Free The Child Buyer by John Hersey Page B

government and industry scholarships for my youngsters, because a scholarship is a moral loan; there's quid pro quo in scholarships handed out under something called a National Defense Education Act. The only real defense for a democracy is improvement. Crisis and triumph over crisis. It's a failure of national vision when you regard children as weapons, and talents as materials you can mine, assay, and fabricate for profit and defense. I tell you, I can sound off on that subject! And you should have seen friend Jones when I got going that way. He got red as a Mclntosh apple. The red spread from his nose outward. He began to sputter and wheeze. So I asked him, straight out, what he wanted of me, and he told me about wanting to buy a youngster. Perhaps Barry Rudd, if the boy lived up to his billing.
    Mr. BROADBENT. And?
    Dr. GOZAR. I threw him out.
    Senator MANSFIELD. With your bare hands, Doctor? Nape of the neck and seat of the pants?
    Dr. GOZAR. No, sir. My tongue's my bouncer.
    Senator SKYPACK. Did he tell you what he has told this committee in confidence, in Executive Session, about what his company does with these brains he buys?
    Dr. GOZAR. No, thank you, Senator, I wouldn't be interested in any of that. The idea of the purchase of talent was enough for me.
    Senator SKYPACK. Mr. Chairman, I submit that if the public knew about the fine patriotic work that company is doing down there, a witness like this—
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    THE CHILD BUYER
    Senator MANSFIELD. Mr. Jones has put us on our honor, Jack. I don't see how we can change that without his permission.
    Dr. GOZAR. 'We Must All Obey!'
    Senator MANSFIELD. That's not fair, Doctor. There's such a thing as honor, you know.
    Dr. GOZAR. I believe in it, but I see very little of it as I wander around.
    Senator MANSFIELD. Did you have any further questions, Mr. Broadbent?
    Mr. BROADBENT. That's all, sir. You may be excused, Doctor. I will call Miss Charity Perrin.
    Senator MANSFIELD. Thank you, Dr. Gozar. . . . Please stand —right there, miss—and well swear you in.
    Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give this committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
    Miss PERRIN. I do.
    TESTIMONY OF Miss CHABITY M. PERRIN, SCHOOLTEACHER, TOWN OF PEQUOT
    Mr. BROADBENT. Kindly identify yourself for the record, miss, as to name, address, occupation.
    Miss PERRIN. The record?
    Senator MANSFIELD. Matter of form, Miss Perrin. We're only trying to do our duty.
    Miss PERRIN. Charity M. Perrin. 94 Second Street, Pequot. Teacher.
    Mr. BROADBENT. Miss Perrin, were you present, either in the auditorium of Lincoln School in Pequot, or immediately outside the auditorium windows on the black-top playground, at the instant on Tuesday afternoon last when a bomb—a stink bomb —was exploded in front of the stage of the—
    MissPERRiN. I . . . Gracious, I . . .
    Senator MANSFIELD. No need to be agitated, my dear Miss Pcrrin. Don't be fearful.
    Mr. BROADBENT. Exactly where were you during the lecture—
    Miss PERRIN. If ... I wasn't . . .
    Senator MANSFIELD. Please, Mr. Broadbent, you are aware—
    Mr. BROADBENT. Very well, miss, let's go back to the beginning.
    Miss PERRIN. The beginning! Oh, dear . . . What do you want me to say?
    Mr. BROADBENT. Begin at the beginning. How you were hired, and all that.
    Miss PERRIN. Sir, I was hired into the Pequot system as a sixth-grade teacher, let me see, it was January, 19—. That was a queer time of year to be hired; you'll say it was a suspicious time of year to be taken on. Here's how it happened. . . . But let me say, first off, you have to remember that those were different times. We teachers were poor. I mean, there was a depression, hot-lunch money was not provided for teachers unless they were extreme hardship cases, multiple dependency—
    Senator MANSFIELD. Broadbent, I don't see why we have to go back that far.
    Mr. BROADBENT. If you wouldn't mind holding your horses just a moment, Senator, I