Spirit of '76
If the play's the thing, where does that leave the set designers, the lighting crews and the makeup artists? Backstage, of course, yet always in — and behind — the spotlight.
Tonight the sawdust will settle and the paint will be dry, just in time for the opening of KU's production of "1776." See story and photos, page 6.
Partly cloudy
High, upper 60s. Low, 40.
Details on page 3.
The University Daily
KANSAN
Vol. 95, No. 54 (USPS 650-640)
Thursday, November 8. 1984
Legislators consider effect of state GOP victories
By SUZANNE BROWN
Staff Reporter
Tuesdays the Republican victories in the Kansas House and Senate left some state congressmen surprised and uncertain of the impact the victories would have on the next election.
"That's not an insignificant gain for the Republicans," said State Rep. John Solbach, D-Lawrence. "The impact that the bigger majority might have gives one a little pause.
Democratic hopes for picking up seats in both houses died on election night, when results left the state Senate with its previous 24-16 Republican majority and gave the Republicans four more seats in the House of Representatives than they had in 1984
Republicans now have 77 House seats to the Democrat's, 48 seats.
"DEMOCRATS WILL STILL be an independent, principled group in the Legislature," said House Minority Leader Marvin Barkis, D-Louisburg. "But I'd be surprised if there weren't more gestures by Republicans in the House now toward more conservative, Reagan mandates."
"I'm afraid we'll see a more conservative Legislature," said State Rep. Jessie Branson, D-Lawrence. "I've been thinking and worrying about it."
Part of the Republicans' good fortune Tuesday came from races in which incumbents who were thought to be in trouble in their bids for re-election managed to win, sometimes in down-to-the-wire races, against Democratic challengers.
One such race was in the 11th District.
which includes a small portion of Douglas County, in which Republican State Sen. Jim Allen won 51 percent of the vote to beat his Democratic challenger, Darol Rodrock, who
IN THE 22ND District, which includes Junction City and Manhattan, Republican State Sen. Merrill Werts beat Democrat Rod Olsen by only 43 votes.
And in the 24th District, which includes Salina, Republican State Sen. Benn Vidricksen pulled away in a race that early returns indicated was neck-and-neck against Democrat Dan S. Geis, Vidricksen beat the challenger with 54 percent to 45 percent of the vote.
Democratic officials blamed these disappointments largely on the coasttial effect of President Reagan's landside victory over Walter Mondale.
State Sen. Joseph Norvell, D-Hays, said he was relieved the effect of Reagan's election hadn't done more damage.
"Considering that there was such a Republican landslide throughout the state, I think the Democrats did quite well in just maintaining our 16 seats," he said.
Barkis said many of the state races were determined by the national Reagan sweep.
"IT WAS VERY disappointing, considering how many good candidates we had," he said. "If there had not been such a huge turnout voting for Reagan, we would have picked up more Senate seats and probably more House seats."
However, State Rep. David Miller, R Eudora, discounted any contour effect upon state races, which he said were largely determined by local issues and personalities.
terrified by local issues this performance
"the coattail effect is baloney" he said
"The Democrats were just bragging too much about what wins they'd get."
Miller said Tuesday's results didn't necessarily indicate a session dominated by Rikkei.
"I see very little partisanship in Topeka," he said. "Proposals are usually weighed on their merit."
State Sen. Wint Winter Jr., R-Lawrence, said he was pleased that the new Senate membership, though maintaining its 24-16 majority, had less partisan than it had been in most sessions.
"WHAT WE'RE GOING to be is a much more moderate tone in the Senate," he said. "I think we'll be able to put aside this harsh rhetoric that has characterized past sessions."
See STATE, p. 5, col. 1
Percy's defeat opens important Senate post
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — Sen. Charles Percy's defeat in Illinois set off a chain reaction yesterday that could bedevil conservatives and make a liberal Republican, Sen. Charles Mathias of Maryland, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
The decision rests with Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, the apostle of Republican right-wing conservatives.
Percy was the third chairman of the Foreign Relations committee in recent times to lose his re-election campaign His predecessors, Frank Church of Idaho and William Fulbright of Arkansas both lost their re-election campaigns while chairman of the committee.
