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Viewpoint The Battalion • Texas A&M University • Thursday • August 9, 1979 SALT II changes good By HELEN THOMAS United Press International WASHINGTON — President Carter’s strategists now say the chances for Senate ratification of the Strategic Arms Limita tion Treaty (SALT II) are good. The pact appears to be surviving the tough scrutiny of the opposition. Many who questioned the accord now appear to be satisfied on the verification issue. But the SALT critics have adopted a fallback position. Some senators who probably are loathe to cast a vote against arms control are now stressing huge increases to the tune of $5 billion to $7 billion in defense spending as a trade-off for their votes. The opposition has coordinated its cam paign to increase military spending, put ting Carter on the spot with liberal Demo cratic senators such as George McGovern of South Dakota. McGovern wrote the president that they are “gravely con cerned” over the attempts of some of their colleagues to hold the treaty hostage to in creased defense spending. The signers called it an “unacceptable price to pay,” preferring to see more money spent on social programs. Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., a strong advo cate of bigger Pentagon spending, has conditioned his vote for SALT on a sub stantial increase in the defense budget. The military services have all indicated they would like to have the money for new bombers, new tanks, new carriers and more fighters. The long-awaited testimony of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also linked approval to more military spending, and to a host of other relationships with the Soviets. There is a special irony to Kissinger’s testimony seeking linkage between SALT and the other political problems that have strained relations between the United States and the Soviets at different times. Kissinger repeatedly rejected any sugges tion that there should be, or in fact was, any “linkage” in his dealings with Russia when he was running the diplomatic show. Kissinger, the foreign policy mentor for presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, is singing a different tune from the days when he was struggling to win ratifi cation of SALT I without tying it to Soviet immigration policies. Those who want to condition acceptance of SALT on heavy spending for new sophisticated weapons include Ford. The former president is reported to favor ex panding the defense budget by $10 billion. Carter reportedly has set up a special committee to sift through the requests for bigger spending. The House appropria tions defense subcommittee has already slashed $2.2 billion out of the president’s $129.6 million Pentagon request for 1980, although it is still $6.5 billion above the 1979 fiscal year budget. In addition. Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Jacob Javits, D-N.Y., the ranking Republican on the panel, want to attach a series of reser vations to the pact. One would declare legally binding the pledge by Soviet Pres ident Leonid Brezhnev to restrict produc tion of the Backfire bomber to 30 planes per year. Another would be an understanding that the United States retain the right to give its allies nuclear and conventional weapons for common defense. But for all that, the political climate is improving for approval of the treaty. The senate is expected to debate the treaty for five to six weeks in October and then vote. If the treaty is ratified, Carter believes it will be a signal to the Russians and the world that the United States still is interested in putting a cap on the nuclear arms race. Decade in review Seeds planted for catastrophe Editor’s note: With the 70s coming to a end in just four months, it’s time for America to take a look at what it has accomplished and what we need to do to survive the 80s. This article begins a three-part series on the major political events in this decade. By ARNOLD SAWISLAK United Press International WASHINGTON — The summer of 1969 was one of the most peaceful of the decade. As if exhausted by the spasm of riots and assassinations of the recent past, the United States seemed to be entering a period of calm. Not so. The seeds of the most cataclysmic U.S. polit- - ical events of the century were being sown that sum mer. It was a time when, like Elisha in the Old Testa ment story, a prophet could have seen the tempest being born. The New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam was organized on July 4 and even as a half million rock and roll lemmings streamed toward Woodstock in mid-August, plans were afoot for demon strations dwarfing previous Vietnam War protests. The demonstrations of October and November scared the Nixon administration. From them, as much as from any other single cause, grew the siege mental ity that spawned Watergate. And Watergate set off a series of events that profoundly altered the American political scene. There also were less visible movements that had political impact. One, the Democrats’ painful self- examination after the divisive campaign of 1968, was part of the reason the political consequences of the Watergate scandal were delayed four years. The FDR coalition of labor, farmers, ethnics and city machines, which had delivered victory in 8 of 10 presi dential elections before 1964, was shredded, not only over by the war but also by discord over long-standing practices of party leadership. The fight was over more than who got to wear the fanciest badge at conventions. At issue was control of the party’s policy-making and nomination process by elected officials, party professionals and labor leaders. A cadre of party activists materialized to demand “democratization” of the Democratic Party. The leaders of this group came from the upper mid dle west, once staunchly Republican but the scene of a dramatic Democratic upsurge after World War II. Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota was the first of these hard-charging liberals, but he was soon followed by men like George McGovern of South Dakota, William Proxmire of Wisconsin, Harold Hughes of Iowa and Philip Hart of Michigan. Although the reformers were outraged by the methods used to assure the 1968 nomination for Hum phrey, they won major victories in the form of conven tion mandates for rules reform. McGovern started as chairman of the reform com mission in 1969; Rep. Donald Fraser, another Min nesota liberal, took over when the South Dakotan went for the presidency. The result was a rules revision that transformed the 1972 national convention: three times as many women and blacks and five times as many young people as delegates than 1968. Some say McGovern won in 1972 because he was the only candidate who understood the new rules. That is an injustice; the rules were clear to all. But McGovern may have been the only one who believed they would be enforced. A full 40 percent of the original delegates were chal lenged and many, including Richard Daley, the kingmaker mayor of Chicago, were forced to watch the convention on television. Like generals re-fighting the last war, most candi dates planned 1972 on the basis of what worked in 1968. Sen. Edmund Muskie went out and got endorsements from scores of Democratic bigwigs, just as Humphrey had done in 1968. The net result was that Muskie’s bigwigs also remained home. Gov. George Wallace understood and excelled at the primary game, but had trouble with states that selected delegates in caucuses and conventions. Humphrey, starting late, got more primary votes than McGovern. He was trying to to establish a bandwagon effect, but too many delegates were nailed down. Back at the White House, Nixon was fretting. He had some flak from both the left and right in the GOP, but he was worried about the Democrats, including Sen. Edward Kennedy — who stayed out of the 1972 nomination scramble but continued to be the favorite of many in his party. Nixon and his people had come to regard campaign espionage and sabotage as a fact of political life. They had an agent on hand soon after learning of Kennedy’s Chappaquiddick accident in 1969. No simple reason has been given for the break-ins and wiretapping of Democratic National Committee telephones at the Watergate, but if the first-person books about the episode are to be believed, it had to do with an effort to dig up some dirt on the party chair man, Lawrence O’Brien. Letter to the Editor th e small society by Brickman / KK attitude is shocking Editor: I am starting my senior year here at TAMU and want to say that I am proud and pleased to be an Aggie. Never in my past 3V£ years here have I ever been ashamed to call myself such or to be as sociated with this institution because of any embarrassing situations or blunders created by students, staff, or faculty here at A&M. That is, until last Saturday. I was pulled over by one of A&M’s de voted campus policemen and was never so appalled or shocked at the attitude of this “public servant. ” He treated me as if I was a hardened criminal. I have never been pulled over or have received a ticket in my five years of driving. I will appeal my case on the grounds that I, was not in the wrong and also for the fact that I was humiliated to find that this young fellow did not be have in the proper conduct expected of an officer of the law. Does the University Police Department not realize the opinion of all of those whose paths have crossed here at TAMU? I have only one question to ask: Why must a 20-year-old, honest, working student be pulled over on her way home from Baskins-Robbins (study break) by some “little” guy who has nothing better to do with his time than to act like some BIG STUD instead of actually patroling the campus for real violators of the law (drugs, robbery, assault and rape). Col. Tom Parsons and Capt. Elmer Schneider, please take note: If you want to improve the attitude that the students, staff and faculty at A&M all share about your so-called KKs, then I highly recom mend that you find, hire and train more suitable, responsible, adequately intelli gent, polite, respectful, courteous, con siderate and well-mannered men and women to fulfill the necessary duties needed by this University. I’m sure there will be more cooperation by all concerned with A&M if the KKs would be a little more pratical and use their discretion in certain situations instead of trying to build up an image that they will never be able to fidfill. To say the least, I am disappointed and sorry to have discovered the few weak spots in the university police system. I hope A&M can salvage this department by picking out the bad apples before it’s too late. — MR. 80 Editor’s note: Lt. Jack Bruce dismissed the case Wednesday, stating he did not want student animosity toward the Uni versity Police to continue. News Capsules NATION Sticky fingered guard gets probation James Harrington, 27, a black belt karate expert and former body guard for Mick Jagger, was sentenced to three years’ probation in Los Angeles Tuesday for being the almost-nude thief the rock singer found in his bedroom closet. Harrington, who worked as a guard for the Rolling Stones’ U.S. tour last summer until he was fired by Jagger, reportedly had a key to the singer’s mansion. Harrington, who was accused of stealing $13,000 in cash and jewelery from Jagger’s man sion, was also ordered by Superior Court Judge Carlos E. Velarde to pay on unspecified amount of restitution to Jagger. The probation department