RIPON CQ·NTENTS Politics 1 - 5 Commentary 5 - 7 Duly Noted 7 - 8
OCTOBER 15, 1974 VOL. 10, No. 20 50 CENTS
Abrams, was selected over Rockland law puts a limit on the amount a can POLITICS: County District Attorney Robert Mee didate's family can' contribute, so the han, for the right to challenge popular Carey campaign has had to repay the BEPORTS Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz bulk of Edward Carey's loans and is in November. Arthur Levitt, the ven now feeling the tight money squeeze NEW YORK erable state comptroller who was the that all candidates are feeling this year. only statewide elected Democrat dur Carey will definitely prove to be New York Democrats appear to be ing the Rockefeller reign, did not have a more difficult - -if not impossible - on the verge of ending 16 years of Re primary opposition. man for Republican Governor Mal publican rule. The potential disaster As the New Yorker writer Andy colm Wilson to beat than Howard is' endangering the entire Republican Logan has observed, all the winning Samuels would have been. Wilson, ticket, including an incumbent senator Democratic statewide candidates fought who assumed his new position af.ter and attorney general who were consid hard to get organization endorsement Nelson A. Rockefeller resigned 10 ered unbeatable only weeks ago. for their campaigns, failed to get the months ago, probably knows more A poll by Long Island Newsday and endorsement, then ran against "ma about state government than any other the Gannett newspaper chain shows the chine" candidates, won the primary person, having served as an assembly GOP with a 49-28 percent handicap in anyway, and thereby laundered their man for 20 years and lieutenant gover the gubernatorf'al race and leading by own organization credentials. Observed nor for 15 years. Both Wilson and only a 39-32 percent margin in the Logan: "It seems clear that, at least Carey are Irish Catholic, but Carey senatorial contest. Although the Dem from now until after the election, the has a first lien on this. group since they ocratic lead for governor has recently Democratic candidates' theme will be are generally Democratic. In mid eroded somewhat, the strength of the their independence of the party or October Carey appeared to be the Democratic ticket appears likely to gatlization, whose endorsement each frontrunner, but Wilson campaign sweep in a Democratic State Assembly one of them, including Clark, tried strategist (generally old Rockefeller and sweep out a few veteran Republi very hard to get. Meanwhile, the regu professionals) hope that !heir satura can congressmen. lar party leaders, most of whom by tion radio and TV r:ompaign will push Accentuating the new political turn late summer were freely allowing their Wilson ahead in the final days. out is the Democrats' ability to reverse district captains to support Carey, may The Wilson campaign is an unlikely their usual fortunes. They have an eth not be as dismayed as had been adver candidate to become the 1974 political nically and geographically balanced tised over the fact that the Democratic version of "The Waltons." A more ticket that has the full support of all candidates for governor and lieutenant likely comparison could be made to the factions of their often chaotic party. governor came up through their party "Sonny and Cher" show without Cher. The state's voters in the September 10 organization instead of being rank Wilson, an unknown and colorless Democratic primary rejected the candi outsiders such as Samuels and [en conservative, has moved sharply to the dates officially designated by the Dem dorsed lieutenant governor candidate right, meanwhile trying to paint the ocratic State Committee back in June. Mario] Cuomo were. However, there Carey-Krupsak ticket into the far left. Brooklyn U.S. Rep. Hugh Carey de may be no truth to the rumor that the Wilson's harsh rhetoric on crime in the feated the early favorite, former Off whole thing was rigged and had been streets is designed to appeal to the Track Betting Corporation president planned that way all along." predominantly Catholic, blue-collar Howard Samuels, by a surprisingly Carey's victory can be attributed in New York City Democrats for whose wide margin. Upstate State Sen. Mary large measure to his brother, Edward, loyalty Carey is fighting. Wilson's Anne Krupsak beat her two male rival the president of the New England managers are counting on Nassau to become ·the state's first woman Petroleum Company. The excess of one County Executive Ralph Caso, the candidate for lieutenant governor. Syr million dollars in loans and contribu GOP's candidate for lieutenant gover acuse Mayor Lee Alexander produced tions the Carey campaign received from nor, to attract suburban and Italian less-than-lackluster campaign and was the congressman's wealthy brother votes. The governor's chances rest on defeated by former U.S. Attorney Gen helped finance a blitz of TV commer winning Republican and upstate sub eral Ramsey dark for the Democratic cials that turned Hugh Carey into a urban areas with a plurality greater senatorial nomination. The aggressiye household name within a period of than a half million votes while losing Bronx Borough president, Robert three weeks. The state's new election New York City by a lesser amount. The state's senior senator, Jacob K. Buffalo area district. be because the Democratic candidate, Javits, is expected to. be successful in Also in tight upstate races are U.S. former State Sen. Richard Leonard, is his bid for a third term. Nevertheless, Reps. Barber Conable (R) and Carle a dynamic candidate. Ramsey Clark, with his image as an ton J. King (R). Conable is being op Leonard is· not such a candidate and honest man who is not afraid to speak posed by the vice mayor of Rochester, is now handicapped by the repudiation his mind and who refuses contribu Margaret Costanza, who has hired pro of Manchester Union-Leader