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Section Two The Canadian Statesman. Bowmanville, October 10,1984 3 ( Editorial Comment ] Strategy Is Hard to Figure How will history remember Bill Davis' tenure in Ontario politics? His contributions to the Ontario educational system while serving as Minister of Education will rank as a major accomplishment. His leadership in the re-patria- tion of the constitution will certainly certainly give Ontario's second longest-serving leader a niche in the history books. So will his stand on matters such as rent control, public service restraint, and oil pricing. We can't help but wonder, however, however, if the timing of the Premier's retirement is politically ill-advised. ill-advised. In addition to a lengthy list of accomplishments, the Ontario premier may inadvertently earn a place in history as the man responsible responsible for salvaging the Liberal party. Let's look at it this way: A November November election would have probably returned a Tory majority government government and further demoralized the Liberals. In fact, it just may have been the "coup de grace" for a party already reeling after defeat at the national level. Now the pressure is off. The provincial provincial Liberals will have a chance to escape from the net. And there's little doubt that time will be on their side. So what we're looking at is a provincial provincial election next year with the Tory forces led by someone other than the familiar Mr. Davis. By this time, the party may have already been weakened by a leadership campaign. The so called "big blue machine" will have developed a few knocks in the engine. Meanwhile, at the federal level, the public's honeymoon with the new government will be drawing to a close. For one thing, the economic climate when the election is called next spring could be vastly different. different. If the economy worsens, the Tories Tories at the national level will shoulder shoulder the blame. But some of the disenchantment disenchantment will filter down to the provincial level. And if the national Tories have failed to meet real and imagined expectations, the public may be seriously looking for alternatives. alternatives. Rather than winning a safe election election in November, under the Davis leadership, the provincial Tories will be gambling next spring with a new leader and a new set of circumstances. circumstances. Somehow, the Davis retirement appears, at the political level, to be a bad move. Although it's understandable understandable from the viewpoint of a man who has held a very demanding demanding job for over 10 years and now wants more time for personal interests interests and perhaps some other challenge. It's still hard to imagine that even at the end of his provincial government government career Mr. Davis would make a tactical blunder. This is the man who proved himself himself a shrewd leader throughout his term at the helm of Ontario. He did not serve at a time when the premiership premiership was an easy job. Half of his term occurred when the party was in a minority position at Queen's Park. Premier Davis' survival survival during those years is proof that he's a master of political tactics. What is his political future? What are the "new challenges" that the leader is seeking? Having made his dramatic announcement, announcement, the premier is, characteristically, holding those cards close to his vest. Byline • • By Peter Parrott I'm not really this column. ! Some.entity has taken control of the computer terminal and it is turning turning all of my profoun- dest thoughts into bad jokes inspired by last week's moose story. No one knows exactly how the beast happened happened to travel this far south. It's a bit of a moostery, you might say. But the poor animal's animal's trek to southern Ontario turned out to be a large moostake. He managed to keep out of moosechief for about three days, before succumbing succumbing to a traffic moosehap on Highwày 401 early last Wednesday Wednesday morning. . < *-«■ .. Si: \ ' .AfltvWpuld have been nice to have had a resident resident moose in Bowmanville Bowmanville and area. We could have had a contest contest to name the wandering wandering beast. What would you call him? If you suggested Bullwinkle, go to the back of the class. Mickey Mickey would have been an apt appellation. Mickey Moose has a nice ring to it. Better still would be the name "Chocolate". Hasn't everybody heard of chocolate moose? Then there's the question of what you would call those who tried to hunt him down? "Moosketeers", perhaps? -Photo by Rob Payne Stye (Eatrabratt Statesman 623-3303 (J^NA Durham County's Great Family Journal Established 130 years ago In 1854. 