Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Wednesday
November 22, 1978
Explanation needed
for costly decision
Board members for the A&M Consolidated school district could have more
than a disgruntled superintendent relationship on their hands ifbetter reasons
are not given for the firing of Fred Hopson.
College Station taxpayers are laced with paying their superintendent of
schools almost $60,000 next year for not being their superintendent of schools.
And that prospect has more than a few this town’s residents hopping mad.
The problem is not so much the firing of Hopson (the idea apparendy has
been in the works for weeks now). But the fact that the school board refuses to
give an adequate explanation as to why it’s worth $54,400 to get Hopwon out of
office a year ahead of schedule is taxing the imagination and patience of many a
taxpayer.
In a press conference announcing the dismissal yesterday, both Hopson and
board president Bruce Robeck said the action was taken because the superin
tendent and board weren’t able to work together.
Well obviously something would need to be done. But when $54,400 of the
taxpayers’ hard-earned money is concerned, the district’s administrative
leaders should learn to iron out their differences.
As one caller to The Battalion said yesterday, the thorn Hopson thrust into
the sides of the trustees must have reached almost criminal proportions to
prompt such a costly dismissal.
If, in fact, the only problem was that Hopson and the board could not get
along, we can see no justification for this expensive solution. It would be silly
to think that the board would bow out at such a price for such a flimsy reason.
The only logical conclusion is that there must be more to this story. If there
is, the taxpayers who will have to finance this action have the right to know
why they are paying something for nothing. And if trustees are spending
$54,400 of everyone s money because they really can’t work out personality
differences in an administrative job, then it’s time to start looking around for
more fiscally minded candidates when the school board elections come around
again. —J.A.
Loans no way to
buy public office
By DAVID S. BRODER
FORT WORTH — Bill Clements has
just become the first Republican governor
in Texas’ history after a campaign in which
he lent his own organization upward of $3
million. His victory has not only altered the
political landscape but revived an issue
which will be loudly debated over the next
few years:
Should a rich man be allowed to “buy”
public office by pouring millions of his own
money into his campaign?
Let it be noted, quickly, that Clements is
not unique, or even unusual, in employing
his wealth for political self-aggrandize
ment. Outgoing Gov. Dolph Briscoe (D),
a shy rancher who often seemed ill at ease
in politics, compensated for his handicap
by his readiness to reach for his checkbook
to pay for campaign bills.
In this year’s Senate races, more than a
dozen candidates made six-figure loans or
gifts to their own campaigns, without which
they would not have been viable conten
ders.
Not all of them bought victory. Briscoe
was defeated for renomination here in
Texas, and the losers’ list from the Senate
primaries and general election included
such other heavy self-investors as Bob
Short of Minnesota, Alex Seith of Illinois,
Jane Eskind of Tennessee, Luth H.
Hodges, Jr., of North Carolina, Phil Power
of Michigan, and three Virginians, Clive
DuVal, Carrington Williams, and Rufus C.
Phillips.
All of these losing Senate aspirants were
Democrats, which may prove the Republi
can claim that Democrats really are care
less with the dollar.
But there were also some notably suc
cessful self-subsidized candidates like
Clements and new senators Bill Bradley
(D) of New Jersey, John W. Warner (R) of
Virginia, Alan K. Simpson (R) of Wyoming
and Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R) of Kan
sas. They join a Senate thataleady includes
more than 40 millionaires, one of whom,
Pennsylvania Republican H. John Heinz
III, loaned $2.6 million to his 1976 cam
paign — none of which has been repaid.
Such examples make many people an
gry, but it is not clear what can or should be
done about it. Congress legislated limits on
candidates’ contributions to their own
campaigns a part of the 1974 election law
revision — $25,000 for a House race and
$35,000 for the Senate. But the Supreme
Court threw that provision out, saying,
“The candidate ... has a First Amendment
right to engage in discussion of public is
sues and vigorously and tirelessly to advo
cate his own election.”
