A step closer
SINCE 1839
Jayhawks climb to No. 3 in latest UPI poll See page 9.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 1986, VOL. 96, NO. 94 (USPS 650-640)
Still cold Details page 3.
Lobbyists discuss the costs of drinks
Staff writer
By Abbie Jones
TOPEKA - Liquor lobbyists yesterday tackled the fine points of legislation restricting the sale of alcohol in private clubs.
Members of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee heard opposing testimony regarding a bill that prohibits private clubs to serve a drink for less than it costs the establishment. No action was taken on the bill, but a vote is expected later this week.
John Lamb, director of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said he favored the portion of the bill forbidding sales at less than cost because some club owners now offer penny pitchers, which essentially provide a "drink and drown" special. He also said that enforcement of the law would not be too difficult.
"We have a pretty good idea of what a drink costs a club. We have a pretty good idea of what a bottle or glass of beer costs," Lamb said. "If somebody gets totally out of line then it's very obvious that they are selling at below their acquisition costs."
The bill says selling a drink at a price less than that charged all other purchasers of drinks during that week is illegal. Legislation passed last year prohibits lowering the price of drinks below other prices charged during that day — essentially eliminating happy hours.
The new bill also prohibits the sale of more than one pitcher to one person at a time or while unconsumed drinks are still in the person's possession. The law now prohibits serving more than two drinks to one person at one time.
Lamb estimated that 90 percent of the clubs in Kansas were complying with present legislation and that 5 percent were violating the laws unintentionally. About 5 percent of the private clubs are a consistent problem and probably would violate the laws anyway, he said.
"There are a certain percentage of private clubs out there that no matter what you do you're going to have problems," he said.
R. E. "Tuck" Duncan, a lobbyist for the Kansas Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association, said the public needed to be educated about liquor and not subjected to more legislation.
Duncan distributed pamphlets and booklets for educating teenagers about alcohol and presented a recorded public-service announcement on liquor education by U.S. Sen. Nancy Kucsebaum, R-Kan.
“Are we going to say that those same events are now subject to the prohibition against serving more than two drinks at a time?” Duncan asked.
Duncan also said restaurants and country clubs had special functions and should be able to adjust drink prices as part of a package. At these functions, people also may pick up two or three drinks for their friends.
The Rev. Richard Taylor, director of Kansans For Life At Its Best!', a lobbying group, said a drinker wasn't capable of being educated when drunk.
"For 50 years, education has been the drug dealer," he said.
See DRINK, p. 5, col. 1
By Rob Karwath Special to the Kansan
Almost every weeknight,
Larry Brown sits at home
and plays with his favorite toy.
"We have one of those channel changers," his wife, Barbara, says, rolling her eyes and demonstrating her husband's click-click wizardry with her thumb. "The minute he gets home the TV comes on. He spends the rest of the evening watching basketball.
"Thank God we don't have a dish."
Welcome to life with Larry Brown. After a day of planning, worrying and coaching basketball for the third-ranked college team in the country, he's ready for yet another fix.
"Even when he's home he might as well be on the moon," says Barbara Brown. "Everything is basketball. He thinks it, he sleeps it, he eats it."
He knows it. And the New Yorker who once aspired to be a high school coach says he's happy with his life three years after chucking pro basketball and New Jersey for the college game and Kansas
"I feel comfortable," he says.
"That's probably the best word."
At 9 a.m. on a bright January morning, Larry Brown slips off his jean jacket and drapes it over a closet doorknob in his office. The day begins with a sip of coffee from a white Styrofoam cup and a
See COACH, p. 6, col. 1
Drinking law's critics cry foul
By Abbie Jones
Critics are calling it modern day prohibition.
Amendments to liquor laws now brewing in a House committee pose tougher restrictions on the sale of alcohol. Club owners say it's inconsistent and tough to enforce. But legislators hope to curb excessive drinking in clubs.
"There are a number of hard-line prohibitionists who want to see us even drier," said Ken Wallace, chairman of the board of the Kansas Club and Tavern Association.
Wallace, who also owns the Jayhawk Cafe, 1340 Ohio St., said the restrictions discouraged people from drinking in the bars and deny the state of tax revenue.
discourage investment in the state," Wallace said.
'Every restriction you're going to put on the business is going to'
John Lamb, director of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said the laws were designed to stop the abuse of liquor in clubs.
"We wouldn't have this legislation if people were responsible and not overly promoting excessive drinking." Lamb said.
A bill under consideration by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee prohibits the sale of drinks for less than it cost the establishment.
"That will essentially eliminate every special in the state," Wallace said. "There is basically nothing you could do to promote your business in terms of prices."
The proposal also says that no price can be set that is lower than that charged to all other buyers of drinks during that week and prohibits owners from selling liquor as part of a meal package.
Mike Kirsch, owner of Gammons,
1601 W. 23rd St., said the weeklong
provision would force club owners to
eliminate drink discounts during the
week. Bars would have to raise
prices because they couldn't survive on just the weekend revenue.
"To further tie our hands with an all weeklong price is a bad way to go," Kirsch said. "The price is going to have to be higher than most people's budget will allow.
"This is a free enterprise system, and we should have some flexibility in running our business."
Kirsch said the legislation eventually would drive people to coastal cities where legislation was not as tough and the social life was more exciting.
ple out of this state to the more cosmopolitan areas," he said.
The measure also says it is illegal to sell more than a pitcher to one person while there are unconsumed drinks in the person's possession.
"We're going to drive a lot of peo-
Ace Johnson, owner of the Sanctuary, 1401 W. Seventh St., said the laws wouldn't influence the amount people drink.
"People are going to consume what they want to consume," Johnson said. "Legislation like this isn't going to affect it at all."
