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Wednesday, August 22. 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Ford backs U.S. Gulf action
Former president Gerald Ford makes his way through the crowd in Abilene.
By David Roach
Kansan staff writer
ABILENE — Former President Ford offered his full support Monday for President Bush's recent actions in the Persian Gulf.
Ford, who was in Abilene to honor former President Eisenhower at a wreath-laying ceremony at Eisenhower's grave. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Eisenhower's birth.
In a speech honoring Eisenhower, Ford alluded to Iraqi president Saddam Hussein as a madman tyrant and said that the United States could not capitulate to blackmail.
He said Eisenhower would have approved of Bush's actions in dealing with the crisis.
"We wish that the international rules of law were everywhere observed, so that the American military might and that of our many allies may never be sent to an Arabian desert to enforce that law," Ford said. "But wishes are no substitute for national will."
Ford also paid tribute to Eisenhower, whom he said shaped the United States with values developed while he lived in Kansas.
"Here he learned the code of the West, where a man's word is binding, where a man's neighbors are always ready to lend a helping hand in time of hardships, where no one puts on airs, and no one advances except through his own hard work." Ford said.
A crowd of all ages, estimated by Eisenhower Center officials to be as large as 3,500, gave Ford a
"I thought it was great," said Henry Karraker of Abilene.
president we had. He's my hero.'
John Hack of Lawrence said, 'I think he was the last really honest
Hart Foley said to Elizabeth Kraker said he agreed with Ford's assessment of the Gulf crisis.
Hack said that he accepted Bush's actions but that people
could not get a clear idea of what was happening through media reports.
The Eisenhower Centennial Commission invited all living former presidents and vice presidents to visit Ablene this year, said Colleen Cearley, public affairs specialist for the commission
Vice President Dan Quayle and former President Reagan made appearances in July, and President Nixon is scheduled to attend ceremonies Sept. 8. President Bush has been invited to speak in mid-October, but his visit has not been confirmed. Cearley said.
The Associated Press
DENVER — A handyman, yesterday was ordered to pay $9,500 and was placed on six years' probation after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter for setting up a shotgun booby trap. The man who broke into his warehouse.
Philip Commaghan, 46, of suburban Arvada, Colo., said that he was deeply sorry for what happened and
that his booby trap was the wrong solution to a major problem.
"There must have been three o, four attempts a month where they came in and destroyed things. But it was never really a personal thing. It was like a war," he said. "It was my survival I was trying to protect."
He was fired $2,500 and ordered to pay $7,000 restitution to the family of 19-year-old Michael McComb, killed
April 14. Charges that Connaghan violated the state's booby trap law were dropped.
Police waited until the morning after the shooting to retrieve McComb's body, fearing more body traps. Officers said a single barrel shotgun had been propped up inside the warehouse and attached to a trip
Colorado has a "make my day"
law that allows the use of deadly force to protect householders from intruders, but the district attorney's office said it only applied to people in fear for their lives. Prosecutors said Cronaghan was not at the warehouse where they were working, therefore was not in fear for his life and not entitled to protection under that law, which was named following a line in a Clint Eastwood movie.
KCPL extends takeover offer
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo — Kansas City Power & Light Co. started yesterday that it had engined its $857 million Electric Co. plant to Gas and Electric Co. unit sent 14.
The Kansas City utility stated tm. KG&E stockholders had offered to sell 43 percent of the company's common stock, as of Monday night.
"This confirms the strength of our offer," said Turner Same, KCPL spokesperson. "There are just a lot of people saying this makes sense."
The Wichta utility opposes the offer and says it is illegal and inadequate. The company has denied that the meeting was meeting requested by KCPL.
"Last week we said we would review all options to KCPL's unprecedented action, including remaining independent, 'Kooper said' the *KGEE* adviser to reject the July 23 offer because it is illegal and inadequate."
Lyle Kopeer, a KG&E spokesperson, said his company was not surprised by the extension of the offer or by the number of shares tendered.
KCPL's formal offer, which originally was set to expire late Monday, resulted in the offer of about 13.7 million of KGGE's 31.7 million outstanding shares. Holders of KGGE preferred stock tendered nearly 90,000 shares to the Kansas City office.
"We're delighted twofold — with
one numbers and with what they represent, such an affirmation that this combination makes sense," White said.
KCPI is seeking 90 percent of the KG&E stock. White said it was too early to tell whether the offer would be extended beyond Sept. 14.
KCPL initiated the offer of $27 a share, or a total of $857 million, July 23. The offer represented a 37 percent premium over the market price of KG&E stock on the last trading day before the offer.
KG&E reported last week that it had asked its financial adviser to search out alternatives to the KCPL takeover bid. Industry experts have speculated that other utilities in the region should be acquired to acquire the Wichita company.
The bid is attracting national attention because it is regarded as the first hostile takeover attempt in the electric utility industry, plus a possible harbinger of other utility combinations.
Meanwhile, one of KG&J's largest institutional investors has endorsed KCPL's bid. The Wisconsin Investment Board, a state retirement fund that holds about 1.3 million shares of KG&J, has tendered its shares to Dirk Kleinm, an investment analyst with the board in Madison. Wis.
"Our job is to get the highest price I can," Klemm said. "I question whether KG&E can get that for us operating on its own."
Guide praises KU
The Associated Press
The selection was based on a review of 82 public schools.
The University of Kansas ranks among the nation's top public and private institutions in the 1991 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges.
"This big public university can compete with more expensive Eastern schools in just about anything." Edward Fiske, education writer for the New York Times and author of the book, said yesterday.
KU was among a few universities noted for exceptional quality in academics. The school was judged for its academics, faculty level of
teaching and research, libraries and other services and seriousness of students and faculty.
KU received the highest ranking among Big Eight Conference schools for academics. Only eight public universities have higher marks for academic quality.
The guide praised KU for undergraduate programs in architecture and urban design, allied health, pharmaceutical engineering, engineering and journalism.
The guide rated KU as inexpensive. It was one of only 16 schools listed costing less than $8,000 a year for tuition, room and board.