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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 1978)
Viewpoint Top of the News u The Battalion Tuesday Texas A&M University November 28, 1978 ‘Anti-Texas’ bills to hurt Carter By DAVID S. BRODER AUSTIN — Fifteen years ago last week, John F. Kennedy came to Texas on a politi cal fence-mending trip. It was designed to alleviate the threat to his re-election chances posed by the deterioration of his standing in the Lone Star state. That melancholy anniversary was marked here by Democratic politicians who are every bit as concerned about Jimmy Carter’s chances of carrying Texas in 1980 as their counterparts were 15 years ago about Kennedy’s. Part of the gloom is the after shock of oil man Bill Clements’ (R) defeat of Attorney General John Hill (D) in the Texas Guber natorial election. That defeat came as a stunning surprise to Democratic office holders at all levels, many of whom now volunteer the comment that if they had thought Hill was in trouble, they could have done much more than they did to help him. Bob Armstrong (D), the state land com missioner and senior Democratic of ficeholder in terms of service, is one of those officials. Unopposed in his own race, Armstrong did little campaigning and watched with despair as low voter turnout in hard-core Democratic areas defeated Hill. He had no doubt about what Clements’ election means to Carter — serious trou ble. “Clements will be the point man in the campaign to defeat Carter in 1980,” says the 43-year-old Armstrong, who headed the Carter campaign in the 1976 Texas pri mary. The bumper strip Clements used, Armstrong notes ruefully, said: “If you like Jimmy Carter, you will love John Hill.’ Hill’s efforts to break the link drove him to say that he doubted he could support Car ter for renomination unless the President changed policies. But some of Carter’s un popularity did rub off on Hill. The list of grievances Texas has filed with the Carter administration is a long one. Armstrong ticks off the criticisms his fellow-Texans have voiced with Carter on energy, defense, foreign policy and farm policy and says: “Every time I think he’s getting well and into a defensible position, he does some thing else.” The latest is Carter’s veto last week of a meat import restriction bill sponsored by Sen. Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. (D-Tex). The veto was delayed until after the election for political reasons, but now is added to the list of “anti-Texas” measures Carter has taken. “That’s going to be a hard hurdle to jump over,” says Armstrong. “A lot of people who aren't in the cattle business not only see meat imports as anti-Texas but as a dollar drain besides. Just as a political mat ter, that veto hurts.” Armstrong is far from being alone in his view of Carter’s problems. Henry Cis neros, former White House Fellow, a San Antonio city councilman and an emerging leader of the Mexican-American commu nity, says flatly that Carter’s issue stances spell nothing but further trouble in Texas. “If he signs a SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation) treaty with Russia, he should forget about Texas,” says Cisneros. “Panama was easy, compared to the emo tions here on SALT treaty.” Cisneros’ prescription for Carter is to try to override the issues by an early organiz ing drive. But that will not be easy. With out the glue of the governorship, Texas Democrats are heading into a period of intra-party fighting that is a source of seri ous concern to John C. White, the Texan who is chairman of the Democratic Na tional Committee. Hill has asserted his desire to remain as the party’s spokesman, despite his defeat for governor. But his claim will be chal lenged by outgoing governor Dolph Bris coe (D), the man he beat in the primary, and possibly also by Lt. Gov. William Hobby (D), and Attorney General-elect Mark White (D). A period of instability seems certain, complicating White House hopes for an early start on 1980 organizing. A particular worry is the status of the Democrats with the Mexican-American and black communities which, together, comprise close to one-third of the potential electorate. Hill and Rep. Bob Krueger (D), who lost to Sen. John G. Tower (R) by a small margin, both received overwhelming majorities in the Spanish-American and black precincts. But the turnout was so low — averaging 25 percent — that neither man could offset his losses in the Anglo precincts. And that poses a further threat to Carter. As Armstrong acknowledges, “Six out of 10 Anglos voted for Jerry Ford in 1976, ” when Carter narrowly carried Texas thanks to big margins among blacks and Mexican- Americans. That same equation will operate in 1980. But as Carter moves to the right on his anti-inflation program of cutting domestic spending, there will be less and less of the social programs important to minority communities. Like Hill and Krueger this year, the more he tries to mollify conserva tive sentiment in the Anglo community, the less he may be able to mobilize minor ity voters. And then there is the Clements threat. As the first Republican governor in Texas history, he has a historic opportunity to open nis administration to the talent now emerging in Texas’ Mexican-American and black communities. If Clements plays to the pride of the minority community as well as he played on the prevailing anti- Carter prejudices of the Texas