Page 2
Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Tuesday,
September 20, 1977
Baker squiriming on Panama "hot brick’
By DAVID S. BRODER
WASHINGTON — Tomorrow, some 30
Tennessee leaders are expected at the
White House for a briefing on the Panama
('anal treaty. Such briefings have become
routine events, as President Carter and his
aides mobilize grass-roots support for the
coming struggle to have the treaty ap
proved in the Senate.
But this one is a little special, because
Tennessee occupies a special place in the
polities of the treaty fight. The reason is as
plain as the full-page ad that ran in a
Nashville newspaper the other day. In big,
bold letters, the headline proclaimed:
“Senator Baker Alone Can Save the
Panama Canal. ’
Sen. Howard H. Baker fr. (R-Tenn), the
Senate Minority Leader, has been chosen
by anti-treaty forces as the prime target for
pressure. In the three days after the
American Conservative Union ad ran.
Baker received 3,600 letters on the treaty
— overw helmingly opposing its approval.
Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), a leading
treaty foe, told a rally last week that Baker
“is squirming like a worm on a hot brick"
over the issue.
The day after Helms’ speech, Baker
showed no visible twitching, as he showed
a reporter a letter of apology he had re
ceived that morning from the fiery North
Carolinian. “He blamed it on the public
address system,” Baker said, laughing,
“and I told him I’d been called a lot worse
than that.”
But the issue is a tough one for Baker. As
expected, it has split the Republican party
down the middle, on lines parallel to the
schism of 1976. Ronald Reagan is against
the treaty; Gerald Ford is for it. And How
ard Baker, who hoped to be the running
mate of either man in 1976 and now aspires
to head the tic ket in 1980, w ill have to make*
up his mind which side he’s on.
His decision, White House officials be
lieve, could be the key to whether there are
enough Republican votes to make up the
necessary two-thirds Senate majority for
approval.
Baker has seen this kind of situation be
fore. Fifteen years ago, when his father-in-
law, the 1 late Sen. Everett McKinley
Kirksen (R-Ill.), was the Senate minority
leader and John F. Kennedy was Presi
dent, emotions were similarly roiled by two
other foreign policy issues. In 1962, it was a
$100 million loan to finance United Nations
peace-keeping operations. In 1963, it was
the* nuclear test ban treaty. In both cases,
Dirkscn’s support was regarded as critical.
And in both cases—after he had milked it
for everything he could get—he helped the
Democratic president win.
Baker acknowledged the similarities, but
said, “I didn’t set out to create this situa
tion, but it seems to have arisen.”
The parallels really are extraordinary. In
1962, as in 1977, the minority Republicans
had balked the narrowly elected Demo
cratic President on several parts of his
domestic program. Then, as now, the* Se
nate Republican leader was looking at a
reelection campaign in a state the Demo
cratic President had carried. The stage was
set for an act of politically beneficial biparti
san statemanship.
There is one difference, however. Ken
nedy was not worried about Everett
Dirksen running for President in 1964.
Carter has been served ample notice of
Baker’s ambition to oppose him in 1980.
In the 1962 Illinois Senate race, there
was a widespread impression that the Ken
nedy White House did nothing special to
help Rep. Sidney Yates (D-Ill.) in the race
against Dirksen. Dirksen won handily.
WHY. J5DY, im MICE OF YOU TO JOIN ME 1 "
A few months ago, there were reports
that the Carter White House was encourag
ing strong opposition to Baker in 1978. But,
at this point, a leading Tennessee Demo
crat says, “We are down to our perennial
candidates.”
Baker says he sees no sign that the White
House is playing political footsie with him.
But he is not blind to other ways in which
his role in the treaty debate can be useful to
him. As a member of the Foreign Relations
Committee, he says, T will be active in the
treaty hearings.” And he is pressing for
television coverage of them “so the country
will get a more balanced, less emotional
view of the issue.”
He has met twice with Carter on the
canal and has counseled privately with
treaty negotiators Sol Linowitz and
Ellsw orth Bunker on the way to approach
various Republican senators, always being
careful not to tip his own hand.
He says he will not make up his mind
until the hearings have been held. But
when he does, “I will do my best to make
my view prevail.”
The betting at the White House and in
the Republican cloakroom is that, in the
end. Baker will vote for the treaty. One
Republican senator close to him said: “Ul
timately, he has no other place to go. He
can’t be with Reagan and Helms and
against Ford and Kissinger if he wants to he
President. ”
That decision is months away. But there
is a line from Everett Dirksen s speech on
the United Nations bond issue that w ill do
nicely for Baker’s big moment.
“I would not charge my conscience w ith
any act or deed w Inch would contribute to
the foundering of peace,” the old master
said. And then, w ith a w ink to the* galleries:
T have not forfeited my faith in John
Fitzgerald Kennedy.”
