Letters to the Editor

Bandstand baton

I read with a great deal of interest the March 4 editorial regarding the bandstand concerts at White Point Gardens. I can provide some additional and personal history of these concerts during the "Roaring '20s."

When a squadron of naval vessels visited Charleston in 1922, the bandmaster of the combined bands of the visiting vessels was a very popular figure.

A series of concerts were performed and conducted by the naval bandmaster who, incidentally, met and married a young lady in Charleston that year and raised four children here. When the USS Dobbin and USS Concord returned to Charleston in 1927, the concerts were resumed by popular demand.

On Nov. 20, 1927, Mayor Thomas P. Stoney presented the bandmaster with an engraved leader's baton in appreciation of the many concerts performed on the bandstand at White Point Gardens during the destroyer squadron's stay in Charleston.

The bandmaster was my father, Sam Levin, and I am the proud owner of that baton.

MITZI KIRSHTEIN
Confederate Circle
Charleston

Toyota quality

The March 5 column by Cal Thomas dealing with the Toyota recall mess is one of profound insight. Mr. Thomas relates the evolution of Toyota, founded on the quality principles of Dr. J. Edwards Deming, to the current model based on short-term profits.

Dr. Deming is frequently cited as the one individual responsible for the economic recovery of Japan after World War II. He has been called "the man who taught Japan, America and many other countries about quality."

Later in his career Dr. Deming led five-day seminars dealing with his 14 points on the quality-first obligation of management, typically before an audience of about 500 to 1,500 individuals.

I had the privilege to attend one of those seminars when Dr. Deming was in his 90s. Perhaps his message can be boiled down to this: You can't fix a broken system by whipping workers.

Business and government leaders should read and understand Thomas' column and reflect on (and understand) the principles of Dr. Deming. These are the basics we must go back to in rebuilding for our future.

SIG SCHILDCROUT
Appling Drive
Mount Pleasant

'Naming names'

Kudos to John Rainey for his March 6 commentary. It was the kind of article we all long for, one that tells it as it is in specific terms, and names names.

In his commentary he details how senators William O'Dell, Thomas Alexander, Chip Campsen and Vincent Sheheen and House members Michael Thompson, Adam Taylor, John Scott, and Nelson Hardwick apparently listened year after year to a detailing of the troubles with a steadily eroding unemployment trust fund, all to no avail. Nothing was done, though some posture that they tried. Maybe billions in losses fall below the threshold whereby they get excited.

Had this sorry behavior happened elsewhere it probably would result in lawsuits, firings, removal of licenses, and other equally deserving penalties. For our politicians it is just another day and another avoidance of the trust that we place in them. At least one of these names is talking of running for governor, under the auspices of being a conservative. I pray The Post and Courier will continue this tradition of naming names, and giving the reader enough actual information to lead to informed voting.

I'm not a "tea party" member, but praise the concept of holding these guys responsible. That starts with knowing how they perform.

FRANK LOFTIN
Beverly Road
Charleston

Cruise to lose

I've been thinking about this whole contaminated cruise ship thing. Perhaps they should embrace the virus and market the next trip as a weight-loss cruise.

ALICIA HORRY LELAND
Pinckney Street
McClellanville

Overcrowding fix

I wonder: Does that Arizona sheriff who handled the criminal overcrowding problem with outdoor tents have any left?

LENNY BRANCH
Houston Northcutt Boulevard
Mount Pleasant