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University Daily Kansan Friday, March 1, 1963
Don't Just Talk-Vote
Most socially-conscious persons agree that for democracy to function in a manner that reflects the wishes of the people, the voters must be informed and must express their wishes by ballot.
At times there have been complaints from the faculty that the "downtowners" treat them as outcasts of the community. The "downtowners" (whoever they are) complain that the University family—students and faculty—do not carry their fair share of responsibility in community work.
TO SOME degree at least, the faculty does not do all that it could to improve the community and the downtowners react by treating the University family as outcasts.
Any question as to which side must bear the greatest responsibility is pointless. But if the members of the University family do want a more active voice in community affairs, a golden opportunity is at hand; the city election April 2.
Three issues will be decided April 2; (1) three positions on the City Commission; (2) three positions on the Lawrence Board of Education, and (3) whether a badly needed municipal swimming pool will be built at Broken Arrow Park for $195.000.
BUT TO BE eligible to vote April 2, you must
Since the City Clerk's office will be open until 9 o'clock every night except Saturday and Sunday, no one can honestly say that he cannot find time to register.
register before City Hall closes March 8 at 9 p.m. And no one—again, no one—has any excuse for not registering. The only days that City Hall will be closed before March 8 are this coming Saturday and Sunday.
City Clerk Harold Fisher said yesterday that 7,000 of the estimated 12,000 who are eligible to vote have registered. That leaves about 5,000 who can take the easy way out of the swimming pool dilemma, sit down, wring their hands and cluck, "What a sad state of affairs!!"
Don't do it, members of the University family — register before March 8 and vote April 2.
This does not mean that ALL the faculty, or for that matter even a majority, have not carried their weight in the community; nothing could be more incorrect.
BUT IF THERE is an eligible voter reading this who has ever complained about the sad fact that Lawrence has no swimming pool, now is the time for him to try to do something about it.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
Terry Murphy
Romney's Presidential Chances Slim For 1964
By Jerry Musil
The No.1 man in American Motors has also become the No. 1 man in Michigan, and possibly in national Republican politics.
George Romney climaxed a startling rise in Michigan politics by being elected the first Republican governor in 14 years. Now he is being heralded as a possible Republican standard bearer in 1964.
ROMNEY FIRST received public acclaim when he brought the practically bankrupt American Motor Company (Rambler manufacturer) from a $7 million deficit in 1954, when he assumed the presidency of the firm, to a $48.2 million profit in 1960.
Following his success at American Motors (now number four in the motor car industry behind General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler) Romney began to show an interest in public affairs. In 1958, he, with the help of the League of Woman Voters, organized the Citizens for Michigan.
The Citizens movement was a non-partisan organization designed to work for a constitutional convention to update the state's Constitution. He easily won a seat as delegate in a predominantly Democratic suburb of Detroit, his first success as a voter getter.
IT WAS AT the constitutional convention that Romney's Republican coloration began to show. He has an extreme distrust of a concentration of power, whether it be in business, labor or government.
He feels that private power tends to dislocate and inhibit the effectiveness of state and local urban government and to encourage greater reliance on the expanding powers of the federal government.
In a speech to the convention, he said. "Our state and urban governments need their shackles removed. Most states — 39 of them — are living with antique constitutions that make a mockery out of state and city government and make it virtually impossible for the people to rely on the governmental processes closest to them. Certainly a basic reason for the reaching of the people toward Washington is their consciousness of the weakness of most state and city governments."
ROMNEY CONTINUED to remain aloof from partisan politics. In 1958 he refused to run for the Senate on the Republican ticket, enhancing the image of the conscientious, non-partisan citizen.
In 1960, his Republican beliefs were clear, but he was careful
Daily Transan
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NEWS DEPARTMENT
Fred Zimmerman Managing Editor
Ben Marshall, Bill Sheldon, Mike Miller,
Art Miller, Margaret Cathecart Assistant Managing
Assistant Managing Editors
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Dennis Branstiter Editorial Editor
Terry Murphy Assistant Editorial Ed.
