Sioux City Journal from Sioux City, Iowa • 4

As in 1970 Elections, Pocketbook Still Major Issue By Sylvia Porter -Monday. July 10, 1972 (Ifln mxx QXtlg 3mmtni AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER Established as a veekly August 25, 1S64. Daily edition founded by Geo. D. Perkia April 19, 1870.

The Sioux City Tribune founded by John C. Kelly, January 1, 1S50. The Sioux City Journal-Tribune combined December 29, 1941. SIOUX CITY NEWSPAPERS, INC Publishers, Fifth and Douglas Streets, Sioux City, Iowa 51102 MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS: Tba Associated Press is entitled, exclusively, to the use for republication of all news printed in this newspaper, as well as all Associated Press sews dispatches. Today's Bible Verse Fight the good fight of faith.

I Timothy 6:12. life is a battle. The one question left for me to decide is, Will I fight on the right or the wrong side in the battle of life. 3 I II a 1 .1 PI MC 1 -I i 5 1 worker with three dependents, your spendable weekly earnings average pay after deduction for federal income and Social Security taxe9 is a record $118.77 against $96.74 at the beginning of '69, an increase of $22.03, or 22.3 per cent. But your real spendable earnings the purchasing power of your after-tax dollars is up from $90.67 to $95.24.

Your real gain in this entire MIAMI "The gut issue Is going to be the pocketbook issue." This Inelegantly phrased judgment of AFL-CIO president George Meany turned out to be a spectacularly accurate forecast of the 1970 elections; it could turn out even more so In 1972. And by 'pocketbook," Meany wasn't referring to the fancy economics which will befuddle many of the raucous sessions of the Democrats here this week the ranking of national priorities, redistribution of our incomes, tax reform, minimum income grants. For to the vast majority of Americans, the pocketbook Issue is your paycheck and your cost of living about as un-fancy and as close to the reality of everyday living as you can get. HOW, THEN, DOES the pocketbook issue shape up after almost four years with a Republican in the White House? This is how: If you are a typical U.S. worker, your gross weekly earnings are now up to an all-time average of $133.21 against $110.33 when Nixon became President In January 1969.

That's a hefty increase of $22.88 a week, or 20.7 per cent. But in real dollars meaning after adjustment for Increases In consumer prices since the base period of 1967 your pay has risen from $103.40 at the in Question Raft Regatta what had been a magnificently functioning economy into a nightmare of inflation. AND BY THEMSELVES, these few figures underline the extent to which inflation has under the GOP as under the Democrats continued to make a mockery out of the apparent rise in our incomes. No amount of rhetoric by anyone can hide this. But what about the record since Nixon "adopted" the Democrats' policies and shifted to price-wage controls in August 1971? In real pay, the worker with" three dependents has gained 2.2 per cent in the past 11 months in comparison w'th a gain of 2.8 per cent in the 30 Nixon months preceding wage-price controls.

An improvement but hardly great. In real pay, the single worker has gained 2 per cent in these 11 months of wage-price freeze and then controls, against a rise of 4.6 per cent In the much' longer pre-control period. Scarcely an improvement to shout about OF COURSE, THE pocket-book issue is not cutand-drled and it couldn't ever be in a na tion so diverse as ours. But at. this kickoff date for the '72 campaign, it's shaping up on the side of those who can criticize and claim they could have and would have done far better.

In economic terms, the Nixon Administration of 19 69-73 divides into two distinct eras pre-controls to August 1971 and post-controls since then. Here is the rise in both spans of the real pay of the married bread" winner and the single worker, 't Field EnttrorlM Inc.) have to cancel the race unless, the Coast Guard and the Game and Parks Commission ease their requirements. Both the Coast Guard and the Commission properly stressed the safety factor in specifying a daylight run. Willard Barbee, Commission director, expressed concern about the turbulence on the big river, particularly at the end of barges and near rock pilings. He is right.

The Missouri River is a tough taskmaster. It can be dangerous even for veteran rivermen and even more so for neophytes in rubber rafts. It is well, we believe, that authorities are emphasizing the safety elements well in advance of the Labor Day start Perhaps in the meantime a way will be found to conduct the regatta under circumstances that will rule out potential danger areas. At least we hope so. Last year's Great Missouri River Raft Regatta, featuring more than 230 teams, was a highly interesting and exdting sports event The winning raft made the distance on the rugged river in 15 hours.