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All layouts and composition ol advertisements produced by the employees ol The Canadian Statesman, The Newcastle Independent and The James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced without written permission ol the publishers. $ 15.00n year -- G months $8,00 strictly In advance foreign -- $45,00 a year Although ovuiy pnicnulion will be tnkon to avoid error, The Canadian Sl.itesrnan accepts advertising m its columns on the understanding that it will not he liable for any error in the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof ol such advertisement is requested In writing by llu* advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business of I ice duly signed by the advnrlisnr and with such error or corrections plainly noted in writing iheroon, and in lhal case it any error so noted is not corrected by the Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion ol the entire cost ot such 'idvertistmenl as the space occupied try the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertisement Blackstock Cast Looks Back to 1878 in "Yarns to Spin" SUGAR and SPICE As Years Pass Us By There Was'Considera- ble difficulty,in catching catching the animal! But, that only goes to prove that the best made plans of moose and men often go awry. Probably the would-be captors needed a new invention to catch the critter. You know what they say: "Build a better mooset- rap and the world will beat a path to your door." It's only too bad that the unfortunate animal passed away so suddenly suddenly while attempting to cross Highway 401. Had he not met with such moosefortune, he would, no doubt, have become famoose. I was going to say, "There's nothing nothing more boring than old people talking about the 'good old days' when they were young." Then I realized that I was out in left field, with nobody at bat, the pitcher chewing tobacco and spitting spitting juice, the catcher fumbling around trying to adjust his athletic protector, as they now call a metal jockstrap. There are many things more boring. boring. Little children who want one more horsey ride when your spine feels fractured in eight places from the 10 previous jaunts. Teenagers babbling endlessly about rock stars, boyfriends, girlfriends, and the money they need to keep up with their friends. "How come we only have a 21 inch TV? I'm 16; why can't I stay out till 3 a.m. if I want to? I'm the only girl in the class who doesn't have construction construction workers boots!" University students, perhaps the most boring creatures in our society. society. After the initial chirps of recognition: recognition: "Oh, Mr. Smiley, how are you? How's it going?" And then 40 minutes of straight, self-centred description description of their university courses or their jobs, their professors, professors, their disenchantment with their courses, their unspoken admission admission that they can't hack it, as you knew they couldn't in the first place. I manage to brush them off after about eight minutes with a cheery, "So long, Sam, great to hear you're doing so well, and best of luck. I have to go to an orgy for senior citizens citizens that starts in four minutes, with the pornographic movie." It's great to leave them there with their mouths hanging open. Next worse, in the boring department, department, are young couples who have produced one or two infants, and talk as though they'd swam the Atlantic, Atlantic, or climbed Mount Everest. "Let me tell you what Timmy (or Kimmy) said the other day. He was sawing wood in the nursery school, and his saw slipped, and he pointed at his saw, and he said, "Don't you dare do that', and the teacher told me, and she said it was the most hilarious thing she'd ever seen, and blah, blah, blah, and .. ." Boring. B-o-r-i-n-g. We can all top that type of story. My daughter, age 7, Grade 2, just getting over the Santa Claus bit, came home one day and told my wife she knew what a certain familiar four-letter word that she'd seen scrawled on the sidewalk meant. At the time, rather absentmin- dedly, with Dr. Spock lurking in the background, she enquired, "And what does it mean, dear?" The response response was, "When men and ladies lie down on top of each other and go to the bathroom." That was the end of any birds and bees instruction. instruction. Next in a descending line of boring boring conversationalists are middle- aged grandparents. The women, young enough to still elicit a whistle on a dark night, the men old enough to suck in their paunches when a bikini walks by, they act as though they had invented grandchildren. They whine exchanged whimpers about the baby-sitting they have to do. They brag that their grandchildren grandchildren are the worst little devils in the world. Boring. And finally, we get to the elderly. Certainly some of them are boring, but they are the ones who have been bores all their lives. But the others, the salty ones, even though slowed by the body's increasing fràilty, retain their saltiness, saltiness, and even improve on it, because because they don't give a god damn anymore. They can say what they like and do what they like. And they do. I've met or talked to three men in their late 80s recently. My father-in- law, 89, seemed rather frail when we arrived for a visit, at 3 p.m. At 11 that night we were still arguing religion and politics, at top form. I've told you about old Campbell, the 85-er who dowses wells and is set to go to Paraguay. Talked to my great-uncle, riddled with arthritis, and his voice and welcome were as warm and crackling as a fireplace freshly lit. This whole column was inspired by a clipping my sister sent me about 88 year old Lawrence Consitt of Perth, Ontario. Lawrence was present when the last man was hanged in Perth. His comment: "It was strange." The man had turned to the crowd and smiled just before his death. He had murdered murdered his wife. Today he'd be given a manslaughter and six years. Lawrence started playing piano 79 years ago, at dances, at the silent pictures