oil-gas- cattle-cotton-and-defense people, he can make Carter’s Texas prospects even more hazardous. (c) 1978, The Washington Post Company West Germany debates future Nazi hunts United Press International HANNOVER, WEST GERMANY — Next year. West Germany will be con fronted by a difficult decision — whether to continue hunting for Nazi war criminals. Debate on the issue already has begun. There are those who contend that pro longing the statute limiting the pursuit of former Nazis, which has already been ex tended twice, would create a dangerous legal precedent. In addition, they advance ” the practical argument that, after fhree^ decades, reliable witnesses are difficult to find to assure fair and speedy trials. On the other hand, there are those who take the position that an end to attempts to expose Nazis would be misunderstood, particularly in countries like Israel and Po land, where so many victims of the Hitler period still remember their ordeal. So discussion on the subject, which was lively when it was raised in 1965 and again in 1969, is likely to grow increasingly ani mated as the West German legislature ap proaches the question. In 1965, when the matter first arose, the law held that an investigation into murder could not be initiated if 20 years or more had passed since the crime was committed. But fearing that many ex-Nazis would elude arrest, the legislature voted to date the statute of limitations from 1949, when the West German courts first started to try war criminals. That device stretched the statute of limitations to the end of 1969, when again it was feared that former Nazis would go unpunished. The legislature then extended the statute by 10 years. Now, with the doubly revised statute of limitations scheduled to finish in De cember 1979, advocates of its further ex tension are saying that feelings about the Nazi period still run high, even in West Germany. To terminate the prosecutions would arouse criticism of the government. Partisans of this policy point to the case of Hans Karl Filbinger, whose own Christian Democratic Party colleagues urged him to resign last summer as head of the West German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg after it was revealed that, as a navy judge, he had sentenced four deserters to death during the final days of World War II. The story of Filbinger’s past was dug up by the prominent West German play wright, Rolf Hochhuth, who alleges that West Germany has tailed to purge itself of thousands of people who collaborated ac tively or passively in the murder of millions of Jews by the Nazis. Opponents of prolonging the statute say, in response, that the West German public has learned to respect the law, and to ex tend it again in order to continue pursuing Nazi suspects would demean legality. Besides, this school of thought submits, the chances of uncovering more war crimi nals is becoming less and less likely, and the chances of convicting the few who are found is even less. In the 30 years since West Germany began to look into Nazi crimes, nearly 83,000 persons have been investigated, some 6,400 were convicted and 3,600 cases are still pending. Until 1964, the conviction rate was 10 percent, but since then it has dropped 1.5 percent. The West German judicial system has gone to extraordinary lengths to probe allegations, and even so, securing convictions has not been easy. A case in point is that of a former Nazi officer, Friedrich Rathje, whose trial opened here in Hannover more than two years ago. Rathje who was involved in extermina tion camp, faced charges of aiding in the murder of 900 people. Investigators inter rogated witnesses in Poland, Austria, Is rael, Canada and the U nited States, and the Hannover court heard other witnesses from afar, including one who came from Australia. , ,. .. . , In the end, the jury considered the evi dence to be too inadequate to sentence Rathje to more than a two-year prison term. Three other defendants in the case, all in their 70s, were judged by medical examiners to be unfit to stand trial. Another trial of 14 members of the staff of the Maj- Letters to the Editor Editor: From 1971 to 1975 I had the great plea sure of being an instructor in the depart ment of Aerospace Studies at Texas A&M. I learned to love A&M and it means a great deal to me now. While at A&M I ran the “Turkey Trot” each year. In 1975 I left Texas and came to Ohio. However, I was fortunate enough to be back at Texas A&M each Thanksgiving for the next three years and thus I partici pated in the “Turkey Trot” for seven con secutive years. To me, not only is the “Turkey Trot” an outstanding community activity but it is a grand way to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day for a healthy body, for freedom, for just everything. To share one’s thanks with several hundred other people of all ages is a special event. This Thanksgiving I was unable to be at Texas A&M. However, after having learned such a good way to give thanks I went out and ran the “Turkey Trot” here in Ohio this morning. Just thought you might enjoy knowing. —Frederick J. Mitchell Lt. Col. USAF Xenia, Ohio Honest sitters Editor: Thursday afternoon, Nov. 16, the Food Science Club sold pecans on the main floor of the MSC. This is the club’s only fund raising project for the entire year. Unfortu nately one of our salespeople did not show up. The girl in charge the previous hour had to attend