Ho/combe Leave of Absence?• • • • • • • • • • ( • • • • • • * « t « t i i > > t i * « t f t * i * * « * i * » * - * * * * * * * » > t t * * * « * * * ' * * * * * * * * * * ' * * * * ' * * * ' | i ' ' | B * * * * •.* * » * » » » " « » * n » * « i i « i i * * » » * i « * » * » « » f i » ** . * • • * • * * * i \ i i > » * • ... »V*pVi* « • § • • / • • • • • * • * i • > » • t • • • • * i • • * • * i • • * • * • • • i • * • * * * *-*.S*.*.4.•**.•.*.'*'.*»'-**,*.•.V.*,*»*.*t* * • * * * • * • * » • » • • * * » * * • * • • t • » • • *«

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UNTIL THE SCANDAL involving Dis-trict Attorney Jon K. Holcombe eruptedlast week, Mr. Holcombe had enjoyed thegeneral respect and esteem of citizens ofOnondaga County for the excellent profes-sional record he had made as head of theprosecutor's staff.

It is regrettable that this may be lost be-cause of alleged charges of personalmisconduct following an office clambake.

Because of his position as chief prosecu-tor of alleged criminals, the case naturallyhas attracted maximum attention.

There certainly should have been no cov-er-up of the charges because of politicalinfluence, and the news media made no at-tempt to suppress details of the situation.

BUT IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZEDthat there has been no proof of the totaltruth of affidavits, nor has there been anyadmission of guilt.

Quite the contrary.Holcombe has been quoted as saying

that while the circumstances appear bache did not acutally break the law,

We have no way of knowing whether heis innocent or guilty, but we prefer to con-sider him innocent until he is found guilty— or until he is cleared by a jury. That isthe American way.

*BUT IN THIS CASE much more is in-volved than the personal reputation of anaccused man.

We understand that Democratic attor-neys have already moved to seek appoint-ment by Governor Carey if he should de-cide to replace the Republican districtattorney.

The district attorney is a constitutionalofficer, and the power of removal liessolely with the Governor, ;who would firstconduct a hearing.

There is no indication that the Governoris considering taking any such action, al-though it is obvious that Holcombe can notpermit his staff to prosecute himself, if thecase comes to a trial.

Meanwhile State Supreme Court JusticeThomas Aloi, administrative judge of the

Fifth Judicial District, has said he wouldappoint a competent lawyer practicing inOnondaga County to investigate thecharges against Holcombe.

In denying all allegations of criminalimpropriety, Holcombe has insisted hewould not resign or take a leave ofabsence.

*THE LEAVE OF ABSENCE ROUTE,however, may prove to be the sensible pro-cedure, with the district attorney relinqu-ishing his own official duties while hisaides carry on under his chief deputy, andan appointed investigator conducts a spe-cial inquiry which might or might not clearHolcombe.

Thus there would be no vacancy duringthe leave, and the Governor could not ap-point a successor.

If a vacancy should occur prior to Sept.20, the position would go on the ballot inNovember of this year, for a full three-year term.

After Sept. 20, Governor Carey could ap-point to fill a vacancy, and call for a spe-cial election for the balance of Holcombe'sterm.

By taking a leave of absence and desig-nating his deputy to serve in his stead,there wouid be no vacancy and Careywould not have the power of appointment,or removal.

Holcombe then would be subjected to animpartial investigation, with the chance ofclearing his name or the possibility ofbeing found guilty as charged.

*JON HOLCOMBE comes from a finefamily. His reputation has been impecca-ble.

It seems a a shame to make him the tar-get of a major criminal and politicalwitch-hunt unless the charges can be com-pletely substantiated.

Even then, he would be subject togreater personal and official punishmentthan almost any other private citizen, onthe basis of allegations already made.

We do not favor a whitewash, but we doinsist on judicial fairness.

Many Ill-Considered Laws"We suffer from too much ill-considered

legislation, and not from a scarcity oflaws."

That's the observation of U. S. Sen.James L. Buckley as he nears the end ofhis first term as a federal lawmaker.

