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.
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Southwest Journalism Congt* 8
Editor
Managing Editor rtm 1
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