That decision has been the subject of
much criticism, but its logic is not that easy
to reject. The rationale for limitations on
campaign contributions is, generally, to
avoid the corruption of a public officials’s
judgement by those to whom he is finan
cially obligated for his campaign treasury.
But no one would argue the Clements or
the other self-subsidized candidates com
promised their own independence by con
tributing heavily to their own campaigns.
Quite the contrary.
Commentary
The case against people of wealth financ
ing their own races for office rests, instead,
on an egalitarian notion that everything
should be even-steven in politics, if not in
the rest of life. But that is an unrealistic
ideal. Candidates differ in their fame, their
looks, their charm, their intelligence, their
eloquence, their experience, their reputa
tions, and their political allies.
Money is one resource in a campaign —
but only one — and it can be used to
enhance these other advantages or com
pensate for other deficiencies. As the ear
lier examples show, it is no guarantee of
victory.
While the court was wise to strike down
the limits on self-subsidy of campaign ex-
K nses, it missed an important distinction
tween loans and outright contributions.
Some candidates, like Heinz, never
bothered to seek post-election contribu
tions to pay themselves. But others, like
Briscoe, have done so repeatedly.
And that raises a serious problem. The
people or groups that give money after an
election — when there is no risk — are
almost always people who have a particular
interest in ingratiating themselves with
that officeholder. Giving a “campaign con
tribution” to the winner of the last election,
who instantly uses the money to repay him
self, is, as Fred Wertheimer of Common
Cause has said, “coming awfully close to
the bone” on the distinction between a
campaign contribution and a personal
payoff.
Rich folks who want to pay their own way
in politics should be allowed to do so — but
only by contributions, not loans. If they
want the excitmentof victory, let them take
the risk of financial as well as political
losses.
Rather than trying to legislate a ban on
self-subsidized campaigns in the face of the
Supreme Court decision, the next Con
gress could more usefully address itself to
the changes in the campaign finance law
that really would make elections more
competitive and fair.
(c) 1978, The Washington Post Company
Dolly may never simulate baby again
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON — Just in time for
Christmas, there’s a unique new toy on the
market called “The Magnificient Doll.”
Its magazine advertisements, which are
a little hard to believe, claim that “Our
dolls don’t walk, talk, eat or do embarras
sing mechanical things.”
Sensing this might be the beginning of a
trend, I paid a visit to The Future Is Yes
terday Foundation, a privately endowed
“think tank” and research center.
Although the foundation is not specifi
cally involved in developing new play
things, I figured the director, Sam Har-
kenback, would know what was going on in
the toy world.
I put it to him straight. “How does a doll
that doesn’t walk, talk, eat or need potty
Letters to the Editor
training work?”
Harkenback smiled mysteriously. “The
technical details are a trade secret. About
all I can tell you for publication is that the
achievement was the usual combination of
genius and hard work.
Humor
“The first big breakthrough, on which
some of our engineers acted as consultants,
was the design of a non-crying doll. It was
incredibly realistic.
“To look at it you would never guess that
if you picked it up and turned it over it
wouldn’t go ‘Ma-Ma.’”
I shook my head in wonderment. “It’s
amazing what modern technology is capa
ble of. That one feature alone could be
revolutionary enough to dominate the
Christmas doll business.”
“The non-crying doll merely proved the
principle that made the rest fall into place,”
Harkenback continued.
“Once we had stifled the audible part of
the doll’s cry, the next big step was to stop it
from shedding tears. Otherwise, it would
appear the doll was silently weeping, or
else had hay fever.
“From that point on, it was just a ques
tion of time before walking, talking and
eating also could be eliminated.”
I said, “What about diaper wetting?”
“If you can do away with moisture from a
doll’s eyes, it’s obvious that dampness
elsewhere also can be halted,” he replied.
I told Harkenback I recently saw a televi
sion commercial touting a doll that could be
made to simulate diaper rash.
“Will it be possible in the future to pro
duce dolls that don’t break out with diaper
rash?” I asked.
“That’s a toughie,” he admitted. “At the
moment we don’t know enough about the
causes of dolly diaper rash to know whether
we can eradicate it. However, I have every
confidence that some day we shall over
come.”