Others finished in 24 or more hours. Plans for the 1972 race, scheduled for tabor Day weekend, however, have hit a couple of snags well in advance of takeoff. Two official bodies the U.S. Coast Guard and the State of Nebraska's Game and Parks Commission won't sanction the event unless it Is conducted in daylight hours. The promoter, Harry J.

maintains it is impossible to hold the race in daylight hours because of the running time required between Sioux City and Omaha. He indicated he probably would span has been only $4.57, a modest 5 per cent IF YOU'RE A typical worker with no dependents, your spendable weekly pay is up to $109.47, a full $21.26 over your spendable earnings in '69. But, once again, your real spendable earnings have risen only $5.49 in almost four years to a total of $87.79, an increase of 6.7 per cent. This is the sort of breakdown which dramatizes more than thousands of words why so many millions of voters feel they have been In a never-ending squeeze despite Nix- on's assurances that if elected in 1968, he would bring back economic stability in the U.S This is the reason, expressed ki simple statistics, why so many Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the way our economy has been performing since the Vietnam escalation began in 1965 and helped to transform 1 6iilrlbuto4 by IX Tmn tyndital idea I'm split?" "Where do people get the Buchwald Barbs: Here's Scenario for Convention Service in Lieu of Fines start of the Nixon Administration to $106.82 now. THAT'S AN Improvement of only $3.42, or a mere 3.3 per cent in nearly four years.

That ojut to a picayune yearly gain of less than 1 per cent. If you're a typical married By Art BucfiwaM tmtth Jm In Spite of Wooing, McGovern's Main Problem Labor placing girls and women at an Oakland park with children. Later she sought the help of a volunteer organization to set up a system referring men and women, young and old, to hospitals, recreation centers, schools and other organizations needing workers for jobs ranging from stuffing envelopes to repairing sophisticated machinery. Results? About 75 per cent of those receiving public service fines successfully completed their assignment The remaining 25 per cent did not And the judge, in such cases, could levy a fine or jail sentence if warranted. We agree with" Judge Taber's assessment: "We mustn't forget that crime and the court system are everybody's business.

We must all judges and private citizens alike work together for a better society." Judge Taber is to be commended for her enlightened approach to punishment. It has demonstrated beyond question of doubt that there are more constructive penalties than paying monetary fines or serving time in Jan. By I Marianne I Means I A novel experiment in which a California judge levied public service instead of fines or jail sentences has worked so well that today, six years after its innovation, it is being used nationwide. It is an example of good thinking that has helped improve society. Judge Jacqueline Taber, who initiated the plan, explained that it became apparent to her that there often was discrimination in the courts: Men were more apt to be jailed than women; poor people more often incarcerated than those with money to pay fines.

"A fine doesn't always do any good, especially if the offender is from en affluent family," the Judge said. Considering the function of the municipal court to be primarily one of rehabilitation one that brings people to realize the significance of their acts and responsibility for them she realized that something else was needed. For a start, she turned to a program the court had been sponsoring for some time in which young men under 18 worked out the fine picking up litter with the parks department She expanded the program, The second and third ballots found no one budging. By the 10th ballot of Wednesday's all-night session, the convention was hopelessly deadlocked. THE STATE delegations caucused right on floor, trying to get people to change their minds.

But it was impossible. On NBC, John Chancellor and David Brinkley became short-tempered and refused to talk to each other. Howard K. Smith and Harry Reasoner on ABC were also not speaking to each other, and on CBS, Walter CronMte wasn't talking to himself. It was obvious to everyone in WASHINGTON Everyone has his own scenario for this week's Democratic National Convention.

The way things have been going with the party, one scenario has as much validity as the next. This is the one that I have written and if it comes true, remember, you read it here. It is the fourth day of the convention and the Democrats have been unable to decide on a presidential candidate. The fight to seat delegations has taken up three days and those people who were ruled ineligible have refused to give up their seats to those who were officially designated as delegates to the convention. ALMOST EVERY state delegation has two people sitting in every chair.

No one dares leave the floor' for fear that someone will grab his seat. When someone tries to speak he is hooted down by the opposition faction. Larry O'Brien, the chairman of the party, has the podium ringed with the National Guard so no one can grab the microphone. THE NOMINATION speeches have not been heard, but the candidates have been nominated McGovern, Humphrey, Wallace, Chisholm, Jackson and Muskie. There have been no demonstrations for the candidate in the hall because everyone is afraid if he gets up and marches they wont let him back in his saction again.

ON THE FIRST ballot McGovern picked up 1,234 votes, well shy of the 1,509 he needed. The rest were split between the other candidates with the uncommitted refusing to vote for anyone. and out of the convention hall that a conipromise candidate had to be found one who had not already been nominated. BUT WHO? The Democratic party leaders caffl a recess behind the podium. They argue and thrash it out for several, hours.

The only man whose name is proposed as the compromise candidate is a very famous, but conitroversial, figure on the American scene. He has announced many times that he is not a candidate for the presidency or the vice presklency, and has said under no conditions would he accept a draft. Yet, the leaders argue he is the one person who can save the party. THIS YOUNG MAN, whose name had been associated with a very embarrassing incident is a household word now. Because of the deadlock at the convention, he is the only one who can possibly beat Nixon in November.

