Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Thursday
February 23, 1978
Checkmate!
There’s a sucker born every minute.
College students have always been an easy mark for door-to-door sales
men, and it seems the quick-buck activities in this community are proving
the salesman’s motto truer than ever.
According to one area bank officer, a certain few door-to-door magazine
salesmen have duped a fair number of students here to the tune of hundreds
of dollars. They come into the home, putting on the charm and pressure; and
in many instances the annoyed buyer writes a check just to get the salesman
out of the house, thinking it a simple matter to cancel payment on the check.
Not so.
Salesmen have been in the business long enough to know that trick, so
they are handy at going the buyer one better. They have him make out the
check to the salesman, himself, or his “supervisor” instead of the magazine
company. The salesman then beats a hasty path to the bank, cashes the check
and insures his commission on the sale. It turns out to be a very costly
method of getting rid of a salesman.
Now, it seems, the salesmen have a slicker move — they have the buyer
make out the check to “cash”. It’s as good as dollars in the hand.
The law requires a 72-hour period for buyers to cancel checks MADE
OUT TO THE COMPANY. It has no such period of reconsideration when
the checks are made out to individuals. And so as not to be sexist, quick-buck
salesmen in this town are women as well as men.
So you might take a hint and save yourself a surprise at the bank.
WWlf
HAN& ON men! THERE5 A CRACK RESCUE TEAM ON THE WAY!
JA.
Republicans try to fan the flames
By JIM CRAWLEY
After the carpetbaggers of the Recon
struction took all they could and then fled,
Texan fathers told their sons never to vote
for another northern Republican. These
Politics
sons followed their fathers’ decree and
never voted Republican, and then they
passed the word to their sons. These
grandchildren passed the word on down
through the ages, and never a Republician
was elected.
A political fairy tale that was told by
some politician to his children. Not really,
but then again the story almost went that
way.
Texas had been until the early 60s, a
pure Democratic state. Republicans either
changed their colors upon crossing the
Red River from Oklahoma or soon fled
from the catcalls and laughs of the rural
Democrats.
But, times have changed. The urbaniza
tion of Texas has increased the number of
Republicans by bringing in large numbers
of immigrants from the northern states and
the Midwest. These “imported” Republi
cans have re-established the party in the
state and have raised it to the status of a
contender to the dominant Democratic
party.
Republicans are seriously running in
nearly all the state wide political races this
year, and included in this advarsery role is
the competition for the Republican nomi
nation in the Sixth Congressional District.
The Republican primary for the Sixth
District consists of a smaller field than the
Democrats. The two candidates, Carl
Krohn of Bryan and Wes Mowery of Fort
Worth, are running the usual low-key
campaign that characterizes Texas Repub-
licians in local primary races.
Mowery is the odds-on favorite in the
race. The independent oilman was the
Republican nominee in 1976 and ran bet
ter than previous opponents of the retiring
Olin Teague. The fact that Mowery was
the nominee was a surprise. For the past
decade, the perennial Republican oppo
nent for Teague was Carl Nagliazzo. He
never really expected to beat the unde
feated Teague, but he was always on the
ballot in November.
Krohn is the race’s political novice. A
wounded Vietnam veteran and member of
the Republican national committee,
Krohn has never campaigned for a race in
the district.
But, who heard of a Republican primary
before the Reagan-Ford battle of 1976?
Not many, not even the Republicans.
Before this decade, most Texas Repub
licans voted in the Democratic primary for
two reasons. First, the Democrats always
had someone in every race, while the Re
publicans usually had competition in
maybe one or two races. The other reason
was the pragmatic fact that the Democratic
gubernatorial primary was in reality the
general gubernatorial election.
Lightning struck in 1972. The Republi
can party had arrived in Texas and almost
took the Democrats by surprise in the
gubernatorial general election. Hank
Grover was their candidate and his race
built a spirit in the party that was bol
stered by' the 76 Reaganites and is still
alive today.
The Republician primary revolves
around its gubernatorial race between
former state chairman Ray Hutchinson
and former Nixon confidant and assistant
secretary of defense William Clements.
