Page 2
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Thursday
September 1, 1977
Panama issue not political hay
By announcing that he will work for Senate
rejection of the new Panama Canal treaties,
Ronald Reagan endeared himself to the right-
wing Republicans who are expected to dominate
the GOP presidential nominating convention in
1980.
If the Senate does vote against ratification,
however, we think the former governor will
quickly discover that his decision was bad for
him, his party and his country.
Reagan opposed a new canal treaty in his Re
publican primary challenges to President Ford
last year. There was a lingering hope that he
might be persuaded to change his mind. Within
hours after receiving a detailed briefing from the
new Administration’s canal negotiators Thursday,
though, he issued a call for rejection of the
agreements that will be signed Sept. 7.
On the surface, it would appear that the
Californian has seized the winning side of a good
issue. Polls indicate that three of every four
Americans are against handing over the canal to
Panama, and mail is running heavily against the
new treaties both at the White House and on
Capitol Hill.
We think the appearances are deceiving.
Most Americans still are not familiar with the
terms of the proposed new arrangement. Most of
what they have heard is the charge by opponents
that the treaties constitute a “giveaway; they have
the impression that the United States is run
ning from the canal with its tail between its legs.
Public attitudes will shift, we believe, as people
learn that this is not the case.
Although legal jurisdiction over the Canal Zone
would pass to Panama within three years, the
United States would retain responsibility for op
eration and maintenance until the year 2000.
Canal treaty lost in static
Panamanian personnel would take over more
and more jobs during the time, but an American
would head the body running the canal until
1990, at which time a Panamanian would move
into the top job. The governing board would have
an American majority for the life of the treaty.
Under terms of a separate agreement, the
United States would maintain the right to defend
the canal even after the turn of the century — in
fact, in perpetuity. . .
Businessman, diplomats and others familiar
with the situation in Panama think that rejection
of the agreements would set off bloody and possi
bly large-scale violence in Panama — with peril
to the security of the canal — and a wave of
anti-U.S. agitation throughout Latin America.
Were that to happen, it would be tragic for the
country, and do little good for the political
careers of those who blocked the treaty.
Los Angeles Times
Lance debate hurting Carter image
By DAVID S. BRODER
; WASHINGTON — On the two issues
that have dominated the late-summer
agenda, there is a discernible difference
' between Washington’s priorities and those
of the rest of the country.
| Returning members of Congress almost
' unanimously report that the proposed
* Panama Canid treaty has really stirred up
J the folks.
’ Little of the emotion of that debate has
* yet rolled over Washington, but it will.
Meantime, this capital is considerably agi
tated over the affairs of budget director
Bert Lance. But that question, probably
because of the complexity of the allegations
and defenses, has been much slower in
catching on around the country.
The two issues converge on President
Carter in a very special way. It is now ap
parent that Carter will need the moral au
thority of his office to persuade the Ameri
can people that the sacrifice of American
control in the Canal Zone is truly in the
national interest. And that moral authority
is in jeopardy as the White House fights its
dogged defense of Bert Lance against the
cascading charges of improprieties.
The link between the two issues has
been well-described by James M. Wall, the
editor of the Clnistjan Century and the
chairman of Carter’s 1976 campaign in Il
linois. In an article in the current issue of
his magazine, Wall notes that what he calls
“the religion factor’’ has been central to
Carter’s leadership. He says it durability
“depends heavily on presidential character
and consistency .... When President
Carter faces an issue like the tangled bank
affairs of his close friend and adviser Bert
Lance, he has no fall-back position. His
public image of‘goodness’ is tarnished if he
permits ‘politics as usual’ to prevail in this
The moral dimension “or religion factor”
in Carter’s leadership, Wall says, “faces its
strongest test in the next few weeks as he
seeks to persuade members of the Senate
to support the Panama Canal treaty.”
Wall’s emphasis on the moral aspect of
the coming debate is appropriate. To be
sure, there are issues of national defense
and hemisphere security. But on those is
sues, Carter has powerful support from the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, former President Ford
and former Secretary of State Kissinger.
The public mind is unsettled as to
whether the renunciation of American
privilege in Panama is an act of cowardice,
part of the retreat of American power, or an
act of generosity and historical wisdom,
which does not compromise American
interests but vindicates America’s devotion
to principle.
It is on the ultimate historical-moral in
terpretation that Carter must be heard,
’ AM/?... COULD you STEP IN HERE A MINUTE, HONEY?
where he alone can contest for public opin
ion with the skilled persuaders like Ronald
Reagan who are arguing the opposing case.
In this context, the Lance affair is at least
unnecessary static on the screen of the pub
lic’s attention. It dominated Carter’s press
conference last week and it occupies almost
every waking hour of his press secretaiy,
Jody Powell, who has become the leader of
the Lance defense squad.
Powell is a skillful and persuasive advo
cate in his own right, and his talents are
needed for the treaty fight. But it was pain
fully reminiscent of the Watergate period
to watch him last week spending endless
hours and uncounted quantities of his own
and the President’s credibility explaining
and defending Lance’s infinitely compli
cated financial maneuverings.
