Where I Stand — Columnist Brian Greenspun: The real test of a man

Hank Greenspun

Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 | 5:15 a.m.

Brian Greenspun is editor of the Las Vegas Sun.

WEEKEND EDITION

January 24 - 25, 2004

Editor's note: Harry Claiborne died the way he lived -- his way -- last week and was laid to rest Friday, also the way he lived, surrounded by friends and playing to a packed house.

With a life as colorful and full as his was, there was bound to be a slip-up or two.

His problems with a federal government run amok and the toll it took on him have been partially recounted in the media the past few days.

It is appropriate that later this week I publish some first-hand and real-time account of what did happen, not to clear Harry's name because the way he lived his life did that, but to share with those who weren't here at the time the dangers that exist when government gets out of balance and there is no one in office willing to provide an appropriate check of that power.

For today, though, I found a column my father, the founder of the Las Vegas Sun, wrote on Sept. 3, 1964 following a very hard-fought primary race for the Democratic Party's candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Since Hank Greenspun was not given to public back-patting unless a fellow really deserved it, I think the following will give those who didn't know Harry a proper glimpse into the manner of man Las Vegas buried this past week. -- Brian Greenspun

Benjamin Franklin made this observation in referring to a man empty of knowledge, comparing him to a bag empty of grain. Both are flat.

The primary elections are now part of history. There are winners and losers and it is customary to congratulate those who are victorious, and offer "good wishes and better luck next time" to those who didn't make it.

Many of the candidates appearing before the public in person or through the medium of TV gave the impressions of an empty bag -- all noise and no substance. In fact, the people are almost inured to the tremendous babble that assaults the ears during these times.

They expect charges and counter-charges, and with rare exception, those who were destined to win before the noise started will win despite the claims and charges of the losers.

The real test of a man whether he is a person of substance and knowledge -- is not how he got in but the way he gets out. Many will be nothing more than an empty bag ... all noise and no substance.

Ralph Denton was not victorious in his attempt to take Baring, but no man ever stood straighter, taller or more upright in defeat.

He almost accomplished that which everyone thought was practically impossible. A few votes made the difference and he tackled one of the strongest vote-getters in the history of the state.

A switch of 900 votes and Ralph would be receiving the winner's congratulations instead of the sympathy which the vast number of his well-wishers are offering him today.

Harry Claiborne is another loser who, in reality, is a winner. In defeat he emerged upright. He made a lot of noise when he got in, but he got out well and so fulfilled the basic requirements of man with knowledge and substance.

I was a little concerned for Harry when the first results started coming in. He was slated for defeat from the very first precincts reporting, and I wondered how he would take it.

Channel 8 was alternating its election returns with a motion picture starring Gary Cooper, and during a lull in the early hours -- while the results were merely a trickle -- I innocently asked on television whether the public was interested in keeping the election returns on the air, or whether they preferred the movie.

The response was instantaneous and overwhelmingly for the election returns, except for a telephone call from Harry Claiborne with a brief message ... "Show the damn movie."

I must have sounded like an idiot on the air but I couldn't stop laughing. I knew then that Harry was all right. He hadn't lost his sense of humor.

In a further conversation with Claiborne, he asked about the price of an ad offering "Claiborne for Senator" and "I'm a Friend of Harry" buttons for sale, real cheap. In the package would be included at no charge Claiborne bumper stickers and signs and all the usual election paraphernalia.

I offered to trade him some "We Want Hank" buttons left over from a campaign of tragic memory, but Harry thought he had had his fill of office-seeking.

He took a long look at himself directly after the results started coming in, and determined that all destiny had in store for him was to be a lawyer -- and he resolved to give the legal profession the best that is in him.

Harry emerged from the campaign upright, for he immediately offered Howard Cannon, the victor, his complete and wholehearted support. He wanted Sen. Cannon to know that though he fought hard for the nomination -- he knows no other way to battle -- he is available to work for the senator's re-election in any capacity in which might be needed.

He stated that he holds no bitterness or animosity, for he didn't actually lose but won something far more valuable than an election.

The people he met throughout the state ... the thousands of new friends ... the feeling of pride in his kids who worked like little beavers, the older boy putting up over 300 signs by himself ... all the experiences that money or political victory could not buy. These are the important things that come from a political campaign, no matter what the result.

And if the losers will take heart and count the good things that happened to them during their tremendous effort and sacrifice, more people would take the great personal risk and sacrifice that public office-seeking demands.

I don't know if Harry Claiborne is designed to hold high political office during his lifetime but there is one office of tremendous importance to the community for which he is admirably suited and trained.

It would be a great step forward in law enforcement, and of tremendous economic benefit to the county, if the Clark County commissioners would hire Claiborne to represent the state as a special prosecutor. At $100,000 a year, the county would still save money, for crime exacts a tremendous cost each year.

I recall Harry from 1946 to 1948 when he was the deputy district attorney. Out of 90 felony cases that he tried, he only lost one.

He was the greatest single deterrent to crime in Southern Nevada because criminals feared him just as they flock to him today for their defense. And he gets them off.

He is doing the job for which he is trained and he only knows one way to do it -- the very best he can.

One thing Harry did accomplish with his campaign for the Senate nomination. He finally got both newspapers to agree on the same thing ... that he didn't belong in the Senate of the U.S. as long as the people had Howard Cannon as the alternative.

And though he may make a lot of noise, he certainly is no empty bag, for he does stand upright the day after election.

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