The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 10

T53 CACLNB JOURNAL-TIMES NT Page of Opinion Racine, Wisconsin VfT WK Deputies Endanger Lives by 'Slowdown 9 in Work In their wage dispute with the Racine County Board, sheriff's deputies have engaged in a work "slowdown" that shows a shocking disregard for the safety of the citizens they are sworn to protect. That there has been a conspired slowdown for more than five months is undeniable. It is proven by comparing this year's arrests made by radar detection with the same period in 1971. In February through June of 1971 enforcement of the radar watch resulted in 1,200 arrest3 and $56,000 in fines. In the same five-month period this year there were only 409 arrests and $30,000 in fines.

This doesn't mean just a loss of $26,000 in revenue for the county, although that is serious. It also means that hundreds of motorists, perhaps up to 800, might have been caught speeding but haven't because of the slowdown. By looking the other way, deputies have jeopardized the lives and property of many people. Speeding is a major factor in traffic accidents. Arrests are a deterrent to speeding, not only for the one arrested but also for others who hear about it.

Wisconsin has a no-strike law for public employes, but the work slowdown comes as close as possible to the strike weapon without actually transgressing the law. The deputies are obviously using the slowdown as a club over the County Board to enforce their demands. The real victim, however, is the public. The hangup in the wage dispute is over retroactive pay. The deputies' old contract expired Dec.

31. A factor affecting the new contract is a county ordinance prohibiting retroactive pay increases. An examiner for the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commisison (WERC) has ruled the ordinance is an unfair labor practice, but the County Board has appealed that ruling. Pending a decision on this appeal, the WERC ha3 refused to grant a request by the deputies for arbitration of their dispute with the county. Meanwhile, the County Board's Courthouse and Sheriff's Committee has begun an investigation of the work slowdown.

In the interest of public safety, such an investigation is warranted. Possibly disciplinary action should be taken against deputies who are deliberately not enforcing the law. The deputies are dead wrong in trying to win their demands with work slowdown that endangers lives. Deputies should call an immediate halt to the work slowdown and let the wage dispute be settled through further negotiations or by the WERC. 1 'yp Showdown Near on Welfare Bill By Michael A.

Carton WASHINGTON A ihowdown on the long-awaited welfare reform proposals whether It will be "workfare" of the FaSy Stance Plan is due on the Senate 1 Wjt summer's end. The Senate Finance Committee tentatively IppSthe blU June 13, a year after the House passd the Family Assistance Plan proposed by President Nixon. The Finance Committee's bill contains the workfare alon, which is opposed by the administration and Senate liberals, led by Connecticut Democrat Abraham wcoii. Under workfare. It would be more difficult to qualify for welfare than under the Family Assistance Plan.

Elliot Richardson, secretary of health, eUon and welfare (HEW), told Congressional Quarterly tteadmi Ration would oppose the Senate committee MIL "Their bill has no substantial support outside the committee, he said. Riblcoff, a former HEW secretary, told Congressional Quarterly: "It Is one of the most regressive bills I've seea It goes back to the Elizabethan poor laws." Praise for workfare comes from one of Us chief sponsors, Louisiana Democrat Russell B. Long, Finance Committee chairman. In a radio address to his consUtuents, Long said Is a "fine bill the biggest undertaking In the social welfare field In the history of the country." Workfare vs. Family Assistance Under workfare, families headed by able-bodied fathers and families headed by mothers with no children under age six would be Ineligible for welfare.

The heads of those families would be offered federally guaranteed employment at a wage, of $1.20 an hour. The Family Assistance Plan would provide an annual federal payment of $2,400 to a family of four with no outside income. Only families headed by a woman with young children or by an Incapacitated adult would be eligible. Families headed by employable adults would be assisted under a program requiring the family heads to register fo work or training. Riblcoff announced last October that he; favored an annual payment of $3,000 for a family of four with no outside income.

The payment would be gradually increase ed until 1976 to whatever figure the Social Security Administration designated as the poverty level. Although the welfare provisions are the most controversial, the House-passed bill and Senate committee bill also contain provisions increasing Social Security benefits, making changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and providing assistance for the needy aged, blind and disabled. Floor Fight Riblcoff and Richardson make their objections to workfare clear. "They call lt workfare, but I call it slavefare. I'm-against workfare under all circumstances," Riblcoff said.