class and so she left the pecan table, money and all, in the hands of two CTs who had been friendly enough to help us out earlier. For at least 30 minutes these two good-natured fellows watched the pe cans and all the money that we had taken in that day. Later that day when our girl showed up to close the sales, she found these two patient guys still babysitting our money. One of them was even good enough to help her carry the pecans back to Kleberg Center. The point of this letter is this: The Food Science Club could have lost a lot of money had someone less honest discovered the table unattended. I wish to thank these two guys in the Corps, whoever you are, for all the consideration and help. To say thank you seems so inadequate, yet, it is all that I can offer. God bless you. —Lydia Booth, ’80 Pecan Sales Chairman danek concentration camp in Poland has been dragging on in Dusseldorf court for two and a half years, and may take another two years to complete. The investment that has gone into this case is underlined by the fact that one wit ness, Danuta Medryk, was found in Poland and taken to New York to identify a former camp supervisor, Hermine Braunsteiner, who had married an American. Given these efforts. West Germans seem to be inclined to end the statute of limita tions. But even if the hunt for Nazi crimi nals stops, the trials of pending cases will go on, and most of the defendants are likely to die before the rest of the verdicts are handed in. Editor: We would like to know which train brought Scott Lane to College Station from Austin? Certainly, he cannot call himself an Aggie. Football, like all games, has a team that wins and one that does not. We cannot be winners all of the time (no team that tries like the Aggies can be called losers). We feel that the entire Aggie team should be commended for its performance this year. They have played fine ball under circum stances that would question one’s desire to play. We are proud of A&M, the Aggies and Coach Wilson (also those that have pre ceded him). We don’t feel that we are “fools” and we will back the Ags regardless of the scoreboard. So Scott, if you feel like a fool and would like an escort out of town, let us know. As for the Aggies, Beat the Hell out of t.u. and put your name in the Hall of Fame. We love ya! —“Keathley “Kisser Fish” Council Pride of ’82 Lisa Lackey, President Editor’s note: this letter was accom panied by seven other signatures. Thanks, no thanks Editor: As we all know, the time for Bonfire is growing near. In order for it to be finished on time, everyone needs to help with the work whenever they have the time to do so. This past Tuesday two friends and I de cided to go out to the “stack” and help out. When we arrived at the Bonfire site we asked a freshman from Company C-l of the Corps of Cadets what we could do to help. Much to my surprise he answered us by saying, “We can’t do anything with these ... non-regs.” This type of reply was totally uncalled for. I was of the opinion that as many non- regs as possible were needed to work on Bonfire. This particular cadet’s attitude did not seem very encouraging and there is no excuse for his behavior. I am sure that the entire Corps of Cadets does not feel this way, however, this one cadet is not setting a very good example. —Robert Davis, ’82 THEN, AND NOW.... CA.DET KIOV . 135 3 ....A QUARTER-CENTURY LATER! TWENTY- FIVE YEARS , AND 3,000 CARTOONS LATER .... ....happy birthday\ Gobbling up A&M‘trot’ Hwy 6. . . CAMPUS ‘Graduating materials due Friday Texas A& M University students who expect to graduate this semes ter should return charged out materials to the Sterling C. Evans Library on or before Friday. The due date also applies to art prints checked out early this semester. Unreturned items can hold up clear ance on students who expect to graduate Dec. 8-9. KAMU sets 'appealing programs KAMU, Texas A&M University’s educational and public broadcast ing station, has planned special Pledge Week activities and program ming for next week. “Christmas Eve on Sesame Street’ will begin the Pledge Week at 7 p.m. Sunday. Other special programming includes “Ray Charles at Montreaux,” to be shown at 8 p.m. Monday, and Soundstage’s fifth anniversary special, “Monty Python and Holy Grail,” and a Laurel and Hardy snort entitled “The Music Box,"ail shown Tuesday. A Jacques Cousteau special is set for Wednesday, and a three-hour Big Band Bash will complete Pledge Week Saturday Appeals for Rinds will be broadcast throughout the week on both KAMU-TV and KAMU-FM. Viewers and listeners may phone their pledges to the station at 845-5611. LOCAL Blitz will end United Fund drive Charley Wootan, chairman of the College Station United Fund campaign, announced that volunteers will try to contact all residents who have thus far not contributed to the drive. The drive, which hasa goal of $50,000, ends Thursday. “We need the help of each College Station resident in meeting the needs of our special citizens,” Wootan said. “This is our chance to help solve some of our local problems within our local community.” Texas A&M University employees have contributed $17,558.96 to the College Station drive and $16,514.33to the Bryan-Brazos County drive. Wanted: big brothers and sisters Volunteers are needed in the “Big Brother-Big Sister” program to provide companionship to underprivileged children for a few hours each week. Bryan Boy’s Club also