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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Texas A&M University Friday March 3 ? 1978 Garbage man H. R. Haldeman, who was Richard M. Nixon’s White House chief of staff, presently is assigned to the sewage treatment plant of a federal prison camp. Considering the garbage Haldeman has turned out in book form, sewage treatment would appear to be his true calling. Haldeman is serving a sentence for conviction on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury. In the course of the Watergate hearings, Haldeman testified under oath that neither he nor Nixon had any advance knowledge of the break-in that led to the former president’s downfall. When the truth was known, Haldeman swore, the public would be convinced of Nixon’s innocence. Now, for a price, Haldeman squeals that Nixon engineered the break-in of the Democratic National Committee’s Watergate offices. He says Nixon was obsessed with the urge to damage Lawrence O’Brian, who was then Demo cratic Party chairman. According to Haldeman, Nixon wanted to “get the goods” on a large legal retainer that O’Brian supposedly received from the late billionaire recluse Howard Hughes. Like others of the Watergate crowd before him, Haldeman has further dishonored himself by his writings. The question remains: When is a peijurer to be believed — when he’s lying to save his skin, or when he’s lying to make a buck. The best answer may be never. St. Louis Globe-Democrat Jim Crawley April Fool’s Day at the polls Controversy lias always surrounded the College Station ward system. The two- year-old system has been through more legal hassles and attempts on its life than even the recent utilities dispute between the twin cities. Two years ago, the citizens of College Station were to decide on the manner in which councilmen in the city would be elected. The original proposal of the coun cil was a ballot containing three choices. One, to keep the old, at-large system. Two, to split the city into three wards and elect three otheTs at-large. Three, to create an all ward system' After receiving council approval for the best-out-of-three ballot it was discovered that the ballot failed to meet the require ments set forth in the city charter. The ballot would have to be a simple yes-no propositon, not a multiple choice ques tion. After some quick maneuvering the council substituted a proposal which al lowed the voters to choose between the at-large system and the ward system. It was suggested that the residents of the city would oppose any ward system that placed David S. Broder VVASHINGTON — Patrick Anderson, who wrote a book (“The President’s Men ”) on White House assistants and in 1976 served as a speeehwriter for Jimmy Car ter, had a consoling thought for Hamilton Jordan. Deep as Jordan’s troubles seemed last week, they were not as serious as those of Harry Hopkins, the Roosevelt aide Anderson described as “the most inf luential and admirable" of all the presiden tial assistants of this century. Hopkins, who moved into the White House with his young daughter after his first wife died of cancer, was the subject of endless gossip and criticism. So controver sial did he become that, at one point, he hung out a sign saying, "We ain t mad at nobody — in effect, siting for peace. But there was no peace for him, and Anderson cites him as a prime example of the general point he makes in his book: "A President s trusted aide can attain power and glory, but the power is precarious and the glory may become tinged with notori ety, for there are many dangers inherent in his position. Last week, Hamilton Jordan learned again of those dangers. For the second time in a few months, he was the central figure in an unpleasant public encounter with an offended woman. The first in volved personal remarks he allegedly made to or about the wife, of the Egyptian every councilman, except the mayor, into a separate ward. On election day, the voters of College Station passed the ward system by a mere 29 votes. This prompted outcries of “foul. Many politicians believed the ballot was too complicated for the voters to under stand. This began a legal battle that lasted into fall of 1976. A group of citizens, headed by former mayor D.A. Anderson, filed a peti- politics tion calling for the election results to be overturned. The ensuing court battle in volved both city officials and Texas A&M students. The battle was characterized by confus ing battle lines. Many of the councilmen were in favor of the lawsuit filed against the city. Several students joined the suit when it appeared the city was not defend ing itself. The petition form used by Anderson was originally formulated by Mayor Lorenee Bravence. Although the mayor did not sign the petition which named him and the City of College Station as defendents, he did admit that he suggested and ty ped the original used by Anderson. When the case came before State Dis trict Judge W.C. Dav is, of Bryan, the city failed to defend itself. The city attorney , Neeley Lewis, spend most of the trial as sisting Anderson with Anderson s pres entation. Three Texas A&M students — Robert Harvey , Mary Ellen Martin and Jerri Ward — filed a "friend of the court brief in favor of the ward system. Dav is ruled in favor of the ward sy stem. Since then rumors have been flying back and forth through the city concerning a new referendum on the at-large system. The charter requires a two-y ear wait be fore the same issue can be voted on again. That time limit ends this year and the council has scheduled another election on the ward system. Most members of the council believe the ward system will be overturned this time around. What will happen this year on April Fool’s Day when the voters of College Sta tion go to the polls? Will the voters return the city to the virtues of the at-large sy s tem or will they keep the ward sy stem? The question brings an emotional re sponse from many residents. Many stu dents think that the wards are the only way a student can be elected to the city council. Many non-student residents are against splitting the city into wards. City officials see the dollar signs flowing out of the city treasury because of the higher cost of conducting ward elections. The ward system is similar to the dis tricts used by large cities to div ide their council seats. The problem cited by most opponents of the ward sy stem is that (Col lege Station is not a large metropolitan city . With nearly 40,()()() residents, each councilman represents only 6,500 resi dents. The six wards were constructed so that each region has a similar population and mixture of races and students. Other fac tors included the location of the sitting councilmen. The ward system may be seeing its last election on April Fool s Day. But, then again, who knows? on s price oi independence ambassador. The second involved a bar room scene with a woman who alleges he spit his drink at her and who, in any case, undeniably hauled off and slapped him. In both instances, Jordan affirms that he was not the guilty party. The President and his associates in the White House take Commentary Jordan s word for it. His power has risen inside the White House even as his notor iety has grown, and he is today, beyond much challenge, the most important of the President’s policy and political advisers. H e is also 33 years old and recently sepa rated from his wife. His father, who had been ill with cancer, died last week of a stroke, I do not know much about Jordan’s so cial life or conversational habits. And I can only guess at the personal pressures under which he has been operating. My dis cussions with him over the last five years have been in the line of business. I do know a couple of other things about him, however. He has one of the best political minds I have ever met — a keen sense of public moods and good judgment about the effect of alternative strategies and policies. His assessments of Carter s situation and prospects — minuses as well as pluses — have been unfailingly honest. Second, in an administration where public relations and polls are given perhaps excessive weight, Jordan is one of the handful of people with access to Jimmy Carter who really cares about the ultimate objectives of politics. The pursuit of peace and social justice are not just slogans with him. He also happens to be a man whose loy alty to Carter is unquestioned by the Pres ident. From all accounts, Jordan uses that position of trust to give Carter very frank advice. His personal memos to the President, I am told by those who have seen some of them, are models of direct, unhedged, non-bureaueratic prose. He is willing to go toe-to-toe with the President when he dis agrees with Carter’s proposed course of ac tion. The presence of someone with those characteristics in any White House is very much in the national interest. But there is no question — even in the minds of White House colleagues who defend him — that Jordan’s reported escapades have become a political embarrassment (and maybe more) to Carter. Jordan himself could probably walk away from the job with few regrets. Four y ears ago, when he was the second most powerful man in Georgia gov ernment at the age of 29 (as executiv e assistant to the gov ernor), he walked out to start running a longshot s presidential campaign. His own casualness about the trappings of power makes him scornful of the power-and-status-conscious society of Washington, D.C. He has gone out of his way to show his scorn — by declining to conform in dress, manners or behav ior to what is expected of a presidential assistant. To some this is just personal affection: to others, it has become a sy mptom of either hostility or of self-indulgence. In either case, it is taken as indicating a serious lack of self-discipline. Jordan has a right to live his own life. But more than a year ago. Bob Strauss, who shares with Carter a paternal affection for Jordan, gave him some adv ice. "You are living in a company town, Strauss said, "and if y ou're going to thumb your nose at the standards of this town, you better live like a saint. Cause if you do one thing wrong, they'll never let you forget it, and they 11 hound you out of town, like you were the devil." It was good advice then. And it is even better advice today . (c) 1978, The Washington Post Coni- ))ant/ Letters to the editor T ranscendental meditation not religion Editor: Some students have taken it upon them selves to remove many of the posters an nouncing an introductory lecture to tran scendental meditation (TM). Is this be cause they have been misinformed about TM? If so, let me attempt to clear up any misconceptions they may have. I talk only from what I understand of, and have ex perienced in, TM. I have been a meditator for five months. Misconception: TM is unnatural. What is TM? TM is a simple mental technique for relieving both physical and mental stress. This allows the system to function with the least possible effort, and consequently allows the person to enjoy life to a greater degree. TM is capable of relieving all mental and physical stress. Stress on any system is not natural. Can TM be unnatural? Misconception: TM is a religion. I believe TM is a religion to TMers in the same sense as football is a religion to football players. To get the maximum ben efit from either, one must put forth a maximum amount of effort. I believe an absolute atheist can gain as much from TM as any Christian. Misconception: The purpose of the Texas A&M International Meditation So ciety is detrimental to students. TM has a religious origin. In some areas it may even be taught as a religion. The Texas A&M International Meditation So ciety (IMS) in no way promotes TM as a religion. Article II of the IMS constitution states, “The objectives of this organization shall be to present introductory lectures on the transcendental meditation program and provide follow-up programs and ac tivities. I hope this letter sheds light on the be liefs of some misinformaed students. — George E. Sofka President — Texas A&M IMS ‘Stone’ rehashed Editor: Thank you very much for the very good and informative piece on the Austin-based group, “Kiwi.” They shold be a welcome change from the mediocre Hollywood productions which “Aggie Cinema” dishes out to us every weekend. We could also do without the very loud local bars and discos if more such groups would be invited. By the way, why must you pay someone (assuming you do) to rehash an article from the latest “Rolling Stone?” I was referring to the critique on Jackson Browne. — I.A. Chisti Top of the News Campus Handicapped can register early ED tonic) day w the hi betwt ers vv dem a Texas A&M University students who are handicapped, temporarily handicapped, or have some type of mobility problem can take advan tage of an early preregistration program offered for the fall semester. The early preregistration, to be held April 19-20, will allow students the special schedule they need. Handicapped students should contact Donnie Albrecht, assistant director of student activities, at 845-1134, by March 22, if interested in the early preregistration. Information i the program can also be obtained from the Texas Rehabilitation Commission at 846-4741. Deadline set for Basic Grants All undergraduate students are reminded that March 15 is the last date for receiving applications for Basic Educational Opportunity Grants for the 1977-1978 academic year. The application must arrive at the Basic Grant Office, P.C). Box B, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 on or before March 15 to be processed for this 1977-78 academic year. State Texas may get parimutuel betting Beside choosing candidates, Texas voters in the May primaries will have a chance to express their feelings on legalizing horse race bet ting. Leaders of a group supporting parimutuel betting said Wednes day they have more than the required 75,000 petition signatures needed to place the issue on the May 6 Democratic primary ballot. Douglas McCrary of Calvert, president of the Texas Horseraeinj! Association, said more than 95,000 Texans will have signed the peti tions before the March 13 deadline. Allen Wisenbaker of Longview, president of the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association, said the Republican party already had agreed to place the local option re ferendum on its primary ballot. The racing promoters said a signifi cant margin of voter approv al would prompt the legislature to pass their proposal to authorize local option elections on the issue. j Me i bef Thi 12-i i Kos SI bi Nation Civil Service may get overhaul President Carter Thursday proposed a major plan which would make it easier to fire incompetent federal workers, end some automa tic federal pay increases and limit job preferences for veterans. The plan, outlined by Carter himself at the National Press Club, would overhaul the 95-year-old Civil Service Commission. The president, in sending the plan to Congress, said much of the public s criticismol federal workers is unfair. In addition to weakening ironclad job pro tection for many federal workers, the plan would cut ofl automatic pay hikes for many high-lev el government officials who get those hikes whether thev are merited or not. W/ iller, vain i ngly Re: ailed trike ts vie be k len I No :ates nfan Hiclii lock Sena Rii lealt idtu World Hijack attempt in Pakistan foilei Three passengers foiled a hijack attempt aboard a Pakistan Interna tional Airlines jumbo jet Thursday , but were injured when a hand grenade held by the would-be air pirate exploded during the strug gle, airline sources said. The lone terrorist who tried to hijack the Boeing 747 with 350 passengers and a crew of seven had a hand blown ofl when the grenade exploded. He was knocked unconscious by the blast. The plane landed safely at Islamabad. Airline sources said Abdul Malik, a retired Pakistani army officer, grabbed the hijacker near the cockpit door when the man announced the plane was being eommandered. Malik was aided by two other passengers. Thieves take Chaplin s body Grave robbers have stolen the coffin containing the remains ol Charlie Chaplin, Swiss police announced Thursday. A statement b\ the state police headquarters said the coffin was dug up and taken away Wednesday night or early Thursday. Chaplin died on Christmas Day at the age of 88. Thursday evening, police said neither they nor Chaplin s family had received any telephone calls from persons claim ing to be responsible. Police did not rule out the possibility of a ransom demand for the return of the coffin and Chaplin's remains. Weather Cloudy, windy and colder today, tonight & tomorrow. High today mid-40’s, low tonight upper 30s. Thirty percent chance of rain today. Winds from the north at 15-20 mph. )edi; nco rage "I jedi; serve is as : or I "S The Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Re gents. The Battalion is a non-profit % self-rnpportmg enterprise operated by students as a university and com munity newsiHiper. Editorial policy is determined by the editor. Hood MoDnnuld Building, ('ollo^o Slat ion. Texas ITiitod Pross Intomational is out it led c.\eltishl|fl ttso for roproduotiou of all nows dispalelies enilil4| Bights ol roproduotiou of all othor matter liereiliristfl'’ Second-Class postage paid at Col It go Stutioii. T.\ ^ 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 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 776-43. Represented nationally In National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from Scpteml>er through May except during exam and holidax periods and the summer, when it is published on Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays. Mail subscriptions are .$16.75 per semester: $33.25 per chool Near: $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates fur nished on request. Address: The Battalion. Boom 216. MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congrcsx Editor Jm Managing Editor Man Alitv Wnih' Sports Editor hiilW News Editors Marie llonirxrr. Cirnl^ Assistant Managing Editor Olriiiu "I" 1 ' Cit\ Editor KuiviiM (.ampiis Editor Ki*T^ Ke|>ortcrs I.i/ Nexvliu. IXmillbtf Mark Patterson. Lee Hoy ^ Welch. Jim Crawley Vml\ ffik Paige Beasley . bs'' Photographers Susan \\ eMi. ken IM** Cartoonist . . Dinijd^ Slutlenl Vublieations Board. Boh C. Cip*' /or Airedondo. Dr. Chint Haller. />» . ('ImdiM Vii'tJ* Dr. ( linlon .\. Thillips. Relhl Hire. Ihn'ilpr Tublietitions: Donald C. Johnson.