publisher tions over $100, has proved to be a fessional political advice from Canada William Loeb, whose endorsement in stronger opponent than originally and is getting substantial labor help. the Democratic primary probably pro thought. Attorney General Louis Lef The conservative and aging King made vided Leonard's margin of victory in kowitz is another progressive Jewish a weak primary showing against a the three-way race. Republican from New York City, who young GOP moderate; he now faces Loeb was particularly successful at will benefit from sizable Democratic Rensselaer County Treasurer Edward kingmaking this year. As he editorial crossover voting. "Ned" Pattison (D), whose county ized after the election: "On the whole While Javits and Lefkowitz seem job is being abolished in January. Pat it seems to this newspaper that the confident of victory, the other progres tison amassed 43 percent of the vote voters showed great and good judg sive Republican on the ticket, former against King in 1970. ment in their selections of the various Rochester Mayor Stephen May, is un Two other vacant Democratic seats candidates to oppose each other in the likely to unseat Comptroller Levitt. should remain Democratic. Former final election on Nov. 5th." Translated, However, May's expected loss is not U.S. Rep. Richard Ottinger (D), who that means the voters did as Loeb likely to hamper his political future, gave up a House seat to run for the wished: renominated Thomson over since he is young, attractive, and in Senate in 1970, is seeking the seat be moderate State Senate president David telligent. ing vacated -in Westchester County by Nixon; awarded Leonard the Demo The state's congressional delegation former Republican Ogden Reid. In cratic gubernatorial nomination over will undergo its most extensive turn Buffalo, former Erie County Controller two, more liberal candidates, and nom over in years. In New York City, con Henry Nowak is a popular Polish inated David Banks (R) to succeed servative and powerful Brooklyn U.S. Democrat in a Polish Democratic dis U.S. Rep. Louis Wyman (R) in the Rep. John J. Rooney (D) has retired; trict now represented by a Polish Dem 1st C.D. GOP primary. Banks was the Carey's seat will probably be assumed ocrat, Thaddeus J. Dulski. The Re most notable example of Loeb's p0- by Democrat Leo C. Zefferetti, the publican candidate, Lackawanna Mayor litical imagination; he defeated former president of the Correction Officers Joseph R. Bala, -is also Polish; but he's Governor's Executive Councilor John Benevolent Association. Two other not a Democrat. Bridges (whose late father was a sen Brooklyn congressmen, Frank Brasco The State Senate is likely to remain ator) and former State GOP Chair (recently convicted of receiving bribes in Republican hands, but the State As man David Gosselin. from the Mafia) and Bertram Podell sembly should swing Democratic, de Banks, who is distinguished only (who just pleaded guilty in another pending upon the magnitude of Wil for bis endorsement by Loeb, now faces bribery case), are to be replaced by son's loss or win. Manchester attorney Norman D'Am former U.S. Rep. James H. Scheuer Should Wilson lose but the Repub ours, who won a three-way Democratic (D) and State Assemblyman Stephen licans maintain Assembly control, most primary. Solarz (D), respectively. Ul'state, the politicians believe that Speaker Perry Loeb was disappointed by the voters dean of the delegation, Republican Duryea would become the state's un in the state Democratic Senate primary; Howard Robison, is retiring, as is U.S. official Republican lea:der. First, how they nominated former State Insurance Rep. Henry P. Smith III (R). ever, Duryea must win his own tough Commissioner John Durkin over three In a close race for Robison's seat, reelection campaign. • other candidates. The one anointed by Binghamton Mayor Alfred J. Libous Loeb ran second. (R) handily won a five-man primary Lurking in the Senate campaign and now faces attorney Matthew F. NEW HjMPSHIRE background all summer has been for McHugh (D), a former county district mer Gov. Wesley Powell (R), an attorney. Smith's administrative assis Gov. Meldrim Thomson (R) may ultra-conservative who bears the Loeb tant, Russell A. Rourke, ·is facing a yet lose the New Hampshire guberna stamp of approval - which Wyman spirited Democratic challenge for the torial race. If he does so, it will not lacks. Powell decided not to contest
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That is the sort of bility of an independent Senate can recognition that money can buy. didacy if a younger independent could not be induced to take on Wyman. Eckerd's win in theprimary surprised many Republicans who thought Haw According to Loeb, "The people of FLORIDA kins' record as a consumer advocate New Hampshire now are faced with a would be a strong campaign aSset. In very miserable choice between Wyman, deed, the prices charged by Eckerd's on the one hand, and Durkin, on the "The apathy is terrible. That alone drug stores became a GOP primary other. This should not happen to any could determine the races," says one issue. Some Republicans may have state, let along the great Granite State, Florida GOP spokesman. voted for Eckerd in part to keep Haw but if the voters aren't more careful The apathy generated by Watergate kins as a consumer advocate on the in the primaries, this is what happens is compounded in Florida by scandals PSC. (She is also a Republican na to them." surrounding Sen. Edward J. Gurney tional committeewoman.) Wyman's candidacy has been en (R) and the administration of Gov. dangered by a controversy over his role Reuhin Askew (D). Three of Askew's Because of the Democrats' own in the nomination of Ruth Farkas as cabinet members have been the subjects scandals, R~publicans do not feel Gur ambassador to Luxembourg as a con of intensive investigations. Gurney was ney's'legal troubles will affect