Truer words were never spoken.They apply in Albany as well, where, as

the bill signing deadline nears, Gov. HughL. Carey is approving or vetoing- bills at a150-a-day clip.

Sen. Buckley advocates Congressionalreforms to promote more careful consider-ation of pending legislation and to enablesenators to participate more fully in bothcommittee work and ful l Senate sessions.

The Buckley proposals make a lot ofsense—which may prove to be a handicap,rather than an advantage, in Washington—and they merit serious consideration.

The junior senator from New York advo-cates that the legislative year be dividedinto parts and that only specific kinds ofactivity be allowed in each part.

There would be one period when sena-tors would devote their time exclusively toL

committee work. In another interval theSenate would consider and act on bills withsenators not having to split their time be-tween the floor and the committee rooms,

unable to do justice to either.Sen. Buckley also sees a need for a

stretchout in the time between when a billis reported and when it can be voted upon.He urges a three-week interval.

The great need in Washington, as he seesit, is an opportunity for senators, and thepublic, to have more time to study pro-posed legislation, judge its strong andweak points, and assess potential conse-quences.

There would also be greater opportunityto estimate eventual costs, Buckleypointed out.

"It has been my experience that the Sen-ate gets too much done, too soon, withoutdebate, without adequate thought, withoutthe informed opinions that most citizenstake for granted is at the heart of everydecision made by a Senator," said Buck-ley.

To that we can only say, amen, but hast-ily add that Washington has no monopolyin that regard.

The state Legislature in Albany, theCounty Legislature, the City Council, andlocal school boards in Onondaga and othercounties perform in a similar fashion andcould benefit from the same reforms advo-cated by the senator.

Reagan's Desperate GambleBy ROWLAND EVANS and ROBERT NOVAK

WASHINGTON - The chilling evidence ofdisaster in Ronald Reagan's unveiling of anultra-liberal running mate came not from pub-lic denunciations on Capitol Hill but from pri-vate anguish of Republican State ChairmanClarke Reed of Mississippi.

Having just staved off a raid by PresidentFord's agents attempting to capture all 30 Mis-sissippi delegates under the unit rule. Reed wassuddenly disillusioned and sickened by the se-lection of Sen, Richard Schweiker of Pennsylva-nia. Without any guarantee of delegates fromthe Northeast, the Schweiker gamble had verynearly done what months of ardent courtshipfrom the White House failed to do: turn Reedinto a Ford booster.

The imminent loss of Reed seems to havecollapsed the strategy inherent in pickingSchweiker. Believing that Reagan's conserva-tives would grumble but not defect. CampaignManager John Sears hoped the balanced ticketwould f i n a l l y pry loose delegates in thenortheastern states. It was an act not of follybut of desperation in the losing quest for thosedelegates.

Contrary to claims by Sears of some 40 co-vert delegates salted away in the northeasternstates, the rising sense of an inevitable Fordnomination had stymied the Reagan delegate

THE POST-STANDARD•/ II nlnrdayjuly 2& l{^

The Standard ... 1820 The Post. . . 1894The Post-Standard... 1890

Published Kvory WeekdaySyracuse, N.Y. 13201

J, Leonard Gorman, Exerutiiv EditorRotx'rt r. Atkinson* Managing Editor

Roland //. Allen, Jr.. Telepiaph EditorOtli? Shrremctd* G'f v Editor

H ilham K. f .Wr, Jr., Assistant to EdiitirH. (nirv Krutirr, Circularitm Mr/r/rv

hunt. While recognizing intense dangers, theReagan high command decided that theReagan-Schweiker ticket was the only hope fora breakthrough.

TO KEEP REAGAN'S strong right flankintact, his sgents on Sunday night began placingcalls for supporters around the country to givethem the unwelcome news. To soften the blow,they neglected to mention Schweiker's 100 percent AFL-CIO voting record and increasingly-soft line on national security policy and,instead, declared him a blood brother ofReagan opposing gun controls and abortion.

