The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 140, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1988 Page: 2 of 32
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PAGETWO—THbCHEROKEEANOFRUSK, TEXAS—THURSDAY. APRIL 7, 1988
Character: the best credential
It would be expected that one's own
newspaper would editorially endorse a candidate
in any campaign. That she has not given demands
to the news and editorial staff of this newspaper
for any specific coverage of her campaign is a
testimony to the kind of person Marie Whitehead
is. She can easily run on her own record of accom-
plishment, without fanfare.
Those who have worked with her in com-
munity endeavors are her most avid supporters.
Whether Chamber, school, civic theater, public
projects...Marie Whitehead has always con-
tributed more than her fair share. She doesn't
"pass the buck" on her responsibilities and she
finishes what she starts. Her direct experiences in-
clude school board, Chamber board, Region Vil
Education Service Center board, Angelina-
Neches River Authority Citizens' Advisory
Group for better water resources, Rusk Park
Board...much more. Her opponent's in-
volvement pales by comparison.
Ability, experience, dedication are tremen-
dous recommendations, but the best, in the view
of this editorial staff, is the high personal regard
in which Marie Whitehead's friends hold her.
Wealth and political muscle can buy a degree of
allegiance, but Marie Whitehead has earned what
no amount of wealth and influence can secure:
RESPECT. Those who know her best respect her
the most.
We can discuss issues—and Marie Whitehead
<s well versed—yet our hope for better gover-
nment hangs on the character of those we elect to
represent us. "It is better to be governed by a
good man (or woman) than by good laws,"
Aristotle said. When we vote, we must keep in
mind that laws are made by people. Laws for the
public good can be made only by trustworthy
people. Marie Whitehead has the proven ability
and character to excel as State Representative for
District 11.
Compare.
Then make voting a priority Tuesday, April
12.
-sandy alien
Insurance suit.. .a 'red herring'
Ever heard of a "red herring"? This smelly
fish was often used to confuse hunting dogs.
Drawing the red herring across the trail of a hound
would bring profound confusion and divert him
from the real scent. Figuratively speaking, "red
herring" means something that distracts attention
from the real issue.
A good example of a "red herring" is the timely
lawsuit being brought against six major insurance
companies, accusing them of conspiracy to create
a liability insurance crisis in Texas. Now we
citizens know enough about big business to know
that they will take a hefty profit when they can. In
fact, we may become so zealous in supporting
their prosecution that we fail to notice that their
accusers are accomplices in causing high insurance
premiums.
What we have here is a red herring. The feud
between lawyers and insurance companies, much
publicized in the last session of the Legislature,
has culminated in an attempt by the trial lawyers
of Texas to make the insurance companies take the
total rap. By proclaiming to Texans, "We've
found the culprits!" the lawyers hope their own
role in the state's dilemma will be overlooked.
The lengthy proceedings against the insurance
companies will at least buy the lawyers time to
plan their strategy for the next session.
If this sounds harsh against the lawyer lobby,
consider their all-out attempts to defeat much-
needed reforms in our tort laws to stem the
growing tide of multi-million dollar lawsuits in
our state. Texas has a nation-wide reputation for
its outlandish settlements—the root cause of high
liability costs. Until we address the issue of tort
reform, insurance premiums are not coming
down—no matter how many insurance companies
we sue. It is a basic fact of life that businesses will
not continue to operate where the risks are un-
calculable.
For lawyers to blame Texas' insurance crisis on
the insurance companies is like the pot calling the
kettle black. Consider the FACTS:
*The first $ 1 million award in a U.S. tort case
came in 1961. By 1984 there were 401. Yet the
average victim gets only 37 percent of the total
cost of a claim. Who gets the rest? The bulk (as
much as 60 percent) goes to lawyer fees. This
means a trial lawyer can make on ONE tort case
what many people work a lifetime to earn. Is this
fair?
•Six out of ten Texas physicians who deliver
babies have been sued and also eight out of ten
neurosurgeons—one-third of all doctors now limit
their practices because of their exposure to suits.
Do we really believe that 60 to 80 percent of
these doctors are truly guilty of malpractice—or
does our "court lottery" system encourage
ungrounded lawsuits? (Remember that a person
must pay thousands of dollars to a lawyer to
defend him regardless of whether or not he is
guilty.)
•To pay a FEW parties who win outlandish
lawsuits—and their lawyers, of course—the entire
population of Texas is being taxed with hundreds
and thousands of dollars per year of extra insuran-
ce premiums. Businesses are being driven out of
business; doctors withdrawing from certain
"risky" treatments which could save lives;
citizens suffering from rising costs of required auto
insurance.
