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Informing Voters cant’d (From Page 26) advertising space is available too for those who want to make certain their message appears at a particular time in a specified manner. Also, as election time nears, we will, as a newspaper, be interviewing the candidates on questions we believe need answering. Russia & U.S., A Mutual Need • by Ted Lederack On the arms race, have you read the Siege of Leningrad — Russian bodies piled up like cordwood, cannibalism rampant, scorched earth destruction. (What do we know of such borrow? Very little.) They are determined to never be defenseless again. Russia never used the A-bomb in anger. Why should they destroy their bread basket. They need us as much as we need them and their resources. If we can just contain their expansionism, we can get along. The reason Russia can out-produce us in armaments is that there are no munititions millionairs as we pro: duce in U.S. Take away the profits motive, and we can be competative with anyone. Can't our munition makers realize, they too are vulnerable,"they have no place to hide; their money bags won't protect them. They will be vaporized like we commoners. If we would get thru to the Russian masses, make them understand the danger, common sense will prevail. Then we all can beat our swords into plowshaves. Ted Lederack writes from Rio Grande Getting Behind Rescue Squad by Charles M. Leusner During the past several months, there have been some negative comments raised about the Middle Township Rescue Squad in Court House. While these remarks are regrettable, I would like to defend the squad and point out that steps are being taken to develop a new spirit of cooperation between our elected leaders and the volunteers in the squad. As volunteers, the ladies and gentlemen of that unit answer hundreds of calls a year. Many of these calls occur in the middle of the night and often disturb tfte.entire family of the volunteers. These dedicated men hnd women sacrifice their own time and money to serv£ the people. Our rescue squad is a vital service to our community and we need them today more than ever. I stand ready to cooperate with them and assist them in any way possible during the upcoming year. Sometimes we don’t miss a service like the Rescue Squad until it is no longer there. They deserve our support and cooperation in everything they do. I urge all elected officials, community leaders, and citizens to support their efforts.

Highlight No. 3 Old House Tour Editor's note; The 34th Annual Old House Tour will be Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and II. Historic structures in Upper, Dennis and Middle Townships will be featured the first day: those in the Greater Cape MayLower Twp. area, the second. Tour hours are 10 to 4 each day. Some of the tour offerings are highlighted in this continuing series, written by a member of the Tour Com mittee. Call 884-8628 for more information. • • * by Carolyn Cunthrop Some years ago, the Old House Tour brochure pointed out the other county structures, not on the current tour, to be observed in passing. A good idea, for all of these noteworthy buildings cannol be included on one year’s tour, (any more than a brief account as this can present Cape May County history). MIDDLE TOWNSHIP For a look at Jersey Cape history, future visits to the County Museum, the John Holmes House (circa 1776) Rt. 9, Swainton and open on the tour, will help to start the visitor off, with its collection of county memorabilia. This lovely house with fine interior woodwork is worth a visit for itself, and there are more collections in the old barn that was moved to the back of the property. While visiting the buildings open in Cape May Court House,^eat of county government, take notice of adjacent houses on tree-shaded streets. On Main St., the Old Courthouse (1840), a beautiful example of "Greek Revival, and the little Jonathan Hand Office, now Red Cross office, are surrounded by fine old homes. Mechanic St. has a collection of homes to be observed when visiting the Hetty Hand House. Built in the early 1800s of native oak with cedar trim, house includes kitchen addition built from old cedar. This home recreates the atmosphere of older times. The'garden is also worth a visit. LOWER TOWNSHIP The Cape’s earliest town settlement was in the late 1600s at Town Bank on the Delaware Bay; it soon disappeared. In many township sections, scattered

Viewpoint , (From Page 26) However Messrs. Deaver and Leusner work out their problem, it would seem time for some innovative thinking about political posters in general. FIRST. POLITICAL SIGNS, despite their bright colors, areainiversally dull, dull, dull. If driver’s attention is to be distracted, why not make the distration interesting? Something like the old Burma Shave signs comes to mind For example: Don't Beja Sucker, Vote For Tucker When Times Are Tough Zilch Has the Stuff Elect Bill Budley : He's So Cuddly A (The candidates named above are fictitious, and are not to be construed as identified with any real candidate^ living or dead.) Further thought may) also be needed on the problem of disposing of signs after election. Each party might select a squad of campaign workers — committee members who fail to carry their districts would be an appropriate choice — sworn to dismantle all

The old Courthouse Building, Main Street, Cape May Court House. ,

amidst surrounding farmland, are buildings from the county’s past and possibly the oldest are the two little Whaling Cottages open this year .'Only 20 ft. apart, they are on Batt La., which is off New England Rd just south of the Cape May Canal. The^ are almost untouched reminders of the past. WEST C A PIE MAY Follwing Seashore Rd. souUl, you come to West Cape May where the road becomes-Broadway, once part of the Cape May Turnpike. To be open for the first time this year is a home at 619 No: Broadway that still has its original siding of native cedar. Actual date of construction is unknown, but in 1790 the land was conveyed from Jonathan WKilldin to William Eldrcdge Also open for the first time this year is the Albert G. Stevens House, (circa 1900) a double house built by a local physician on'Myrtle Ave., which adjoins Cape May City.

signs the morning after election. ► AS FOR DISPOSAL, the'wood might beset aside for use < in constructing the next party platform Not two by fours,which are not flimsy enough for the purpose. - Another alternative is to remove the Signs to a safe, isolated spot, obtain a permit from the proper authorities, and stage a victory bqnfire for the winners In addition td the well known cheering effects of an‘j»0en fire, this would provide an excellent opportunity for the reconciliation and getting together for the common good which is supposed to take place after every election. The losers might not be happy But then, they never are An even simpler solution, which must wait on the pact* of scientific progress, is political posters that will spontaneously destruct at the closing of the polls . Would anybody really mind if the timers went off early by six weeks or so? Ed Hornett is contributing editor of the Herald and the Lantern.