the Sen sequence of a large contribution by her forced to quit the Senate race in order ate race. The primary issue will be the to CREEP in 1972. Wyman hoped that to defend himself against criminal in economy. At this point, Eckerd has two a letter from Special Watergate Prose dictments. advantages: the relative unity . of his cutor Leon Jaworski clearing him of own party, and a campaign organiza any wrong-doing would end the Farkas The price of apathy has already been tion directed by conservative strategist issue, but Durkin has continued to harp felt by one state politician who had F. Clifton White. on it. good reason to believe he was headed for, the u.s. Senate. After one term in In the gubernatorial race, Gov. As Wyman, ThOPlSon, and Banks nor representing a conservative Republi kew may be in some trouble, but not mally would be favored for election can district ,in the House of Repre much. He crushed his Democratic op this year, but the controversy concern sentatives, William Gunter (D) won ponents in the primary,but he has re ing their candidacies may drive many first place in the eleven-man Senate sidual problems with. Democrats who progressive Republicans and indepen primary on September 10. He had 29 have been alienated by his positions on dents into the Democratic column. percent of the vote, compared to the busing and state spending. Former Thomson's behavior since the Sep runnerup, Secretary of State Richard Democrat Jerry Thomas, now the Re tember 10 pr¥nary certainly has not Stone, who had 21 percent. Gunter publican gubernatorial candidate, hopes served to unite the party. When State seemed a reasonable bet to win the to capitalize on these alienated Demo GOP Chairwoman Shirley Hodgdon October 1 runoff. Instead, Stone crats. He wiHbe helped to some ex showed up at Thomson's office the day plugged away at Gunter's record of tent by the withdrawal of American after the election, she asked the gov absenteeism in Congress and concen Party Candidate J. P. Revels, who has ernor what she could do to assist in his trated on his home base in populous announced his support for Thomas. campaign. The governor's answer was Dade County. Gunter ended up on the Thomas is not, however, getting 'the brief: "resign." Mrs. Hodgdon re wrong side of a 51-49 percent upset. media exposure he needs to make a credible race. fused and the governor pointed out Now, the moderate Stone faces a where the door was. A week later, a conservative Republican who engi One of the more interesting races on GOP state committee meeting was neered his own upset in the September Florida's long ballot is for Secretary of held, and the members, outraged by 10 primary. Drugstore millionaire Jack state. Former Hillsborough County Thomson's rude behavior, refused to Eckerd (R) had no handicaps of name Elections Supervisor James Sebesta (R) replace Mrs. Hodgdon with a Thom recognition ip. his primary campaign will oppose State Sen. Bruce Smathers, son-picked candidate. against Public Service Commissioner who created a controversy when he s0- Thomson went on to change the Paula Hawkins. He had waged an un licited the support of the Ku Klux date of the state GOP convention be successful primary against Gov. daude Klan for his nomination. Sebesta is cause it was inconvenient for him. His Kirk (R) in 1970. At that time, he widely acknowledged to be one of the ultraconservative heavy hand is amply changed newspaper ads for his drug GOP's strongest candidates; Smathers reflected in the state GOP platform. store chain to include a large picture is the son of a former Sen. George Perhaps it is understandable. As of himself. The ads no longer carry his Smathers (D). visage, but the "Eckerd" name still is Loeb explains it, "The governor's prob Republicans also hope to take over never far from any Florida newspaper lem is that he is so conscientious him Gunter's 5th CD. seat. Richard Kelly, reader. self, and so hard-working, that he who has had a controversial career as doesn't realize that his organization is Eckerd's win in the primary surprised a circuit court judge, is the Republican neither as dedicated nor as efficient as is shaded by his image as a progressive candidate against Jo Ann Saunders, a himself. Had ,the governor a better or business and civic leader. For instance, moderate Democr2:t and feed supply ganization, his margin over Nixon he gave $10 million to Florida Presby- company manager. • 3 liberal Democrats and independents will return to the Sargent column. Dukakis has already ruffled liberal feathers with his vacillation on the busing issue. Sarge POLITICS: PEOPLE is still down,- but no longer out. • ROnald Reagan-George Wallace: The 1976 Odd • Words of wisdom, Utah variety: "For reasons Couple? Conservative Republican direct mail expert unbeknownst to me, election years seem to affect poli Richard Viguerie has reportedly gone to work on George ticians in almost exactly the same fashion as full moons Wallace's .direct mail solicitations. Ronald Reagan. is are alleged to affect werewolves. Under this election promoted weekly in' some conservative journals as the year spell, ordinary, decent, rational human beings - conservatives' 1976 non-Republican hope. Kevin Phillips good . citizens, parents, and neighbors all - become writes like Reagan's candidacy is a fait accompli. Hu raving'maniacs, and liars and cheats to boot. The Tenth man Events engages in a lot of wishful thinking. Mean Commandment is relegated to the city dUmp. Invective while George Wallace is acknowledged by m~y ob pours forth. The mere identification of a candidate as a servers as. a possible Democratic king-maker in 1976. member of the opposition party invites slander or worse." The stranger-than-life possibility is for a Reagan-Wal So wrote former Utah GOP State Chairman Kent lace independent ticket; there reportedly have been Shearer in a letter to the Salt Lake City Tribune. some preliminary