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Past opinions offer perspective

Tue., Dec. 13, 2016

Looking Back reviews opinions published in The Spokesman-Review during this week in history.

Scientist shortage, Dec. 17, 1955

Long before STEM-mania, the S-R editorial board weighed in on the shortage of scientists.

“Alarm is growing nationally over the shortage of scientists at a time when our technology is becoming increasingly complex. It is good to have this danger cited by persons in high places, because the nation must sense the need before action is taken.

“In its recent report, a Senate-House subcommittee which held hearings on the impact of automation called attention to what it termed a dangerous shortage of scientists, technicians and skilled labor.”

The editorial continued: “It is during high school that most students begin to form their decisions on careers. Yet surveys have shown that these students tend to regard scientists as fuddy-duddies who putter around in laboratories and never have any fun.”

It concluded: “What students need to realize is how much scientists have done for this nation. They should be told that many of our best-known scientists are still relatively young men. Yet so in demand are their skills that they command high salaries and honored positions.”

Energy crisis, Dec. 12, 1973

An S-R editorial lauded Spokane residents for responding to calls to conserve energy.

“Spurred by an early shortage of water for generating electricity in the Pacific Northwest, residents voluntarily curtailed their use of current. By reason of that considerable saving, plus above-average rainfall in November, the hydroelectric generating outlook is much improved. It is now unlikely that mandatory curtailment of electricity will be required in this region.

“Most motorists have found it practical to adopt a speed limit of 50 miles per hour. Increased patronage of municipal transportation suggests a growing number of motorists are voluntarily making less use of their automobiles.”

The Bing, Dec. 13, 2006

An editorial praised public response to an event at the newly christened Bing Crosby Theater.

“A couple of weeks ago, EWU journalism professor Bill Stimson began to panic. Ticket sales for the Wing Ding at The Bing were lagging. What if he threw a big Bing Crosby bash and nobody came?

“Turns out he needn’t have worried. People were so inspired by his idea to change the name of The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center to the Bing Crosby Theater that they lined up last Friday night an hour and a half before the event began. They crowded in to gaze at the stage where in 1925 Spokane’s most famous citizen appeared. It was called the Clemmer Theater back then.

“His widow, Kathryn Crosby, performed, and the evening ended with the audience joining in to sing “White Christmas.” Tears trickled from people’s eyes.

“Afterward, they streamed back into the lobby to pump Stimson’s hand and to write checks to help raise more than $42,000 for a new theater sign. It was, Stimson’s wife noted, like the final scene in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ with the spirit of Bing Crosby playing the Jimmy Stewart role.”