The provisions of HR 1 (the House-passed bill) represent as far as It makes sense to go without creating a degree of intrusiveness and coercion that would Impair the work ethic and work incentive objectives," Richardson said. Long is aware of the possibility of a floor fight and is prepared to do his best to sell workfare to the Senate. "I think and I hope that the President is going to sort of remain aloof from this fight Those of us who have analyzed it feel that a great number of people would prefer just not to work at all and live on welfare." Ribicoff had hoped that liberals and the administration could work out a compromise so that workfare could be deleted from the bill on the Senate floor and replaced with a Family Assistance Plan with an annual federal payment to a family of four between $2,400 and $3,000. President Nixon, however, rejected a compromise and said he hoped the Senate would pass his plan. Ribicoff said the president's decision means that "welfare reform is dead." administration disagrees.

Clark MacGregor, former counselorto the President for congressional liaison, told Congressional Quarterly: "If the committee proposal fails and the Ribicoff proposal fails, I hope they will look to the House-passed version The centrist position is enhanced when both the conservatives and liberals have been defeated. THE CHEERING SECTION Roscoe Drummond Can McGovern Be Elected? Fischer Checkmates With his greed and graceless tactics, the 29-year-old Fischer comes across as a child prodigy who never grew up into a mature adult. In contrast, Boris Spassky, 35, appears poised, considerate and gentlemanly. Fischer should realize that more is at stake than the purse or his own ego in the world championship games. Somehow the contest has become a kind of Cold War confrontation a representative of democracy versus a representative of communism.

With the whole world watching, the prestige of the United States is, in fact, on the block. No matter who comes out on top in the games, America has thus far lost the prestige battle because of Fischer's antics. Fischer is doing the same kind of harm to the American image that a boorish tourist does on trips abroad. As far as deserving cheers and encour-agment from his fellow countrymen. Bobby Fischer has checkmated himself.

In the past few days, we have seen creation of something new in chess the Bobby Fischer gambit. This is where you threaten to hold your breath until you turn blue andor pick up your chess board and go home unless you can have your own way. Fischer has gone into many such childish tirades in the world championship chess match in Iceland where he is pitted against Russia's Boris Spassky. The first was when he demanded that more money be in the purse. The games were delayed nine days as Fischer threatened to call the whole thing off.

Finally, a London investment banker, James D. Slater, saw fit to add $125,000 to the world championship stakes. The winner will get around $180,000 and the loser $120,000. Then Fischer caused further anxieties by arriving late for the opening game. After Fischer lost the first game to Spassky, he stayed in bed to protest the presence of hidden television cameras in the contest hall.

This display of temperament meant forfeiture of the second game to Spassky. CongreasioniT luopyrieni, Quarterly Inc.) Sunday, July 16, 1972 Himself McGovern at the final infighting stage. With Humphrey, they cynically abandoned their party's rules, encouraged their lawyers and others to make phony argument in the name of reform, generally disgraced themselves. And, of course, they were always hacking at McGovern's torn flesh. They may have made McGovern's bandwagon into an ambulance.

And they most certainly have made their convention hall into a field hospital sheltering a pitiful collection of crippled Democrats. (Newspaper Enterprise Ain.) Do You Know What is the weight of an average man's heart? A About 11 ounces; a woman's heart weighs about nine ounces. In what European country are all children required by law to learn to swim? A Iceland. Which tree has no true outer bark? A hplly. Why is Boston, called the "Hub of the A It received this nickname because of its intellectual leadership during the mid-1800s.

Does the U.S. President ever preside over the sessions of Congress? A No. Thevice president is technically the president of the Senate, and is addressed by senators on the floor as "Mr. President." 1IERM Democrats almost invariably carry Congress. In six of Eisenhower's eight years the Democrats had a majority in both houses of Congress, and Nixon was the first President who failed to carry Congress when he was first elected.

This is a significant asset for McGovern because the Democratic candidates for Congress are capable of' carrying the presidential into office on their coattails. Truman ran behind the Democratic congressional candidates in 1948 but was propelled to victory by their political strength. Gains in Congress 5 There is a further clue which gives an advantage to the Democrats. For several decades there has been an almost unbroken rise in the total of Democratic congressmen. There have been a few shortlived low periods as in 1946 and 1952, but each time the Democratic majority in Congress has come to rest at a higher level.

