Where I Stand: Despite poll, media have more than just a cynical side

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A RECENT HARRIS POLL of 3,004 adults reveals that the news media rate about a minus one on a scale of one to 10.

Forty-two percent of those polled believe journalists are arrogant and cynical.

I can vouch for the "cynical" because it's mighty easy to get that way.

From personal experience I know how many times the SUN has supported the cause of the average citizen against big government, oppression and discrimination.

Readers often call and ask "why don't you write about ...?" and the subject could be eminent domain, traffic problems, court injustices, police brutality, education and a dozen or more items that might have citizens riled.

The fact is, we write about all those things. The truth is most people don't care until they are affected personally.

That's why a letter I received from John W. Wilhelm, general secretary-treasurer of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, which includes the Culinary and Bartenders Unions in Las Vegas, gave me some proof that our efforts may not be in vain.

Mr. Wilhelm writes:

"I am writing as a follow-up to your Nov. 12 column about smut peddlers. Our union agrees with you completely.

"Moreover, we have tried to do something to help the community deal with this serious problem, which has both a moral and an economic dimension."

Mr. Wilhelm enclosed a copy of a letter that he sent to several gaming industry leaders, as well as county commissioners. In these letters he included a memo written at his request by Richard G. McCracken, the union's attorney.

"I am concerned," he writes, "that as a community we may not take the boldest possible action. This problem persists. It is disgusting. It is damaging. We should 'push the envelope' on this, and try some of the more aggressive action Mr. McCracken recommends."

This "cynical" columnist is waiting further action from public officials.

Call me naive but my antenna tells me there's something mighty strange about all those secret meetings being held between county and city officials to solve taxing problems.

If they aren't breaking the open meeting law, they are certainly toying with the intent of the law.

But then, what do us arrogant and cynical news people know?

Leonard Becker set himself upon a quest that has turned up some interesting Las Vegas history.

Several months back, Becker decided to look into the story of two Civil War veterans who are buried side by side at Woodlawn cemetery. One wore the blue, the other the gray.

According to an old Las Vegas Age newspaper, Joseph Moore Graham died at the age of 78 on April 2, 1917. Harley A. Harmon delivered the eulogy and music was furnished by W.H. Arkins, Dr. R.W. Martin and Dr. W.M. Wadleigh and Mrs. Martin was the accompanist.

Three years later, William B. Keith died at the age of 80 and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Keith enlisted and was assigned to Co. K, 12th Iowa Infantry in March of 1840. After the war he came to Las Vegas where he met J.M. Graham and they became fast friends.

After Graham's death, Keith bought a lot in the cemetery and buried his friend. It was his last wish to be interred alongside his buddy, and that is why a Confederate and a Union soldier lie side by side.

Becker is still trying to reconstruct the lives of the two Civil War soldiers through contacts with friends or relatives who might be living. He is asking anyone with knowledge of the soldiers to call him at 648-1902.

Becker's wife, Emmaline, is a member of the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, an organization that is spearheading the placement of a suitable marker for the graves. The group hopes to place the marker on Memorial Day in a special service honoring all war veterans.

By that time, Becker hopes to have pieced together the life stories of these two old friends, who once fought each other in the Civil War.

Knight Allen is a fellow who backs up his opinions with research even if his efforts sometimes find him tilting at windmills.

His latest venture into government protocol is a challenge to the Nevada Ethics Commission to take a closer look into the matter of public employees holding elective office while maintaining their government jobs.

Allen makes some convincing arguments that the commission should consider.

Am I being "cynical" if I think the matter will be ignored?

Sylvia Lampe Gross is mighty proud of her daughter, Wendy Gross Aiello, a fifth-grade teacher at Nate Mack Elementary -- and for good reason.

Aiello was recently listed among the best teachers in America selected by their students. The list appeared in a national publication. Thirty-one teachers from Henderson, 26 from North Las Vegas and 201 from Las Vegas made the national list.

Space precludes running the entire list, but we congratulate them for giving so much to their students and being motivational leaders.

Remember during this season of holiday parties that life is like a baseball game. It's the number of times you reach home safely that counts.