This race may bring the GOP voters out
for their own primary instead of the Dem
ocratic primary the same day.
While the Democrats are dividing up
the spoils, the Republican candidates will
try to consolidate their supporters for the
November election. The general election
seems to be the only election that gets Re
publicans to vote for Republicans.
Jordan not exactly hit of the party
By HELEN THOMAS
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Presidential aide
Hamilton Jordan says he is afraid to look at
a woman below the neck anymore.
And press secretary Jody Powell, his
longtime friend, is urging him to “stay out
of bars.
Washington Window
Th ose observations do not sum up all
the White House problems by any stretch
of the imagination, but the issue of Jor
dan s social life has become a headache for
him and others in the president s inner
circle.
Widespread publicity surrounding two
incidents involving Jordan, who recently
separated from his wife, have increased
the volume of his mail. “And it s not fan
mail, he assures reporters.
The 34-year-Carter assistant, who is
considered closest to the president, has
had his troubles recently. Sometime ago,
it was reported that Jordan pulled at the
dress of the wife of Egyptian Ambassador
Ashraf Gorbal and said, “I ve always
wanted to see the pyramids. He denied
the allegations and so did Mrs. Gorbal.
Last Sunday, the Washington Post
Magazine reported an unnamed woman
had accused Jordan of spitting liquor down
a woman’s blouse at a singles bar last
month, and she slapped him in return.
This time, press secretary Jody Powell
went to great lengths to substantiate Jor-
'' THE USUAL,MR. JORPAM?... "
dan’s denials by issuing a lengthy affidavit
from the bartender, and statements from
two friends who said that Jordan had not
done anything improper.
After the first incident, the word was
passed that Jordan’s power and duties at
the White House and that the president
had assigned him to preside at staff meet
ings. Whenever a major meeting has been
announced on both domestic and foreign
policy issues, Jordan’s name has listed
among the chief advisers.
In the face of adversity, it appeared tliat
Jordan still had the backing of the man
who counts, and that does not seem to
have diminished. There is a loyalty among
the Georgia clan that cannot be denied.
The total support for former budget direc
tor Bert Lance, Carter s Georgia friend,
who resigned under fire, is a case in point.
Carter is a man who believes in walking
the straight and narrow. He does not ap
pear to lower the boom on his aides. Es
sentially', they' can live their own lives. But
they are young and they are new to the
relentless spotlight. And they are groping
on how to handle their celebrity status.
Probably the pros in Washington would
have advised Powell to grin and bear it.
They would probably have told him it is
almost impossible to answer allegations of
such a nature without magnifying them.
When his defense of Jordan s reputation
was brought up at a news briefing and was
described as “Zieglerian, a reference to
press secretary Ron Ziegler of the Nixon
era, Powell said:
“I am concerned about the situation be
cause frankly I don t know how you deal
with a situation in which a person in public
life is subject to incorrect and vicious alle
gations as they appear in print.
“I am not sure what an overreaction is
w hen you attack someone s character and
integrity, he added. “It is possible to pub
lish material of that sort and then if some
one has the termerity to set the record
straight then you are faced with allegations
that you are attacking the First Amend
ment.
While his press notices have hardly
been flattering, both Powell and Jordan
believe that Jordan will survive the latest
brouhaha concerning his social life. But
right now the going is tough and he
realizes he is fair game in the goldfish bow l
that is Washington officialdom.
Older and wiser heads are probably
passing the word for Jordan to keep a low
profile for aw hile, and right now he seems
prepared to take that advice.
Letters to the editor
Tech students take issue with Aggie athletics
Editor:
I would like to register a complaint with
the students of Texas A&M concerning the
conduct of A&M athletes in recent years.
The incident prompting this writing oc
curred during the Texas Tech basketball
victory over Texas A&M on Feb. 11. On
this occasion, an elbow thrown by A&M’s
Willie Foreman broke the jaw of Red
Raider basketballer Kent Williams. As a
consequence, Williams was lost for the
next two critical basketball games. Coach
Gerald Myers and others saw the elbow as
more than an accident, and Williams says
Foreman did the same thing last year,
though he did not break Williams jaw that
time. If at first you don’t succeed...
