Editor’s note: The following editorials from Dec. 8, 1972, does not necessarily reflect the views of The Bulletin’s editorial board today.

Reading the leaves

It would appear the continuing, and increasing outcry against Oregon tourist promotion is illusory. At least, a survey shows slightly more than two of each three Oregonians still thinks the state ought to spend money to attract tourists. That is not a significant change from the figure reported by another survey of two years ago.

The survey breakdown showed Oregonians of every age, sex, education and income division thought the state ought to be in the tourism promotion business.

Those most likely to favor continued tourism promotion were older Oregonians, living outside Portland, of limited income and education. They favored state activity by about a 3-1 margin. Those most likely to oppose the activity were young, college-education Portlanders in the upper income level. Even then, proponents of the program out-numbered opponents significantly.

That means those who try to measure public opinion by the frequency of public speeches, or a count of letters to the editor, should be careful. Either of those measures would indicate opposition to tourist promotion is far greater than is the actual case.

Some record

President Nixon is appointing the persons who will head the federal executive departments during his second term. One of those appointed was Roy Ash. Ash will head the Office of Management and Budget, one of the most powerful of all federal agencies. It holds the purse strings for the executive branch.

Ash headed a task force on governmental reorganization for Mr. Nixon. He’s the former head of Litton Industries, a huge company engaged in a variety of projects. That ought to make him a real expert on finance and management, shouldn’t it.

Well, maybe yes and maybe no. Litton has done well, some years. It made $70 million in 1967; it earned $82 million in 1969. At the end of the first three quarters of this year it had lost $11 million. … Its stock has gone from a high of 109 to 1967 to below 14 this week.

That’s some record of management skills. A fellow with a record like that often is interested in a government job — a college presidency.