Thus the Democratic Congressional tide has been moving on a rising floor. In his new book "How to Predict the 1972 Election" (Quadrangle Books), Louis Bean, who is one of the best predictors in the business, concludes mat the Democrats will hold their present dominance in Congress and per-. haps increase it somewhat this November. If they succeed, this could help, perhaps ensure, the election of a Democratic President. Sen.

McGovern has quite a bit going for him. (Copyright 1972, Los Angeles Times) So They Say Congress would have to direct that our Defense Department spend $1 billion on white flags so we could run them up all over the world, because the result would be surrender. Defense Secretary Melvin Laird, on defense cutbacks proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Sen George McGovern, S. D. not strong enough to bring him election.

2 He has a better, more dedicated, more pervasive grass-roots organization at the get-out-the-vote level than the President. 3 The Democrats comprise the majority party in the United States and have almost continuously since 1932. They have won 18 of the last 20 congressional elections and have controlled Congress for 36 of the last 40 years. 4 Even when the Republicans win the Presidency, the Looking Backward 40 YEARS AGO July II, 1932 Maximum 94; Minimum 63. Camper? at Camp Anokijig, their parents and friends have been in communication with each other by means of short wave radio.

Willard Zagalka has installed a transmitter and receiver at the camp and Edward Kriz and Walter Mills, licensed amateur operators in Racine, are in daily contact with the camp. 30 YEARS AGO July 16, 1942 Maximum 75; Minimum 67. Racine Public Library has been designated as a war information center. A large news map showing the theaters of war Is posted in the lobby of the main library and is kept "up to date to show the changes in position of the Axis and United Nations. 20 YEARS AGO July 16, 1952 Maximum 76; Minimum 63.

Credit for the destruction of seven Chinese Red trench positions and five mortar nests on the Korean front is being shared by 2nd Lt. Paul W. Niesen of Racine. He is flying attack bombers in air support of the 1st Marine Division with the "Wolfraiders" squadron. Bruce Biossat The 'Walking Wounded' at Democratic Convention MIAMI BEACH Now is the time for all sane men to resist dogmatic predictions.

There have been plenty such here this week and most of the time on the side that Sen. George McGovern can't possibly win the Presidency. James A. Michener, successful writer and unsuccessful Democratic politician, saw his party committing suicide if it nominated McGovern and if it failed to nominate him. All of McGovern's rivals at the convention argued that McGovern was a "political liability" and many Democratic officeholders warned of "catastrophe ahead." Maybe so.

But don't be too sure. There may be good reasons why Clark MacGregor, President Nixon's new campaign manager, is pleading with Republicans to shed over-confidence and not dismiss McGovern as a pushover. It would be well to examine why McGovern himself believes he can win. When his nomination was still in doubt here and that was soon removed Sen. McGovern said, and I do not believe boastfully: "I am not where I am as a serious candidate for the Presidency because I have a narrow base I believe I have the best and broadest grass-roots suppott ever built in American politics.

"I believe that many people who are now fearful of my candidacy are going to hail it as one of the great steps forward for our party when they feel its impact." Election Factors Here are the factors and the forces which make any dogmatic prediction that McGovern is a loser highly dubious: 1 The demand for change in the United States is at present unmeasurable. It may be far deeper and wider than we think. McGovern is both the instrument and the beneficiary of this mood. It brought him the nomination and it cannot be dismissed as MADISON When the state executive office recently said it Is Interested In a review of the merits of a state board of education to work In tandem with the state superintendent of public Instruction, it acted in a timely way to ask the counsel of a man who may have some useful ideas. WjlliamJJCahl, now super- intendent, does not Intend 16" run for re-election in the spring of 1973.

He has spent his life in the service of the' schools. About half of his life has been spent in a ranking position in the state chief school office, the last six as its head. Thus Gov. Lucey surmised that Bill Kahl, if he chose could give expert counsel with the Wurity and objectivity of a man who is heading for retirement and whose own life work has undoubtedly gener John 1 MIAMI BEACH The Democrats' reformed presidential selection process may have the appealing virtues of openness and balance. But it has ground up candidates so badly that the party has almost no whole-bodied heroes left.

