothing to do with saying they are racists because in 1873 or 1874 L. Frank Baum wrote for them as a reporter. Did he write anything racist for The New Era? Have you found any of that? Your people were living here then. Was he a racist against them?” I asked. 

“I haven’t been able to find anything except what he wrote at The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer. That and his writings about the trips to Oz. Where is Oz anyway? It sounds a lot like Bradford,” he said. 

When I said I couldn’t run an article accusing the Publisher and the entire staff of a local newspaper, no matter how lousy the reporting was, of being as he put it: “a low life pile of unscrupulous bottom feeders, liars, and Indian haters” he grew extremely quiet. That scared me. I didn’t know what to expect. Then he raised his head and looked me in the eye. 

“I guess I’m not cut out to be a reporter. I was a better Indian Chief and land speculator. Now that my supply of skunk liver is way down, I need to replenish my supply. I know this is going to put you in a bind, chief; but I resign.” 

With that he submitted his final expense account  and walked off into the night and the forest. A few moments later I heard a shot from a small caliber weapon and gradually the smell of a skunk filled the night. It was a familiar smell and I sat sipping my coffee. 

I couldn’t help wondering about L. Frank Baum. Did he really write here in the Bradford area? 

He must have. And look where he went on to and what he ultimately wrote. I re-read his editorials. There was a tone to them that was vaguely familiar. When he said: “The only good Indian is a dead Indian,” he was echoing the words that had already been spoken on the floor of the Congress. He was echoing the words of the first white settlers. 

And it reminded me of some of the things I have said in the past and even some of the things I have written. There was sarcasm in the tone of his writing. It was as if Baum, realizing that he could not hold back the tide of opinion anymore than he could control the greed of the land speculators, wrote those editorials as a mirror of sorts to put in the faces of the people the real image of themselves. It was kind of like me chiding my readers because they say nothing about how mismanaged the school district is and how high our taxes are as a result of it. I believed Red Jacket, because of his closeness, had missed Baum’s point. 

Baum was a great writer and he was from this area. Then it hit me that City Council was missing the mark naming a street after an overweight obscure opera singer. Why not rename Main Street Baum Boulevard? 

Or, we could rename Bradford Oz. 

We could build a massive theme park and rename the whole place. Why not capitalize on the guy and the fact that he wrote one of the most popular series of books, not to mention the movie, of all time? We could have Tin Man Alley, Judy Garland Way, The Cowardly Lion Building, Auntie Mim’s Diner, Toto Park, and Good Witch International Airport. The thought staggered me. It certainly had to be better than naming buildings after Ray McMahon and Peggy Comilla. 

I went into the house and turned on my computer to find that Tom Clark had sent me an lengthy e-mail protesting how people don’t understand him. It ended oddly. He wrote: 

I wish some of our readers would read every line or, more so, peruse our columns with an open mind.  Let them formulate whatever opinions they may have after reading ours, not before.   If nothing else, I am happy to see that we are making people think about what is happening around us, be it good or bad.  I'm done.  

Now what does that mean? Did he quit too? 

Comments are welcome at editor@mlrmag.com.

It should be noted that Red Jacket's research was done with the assistance of The International Wizard of Oz Club, Inc. We offer our sincere thanks and recommend their website at:

 http://www.ozclub.org/reference/oztl1800.htm. 

AUGUST 23, 2K

In defense of Tom Clark

Good morning. It is raining outside. Just started a half an hour ago and I got wet running outside to put our hanging plants out in the rain. Giving their leaves and flowers a bath helps. It is 64.4 degrees at 6:13 A.M.

I was interested in the assortment of mail I woke to today. I was because it seems that many of you are as bored with Bradford as the people who live here.

Bud: Tell Tom Clark to get on with his life and get out of the small town syndrome. Bradford is the pit of the world. That's why I left. I enjoy your column and I enjoy some of his. This incessant chatter about "welfarites" (which isn't even a word) and how they smell is boring. Every town has that element. Bradford has more than its share. For those of us who read you every day and enjoy your humor and satire, either have him change or eliminate him altogether. Thanks for listening. I think you need to watch what he writes closer.

Mr. Beck, I enjoy your columns. I especially enjoy reading about the old Indians and the Bradford Hotel. Our town has a place like that an it is refreshing to read about it rather than live it. Your sense of humor has taken over from the bitterness you put in your column after losing your bid for reelection. Now you are hitting the point when you talk about politics because you are standing back and telling the truth rather than putting the political spin on the subject. It is apparent to me that your Mr. Clark has his own agenda much like you did. An area cannot live without economic development and recreation is no substitute. What he calls "skimming" is pay for a job that no one appreciates. No matter what is brought to a town or area, it is never enough for the Tom Clarks.

