The Sierra Club Hasn't Endorsed Any Candidate

''Why Al Gore has the greens seeing red'' (Washington Outlook, Jan. 24) may mislead readers about the Sierra Club's activities in the Presidential race. The article excerpts a memo representing the individual views of a Sierra Club board member and blows it out of proportion. Contrary to the impression created, the Sierra Club has not yet taken a position or made an endorsement of any candidate running for President. In fact, the club's Political Committee has barely begun the democratic process it uses to make such an important decision. The club believes that both Vice-President Al Gore and Senator Bill Bradley have strong records protecting our air, water, and land.

The Sierra Club applauded Gore's announcement that as President he would halt new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts. In contrast, it was President George Bush and then-Florida Commerce Secretary Jeb Bush who approved the Chevron leases for oil and gas exploration off the Florida coast.

Due to the similarity of Gore's and Bradley's records, and the need to fully solicit the views of club members, the club has not yet endorsed a candidate for President. In addition, it hopes that all of the Presidential candidates will address three pressing questions:


-- What binding, concrete emissions reductions would they advocate to fight global warming?


-- How would they fix international trade agreements and rules to enhance environmental protection worldwide?


-- What policies would they advocate to shift the U.S. to a 21st century economy that cuts dependence on natural-resource extraction and combustion?


Poll after poll indicates that Americans want a clean and safe environment. The next President will be responsible for fulfilling this strong public desire. The Sierra Club will undertake a thorough analysis before it makes this critical endorsement.

Chuck McGrady
President
Sierra Club
Flat Rock, N.C.

GM's Real Daddy Was William C. Durant

In ''Is this baby built for cyberspace?'' (Cover Story commentary, Jan. 24), John Byrne gives credit to Alfred P. Sloan for the ''monumental acquisition and vertical integration'' of General Motors Corp. in the 1920s. In fact, every automotive division of GM was developed and/or acquired by William Crapo Durant, starting with his collusion with then-famous race-car driver Barney Olds and the Oldsmobile Div.

During those early years, Durant, with uncanny insight, founded and built GM by acquiring or developing Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, Body by Fisher (Fisher Brothers), Frigidaire, Delco, GM Trucks, GMAC, etc. Unfortunately, as great an entrepreneur as Durant was, he was a greater gambler, nearly bankrupting GM with his shortsighted competition to beat Henry Ford in the tractor business. The DuPonts, who were the major investors and major paint suppliers to GM, fired Durant as chairman, only to allow him to return after they were forced to merge GM with Durant's new industrial creation, Chevrolet.

Once again, Durant's gambling, entrepreneurial style caused fluctuating boom-and-bust cycles at GM, and Sloan was brought in to provide modern management techniques. Hence, Sloan is noted as the ''father of modern management.'' Because of Durant's fantastic successes and equally significant failures, this important figure has been forgotten, while Sloan is remembered.

Dennis R. Nyren
Lake Forest, Ill.

Suddenly, 1984 Looks Like a Walk in the Park

While the title was catchy (''On the Web, it's 1984,'' Technology & You, Jan. 10), you may have forgotten that Winston (Orwell's protagonist) could sit privately at his desk in an alcove at home. We seem to have lost this option. I was startled enough to discover ''e-mail capturing'' at my place of employment, but to be suddenly barraged at home by e-mail and screen ads addressed to ''James Z2 Fox'' was even more bewildering. I discovered that I had incorrectly entered information on my computer profile. I further discovered I could review the ''cookies'' America Online Inc. and others were leaving on my hard drive. Resentment? You bet.

I am slowly moving into this cyberspace world. But to my dismay this electronic highway has no cops and an awful lot of highwaymen. The only saving grace to date is that I have not changed that error in the profile, so when I am hailed as ''James Z2,'' I know it's the wolf and not Grandma!

James Fox
Lodi, Calif.

The New Economy Fulfills an Old Prediction

After exploring the social and economic problems of blacks in America in 1938-40, Gunnar Myrdal, the Swedish 1974 Nobel laureate in economics, argued that inequalities between rich and poor would increase, rather than disappear, because poverty tends to breed poverty. ''Though it's a New Economy, it's got some old flaws'' (Economic Viewpoint, Jan. 10) establishes that the trend is being reinforced by the information technologies of the New Economy. This regretful situation demands action--by governments, academicians, politicians, international organizations, and media--along the lines at the end of the column calling for imaginative policies.

On average, the 6 billion of us now on the planet live much better than the 2 billion of 100 years ago. But the current poorest 2 billion most likely live worse off. This leaves a big question mark over what progress means and whether we are really making it.

Gustavo Estrada
Miami

Windows Cleared the Way for Business Apps

''Is Windows ready to run e-business?'' (Information Technology, Jan. 24) made a good analysis of why Microsoft Corp. is not a monopoly. While 10 or more years ago there may not have been as many strong rivals to Microsoft in the operating system arena, that certainly is not the case today. Moreover, these current rivals did not appear overnight in response to the government's lawsuit.

In fact, when Windows appeared on the scene, it served an important function that many business-system developers were scratching their heads over how to provide. Microsoft's approach to multiple windows spurred the enhancement of many new business applications while simultaneously spurring the growth of many new technology companies, including Netware giants.


A. Sundwall
Torrington, Conn.

May Your Mutual Fund Live in Boring Times

Not surprisingly, ''Mutual Funds: What's wrong'' (Special Report, Jan. 24) points up funds' general failure to match the indexes. But rather than moving one's money from fund to fund in the hopes of catching the right industry or region, a lot of investors look for a mutual fund in which their money can safely sit for years--decades, even.

As important as how well a fund keeps up with a surging index is whether or not it also tumbles as far with every downturn. If not getting as much out of a boom also means not losing in a bust, that's a good fund.

Eric Rosenbloom
New York

''Our annual guide to mutual funds'' (Special Report, Jan. 24, 2000)

In ''Our annual guide to mutual funds'' (Special Report, Jan. 24), we incorrectly stated the percentage of mutual funds that got A ratings. The correct number is 7.5%.

''A new Net equation'' (News: Analysis & Commentary, Jan. 31, 2000)

''A new Net equation'' (News: Analysis & Commentary, Jan. 31) incorrectly stated that Lycos Inc. attempted to buy USA networks Inc. In fact, USA Networks attempted to buy Lycos.