Nearly every Democrat of prominence is a member of the walking wounded here at this convention. Sen. George McGovern, has the words "disaster for the ticket" plastered across his chest. The rival Democrats who put it there have been bad-mouthing like crazy for weeks. As for the rivals, a sorrier bunch of losers seldom has been collected under one roof.

"Yesterday, we accepted barbecue cooking as a man's specialty. Today, we want a piece of the actlont" iu 07 The tiniest municipality has a principal or superintendent who Is responsible to a board of education. Major governing boards In higher education work hi close collaboration with the executive officers of their systems and those executives have considerably more circumscribed powers than those held by the state Buper-intendent. other top adminls-. trators in the state establishment have policy or supervising boards with substantial authority.

The state budget deliberations promise to open up a provocative avenue of potentially important school control reorganization. If the Idea has merit, the timing Is fortunate What will be Involved will fe the long process of a constltu-tlonal change which probably could not be had in the face of-resistance from an entrenched superintendent. Wyngaard Should State Education Chief Be Responsible to a Board? Sen. Hubert Humphrey, who of his presidential calib-bravely tilted against a whole er, failed pathetically and Florida and the 10 per cent he made in Wisconsin. His late-season 12-state "revival" campaign was a flop.

He ate a lot of McGovern bandwagon dust and picked up only a few leavings for himself. Most of the other 1972 candidates were bound from the start to be chewed up. The Democratic party was boastful of its big roster, proclaiming it as proof of the new openness. But in fact, the multiplicity of candidates was an iron guarantee that most would look terribje in the vote percentage even the winners. New York Mayor John Lindsay, who tried to make walk ing the streets of his city a quickly.

Sen. Henry Jackson of Washington-, an able senator well seasoned in the ways of the nation's capital, found his face hopelessly lost in the crowd when he toured the country seeking votes. Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the first black and first woman to make a steady- presidential- bid, never made more than tiny token payment on her promise to put together an influential block of 300 to 400 delegates at the convention. A very nice man, former Gov.

Terry Sanford of North Carolina, picked up some delegates in his own state's primary but was virtually blanked out in his futile efforts The saddest thing to see was the joining together of all these people (except Lindsay) to attempt the blocking of about change in the selection of the state school command Is significant for other reasons, according to this viewpoint. In one of the lesser known acts of the recent legislature, the professional qualification rule for candidates for election to the office was repealed. That means that Kahl's successor may not have some of the credentials that "the stale had "always assumed were advisable and necessary such as professional certification In education and experience in the profession. The1 citizen pondering the 1 oblique suggestion for change to a superintendent-board arrangement will also remember that although the state office is the most powerful in the vsst education system, lt is unique In that it Is directed by one man, without statutory consultation or controL particular regional or other characteristics. In four states and five other jurisdictions the state school superintendent Is appointed by the governor.

In a majority of the states and territorial jurisdictions he is chosen by a board, and In a substantial majority of the states the members of those boards in appointed the governer. It is the last circumstance that may have aroused Mr. Lucey's Interest. More than any other governor of modern times he has shown a disposition to strengthen the role of the executive and to broaden his direct accountability to the electorate. Critics question his motives.

But lt is a trend that he did not invent He is build ing upon precedents, of im mediate predecessors of both political parties. The timing of the inquiry ated some convictions on the matter. There are other reasons for the timeliness of the Inquiry and the apparent seriousness of purpose with which It was directed to Kahl. Wisconsin stands out In the country as one of only two states that do not have a state of education forelemen-tary and secondary school supervision and policy guidance. Four other territorial Jurisdictions have such boards.

Wisconsin joins only the Canal Zone and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands In delegating that powerful and vital task to a single officer. Moreover, Wisconsin Is amorte a minority of the states which recruits Its chief school officer through popular, elections. It shares that practice with 19 others, showing no convention on the civil rights issue in 1948, never really cut it at all with Democratic voters of 1972. He won just four primaries to McGovern's 10, and none was really impressive. He never came close to getting even half the delegates he needed for nomination.

Worse still, he turned mean- spirited and destructive of good faith in his last efforts to block McGovern by trying to take some of the latter's California delegates away from him. Sen. Edmund Muskie, once the part y's Lincolnesque front-runner who seemed almost above battle, was brought down in primaVy com-- his sword out of the scabbard. His name today calls up visions of low percentage points the 9 per cent he got in A-.