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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1978)
Viewpoint The Battalion Wednesday Texas A&M University September 13, 1978 Heaven save us from the "junk mailman’ By DAVID S. BRODER WASHINGTON—So much has been said about the 15-cent postage stamp and the five-day deliveries from neighboring cities that one would sup pose the flow of mail was being strang led. No such luck. To return to the office after a two-week tramp through the Northeastern political woods is to bury oneself in a blizzard of unsolicited, un needed, but impossible-to-ignore mail. It is absolutely astonishing what people will spend good money to send to their uncomprehending postal pals. THE AFTERNOON MAIL at the Washington Post on the day after Labor Day is lighter than most deliveries. But there were more than 30 letters, tug ging one’s attention this way and that. Charles (Pug) Ravenel, a Democratic Senate candidate in South Carolina, wishes to share his schedule for the week, beginning with the Men’s Club of the Mauldin United Methodist Church and ending with the Associa tion of Utilization Review Coordinators in Litchfield Beach. The latter are identifed, helpfully, as medical per sonnel, which one never would have guessed. The Methodist Men’s Club is presumably what its name implies. The French Embassy reports that, “President Valery Giscard d’Estaing sent a congratulatory message to Chad’s President Felix Malloum Aug. 30 after that country made public the provisions of its ‘fundamental charter. In the same news release, the nomi nation of former rebel leader Hissene Habre as prime minister is described by the French foreign ministry spokesman as “a step toward national reconciliation in Chad, which the French government has never ceased to envision.” ONE WONDERS BRIEFLY if the U.S. government has also “never ceased to envision” reconciliation in Chad, but somehow, the question does not seem worth pursuing. Not when, in the same mail: —Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich (D) is offering a copy of his 1977 income-tax return, which includes a $7,070 item for the sale of accounts receivable when he closed his dental practice and be came a full-time governor. — Life Letter No. 12 of the Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of Life, Inc., reports, with uninhibited imagery, that, “Rumors abound on Capitol Hill that an abortion ‘fix’ (by the leadership) is already in, and that lx>th Houses will emerge, Houdini-like, from the multi ple abortion chains in time for mem bers to go home with some kind of ‘ac ceptable compromise’ fig leaf to wear in November.” —The White House office of media liaison, in a background report on the public works bill, offers the following helpful colloquy: “Q.—Isn’t the President just renew ing his war on the West by going after these water projects again ? “A.—There never was a ‘war on the West.’ ...The President’s water policy demonstrates a great deal of sensitivity to the West.” The American Institute of Ar chitects announces that it has been awarded an initial $120,000 contract by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop plans and administer a comprehensive re view of approximately 12,000 defective housing claims in ten older urban areas.” —Rep. Helen Meyner, D-N.J., re ports that her survey of more than 10,000 constituents shows that “people are terribly concerned with inflation and government spending, but 74 percent of them believe “U.S. military strength should keep pace with, or ex ceed, that of the Soviet Union, even if it means higher taxes. Rep. Maryon Allen, D-Ala., re ports she has turned back to the 'I reas- ury some $100,000 in funds allocated to the Senate subcommittee on separation of powers. She says: I his proves that government can operate efficiently and fully on less money." She does not say why the subcommittee is needed at all. AFTER ABSORBING ALL this mimeographed information of doubtful value, one turns gratefully to a personal letter from August L. Williams, the chairman of the social sciences division of Bee County College, in Beeville, Texas. Professor Williams flatteringly men tions that, in a recent column by this reporter, he “detected the concept of geography,” and seizes that self- created opening to advance a pet scheme of his own. He believes the na tion’s capital should be moved from Washington to a point south of Springfield, Mo., to be closer to the population center of the nation. He broaches the subject diffidently, noting that “it might sound unreal to you,” but adding that “new ideas need time...before politicians