Los Banos Rotary Club History
Double Program At Rotary Club

Rotary President Bill Woo stepped up the tempo of his concluding days of presidency this week with a double program for the membership. On the twin billing were Superior Judge Gregory P. Maushart and Dr. John East, both of Merced.

Judge Maushart, who emphasized that though he is a candidate to succeed himself as superior judge of Merced county he was not appearing before the club to make a political speech, but did put over the idea that there is to be an election next Tuesday and it is the duty of all good citizens to go to the polls and express their preferences for the people they want to represent them in public office.

Judge Maushart also criticized the club's time-honored policy of "no political speeches." "I cannot understand," the judge said, "why Rotary and other similar clubs are willing to sit and listen to anybody talk on anything—except politics. Every public official, in the course of his duties, effects the daily lives of the people he represents. I should think that you would want to see and to hear the men who represent you in public office."

In a serious trend, Judge Maushart referred to juvenile delinquency as it exists in Merced county, and told of the increasingly large procession of youngsters that appear before him every week to answer charges of misconduct. Specifically he called attention to a hearing in his court this week wherein 12 Merced 'teen-age youths were accused of assaulting a smaller number of Castle Field soldiers. "When young people who have reached the educational age of high school juniors and seniors, get mixed up in a mess like that, there is something seriously wrong with our way of life."

Judge Maushart believes the root of the juvenile delinquency problem lies in the home, and an increasing tendency of modern day parents to become overly tax and disinterested in the welfare of their own children. Next most important cause, the judge believes, is the present day tendency toward idolization of football, baseball and other athletic heroes, who in the eyes of their adoring fans "can do no wrong."

The remedy, outside of increased parental responsibility, lies in providing an abundance of recreational facilities in every community, which are supervised by trained personnel and made interesting to all youngsters.

The second speaker, Dr. John East, of Merced, spoke on behalf of the annual Cancer Prevention fund raising campaign and showed a motion picture which emphasized, (1) that cancer is curable in nearly all cases if diagnosed and treated much the same as that cancer can today be diagnosed and treated much the same as any other disease; and (3) that there is no basis for the excessive fear that goes with the name of cancer.

Dr. East stated that successful cures of cancer are made every day by surgery, X-ray or radium. Actually, he said, cancer is a condition wherein certain cells or actions of flesh start growing and multiplying at an excessive rate, which gradually crowds and chokes off nerve cells, blood vessels and vital parts of the body—a process which requires several months to years.
Today, he said, doctors are able to cure about 90 per cent of skin cancers, and about 5 per cent of stomach cancers. The great difference, Dr. East said, is primarily because skin cancers are generally discovered in the early stages and can be treated quickly, whereas stomach cancers have generally reached the critical point before the victim goes to a doctor for examination. A danger signal, he said, is persistent indigestion that continues for as long as two weeks.

As to the cancer fund drive, Dr. East explained that the annual campaign, conducted throughout the country last month, was disappointing, especially as far as Merced county is concerned. As a result, he said, the drive has been continued another month and all persons who have not contributed are urged to do so. Forty per cent of the fund is retained locally for examination and treatment of cancer and to provide public information on the disease. The remainder goes into a national fund which is expended on a continuous research program to learn more about the disease and the treatment thereof. Actual overhead for the fund, Dr. East concluded, is slightly less than six per cent.

May 30, 1952

---