The Corrections System Capital Punishment / Other Concluding Thoughts

by Sheriff Beech N. Fox I have enjoyed the opportunity to explain how we carry out various operations' within this section of your county government. Many of you have taken the time to forward comments or offer your own opinions and I sincerely appreciate this. I also wish to thank the newspaper for taking such an interest in these commentaries. If these presentations were enlightening, then we have accomplished our purpose. While much of what was written has dealt with our own administration, we have touched upon problems associated with penal systems in general. As noted in the introductory article, the history of penal systems in America proves there are still no commonly accepted or clear-cut solutions to many of these problems. For example, we continue to spend millions while crime continues to flourish. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER some constructive observations and suggestions. Although I have worked within the American justice system for 25 years, I do not pretend to have any simplistic solutions for these profound problems associated with the lawful incarceration of human beings. It becomes a question of attempting to effectively utilize knowledge and experience within the frame work of existing laws. It must also be realized that ultimate decisions on crime and punishment must come from the collective demands of our society. It takes a tremendous amount of pressure on the legislatures and courts before any significant change takes place. It may seem painfully slow, but hopefully the pendulum will finally swing in favor of the law-abiding citizen. Let us review the major subjects discussed in this series: JAILS should be recognized by everyone, including federal judges, for being exactly what they are — shortterm detention facilities for the holding of persons awaiting court process, or those serving short sentences at the county level. They are not rehabilitation centers. CORRECTIONS OFFICERS have for too long been expected to work a high-stress, high-risk job without com-

mensurate pay, recognition, or the level of training required to serve efficiently. LARGER PRISON SYSTEMS should exist primarily to protect citizens from ciminals who should not be on the streets, and as an effective punishment/deterrence system. If we are to get tougher on criminals then we must provide the increased facilities to do so properly — overcrowding is already a serious problem and continues to get worse. I suggest the separation of medium and minimum security prisoners from the violent and hard core offenders. This would place many prisoners in much less expensive facilities — such as work camps. I also feel that there should be a reduction of privileges and amenities which are now the hallmarks of state prisons (a return to basics idea). The work ethic must be emphasized. Educational opportunities should be confined to basic academic subjects and vocational skills, and should be pursued by the prisoner in his or her own free time. WORK RELEASE is a good tool when carefully screened prisoners participate. These inmates can become producers and tax-paying citizens with employment upon release. This program also has the possible side benefit of getting the prisoner’s farply off the welfare roles. PAROLE & PROBATION ought to be a very important method of deterrence and punishment when used in conjunction with incarceration. A revision of eligibility criteria, and more strict case worker supervision is needed in this area ... especially a greater number of well qualified case workers. While this is expensive, it would still be considerably cheaper than building the facilities to house those who could otherwise be eligible for parole or probation. FINES, RESTITUTION & COMMUNITY SER VICE are further alternatives in dealing with non-violent and lesser offenders. Selected offenders should have to repay society and their victims in a substantial and meaningful way or face sure imprisonment. Fines and restitution funds should go directly to the victims. Where the convicted offender has no funds, community work projects could be scheduled over a period of time equal to the offense. HARD CORE CRIMINALS should be held separately. Such offenders should be incarcerated with absolutely no

more privileges or amenities than those required by law. Daily forced hard labor to keep them busy and tired six days a week should not be considered unreasonable CAPITAL PUNISHMENT should he reinstated nationwide. The endless array of legal technical maneuvers now available to convicted rrturders as they try to avoid a deserved penalty makes a mockery of the system The most frequently cited argument used to oppose the death penalty is that its deterrent effect has never been proven. Not true. Once a competed murderer is execuM. you have effectively deterred one more criminal from ever killing again, anywhere. And he is not going to be spending every day of his Sentence trying to find a way out ... as the bill for his keep adds up. JUVENILE CRIME is^one of the weakest parts of the American justice system Persons 18 years old and under are involved in almost half of our violent crimes, and still American courts continue to slap the wrists of murders, rapists, muggers and repeaters. In my opinion juvenile criminals should be punished according to the offense, not their age. CQnviCted juveniles Should be required to perform plenty of hard work and to make restitution payments even if the offense was only vandalism FINALLY, LET L’S^TART a turn-around in our national effort against (Time by renaming ifhd re-thinking what the justice system is all about. We might start by not calling it the Criminal Justice System because it has literally become just that — justice for the criminal at UV? expense of justice for the law abiding citizen. If we officially refer to it as the American Justice System or the Citizens Justice System perhaps we can finally get people to believe that it really can be changed — for the better, I think it also long overdue that the legal minds in the judiciary and legislative bodies get a proper grip on what the framers of our Constitutin meant by "citizens rights" and "due process of law.” Surely these leaders can find a way to constitutionally preserve the rights of an accused or convicted person while simultaneously protecting the rights of the majority of Americans who are entitled to walk freely and feel safe in their own homes. This concludes the 14-part series by Cape May County Sheriff Beech Fox.