accept them." No need for diffidence. Professor Williams. You may count on my full support for the proposal, as long as we can move the capital and its morning newspaper without giving the Post Of fice our forwarding address. (c) 1978, The Washington Post Com pany Iran’s future grim By SAYID RIZV1 United Press International TEHRAN, Iran — An exclusive group of powerful Moslem high priests has made one thing clear in its critical showdown with Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi — Iran must turn to Islam or suffer a blood bath . It may already be happening. Violence which has wracked Iran for the last 10 months has accounted for hun dreds, and some say thousands, of lives. When the rioting led inevitably to martial law, the scale of bloodshed rose sharply. Behind the turmoil there is a compli cated skein of motives, both political and religious, alliances and historical forces. The new dream of Islamic rule is an out growth of political demands and now has assumed a dominant force headed by 79 clergymen known as ayatollahs — tvho like to equate themselves HVinfhietice with' cardinals — backed by hundreds of thousands of followers. The half century of methodical moder nization — and, to some extent, westerni zation — undertaken by the shah and his father gave the Moslem zealots their open ing. Rapid material growth fueled by Iran’s $23 billion-a-year oil revenues eroded old traditions and created an ever-wider chasm between rich and poor. Added to economic distress was the shah’s determi nation not to let his opponents block his path. The result: charges of political op pression. The priests led a loose movement of political groups of all shades and leanings. At first their demands were for increased democracy and they forced several major concessions from the shah, including the end of a ban on political activity. As a re sult, parties mushroomed and the clergy began to realize their tremendous political powers. From this grew their religious demands. As demonstrations widened, Moslem traditionalists began shouting anti-shah slogans, claiming that the monarchy and an Islamic government could not go to gether and that it was the clergy, not the politicians, who knew the answers to the country’s problems. The chief clergy leader. Ayatollah Kho meini, proclaimed from his exile in Iraq: “There will be no monarchy, but the rule of Islamic law. The clergy will sit in coun cil and rule by virtue of its wisdom. Politicians riding Khomeini’s bandwa gon wondered if that would not simply lead to a church dictatorship instead of the democracy they were fighting for. They worried that the ascendancy of the Islamic movement would dwarf their objectives of restoration of basic liberties. Although few clergymen in Iran support the amputation of the hands of thieves and the flogging of rapists; their interpretation .1 Islamic law is strict. The clergy- insist they'flYu'St scHitinizfall lawsTof un“Tslamic elements and be able to scrap any it deems unfit. Tliis would affect not only nearly all existing laws, based on French jurispru dence, but would also leave no room for a legislature. The country’s intellectuals, for the time being, cannot hope to win popular support without patronage of the clergy. That means intellectuals cannot hope to counter the rising tide of the clergy movement with a democratic alternative, at least until political awareness grows substantially among the public. In the heat of the moment, the people may perhaps not realize they have pledged to return to an old order, the society they shunned to enter the Twentieth Century, one political analyst said. The current situation in Iran stemming from these motives and movements is bleak. The shah’s handover of Tehran and 11 other towns to the military has slammed the door on a compromise with the opposi tion that never seemed quite possible anyway. It has also left him with few alter natives if it fails. ‘Shifty 50’ aim to weaken Clayton clout By ROLAND LINDSEY UPI Capitol Reporter AUSTIN — The “shifty 50” group or ganized during the special legislative ses sion because of opposition to Speaker Bill Clayton has scheduled a meeting Sept. 23 to discuss proposed changes in House rules. The group intends to push for new rules in January that would dilute the power of the speaker and increase the power of House members. Rep. Bob Maloney, R-Dallas, a commit tee chairman under Clayton, and Rep. John Hoestenbach, D-Odessa, who did not seek re-election, are leading the prepara tion for the Sept. 23 meeting, with Maloney drafting the proposed rules changes. One representative who attended the group’s previous