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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1977)
Page 2 Viewpoint The Battalion Tuesday Texas A&M University May 3, 1977 Big bucks not needed to win big WASHINGTON — It may be the greatest testimony to the honesty of the members of Congress ever provided. That’s saying a lot, but it seems justified by the way those members of Congress answered the questions put to them in a survey conducted for the Federal Election Commission and released last week. . A word of explanation. Last November’s election was the first conducted under the stiff disclosure requirements and contribu tion limits enacted by Congress in 1974. When the election was over, the FEC — the unit charged with administering the new law — had the bright idea of polling the real experts, the candidates who oper ated under the law, for their views on its effects. For $57,000, the commission persuaded Richard Wirthlin, a leading Republican pollster, and Peter D. Hart, an eminent Democratic survey-taker, to combine forces for this project. Hart Research Associates and Decision Making Information, Wirthlin’s firm, interviewed key people in 850 House and Senate campaigns — an accurate 40 per cent cross-section of the 2,150 who sought nomination and election last year. Most of the answers came directly from the candi dates; the rest, from campaign managers. The result is a fascinating catalogue of information about those campaigns, shat tering a lot of popular myths. The biggest victim of the survey is the very idea that gave birth to the 1974 cam paign reform law — the notion that American politics is saturated and cor rupted by runaway spending. Quite the contrary. The median amount of money reported spent in a 1976 House or Senate campaign was $24,000. Less than one in five campaigns had a six-figure budget; only 1 per cent spent a million dollars or more. These were not the high-powered cam paigns we think of, with slick operators and media-manipulators. They were, in Hart’s phrase, “mom-and-pop” opera tions. Less than one-third of the congres sional candidates even had professional campaign managers. Low spending and scant professionalism are a surefire formula for political defeat. The study reminds us that seven out of ten of those who filed for Congress were de feated in either the primary or the general election. The study also shows that the biggest factor in determining one’s chances of suc cess is incumbency: 93 per cent of the in cumbents won; 92 per cent of their chal lengers lost. Overall, the survey tells us, the candi dates were evenly split on the question whether the new campaign law, on bal ance, helped the political process more than it hurt. The chief benefit, they said, was increased disclosure of the sources of campaign funds; the chief burden, the voluminous reports that made such disclo sure effective. But on one key question — so much at the center of debate when the law was being passed — the candidates agreed by a 72 to 12 per cent margin that the act “increased the advantage an incumbent al ready has in running for re-election.” Even the people who wrote the 1974 law were honest enough to say that was the case. By a margin of 3-to-2, the 1976 incumbents conceded that they had passed a Watergate “reform” measure which made them even more immune from effective challenge. That fact ought to be at the center of attention when Congress takes up the question of amending the 1974 law and possibly adding public financing for con gressional campaigns. The evidence is that the regulatory as pects of the 1974 law are strong enough, and probably need simplification. Most candidates are over-regulated; they are no more corruptible than church-mice, and just as poor. What they need are not more regu lations but more campaign cash. The ques tion is how to get it to them. One answer might be to relax the curbs on private con tributions. But in this survey, challengers said by a 4-to-l margin that if there were no limits on contributions, their incum bent opponents would have had an even greater advantage. And the incumbents agreed that was the case. Unfortunately, there was no direct question in the survey on the candidates’ attitude toward public financing of House and Senate races. Theoretically, that is a hopeful avenue. But the levels of public subsidy being discussed are minimal, compared to the lavish taxpayer-financed advantages of staff, offices, mailings and travel incumbents already enjoy. Adding equal amounts of campaign sub sidies for incumbents and challengers and slapping a spending ceiling on, too, could just increase the safety incumbents al ready enjoy — as the 1974 “reform” did. The great value of this survey is that it focuses attention on the right issue for the 1977 “election reform” debate. That-issue is the effect any change in the law will have on the competitiveness of House and Senate races. Even the people who wrote the 1974 law now acknowledge that it had an incumbent “tilt” to it. Ending that “tilt” is the real test now facing Congress. (c) 1977, The Washington Post Company Readers' Forum Gays — a question of propriety Editor: We appreciated very much the reports of The Battalion correspondents in their series of four articles about homosexuality. The issue of homosexuality is of great im portance to Texas A&M University at this time because of the legal action taken against the university for its refusal to grant recognition to a homosexual student organization. As a contribution to the on going discussion of homosexuality we would like to make the following observa tions. 