ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610210010
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
IN A recent speech, Bob Dole made reference to Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry S. Truman when declaring himself to be a person you can trust. If a muffled thump was heard in the background, it must have been old Harry S. turning over in his grave.
In the book ``Plain Speaking,'' an oral biography of Truman by Merle Miller (Berkley Publishing Corp., 1973-74), Truman is quoted as saying: ``But I wouldn't have ever supported Eisenhower under any circumstances for President even if I didn't hadn't known about his personal life.'' He then recounts the episode about a letter Eisenhower wrote to Gen. George Marshall saying that he (Eisenhower) wanted to be relieved of duty to come back to the United States and divorce Mrs. Eisenhower to marry Kay Summersby. Marshall's response was that if Eisenhower even came close to doing such a thing, he would bust him out of the Army.
Truman had a great deal of respect for Marshall as a person of trust. He didn't have the same opinion of Eisenhower, not only because of the above, but also because Truman felt Eisenhower ``sold out'' Marshall when he had his picture taken with Sen. William Jenner. Jenner had called Marshall a traitor. Eisenhower also failed to defend Marshall against charges of disloyalty leveled by Sen. Joe McCarthy. In a speech in Milwaukee, Wis., McCarthy's home state, Eisenhower purposely omitted part of the speech that addressed the charge of disloyalty and offered testimony to Marshall's patriotism. He was persuaded to do so by unnamed Republican politicians in Wisconsin who felt that it would be an insult to McCarthy.
If being a man of your word means honoring vows, and upholding the reputation of someone you have known for more than 35 years - someone who had been instrumental in your career advancement - then Eisenhower failed the test. The Summersby affair smacks of the charges of character leveled at Bill Clinton.
GEORGE SHAY
ROANOKE
A visual affront in the downtown area
ROBIN SCOTT'S concern (Oct. 6 letter to the editor, ``An eyesore at downtown's entry'') about the eyesore at Williamson Road and Campbell Avenue should have been addressed a long time ago. I also pass this corner frequently.
The eye sees this mess and the ``half viaduct'' long before it reaches the million-dollar walkway from Hotel Roanoke.
Come on, can't this be cleaned up? Who owns these buildings?
BETTY PERKINS
ROANOKE
Bob Goodlatte's anti-worker agenda
ONCE AGAIN, Congressman Bob Goodlatte proves he's an enemy of the worker. In his Oct. 8 letter to the editor (``Restoring workers' right to work''), he attempts to defend his anti-worker bill deceptively called the National Right to Work bill.
Goodlatte criticizes the National Labor Relations Act that Congress passed in 1935, which is cornerstone legislation protecting workers' rights to associate and organize trade unions. He makes several false statements regarding what so-called right-to-work laws mean. I work for a trade union representing workers in the South and have full experience working under those laws.
In a right-to-work state, nonunion members get the full benefits the union has negotiated without paying dues. This is designed to create hardship, financial and otherwise, for a representing union. The union may have spent millions and endured strikes, and local union officers may have donated many volunteer hours negotiating raises, health benefits, seniority rules, a fair grievance procedure and other benefits. And the freeloading employee in a right-to-work state pays nothing for possibly years of struggle union members put in for those benefits.
Statistics show that union workers earn $1 to $2 more an hour than nonunion workers. I guess Goodlatte's buddies at the Chamber of Commerce frown on workers making a decent wage.
The AFL-CIO gives him a zero rating when voting on issues positive for workers. His vision for workers in the 6th District and America is low wages, no health and safety protection, no health insurance and no voice while on the job. Every health law, wage guarantee, right and protection that workers have were won by organized labor. And while unions must struggle in right-to-work states, we're coming on strong and growing.
Whether you are union or nonunion, one thing you can do to protect yourself and other workers is to retire Goodlatte. Vote for Jeff Grey, a working man who will represent workers. Reject Goodlatte's anti-worker agenda.
PETE D. CASTELLI III
Representative, Union of Needletrades
Industrial and Textile Employees
MARTINSVILLE
LENGTH: Medium: 89 linesby CNB