conversations on the posSloility. • One man who undoubtedly was displeased by • Unfeminist comments have gotten two Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's withdrawal from presiden candidates in trouble recently. In Tennessee, the Public tial politics was U.S. Rep. Michael J. Harrington (D Service Commission chairman was sharply criticized Mass.). Harrington was waiting for 1976 in anticipation after he referred to his Republican opponent, Jane of an open shot at Kennedy's Senate seat. Hardaway, as "Governor (Winfield) Dunn's little woman." Hardway is a former state personnel commis • Virginia Republicans have elected State Del. sioner now seeking a seat on the Public Service Com George McMath to succeed Richard Obenshain as mission. In Nebraska, Wayne Ziebarth, Democratic Republican state chairman; Obenshain has succeeded congressional candidate in the 3rd C.D., implied on a Mary Louise Smith as GOP national co-chairman. radio interview that women have no place in politics. McMath was selected for the post by Gov. Mills Ziebarth's Republican opponent, Mrs. Virginia Smith, Godwin (R) after a contest developed between mod trailed the Democrat, 46-40 percent, in a newspaper poll. erate-conservative and ultra-conservative factions ·of the Ziebarth subsequently apologized for the statement, say party. McMath, however, has dubious party credentials ing "I've never thought that I was a male chauvinist at for his new js>l>. A former Democrat, he joined the GOP all." The two politicians are vying for the seat being only in 1973 and has continued to sit with his Demo vacated by U.S. Rep. David Martin (R). cratic friends in the legislature. • According to an August Field .Poll in California, Gov. Ronald Reagan (R) has a relatively favorable job • Three New Jersey Republicans appear in deep approval rating from the California electorate. Al congressional trouble. Democrats believe that their best though his August rating of "good" is only 35 percent, shot is at U.S. Rep. John Hunt, who may be unseated it is higher than his rating for the past two years and in the lst C.D. by State Assemblyman James Florio (D). only seven points lower than his high point of 42 per They also think they have good chances of replacing cent in February 1969. By comparison, former Gov. U.S. Rep. Charles Sandman with attorney William Edmund Brown (D) generally received "good" ratings Hughes (D) in the 2nd C.D. and replacing U.S. Rep. from 21-26 percent of the voters and former President Joseph Maraziti with Helen Meyner (D) in the 13th Richard NIXon left office with a "good" job approval C.D. Still vulnerable is U.S. Rep. William Widnall (R- rating of 16 percent among California voters. 7th), but U.S. Rep. Edwin B. Forsythe now appears relatively safe in the 6th C.D. Furthermore, in the race • Ohio Republicans hope to unseat the entire Fer to succeed U.S. Rep. Peter FreIinghusyen (R-5th), Re guson family in this year's election for state auditor. publicans now appear favored to elect Millicent Fenwick The current Democratic auditor, Joseph T. Ferguson, is (R). Her Democratic opponent has had trouble raising an octogenarian who is attempting to turn the $25,000 sufficient funds for the race. office over to his son, who is now on the auditor's pay roll for $23,546. Four Ferguson grandsons are on the • Massachusetts Gov. Francis Sargent has shed his payroll for salaries ranging from $7,571 to $12,938. Hyde and donned his Jekyll. In the first of a series of Altogether, the family take is $88,000. Former State televised debates with his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Roger W. Tracy, Jr. is the GOP candidate againSt State Rep. Michael Dukakis, the old Frank Sargent the Fergusons. calm, likable, fallible, trying hard to balance fiscal re straint with human compassion - emerged. The gover • Connecticut Republicans are in trouble. A poll by nor's performance was a far cry from his straw-man the New Haven Register and the Hartford Tunes shows beating primary style. The re-emergence of the old Sen. Abraham RibicofI (D) leading his GOP opponent, Sargent is not enough to win, but another odd twist has State Rep. James Brannen III, 50-16 percent. In the developed in the campaign. This is emergence of a new gubernatorial race, U.S. Rep. Ella Grasso (D) is leading Dukakis; belying his liberal, reformer image, Dukakis U.S. Rep. Robert Steele (R), 48-30 percent. Grasso appeared on TV as a slick, cold, blldget-slashing admin pumped life into her own campaign with a scurrilous istrator, spewing platitudes about productivity in gov remark comparing herself to Helen Gahagan Douglas, by ernment and bringing industry to Massachusetts. Should implication inferring that Steele could be compared these images solidify, it is no longer impossible that with Douglas' 1950 Senate opponent, Richard Nixon. 4 ., • Even as a lame-duck, Connecticut Gov. Thomas • Correction: An article in the September 1 news J. Meskill (R) has a way of attracting controversy. letter inad;vertently misquoted a campaign statement by Meskill's nomination to a vacancy on the Second Circuit Jim Blanchard, who is the Democratic candidate op Court of Appeals has been opposed by the American posing U.S. Rep. Robert J. Huber in Michigan's 18th Bar Association. Now, Meskill's nomination of former C.D. In a pre-primary. brochure, Blanchard used the Connecticut Republican Chairman Brian Gaffney to a slogan: "Y2 the people in this country think that high vacancy on the State Superior Court has been opposed prices is our biggest problem. The other Y2 are Re by the Connecticut Bar Association. The Bar found publicans." The statement, which was misquoted in the both Meskill and Gaffney, a longtime associate of the FORUM, did not appear on billboards as the FORUM . governor's, to be "unqualified" for their judicial nom- had stated. inations. discrimination or illiteracy for a class bilitation programs. To gauge fiscal of