Some of the bill's provisions would be difficult to enforce, Lamb said. ABC would have to rely on voluntary compliance of clubs or complaints from the clubs' competitors and patrons.
"We've always told the Legislature that it's difficult to enforce." Lamb said. "We'll do the best we can with what we've got."
Veteran journalist Thomas recalls four decades in D.C.
By Sandra Crider
Staff writer
When Helen Thomas stepped off the plane Sunday, her nails were painted a fiery red and her creased hands were covered with newspaper ink.
She laughed as she lifted her blackened palms and said, "Guess what I've been doing? I just finished reading the New York Times and the Washington Post."
Presidents since John F. Kennedy have seen their fates held in Thomas' hands because she can speak the words that release them from their trials.
For Thomas, it pays to keep those hands practiced and knowledgeable.
The president was trying to gracefully unite himself from an intricate, involved explanation about an issue that he evidently did not want to talk about.
The 65-year-old reporter visited the KU campus yesterday to take hold of a medallion for the 1986 William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit. The award has been given to distinguished journalists since 1950 as part of the celebration of the Feb. 10 birthday of William Allen White, renowned editor of the Emporia Gazette during the first half of this century.
She said the first time she spoke the magic words to Kennedy, she realized the power in them.
"When I saw that he was groping
Thomas, United Press International's White House bureau chief, has helped close presidential press conferences since 1962 with those few words.
"Thank you. Mr. President."
John Mashek, chief of correspondents for U.S. News and World Report, said Friday from Washington, "She's a professional, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
for words, I said, 'Thank you, Mr. President', and Kennedy said, 'No, thank YOU, Helen.'
Thomas, a native of Winchester, Ky., graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1942. She began at UPI in Washington writing radio news.
Her colleagues and competitors have classed her as top-notch, both in her tough reporting style and her personal generosity.
Mark Mohler/KANSAN
Thomas' hands seem to have a mind of their own when not attached to their familiar note pad and pen. Instead, they slice through the air to emphasize the words of her hoarse voice.
But if she detects business in the air, her eyes focus on their mark and her words are aimed accurately in short, forceful sentences.
"Not only is she outstanding as a journalist, but also as a person."
"They all promise an open administration. Then when they get into the White House, they decide it all belongs to them." Thomas said.
Thomas does seem to have two personalities. When chatting with those around her, her brown eyes gleam, her red-lipped smile is quick and her voice has a cheerful lilt.
She talked about the good intentions of presidents toward the press at the start of their terms compared to the trepidation that came with experience and mistakes.
Some presidents tried to woo the
press more than others. Lyndon Johnson took rejection particularly hard.
"LBJ would have given a press conference atop the Washington Monument if he thought it would help him win their support."
"After Nixon lost the gubernatorial race, he told the press. 'You're not going to have Richard Nixon to kick around anymore.' "
The crowd celebrating William Allen White Day stands in honor of Helen Thomas, winner of the William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit, after her acceptance speech. Thomas, United Press International's White House bureau chief, was at KU yesterday to accept the award.
Thomas said others did not try to hide their disguise.
Mashek said he never knew who Thomas' favorite president was because she treated every president the same.
She does, nevertheless, have her tastes. Kennedy is at the top of her list, she said.
Thomas said Nixon always was trying to blame the media for his failures.
"I thought that he was inspired. He tried to urge young people into public service. He was all hope for a better world," she said.
Then, of course in 1969, he became president.
But, as Mashek said, she does not allow her preferences to get in the way of her work. She treats all presidents alike.
Many members of the press have become more like Thomas and less like servants paying homage to the White House since Nixon's fall from grace.
She said post-Watergate reporters tended to be more skeptical and tried to prove herself.
"They're all human beings. I don't put them on a pedestal, but I also think they should be treated fairly and objectively."
Thomas gained national recognition during the Watergate era because the wife of Attorney General John Mitchell, Martha Mitchell, chose to divulge privileged information to Thomas over the telephone.
Frank Cormier, former Associated Press White House bureau chief and keeper of the magic press conference words until his retirement, admitted he had been scooped often by Thomas during Watergate.
"She drove me crazy with all the phone calls she was getting from Martha." Cormier said.
Always being there to capture the story is just a part of doing a job that, for Thomas, isn't work.
Despite spending more than 40 years as a reporter in Washington, Thomas said, she thought she had not accomplished anything.
And if Thomas has her way, that last judgement will be a long, long time in coming.
"It's a constant striving to do a better job. You're only as good as your last story."
Although she may sometimes work 18 hours a day, she said, it was worth it because she had an "orchestra seat to instant history."
When asked whether she was considering retirement, her fist came down on an emphatic "No."
Celebration pays tribute to journalist
Staff writer
White, whose name adorns the School of Journalism, attended the University of Kansas before becoming the editor-publisher of the Emporia Gazette in 1895.
A few hundred journalists and friends gathered on the KU campus yesterday to remember the strong, but simple values of William Allen White on the 118th anniversary of his birth.
By Sandra Crider
Del Brinkman, dean of journalism,
said. "William Allen White stood for
some very basic values that stand the
relevant." He did well practice
what he prepared."
In 1922, White wrote an editorial,
"To an Anxious Friend," that won him a Pulitzer prize. The piece affirmed the rights of people on strike and the freedom of others to defend them.
Throughout his career, the renowned journalist defended freedom of expression, Brinkman said, and a year after his death in 1944, the William Allen White Foundation was formed to preserve that belief.
Foundation trustees meet every year on White's birthday to remind themselves of the basics, to discuss business and to give awards to distinguished journalists who exemplify White's dedication to the profession. Brinkman said.
"It really allows all of us to renew our commitment to freedom of expression and to the freedom of the press, and those are sometimes things that get lost in the shuffle these days," he said.
The foundation presented two
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See WHITE, p. 5, col.1