The compromise candiidate is not at the convention. He has purposely stayed away so people would believe he was not interested in the nomination. O'Brien puts in a call to him. Everyone, in' turn, gets on the phone and tells Mm he has to be the candidate. THE COMPROMISE candidate speaks to George McGovem, Humphrey, Muskie and Wallace.

They urge him to run. The candidate finally agrees to a draft and says he will take the next plane to Miami. And that's how Bobby Fischer, the U.S. chess champion, became the Democratic presidential nominee for 1972. (t Lot AnmlM TlmMl WASHINGTON At the moment, the support that organized labor is inclined to give Sen.

George McGovern during the presidential campaign ranges from nothing to hardly anything. Top brass of the AFL-CIO gathered recently at a garden party dn home of Andrew Biemiller, labor's chief national lobbyist. The evening's activities included a long and heated -arpment among guests about what course labor should take after McGovern's apparently inevitable presidential nomination. Significantly, no one present argued that the AFL-CIO should knock itself out for McGovern because a Democrat would be a better deal in the White House than President Nixon. AFL-CIO chief George Meany's advisers were divided on whether to offer McGovern token support or ignore him to concentrate upon helping friendly Democratic senators and congressmen.

Those in favor of tokenism contended it was necessary to give McGovern a small boost to prevent him from pulling down Democratic congressmen when he lost. INCLUDED IN THE discussion, besides Biemiller, were James Gilday, Meany's administrative assistant, and Alexander Barkan, director of amp labor's Comimittee on Political Education, its campaign arm. Meany himself did not participate, although his antipathy to McGovern is well known. The AF-CIO Executive Council will not meet until the end of August to decide officially what to do. Only two of the AFL-CIO's 10 largest unions have indicated publicly they can be happy with McGovern.

The council will probably extend Its formal endorsement to McGovern, but the money and manpower it is willing to commit are obviously something else again. MCGOVERN HAS MADE several tentative efforts to patch up his poor relationship with organized labor leaders, but he has not been successful. He also has made two mistakes that further irritated labor. He appointed, as an unofficial liaison with labor, former Secretary of Labor Willard Wirtz, who just happens to be Meany's idea of the worst Labor secretary in 20 years. And he hinted that a suitable replacement, if one were needed, for Democratic National Committee Chairman Lawrence O'Brien might be Utah National Committeewoman Jean West-wood.

"That one really sent Barkan up a tree," an informed labor insider said. During last fall's Democratic party fight over selection of a temporary credentials committee chairman, Barkan pushed for Pat Harris, and Mrs. Westwood supported Sen. Harold Hughes. AT THE TIME, Mrs.

West-wood was widely quoted privately as denouncing tired old labor hacks. She was also quoted in the Washington Post as saying she was urged to All About Everything By L. M. Boyd Drink at Noon -Kicks Harder C7 switch from Hughes to Mrs. Harris by a labor representative so confused he did not know the correct name of eithef the persons or the committee.

"He asked me to vote for 1Mrs. Black' for chairmanship of the rules committee," Mrs. West wood said (Mrs. Harris is a black). Barkan did not think Mrs.

Westwood described the conversation accurately. THE LIST OF grievances between McGovern and organized labor leaders is long, and includes both strong policy differences and bruised egos. But when it gets right down to it, they need each other. Meany has vowed repeatedly to sea that Nixon is defeated. And lack of support in industrial states could cost McGovern heavily in November.

Necessity ia often the mother of compromise, and so they, may get together yet. McGovern might be able to soothe Meany's ruffled feathers if he just sat down with him and promised to listen to his advice. Wording of the party platform is another area of accommodation; so Is giving labor a veto over, or a hand In, the choice of a vice presidential candidate. But If McGovem is to have much meaningful help from big labor in the fall, he has his work cut out to get it. fl Klna FeoturtO THOSE scientists who make a 9tudy of of said chiefs were selected by the women liquor troubles say the human body is least of their tribes, not the men.

able to cope with alcohol at noon, best aDie around 8 o'clock in the evening. A drink at lunch, they aver, kicks a lot harder than a dinnertime nip. Remember that From Behind Scenes, John Mitchell Still Running Nixon's Show ATLANTIC CITY'S boardwalk was not so named because it, was made of boards. Started out as Boardman's Walk, the brainchild of a railroad conductor named Alexander Boardman. Time it.

FACT THE law in North Carolina requires twin beds in motels to be at least two feet apart was reported. What wasn't reported is this legal distance is generally referred to by attorneys thereabouts now as the lover's leap. q. "Who said, 'bachelors' wives and old maids' children are always perfect'?" ANY YOUNG lady who wants to inspire her gentleman friend to propose matrimony might consider this. The experts on color psychology contend she ought to wear something red, if the old boy is particularly shy, but something white, if he's especially aggressive.