meetings, which have been closed to the public, said there is concensus at this point on only one thing: “Gullahorn has to go.” Jack Gullahorn is administrative assis tant to Clayton, and sparked considerable hostility during the special session by pre paring vote tabulations showing which House members had voted with Clayton and which had opposed his stands. REPUBLICAN JIM BAKER, who is opposing Mark White in the general elec tion campaign for attorney general, got a taste of dirty tricks at a news conference he called last week to announce a detailed anti-crime platform. Sue Lowe sat with reporters at the news conference and questioned Baker about his stands and how his proposals differ from present law, and used a tape recorder to record his comments. Reporters were aware Ms. Lowe had not been employed with any local news media, and one asked her at the conclusion of the news conference who she represented. She said she was on the staff of Sen. Oscar Mauzy, D-Dallas. She has been on Mauzy’s staff for some time, but now is working full-time for White’s campaign, doing what White’s newsletter called “research. A TEXAS FRIEND of former Rep. Sarah Weddington told Democratic na tional chairman John C. White he wasn’t doing Ms. Weddington any favors by re commending her appointment to the White House staff. “I know that,” White reportedly told the Texan. “But I need somebody over there with some sense that I can talk to.” SPEAKER BILL CLAYTON left Labor Day for an extended visit to the Republic of China. The speaker is due to be back in his office Sept. 22. ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN HILL has scheduled a full week of airport rallies and news conferences beginning Sept. 18 to launch his fall campaign. Hill will make a state-wide telecast from the state Democ ratic convention in Fort Worth Friday. DEMOCRATIC LEADERS WERE excited that the large turnout for a dinner honoring retiring party chairman Calvin Guest, with Vice President Walter Mon dale as guest, exemplified a new era of unity in the party. Not so, said one person at the party. “I think the Democrats are so happy to get together and drink and have a little fun that they d come no matter who was here,” he said. Letters to the editor Transfers cheated Editor: As a recent transfer student, I have dis covered a discrimination concerning the transfer of credits. It is known to many of us that Texas A&M does not give credit for any band or choir activities with the exception of the mem bers of the Aggie Band. They receive P.E. credit for marching. It is common practice at many colleges and universities to give marching band members credit for P.E., and they deserve it. My objection is this: I was in the march ing band at Sam Houston State University, but A&M will not give me credit for it. I was told at admissions that I couldn’t get credit unless I was in the Aggie Band! This seems very unfair to me. For one thing, if I’m a transfer student I couldn’t have possibly been in the Aggie Band. However, I still marched in a band, and I feel I have earned the credit. For another thing I am female and would never be ad mitted to the Aggie Band! I feel I am being discriminated against as a transfer student and a former member of the SHSU March ing Band. What do you think? — Elizabeth Stephens Correction Tuesday’s Battalion incorrectly quoted Ron Sasse, assistant director of student affairs for the University. The article should have said that 700 women may be without dorm space if renovations on Legett Hall are not finished before the start of school next fall. The Battalion regrets the error. r Top of the Newi Campus com Bryan firefighters in A&M Four Bryan fire fighters are trainees in the 24fh n • Training School at Texas A&M University One of *[ Ult f Fireir second woman to attend the school since it r 0Ur is said David White, training specialist. Eleven tr ,i» years class, which will qualify the firemen for state certifieSon 3 ^ ‘ n State Hit-and-run injures UT runnei A hit-and-run driver injured a University of Tevac n-o i early Monday Eric M . Scott. 