Harold: If Tom Clark wants to save Bradford, tell him to leave and take your buddy Tom Riel with him. And as a second thought, Greg Henry, too. Then Bradford can move on with its life.

Publisher's question: What? Don't you want me to go along, too? Did you just forget or has something happened that I have missed?

I would much rather read about your insanity with the Indians and hanging out at the Bradford Hotel than to read Tom Clark's ramblings about dirty people and a rotten City Council. I live in Erie and I will read the local newspaper if I want that. Clean this column up.

and;

I read your column religiously every morning. Tom Clark has gone off the deep end with his B-Town stories. Is your whole town a slum? That's the impression that I get when I read about it. His column today gave a picture of a cold town with dirty people and the local politicians sitting in bars guzzling booze and ignoring the needs of a whole community. Is that what your town is all about?

Mr. Beck: I read every day. I look upon the stories about Bradford and your part of the country as a satire on life in general. What you isolate to one place is universal to all of us. Until now I thought it was exaggeration and license. The weekly bombardments of your Tom Clark make it clear to us who know nothing about your town that is not the case. What is wrong up there anyway? Is it the town or is it Tom Clark?

And with all of this I received something that hit home with me. It was a prayer. It was a prayer that outraged many and lifted up others. Let me share that with you and then I will comment.

Whether you're a believer or not, this should ring a bell...
 Subject: PRAYER. At this time when we are about to elect a new President, listen to this prayers words and then vote your heart.

Subject: KANSAS SENATE PRAYER

Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas
at the opening session of their Senate.  It seems prayer still upsets
some people.

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good" but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess that.
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it  Pluralism;
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism;
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle;
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery;
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare;
We have killed our unborn and called it choice;
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable;
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem;
We have abused power and called it politics;
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition;
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression;
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and
called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from
every sin and set us free.  Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will, to open their hearts
and their minds to receive your guidance.  I ask this prayer in the name
of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen"

The response was immediate.  A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest.  In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.  The church is now receiving
international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa, and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on "The Rest of the
Story" on the radio and received a larger response to this program than
any other he has ever aired.  With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep
over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again
can be called one nation under God.

If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends.  "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything."

My Comment: We have written on "negativity" and we recognize that sometimes I have gone over board. At the same time, what we have today is negative also. The prayer is the only positive I could find and it touches each and every one of us, me especially. Tom is a talented and gifted writer. I am privileged to have him write for my column. I see his carrying ons as satire in the truest form. I see this whole column and the Mountain Laurel Review since its beginnings as alternative view and satire. The majority miss that and what it means. While some of what you say may be true, I will do nothing to change it. We need to hear what people thing outside the mainstream media. Their opinions, like ours, are not always fact or truth.

Let the joker who is without sin, cast the first stone, people! And I am not bending over to pick up any rocks.

Comments are welcome at editor@mlrmag.com. 

AUGUST 22, 2K

Good morning. It is 52.2 degrees at 6:07 A.M. Just a note to all of the readers we have out there - both about young ladies. One, the young lady at the top of this page is still missing. We would appreciate it if you would read over the info we have supplied and keep her in mind. Second, thank you for all the kind comments on the poem the 13 year old wrote. I liked it too. That's why I published it. And, there will be more. Now on the Tom Clark who is back from assignment.

Quit Yer Beachin' BY TOM CLARK

"I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it scattered on all the beaches of the world... perhaps you've seen it." - Steven Wright

Why has the sea gave many of the greatest authors inspiration to pen some of the finest literary works in history? Did Hemingway feel the constant warm breeze of the ocean to be the perfect aura for writing? Was Michener moved by the relentless surge of the powerful waves? Was Dante inspired by a devastating forces of a tropical storm? 

Beats the Hell out of me!

As far as the sea evoking creativeness, it didn't do squat for me. Three days of beach bumming left me empty headed and sun burned. Sorry, folks, the next great ocean novel ain't coming from my keyboard. 

But my brief time at Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina did wonders for me, both mentally and physically. Not only did I get a chance to rest my softball-playing and ladder-climbing tired body, but I had plenty of time to reflect on what has past and dream of what is to come. 

I never thought I'd be making the following statement, but it was the first time in my life that I was actually excited to be getting back to Bradford. The beach is great, to be sure, but I knew that I would have a fairly interesting week back home. 