needs volunteers to fill various positions. For more information, contact Janet Cooper at 845-4508, Debbie Cardwell at 693-3012 or go by the Student Volunteer Services cubicle in Room 216, Memorial Student Center. STATE Tape replayed in Davis trial Prosecutors Monday replayed a video tape of an August meeting between T. Cullen Davis and an FBI informant in an effort to bolster their claim the Fort Worth millionaire directed a murder for hire scheme against his enemies. The replaying of the tape was approved by the Houston trial judge despite continued defense objections that the evidence was repetitious. Before Thanksgiving, jurors viewed the incriminating tape. But prosecutors replayed it to offset defense cross-examination of informant David McCrory, the first witness to narrate the tapes. Prosecutors fear McCrory, a tempennental witness with an inconsistent memory, had alienated some jurors and hoped to bolster his allegations with the tapes and narration by the FBI agent who filmed them. NATION High court denies reporter s case Ci Editor’s Curr group mch tf suicu repot By NIG I Unil [ONES” en-air ai jl Jones [pie’s T Me wa vo ap ndered black |ical sui the fc uted vis ible. | ie hoc isy sut I ifectan ic decs n ing to le victi [ ie sten expect gnizabl ,S. sc | ks, fati; es, wei ing the and di revised f were I | ne by o ird a h a thews > hwest, [rgetowi oe irrit i were c jjoumal (leamec ■ grisly J as exp ftd mor< lies in anese p PI the bo ' were he first : une s intinued Igle stillr Bctured c At the de |ops and ived the f le bodies led chair led his di death ce I small i lied “Lo [er sign se who are com ie two s — thei ntly froi illy stro lining b e sop | ted a s< , laundi The Supreme Court Monday refused to review the case of Myron Farber, the New York Times reporter who spent 39 days in jail for refusing to surrender to a judge his notes and records on a murder case. The justices let stand contempt convictions imposed on Farber and on the newspaper, which paid a total $285,000 in fines in the highly publicized fair-trial, free-press case. The action sets no national legal precedent. But many free press advocates consider it a blow since, among other things, it leaves intact a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that a state law giving journalists a privilege to protect confiden tial sources must yield to a criminal defendant’s right to a fair trial. It also dashes Farber’s hopes to have his criminal record cleansed and the Times’ hopes to get back fines it paid. Farber objected to a subpoena for his files by lawyers for Dr. Mario Jascalevich, who was charged with murdering serveral patients in a Bergen County, N.J., hospital. Arti cles Farber wrote in 1976 led to the reopening of the 10-year-old investigation into the deaths. Jascalevich was acquitted Oct. 25. ud to | year lulatic kton Court takes child from blind mom A 2-year-old child is better off with her grandparents than with her blind and divorced mother because of problems that “unavoidably arise” due to the mother’s blindness, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Monday. “We appreciate and commend (the mother’s) desire to bring up her daughter, but difficulties lie in the mother’s blindness and in the child’s extremely tender age,” the court said. The mother, Linda Rains, 29, of Dallas, had appealed a probate court guardianship ruling issued in February. The court had taken guardianship away from Rains and placed the child, Sarah Elizabeth Rains, in the custody of Rains’ parents, John and Joann Alston of Ozark, Ark. The court said it also took into consideration the testimony of the child’s father, Calvin Rains. He supported custody being given to the grandpa rents, contending his daughter was afraid of the mother because of the mother’s quick temper. gher nom its !: test, lere ’he I le to •ket liadth inter Evei The Battalion letters policy Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to beinn cut to that length or less if louf'cr. The editorial staff reserves the riuht to edit such letters and does not guarantee to fnthlish anij letter. Each letter must he 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 Build inn, Co! lent' Station, Texas 77843. Represented nationally by National Educational Adver tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from September through May except during exam and holiday periods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday through Thursday. 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MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor Kim Managing Editor Liz Assistant Managing Editor Andy "j Sports Editor David City Editor Jamif Campus Editor Ste* News Editors Debbie P* 1 ^ Beth Calhoun Staff Writers Karen Rogers- Patterson, Scott Sean Petty, Michelle Sr Diane Blake, Lee Roy Jr., Dillard Stone Dong Ed Cm Motors inced in\ it already urementi file findi ;-standim ter [anger th in the i |ly relea were Cartoonist Photographers Lynn Blanco Focus section editor ... .Gary’ y impre foment is from c i,” Barry tor for pi Free Pre much inc lut Harbri the study said it \ elusions r reaction. 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 > side Regents. The Battalion is a iwn-iinfil supporting enterprise opera led l>!l 1,111 as a university and community Editorial policy is determined Ini d u ' a ' / l !) ^ i! 1 ie report ission fore their s for mon ivestmen Her firms, to invest