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< National Calamity, Number 15
Fracas Comments
The hulabaloo arising out of the action of the San Diego Convention relating to the report of the Executive Judges continues to bubble merrily. This hassle – fracas, if you will – may just be the most interesting thing to happen in NAPA since the Pink Parakeet affair of recent memory.
The increase in bundle activity resulting from our little controversies usually compensates for the bruised feelings of a thin-skinned minority. Our beloved hobby does seem to thrive during these periods of internal conflict.
As much as I enjoy leaping into such disputes with all the inflammatory rhetoric at my command, I can’t seem to work up much enthusiasm for this one. Divorcing our fracas from the personalities involved, it boils down to a question of constitutional interpretation of laureate eligibility. I happen to think our laureate system is a farce and should be dismantled rather than amended.
The foregoing paragraphs are an attempt to establish my credentials as a non-partisan in NAPA’s latest flap. I am not, however, renouncing my right to comment on the various events that have occurred… for instance:
I agree with Ralph Babcock that a publisher should be entitled to enter for laureate consideration any manuscript he publishes. I also believe Ralph over-reacted when the decision went against him. All NAPA suffers when we are deprived of Ralph’s editorial talents… not just his adversaries.
In his capacity as 1973-74 Historian, J. Ed Newman produced an interesting view of San Diego ‘74. However, J. Ed wears his heart on his sleeve and this otherwise excellent piece of work will be condemned by some as less than objective. Already, one acid-tongued distaff publisher insinuates he’s a drunk.
The proposed amendment to allow publishers to enter – with the author’s consent – anything printed in their own paper, sidesteps the issue. I thought the question NAPA members needed to decide was whether or not we can enter such work without the author’s permission.
It Ain’t So
I was well into the fourth week of my annual drying out spell when the January Limited Circulation Bundle arrived. The first paper I read was Bill Boys’ own Limculadle and you can imagine my dismay at his insinuation that I lack self control. In view of present circumstances, his analogy just isn’t valid.
God will get you for that, Bill!
Offset, Hell!
The Historian’s report for August, September, and October, published in the December National Amateur, correctly lists People Watcher 21, 22, and 23 as appearing in those months.
The publisher was identified as Lauren Geringer and the page size as 5½x8½… right on both counts.
But for reasons known only to Historian Glenn Engebretsen, the August and October issues were listed as printed in offset. Maybe so, but my copies looked like handset Kennerly and it even punches in several places.
Just because a fellow has serifs on his type is no reason to insult him, Glenn.
Get Well Soon
If you haven’t already heard, the original Garret Grouch, Jack M. Hageman, was hospitalized on January 6 for hip surgery. The operation and physiotherapy will result in a hospital stay of about three months.
I urged him to get a French doctor but he’s one of those right-wingers and insisted on an American.
This tiny candle in the darkness of NAPA land has been handset and printed on a Kelsey 6×10 by Fred Liddle of Tampa, Florida 33606.