Assistant Managing Editors
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Editorial Editor Editorial Editor
Jack Cannon, Business Manager; Jim Stevens, Assist. Business Mgr.; Mike Carson, Advertising Mgr.; Joanne Zabornik, Circulation Mgr.; Brooks Harrison, Classified Mgr.; Bob Brooks, National Adv. Mgr.; Charles Hayward, Promotion Mgr.; Bill Finley, Merchandising Mgr.
to stay away from the Old Guard label. He saw his duty as the force to unify the strongly conservative rural and small town Republicans and the growing bloc of moderate Republicans in suburban Detroit.
HE WAS RAISED in Mormon communities in Idaho and Utah. He is an early riser and has followed a life-long rule against smoking, drinking, (including coffee and tea) and swearing. He is president (archbishop) of the Michigan State (diocese) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, because his parents had been run out of the United States by religious prejudice against Mormons. He later left Mexico for the same reason.
His religious background has tempered his thoughts about government. He believes the Constitution is divinely originated and cites Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion, in Section 101 of the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As a young man, he was a secretary to Sen. David I. Walsh, Democratic senator from Massachusetts, and later became a lobbyist for Alcoa (Aluminum Company of America). In wartime he served with the Automotive Council for War Production.
REPUBLICAN ROMNEY
wants more than labor reform. He opposes excessive concentration of power in government and business as well as labor.
In an appearance before the Kefauver committee in 1958, he proposed both labor and business legislation. Romney's target is not bigness in business but simply what he views as the excessive concentration of power within particular industries and its paralyzing effect on competition.
Business power would be diffused through anti-trust "split-offs" into new enterprises whenever a company commanded more than 35 per cent of the market in one basic industry.
PAYMENT OF THE capital gains tax would be postponed at the time of transfers so that the company would not be penalized for its success. The tax would be payable later when stock was sold.
At the same time, "national" labor organizations spanning a number of companies in the same industry could no longer bargain on an industry-wide basis. though "affiliated unions representing employees of a single large company regardless of size" would be permitted to do so.
If Romney's proposed business legislation becomes law, General Motors and Ford would be affected by the 35 per cent ruling, and both car manufacturers are competitors of American Motors.
THE SPLITTING of industrywide bargaining would place tremendous responsibility on local unions, a responsibility they may not be prepared to assume.
Romney's one weakness as a possible Presidential candidate is his negative approach to foreign policy. He has never concerned himself with the question of foreign aid, but he recently sketched a Romney-styled foreign aid program.
The centerpiece would be an "international bridge" patterned after his experience with American Motor's interest abroad. American Motors enters into a "partnership" arrangement with locally-owned plants. Thus, instead of the government working with the foreign government, it would work directly with private industries or give the funds to American industrialists to work with the foreign industries.
HE IAS NO use for the past foreign aid programs pursued by the Republican and Democratic administrations. Government-to-government loans promote statism, he says. He believes that the United States is moving in the wrong direction by encouraging "political tyranny and central economic control." This is where his "bridge" concept comes into view. The United States has to show that our way of "no state control" is best.
He said the U.S. foreign aid program is "wasting resources" and is taking a "shotgun approach to the world." He said the United States should restrict foreign aid to those countries "responsive" to our suggestions on the best course for their economic development. But he recognizes that "we can't wait for everyone to conform to our image."
Romney, in his first budget message to the Michigan Legislature, proposed a budget with a surplus which would be used to pay off the state's debt. His budget, to the chagrin of educators, would allow Michigan colleges and universities to operate at their present levels and still take care of an expected influx of 5,500 students.
DISSOLUTION OF the state's debt has been hampered by a Democratic governor's programs being defeated by the rural, conservative Republican Legislature. Romney should have better luck in having his proposals passed.
Romney could very easily be the Republican "sacrifice" in the 1964 Presidential campaign. But the actions of both Romney and President Kennedy will have to be considered before a Republican nominee is chosen.
But if a "sacrifice" is needed, Romney would be the logical choice. He has voter appeal: he showed that in 1962. He just might pull off an underdog victory despite his lack of experience in politics and foreign affairs.
If he did lose, the loss would not be too great to the GOP. There are other, more attractive candidates in the Republican fold for 1968.
But if elected, Romney could grow in the office. He is undoubtedly an intelligent man with the wisdom to know his limitations. He is too American to accept the nomination if he thought he would win and not be an effective President. George Romney should prove to be a good governor, but may be limited as far as the Presidency is concerned.