WATERGATE

To the Editors of The Crimson:

What went on inside Watergate between Mssrs. Liddy, Hung, Dean, Gray, Stans, Chapin, Colson, McCord, Segretti, Magruder, Haldeman and Mitchell, and doubtless others, will take a legal expert to unravel. What stares us in the face, yet remains unsaid (either from motives of delicacy or hesitancy to deface Uncle Sam, or else perhaps from fear of reprisal) is that in so large an operation, the boss himself must have been informed, or if not, his ignorance is no less culpable.

On the high seas, the captain of a ship is responsible for an attack on another vessel, whether he has ordered the attack or not. Nor is it likely that his subordinates will risk such action without orders from the bridge. Even less likely is it that the guilty subordinates will go scot free and even receive the captain's protection, having so jeopardized the ship's safety. But no captain enjoys the Bourbon inviolability of Mr. Nixon, once he reaches port.

Some people have compared Watergate to the Teapot Dome scandal. However damaging the comparison is meant to be, there is a marked difference. Mr. Handing did weakly condone corruption, but without benefit to himself. Besides, this same pillaging of public lands and forests goes on at this very moment, without a ripple at headquarters. In contrast, Mr. Nixon stood personally to gain by the theft of Democratic campaign material, as well as by other felonious actions intended to disrupt the Democratic ranks. The circumstantial evidence of his involvement, whether as author, patron, or accessory, is almost airtight; his innocence becomes unthinkable.

All honors to the senators and Judge Sirica for following through on the case. My only disappointment is that a dirty little political crime should rock the White House more than years of death, destruction, and horror in an infamous, unconstitutional, and frighteningly costly war abroad Ernst Bacon

The Crimson extends its condolences to Charles W. Dunn, Master of Quincy House, on the death last week of his wife Patricia.