Before leaving, I solicited an estimate of
how far the new trend in dolls might go.
“I would say,” he replied thoughtfully,
“that the outer limit might be a doll that
could be put on its back without its eyes
closing.”
Class of ’91 supports the team
Editor:
The fourth grade at Henderson Elemen
tary School was asked to give their predic
tions for the up-coming A&M-TCU game.
The class came up with the following possi
ble headlines for the Sunday paper:
— Aggies bomb TCU 69-4
— Aggies throw away TCU
— Aggies throw watermelon at TCU
— Aggies beat TCU 99-3
— Aggies stomp TCU 52-0
— Reveille eats Horned Frogs
Beat the class of ’91 out of TCU.
— 33 fourth graders
Miss Judy Skivanek (teacher)
Lee Maverick, ’81 (teacher-aide)
Closing off study
Editor:
TAMU has some outstanding facilities;
Sterling C. Evans Library could be consid
ered among these. A pity that it isn’t used
to its utmost.
Considering that the library is probably
the prime spot for students to study, it
seems that it should respond to this impor
tant function to its reasonably utmost capa
bility. Instead the library closes at 6 p.m.
every Saturday evening. This has hurt and
bewildered countless numbers of students
who want and need to use the library at this
time.
The question is — why?
If it is because “all university libraries do
that,” then I am surprised to learn of
A&M’s desire to follow — not lead. If it is
because the library lacks the personnel
then the university should use part of its
massive income towards hiring more.
There is no excuse. It can only serve to
lower the calibre of learning and academic
quality at Texas A&M University.
—Jim Landwermeyer, ’82
Monthly gripes
Editor:
In regard to Mr. Lane’s latest of many
previous publications (Letters to the
Editor, Battalion, Nov. 20), I have several
questions to direct to him:
(1) Do you file periodic complaints to
God when it rains? (2) Do you curse when
the sun comes up in the morning? (3) Do
you complain when the MSC bells ring on
the half hour? (4) Do you have to express
your discontent at everything?
I have suffered through your periodic
once-a-month complaints to the editor con
cerning people waking you up for working
on bonfire (publication number 3), the
Robert Harvey grade escapade (publication
number 5), your description of 18-year-old
CT’s with 9-year-old mentalities (publica
tion number 7), discourteous attitudes by
participants of intramural games you have
refereed (publication number 8),
philosophies of head football coaches (pub
lication number 9), etc.
I look forward each month to see what
you will next find wrong with this univer
sity and its students in your attempts to
alienate yourself from as much of the stu
dent body as possible.
In conclusion, I must warn all TAMU
students that Mr. Lane is sitting by his
television in his usual observant somber
state waiting for someone or something to
next complain about.
His sole ambition in life is to empty his
ballpoint pen and use up his typewriter
ribbon. Please try not to give him any rea
son to further develop his inherent ten
dency toward literary platitude.
—Randy Markel, ’79
Slouch S
by Jim Eai
Top of the News
CAMPUS
10th annual Turkey Trot at A&M
The 10th annual Turkey Trot Thanksgiving run will be held Thurs
day at Texas A&M University. The event, sponsored by Texas A&M’s
Health and Physical Education Department, will begin at 8 a.m. in
front of G. Rollie White Coliseum. No entry fee will be charged and
participants do not need to register in advance. The 3.1-mile run will
be routed around the Texas A&M Golf Course. Participants will re
ceive certificates at the end of the run, and there is no age limit for
entrants.“The emphasis is on non-competitive running or walking for
people of all ages,” said John Chevrette, run coordinator.
Commencement speakers named
Robert R. Herring, chairman and chief executive officer of the
Houston Natural Gas Corp., and Herb Reynolds, executive vice presi
dent of Baylor University, will address Texas A&M University
graduates at commencement ceremonies Dec. 8 and 9. Officials expect
about 1,800 students to receive graduate and undergraduate degrees
at the two ceremonies, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8andat9
a.m. Dec 9, both in G. Rollie White Coliseum. Lt. Gen. James V.