(c) 1977, The Washington Post Company
Shakespeare speaks on Tongsun Park
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Any day now*, or at
least any year, the House ethics committee
will swing its terrible swift sword at the
Tongsun Park case.
Meanwhile, I’ve been gathering back
ground material from various reference
sources. Today’s briefing comes from
William Shakespeare, immortal bard and
erstwhile lobbyist for Elizabethan Eng
land.
Q. Mr. Shakespeare, how is the investi
gation of South Korean influence buying in
Congress coming along?
A. “Wiselv and slowly.”
Q. Th e slower, the wiser, I imagine.
When is the committee going to hold pub-
A. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and to
morrow.”
Q. It seems like a thousand tomorrows
have gone by already. At this petty pace,
how is the inquiry ever going to end?
A. That old common arbitrator. Time,
The Tighter Side
lie hearings?
will one day end it.”
Q. I’ve heard that Tongsun Park, the
South Korean businessman, tried to influ
ence congressmen by inviting them to par
ties. W hat sort of parties did he give?
A. Every room hath blazed with lights
and brayed with minstrelsy. Potations
pottle-deep. ”
Q. How late would a Park party last?
A. "Night’s candles are burnt out and
jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty
mountain tbps.
Q. I’ll bet some of the guests were a little
misty, too. Is it true that Park also supplied
some congressmen with girls?
A. “Out-paramoured the Turk. In bes
towing, madam, he was most princely.”
Q. Don’t call me madam, sir. Some of the
congressmen who received political con
tributions from Park now say they never
met him. Whv is that?
A. “New-made honour doth forget men's
names. ”
Q. Park has been indicted by a U. S.
grand jury but he refuses to come here from
Seoul to testify. W hat w ill happen if he
does return?
A. '“They’ll give him death by inches.
Brain him w ith his lady s fan.
Q. And what is the attitude of House
members toward Cooperating with the in
vestigation?
A. “Have more than thou showest, speak
less than thou knowest.”
Q. What would you sav the final upshot
of th e inquiry w ill be?
A. “Nothing will come of nothing.”
Q. Thank you, Mr. Shakespeare.
Letters to the editor
Editor:
GTE needs to change telephone deposit policy
I was glad to see the article concerning
General Telephone (GTE), (Sept. 15,
1977). I feel that the present policy is an
unneccessary inconvenience to students.
W hen my roommates and I went to the
GTE office to get our telephone service we
were told that our deposit plus installation
charges and the charge for two phones
w ould be* $128.82. Fortunately, one of my
roommates had prior credit with South
western Bell and asked GTE if this credit
would transfer.
After some discussion with the GTE rep
resentative we discovered that my room
mate’s credit w ould transfer; thus, we were
billed only for the installation and the cost
for two phones, which amounted to $33.82.
Our bill was $95.00 less than it would have
been if we had been required to pay a depo
sit.
I feel that the present policies of GTE are
somewhat unfair. According to these
policies, students who have had telephone
service for less than 12 months do not meet
the requirements necessary to establish
credit.
If a student has had telephone service
previously and has shown that he is respon
sible enough to pay his bills, then he should
not be required to pay a deposit the next
time he wants telephone service. I am
pleased to see that GTE is considering
changing this present policy.
Deborah Holcomb
Class of 80
Day ducks unite!
Editor’s note: The following is a re
sponse to a letter in yesterday’s Battalion.
That letter, by Ana Quintana, complained
that off-campus students were being ig
nored by information being released from
the University.
Dear Ana:
I appreciate your writing about the prob
lems of off-campus students because it
gives me the opportunity to mention the
off-campus student association.
O.C.S.A. was newly formed and recog-
Slouch
by Jim Earle
nized only last spring to provide a com
munications link with students who live off
campus and the organizations with whom
they interface. We are presently applying
for membership in the BBB, the N.G.
Business Assn., and the Apartment Own
ers Association. We have a representative
attend the College Station city council
meeting. We have a vice-president in
charge of university relations who will soon
have a cubicle in the Student Programs
Office. Other vice-presidents of whom
th ere are four are housed in Puryear Hall
Lounge with Hassel Free.
From Oct. 13 to 19 students who live off
campus can file for one of 22 elected repre
sentative positions in Room 216 of the
MSC. The election will be held Oct. 27
concurrent with the Freshmen elections.
The role of these representatives will be to
provide input to the O.C.S.A. concerning
problems which affect all off campus stu
dents so that O.C.S.A. can contact the ap
propriate organizations concerning a
mutually acceptable solution.
