European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday. July 11. 1991 a a a the stars and stripes Page 5 i be benefited the Washington Post Washington a supreme court nominee Clarence Thomas under fire from some civil rights leaders tuesday went out of his Way to Praise the movement and leaders such As retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall for contributing to Thomas Rise from poverty and segregation. A i have been extremely fortunate a Thomas told reporters As he met with sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina ranking Republican on the judiciary committee in his second Day of personal Calls on senators who will vote on his nomination this fall. A a in be benefited greatly from the civil rights movement from the Justice whom in a nominated to succeed marshal from organizations such As the Urban league and the a acpt As Well As a a mentors such As sen. John c. Dan Forth r-mo., said Thomas who sits on the . Court of appeals in Washington . Since his nomination Thomas has faced criticism for being the beneficiary of a movement that he has often attacked. Tuesdays comments appeared aimed at deflecting charges from some Black leaders that Thomas has spurned the civil rights movement in his opposition to affirmative action and school busing and his outspoken criticism of the civil rights establishment. Thomas volunteered the comments after Thurmond praised him for having a brought yourself up by your own  in a floor statement shortly afterwards Thurmond took note of Thomas nod to the civil rights movement and said he did a not believe judge Thomas will undermine the Progress that has been made in this  Quot the a act delayed a decision monday on whether to endorse Thomas saying it wanted to meet with the conservative Black Jurist before taking action. The groups executive director Benjamin Hooks told Abc to s today show tuesday that a this record As it is known now is very very  _ Thomas has declined to comment on whether he would accept the a act invitation but senatorial supporters have indicated he is unlikely to do so. Asked whether the administration had suggested that Thomas seek to mollify civil rights groups White House spokeswoman Judy Smith said a a judge Thomas is an Independent Man who expresses his own  nominee says to almost every question put to him by reporters tuesday Thomas said he was under wraps. When asked who put him tinder wraps he pointed to Frederick d. Mcclure the White House lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Meeting later in the Day with Thomas. Senate judiciary committee chairman Joseph r. Biden or. A Del. Said he has told president Bush that hearings on Thomas probably will begin shortly be Tore or after the Senate returns sept. 10 from its August recess. This would mean that Thomas if confirmed could join the court in time for the opening of its fall term in Early october Biden said. Responding to controversy Over How extensively senators should question Thomas about his views on abortion and other issues Biden said a the judge Thomas can answer any questions he wants and senators can ask any questions they want. It s totally up to  tuesdays comments were not the first time Thomas has Given credit to the role of the civil rights movement in general and the a act in particular. But in the past he has also not hesitated to take on the civil rights establishment. In a 1984 interview with the Washington Post he lambasted Black leaders who just a Bitch Bitch Bitch. Moan and moan whine and whine Quot about the Reagan administration. In an interview three years later with reason Magazine a conservative free Market oriented journal. Thomas said he could think of no areas in which the civil rights establishment was currently doing Good work. A Quot i can t think of  lie said adding Quot in a the wrong person to ask. Because of the malice with which they have treated  a 1 Homas attacked Hooks by name in a 1987 letter to the Chicago defender responding to Hooks allegation that the Reagan administration was seeking to eliminate the equal employment Opportunity commission which Thomas headed before becoming a Federal appellate judge last year. Quot lie called Hooks comments Quot absurd salvos and a ridiculous  and said a those who consistently use Leoc As a whipping boy Quot we Ere a milling a to let the administrations acts get in Quot the Way of Good  Quot a Thomas also criticized Marshall saying he found a exasperating and incomprehensible Quot the justices criticisms of the Constitution As a document that was Quot defective from the  faces $88,000 in fines from 440 citations Philadelphia apr a teen Ager faces More than $88,000 in fines for 440 unpaid traffic citations and a judge warned him tuesday he faces prison time and May never get a Drivers License. A that is terrible that is a disgrace a traffic court judge George Twardy told Richard Canning 19. Twardy said that Canning could spend More than six years in prison a about a Day for every $40 in unpaid fines a and might not be entitled to a Drivers License until he a More than 100 years old. A i wish there was a Law that i could confiscate your car and put you to work cutting grass in a City Park a Twardy said. A people like you should be doing some thing  a the wont be driving anywhere for a while a said traffic court administrator Jerry Walsh. Canning whose parents Are dead and who lives with his grandmother told the judge he paid $300 for a ear but never applied for a Drivers License or registration. He said he kept driving because it was his Only Way to get to work. He said he ignored repeated summonses because he  afford to pay the fines. Among Cannings citations were 143 for driving without a License 92 for failing to Register his car 72�for failing to have his vehicle inspected and 12 for driving without insurance. Twardy ordered the Case continued to aug. 14 and set bail at $80,000. Canning was returned to jail where he has been held since May 30 for violating probation for stealing a License plate. He is to staud trial in connection with two robberies. He was identified As the City a worst traffic offender in mid june. A As he was being led from the courthouse Canning told reporters head like to have a Drivers License. Quot but How will 1 get to if in a convicted i wont be Able to get one until i am 105 years old. And by that time ill be dead a lie said. In the stars and stripes 10 years ago july 11,1981 a Security forces cornered three masked riflemen who fired a Salute at the funeral of hunger striker Joseph Mcdonnell in Belfast Northern Ireland. Violence erupted Rock hurling youths attempted to cover the riflemen a Retreat from pursuing police. 20 years ago july 11,1971 a King Hassan ii of Morocco survived an assassination attempt As rebel army officers attempted to overthrow his government while he was celebrating his 42nd birthday. 30 years ago july 11,1961 a an explosion and fire that swept the grounded portuguese ship save off the Northern coast of Mozambique left 237 of 490 people aboard dead or missing. 40 years ago july 11,1951 a Britain a Randolph Turpin scored a sensational upset hammering out a decisive 15-round decision Over sugar Ray Robinson to become the first British middleweight boxing Champion of the world since 1891. Zoo visitors get rare double treat san Diego apr Thelma and Louise Are being held at the san Diego zoo. But they re being Well cared for they get four mice a month a and plenty of visitors. Thelma and Louise Are the names Given to a rare two headed female Corn Snake at the zoos Klauber Shaw reptile1 House. The 3l/ foot Long Snake is connected just behind the Heads to one body. The Heads have identical markings. The right head is the one with the appetite. It seems to be the Only one to eat the twice monthly meals of two full grown mice. A we have not seen the left head eat but the fellow we got it from says it also eats on occasion Quot zoo spokeswoman Georgeanne Irvine said monday. The 4�?T/2-year-old non poisonous Snake was acquired in late March from a breeder on the East coast where Corn snakes Are native Irvine said. It is rare to find snakes with two Heads however and it is doubtful Thelma and Louise could survive in the wild. A with two Heads it would be pretty difficult to catch food to Man Euver the Heads a she said. As for the name Irvine a fan of the movie Thelma amp Louise said she thought it up in the Shower. A i thought what a perfect name for a female Snake a she said. A i got it approved from the reptile people although they done to normally like to name animals. A a in la probably get feminists calling me. And ill say a hey what a the matter Are you prejudiced against snakes a a Thelma and Louise Are Heads above most other san Diego zoo attractions