•Because there are no judicial guidelines for
tort cases, it is difficult to calculate risk, thus in-
surance companies are anxious to set premiums to
cover a maximum amount. Do you blame them?
Government entities are an especially poor risk
and liability coverage has become so expensive
that many are "going bare." One such Texas
municipality recently had to issue public bonds to
cover a $4 million court award against them.
Who pays for that? The taxpayers, of course I
We cannot continue this pattern of "litigation
lottery" without dealing a serious blow to our
already suffering economy. Soon no one will be
able to afford to drive a car—the insurance
payments will match the installments. No doctor
will be able to afford to practice—one liability suit
could wipe out his entire lifetime earnings and he
won't be able to afford the cost of liability
coverage. „ ,
Only one solution remains: we MUST haye
action by the-Legislature to check a warped "sue
mentality" fueled by a minority of {lawyers who
want to get rich quick. Unfortunately, the
lawyers who belong to and support the group
which controls the Senate and is seeking to control
the Texas House of Reprsentatives. They are the
political activists whose aim is to elect more
lawyers to protect their own interests at the
public's expense.
We cannot act too quickly to curtail the unfair
manipulation of laws by a select few.
-sandy alien
Sandy Allen
This Side of the Fence
No one else may have noticed, but I have a bad habit of
people-watching. Someone ran in yesterday with a
newspaper, opened to a page displaying our leader's
(Marie's) picture with former governor Price Daniel.
Now that is quite an honor...to be personal friends of
such a distinguished statesman. Marie missed the point
entirely, for her eyes fell on the obituary column and she
noticed a familiar name. "Oh, Mrs. Troublefield
died..." she said with the utmost remorse. I don't think
she ever did look at her picture with Mr. Daniel.
Pressure-such as that generated by a campaign-has
a way of bringing out the best and worst in people. I am
happy to see that one of my favorite people is "like gold
tried in fire.'' Win or lose Tuesday, Marie will always be
a winner in my view.
The Cherokeean
USPS 102-520
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper,
Established as the Cherokee Sentinel,
Feb. 27, 1850
Second Class Postage Paid at Rusk. Texas 75785
Published weekly on Thursday by
E. H. Whitehead Enterprises,
618 N. Main, Rusk, Tx. Ph (2 14) 683-2257
Suh*Kulrs I'uyulik- ill AJvulk <■
Cherokee County $ I I per year
Outside Cherokee County % 13 per year
Outside Texas $ 13 per year
Overseas wo per year
Speaking of politics, we are likely to be sick of the
word before this year ends. After the Run-off election
Tuesday, we have city and school positions to fill and the
general election in November for the highest offices in
our country. I am not politically inclined, but I fear
apathy, so I always vote-even if I think the choices are
poor.
We in East Texas identify with the message: "If gun
are outlawed, then onlv outlaws will have guns." Have
you thought to relate that idea to government... "If
good, honest people shun politics, then only bad, corrupt
politicians will remain to run our government." Yes,
folks, we DO need to be involved.. .to invest our time and
money...to support those whom we feel have the right
-attitude toward serving the people. The collective vote
of the people is still the best way to make changes for the
better.
Happy voting Tuesday!
Readers' Response...
Readers are encouraged to voice their views through
this column. When submitting letters for publication,
please follow these guidelines:
1. Letter should be clearly legible, preferably
typewritten, double-spaced
2. Please limit letter to 500 words or less
3. ALL letters MUST be signed! Unsigned letters will
not be published
4. This publication reserves the right to edit any letter
submitted for publication.
Dear Editor:
I am offended that the Palestine trial lawyer running
for State Representative made a personal attack on two
of our hard-working, fine citizens, Marie and Emmett
Whitehead, in recent newspaper advertisements.
He called them "rich" and "control the local
Cherokee County media...and most of the political
power in District 11."
With our Cherokee County economy so bad, we need
someone with know-how and ability to help us. Cherokee
County has more than 1,000 state jobs because of the
Whiteheads. They worked to save our Indian Mounds
pine tree nursery at Alto from being moved to Jasper in
1980. This represents 20 full time and 55 seasonal
workers. They led the work to establish Caddoan Indian
Mounds historical site and museum in Alto. also.
Rusk State Hospital gained more than 500 employees.
Nearly 350 of these people live in Jacksonville, earning
95.5 million plus a year. Their most recent efforts
resulted in an additional 450 jobs from service to the
Texas Department of Corrections in Rusk.
The Texas Forest Service, Texas Rehab andthe
Department of Human Services are in Jacksonville
because of their efforts. Remember, too, their work with
Jacksonville to get BOR funds through the Texas Depar-
tment of Parks and Wildlife to help build Buckner Park
in Jacksonville.