will determine the specific amount of restitution, but Deputy District Attorney Marsh Goldstein estimated it would be about $9,000. MOVIE: “ 8:45 p. FRISBEE host a £ 1 p.m. Summe DANCE:' 224, M MOVIE: “ shown PARACH1 Tower. CROMEI nar at 7 II ships BilVs got a date for Christmas It’s official. Sumatran Bill, one of two Sumatran tigers in the United States, will get a girlfriend for Christmas. His keeper. Superintendent Randall Carney of Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, Ill., announced Tuesday the sleek, 210-pound tiger will begin sharing quarters with a female Sumatran by the end of November or December if transfer permits are approved by the Netherlands’ Rotterdam Zoo. Carney had begun a fund-raising campaign earlier this summer to raise the $2,500 needed to purchase a mate for Bill from the Rotterdam Zoo and Tuesday, he announced contributions mailed to the zoo totaled about $100 more than needed. Infant dies from hailstone injury A 3-month-old girl hit by a large hailstone died at Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo., late Tuesday, eight days after the accident. Jolene Kapelman was believed to be only the second person in the country to have died from an injury suffered by a hailstone, according to the local office of the National Weather Service. The child was struck in the head July 30 while in her mother’s arms. She had not regain consciousness since she was hospitalized. Hailstones the size of grapefruit pummeled the Fort Collins area that day, injuring more than 20 people. The storm also caused widespread damage to cars, windows, roofs and crops. WORLD New sweetner to he sold in France Aspartame, a new artificial sweetener seen as a possible replace ment for saccharin, will soon be on the market in France. The sweetener. Aspartame, is still under investigation in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration said June 1 it was forminga public board of inquiry to study the chemical and make a recommenda tion on its future. The FDA approved Aspartame for some uses in 1974, but withdrew that approval before any products containing Aspartame could be marketed because of allegations it could cause brain damage or mental retardation. Approval by the French au thorities “is an important step in making Aspartame available to con sumers throughout the world,” said G. D. Searle and Co., manufactur ers of the sweetener. In France, the product will be marketed in tablet form, for sweetening beverages, under the trade name Canderel. Forest fire in Spain kills 22 Hundreds of firemen, civil guards, forest rangers, soldiers and volunteers, aided by three planes, were fighting to keep flames from a forest fire near the resort town ofBlanes in Spain just south ofLloretde Mar, from crossing the Vidreras-Toas highway to another developed area. The fires broke out at about 9 a.m. Tuesday, and, fanned by strong winds, consumed some 2,500 acres of pine woodland by Tues day night. Twenty-two vacationers unable to outrun the blaze were killed. Forestry officials said they suspected arson because fires started simultaneous at three points within a two-mile area near Blanes. The bodies of the victims were so badly burned their names and na tionalities could not immediately be determined, except for one victim identified by a necklace as a resident of Barcelona. Bus to s pro Following tl : other academ i iave sent thei j classroom to w i ikmals, Texas ; College of Bu: is set to begin : its own t lis fal The progran . education — c dents — and h; in engineering usually altema dassroom with bra major bu ! Ihey receive ■ the-job perfon jortant, unive itudents are e problems out dassroom expr Wayne Ten nordinator of i in business ad spects industi wsiness stride “A program lent a clear s ping and at th ! iimediate val ■4 lerrell said, letting the pn “Initially we rith five to 15 upect these trendsetters ii eventually hav )f drawing m< Law 3109 Texas Bryan, Tex 10% , Zapata s son to fight ‘grave move Mexican authorities had planned to move Emiliano Zapata’s remains from Cuatla, 45 miles south of Mexico City, to the Revolutionary Monument, a massive arch where nearly all the heroes of the 1910 revolution are buried, in time for the celebration of his 100th birthday Wednesday, led by President Jose Lopez Portillo. The government also will issue a postal stamp bearing the revolutionary’s likeness to commemorate the occasion. However, Zapata’s son, Mateo Emiliano Zapata, said he won’t allow his father’s body to be moved until all political prisoners and campesinos (peasants) imprisoned over land disputes in the family’s home state of Morelos are freed. Like their father, Zapata’s children for years have fought for more land reform, pressuring the government to do more to help small farmers. ALVi the tone ship you more ex| All are c with the material! manship Reason) at the K Center. The Battalion u s p S 045 360 LETTERS POLICY Letter* to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The Battrdion. Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843. 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Texas 7SC United Press International is entitled exdnsrvkf use for reproduction of all news dispatches cxwW® Rights of reproduction of all other matter bench n Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX MEMBER Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Congress Editor .Karen W News Editor Debbie ftr* Sports Editor Se»W City Editor .Roy Campus Editor Keith Tl Staff Writers Robin Louie Arthur, Carolyn Blosser. Boggan Photo Editor Chy Gxfc* Photographer Lyra Cartoonist Gref ki e;ents. The Battalion is a non-pnft.m jporting enterprise operated by «■ a university and community HetafSff itorial policy if determined by the rdt>