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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1980)
Battalion Serving the Texas A&M University community 'ol. 74 No. 46 Monday, November 3, 1980 USPS 045 360 6 Pages in 2 Sections College Station, Texas Phone 845-2611 The Weather Yesterday Today High 76 High ....78 Low 55 Low ....51 Rain . 0.00 inches Chance of rain . . . ....5% eria to ‘take care of hostage issue’ United Press International n’s militant students agreed today to hand over the American ges to the Tehran government and Algeria will act as inter- jry in the next step to secure the Americans’ release from liter a year’s captivity, official reports from Iran said, p fast-moving development came after Ayatollah Ruhollah leini told the students in a meeting that they should surren- [eir control of the captives in the U.S. Embassy based on the petitions accepted overwhelmingly by Iran’s parliament, or L Sunday. e students, in a communique reported by the official Pars Agency, asked the government to present its representative e delivery of the hostages. reconsider it appropriate that the government should hence- pssume the responsibility of holding the spy hostages,” the hunique stated in sanctioning a step toward removing the kes from the militants’ control for the first time since the drama began last Nov. 4. “This issue was raised at today’s meeting of the students with the august leader of the revolution, Imam Khomeini, who approved of this arrangement,” the communique said. “You are therefore asked to introduce your representative to take delivery of the American spies, ” the communique directed to the government said. The militants also sent a letter to Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Rajai, officially transferrring responsibility for the hostages to the government. In Washington, the State Department said it has no confirma tion of the students agreeing to hand over the hostages to the Iranian government or Algeria agreeing to supervise them. In Tehran, the Algerian Embassy denied a report that the hostages had been transferred to its embassy. It was not specified what Algeria’s role would be if the militants release the hostages based on Khomeini’s four conditions approved by the parliament Sunday, or what exactly was meant by Algeria’s agreeing to “take care of the hostages issue.” Initially, the Pars report, monitored by the BBC in London, said Algeria’s envoy in a meeting with Prime Minister Moham med Ali Rajai, agreed to “take care of the U.S. hostages,” which was then corrected by Pars, not the BBC, to say “take care of the U.S. hostages issue.” A role of intermediary was finally settled on in the reports. In another development, Pars said today that the Swiss ambas sador handed Prime Minister Mohammed Rajai a message from President Carter. There were no immediate details. Earlier, Pars quoted one of the students who met with Khomeini today as asking the religious leader to have the hostages “relieved of their (hostage) duty and be free to go to the front to fight the puppet regime of Iraq. ” A Tehran Radio broadcast, carried by the Kuwait news agency, said Khomeini told the militants that the government “should take over responsibility for the hostages” — a step the militants had balked at previously. Meanwhile in Washington, President Carter said his chief ob jectives were to get the hostages out of Iran safely at the earliest possible time while protecting the “vital interests of the United States.” “As we understand the parliament’s proposal, they appear to offer a positive basis for achieving both of these objectives,” he said. “We are pursuing the matter through diplomatic channels.” Carter did not detail the follow-up diplomatic steps but Swit zerland, which handles U.S. affairs in Tehran, announced Sunday it was ready to take immediate action admitting “so far we have not been contacted.” Officials of the Swiss national airline, Swiss Air, said they would be able to prepare a plane “at very short notice” but had not received any requests for flights into Tehran. Zip CHiPs jxas A&M’s Corps of Cadets members, Ted Etchison taking advantage of their senior privileges by motorcycl- riving) and Ed Cano, faintly resemble a couple of ing their way to afternoon classes on Etchison’s Honda, ghway patrolmen on the prowl. Actually, they are Impact of the hostage on election still mystery United Press International The long shadow of the American hos tages touched today’s final hours of the 1980 presidential campaign, but whether it will have any impact is one more uncer tainty in an election year that has been indeterminate from the start. President Carter scrubbed his campaign schedule in Illinois, Michigan and Pennsyl vania to fly back to the White House in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning. He met most of the day with top advisers on a response to Iran’s four conditions for release of the 52 Americans, and appeared for five minutes in a national broadcast to express a degree of guarded optimism the men will be freed in a “proper” way that will protect the nation’s honor. Ronald Reagan and his campaign staff kept a wary eye on the developments, con cerned lest some last-minute dramatic