people. As a result, proponents of impact, the managers are checking to COMMENTARY: social programs have to work harder see if per-inmate costs are ultimately to justify their positions. less at pre-~elease centers than at the FISCAL ECONOMY Moderate America does have a heart. prisons. (They are.) All it wants to see is some proof that Housing programs are another area its tax dollars are being spent effec where managers, pressured to justify tively. And "effective" is the key word. their appropriations, have outgrown a Those of us who like to think of conventional yardstick - the number Knee- ourselves as progressives can only re of units constructed - which is a mis gain public support for domestic social leading index because it tells nothing programs by proving their ultimate of the quality of the units. Jerks worth to moderate America, and we Housing managers now compare the can only do that by showing how ef cost of construction plus bond interest fective they can be. in prior years with present replacement costs. To gauge the impact of "scat Program managers, particularly at And tered site" housing, they have utilized the state leve1, are developing innova the number of home improvement tive ways of gauging the effectiveness loans and data from building code in of their programs. They've been forced Knuokle- spections in various neighborhoods to as state governments are becoming where "scattered site" housing has been more aware of modern budget tech built. And they conduct tenant surveys niques that point out wasteful spend Beads and geriatric studies to help determine ing areas and more reluctant to part how to establish the most efficient and with doI!ars for programs that aid effective housing. criminals, the poor, and other margin by Peter Berg The managers of our sacred cows ally popular groups. have made analytical advances. If pro This talented corps of managers is In recent years, there has been a gressives hope to convince moderate not trying to make silk purses of the growing public disenchantment with America that we want to make fiscal liberals who instinctively respond to a ears of sacred cows. They're using their resources stretch as far as possible, new measuring sticks to weigh the ef social problem by throwing money at it. then we must match citizen skepticism fectiveness of different approaches. Indiscriminate applications of funds, with skiIIed evaluative criteria. combined with a paucity of successes, One good example is the politically Knee-jerk reflexes can then be left or, more accurately, publicized suc exploited area of corections, where, to more spasmodic politicians and to cesses in those programs, is one conservatives are chilling their audi part the caustic criticism of cocktail com of the problem. Another difficulty is ences with the horrors of murderers mentators. • the knee-jerk reflex of many liberals, out on furlough. caustic in their response to even the The traditional liberal counter most inoffensive and innocent inquiries attack cites recidivism rates. More ef CONTRIBUTOR NOTES aimed at the social worth of favorite fective arguments involve analyses of Peter Berg ("Knee-Jerks and liberal programs. the rehabilitation techniques which Knuckle-Heads") is a FORUM contributing editor and assis A sizable portion of moderate Amer compare crimes committed by repeat tant director of a Citizens for ica is tired of providing fodder for offenders. Some techniques not only Economy in Government, a Mas political sacred cows; that goes for the are better ·than others at lowering re sachusetts organization for greater herd of sacred cows at. th ~ Pentagon as cidivism but also result in repeat of efficiency in state services. Donald well as the sacred social cows of lib fenders committing less serious crimes. Weeden ("Over-Pricing Indepen erals. Unfortunately, the spectre of Psychological studies which check the dence") is chairman of the board letting down our national defenses for attitudes of criminals toward society, of Weeden & Co., a New York lack of funds is personally more threat authority, and themselves are another investment firm, and president of the City Club of New York. ening to the average citizen than is measure of the effectiveness of reha- 5 couraging small car production by tax with plenty of head room, able to ac ing the hell out of big cars. The Ad commodate four-five passengers in COMMENTARY: ministration should re-enlist George comfort. Romney to lecture the engineers and On its own, Detroit will never make ENERGY managers in Detroit about the folly of a decent taxi cab. It prefers the pro their gas guzzling dinosaurs. Motor ve duction profits of taking ordinary pas hicle consumption of petroleum prod senger cars and just spraying them with ucts equals our total oil imports! We yellow· pamt. To use the marketing can save three million barrels per day lingo, we can no longer rely on the Over- by switching to smaller cars. manufacturers' push· to give us the The Administration should enlist products we need. The FEA must or that. new tough-minded bunch at the ganize consumer pull. Prieinll Federal Trade Commission. Get them There are more than a dozen major to focus on the consumer fraud in cities which have worked out detailed volved in endless TV commercials energy conservation programs Inde- which con consumers into believing worked them out because they ,had to that Buicks. Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, comply with the Clean Air Act. Chryslers, and Mercurys are compact .The Federal Energy Administration cars that somehow save gas because could be - and should be - the de pendenGe they are a few inches shorter.. Still cisive force in bringing about prompt worse are the Cadillac and Lincoln implementation of these programs. commercials which speak of "range" I am not talking about imperfectly by Donald Weeden because they have 26 gallon gas tanks! designed pollution control devices for automobiles. I. am talking about basic' Based on what the people have seen Equally important is a campaign for strategies already mapped out to re to date, Project Independence looks more efficient use of existing motor duce the staggering numbers of private and sounds like a public relations gim vehicles. A switch of ,half our urban cars caught in traffic jams each morning mick. There is little reason to believe commuters from private cars to buses as workers, one to a car, struggle to that goal of energy self sufficiency by would save over 500,000 barrels per get to and from work. I am talking 1980 is economically and technologi day. about strategies ,that save energy by cally feasible or ecologically sensible. One way to begin getting the pri prohibiting needless cruising by taxi Indeed, many of us question whether vate car versus mass transit picture in cabs. In Manhattan, 52 percent of the goal is desirable, even assuming it proper focus would be for the PEA to all taxi mileage is without a pas is attainable. There is something dis discuss with the Antitrust Division of senger - just empty cruising. Respon turbingly jingoistic about the United the Justice Department the inherent sible experts estimate three million States bending itself out of shape try conBict of interest 10 permitting Gen gallons would be saved each year by ing to be economically independent in eral Motors to be at the same time the reducing cruising 40 percent. a world that is so clearly interdepen leading producer of passenger cars and dent. the leading producer of buses and loco The Federal Energy Administration More important, there is something motives. Buses and locomotives ac will prove its mettle when it has the quite reckless in proposing vast ex count for less than one percent of guts to enter the Highway Fund fight penditures of public and private funds GM's sales. Yet, one bus can do the job and help reverse the foolish policies - more than 20 times what we spent of 50 Oldsmobiles and one passenger which give us highways we do not to put a man on ,the moon - when train the job of 1,000 Chevrolets. want and deny us' the mass transit we the country's primary problem is in When push comes to shove, the pres need. Bation. sure on the most public-spirited, well In times of inflation and raw mate The new Ford Administration seems meaning corporate manager at General rial shortages, conservation has a far very unlikely to approve the kind of Motors is to prefer and promote pri higher priority than the expansionistic appropriations and tax concessions im vate cars over new mass transit vehicles exotica most of us associate with Proj plicit in Project Independence. Wisdom - in research, in development, and in ect Independence. lies in re-examining what the Federal advertising. Consideration ought to be The best strategy for the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) can rea to having General Motors spin off its Energy Administration is to take the sonably do and ought to try to do in bus and locomotive divisions. lead in bringing about those conserva view of the present economic crisis. Given the current energy shortage, tion efforts needed to keep demand As an immediate step, the Adminis our private cars are improperly de down by avoiding waste and a repeti tration should present Capitol Hill signed and operated. For example, De tion of last winter's miscalculations and with a well-reasoned bill imposing troit's stock passenger cars make lousy misallocations. • steep, luxury taxes on automobiles taxis and use a lot of gasoline. What based on weight and horsepower. The we need is a United States-manufac The FORUM Needs country needs to know how much gaso tured, London-type cab - meaning a line it could save if it copied the durable, short wheel-based, low-pow Your Subscription European and Japanese systems for en- ered vehicle, easy to enter and leave, 6 poor to pay for income taxes; the credit would be equal to the average increase in taxes resultin~ from EDITORIAL the gasoline tax surcharge. In addition, rectpients of social security benefits should have their benefits increased by an amount equivalent to the tax credit. The enactment of this program would do much to THE ECONOMY reduce our dependency on foreign oil and yet would largely mitigate the effects of the increased price on President Ford has presented Congress and the Ameri lower income persons. can people with a courageous, fair, and realistic program for attacking the menace of in1lation. We look upon the 2. To encourage savings in Saving and loan associ President's proposals as a substantive beginning in our ations and commercial banks, and to help the aver war against inilation, realizing that the proposals in his a~ American to reduce the in1lationary erosion. of economic message are probably insufficient in themselves his savings, it is proposed that the first $1,000 of to cure in1lation. interest received by an individual in a quaUfieci thrift institution be made tax-exempt. Such a pro We are particularly pleased with the President's pro gram will encourage a.nd reward savers and provide posal to "end restrictive practices whether instituted by more investment .capital for the housing industry government, industry, la60r or others." The Ripon So and American business in general. ciety has consistently advocated stronger antitrust le~ lation and enforcement, and deregulation of the Ameri 3. To make tax reform legislation the priority item can economy. We are hopeful that the President's mes of the next session of Congress. Like most Demo sage, coming just after Federal Trade Commission Lewis cratic congressional. ciiticism of President Ford's A. Engman's charge that the nation's regulatory ma proposals, the attacks on the income tax surcharge chinery is fueling in1lation through "government-sanc-· were lar~ly hogwash. The proposal's impact on tioned price fixing," will finally mean