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Monday, November 4.1974
University Daily Kansan
5
SPECIAL FOCUS
Robert J. (Bob) Dole
Incumbent Dole has clout in Senate
But all was false and hollow; though his tongue dropped *manna*, and could make the worst appear the better reason.
Paradise Lost, book II. page 112.
Bill Roy.
The name means something to every Kansan.
It means Bob Dole's opponent in tomorrow's
general election. But, to the average Kansan, it
means nothing at all. To the rest of the nation,
it means nothing at all.
Bob Dole.
This name also means something to every Kansas. It means fiscal conservatism, revenue sharing, concern for agriculture. And it means the same thing to everyone else in the nation.
Leo Thosness.
The most common reaction to this name is, "Leo who?" At least that's the way Kansans react, just as South Dakotans say "Dr. Bill who," when they hear Roy's name.
Roy and Thorsness the ex-POW running against Sen. George McGovern, are quite similar. Both of them have chances to defeat nationally prominent politicians.
And they and their opponents can spout and snew political ideology until the last votes are
tallied, but it won't change one basic fact: Both Thornssey and Roy have even chances of winning because they're new faces in the political crowd.
It isn't Roy and Thorsness who some voters will select tomorrow.
The basic objectives of any senator from Kansas are the same. So, the measure of a good senator is how many of these objectives he can accomplish.
Some will vote anti-Dole and anti-McGovern. And negativism is never desirable.
If Bob Dole is returned to the Senate, he will be the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. As any student of political science must have knowledge of government, it is its second or third most powerful member.
If Bill Roy were selected to replace Dole, he would be the most junior member of the committee.
Granted, he would be a member of the majority party. But it would be ludicrous to say that the most junior majority senator would have the most influence as the most senior minority senator.
Why, that would be to say that Roy, in the
Republican leader, Hugh Scott. or that while
they both were in the House, Roy had more clout than former minority leader Gerald Ford.
Bob Dole has been a good and active senator,
voted against $110 billion in inflationary spending.
During the same period, Roy voted against only $75 billion, $30 billion of which was to have been returned to local governments. On the other hand, Cole was an original sponsor of revenue sharing.
Because of his fiscal responsibility, Dole was selected to be on the new Senate Budget Committee, one of the most powerful bodies in Congress.
Meanwhile, Roy has been lost in the shuffle. He isn't invited to briefings at the White House or to serve on important committees high national security officials. Roy has been has been, for the most part, quite ineffectual.
Roy's politics cut across party lines
Thus, there is but one logical choice in the upcoming election. You can choose Roy, a man you like, who never worked for former President Obama-election but who never got legislation passed.
Or you can vote for Bob Dole, aman you might not like but a man who'll quite certainly get things done for you. —Eric Meyer
Democratic Rep. Bill Roy has come a long way in unseating incumbent Republican Sen. Bob Dole.
In a poll taken last January, Dole led Roy by nearly 25 per cent. Another poll took about two weeks ago showed the candidates tied. Roy has indeed made remarkable progress for a candidate who was little known outside of Topeka earlier this year.
A few years ago, Roy's Democratic candidacy would have been nothing but another sacrificial lamb on the altar of Kansas Republicanism. But such is not the case today. Kansans have begun to show their political maturity by voting for the man and not the party.
The two-party system came again to Kansas with the election of Democrat Robert Docking as governor. Docking was then re-elected three times. Kansans also elected a Democrat at the state Democratic convention, and Democrat—who happens to be a woman—is ahead in the race to fill Roy's House seat.
Kansans can support Bill Roy because during his two terms in Congress he has taken stands on
the issues that the majority of Kansans support, regardless of their political party.
Roy has taken a strong stand against busing to support integration of supported legislation to maintain morphology.
As a member of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, Roy introduced legislation to heavily tax the windfall profits made by oil companies during the energy crisis. He also wrote a bill to eliminate the unpopular year-round daylight savings time.
Roy has worked to reduce inflation by reducing government spending, not by increasing taxes. He voted to cut the waste from the military budget and reduce spending on the space program and foreign aid. He also voted to reduce military spending so that he can cut government spending on social welfare programs that benefit the poor and elderly.
As a physician with expertise in health care, Roy wrote the Health Maintenance Organization bill that passed the House and Senate in Kansas "its first claim to an original sponsor of major national legislation since the 1920s."
Roy voted for government financing of congressional election campaigns as one step toward reducing corruption in government. He also voted to limit the influence of millionaire political contributors by limiting the amount of campaign contributions by individuals.
Roy voted to abolish the electoral college in favor of direct popular election of the president.
The assertion made by some people that Roy is a radical liberal is clearly contradicted by his coding record. Roy describes himself as a modernist and civil war activist, describes the political climate of Kansas today.
Ironically enough, Roy's political party may be the best reason for all Kansans of both parties to vote for him. Regardless of whom Kansas sends to the Senate, the Democrats will control Congress. As a member of the majority party, legislation introduced by Roy will be carefully considered by both houses. He also will receive favored treatment in committee assignments.