Yes, I had a ton of work to do when I got back, especially since I blew everything off for five days to hit the beach. Two of the immediate projects when I returned were banners for the Downtown Bradford Business District Authority, One is for the monthly Lunch In The Square event and the other for their Concert In the Square series. 

Lunch In The Square is quickly becoming one of my favorite activities
around here. The festival-like atmosphere breathes some much-needed
life into the downtown area, albeit only for a few hours each month.

The aroma of great food by various local restaurants and food shops and the casual friendliness of those who come out to enjoy themselves and the company of others contribute to one of the best gatherings you'll find in McKean County. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of Teddy Z. roller blading a pan of chicken wings from his restaurant on South Avenue to his kiosk in the Square. 

The next night was the monthly presentation of Concert In The Square and Jimmy Copeland really outdid himself by booking the Mojo Hands Blues Band. This fantastic band filled the air around Main Street with a "feel good" sound that had the sparse crowd tapping their feet all night
long. 

Yes, I did say "sparse crowd". Unfortunately, it was a very cool night, which may have kept some folks away. Sadly, though, I think that Jim Eckstrom's Error article covering the last concert did too much irreparable damage by concentrating on the negatives instead of promoting the positives of the concert series.

That's just like the Bradford media, however. Potsy from WESB slammed a previous concert and then Eckstom gave it a death blow. The only real shame is that most everyone missed a great show because they blindly believed what was said on the air or in the newspaper.

Jen Aiken, the secretary of the D.B.B.D.A. does a marvelous job of
promoting activities downtown, despite the fact that our own Mayor and
most of the Council members have never attended any of these events.
Councilman Tom Shay came down for the concert, as did Police Chief Dick Cavallero and a few other notable citizens.

Where were the Mayor, other Council members and so called civic leaders? Are they too good to rub elbows with the common folk? Or were they too busy leaning on the bar at the Bradford Club, sitting in the corner at Beefeaters, or whichever other watering holes they hang out at?

They, and you, have one more shot in September to hit both the Lunch and Concert In The Square events. It's your loss if you don't.

During the concert, the Square had its share of mutant, degenerates,
and welfarites, no denying that. But all of us in attendance were able to overlook that and still manage to have a great time. The rule of thumb when mingling amongst the undesirables, just don't get close enough to smell them. 

One recurring bit of feedback I've received from my past writings is that most in Bradford agree with what I had to say in my column, "If I Had A $1,000,000" (MLR online, 06/19/00). 

I heard it again numerous times at both events in the Square, people wondering out loud why we waste so much money through the OECD buying forever-empty buildings, constructing cavernous, vacant warehouses and fixing up worthless slums in a flood zone. 

So many people have agreed with me that the OECD should be sent
packing and money should be redirected towards the recreational
environment in Bradford. The OECD has generated eight jobs, not
counting the ridiculous salary that Ray McMahon skims, which are about
ten jobs less than a good recreational department would generate.

Which would you rather see, kids and adults alike enjoying the fresh air in beautiful parks or and empty Poppy's building sitting on Main Street, awaiting its turn to be the next downtown property to rot away?

I'm damn glad to be back from my mini-vacation and hope that my mental
and physical rejuvenation can be channeled into worthwhile projects
that will better the lives of my fellow earthlings. But, first business
at hand, is to help my team win a softball championship. I'll save
Bradford after that. Send your key peckings to tcclark@2-cool.com. 

'Til next week...

Comments as usual are welcome at editor@mlrmag.com. 

AUGUST 21, 2K

Conversations at the Dixie Lunch

Good morning. It is 42.3 degrees at 6:12 A.M.  

One of our readers sent me a lovely poem. I want to share it with you before I tell you about one of my more interesting afternoons.

Sometimes I just want the wind
To carry me up high into the sky
I may sound like a dreamer
But every now and then it seems
Like I want to reach for something
But it is so high or when I try
It just ends up being a ceiling
Painted like the beautiful sky

Even though how hard I try
I still haven't reached that high
All I want is to feel the wind
Carry me up into the sky
I may sound like a dreamer
But every now and then
I just want to fly

I stand from the ground
Looking up into the early
Morning sky
I can still see the stars
Twinkling their shines
I held my hand out wishing
I could just soar high

Sometimes I just want the wind
To carry me up high into the sky
I may sound like a dreamer
But every now and then it seems
Like I want to reach for something
But it is so high or when I try it
Ends up being a ceiling painted
Like the beautiful sky

When I close my eyes
I feel the soft, cool, sweet
Wind blow through me as if
I could almost hear it say
Just keep reaching you'll
Make it up there someday

Mary Sia-Age 13

And that is just amazing!