The proper forum for these discussions is
the upcoming Senate hearing, and the
proper spokesman is Lance, not Carter or
Powell. But the timing of that hearing, on
Sept. 7, illustrates the problem. It will
occur on the same day as — and compete
for attention with — the signing ceremony
for the Panama treaty.
No fair-minded person would suggest
that Lance resign or be fired just because
his problems come at an inconvenient time
for the President.
But the link between the Panama treaty
and Lance is inextricable, as Jim Wall
pointed out. And a prudent President and
press secretary would keep their priorities
straight — which is not what they’ve been
doing this past week.
(c) 1977, The Washington Post Company
English ‘peasants’ returning to soil
By RUDOLF KLEIN
International Writers Service
LONDON — Evening time produces a
strange transformation in many of Lon
don's most respectable residents. Doctors,
lawyers, engineers and bankers shed their
business suits for work clothes, and they till
the soil of symmetrically laid-out plots
squeezed in among the city’s buildings.
These are Britain’s urban peasants, and
they are raising vegetables on so-called “al
lotments’ provided by the municipal au
thorities.
About 250,000 of these gardening plots
now exist in cities and towns throughout
the country. And it seems likely that the
government, under pressure from various
back-to-the-land groups, will expand the
area available for part-time farmers.
The system of furnishing people with
plots dates back to the 17th century, when
peasants were permitted to cultivate
patches of ground as compensation for the
loss of common fields. During the indus
trial revolution two centuries later, under
paid factory workers were also accorded
parcels of land to help them meet their
need for food.
Local governments are theoretically
supposed to guarantee land, usually in the
suburbs, to anyone seeking to grow vege
tables for his own requirements. But the
law is worded so vaguely that this obliga
tion is often dodged.
As a consequence, the demand for plots
vastly exceeds the supply, especially in
London. The waiting list of those who have
applied for parcels has doubled within re
cent years. Vacant lots around the city are
usually snapped up by gardening
enthusiasts without much regard for legal
details.
The shortage of plots has also been com
pounded by the fact that they can be
handed down from father to son, and some
are known to have been in the same family
for nearly a century.
Since the municipal authorities pay little
attention to the disposition of this land, it is
usually controlled by an oligarchy of old-
timers, and a newcomer often must in
gratiate himself with this council of elders
to acquire a bit of soil.
One reason for the sudden popularity of
these plots has been the double-digit infla
tion afflicting Britain. The traditional par
cel is 300 square yards in size, and esti
mates are that a family can cultivate the
equivalent of $300 in vegetables for an an
nual rent of $10, plus the cost of seeds and
fertilizer. Thus the soil represents a solid
investment.
The conversion to vegetable gardening
also stems from widespread reaction
against processed food. People here are not
only discovering that home-grown to
matoes and lettuce and carrots taste better
than the packaged variety, but they take
pride in having produced them by their
own labor.
This trend is consistent, moreover, with
the general drift in Britain toward health
improvement. Vegetarian restaurants are
currently mushrooming throughout Lon
don, and, among other things, a new pas
sion has developed for cycling.
The trend is also apparent in the kinds of
people who are now cultivating vegetable
plots. Increasing numbers of professional
men and white-collar employes are going
in for vegetable gardening. Even the Times
of London, once the staid newspaper of the
upper classes, has devoted space to the
subject.
The present drive to urge the govern
ment to open more land to vegetable culti
vation is reminiscent of the Dig for Victory
campaign inspired during World War II,
when Britain desperately needed to reduce
its dependence on imported food.
Among the groups agitating for ex
panded allotments is one called the
Friends of the Earth, which points out that
an additional 20,000 acres open to cultiva
tion would yield 160,000 tons of carrots or
100,000 tons of potatoes.
To demonstrate its argument, this group
has taken over an empty lot opposite the
former London site of Britain’s National
Theatre. Its activists are vigorously grow
ing food in what might be called a model
urban farm.
There is probably not much to the claim
that do-it-yourself agriculture will appreci
ably cut Britain’s bill for imported food.
But it is certainly relieving the pressure on
family budgets, and for that reason it is
likely to be encouraged by the govern
ment.
(Klein, a senior fellow at London’s Center
for Studies in Socud Policy, writes on so
cial issues in Britain.)
Slouch
by Jim Earle
Letter to the editor
Check solicitor’s ‘ID’
a.l£ - sesr /-rr
Editor:
We have been confronted recently with
solicitors for a “Christian” organization.
They are offering carnations and suckers
for donations to their cause. We are con
cerned that many students are not aware
of who they are contributing to. This par
ticular organization to which we have re
ferred is the Unification Church (The
Moonies). Although we may personally
disagree with the foundation of this group
and their tactics for recruiting young
adults, others may not feel so strongly.
What we actually would like to do is to
warn people to inquire what group they
might be contributing to, so that they
might be able to decide if the organization
is worthy of their gift. Otherwise the
group may get by with the identification of
a “Christian” group, which it may or may
not be!
—Carol Staten
—Ronda Edrington
—Scott Turner
—Greg Hidalgo
from the University student affairs office.
The regulations state that:
“Soliciting or selling on campus, includ
ing residence halls, is prohibited except
by those who have been granted permis
sion by the Concessions Committee.
