John Steinbeck Says
“No Cultural Climate
For Writers In the U.S."
By ANDREW MEISELS
NEW YORK i/P — Nobel Prize
winner John Steinbeck, whose
books deal almost excusively with
America, American life and Am
erican problems, says “There has
never been a cultural clin ate for
writers in the United States.”
"The writer in this country is
not really considered important.
He’s not a first class citizen,”
Steinbeck told a news conference.
He added: “That’s a good thing.
It stops him from getting uppity
and keeps him among the people
—where he belongs.”
Steinbeck, 60, has been inter
nationally recognized as a liter
ary giant since his “The Grapes of
Wrath” stirred a nation’s con
science in 1939.
Steinbeck wore a gray pinstripe
suit and puffed on a cigar as he
answered newsmen’s questions. He
mumbled a bit and appeared some
what ill-at-ease, remarking, “Talk
isn't my field.”
“How do you go about writing,”
asked a newsman.
“With a pencil,” Steinbeck an
swered affably.
“What are you writing now?”
he was asked.
“If I talk about it, I won’t
write it,” Steinbeck answered.
The author said his normal work
day begins at 8 a.m. and continues
until he finishes his word quota
for that day—usually from 1,000
to 3,000 words.
“Writing for n;e is a nervous
tic,” he said, adding that he nor
mally works six and sometimes
seven days a week.
Docs he have any plans 'for the
$50,000 that goes with the Nobel
Prize?
“Nope. I .just hope it doesn’t in
terfere with my work schedule.”
Steinbeck was born in Salinas,
Calif., a farming area that is tlu
setting for many of his works. 11 is
first book. “Cup of Gold,” was
published in 1929, followed by
“The Pastures of Heaven” in 1932
and “To A God Unknown” in
1933.
Asked about his own favorite
authors, he named the late Ernest
Hemingway and the late William
Faulkner.
The author, who plans to leave
this country Dec. 10 for Stockholm
to collect his Nobel Prize, lives
with his wife in the Long Island.
N.Y., community of Sag Harbor.
Their two teen-age sons are away
at school.
“Do you really think you de
serve the Nobel Prize?” he was
asked.
“That's an interesting question.”
said the man who is the sixth Am
erican to win the prize for litera
ture. “Frankly, no.”
Safely Officer . . .
RICHMOND, Va. UP) — Adolph
Chiappa is safety officer for the
Richmond post office and one of
his jobs is to investigate complaints
of dogs stopping mail carriers.
Chiappa received a complaint Fri
day. His own dog stopped a car
rier from delivering mail to his
home.
Vote For
Pearse M.
(Pete) Walsli
A Democrat Seeking the
Senate Seat
District P
I will appreciate your voting
for me on November 6.
For continued progress and
development of all Alaska
Vote the
Democratic Ticket
—Paid Advertiament
U.S. School Children
Under Too Much Pressure
BUFFALO, N.Y. t/Pt — American
school children are under too much
pressure to get high marks and
are getting too little love, says a
college professor. As a result, he
says, half of them are potential
neurotics, drug addicts, alcoholics
and suicide cases.
“We are teaching reading in the
nursery school and algebra in the
first grade,” said Dr. James Smith
“What for?”
Smith, a professor of education
at Syracuse University, told a
teachers’ Conference Friday:
“We make children conform,
conform, until we kill their cre
ativity. We know people cave in
under pressure. But we continue
to put our children under more
and more pressure.”
Mr. and Mrs. Herb Engsirom
have closed down their dredge at
Basin Creek and moved into town
for the winter. They have taken
up residence in the Ray Decker
trailer home across from the
Armory.
' 'RS. FRANKLIN D
IS "HOLDING HER OWN"
NEW YORK JP Mr . Franklin
D. Roosevelt, who has been ill fur
a month, Friday was described as
“holding her own.”
The 78-year-old former First
Lady is confined to bed in her
Manhattan apartment. She is re
ceiving nursing care in addition to
daily visits by her doctor.