event endanger what they believe is an all but certain electoral victory. But the effect of Iran’s belated, and con ditional, decision to release the Americans is uncertain. And, for that matter, Reagan’s confidence itself could be misplaced. Ever since he was nominated at the Re publican National Convention in July, Reagan has led Carter in almost every poll. He still does. But his huge popular vote edge — more than 30 points before the Democratic Convention nominated Carter in August — has become a margin so nar row that most pollsters refuse to predict a winner. In the Gallup Poll, published in today’s edition of the Washington Post, Reagan had 47 percent to 44 percent for Carter, 8 percent for Anderson and 1 percent for other candidates. Pollster George Gallup said the spread between Carter and Reagan was so small it fell within the statistical margin of error. A new Harris poll, also published in the Post, gave Reagan 45 percent. Carter 40 percent, Anderson 10 percent, others 1 percent and 4 percent undecided. Reagan’s lead was greater than the statistical margin of error. United Press International’s final state- by-state survey showed Reagan with 245 electoral votes either probable or leaning, with 270 needed for election. Carter was leading in 14 states and the District of Col umbia with 156 electoral votes, and 12 states with 137 votes were too close to call. Newsweek, Time, The New York Times, all three networks and other major polling sources had similar results. United Press International Texas newspapers, expressing the belief — and in some cases merely the hope — that Ronald Reagan can do a better job than President Carter, have given the Republi can candidate unanimous support in en dorsements for Tuesday’s elections. The newspapers which gave endorse ments in general charged President Carter has failed to provide the United States with leadership. The San Antonio Light, in its endorse ment published Sunday, said the choices “are limited” to Carter, who has shown the job is beyond his capabilities; Reagan, who has received only “ho-hum” support from the mainstream of the Republican Party; and Anderson, whose Tet us sacrifice’ prog rams ignore the sacrifices of Americans under Carter. “President Carter basically is a good man,” the Light said. “He wants, and has newspaper support wanted to do a good job as president. We believe he simply does not have the know how to do the job.” Both Dallas newspapers said it was ur gent to change presidents. “Of course,” the Morning News said, “it avails nothing to throw out one bungler and promptly install another. We could not so warmly recommend the election of Ronald Reagan were we not convinced that a Reagan administration would substantially advance this country’s prospects for peace and freedom during the critical 1980s.” “Gov. Reagan calls for a vigorous, can-do attitude while President Carter is trapped in negativism, fear and confusion,” the Times Herald said. “Reagan doubtless will not be able to remedy all (the country’s) problems swiftly, but he has the advantage of bringing a new perspective to the Oval Office,” the San Angelo Standard-Times said. The Corpus Christi Caller/Times edito rial said: “A Reagan administration offers at least the possibility of new approaches. It is time, in our view, for a change.” Students can get yearbooks starting today The 1980 Aggielands are in and can be picked up at the Commons starting today. Students wishing to pick up their year books should enter through the main entr ance of the Commons and go to the rear TV room. Students must bring their Texas A&M I.D. cards to pick up Aggielands. xas voters to decide fate Constitution faces changes United Press International STIN — A capsule summary of the nine amendments to the f Constitution to be decided in the general election Tuesday: Proposition One, Unmanned Tellers. A yes vote would lit banks to establish unmanned teller machines that could most banking functions anywhere within the city or y where the bank is located, at any time of day. The constitu- prohibition against branch banks now bars such machines. Proposition Two, State Right to Appeal. A yes vote would he state a right to appeal certain decisions of a court in the ly, stages of a prosecution. For example, the state could appeal ler quashing an indictment, suppressing evidence or over- g a statute on constitutional grounds. The amendment not allow the state to appeal an acquittal, a sentence or the spending of appropriated money. The governor, with the approval of a budget execution committee, could limit spending by an agency or transfer appropriated funds from one agency to another. The committee would consist of the governor, the lieute nant governor, the speaker of the house and four legislators. — Proposition Six, Removal of Officers. A yes vote would permit the governor to remove any officer who has been appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of two- thirds of the Senate. The governor appoints members of 237 different boards, but may not now remove them. Among the boards in question is the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. — Proposition Seven, County Road Work. A yes vote would permit counties with populations