Letters, Oct. 20, 1952

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(2 of 4)

New York City

Sir:

. . . The author must have spent two weeks in the Shamrock Hotel—probably the cocktail lounge—and a weekend at the King Ranch, and decided she knew all about Texas. I have lived 45 years in Texas—and if I had my "druthers" would still be there—and sincerely wish someone would write about the other 7½ million or so people who live there who don't possess an oil well, a 100,000-or-more-acre ranch or a fabulous hotel. Not that I begrudge the latter one item of what they have. More power to them . . .

DOROTHY Y. FISHER Mentone, Calif.

Sir:

. . . The thing we all are wondering: "Who hurt Miss Ferber's feelings as bad as that?"

ELEANOR W. RINGLAND Alamo, Texas

SIR: REFERENCE EDNA FERBER'S DESIGNATION OF TEXAS MALES AS BRAGGARTS WHO STOLE TEXAS FROM THE MEXICANS, I SUGGEST THAT TIME'S BOOKS EDITOR TRY TO BE IMPARTIAL TO THE EXTENT OF COMPILING THE NUMBER OF CONGRESSIONAL MEDALS OF HONOR WON IN WORLD WAR II BY TEXANS SERVING IN THE ARMY, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AS AGAINST THE GREATEST NUMBER WON BY SERVICEMEN FROM OTHER HIGH REGISTERING STATES.

AARON MILLER NEW YORK CITY

I New York 34, Texas 32, Pennsylvania 30, Ohio 25, Illinois 23.—ED.

Delicate Matter

Sir:

Belching Stanley Steamer indeed! Re: TIME, Oct. 6.

Some of my best friends are Stanleys and I have yet to see or hear one belch. The main burner may pop back or get to moanin' low if the fire is turned on too soon; she might sizzle, hiss or tick a little as the pressure rises; you might hear a soft "wuff-wuff" as a Steamer passes; there could even be a slight thumping if a pump bearing were worn. But belching! You might better have said "The Silent Stanley Steamer."

WARREN R. PERRINS Rochester, N. Y.

Political Funds (Cont'd)

Sir:

Publication of his income tax returns by Candidate Stevenson reveals a lack of sense of the dignity which should be observed by a man nominated by his party for President of the U.S.

The people are not even morbidly interested in his private affairs, and it is an unseemly act ... Certainly, this is not a time to seek to divert attention to unimportant side shows like the petty personal fling at Nixon, or the quibble over Stevenson's use of private contributions. Must this buffoonery be further prolonged?

SETH MAY Auburn, Maine

Sir:

Re: "Democrats," Sept. 29. It didn't occur to me that Governor Stevenson has sanctioned improper influences on any government officials.

The question relative to appointive and elective officials is an easy one, of which I feel you should have known the answer. The man who seeks the office is, with few exceptions, seeking personal gain and a position. He gets what he bargained for and, only too often, more than he deserves. The man whom the office seeks, conversely, has position and a record of accomplishment behind him.

It is not too much for one to serve his country at a material loss to himself. It is too much, however, for one's country to expect such service as a matter of policy. We have to be as practical in government as we are in business. That is where, I think, Governor Stevenson enters the picture.

EDWARD P. JULIEN

New Orleans

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