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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The
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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
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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
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as a university and community
Editorial policy is determined Ini d u ' a ' / l !)
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