Hartinger, commander of the 12th Air Force, headquartered at
Bergstrom Air Force Base, will be the commissioning officer at the
program for Corps members entering military service. The commis
sioning is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 9, also in G. Rollie White
Coliseum.
STATE
Harris County ballot recount
A recount of ballots in Harris County will begin Wednesday because
no notice was given of an official vote canvass made two days after the)
Nov. 7 general election. Harris County commissioners earlier I
maintained recount requests by defeated senatorial candidate I
Krueger and gubernatorial candidate John Hill were useless because |
they were made after the official canvass. The recount will involve only
voting-machine ballots. A state district court ruling is required to
recount punch-card ballots.“I don’t anticipate any changes,”said Jon I
Lindsey, county commissioner.” We can get this done and wetai|
certify who the governor is."
10
Clements discusses major issues
Governor-elect Bill Clements met Tuesday with Speaker Bill
Clayton to discuss tax reduction, appointments and major issuesofthe
1979 Legislature. Clements planned similar meetings with other top
state officials to smooth the way for his inauguration in January as the
state’s first Republican governor in 105 years. When asked about
problems his administration will face, Clements said, “The biggest
single item and the one most difficult for us to get into is the budget
Clements hinted, but would not say definitely, that Briscoe n
leave some vacancies on state agencies so Clements could fill them
with appointees of his choice.
Hughes change of venue sought
Attorneys for the state of California Tuesday urged a federal judge to
transfer continuing litigation over the estate of Howard Hughes from
Texas to Denver or Los Angeles. The California lawyers argued Texas
jurors would be prejudiced in considering the case by the prospectof
the state collecting $150 million in estate taxes. Texas Attorney Gen
eral John L. Hill personally argued against the California motion fora
change of venue and petitioned to require 22 potential Hughes heirsto
be included in the proceedings. Thomas said extensive publicity given
the Houston court proceedings and the recent unsuccessful campaign
by Hill for governor would make it difficult to obtain a fair trial in
Texas.
py
Laws on booze ads may change
The government said Tuesday it wants to revise its 40-year-old
regulations covering the way beer, wine and liquor may be advertised
to American consumers. Among other things, it wants to find out
whether booze ads based on sex appeal fall under a ban against
“obscene and indecent” advertising. Another area which may need
revising, it said, is the current ban against the use of comparative
advertising. After receiving comments on the questions it raises, the
bureau will decide whether to propose new advertising rules. "The
regulations were originally adopted in the mid-1930s and have re
mained basically unchanged since that time,” the agency said.
WORLD
America to import Chinese oil
Coastal States Gas Corp. Tuesday said an agreement signed last
week with the People’s Republic of China will make Coastal the first
American company to import Chinese oil. “Coastal regards this land
mark contract as a significant new development in the companys
worldwide oil operations,” said Chairman Oscar Wyatt Jr. “We are
highly honored to be chosen as the first U.S. importer of crude
produced in the People’s Republic of China. ” The oil is low sulfur, light
gravity oil, produced from the Taching Field in Northeastern China,
Wyatt said. It will be loaded aboard Coastal tankers at Talien harborfor
transport to Coastal’s refinery at Hercules, Calif.
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Bus explosion injures Syrians
A powerful explosion ripped through a busload of Syrian peacekeep
ing soldiers Tuesday as it was passing through the mountain town of
Aley, police sources said. No accurate casualty figures were im
mediately available, but initial reports from the town 12 miles eastof
Beirut said the bus was full and that a number of soldiers had been
killed or wounded. It was not immediately clear if the explosion was
caused by a bomb placed inside the bus itself or in a car near the bus at
the time of the blast. The Syrians have been involved in major fighting
with rightist Christian mifitias since the end of the 1975-76 civil war.
The Battalion
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Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The
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use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it.
Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved.
Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843.
MEMBER
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Editor Ki®
Managing Editor .....ttt
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Sports Editor David & I
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Opinions expressed in The Battalion are
those of the editor or of the writer of the
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supporting enterprise operated l>!l
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Editorial policy is determined by tk
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