a serious attempt the middle class would be muted, but the prospects to curtail those regulatory policies that kill competition, for passage of such legislation are so dead that dis breed inefficiencr., stifle innovation, and cost the Ameri CUSSlon would. be equally moot. With prospects for can consumer billions of extra dollars. new leadership from the Congressional Budget Particularly noxious have been such regulations as the Committee, the President should push Congress to Jones Act which forbidS foreign competition in the enact legislation closing many of the loopholes in shippin~ business between U.S. ports; the Davis-Bacon the existing tax structure, impose higher minimum Act which requires contractors to pay more than com income taxes on the wealthy, and eliminate federal petitive construction wages; and laws that give t!le U.S. mcome tax deductions for such items as state gaso Postal Service a monopoly over first class U.S. mail. line taxes. It is most gratifying to see that the President has 4. To restore some sanity to the budget, Congress called for "inflationary impact statements" for the Ad ought to evaluate the next federal budget proposal ministration and Congress (which were first proposed on the basis of objectives set by the federal depart in the October 1973 Ripon FORUM). These sta~ements ments and offices during the past two years. These should do much to prevent the ~ of short-sighted departments ought to be evaluated on the basis of economic policy-making and legislation which we have their success in meeting performance goals; future been exposed to in recent years. budget allocations shoulG be made on the basis of Even though we are in substantial agreement with the government productivity. If the government cannot President's program, we suggest the following modifi produce, it cannot reasonably expect the public to cations which we believe would do much to bring infla sacrifice. And if a Democratic Congress cannot eval tion under control at an earlier date: uate the bureaucracy, then what can it do ••• besides 1. To reduce gasoline consumption, that a surtax carp? be placed upon every gallon of gasoline sold (as We be~eve that with the above mentioned changes, originally proposed in the December 15, 1973 that PreSident Ford's program will do much to curtail FORUM). The surtax should be coupled with a and mitigate the effects of inflation while at the same uniform fixed-income tax credit to all taxpayers, or time mi~ing the hardships to any particular group a social security tax credit for those who are too of Ametlcans. • • "Politics And the Kennedy Factor" by Richard J. Whalen. Washington Post, September 29, 1974. Comment DULY NOTED: POLITICS ing on the withdrawal of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D Mass.) from presidential politics, author Whalen writes: "The Republicans, who face extremely serious reverses in • ''President Hopes to Push GOP Leftward." Human the November elections, are even more accustomed than Events, September 14, 1974. "A number of southern Re the diehard K.ennedyites to taking Teddy as a fixed point publican chairmen, including Florida's L. E. (Tommy) of reference. They will be s'low to realize the implications Thomas have told Human Events that Ford is by no means especially after the off-year elections, of the deprivation: a cinch to be nominated by the Republicans in 1976, and probably once and for all, of Chappaquiddick as an issue. that Reagan was still in the running. Moreover, they said The Republicans are confronted with the necessity to offer that Reagan's chances have been improved by Ford's the voters a positive, specific program rather than the stunning gestures to the left. A number of other impor Nixon-era slogans." tant Republicans have expressed similar sentiments. In short, Ford, who was neither nominated by Republicans at • "Ford Scores With Obenshain Choice," by Helen convention, or elected nationwide, is probably not going to Dewar. Raleigh News and Observer, September 15 1974. have as easy a time of pulling the party to the left as he "Selection of Virginia's Richard D. Obenshain ~ co may think." chairman of the Republican National Committee may well 7 • help mollify lingering southern displeasure over some at the state level as it was at the 1972 Democratic Na early moves of President Ford, including selection of Nel tional Convention when Briscoe made the "Texas passes" son Rockefeller fot vice president. Obenshain, who [was] phrase a standard response to rollcalls. According to Ob· the Virginia GOP chairman, is a bona fide, true-blue, all server Editor Northcott, one highlight of the convention out, . 100 percent, super-enthusiastic southern conserva was the presentation of a pingpong paddle to George Bush, tive," writes Dewar. "Obenshain has many critics in Vir the new U.S. 'ambassador to China. gfnia, in both parties, but few if any deprecate his political skills. There are several retired officeholders who can • "Times Are Tough But the Governor Gets Around," attest to his craftsmanship. While some Republicans as by John McLaughlin. New York Dally News, September well as many Democrats are turned off by his Goldwater 30, 1974. "You remember (New Jersey Gov.) Brendan vintage Ideology, the 38-year-old Obenshain transcends Byrne. He's the felia vyho tried to give US the income tax, this limited base;also by virtue of an affable, open manner failed in July, and theh promised the !legislature he would be a gobd boy and never mention the term again for the - which, apart from doctrine, suits him for the Ford next two years. Since then he has occupied himself by team." canoeing down the Delaware, exchanging lobs and back • "The Republlca.n State Committee Struck Out By hands with Bobby Riggs, Althea Gibson and assorted Ken Not Pushing ErDa. BalIa.ntine's Candidacy," by A. A. nedys, presiding at a motorcycle hearing, playing a little Michaelson. The Berkshire