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Sir: You printed a picture of Mr. Humphrey in Tifton, Ga., with a huge peanut [Oct. 9]. Mr. Humphrey didn't mention how wet that peanut was, but I'm sure it was the wettest of all peanuts, and I'm afraid Mr. Humphrey got his hands stained handling it. I made the peanut on short notice. As clay takes time to dry and of course to be fired, I consented to do one in plaster. After finishing the peanut, I soon found that it would not stain successfully because of the water content of plaster. I tried my best but stain will just not adhere to a wet subject. Tifton County is Goldwater country (mostly), but I do hope Mr. Humphrey enjoyed his visit to our city. I also wish I had known in time. I could have made him a ceramic peanut that he would have been proud to have. VENICE OWEN Tifton, Ga.
The Nine Justices
Sir: The ugly raving and ranting of the hate groups, heaping calumny on the revered Court [Oct. 9], is one of the many indications of decay in our national morality. Respect for law and the courts, and most certainly the Supreme Court, is essential for the survival of our democratic institutions.
S. E. PASETTE Los Angeles
Sir: Pleased to see that you are aware of the impact of Justice Black on the
Supreme Court, but I miss the hammer and sickle on the cover.
JAMES B. McCULLOUGH JR. Philadelphia
Sir: Your article on the much-maligned Supreme Court was perceptive and sympathetic, and pointed out the Court's strange new role of defending our basic rights against our "elected" legislators. For those of us who love our land, but are increasingly repelled by its contradictory, obsolete, and often irresponsible state and local laws, the Supreme Court has come to be a major hope of eventual sanity and freedom. We have heard too much talk of states' rights—now perhaps we'll have some individual rights.
RICHARD PETTERSEN Norristown, Pa.
Sir: Without the Supreme Court's Black, Marshall and other "judicial activists," the Constitution would be a collection of hypocritical platitudes serving only the rights of the few. Instead, in their hands, it has been a marvellously adaptable living document, standing as a bastion against inequality and privilege, oppressive state power, public prejudice, and majority suppression of minority belief, action, writing, and speech. Your article should be required reading for all.
ROBERT BASKIN Little Silver, N.J.
Sir: What a snow job! But not quite deep enough to cover the footprints of socialism marching across the American soil.
MRS. W. F. NELSON
Gardnerville, Nev.
Sir: We seem to be living in a rights-oriented society in which the teaching of corresponding responsibilities is progressively neglected. Hence an increasing amount of crime, placing before the bench more and more defendants to be granted further rights. Those of us who dislike the stench of this trend are called "extremists." The club could use more members!
DAVID J. CARRIGAN
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Sir: Your scholarly and highly informative story of Justice Black and his confreres has transformed the Supreme Court from a formidable, little-known group to a coterie of human beings, to be admired and respected for their efforts in behalf of all of us.