1. As noted in the fourth Battalion arti cle, “doctors confirm that no evidence has been found to prove homosexuality a ge netic occurrence.” 2. Thus, as the article commented, homosexuality is a learned behavioral pat tern such as smoking or drinking. 3. The crucial issue, then is whether the homosexual lifestyle is a “proper” lifestyle. If “proper,” then homosexuals could be regarded as, say, drinkers. If “improper,” they could be regarded, as say, alcoholics. 4. It is perhaps easier, with these analogies, to determine what our attitudes should be toward homosexuals. If we as sume that the homosexual lifestyle is “im proper” then, as with alcoholics, we would not limit their right to a university educa tion, housing, or other civil rights. Fur thermore, those who were not homosexu als would be open and sympathetic to homosexuals and not ostracize them so cially. However, heterosexuals would surely find it necessary to resist any at tempt by homosexuals to convert anyone to their lifestyle. 5. Also, if the homosexual lifestyle were “improper” it would appear to be unrea sonable for the university to recognize an organization whose purpose was to pro mote homosexuality (or alcoholism). We would be surprised, however, if the uni versity would refuse to recognize a group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. And, if the homosexual community wished to or ganize a group which was devoted to help ing homosexuals “kick the habit,” the uni versity might well recognize the group. 6. Returning to the crucial issue of the propriety of homosexuality, the third Bat talion article states: “the religious philosophies which underlie the sexual mores of our society were brought to gether and elaborated by men who be lieved that a life of celibacy, abstinence, and asceticism was morally superior to one containing any sexual expression.” This statement is simply untrue. The Christian attitude toward homosexuality goes back to the second chapter of the Bible which was written in a society where large families were honored. In this biblical pas sage, the woman was made by God be cause man was incomplete without her and the pair were to “be fruitful and mul tiply.” This Christian view of the proper relationship between men and women is the basis for our (and, until recently, our society’s) opposition to homosexuality. —Walter Bradley —Leonard R. Corwell, Dept, of Mechan ical Engineering —Helmet Esau, Dept, of English — John A. McIntyre — Clifford A. Meyer, Dept, of Physics —James G. Miller, Dept, of Mathematics —Robin I. Welch, Texas Engineering Experiment Station Fetters to the Editor Academy cadets blast story Editor: I am writing this letter to let Aggies everywhere know that reporter Jim Craw ley’s attempted expose concerning life at Texas Maritime Academy is a sham and a farce. Many of the students at Moody Col lege, especially those in the Corps, found this article extremely disturbing. It creates a distorted picture of the relation ship that exists between the cadets. This is an insult to the men and women who have served as cadets aboard the Texas Clipper. The journalistic techniques used by Mr. Crawley to support his preconceived no tions undermines the credibility of The Battalion on this campus. He interviewed people and selected only the statements that would create a “sensational” type of story, whether they actually applied to the situation at hand or not. In an attempt to create a sensational and shocking article, Mr. Crawley completely ignored the actual status of the relation ships that exist at Moody College, using past times to substantiate today’s life. The article is factual in that he accredited those who made the statements; however, they were taken entirely out of context and used by him in such a way as to create his sensational expose. Many of the situations which Mr. Crawley describes should not be placed under the label of hazing or sex ual discrimination. The only label applica ble is “Good Aggie Bull.” Not only is the article unfair and mis leading, but is a violation of the “Spirit of Aggieland” because it can serve no pur pose but to divide and weaken rather than unify and strengthen. The Battalion owes the students of Moody College an apology