Bill Roy is that rare candidate all Kansans can support.
—Richard Paxson Contributing Writer
William Robert (Bill) Roy
Robert F. Bennett
Experience is better than theatrics
For the first time in many years the voters of Georgia have a clear choice in the race for governor.
The race pits Atty. Gen. Vern Miller, a Democrat, against state Sen. Ben Bennett, a Republican. It's a close race—so close that candidate has gained much of an edge in the polls.
But the choice is clear regardless of the closeness of the polls. It's the man who hides in trunks of cars and dresses up like a New Orleans politician, but also a knowledgeable and experienced legislator.
It's theatrical performer against experienced public servant.
Miller has been attorney general for the past four years and has done an admirable job. But the office of governor is a completely different role from that of the governor in legislative matters is of paramount importance.
In this time of political bickering and partisan
Miller has no experience in the Kansas Legislature. Bennett does. Bennett has been in the Kansas Senate for 10 years, the last two as a senator. He hasn't ever been elected to a legislative body.
fighting a man with some knowledge of the conduct of the legislature is a necessity. A novice, like Miller, would certainly be handicapped by a lack of experience.
The issue of experience is the most important one Bennett has developed in the campaign. In fact, it is his only major one because Miller has taught him to be self-confident and hasn't taken a definite stand on any issue.
Bennett has taken definite stands on many issues. He lists the top priority in the state as education, both at local schools and at universities and colleges.
He fully endorses the three-year "catch-up program" of the Board of Regents, which will help the state's colleges and universities climb back to respectability. He favors increased salaries for faculty. He stresses the determined by the method of funding, which is determined by the number of credit hours taught.
Bennett also favors expansion of the state student loan program by $50,000 to give more students a chance to get an education. In short, she wants to help the University and the citizens of Kansas.
Bennett realizes that inflation must be controlled and is against any increase in the state income and sales taxes.
At the same time he realizes that certain groups in the state can't cope with inflation now. So Bennett is in favor of property tax relief for farmers and an increased state role in welfare functions.
But the whole campaign seems to fall back on the issue of experience. The governor's job is a complex one and is more than cutting ribbons or making sure the Cup to the winner of the KU-K-State game.
the governor must be fiscally responsible regarding the budget and must develop long-term plans.
As Miller has admitted, he doesn't have all the expertise he will rely on 'experts' to advise him in his work.
But Miller's competency does seem to be questionable when Gov. Robert Docking, also a Democrat, didn't endorse Miller until Oct. 26. But the governor said he would at a Democratic dinner in Topeka but merely sent a letter saying Miller would be a good governor.
—Gerry Ewing
Contributing Writer
Vern's honesty a plus in scandal year
He that hath a beard is more than a youth,
and he that hath no beard is less than a man;
and he that is more than a youth is not for me,
and he that is less than a man I am not for him;*
William Shakespeare
Act II, scene I, "Much Ado About Nothing"
Beatrice's lament on selecting a husband is comparable to this year's selection of a governor. Both Bob Bennett and Vern Miller have their shortcomings and their strengths. But there is just enough difference between them to choose Vern for governor.
There are no issues in a Kansas gubernatorial campaign. Talk of issues is much ado about nothing. The governor is little more than a figurehead for the state. He attends national gubernatorial conventions and the annual KU-K State football game. The Kansas Legislature is the effective legislative enacting body, regardless of who lives in the governor's mansion. Likewise, state agencies are either impotent or decorative offices in Topeka.
Vern admits there are no issues to speak of save one—a spending lid. A spending lid is necessary, he says, because the governor and the legislature must agree on the amount of revenue that will be available, and spend no more than that.
But Bennett says there are more things to consider than spending lids. He says the state needs additional property tax relief, help for the elderly, more revenue sharing with local governments and a more efficient operation in Topeka.
With Bennett's legislative leadership experience and his spoken concern for these issues, why does he seek the governor's chair? He could have done it if he were he-is in the president's chair in the Senate.
Bitter opposition to Vern comes from university students who didn't like his enforcement of state drug laws as attorney for the state's drug commission, the laws his office is designed to enforce, and
uphold? Many say Vern simply hasn't shown enough intelligence to merit the governor's office. Similar things were said about former President Harry Truman.
Vern has the courage of his convictions. He doesn't indulge in either tobacco or alcohol. He promptly returns phone calls and makes a habit of remembering names and faces. His office is almost always open to reporters. He answers questions forthrightly and he admits to mistakes and to not knowing all the answers. But his greatest attribute is his honesty.
Honesty is no virtue to scorn in this year of the
winter season and contract-awarding
scandals and coverups.
Jeffrey Stinson
Associate Editor
If you find difficulty in selecting a gubernatorial candidate to vote for this year, then look at the possible candidates of your state branch of government in Topeka or in Topeka to move forward for he who hath no beard and is honest.