Mrs. Roosevelt entered a hospital
Sept. 26 for what was then de
scribed as routine checkup. Later
it was reported that she had a
lung infection and a form of
anemia. She left the hospital Oct.
18.
You can halt a car in 47 feet
going only 20 miles an hour; at
40 mph it takes 149 feet, and at
70 mph it takes 532 feet.
NOTICE
Sales Tax Reports on retail sales i
and services for the quarter end- !
ing Sept. 30th must be in the Cit
Clerk's Office by Tuesday, Oct.
30, 1S62.
Robert F. ScoM,
City Clerk
Pub: Oct. 24. 26, 29, 1962.
Cubans Report Driving
Off Unidentified Plane
KEY WEST, Fla. ,? — Havana
radio said Saturday unidentified
war planes have been driven from
western Cuba by Cuban anti-air
craft batteries.
In Washington, the Defense De
partment said it had no informa
tion of any incident of that sort.
The government communique
broadcast by the radio did not say
whether the batteries actually
opened fire on the planes.
The phraseology was that the j
batteries forced the planes to flee.
This meant that the weapons 1
tracked the planes in a menacing j
manner and drove them off with
out firing a shot.
The radio said the plants had
violated Cuba’s air space and pene
trated national territory.
The communique said the viola
tion took place at 10:17 am. EST,
but did not state the day on which
the incident occurred.
"4-on" Duplicate Receipt Books
Available at The Nome Nugget
THREE FOR ONE
I1 is often economical to buy a
large cut of meat at a lower price
per pound ami divide it fm cook
ing. For example, Extension ages'
Jean Durand suggests using a:,
arm roast these three ways: the
center chunk with the round bo ,■
for pot roast, the rounded bo:, -
less end for beef stew, and the re
maining piece sliced length - wi <■
into two swiss steaks The thrift
homemaker then has three cl* i.
cious meals.
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_Which Does Alaska Need Most?
BETTER SCHOOLS
...OR A NEW CAPITAL?
MORE ROADS
... OR A NEW CAPITAL? i
I
I—-1 l
THIS IS WHAT
ALASKANS HAVE SAID
B. Frank Heinlzleman, Former
Governor: "Even the proposal to
move the Capital is damaging. It
creates concern among prospective
industrialists and investment firms
as to the fiscal responsibility and
future tax demands of our new
state. We will be far better off by
devoting any funds that can be
spared from our more routine
public services to doing the things
which will promate resource use."
Governor William A. Egan: "I
cannot encourage a move to de
vastate the economy of one of our
cities — an action that would most
certainly cause a permanent breach
in our great State. As Governor
of all Alaska. I cannot, in good
conscience, go along with the
campaign to move the Capital."
Mike Stepovich, Former Governor:
"I believe the Capital should re
main at Juneau. I can't Inink of
the State expending the large
amount of money which would be
required moving the Capital when
those funds are so badly needed
for other worthwhile purposes."
John Butrovich. Long-time Terri
torial Legislator: "I am unalter
ably opposed to moving the Capi
tal. We need all of our funds for
necessary programs . . . schools,
highways, health and welfare,
mental health hospital, E.S.C.,
ferry systems, airports, fisheries
rehabilitation and just the plain
everyday operation of the stale."
WE CAN’T HAVE BOTH! j
In March, 1962 the Alaska Slate Division of Planning published
a report establishing the minimum public works needs over the
next six years . . . buildings and improvements that our State
MUST HAVE to meet present requirements and make way for
future growth. Over $71,500,900 is needed for elementary, sec
ondary and vocational schools and the University of Alaska.
Hospital and other needed health facilities will total $30,000,000.
Much needed economic development projects will require another
$285,000,000 to build the roads, highways, harbors and airports
that Alaska must have to attract business, industry and tourism.
These MINIMUM NEEDS total over $388,000,000 ... IN THE
NEXT SIX YEARS. Even with 60% Federal grant-in-aids
available, Alaska must provide $144,000,000 of this amount . . .
only slightly LESS that the cost to State for the luxury of a new
capital site. WE CAN'T HAVE BOTH. The choice is yours.
VOTE
® AGAINST INITIATIVE NO. 1
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