for the unfair and misleading article; more importantly, it owes the students of Texas A&M an accurate and complete perspec tive of what Moody College has to offer in the way of educational facilities, training and last but not least, social activities. —Lynn Bell, TMA IM ignored Editor: I would like to call your attention to the article of April 28 concerning the Texas Maritime Academy. This is the first time that I have seen any article in The Battal ion concerning TMA and I am quite shocked that the newspaper would focus on an attitude with which the author of the story has not spent any substantial time. Quotes from the girls were taken out of context and the school was made to sound as a haven for weirdos. For someone who is not personally familiar with TMA, the article presents a pretty bleak picture. We at TMA feel let down by such an attitude as this. In the fall, the Corps intramural football team which was the champion out of a total of eight teams here in Galveston traveled to A&M and played F-l in an in tramural regulation game set up by the Intramurals Department at A&M. We beat F-l (which was the Intramural All- University champion) and the results of the game were subsequently not pub licized at all, nor would the Intramurals Department recognize it. Each summer, our training ship carries the name of Texas A&M University to foreign and domestic ports. It is hard to appreciate such a disre spectful attitude by fellow Aggies. —Doug McCormick ’78 Corps Commander, TMA Reality lost Editor: Mr. Crawley’s article of April 28 has misrepresented this school and its stu dents to such an extent that all touch with reality is lost. The article pretended to describe life for female cadets at TMA. In doing so, Mr. Crawley chose to quote only four female cadets and three male cadets, hardly a representative figure of the 17 female and 147 male cadets. Furthermore, the quotes chosen were taken out of context, and this along with the use of trivial examples, past experiences no longer applicable and prac tical jokes distorts our way of life beyond comprehension. Any writer, and therefore any pub lisher, that professes to describe a minor ity or anyone’s way of life must back up generalities by specific, accurate exam ples. The women’s reasons for being here are as many and as varied as the men’s. The anonymous for student opinions is the Great White Sea Gull; he is not a “campus farce. The “Bilge Monster” is not, nor has he ever been part of any initiation rite. He existed for one day last semester. Our in itiation rite consists of a “quadding, ” a fine Aggie tradition here. I don’t know anyone who has ever covered themselves with oil, seaweed or garbage. No one, since I have been here, to my knowledge, has ever been discriminated against, in any form. While the above are figments of Mr. Craw ley’s imagination, the rest of the article consists of maligned half-truths. I feel that Mr. Crawley and The Battal ion owe this school, the administration and the students — especially those “quoted” — an apology, and an article that fairly represents Moody College. —M. Margaret Card, TMA Editor’s note: The controversy sur rounding the Texas Maritime Academy story of April 28 deals in obvious differ ences in viewpoint between the author and members of the Academy. The charges made are such that a review of the article is in order. While this is underway there is a point that should be understood. The situation at the Academy as the first female cadets entered the school and the attitudes held there today are matters of importance and public interest. It was for this reason the article was written and published, with abso lutely no malice intended toward TMA as might be construed from the many letters thus received by The Battalion. The story will be carefully examined for discrepen- cies, and retractions made if necessary. The Battalion regrets the misunderstand ings. Top of the News Texas Emergency power limited to stat The Texas Interconnected System, a grid between genei plants designed to provide power in emergencies, has beenlim the state by the Texas Public Utility Commission. The comn yesterday ordered two Texas utility companies to sever their ( homa affiliates from the system of tie-ins saying only Texas utilil can participate in the statewide system designed to prevent blado in periods of fuel shortages or high energy consumption. Theuw mous decision by the commission forces West Texas Utilities Con Central Power & Light of Corpus Christi to cut electrical tie ini| Southwest Electric Power Co. and Public Service Co. ofOklahoi Leon Jaworski, attorney for the Oklahoma holding company, urj the commission to postpone action until Congress acts on Presi# Carter’s energy proposals. Jaworski said Carter’s plan wouldstripll Texas commission’s jurisdiction. Garett Morris, commission! man, rejected Jaworski’s request. Hussein asks Houston for help King Hussein, one