Percy, who lost his attempt to win a fourth term to Democratic Rep Paul Simon in Tuesday's election, has been chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee since the GOP captured control of the Senate in 1980.
NEOBILITY RULES IN the Senate, so the next in line for the chairmanship is Helms, fresh off an impressive re-election with a new six-year teage on his Senate seat.
There is little doubt that Helms, who is active in foreign affairs, would like to take the chairmanship of what is considered the Senate's most prestigious committee.
But during the campaign, Helms, aware that tobacco was an important North Carolina cash crop, promised his constituents he would not abandon the chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee, which he now holds.
As of today that decision stands, according to Claude Allen. Helm's press secretary. But he added that pressure was coming from both sides.
"From what I understand, he's staying with the Agriculture Committee." Allen said.
"That's pretty firm. He's staying with our farmers."
ALLEN ALSO SAID, "Senator Helms said during the first and second debate, and I believe he has said subsequently, that he will not take that job."
Terry Dolan, chairman of the National Conservative Political Action Committee, said he did not believe Helms would turn down the Foreign Relations position.
"I hope Senator Helms takes it," Dolan said at a news conference. "I think after a lot of soul searching he will decide that it is his duty to the country to take it — that he will go beyond what he may or may not perceive to be his duty to the people in North Carolina
Richard Viguerie, a prominent conservative fund raiser, said, "I think everybody who is conservative in America would like to see Sen. Helms as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee America would be sater and stronger with him as chairman.
IF HELMES KEEPS his campaign promise next in line for the position would be Sen Richard Lugar of Indiana, who fails politi cally between Perel and Helm.
But Lugar has set his sights on higher goals, specifically the post of Senate Republican leader and thinks he has a "potty tool" chance of winning.
Should he fail in that effort, Lugar would become chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
At a news conference, Lugar said, "The whole scenario of those selections is still before us."
If Helms keeps his promise and Lugar becomes Senate GOP leader, next in line is Mathias, a member of the Senate's small band of liberal Republicans.
Mathias had a chance to be chairman of the Judiciary Committee five years ago because he lacked the seniority of some conservatives. This year, only Helms and Lugar stand between him and a powerful chairmanship.
Celebrity write-ins vie for last place in races
BV CHRIS BARBER
Staff Reporter
Rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen tied for last in the race for Kansas' 44th District Representative, probably a result of his virtually ignoring Douglas County during the campaign.
Van Halen didn't make a race of it, and Democrat Jessie Branson won with more than 6,000 votes. Van Halen received one write-in vote.
The guitarist was not the only celebrity that write-in voters pulled into a lonely, hopeless race for office in 2016. Douglas County Clerk Patty James said was common in elections.
"I've been working with elections for years, and I've seen all kinds of things," Branson said. "Sometimes when this happens, you wonder if it was a protest vote. But usually it's just someone having fun."
"GUESS IT's a cute thing to do." James said. "It's not anything I would encourage, though. It sure slows down the counting process."
Branson said yesterday that although she was not aware of Van Halen's bid for her, she hadn't been invited.
Branson said she did not feel threatened by the support Van Halen received.
James said the county staff checked each write in name. If a vote is cast for a fictitious
Van Halen's vote was cast in the fourth precinct of the second ward of Lawrence, which encompasses the western half of campus and extends westward.
IN THE U.S. Senate race, Democrat Jim Maher was not the only challenger crushed by Nancy Kassebaum. The Rev Jesse Jackson, former Mr Universe Arnold Schwarzenegger and ex-Laugh In star Ruth Buzzie finished in a dead heat in what may have been the election's most exciting race for last place.
BUT LESS-THAN-STIFF competition arose late Tuesday night from singer Tina Turner. Turner was the choice of a voter in Lawrence's second precinct of the fourth ward, between Massachusetts Street and Delaware Street from 19th to 31st streets.
person, it is disallowed Otherwise, every vote is recorded, Jaimes said
Each received a single vote in the first precinct of the fifth ward in Lawrence, which runs approximately from 11th to Sixth streets, east of Massachusetts.
In another race, Democrat Sue Neusifter may have thought she was unopposed in her bid for the Douglas County register of deeds seat.
Neusifter said yesterday that Turner's vote probably came because she was worried.
She couldn't have been elected anyway
See WRITE-IN, p. 5, col. 3.