During the 1976 football game between
Texas Tech and Texas A&M, as Tech quar
terback Tommy Duniven was leading the
Raiders to victory, a well placed tackle
prompdy removed him from the season.
Fortunately for Tech, Rodney Allison was
able to step in and pick up the slack.
Ah, but Rodney’s play that day and in
subsequent games marked him as the next
victim of Texas A&M’s “Gorilla Warfare”.
goon squad.
It is a tragedy that an institution as re
spected as Texas A&M must be repre
sented in athletics by a bunch of babies in
uniform whose reaction when facing a
superior team is to attempt to maim their
key players. This kind of behavior is a dis
grace to the reputation and traditions of
Texas A&M, and your coaches are either
blind to that fact or choose to ignore it. I
don’t believe the students of Texas A&M
want to be represented in this fashion, but
unless action is taken, the respect held for
your school’s athletic program will con
tinue its decline. Thank you for your time.
— James L. Cromer
Texas Tech Junior
dents.
A student body such as ours that in
cludes a mix of rednecks, jocks, nerds,
C.T.s, freaks, foreigners, and who knows
what else should deserve more space to
express their varied views, good or bad,
than the limited space the column re
ceives. Your Monday, Feh. 22, expanded
column was great! It is a lot more interest
ing to hear the views of more than a couple
of people on any given issue.
Why not make this expanded size the
standard size from now on? It surely
couldn’t cost that much more.
— Glenn Wade, ’78
Editor’s note: There’s little doubt that
“Letters to the editor” is a highly read
section. But consistent with your point
that “alternate or supporting views’
should be published, we provide opinions
from the national scene as well, since the
controversies at Texas A&M are not all
that affect our lives. However, even if we
wanted to give “Letters ’ a full page each
day, there would be more white space
than print. It is extremely rare that we
receive as much mail as we did last week.
The normal amount is about four letters
each day.
Editor’s note: The preceding opinion
was signed by 15 other Tech students.
More letters
Editor:
As this University constantly changes,
for better or worse, the attitude of the stu
dents is constantly changing, too. The dif-
field in the first quarter. Now, perhaps
Carl Grulich did not intend to break Alli
son’s leg on that particular play, but the
gloating of the Aggie players and the
cheering of A&M fens as Allison was car
ried from the field was clearly evident.
Texas A&M won that day, but did they?
Tech athletes are not the only victims of
A&M tactics. One can recall a critical con
ference game in 1975 in which Texas quar-
spite the efforts of some to keep A&M
from changing.-
The easiest way to find out the current
mood of the University is to read the “Let
ters to the editor” column in the Batt. This
column should be a place where alternate
or supporting views can be put forth.
What make this University so.great is the
people who go here and the attitudes and
values thev have. I can think of no other
Top of the News
State
1
Grain explosion blamed on firm
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Thursday re-
ommended a Galveston firm he fined $116,000 for "serious and
willful” job safety and health violations in a grain elevator explosion
Dec. 27 that killed 18 workers and injured 21 others. OSHi
suggested the Farmers Export Co. receive maximum penalties for
the 17 violations. OSH A law also prescribes criminal sanctions fora
willful violation of the standard resulting in the death of an employee,
and the Labor Department is investigating whether to recommend
the Justice Department bring criminal charges against the company
Nation
Senate blocks treaty ratification
Sen. James Allen Thursday introduced the first of an expected
string of opposition amendments which Senate critics hope will com
plicate or block ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. Tire
Alabama Democrat s amendment, believed to he* unacceptable to
Panama, calls on the United States to maintain military installations
in the vicinity of the Panama canal after Dec. 31, 1999, if the presi
dent considers it necessary and so informs Panama. The treaty would
turn over the* waterway to Panama at the end of 1999. A White House
congressional liaison official said the administration will fight
amendments beyond the single amendment proposed by the Senate
leadership to clarify U.S. defense and naval passage rights in timeol
war.
HEW may immunize elderly, ill
A national immunization campaign to protect elderly and chroni
cally ill persons from the Russian flu was announced Thursday from
Washington by HEW Secretary Joseph Califano. The program of the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare could begin in August
and help states immunize about 17 million high-risk persons. Itisfar
smaller than last years federal immunization of 45 million against a
swine flu epidemic that never materialized. Califano said an effective
vaccine can be developed to combat Russian flu, which has appeared
all ox er the United States after sweeping Russia this y ear. The strain
causes mild sy mptoms hut is highly contagious. If all states establish
immunization programs during the next two flu seasons. Califs®
said, another 16.8 million persons could be protected against Russia;
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B-I program finally bombs out
The B-l bomber fleet, planned to include 244 manned aircraftata
cost of more than 824 billion, is finally dead, months after Presidenl
Carter decided to ground the project. The House Wednesday voted
234-1H2 to kill the program, joining the Semite in refusing to approve
an additional 8462 million lor two more prototypes ol the low-Hying
nuclear attack plane, The uiremit was designed to supplement, tbcj
U.S. strategic force of land and sea-launched hullist'fv imefrnt.
missiles. The president announced last summer he would keep !iis.,j
campaign pledge and ask Congress to cut off funding for the planes; ■
hut hackers of the project stubbornly tried to keep it alix e by seeking If
funding for two more planes, bringing the number of completed p
test models to six. After the House vote. White House press secretm I
Jody Powell said, "T he president has asked me to say he was de- I
lighted.
/a
Gutenberg may go for $1 million
A two-volume sot of the Gutenberg Bible — belies ed to be oiled
only 13 rare first issues — will be sold at a public auction this spring
by Christie’s, the* Park Axenue Nexx York auctioneers. The set,
owned by the 1 General Theological Seminary of Nexx York, is ex
pected to attract a minimum price of 81 million. That xxoulcl be tlie
highest knoxvn price exer paid for a hook. Dax id Brat burst, presidenl
of Christie s, said Wednesday the school decided to sell tbe rare work
to establish an endoxvment fund for its library , described as one of the
finest theological libraries in the Episcopal Church and one of the
best in the United States. The txxo-x olume set is one of only 21 known
complete copies left of the 185 copies heliex ed printed between 145(1
and 1456, Brathurst said.
World
Sadat vows vengeance in killings
President Anxxar Sadat say s Egy pt xxill seek x engeanee for the
slaying of an Egy ptian editor and 15 commandos, inflicting "10blows
for every single hloxx delix cred against his nation. Sadat delivered an
angry address Wednesday at the burial of the commandos xxho wotv
killed by Cypriot National Guardsmen as they attempted to Inr
hostages held by two Palestinian terrorists. The txvo gunmen
killed the Egyptian editor on Saturday. Sadat broke oil all relations
with Cyprus, charging President Spyros Kyprianou’s government,
and possibly the Palestine Liberation Organization, were involved
in a conspiracy that led to the deaths.
Weather
Clear and sunny today. High today mid-70s, low tonight
near 40. Winds from the northwest at 5-10 mph.
The Battalion
-C C
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MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journahsm Congrrs
Editor JamirJ*
Managing Editor Man AliceW<u
Sports Editor Rut
News Editors . . . Marie lloinever. (’anl
(.it> Editor VVV J
Campus Editor
Reporters Li/ Newlin, DauHtf
Mark Patterson. Lee Km Lm-Iiiktjr
W elch. Scott IVrkiav And' '’f
Paige Beasjc' . Hnh t
Photographers ... Susan U ehh. Km lit 1
Cartoonist Roiigfn
Student Vtddieations Hoard: Boh (I. Ki»g»n. (7*i
Joe Arredondo. Dr. ('-any Halter. Dr. John W 110
Robert Harvey. Dr. Charles SlrCaiullcss. Dr. Cli#'
Phillips. Rebel Rice. Director of S/iulnil RiiWW 1
Donald C. Johnson.