in a series of Middle Eastern officials courting money and power from Houston, visited the South’s largest city and asked for help. Help financially and help to solve the endless quest for peace. At a $30-a- head luncheon sponsored by the Institute of \ ! International Education, the Chamber of Com merce, and other organizations. Mayor Fred Hofheinz told Hussein, “This nation is interested in world peace. We believe it is possible to settle conflict without force of arms.” Hussein admitted his country had been limited in realiz ing its full growth potential by diverting funds funds to its armed forces. iS\ HUSSEIN Economist criticizes energy plan| Theodore R. Eck, chief economist for the Standard Oil Comp Indiana, said yesterday in Dallas that President Carter’s program actually will do more to reduce the supply of petroleumt) expand it, and at least one logical result of that reduction will belt food. Without incentives to drill, he said, the annual reductionofi* wells would be about 10 per cent. And without more oil, he said® food and fiber industries would have to find other sources offueli| machinery. Offshore blowout investigated With its runaway well finally capped in the choppy water oti| North Sea, the Phillips Petroleum Co. now is examining whatc the offshore blowout and what may be done to stop future accidei Phillips vice president William A. Roberts said yesterday the bin out occurred during maintenance on the platform and there hactfl every reason to believe the well was dead when gas and oil suddd came from the ocean floor, through the tubing and out the I rig. Beame hopes for onshore oil base] it was a new role for New York City Mayor Abraham Beame — going hat-in-hand trying to convince an industry to do more business in his town. Faced with a steady exodus of corpora tions and resulting unemployment Beame and his associates came to the world’s largest oil industry meeting in Houston with hopes of making the most of impending East Coast development. The mayor brought along two dozen business, labor, banking, civic and local government leaders to ask delegates to the an nual Offshore Technology Conference to con sider New York City as an onshore base for prospective drillers in the Baltimore Canyon and Georges Bank sites. Nation Soviet trawler captain fined $10,01 In the first action of its kind, the captain of a Soviet trawler has! fined $10,000 and given a nine-month suspended prison sentenced a federal judge for stealing fish inside the U.S. 200-mile limit. World U.S. and Vietnam open talks today] The United States and Vietnam open talks today in Paris onesta lishing diplomatic relations and while no advance conditions ha*| been set, the United States has one end in view while Vietnam 1 two. The chief interest for the United States is getting Vietnam's! cooperation in tracing the 800 Americans still listed as missing inti Vietnam war, all of whom are believed dead. Vietnam s two goalsai admission to the United Nations, which the U.S. veto has blockedsj far, and U.S. aid in war damage reconstruction. Protestants order strike in Belfast A general strike ordered by militant Protestants began todayv/il fires in Downtown Belfast and an explosion that damaged a majflj commuter railway line. One strike leader warned of a “bloodbatl BEAME The Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion arc those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administra tion or the Board of Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a university and community news paper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and docs not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must he signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educa tional Advertising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Tuesday through Friday from September through May except dur ing exam and holiday periods and the summer, when it is published weekly. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per school year; $35.00 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% sales tax, Advertising rates furnished on request. Address: The Battal ion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Builtuf g lege Station, Texas 77843. United Press International is entitlttj sively to the use for reproduction of all n ( patches credited to it. Rights of r all other matter herein reserved, postage paid at College Station, Texas. I MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Jamie-i News Editor Debbyfi News Assistant Caidl( Sports Editor Assignments Editor Mary! Photo Editor Jim f Copyeditor Mary Alice Woti Reporters Rusty Cawley,! Lanford, Glenna Whitley, Paul McGralKj W. Tynes, Sue Mutzel, Lee Roy I Photographers ^ 1 JimC Student Publications Board: Bob G.\ Chairman; Joe Arredondo; Tom Daiej Gary Halter; Dr. John W. Hanna; Dr. I McCandless; Dr. Clinton A. Phillips; Jerri Director of Student Publications: GaelLO