Coming back down to earth, Sharyn and I were at one of our favorite watering holes yesterday afternoon - The Dixie Lunch. 

It was a great day for a ride so off we went. 

The Dixie Lunch is a neighborhood place. It opens early in the morning and closes late. Even though there is a well stocked bar in front of the mirror, it is a shot and a beer joint and the neighborhood is primarily blue collar working men and retired union people. Needless to say, politics always comes up and yesterday was no exception. The subject was Bill Slocum running for the Senate.

Jacob Kaminski, Big Jake to the regulars, is a retired coal miner who owns a camp and knows my family. He had an opinion.

"I worked the mine in Vestaburg for years. I worked it with your Uncle Paul, Buddy," he said to me. "Any politician who did time was out of politics. Jocko Jablonksi would see to that. He's done. Kaput. That's that." He picked up a cold bottle of Iron City and took an enormous gulp. "Kaput," he said repeating himself.

Jack Bartus, a car salesman, was there with his wife Sally. He disagreed.

"What's with you, Jake?" he asked. "The guy did his time. Look at your kid. He got in a bind over growing marijuana, did his time and now he has a family and kids. It's not over after you make a mistake. Once it is paid for it is paid for. He doesn't have to be kaput."

That is the way it started.

The Dixie Lunch is a small place. It has seven barstools which are not generally used. The men just belly up to the bar and make as much or as little room at the bar as they choose. Women, if they accompany the men, sit at tables. There are five tables jammed into fairly close quarters. For that reason everyone has a good chance of overhearing everything that everyone else has to say. It's kind of being in a family of sorts.

Terry Davis was the next to speak out on Slocum. 

"I'm retired from the phone company and I went to school with Slocum. I don't like the guy personally, but he was the first person whoever did anything for Youngsville after he got elected. We had John Peterson who is big on expressing opinions about the guy and he did didly squat for us. He came around at election time but once he got in he was too good to come back. The same held true for that bum Curt Bowly. Slocum was there and I don't care what he did. It's over and I'll vote for him."

That sentiment was echoed by Scott Grundy, a burly looking guy with a gruff voice and a heart of gold.

"Slocum was a soldier. He did as he was told. He followed orders and when the heat came on him, he kept his mouth shut and took what he got. Everyone was pointing fingers in every different direction. Everyone except Slocum. Bob Williams was the Mayor when that was going on. He was in the position to stop it or allow it to continue. Why wasn't he indicted along with Slocum?"

"Because unless Slocum talked or they had something in writing linking Williams to it, they couldn't prove anything," Davis said. "But a whole lot of people thought Williams was in it up to his chin. One man committed suicide over the whole thing."

Alice, the bartender, spoke out then.

"When Bob Williams ran for County Commissioner he bragged about paying off the water treatment plant early. Now we finally found out how he was able to do that. They didn't have to haul away the solid waste. They dumped it in the Brokenstraw. So they fined Youngsville seventy five grand, put Slocum and Martin in jail for a month, and what have they accomplished? Are we supposed to believe that the water is clean now and all the danger is over? If any of you do you are kidding yourself."

"Hell!" Tony Trumbetta roared. "Go to Corry and just smell the place. They are dumping as much if not more in the Brokenstraw right now and the DEP and the Feds are looking the other way. They have been doing it for years and no one cares. This all started because the Democrats lost to Slocum and the Republicans did a lousy job of covering it up. I don't like the fat bum either, but I am going to vote for him, too. He's done his time. He's done his time for something that happened before he became a Senator and he has been a pretty decent Senator and he has helped the old people and he has done his job."

The Dixie Lunch by consensus felt that Slocum had every right to run and win the election. A straw poll taken yesterday afternoon proved it. Of the three candidates: Slocum, Calla, and Scarnati, it was 8 for Slocum, 3 for Calla, and 3 for Scarnati. And throw away the primary votes. The primary election was of no consequence to the voters. The presidential nomination was a done deal back then. Now when it counts with Bush and Gore running for President, everyone will turn out. And I am inclined to agree with the crowd at the Dixie Lunch.

Slocum has done nothing but good for the district. I didn't always agree with him and I took quite a few shots at him. But in the end, he has been a highly visible and accessible State Senator. He has worked tirelessly night and day in and for his district. He deserves to be re-elected. The Dixie Lunch is right.

Comments are welcome at editor@mlrmag.com.  

AUGUST 19 & 20, 2K

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