theatre. He got five dollars a night for a dance. The talkies knocked him out of a job in 1930. But he kept on playing ragtime and jazz wherever there was an opening. opening. I listened to him improvise for the silent movies. I danced to his piano at country dances, with his nieces and great-nieces. He always had a crock. Took the pledge in 1925. It lasted 13 months. Got sick on a ship to France in 1918, and was too late to be killed. He never married; "But I drank a lot of whiskey." He's in one of those Sunset Havens now, but when they ask him when he'll be back from a day in Perth, he says, "It depends on who I meet." That's boring? Hang on, Lawrence. Lawrence. You gave great pleasure to many people. I hope I can stay as salty as you. Letters to the Editor October 1,1984 Dear Sir: Inside postal workers want permission from federal Labor Minister Bill McKnight to go on strike, possibly as soon as mid-month. The National Citizens' Coalition believes that they should have the freedom to withdraw their labor and strike. We also believe, however, that the 1.5 million unemployed, as well as other Canadians, should be able to apply to Canada Post to work for the wages and terms which have been rejected by CUPW. Those Candians who fill the jobs shouldn't be forced to either join CUPW or pay union dues. Additionally, we believe that federal legislation should be changed to allow free enterprise to compete fully with Canada Post, This competition would force CUPW members to improve their productivity and lower their sights as far as wages and benefits go. In other words, let's free up the market place and protect the individual freedom of Canadians. That's the way to get Canada back to work. Yours sincerely, Colin Brown, President, National Citizens' Coalition excelled themselves. A team effort was very evident. This was demonstrated by the convivial atmosphere among the participants and by the degree of audience enjoyment. enjoyment. I thought the show was smashing. I also attended a wedding in the Village of Tyrone. The church is beautiful, and along with the hall, sparkled with cleanliness and order. It feels good to know many of the people who participate in these events and who contribute contribute so much to the camaraderie within our boundaries. This Thanksgiving weekend I felt very proud to be a resident and member of the Town of Newcastle Community. Community. Sincerely Ann Cowman Oct. 9th, 1984, Dear Sir, During the weekend I attended attended the Dinner Theatre at the Flying Dutchman, The Bowmanville Drama Club Trouble Shooters, Ladies Slow Pitch Who, or what gives you the right, the unmitigated gall to think you have the right to say who can or can't play in this baseball league? We, all of us, put out money for registration in this league so is our money different than yours? Is the color on the hills any different? Those of you who don't know and some of those who do know, there is a petition being circulated to get a team off this league, What makes you think you arc any better than them? Who says if your hack was up against a wall you wouldn't do the same tiling? Excuse me, though! I don't think there are any teams in this league who have the backbone to do what this team is doing or has done. I wish there were more teams who would stand together, not hit the deck as a mat to be walked all over. It's not enough that we have one team in this league who will stick up for their rights and put their necks on the line, we need more. People need to be made aware that this league consists of more than executive and top teams, We need to voice our opinions and ideas not be pushed aside as children who don't know anything. The league needs to realize that we are the majority, the ruling body, but unless we voice our ideas, dislikes or whatever, no-one will hear you. We must always remember we are the majority not the executive or one or two teams. One Trouble Shooter Petition The reason for this petition is to have the team called 'MY APOTHECARY' ejected from the league for their unsportsmanlike conduct and for their refusal to play by Slow-Pitch rules, regulations and the decisions made by the Executive/Protest Committee. Committee. The intimidation which they have projected throughout their career with the league is detrimental to the league's integrity. In the event that any of the players on the "My Apothecary" team wishes to form a new team or play on (mother team in the league, they may do so to a maximum ofjl players per team. The following signatures of presented in support of this Ladies Slow-Pilch Legu members of the 'Newcastle petition, at the General today, Thursday, October It Ladies Slow-Pitch League'are Meeting of the Newcastle 1981. United Way Organizers Hold Meeting Fund-raisers in charge of the 1984 United vV ay campaign met in Bowmanville Bowmanville last Wednesday to discuss their progress to date. Gordon Pearson, manager oi'the campaign, is shown above with some of the local organizers. From left arc: Maurice Preston, head of the United Way fund-raising in the Town of Newcastle, Jack Dunn, a canvasser for Bowmanville, A1 Mason, chairman of the United Way campaign for General Motors in Oshawa, and Gordon Pearson. As of last Wednesday, the fund-raising drive had reached over 16 per cent of its objective. Last week's meeting of the committee took place at the Lions Centre, in Bowmanville.