Eagle, September 28, 1974. golf, taking a T.V. bow at the Miss America contest, and Michaelson argues that the Massachusetts Republican then negotiating and eventually withdrawing from a State Committee baCHy missed the boat by not pushing tbree-round match with that noted amateur boxer, Jersey harder for a ballot position for state treasurer candidate Ken Gibson of Newark." But columnist. McLaughlin is Erna Ballantine. Ballantine failed to amass either enough not impressed by the Democratic governor's leisure: "Still, signatures to get on the primary ballot or enough "sticker" all these recreational activities have done little to curb votes to get on the general election ballot against the the growing impression that things· are adrift here [in now-unopposed Democratic incumbent. According to Mi Trenton]. Ever since he took office with a majority of chaelson, "State Treasurer Robert Q. Crane showed sur historic proportions and overwhelming majorities in both prising weakness in the primat'y w):len he won the nom houses, Byrne has allowed the legislative leaders and his ination by only 13,000 votes... For another, Mrs. Ballan own state chairman, [State] Sen. James P. Dugan, to tine has qualifications. She is neither a token black nor a kick sand in his face - on campaign financing, new con token woman' candidate. She has earned master's and gressional districts, the income tax, the right of citizens doctor's degrees in educational administration at Harvard. to bring environmental suits, and more." She headed a department of the Boston Five-Cent Savings Bank, one of the largest savings institutions in Boston, for • "Don't Count Kenuedy Out Beyond 1978, Friends three years. She was secretary-treasurer of the Massa Say," by Stephen WermieJ,. Boston Globe, September 25, chusetts chapter, American Institute for Banking. She 1974. "In taking himself out of the 1976 presidential race, was chairman of the Massachusetts Commission Against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy may well have enhanced his Discrimination for three years. In addition, she is chair status, as a senator and made himself a formidable candi man of the Massachusetts Council of Churches." In short, date in the future. No feWer than a dozen aides; friends, she was the sort of candidate the GOP desperatj!l:y needed. and associates of the Massachusetts Democrat in inter • "Texas GOP HiOi Ford's LIberal Drift." Human views [September 29] insisted that Kennedy 'is far more Events, September 28, 1974. "In his latest manifestation powerful today, politically, than he was last week.''' of rank-and-file GOP dissatisfaction with the Ford Ad Writes Wermiel: "Virtually all of those interviewed yes ministration's jolting lurch leftward in its first months day said Kennedy in no way intended to remove himse!lf in power, the Texas Republican state convention . • . from any presidential race beyond that of 1976." passed a resolution denouncing such actions as the Presi dent's amnesty decision, his support for expensive new • "Dems Headed for Tramna-FIDed Convention In programs like national health insurance, and his designa Kansas City," 'by Ben Cole. (Phoenix) Arizona. Republic, tion of Nelson Rockefeller as vice president. These moves, September 26, 1974. "Rep. Morris K. Udall (D-Ariz.), the said the resolution, reflect 'the compromising atmosphere darkest of tlark-horses in the forthcoming presidential of Washington' which 'is undermining the conservative sweepstakes, keeps reiterating that 'new faces' are needed. mandate so loudly proclaimed by Texans and all Ameri As an effort in this direction, he is going about the cans in the election of 1972.' " Human EvenOi quoted one country trying to make his 'new face' as familiar to the Texas GOP official as threatening a GOP rejection of Ford party workers as the 'old faces' of other politicians. It is unless he abruptly switches ideological directions. one of the paradoxes of politics." • "The Republicans," by Kaye Northcott. Texas Ob. • "GOP's Ace In The Hole," by Richard Grimes. server, October 4, 1974. Except for the resolution con. Charleston Dally Mall, September 12, 1974. Joe Laurita is demning the liberal excesses of the Ford Administration, the West Virginia GOP's best chance to elect a Republican the Texas GOP convention was not exactly an exciting to Congress since Arch A. Moore, Jr., was elected gover affair. Less than half the allotted delegates and even nor in 1968. 'Laurita, a former prosecuting attorney, was fewer alternates showed up at the convention. "This was injured in an explosion tied to the rackets, lost a close dearth of delegate enthusiasm no doubt had something to ooce to Attorney General Chauncey Browning in 1972. do with the Republicans' !lackluster slate this year. Two Laurita might have won had he not run out of money in years ago, Henry Grover came within 100,000 votes of the closing months of the campaign. But things are hap matching Dolph Briscoe's total. Grover is popular among pening for him and word we hear is that incumbent the rank and file conservative voters, but he's not on the Robert Mollohan is in for a fight in the first district." [Sen. John] Tower team. This year he was virtually Even if Laurita loses but gives Mollohan a close race, driven out of the race by the state partyestat>lisbment." Grimes sees the young Republican as a prime 1976 guber Former Lubbock Mayor Jim Granberry is the party can natorial candidate. Laurita already has supporters - both didate; he is campaigning against Gov. Dolph Briscoe (D) political and financial - and might be able to bridge the for making "Texas passes" the hallmark of the Briscoe gaps between Republican adherents of Moore and former administration. Briscoe's leadership has been as ineffectual Gov. Cecil Underwood. rbRUM Published semi-monthly by the Ripon Society, 509 C Street N.E., Washing ton, D.C. 20002. Second class postage paid at Boston, Massachusetts.