Yes Ana, there is an off campus student
association “the Day Ducks”, but we’re
small and we need all the help we can get in
forming an effective organization. We’d
like to send you some more information on
our program along with a list of our officers
and their committee responsibilities if you
will send a self-addressed stamped
envelope to
O.C.S.A.
Rm. 216 MSC
Texas A&M
College Station, TX 77843
We will be pleased to forward this infor
mation to you.
—Mike Mitchell
President, O.C.S.A.
dent is to be familiar.
Although not an expert in the field, it
has been my experience that the* course, as
prepared by the Stanley H. Kaplan Educa
tional Center, has been of great benefit to
those students who invest the amount of
time necessary to complete all of the mate
rial available to them. It is important to
realize that the success of a student s
reaching his/her maximum potential in
tests of this nature is dependent upon
many variables. Proper preparation can be
a crucial factor.
Finally, I do not know if “almost all of
the pre-medical students in the Northeast
take the Kaplan course or if the scores are
rising. There is no mention of a “magical
formula in the lease agreement that the
students sign. It s purpose is for the mate
rials loaned them.
Thank you for your consideration in this
matter.
—Nancy M. Zettclmoyer
Stanley H. Kaplan Educational Center
Editor’s note: The Battalion regrets an
incorrectly reported statement that Kap
lan Educational Center provides students
with material that appears on
standardized tests. The center, in fact,
only provides the kinds of material that
may appear on the tests. It should be
clarified that no “magic formula" is given
to replace a student’s own testing
abilities.
Words do hurt
Getting it right
“WHAT WORRIES ME IS HE’S THE DRIVER!’
Editor:
On Friday, September 16, 1977, an ar
ticle appeared (in the Battalion) entitled
“Authorities advise pre-professionals to
study with tests. As the local adminis
trator for the Stanley H. Kaplan Educa
tional Center, I would like to correct er
roneous information and misrepre
sentations.
Most importantly, the Kaplan program
does not provide students with material on
“the real tests in any way. The program
provides students with materials so that
he/she can prepare for a test in an or
ganized, thorough manner accompanied
by a series of tests designed to measure
the students achievements. The course
material is reflective of the areas of knowl
edge with which the pre-professional stu-
Editor:
We are writing concerning the attitude
this semester of the “men” (particularly
those living on campus) towards the wo
men. It seems you men feel that the women
on campus enjoy rude and embarassing
comments. We women would like to be
respected as sensitive human beings and
not as meat on a rack. We fail to understand
why you must make crass remarks to any
female, regardless of their appearance, that
passes by, just because you didn’t have a
date Friday night.
The old adage, “Sticks and stones may
break my bones, but words can never hurt
me, ” is a fallacy. Words can hurt worse than
anything. Are you men so shallow as to
think that a woman can merely ignore re
marks too crude to mention here? We are
not asking you to refrain from making
comments among yourselves. We simply
ask that you keep them to yourselves. You
are not doing womankind a favor by adver
tising your opinion of a girl you don’t even
know. And it certainly is no proof of your
manhood to make such remarks.
—CAB ’79, PAW ’79, TAT ’79, ASA ’79
Top of the News
State
Texas losing $30 million a month
0
of
Its
ett
ect
Texas is losing $30 million a month by not participating fully in
federal food stamp programs a U.S. Agriculture Department ostial
said Monday. Lewis Straus, Food and Nutrition Service administrator
with USDA in Washington, spoke at a conference on nutrition in
Austin.
“Texas presently has approximately 8(X),(X)0 needy people using
food stamps, ” Straus said. "But it is estimated that about 2.3 million are
eligible. This represents a loss of .somewhere around $30 million a
month irt food stamp benefits not only for the Texas families who nee 1
the help, but also for the entire Texas economy.” %
sa
irate.
Legionnaire disease in-Texas?
A 52-year-old man is hospitalized irt Temple with what experts
suspect is the first case of Legionnaire's disease in Texas. Dr. Charles
Webb, state epidemiologist, said Monday that tests indicated the
patient had been attacked by the bacteria linked to the disease. The
patient is almost fully recovered now after becoming ill irr early Au
gust. Although the mortality rate among Legionnaire victims was 30
to 40 percent, Webb said experts believe the disease occurs often
with much less severe symptoms. Early indications suggest one in 50
people may have had the disease at otre tirrre or another, he added.
The. e is tro reason to suspect atr epedimic in Texas, Webb said.
Hill fights Briscoe for top office
Attorney General John Hill formally announced Monday that he
will challenge Gov. Dolph Briscoe irt the race for governor. Hill said
he thinks most Texas voters believe 10 years is too long for anyone to
be governor. He criticized Briscoe’s record of representing Texans
viewpoints on energy matters. Hill said Texans complain that Briscoe
has failed to measure up to their expectations and to live up to his
promises. They feel he needs to spend more time irr Austin working
on the job of Ix-ittg governor, he added. Hill also criticized Briscoe lor
trot involving himself irr the appointments to the state boards hy
referring to the governor’s appointment of a dead man to one state
lx rare!.
mil
ppi
af
rhi
rat
ha!