Some important Reaganites in still contestedsouthern delegations gamely accepted thestrange ticket. Gov. James Edwards of SouthCarolina grimaced but went along. So did Rich-ard Obenshain, the Virginia conservative lead-er. Roger Milliken, South Carolina textile mil-lionaire and ardent Reagan supporter, was evena little enthusiastic: "What I've found out aboutSchweiker makes me feel this was a very goodmove."

Most important was Sen. Jesse Helms, an un-compromising conservative whose sup Dort for

MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Awxiotod Fret* ij entitled exclusively to the ut* forrepublttotion of oil the locol n*wi prkitvd in thii iwwipoptr,<<t wtll at all Anotkjf*d Prati o*wt diipdtch**, *

Reagan in North Carolina prevented Mr. Fordfrom clinching the nomination last March.Reagan personally telephoned Helms at 9; 05p.m. Sunday. Helms noted the hour because "Iwanted to record for posterity the exact time Ireceived the shock of my life.:> Shocked thoughhe was, Helms went along and stood besideSchweiker at Monday's news conference.

But in Mississippi, Reed proved less coopera-tive. Long courted by the White House (forexample, as one of the few politicians invited tothe Queen Elizabeth state dinner), Reed re-sisted the impulse to leap on the Fordbandwagon. While doubtful of Reagan's pros-pects, Reed last week decided he would not bethe conservative who finally did in RonaldReagan. Thanks to Reed, the Ford delegateraid on Mississippi was turned back Sunday.

However, the priority task for the Reagancampaign this week was not pulling delegatesaway from the President in Pennsylvania butkeeping them in Mississippi. Considering thedepth of disillusionment by Clarke Reed and hiscolleagues, that made the odds on Reagan'sdesperate gamble very long indeed.

P

He Didn't Like Elvis* •

• •I •I 4

* *

By DALE RICE

William Shakespeare wasright I

"Hell hath no fury like awoman scorned."

With a single review of anElvis Presley concert I be-came infamous and notoriousovernight.

AT LEAST several hundred,maybe even several thousand,female fans (not to mention ahandful of males) directedtheir fury at me.

Hundreds of phone calls hitThe Post-Standard offices. Onephone call after another ar-rived at my home. They ques-tioned. They shouted. And theyswore.

.••:>;i':S;-::5S• • -•..•:•::•:.;*& TO THOSE FANS:I'm not fat and 48. I'm a

slim, trim 25. I don't need ahearing aid. My vision is 20-20.I'm not jealous of Elvis, and Ilove my mother.

I may have encroached onthe fantasies many womenhave harbored for the last 20years, but I still stand by myoriginal review. I wrote it as Isaw it, and the phone calls andletters have done nothing tochange my mind.

RICE

If you want to get in touchwith me now, forget it. I leavetomorrow for Wyoming.There, I will spend the nexttwo weeks backpacking andmountain climbing wherethere's no forwarding address.

They Loved ElvisTo the Editor;

An open letter to Dale Rice:In response to your article

in Monday's paper, your at-tack on Elvis was unjustified.Apparently you did your re-viewing from your desk.

Many thousands of Elvis'fans read your ludicrous re-port on the most loved, themost talented, the most heartwarming man that ever per-formed. Syracuse is proud thatsuch a wonderful talent hasplayed in our city.

You sat at your typewriterand pounded out something ri-diculous (meaning in diction-ary: outrageous, shameful,comical, droll, preposterous,etc.) and think that you werejustified. In one show that hedoes he works harder in thatone performance than you doin one year of your so-calledreporting.

Yes! Dale Rice - He is 41years old and maybe has atummy. Dead? never! Let'ssee you hold millions of fansfor 28 years and still be theKING. No costume could everoutshine Elvis. Our sex idol isnot dead! You were the onlyone with the illusions.

The two shows were a com-plete sellout. People slept in.̂ ^^^^

Sex Idol Dead?To the Editor:

I would like to voice a loudand strong protest against thearticle written about Elvis'Sunday n igh t concert inSyracuse!

I. too. was a child growingup in the late 1950s, and al-though I was of the "Beatlesgeneration," I have always re-spected Elvis for his work. Iwas not disappointed Sundaynight.