Those who have been given permission to
sell can be identified by the ‘Consessions
Card’ which they must carry with them at
all times. Violators of this regulation
should be promptly reported to the Office
of the Director of Student Affairs...
“Canvassing or soliciting by religious
organizations is subject to the same regu
lations pertaining to other student or
ganizations. ”
‘ANY WORD ABOUT WHEN WE’LL BE GETTING OUR
Editor’s note: The 1977-78 University
regulations specify that anyone soliciting
on campus, including religious organiza
tions, must receive advance clearance
Correction
The name of a Texas A&M Uni
versity student was inadvertently
left off the list for last night’s Silver
Taps ceremony in the Monday,
Aug. 29 Battalion.
Richard Frank Miller, a freshman
biology major from Conroe, Tex.,
died June 12, 1977 after a brief ill-
Top of the New
Campus
Al
aid s
rda:
Student Government jobs open fr
Applications are currently being accepted for positions on the S jtis P
dent Government Judicial Board. Two seats are open for each ofl »hk’l~
following: sophomore, junior senior and graduate student. Applijnw
tions will be accepted through Friday, September 2 in the Stud ftetl
Government office — 216C of the MSC.
Applications are being accepted through Friday for the position B
Director of Information for Texas A&M Student Government.H, B
director will be responsible for all aspects of public relations I; B
Student Government.
A meeting for anyone interested in becoming a Student Cove
ment aide will be held on Monday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. inn :te
410 Rudder Tower.
State
Sarah joins Ag. Department
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Rep. Sarah Weddington, D-Austin, will resign her legislative sal P te
Friday to become general counsel for the Department of Agriculture
Weddington, 32, was elected to the House in 1972. She begins b
new job in Washington on Sept. 6. Gov. Dolph Briscoe will calls
special election to fill the vacancy, which will probably coincide will
the Nov. 8 constitutional amendment election.
Yarbrough misses civil suit trial
isrt
IT
Former State Supreme Court Justice Donald B. Yarbrough failed nm
to show up in court yesterday for trial in a civil suit alleging he failed*
to pay about $190 to a personnel agency. County Court-at-Law Judge
Hugo Touchy, after a three-minute trial, found that Yarbrough owed
the money to Lyman Personnel Services, Inc. He ordered Yarbrougl
to pay the money, plus $75 in attorney’s fees. Yarbrough had denied
owing the money.
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Jobless workers may benefit
Extended benefits may be available for some jobless workers ii
Texas because of a rise in national unemployment rates, state officials
said yesterday. The Texas Employment Commission announced a
new period of extended benefits. Persons who filed an initial daimfor
jobless pay within one year prior to Aug. 28 may apply. Retroactive
claims for extended benefits will be allowed during the next two days
Extended benefits — which are financed by federal and state trust
funds can amount to as much as half the regular jobless benefits
Mixed drink revenue soars
Tipplers have paid the state, county and city governments $158
million in taxes on mixed drinks since the legislature legalized sales of
liquor by the drink six years ago, said Comptroller Bob Bulloch
Bullock included the tabulation of gross receipts on the lOperceol
mixed drinks tax in his monthly financial statement. Of Texas 2$
counties, 190 have bars of other facilities licensed to sell mixed
drinks. Cities’ share of the mixed drink revenue totaled $21.7
lion.
Judge imports doves from Mexico
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A state district judge from Houston has been fined $52.50 for
illegally importing white wing doves from Mexico. Judge Jon Nelson
Hughes of the 174th District Court at Houston and five other men
were returning from a hunting outing in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
When their private plane stopped in Brownsville Sunday for a U S.
Customs check, 119 dead doves were discovered aboard the plane
The hunters did not possess the required importation permits. An
officer with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department filed a com
plaint against the six men, and they were taken to the Cameron
County Courthouse. All six were fined lifter entering pleas of no
contest.
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Swine flu vaccine collected
Health officials in Houston are trying to round up and store rbagr
209,000 unused doses of swine flu vaccine left over from last winters
epidemic scare. Letters were mailed this week to area clinics, physi
cians, nursing homes, industries and civic groups. Such groups par
ticipate in a nationwide immunization effort inejuiring about unused
vaccine. The vaccine, said one official, can be stored in the area
use during a future epidemic.
Gown
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Nation
He joined the Navy at age 12
Sen. Lloyd Bentsen said yesterday that he would seek an honor
able discharge for a Texan who joined the Navy at the age of 12 and
took part in two World War II sea battles. Bentsen said Calvin
Graham, now 47, enlisted in 1942 and served aboard the battleship
USS South Dakota during the Guadalcanal and Santa Cruz battles in
the Pacific. Graham was dismissed from the Navy in January, 1943,
after his mother sent a copy of his birth certificate to the Defense
Department. Bentsen said that Graham, who now lives in Ft. Worth,
would be eligible for veterans benefits for injuries suffered in a fall
aboard the South Dakota.
The Battalion
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor
Managing Editor Mar)' Alice ^
Editorial Director
Sports Editor a ' ,
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Glenna VVhitlev, Darrell Lanford, Carol NO' 1 '
McGrath.
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