Political Expediency vs. Salmon Survival

Regarding the article ``The Clock Is Running on Salmon Survival,'' May 3: In more than 31 years spent professionally and personally in the battle to save natural resources and turn the tide in our seeming war against Earth, I don't think I've ever seen such arrogance and cynicism as was pointed out among Northwest power authorities by Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus. Governor Andrus says the ``power interests clearly have the notion that if they can stall for two or three years the problem will go away because [these salmon] will become extinct.''

I read this article on the same day that the Bush administration's energy secretary wrote the Senate Energy Committee that there was ``nothing that could be done'' on mandated fuel efficiency for automobiles to cut dependence on imports, hence we had to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

This kind of cynical thinking and manipulation of natural resources to me is the essence of folly. All of us who care must rise up against the short-term political expediency that would give some false prosperity briefly, yet would steal from our children - forever - a magnificent gift such as the Pacific salmon.

More power - of the right kind - to Governor Andrus in his fight to save the salmon.

Brendon J. Whittaker, Lancaster, N.H.

Kitty Kelley and journalistic integrity Thanks for the column on ``The Kitty Kelley Caper.'' It's sad to read that the reputed publisher, Simon & Schuster, would sacrifice journalistic integrity for the sake of monetary gain.

I do not believe that a publisher who skirts the truth in small issues can be trusted in matters of greater importance. Reputation, like fine silk, is easier to rend than to repair.

William S. White, the distinguished journalist, once wrote: ``The journalist who sees the staff instead of the boss can very easily receive an incomplete or even erroneous impression of what the top man really thinks, really intends to do, or really has done.'' And he adds that this is ``simply a working rule that I had found indispensable.''

Unfortunately, some writers and editors don't follow this rule.

Robert McGowan, Hamburg, N.Y.