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New? -- Improved? It would require enormous naivete to suppose that votes in elections are sought only through the merits and policies of candidates and parties. It was not thus in the past. Charles Dickens, describing the famous Eatonswill election. in Pickwick apers (written 1837), has a politician rejoice in the 'masterly stroke of policy" by which his party had "opened all the public-houses in the place and left our adversary nothing but the beer shops." Nineteenth century Canada was not free from such '""masterly strokes of policy." In 1874, speaking against the secret ballot, an MP told the Commons that "elections cannot be carried without money. Under an open system of voting you can readily ascertain whether the voter has deceived you. Under vote by ballot, an elector may take your money and. vote as he likes." Few politicians could be equally candid today but what is one to think of a candidate in our next, still to be called Federal election who advertised a June meeting with "MUSIC, DRAFT BEER AND FREE REFRESHMENTS" in larger type than an opportunity to "talk to the candidate?" But the really classic phrase of the poster announcing this flow of beer and song describes it asa "NEW!! IMPROVED!! Meeting" at which" a splendid time is guaranteed for all." "What the Dickens have we come to'? - one might ask. But Dickens knew all about this "new, improved' type of election meeting well over a century ago. Dept. of Church in Society, United Church ! ~~! PORT PERRY STAR Company Limited WO S-, - 1, G CNA (oun): ~<a N rare Serving Port Perry, Reach, Scugog and Cartwright Townships P. HVIDSTEN, Publisher - Editor WM. T. HARRISON, Plant Manager J. PETER HVIDSTEN, Advertising Manager Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Member of the Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association Published every Wednesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd., Port Perry, Ontario Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rates: In Canada $6.00 per year. Elsewhere $7.50 per year. Single Copy 15¢ BILL MILEY TIME TO QUIT BEING CRYBABIES I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that Canadians are turning into a nation of crybabies. It hurts, because I love this country and want to respect and admire my fellow-citizens. But the feeling has been growing for some time and neared full flower after the first hockey game against the Russians. What an edifying spectacle that was! There were our finest, giving up everything -- except salaries, insurance, expenses and other fringe benefits -- to defend our national honour against those dastardly Russians who'd had the nerve to think they belonged on the same ice. And there was a huge and happy crowd of hockey fans, almost slavering over the anticipated slaughteér. And there were the poor old Russians, walking into the lion's den, some of them so pint-sized compared to our hulking menaces that they looked as though they were fairly large Peewee players. Whack! went the puck into the net and the roof nearly went off the Forum. Whack! again, and across the nation people winked -at each other and settled back to speculate on whether the Russians could score a goal before our heroes got into two figures. But then something began to happen that turned strong men across the country a pale gray. Those dumb Russians didn't know enough to quit and go home and forget the whole thing as a bad dream. They just kept skating and passing and shooting, and every so often, one of their shots would go into the Canadian net. The happy crowd in the Forum grew glummer and glummer. Team Canada, the greatest, and most expensive collection of hockey talent ever gathered under one roof , looked more and more like the Hayfork Centre Midgets. But just wait until the third period. After all, these guys are pro's. They'll get organized and come back to win the game with a bang. Unfortunately, the game ended, not with a bang, but a whimper. Toward the end, the visitors were toying with the Canadians, as a toreador plays a bull. And toward the end, our boys began to resemble bulls, rushing wildly at anything that moved, only to find it wasn't there. Not content with looking like the Ladies' Aid on skates, some Canadian players showed anything but professionalism and began swinging sticks, throwing elbows, and such. Crybaby stuff. What about the fans? Did they give the Russians a standing ovation, or even a hearty round of applause for toppling the giants? UGAR wo SPICE Not they. They filed sullenly out of the arena, muttering, grasping for excuses, dazed. They hadn't had their blood. The toreador had not been tossed by the bull, and the bull had not even been neatly dispatched, just sort of stunned. Crybabies. In the next morning's papers, it was rather fun to watch the experts and the sports writers tearing at their own entrails like wounded hyenas, a species which sports writers resemble in some respects. Cry- babies. To be fair, the players and coaches were honest. They'd been well and thoroughly whipped, and admitted it. Since then, of course, things have changed and our businessmen on skates are showing why they are so well paid. But the fact is that if it had been a one-game shot, the Russians would be truly world champs. And if it had been a two-game series, total goals to count, the Russians would be winners, 8 - 7. Somehow, the whole thing was a little saddening. I know a.number of people who - felt that their personal honour had been smirched. There were aggravated ulcers, endless alibis, and probably some heart attacks across this fair land. Over a game! I chose this single incident to illustrate this sinking feeling I have that many Canadians have their values all turned around. We whine endlessly about the Americans taking over Canada, and do nothing about it. Except warn stridently that something must be done about it. And then run to Washington, hat in hand, when the Yanks suggest any form of tariff that might cost us dollars. Crybabies. We virtually ignore our writers, actors, artists, musicians, until they have made it big somewhere else. Then we can't understand why they don't come home and work in their own vineyard, at labourers' wages. Same with our athletes. We sneer at their Olympic efforts. 'Yeah, we finished twenty- third again." Smarmy sportscasters find all kinds of excuses for the athletes.Admirably, most of the latter are much more honest. The best of them bluntly say they did the best they could, but it wasn't good enough. Oh, we're great at spending billions on building: highways, dams, high-rises; and on welfare, medicare, second-rate educa- tion. But when it comes to spending something on the development of the human being, in this case a strong national team of athletes, we pinch the purse until it hurts. This is written more in sorrow than in anger. Let's wipe away the tears and stand up in the true north, strong and free. Come on Canadians. Let's not be crybabies. vy 19 J) 1 50 YEARS AGO A J Thursday, . Sept. 21, 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Percy Den- shance "of England ' have . moved to Port Perry. Latest reports are to the effect that the hydro power is to be turned on this week. At the annual meeting of the Rink Board, the directors were re-elected, authority was given to paint the rink in the fall, The Port Perry Business College is starting it's fall courses. ba 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, Sept. 18, 1947 Mr. and Mrs. Wagg of Prince Albert were honoured at a party in their honour® before moving to their new home at London, Ontario. The 19th of October has been set for the dedication of -the Scugog mew church. Miss Doris Duff of Myrtle Station is training for a nursg, in Oshawa Hospital. Dr. Donald Christie, Man- chester attended the con- vention for Veterinarians at A 4 - Guelph. 15 YEARS AGO Thursday, Sept. 19, 1957 Tripp Construction Com- pany were successful in receiving the tender for the construction of a water supply system in the village _of Sunderland. - The Bell Telephone are working at laying the main 'underground service' cable for the new dial system. The cable is being laid just inside the sidewalk on Queen Street. PP. Hugh Baird of Blackwater is one of two Canadians competing in the fifth World Plowing Match at Peebles, Ohio. there are thirteen other countries with entries. Port Perry Star are cele- brating their fiftieth year of ® editing this paper. 10 YEARS AGO Thursday, Sept. 20, 1962 At the Legion Ladies Branch 149 fall meeting, ® Cmdes. Monahan and Me- Nenly were named delegates to the Provincial Convention in Niagra Falls. Carl Luke has been ap- pointed as president of Port Perry Softball Association. Malcolm Bailey won thé Eaton Special for the highest number of points in the Cattle Class at Port Perry Fair. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kerry entertained on the occasion of their two daugh-'8 ters anniversaries. Mr. and Mrs. Allan Walsh (15 years) Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Fisher (20 years). "Carefull, that's how you hurt your neck in the first® place." :