JULIE FARRSyracuse

Totally Unfair'To the Editor:

Your review of the Elvisconcert was totally unfair anduncalled for. Your critic wasdisappointed because thecrowd of 25-50-year-olds didn'tbehave like teeny-boppers andbecause Elvis didn't do gym-nastics on stage. Too bad!Maybe your critic should stickto Al ice Cooper and LedZeppelin.

W. WEICHERTSyracuse

First in LineTo the Editor:

The review of the ElvisPresley concert by Dale Ricewhich appeared Monday morn-ing was totally uncalled for. Ifwe should ever be so fortunateto have Elvis appear inSyracuse again we'll be thefirst in line for tickets.

GLORIA BALLMARGARET VANBUREN

LINDA AMODIEKELLY HILL

Long Sing the KingTo the Editor:

We think Dale Rice is com-pletely wrong in saying thatElvis was outsparkled by hiscostume. It was an excellentconcert and his voice is just asgood, if not better, than it everwas. The concert was worthtwice the money and we justwish we had tickets to Tues-day's performance.

Long Sing the King.LINDA BERNARDINO

SyracuseSUZANNE CROW

Baldwinsville

Singers GratefulTo the Editor:

The members of JUBILA-TION (singing group) wish toexpress our appreciation to themerchants and management ofFayetteville Mall.

On Thursday, July 15, wepresented a concert there. Themanagement shut off the foun-tain and the recorded musicwell before we arrived, andeven had a security guardwaiting to assist us in settingup.

We feel this kind of supportto young people (and to music)should not go unnoticed.

KEN SIPLEYDirector

JUBILATION

front of the War Memorial —just waiting, hoping to get atleast one ticket to see Elvis.And you say that he is not anidol. People spent up to hun-dreds of dollars to just get aticket. They came from milesaround to see him. Are yousaying that all these peoplehave illusions? So, when youattack Elvis you are attackingthousands of people. Onewoman sat in the second rowand from what she stated,women were crying, somescreaming, jumping, and justwaiting for a chance to touchthe King. He certainly did notlook fat and puffy — just beau-tiful. People were screaming"Come back!'*. One girljumped on stage just to touchhim. What you were seeingwas not what thousands of oth-ers were.

He is on top and will staythere for many years to come.Costume or no costume, that is

Hope for Dale RiceTo the Editor:

Too bad Dale Rice, who "asa child growing up in the '50s,remembers Elvis," apparentlywas prepared to see the sameElvis of 20 years ago. I don'tbelieve anyone wanted to seeElvis gyrate like a kid of 21.Let us all hope that 20 yearsfrom now la Rice will improvein the face of every day hear-tache and disappointment, ma-ture as beautifully, and stillcome up on top of the heap asElvis Presley has done.

ELIZABETH F. KLINK330 Brookfield Rd.Mattydale

"Henny Penny'Won Honors

To the Editor:I would like to take this time

to congratulate Stevie Haneyfor winning four awards at thePet Show held in a Liverpoolpark. Eight-year-old Steviecarried his pet chicken,'~Henny Penny," to the eventand won the following awards:

'Tor the Most Friendliest,"For the Beadiest Eyes," "Forthe Most Feathers," and last,"For the Most Colorful."

Isn't that a riot?Congratulations, Stevie!

CHERI GIANCOLALiverpool

'Gentle Removal7

To the Editor:We the residents of the 300

block of Hudson Street, wish toexpress our profound thanks tothe Division of Animal Controlfor a job well done.

We refer to the incident atHudson Street (July 14) whenan unbelievable number of ani-mals were removed in a verygentle yet efficient way.

We are all very grateful forthe animals' sake, as well asthe residents', that they wereremoved and are receivingproper treatment, whatever itmay be.

THE FAMILIESOF HUDSON STREET

not what people are seeing. Hebrings warmth to thousands.When he sings he is telling yousomething. Even in Washing-ton, D.C., they said that hisvoice is better than it was.