The Texas State Railroad employs 50 full time and 45
seasonal employees. The Whiteheads were responsible
for this outstanding tourist attraction.
Thenursing homes in Alto and Wells, badly needed
facilities, were given complete support by the
Whiteheads.
Prom their positions of legislative and news media
service, these two people have worked diligently to im-
prove the quality of life for all of Cherokee County. Per-
sonally, I like the kind of power they have used to help
others. The world would be better if we had more hard
working folks like them.
Sincerely.
Douglas Bradford
Retired Postmaster and forrmer
Mayor of Alto
Alto, Texas
from the
LION's
DEN
By E. B. Musick, Jr.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following has been contributed
by Lion George Dodd in the absence of Lion Elma
Musick Jr.
Food for Thought Department: The empty tomb
provides the Christian with a full life for eternity.
There was a small turn-out of Lions this past Thur-
sday and the ones that were not there sure missed a good
program. Lion Paul Cox offered our prayer, Lion
President Charles Horton led the pledge and Lion Ike
Daniel led the singing of' 'America.''
Lion Jim Cromwell gave a report on the pizza sale. It
was a great success and the Rusk Lion Club wants to
thank all of you that purchased pizzas and we hope that
you enjoy them and at the same time that you will know
that you are helping us with our projects. Lion Jim is due
a lot of credit for a great job. A successful fund raising
project just doesn't happen on its own. It takes planning
and leadership and Lion Jim provided both.
Lion Billy Watson and Lion Doyle Rasberry are
program chairmen for the month of March. They had as
their program a quartet from the Salem Baptist Church
and the Alto Missionary Baptist Church. Lion Billy in-
troduced the singers. They were Rev. Tommy Mabry,
pastor of the Salem Baptist Church, Cathy and Hulen
Gilmore, members of the Salem Baptist Church and
Rev. Odis Bryan, pastor of the Alto Missionary Baptist
Church. Rev. Mabry played the piano and sang'with the
others. They started with "I'll live in Glory," followed
by "The Lovely Name of Jesus." Their next song was
"I'll Talk to My Father." The last two numbers were
sung without the piano. They did a great inh with "I'll
Have a Little Talk with Jesus," and ended their
program with "America, the Beautiful." What can I
say? I have never heard it sung better. Anyone that
could sit and hear this fine group sing this song and not
be proud to be an American, something is wrong with
them. This group has sung for the Lions Club before and
we always look forward to their return. What a great
talent each one of them have and they are using this
talent to praise the Lord.
By the time you read this, Easter will have come and
gone. I hope that each of you spent some time during
Easter to give thanks to God for His love. And to thank
Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. Some time we
miss the real meaning of Easter by what goes on around
us. It's great to see the children hunting eggs and to see
our beautiful ladies in their new dresses, but if this is all
that Easter means, then we come up short. All we have
to do is remember, God loves each ofus, as bad as we
are, and he has provided a way for us to gain eternity J
and that way is Jesus. If you know Jesus* then tell |
someone that doesn't.
Customer to new car salesman: "Can you tell me why
a $12,000 price is modest, but a $100 discount is substan-
tial?"
"My bowling is much better than my golf," said Lion
Paul Cox.
"How do you figure that?" asked Lion Doyle
Rasberry.
"Well, I bowled all night and never lost a ball."
See you this Thursday at the Southern.
american
IcancerB
society 1
moker
x^*Book
Hook1
Singletary
Memorial Library
By PEGGY MC ARTHUR
New Fiction:
Inheritance-Judith Michael-a saga of a
woman's journey to her dreams; of a powerful
family pitted against an orphaned family; of
love won and lost and regained.
Feather On the Moon-Phyllis A. Whitney-
Jennifer Blake tries to prove a lost child is her
daughter who was abducted seven years
earlier.
Caribbean Blues-Mary Higgins Clark and
others-seven mystery writers contribute
to the story about precious sapphires in the
tomb of the King of Siam.
The Shell Seekers-Rosamunde Pilcher-the
story of the Keeling family set in London and
Cornwall from World War II to the present.
New Non-Fiction:
Rachel and Her Children: Homeless
Families In America-Jonathan Kozol-depicts
the plight of the homeless and poor in the
United States.
High Risk-Ken Magid-discusses children
without a cohscience, offers sobering case-
histories and suggestions for raising healthy
children.
HOURS:
Tuesday-ltottp.m
Wednesday, Thursday, Kriduy-12 to5 p.m.
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The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 140, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1988, newspaper, April 7, 1988; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151847/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.