19. suffered a broken buJSp S pelvic bone and a possible concussion when he was hit urka ’ with 15 UT track teammates. Scott was the last of 16 runn^ 01 " 1 ^ single file on a north Austin street. Assistant coach James Bl J®" said doctors expect Scott to remain hospitalized for several Ss^ Dengue fever may hit Housto Harris County may be vulnerable to an outbreak of Denm.»f, a University of Texas health official said. In a memoranda County Health officials, John Scanlon of the University of School of Public Health warned that .he carrier Dengue fever are present in Harris County. Harris County ofiS said the temperature will be too cold in a few weeks for the fever! be transmitted, but it is something to keep an eye on ” Del! fever is now plaguing Latin American countries. n Tropical storm heads west The dying tropical denression in the Gulf of Mexico is mw moving toward the Louisiana border, trailing heavy thunderstorms J strong winds. Some areas on the Gulf Coast between Corpus Christ p| C , H “ us, ‘ ,n rece,Vt *d up to six inches of rain in the last 24 houis Flash Hood warnings were issued in those areas, and the Nation^ W eather Service said they would probably Ik* extended northward* the storm moved into southeast Texas. Nation Automakers file suit against FTC Attorneys for three of the nation’s “Big Four" automakers frr uhargud the rederal Irade Commission with using illegal tacticsiiu two-year antitrust investigation of the auto industry. In a suit filed ie Detroit Monday seeking to halt the investigation, automakers charged that the Fourth Amendment right securing against un reasonable search and seizure is being isolated. Automakers said disclosure of some records would cause them competitive damage. New Orleans teachers end strike New Orleans teachers ended their 13-day strike Monday when Ike school administrators came up with over $1.9 million to fiiJif percent salary increase. The school board voted to close foursekofc and cut budgets for maintenance, tramtation, and special educatnal services. Teachers were expected to return to their classroomsTwv day. LA busing off to a quiet start Los Angeles’school integration busing program, one of the largest t\er attempted, began Fueday without any signs of violence or dis turbance. Mayor Tom Bradley called it “an excellent opening day." however opponents of the busing plan claimed they were 80 to 90 percent effective in sending empty buses to the inner city. Oneofthe ioinimr th * Y ^ y^ r > sa, 'd the total number of students joining the boycott may approach 10,(XX). Kansas City not ready for flood A year after a Kansas City, Mo., flood claimed 25 lives, city officials warn that little has been done to prevent another flood. Kansas City voters last week failed to approve a $38.5 million flood control bond proposal aimed at preventing a recurrence. "It’s a very dangerous \m. ,ati i° n tha i t t,le voters turned their backs on,” Mayor Charles ee er said, adding that the issue will he presented again to the voters. Six Mexicans to lead U.S. festival Six Mexican cabinet-level officers will go to U.S. cities to lead the Mexican Independence celebration on Friday night, the Mexican cereTru!nf nt - ai iT 1< c Un — () ^ c ' la ^ s are traditionally sent to lead the ceremonies in U.S. cities with large Mexican-American communities. ,cl . as Wl 8° to Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New fork, mTU 'iciri' 0 anc ^ an Francisco. The ceremony is a re-enactment the 1810 uprising led by Father Miguel Hidalgo. Weather Mostly cloudy with chances of showers and thundershowers becoming partly cloudy Thursday. High in the low 90s a low in the mid-70s. Probability of rain 30% for today, 20°/o 0 tonight and 30% for tomorrow. The Battalion letters policy editoaals ta ffr^:^Xh,2%n f ^ not guarantee to publish mw left* and doe * signed, show the address of the , Jo tac ' 1 fn<r must be number for verification. ° am ist a te ^ e ptione Address correspondence tn r Battalion. Room 216 Reed Jn 'if Edi,or - The Station, Texas 77H4S. tD <‘nald Building, College Angeles. K Chicago and Los periods and the summer, when it and holida y through Thursday. * ln ' blls,l <-d on Tuesday Mail subscriptions are $16 75 school year; $35.00 per full vea^ A j ^ $33 2S P er mshed on request. Address The rat ‘ -s f '"'- Reed McDonald Building. Coll^esfaH^ Room 2I «. United Press Intematfonal is fnml^ "’ 77843. use for reproduction of all news disn u , eXC usive| y to the Rights of reproduction of all other credi,ed to it eeond-Class postage paid at College ZuZ'tJZZY Opinions expressed in The Rntt„l- *z of f ‘ du " »• «!”r .}2 i a T ? lcle and ar f not necessarily those of the nwerstty administration or the Board of MEMBER Texas Press Associslio" Southwest Journalism Congt* 8 Editor Managing Editor rtm 1 Assistant Managing Editor • bar ,^ Sports Editor City Editor s J'M Campus Editor t News Editors Caroly ” Debbie Parsons ^ Editorial Director .. • Leschper Jr. Cartoonist Staff Writers ... .Mark P^. 50 "’ Vails, Scott PendlJ ' Petty, Michelle Scudd Marilyn Faulkenberry Regents. The Battalion is supporting enterprise opi as a university and coma Editorial policy is deternu i-jif#’