So, Elvis, the people ofSyracuse are proud that youcame to our city. We love youand you are a great perform-er.

JANET GUYETTEEILEEN KELLY

SUSAN KWIETNIAKCounty Health Department

(Nursing Department)Syracuse

Story/Poem

About the SeaTo the Editor:

The following letter waswritten by a student in myclass at Elmcrest Children'sCenter following a discussionof the recent pollution of NewYork beaches. It seemed tome to make some points aboutappreciation and love ofnature , and make them awhole lot better than a lot ofthings I've read lately. Thepoints which Roy has madeseem particularly applicableto this summer season. Here'shis story/poem:

JANE SLABOWSKI(Roy's Teacher)

960 Salt Springs Rd.Syracuse

The Story of the Sea

I will tell you people, if youreally like the sea, you willjust sit on a rock and justthink about the water. One dayI will go out to the sea andcatch me a whale and nevercome back. Because 1 love thesea so much I just can't see asea die in the open air. If Icould only take a boat out tosea and never come backagain. The sea loves me somuch that it wants to be alonewith me.

Whv is this world so bad?**

I'll tell you something: I justcan't understand why peopledestroy the sea by putting gar-bage in it. It is so sick. Keepthe sea just the way God madeit — because I was in Maine —and the sea was just marvel-ous.RONALD RICHARD SANTEE

'Right-On'To the Editor:

Hail to you. Dale R. Gowin!Your letter which appeared inthe Julv 6 issue of The Post-»•

Standard was the most sensi-ble, realistic and right-onpiece of literature regardingmarijuana legislation that I'veever read.

Have you ever consideredrunning for Senate on theNORMAL ticket? I am posi-tive that hundreds of Syracu-sans would be behind you 100per cent. I sincerely hope thatevery parent and so-called"pothead" read your letterand took heed. It was a trulyoutstanding presentation, and Ithank you for bringing it out ofthe closet.

ONE WHO AGREES

DUNAGIN'S PEOPLE

P WHEAT PEAL FOR WE MOMENT,COMRADE,.. IS TTMe \ME SIABOUT A PEMOT DEAL.'Vi*

Political Front(fitsBliven

Markert Still Uncommitted,But He's Not Playing Games

"I'M NOT PLAYING GAMES!""I am truly uncommitted," claims Leonard P. Markert, Jr.,

widely known Syracuse businessman and one of seven unpledgeddelegates from New York State to the Republi- §|can National Convention.

Markert has taken a lot of heat, much of itbehind his back, because he has refused tocome out for President Gerald Ford and alsobecause he gave the impression of complete in-decisiveness by not backing former CaliforniaGov. Ronald Reagan either.

Marker t's position is that, "I was elected asan uncommitted candidate. I was certified as adelegate in an uncommitted status. I don't haveto vote until I get to Kansas City. I don't feel _ Bliventhere is any purpose for me to make a decision until I getthere."

Markert maintains that no one knows when something elsemay happen, such as occurred Monday when Reagan announcedthat U. S. Sen. Richard S. Schweiker of Pennsylvania will be hischoice for vice-president if he gets the presidential nomination.This could produce a windfall of delegates for Reagan.

The Syracuse businessman insists that it isn't a dislike foreither candidate—Ford or Reagan—that keeps him unpledged.

"I can accept either candidate," he stated.Neither is it a case of Markert believing that only one of them

could beat Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter."Either one of them can beat Carter," according to Markert.Finally, Markert denies that he is staying on the fence just so

he can vote for a winner in Kansas City when the GOP NationalConvention convenes Aug. 16.

* 4 I hope whichever one I vote for wins," Markert said, but, heinsisted, he isn't lying back to see who is going to be triumphantbefore he decides whether he will vote for Ford or Reagan.

*

Bella's 58th BirthdayREP. BELLA S. ABZUG, one of five aspirants for the Demo-

cratic nomination for U. S. senator, celebrated her 58th birthdaylast Saturday by campaigning, day and night.