of less than 5,000 to use county Election *80 r final judgment. The state now has no right of appeal in inal cases. Proposition Three, Counties in Single Appraisal. A yes vote d require counties to join single appraisal districts, which are mandatory for all other taxing units. The amendment would ii that any piece of property would have the same appraisal for ic taxes that are paid on it, although the tax rates applied to the erty would differ according to the taxing jurisdiction. Proposition Four, Bingo. A yes vote would allow the Legisla- Mand individual communities to legalize bingo for churches ■non-profit organizations. The Legislature would be required ■ass laws regulating the game for those communities whose ■rs approved it. All proceeds would have to go to the charitable ■oses of the organization conducting the games. 4 Proposition Five, Budget Execution Authority. A yes vote Mid permit the Legislature to authorize the governor to control equipment to do private road work for a “reasonable charge." Proceeds from the work would have to be used for public road construction or maintenance. — Proposition Eight, Criminal Jurisdiction. A yes vote would give the Courts of Civil Appeals criminal as well as civil jurisdic tion and change their name to Courts of Appeals. The amendment would also require that all Supreme Court justices be licensed to practice law in Texas. Final jurisdiction would remain with the Supreme Court, for civil cases, and the Court of Criminal Appeals, for criminal cases. — Proposition Nine, Community Property. A yes vote would allow spouses or persons about to marry to agree that income arising from separate property will itself be separate property. The courts now permit couples to divide up existing property, but there is a question about whether spouses may agree that income from separate property will also be separate. Dem support from valley not so secure United Press International MCALLEN — For decades, Texas Democrats have relied on the bloc voting of Mexican-Americans in the Lower Rio Grande Valley to pull out close elections. It was that Mexican-American vote in 1976 that allowed President Carter to carry the state. But Tuesday, valley political leaders con cede, cracks in the Democratic domination of the South Texas region may begin to show. “I think probably the Democrats can win, but it won’t be by much,” said Sen. Raul Longoria, D-Edinburg, whose district includes Cameron and Hidalgo counties, the major population centers of the valley. “It’s not like it has been. I really feel things have changed, and it won’t be the same. There are too many people now that just won’t go one way. ” The “go one way” Longoria referred to is the traditional one lever vote for the straight Democratic ticket. Now, the senator says, Mexican- American voters have become more discri minating and many will pick and choose candidates rather than voting the straight party ticket. Republicans for the first time are run ning a full slate of candidates for local offices, and several of the candidates are Hispanic. But not all the credit for the GOP gains goes to the increased attention given the valley by the Republicans, Longoria said. “It’s not that the Republicans have done more, it’s that the Democrats have done less for the middle class,” Longoria said. Precinct determines voter’s poll location Tuesday is Election Day. Citizens who are registered to vote in Brazos County can cast their ballots at the following places. The first number is the precinct, which is listed on the vo ters’ registration card. Second is the polling location for each precinct. 1 — Millican Community Center, Mil- lican 2 — Wellborn Water Supply Building, Wellborn 3 — S.P.J.S.T. Hall, Highway 21 W., Bryan 4 — Carver School, 1401 W. 19th St., Bryan 14 — Milam Elementary School, 1201 Ridgedale, Bryan 15 — Fannin Elementary School, 501 S. Baker, Bryan 16 — Bowie Elementary School, 401 W. 26th St., Bryan 17 — Travis Elementary School, E. 25th St., Bryan 18 — Bryan Central Fire Station, 801 N. Bryan 19 — Bonham Elementary School, 2801 Wilkes Drive, Bryan 20 — Texas A&M University, Memo rial Student Center, 2nd floor 21 — College Station Municipal Build ing, Church Street 22 — U.S. Army Reserve Center, ★ VOTE ★ See related stories and candidate list, pages 6 and 7. 5 — Fellowship Hall, East Building, Tabor Road, Bryan 6 — Edge Community Center, Wheelock 7 — Steep Hollow Community Center, Bryan 8 — South Knoll Elementary School, 1220 Boswell, College Station 9 — A&M Consolidated Special Ser vices Building, College Station 10 — College Station Fire Station, Texas Avenue 11 — Crockett Elementary School, 401 Elm, Bryan 12 — Ross Elementary School, 3300 Parkway Terrace, Bryan 13 — Henderson Elementary School, 2001 Sharon Drive, Bryan Bryan 23 — Johnson Elementary School, 3800 Oak Hill Drive, Bryan 24 — College Hills Elementary School, 101 Williams, College Station 25 — American Legion Hall, Highway 21 E., Bryan 26— Bryan High School, 3401 E. 29th St. 27 — Bethel Baptist Church, Bryan 28 — Peach Creek Community Center, Bryan 29 — V.F.W. Hall, 2811 W. Bypass, Bryan 30 — Fellowship Hall, West Building, Tabor Road 31 — A&M Consolidated High School, 701 West Loop S., College Station