AM ASKED to name the country's first circus. -That was Rickett's, probably. In Philadelphia. In 1792. Or so it states in the record book at hand.

Wasn't that the outfit whereat a trapese artist introduced tights by putting on a performance in his red Cannel underwear after his uniform failed to show up from the cleaners? Believe so. MAYBE YOU DIDN'T know your hair, if any, contains gold. Just 430 parts per billion, to be exact Address mail to L. M. Boyd, P.

O. Box 17076, Fort Worth, Tex. 76102. (CepvrlflM M. Boyd) By Kevin P.

Phillips SERB'S IILD 111 I WASHINGTON John Mitchell's resignation as director of President Nixon's reelection campaign "to spend more time with Ms wife and family" does not mean quite as much as the first blush of publicity-cum-astoriishment might suggest. Anyone who thanks that the former attorney general is opting out of a major 1972 political role just doesn't know the man. John Mitchell will be around because Richard Nixon wants his advice and council. These Mitchell can give almost as well without bearing the paperwork and six-meetings-a-day routine of the campaign directorship; and more important still the former attorney general's family problems can no longer be played upon by the press to hurt both Mitchell and the President's campaign. With Mitchell out of the directorship, not only will his personal difficulties diminish, but the press will trumpet them.

WHETHER MITCHELL serves as campaign director is not essential to his influence. While the ITT controversy was raging, Mitchell occupied his law office at 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue (right next to campaign headquarters) before being named director. There has always been some doubt on his side for personal reasons about taking on the front role. In private meetings, John Mitchell is tough, wryly humorous and in command. His public posture is less effective a backroom man uncomfortable in the spotlight of the media.

Nor is Mitchell unhappy to lose the administrative side of his responsibilities. For all his reputation as Richard Nixon's "Iron Chancellor," Mitchell is not much of an administrator. A forceful man, yes; an effective manager, no. He dismisses managers as mechanics and tends to ignore bureaucratic problems. This spring, only weeks after moving back to his law firm, he was already ui-comfortable with the sprawling bureaucracy of the Nixon Re-Election Committee, referring to it as "that c-i next door." THUS, IN GIVING up his managershrp of the Nixon Re-Election Committee, John Mitchell was not yielding either a has complained freely of his lack of policy influence and lack of access to the President MACGREGOR IS AN OLD Nixon loyalist, active in the 1968 campaign, and the President likes him.

At the same time, mudh of MacGregor's advancement has come through the support of you guessed it John Mitchell. Under these circumstances, Nixon insiders do not expect MacGregor to be a dominant figure in his new position. In all likelihood, the Re-Election Committee will be run from the White House via Jeb and White House personnel officer, Fred Malek. (Even under Mitchell, much of the managerkl burden has fallen on Magruder and Malek.) Most of the basic GOP strategy for the fall campaign has already 'been IrJd out (on the assumption that the Democrats will namir.aite Sen. George McGovern).

But numerous problems remain, and more will arise. When they do, the odds are good that the President will be discussing them with John Mitchell. (O Klna Fntuni) A. That was Nicholas Chamfort, the Frenchman. He also said, "A woman is like your shadow follow her, she flies; fly from her, she follows" Q.

"Just about all a woman doctor's patients are likewise women, right?" A. Nowhere near all. Three out of 10 are men. Average. HOW MUCH can a working wife actually expect to clear after taxes, transportation, extra dresses, lunches, so on? Just about 40 per cent of her paycheck, that's all.

MORE THAN half the souls who walk into small loan companies to apply for quick cash get turned down, the statistics show. rv appfat. that was the charac- cherished responsifolitiy or an essential tool of influence with the President. On the contrary, if Mitehell's influence were on the wane, one sure sign would be the appointment of a tough, experienced politician to replace him as campaign director. Instead, the former attorney general is being "replaced" by Clark MacGregor, a former Minnesota congressman who has been serving as assistant to the President for congressional liaison siifce he lost a 1970 Senate bid.

In this capacity, MacGregor has been widely regarded as a figure head the man who held the press conferences and gave the cocktail parties while chief assistant Bill Timmons ran the nitty-gritty of White House congressional relations. Around the White House, MacGregor Mf istic common to most American maian teris I 1 Not courage, necessarily, nor chiefs. 1972 by HU, cth Knr hrains. even. The ph uhn matp tlli.O faSCinatU12 Claim "I'm not playing checkers until you apologize for not playing "Doesn't It seem rather stranga that you're for McGovern and I'm for Nixon?" IrVyi iUl'J try to prove it with the contention that most.