Nation
Polanski sentenced to 90 days
Movie director Roman Polanski was sentenced Monday to 90 days
in a correctional institution for having unlawful sexual intercourse
w ith a 13-year-old girl. During his stay irt the institution, a study will
be made to see if he deserves a harsher penalty. After two court-
appointed psychiatrists agreed that Polanski could trot be classified as
a “mentally disordered sex offender. Judge Laurence J. Rittenband
pronounced the sentence. If Polanski had been found to he mentally
unbalanced, the judge could have committed him to a mental institu
tion for an indefinite perirxl. After the three months of diagnostic
stud\, Rittenband said a final sentence will be determined.
th
?ge
"g
he
evi
or
he
!es
13
’S]
nts
Saccharin not banned yet!
Saccharin is likely to be available for at least 18 more months,
although it may have a cancer-hazard warning on its label. The senate
voted last week to delay the* Foexl and Drug Administration s ban on
saccharin for addittiona) studies. They want to make sure saccharin
causes cancer in humans-not just in rats. This week the House In
terstate and Foreign Commerce Committee marks up its version of
the legislation. It would give federal officials authority to require
warning labels on saccharin as well as requiring warnings at the place
of sale and in tlx* print and broadcast advertisements.
mg
fai
f Ec
3
tii
d:
Aii
0 c
tan
tlx
iotil
our
World
Israel seeks U.S. aid in probe
Israel asked the United States Sunday to help establish an interna
tional commission to investigate the murder methods of the Palestine
Liberation Organization. Political sources said the request was made
at the suggestion of Prime Minister Mcnahem Begin, who was in
spired by Arab calls for inquires into the actions oflsraeli authorities
in occupied lands. The request asks the United States to support the
setting up of an international commission of inquiry into the methods
of murdering civilians, men, women and children, persistently and
with premeditaion by the Palestine Liberation Organization. The
request was sent to Secretary of State, Cyrus Vance.
Sextuplets born in 70 seconds
Sextuplets born Sunday to a young Dutch couple are in good condi
tion and already have an agent to handle their business. The four boys
and two girls born in a hospital near Amsterdam are the first sextup
lets born irt Holland and only the second set known to have lived
more than a few hours after birth. The actual birth took only 70
seconds for all six, by Caesarian section, doctors said. The babies
were two months premature and weighed between 2.2 pounds and
2.7 pounds. A medical team of 15 was otr barrel for the operation. The
mother, who had been taking fertility drugs, entered the hospital 14
weeks ago in anticipation of the multiple births.
Weather
Mostly sunny and warm today. High today mid-90s, low to
night low 70s, high tomorrow mid-90s. Partly cloudy tomor
row. No chance of rain today or tomorrow.
The Battalion
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the
editor or of the writer of the article ami are not neeessarihj
those of the University administration or the Board of Re-
gents. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting
enterpiise operated hy students as a university and com
munity newspaper. Editorial policy is determined hy the
editor.
LETTERS POLICY
letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are
subject to In ing cut to that length or less if longer. The
editoiial staff reserves the tight to edit such letters and does
not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be
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 77343.
KcpivsiMited nationally by National iMlncutional Adver
tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los
Angeles.
Mail subscriptions are S 16.75 per sunu'ster,
school Near; $.‘35.00 per hill year. Advertisini' nilo ^
nished on request. Address: The Battalion, Hooin- 1
Heed McDonald Building. College Station, Tms ^
United Press International is entitled rwpiivdvliitk
use lor reproduction of all news dispatches
Bights of reproduction of all other matter herein iw n ' v
Second-Class postage paid at College Station. TX TNk
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Soutliwest Journalism Congress
Editor jmnio AiU*
Managing Editor Man Alice IVcwdU
Editoiial Director Ice Hoy h*seh|vr!
Sports Editor hul Ann'
News Editors Marie Homeyer. Carul .IN
Beporters Hush UwU. )*
Speights, (•leunu Whitley. Darrell LmM. Kim To
Photographer krn Him
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from
Scptemlier through May except during exam and holiday
periods and the summer, when it is published on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Student Publications Board: Boh (». Rogers. Clwm
Joe Airedondo; Dr. Cary Halter. Dr. John \\. IIm*
Robert Haney: Dr. (.'.harles MeCandless; Dr. Clinton 1 -
Phillips; Rebel Rice. Director of Student I’liMimlin
Donald C. Johnson. Production Coordinator: II
Sherman
j
k.