Teen-Age GOP ConventionTEEN AGE REPUBLICANS will hold a mock presidential

nominating convention during the 12th annual Teen Age Republi-can Week, Aug. 1-6, at Union College in Schenectady,

More than 100 young people from throughout the state are ex-pected to attend the affair sponsored by the Republican StateCommittee.

Other program features will include a mock primary electionfor U. S. senator, a mock session of the State Legislature andspeeches by prominent Republicans, government officials andcivic leaders.

Moynihan Tours Aug. 5DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN, one of the five aspirants for

the Democratic nomination for U. S. senator, is slated to tourthree Northern New York counties on Aug. 5. in company withMrs. Norma Bartle, Democratic candidate for Congress in the30th Congressional District.

Present plans call for Moynihan and Mrs. Bartle to hold a11.45 a. m. press conference at the Massena airport and speak ata luncheon at 12.30 p. m., in the Sheraton Motor Inn in Massena.

At 2.15 p. m. the campaigners will hold a press conference atthe Watertown airport. Later they will tape a public affairs pro-gram show at a Watertown television station and then be guestsat a late afternoon cocktail party.

That night both will attend an Oswego County Democraticdinner at the Pontiac Hotel in Oswego.

Wortley Files PetitionsGEORGE C. WORTLEY claims that he has filed designating

petitions supporting his Republican candidacy for Congress inthe 32nd Congressional District in Albany with 8,805 signatureson them.

Wortley said there were 8,578 signatures backing his Republi-can candidacy, and 227 supporting his Conservative candidacy.His signers1 total is more than double the number of signers onthe petitions of Rep. James M. Hanley, the Democratic incum-bent, Wortley stated.

Conservative Write-in EffortJEFFREY W. MOREY reports that enrolled Conservatives in

the 120th Assembly District will wage a write-in campaign toproduce the Conservative party endorsement for AssemblymanMelvin Zimmer, Democratic incumbent. Jack Kinsella, the Re-publican nominee, is the regularly endorsed Conservative candi-date.

Anderson Blasts CorbettSENATE MAJORITY LEADER Warren M. Anderson, in a re-

cent press release, appears to imply that State AFL-CIO Presi-dent Raymond R. Corbeit ought to learn how to read.

Corbett, Anderson claims, is backing in the Legislature, aDemocratic Assembly-passed workmen's compensation benefitsbill which provides $6 million less a year in benefits for injuredworkers than one passed by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Anderson found it hard to believe that Corbett, who professesto have the best interests of the working men and women atheart, would support a bill that was "inferior" to one which hadalready passed the Senate.

Open Government?THE BOARD OF REGENTS, which is the governing body for

education in this state, will meet for three days in Albany thisweek, starting today.

How much of their deliberations will be open to the public?About a half hour's worth in mid-afternoon Friday, after all thedecisions have been made and everything is cut and dried.

This is open government, Albany style.

GOP Softball GameTHE WALSH WONDERS and The \Vortley Warriors will

clash in a softball game at 1 p. m. Saturday at tne Hopkins Roadfield, Liverpool.

The game, matching Republicans from the 32nd-and 33rd Con-gressional Districts, will be sponsored by the Onondaga YoungRepublicans.

GOP County Chairman Richard J. Hanlon will twirl for theWalsh team, while GOP Finance Chairman Leonard P. Markert,Jr., will be on the mound for the Wortley crew.

A number of prominent area Republicans will dot the lineupsof both teams.

Support Hersha CampaignRICHARD M. WALKER, Syracuse insurance executive and

former campaign aide to ex-Congressman John H. Terry, hasbeen named campaign director of the Citizens for Hersha organ-ization. This group is promoting the candidacy of Alexander J.Hersha for the Republican nomination for assemblyman in the121st Assembly District in the September primary election.

John D. Burke, widely known certified public accountanthere, is committee treasurer.

Also working for Hersha are Pamela K. Heintz, Skaneateles;Franklin B. Tign, Camillus; Drusa S. Black, Town of Onondaga;Susan Mezey, Marcellus; Jack L, Brown, Peter J. Amico, Ed-ward Raps A Jr.. and Marie R. Swrndor*./'' '

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