With storm window in hand, Jerry Harper, Douglas County District Attorney, steps off a ladder and on to the roof to put the window on a rental house he owns. Harper spent part of the day preparing for winter weather
Senate sends S. Africa bill to students
By JOHN HANNA
Staff Reporter
Students next week will decide whether student organizations will be able to use Student Senate money to buy products from companies that do business in South Africa.
The Senate voted last night to put a bill that it had passed minutes earlier up to a campuswide vote during Senate elections on Wednesday and Thursday.
If students vote in favor of the referendum, the bill will take effect. If students do not vote in favor of it or not enough students vote, the bill will not take effect.
Under Senate rules, 10 percent of the students enrolled, or about 2,400, must vote for a referendum to be valid.
Senators voted 12-11 in favor of a bill that prohibits student organizations from using Senate money to buy products from companies that do business in South Africa.
The Senate allocated more than $938,000 in student activity fees this spring for fiscal year 1983. Students pay a $24 fee along with their tuition at the beginning of each semester.
A ROLL CALL vote on the bill followed almost $2\frac{1}{2}$ hours of intense debate that included questions about the bill's effectiveness and legality.
Caria vogue, student body president, and Dennis "Boog" Highberger, student body vice president, were allowed to vote on the election of the President of Sepate rules. Usually they do not vote.
Highberger co-sponsored the bill with Chris Bunker, chairman of the Senate's temporary Committee on South Africa. Dedicated to the federal eminent speeches in favor of his bill.
The meeting was conducted despite the lack of a quorum of senators. However, no senator objected by officially asking that
"What we're doing is making a statement about South Africa." Bunker said. "I don't care how you pass it, but you've got to say something."
Bunker and the bill's supporters oppose South Africa's policy of apartheid, a form of racial segregation. In that country, blacks cannot vote.
See SENATE, p. 5, col. 1
Candidates line up for the'88 race
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — The battle for the 1988 presidential election began the moment President Reagan crushed Walter Mondale and, in the hearts and minds of some, even before that.
The fields for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations are sure to be crowded, with speculation during the next two years leading to an expected midterm election.
Only Reagan, by the Constitution,
and Mondale, banned by his lopsided defeat,
can be ruled out of the 1988 presidential
sweepstakes for the present
Reagan's nationwide landslide probably ends an era for the Democrats and sends them searching for a new breed of candidate who can revitalize their New Deal coalition, but, more importantly, broaden the base of the party.
B
ONLY TWO CANDIDATES who sought the nomination this year — Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson — are again potential candidates for 1988. But each has problems.
Hart, in his primary by primary tight with Mondale, proved he can draw a new element into the party, the younger independents who formed the core of his support. But Hart has to first decide whether to risk a run for re-election to the Senate.
A new group, already mentioned for 1988, will likely enter the field.
Rejection Jackson has a much different and more difficult hardie. He must show that his "Rainbow Coalition" contains more colors than just black — something he was unable to do this year.
The other 1984 Democratic candidates are now political relics. There will be no more presidential campaigns for John Glenn, Alan Cranston, Ernest Hollings, Reubin Askew and George McGovern.
Then there is Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, still far and away the biggest vote-getter the Democrats have. He lost to
AMONG THE POSSIBILITIES are New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, Dale Sempner of Arkansas, and Gov Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, a newly elected senator.
an incumbent, Jimmy Carter, in 1880 but spurred overtures to run before and
The favorite among the Republican candidates must be Vice President George Bush, the runaway choice of the GOP when there was a question whether Reagan would seek a second term, and in a poll for 1988 taken at the national convention.
But the 1984 campaign, in which Bush displayed a slavish loyalty to Reagan and backed off of some previously held positions, may have undercut the vice president with the more moderate elements of the party. In reality, the light has never trusted him and still does not.
IN LOOKING FOR a leader, the conservatives have several choices, including Rep. Jack Kemp of New York. Sen. Paul Laxalt of Nevada. Rep. Newt Gribchofgich of Georgia. Sen. Jesse Heims of North Carolina, and Rep. Phil McCormack, newly elected to the Senate from Texas.
Closer to the center are two candidates routed by Reagan in 1980 — retiring Senate Republican leader Howard Baker of Tennessee and Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas