The Gazette from Cedar Rapids, Iowa • 10

So put him on stand-by for the next available flight guess he forgot to re-set his bomb ht topid Editorial Page flH Wednesday, July 19, 1972 Unpunished 'Gamblers' 'Radical7 Tax Plank Throttled By Rowland Evans and Robert Novelc MIAMI BEACH Sen. George McGovern's forces used old-politics muscle at last week's Democratic national convention to crush a proposed radical tax reform plank to the platform that would have dried up what little money McGovern hopes to raise in the business community. The plank, pushed by Sen Fred Harris of Oklahoma, embodied in extreme form the tax-reform gospel McGovern has been preaching all year: Abolition of absolutely ALL tax deductions and exemptions. What's more, it had the backing of not only the McGovernites but Gov. George Wallace's delegates the one issue that could unite the party's opposite poles ki a populist coalition.

Clearly, the Harris plank had a majority on the convention floor. That's what worried the McGovern high command. Henry Kimelman, facing problems enough as McGovern's chief fund-raiser, was beside himself with worry over the Harris plank. A McGovern floor whip asked a prominent Democratic fund-raiser standing nearby how much the plank would cost the party. The answer: A cool $5 million.

Frantic, the floor whip telephoned the McGovern trailer outside convention hall for help on the convention floor to round up votes for the roll call. Smoffiered But the roll call was never held, thanks to concealed cooperation between the McGovern forces and the convention management. To those listening, the Harris plank obviously carried on the voice vote. IF ATTORNEY General Richard Turner's oivagain, off-again crusade against innocuous gambling at carnivals and fairs does nothing else, it should awaken many good citizens to the fact that some of them have broken laws severely enough to land them in jail or cost them steep fines. Let's make a bet mat most of these were not aware of perpetrating misdemeanors every time they made a harmless little bet of any kind for money or some other tangible reward.

But the state code chapter 726 on "gambling" has laid it on the line essentially unchanged for 121 years: Gaming and betting penalty. If any person play at any game for any sum of money or other property of any value, or make any bet or wager for money or other property of value, he shall he guilty of a misdemeanor." "726.1 Keeping gambling houses. If any person keep a house, shop or place resorted to for the purpose of gambling, or permit or suffer any person in any house, shop or other place under his control or care to play at cards, dice, faro, roulette, equality, punchboard, slot machine or other game for money or other thing, such offender shall be fined in a sum of not less than 50 nor more than 300 dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding one year, or both." (boldface added). Iowa's state constitution, in addition, says: "No lottery shall be authorized by this state; or shall the sale of lottery tickets be allowed." (Voters next fall face an opportunity to cancel this.) Only when enforcement action triggered by the attorney general began to strike at popularly accepted carnival-type "gambling" of bingo virulence and less did the law's bent letters begin to stand out. And only when the public outcry at Mr.

Turner's come-lately crackdown showed general rejection of the law today did Mr. Turner begin to drop bints as to why he was raising the fuss: So citizens and legislators would wake up to needs for changing what the law still provides. Common-sense enforcement for the most part through the years has kept the matter problem-free. If Mr. Turner's tactics are a common-sense approach to educating voters on it, we remain to be convinced.

But now the nature of the problem comes through clearly: Outmoded statutes have made hypocrites of law enforcers and of citizens alike for many years. Both citizens and legislators should unite to rectify that situation soon, once and for all. The Peoples Forum Cruel Blow in Tax 'Reforms' Humphrey's Quest Ends ble and triple the federal income taxes now paid by low-income families. If the tax rate were reduced enough to compensate for the billions of additional dollars that low-income families would pay, new sources of tax money would be necessary. There simply are not enough rich people to pay these huge sums, and raising corporation taxes increases prices and reduces employment Middle-income families would be levied too high taxes.

Ross Young 1052 Daniels street NE $50,000 minimum salary is being considered) UNLESS we speak up. With the national debt soaring, inflation and unemployment still to be conquered, does this make sense to you? This is OUR country, OUR government, and congressmen are OUR employes, collecting and spending OUR money. We don't act much like an employer most of the time but this is an election year and if we are ever to be heard, now is the time. Write to those presently in office. Question candidates.

Be informed before you vote. Mary Rinard 440 Mayberry drive NW Swine Tests To the Editor: jl I've been watching the letters to the editor since July 1 for a comment on a picture in the farm news of that date but have seen none, so must write myself. The picture was taken at the swine test station at New Hampton showing Al Christian evaluating BOARS, with more than 150 in attendance. If possible please let me know in advance when they will be evaluating sows, as J'd like to attend same. Serfeusly we've been getting The Gazette since last fall and do enjoy your paper, especially the farm news.

Jack Her old Fort Atkinson To the Editor: We shall be hearing much about so-called federal tax loopholes. If there are unwise loopholes, it should be remembered that the Republicans have controlled congress in only two of the last 24 years. It will be wise to read the fine print in the proposals of some candidates for federal offices and their leftist advisers. The people will be shocked when they learn about some of the secret plans for "tax reform." They plan to do away with personal exemptions from income and the additional exemptions for the blind and those 65 or over. The exemption from 1971 incomes was $675 per person and will reach $750.

These "reformers" wish to do away with deductions from income for tax purposes money paid for doctor and dentist services, hospital care, medicines and necessary drugs, eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, health insurance and transportation costs for health purposes. They plan to make illegal deductions for taxes and contributions to church and charitable causes. They do not want to allow deductions for interest paid on installment purchases, home mortgages, and other bans. They wish to do away with deductions for child care, alimony, union dues, casualty losses, and other items now deductible. All these planned "reforms" would force millions of families that now do not have to pay federal income taxes into paying income tax.

They would dou EVANS NOVAK Protest-Time To the Editor: It's the same song, next verse: "New federal pay hike planned in October" in the July 13 Gazette reminds us it is again time for the 'automatic" set-up raises the salaries of federal employes, including the congress and the President. Comparability with private pay scales is being run through the computers the end result is a foregone conclusion. The pay raise is automatic unless the congress or the President stops it and that is unlikely unless the taxpayersvoters do something. Federal employes had a raise not long ago when the congress overrode the President's veto, but Oct. 1 is time for another UNLESS we speak up.

Then in January congressmen will be in line for an automatic raise (maybe not a 41 percent hike this time, but a rWAS July 14, 1948, in Philadelphia. The liberal young mayor of Minneapolis. Hubert Horatio Humphrey, son of a South Dakota pharmacist, was about to address the Democratic national convention. The atmosphere was electrified, for his reputation as a persuasive orator had preceded him. Moreover, he was known to be a champion of civil rights, a subject hardly mentioned above a whisper in those days, and he was about to talk on civil rights.

Together with Congressman Andrew Biemiller of Wisconsin and Esther Murray of California, Mayor Humphrey hoped to substitute for the watered-down civil rights plank in the proposed platform a much stronger plank, calling for an end to lynching, an end to segregation, an end to the poll tax and an end to unfair employment practices in the various states. The defiant South, backbone of the party since the Civil war, but seeking to perpetuate segregation and the poll tax, was offering an even weaker states' rights substitute for the wishy-washy plank recommended by the convention's platform committee. So the battle lines were drawn when Mayor Humphrey stepped to the rostrum, with boos drowning out the few cheers that were audible. Then the great audience hushed as he spoke, outlining his case, point by point "To those who say that this civil rights program is an infringement on states' rights," boomed the young, courageous mayor as hundreds in the audience caught their breath, "I say this, that the time has arrived in America for the Democratic party to get out of the, shadows of states' rights and walk forth-rightly into the bright sunshine of human rights." Then came the final blow: "We are 172 years late in acting." Down on the floor as he spoke these words, pandemonium cut loose. The enraged chairman of the Mississippi delegation shouted something in Humphrey's direction and led his group out of the convention hall.

Half of Alabama's delegation marched out behind Mississippi's. The other Alabamans remained in their seats. Among them was a young man, not long back from service, who was destined to become, the governor of that state and a presidential aspirant; George Corley Wallace. A delegate from Georgia, Charles J. Block, took the stand later to fight Humphrey's proposal even as he nominated the late Sen.

Richard Russell for President. "You shall not crucify the South on this cross of civil rights," he shouted at Mayor Humphrey. With a split threatening the party and President Harry Truman not expected to be re-elected, the convention voted. First up was the South's meaningless substitute plank to nullify the lukewarm plank in the proposed platform. It was rejected, 925 to 309.

Then came the vote on the Humphrey plank. It was passed, 651 to 582, on a suspense-filled roll call. The Democratic party had taken a strong civil rights stand on the urging of the young Minneapolis mayor at a time when political expediency dictated a different course. In the process, the nation recognized the outstanding abilities of Hubert Humphrey, and the Democratic party marked him as a future presidential prospect Minnesota voters soon started him on the way by electing nun to the U.S. senate, where he made legions of friends when his colleagues learned he was not the uncompromising radical some had painted him but, rather, a teamworker.

In 1960, he made his first run for the presidency but bowed out in favor of John Kennedy after losing to him in the West Virginia primary. In 1964, he made his biggest mistake, accepting President Johnson's bid to be bis vice-presidential running mate. Humphrey discovered then it was impossible to walk two lines at once sticking to his own ideas on Vietnam while remaining loyal to his President. Party loyalty is a built-in characteristic of Hubert Humphrey and it may have helped him when he finally got the presidential nomination four years ago. But the Chicago convention performance did him in.

Not by much, but by enough to lose the election to Richard Nixon. Now it is July 11 in Miami Beach. Senator Hubert Humphrey calls a news conference With his good wife, Muriel, at his side, he smiles through his tears as he tells reporters he is withdrawing as a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. Characteristically, he lets it be known he is withdrawing only as a candidate, not from the party nor from life itself. He explains: "It is not a withdrawal of spirit or determination to continue the battle that I've waged all of my life for equal opportunity for all of our people, for social justice for this nation." He kisses his wife.

It is a sad affair. It is the end of the Humphrey era. Like another young Minnesotan before him, Republican Harold Stassen, he has missed the White House, and probably for the same reason: He wanted it too much. State Assemblywoman Yvonne Braith-waite of California, presiding as deputy permanent chairman, seemed doubtful about what to do. The parliamentarian, Rep.

James O'Hara of Michigan, quickly advised her the plank had lost. She so announced the vote. A demand for a roll call by Virginia delegate James Rosapepe was muffled when his floor microphone was mysteriously Cut off in mid-course. Nor did hundreds of delegates hear Miss Braith-waite's call for those wanting a roll call to stand. Even so, many thought that the required 20 percent did stand.

But O'Hara said no, and Miss Braithwaite refused a roll call vote while McGovero-Wallace tax reformers steamed in impotent fury. Earlier, the convention management tried to prevent Harris from speaking for his plank on grounds he was neither a delegate nor a member of the platform committee. But McGovern delegate Wes Watkins, a firebrand liberal lawyer from Greenville, threatened to make a convention speech denouncing McGovern. Harris was permitted to deliver a populist stemwinder, one of the few that energized the convention and prepared it to vote for his plank if there had ever been a vote. Overpopulation Here US.

Jampack Outdoes China's China, with 800 million, is not seriously more crowded than it was with 600 million. But in terms of "effective" population, the United States with 200 million Don Oakley O'S" ON VEEP-Two weeks before the Democratic national convention our actual numbers have to be multiplied by a factor of several times to arrive at the "effective" population the true population in terms of its impact on the environment and the consumption of resources. The lesson, which ecologists and others are trying to sink into us, is that while the world may be able to support an indefinite number of people so long as living standards are kept low enough it may already contain too many for any but a small minority to hope to approach the American level. As for America itself, it does not mean very much to say that there are only so many of us per square mile, compared with so many Belgians or Nether landers per square mile. What counts is how many square miles of farms and forests and highways, how many rivers and lakes and streams, how many mines and wells and ore deposits each American has an effect upon in terms of his travel and consumption and his wastes.

Newspaper Enterprise Association By Don Oakley WHEN President i n' entourage journeyed from the airport to. Peking at the beginning of his history-making visit to China last March, the motorcade had the highway all to itself. To Americans watching over satellite-relayed television, China, which we think of as "teeming" with more thanSOO million souls, appeared almost deserted, at least until the streets of the capital city itself were reached. This was not the result of security measures by the President's communist hosts. Normal traffic had not been cleared from the airport highway.

By American standards, there would have been very little traffic to clear. In America, however, one need not go into the cities to find people. Travel anywhere in the country, especially during the peak vacation months, from the least-known park in the most remote location to a well-publicized attraction like Disney World, and you'll encounter people, people, people, along with their cars, their trailers, their campers, their pets. is probably the most populous nation in the world. We not only have two cars in every garage but many of us have two garages, or at least a carport at our summer cottage, as well as a minimum of one television, set and other conveniences at both locations.

Because of the great mobility and affluence at the command of Americans, Ancienf Art of Threats Perfected Lessons in 'New Toughness' Benefit the Way-Wanter started, Sea Adlai Stevenson of Illinois quietly informed McGovern aide Frank Mankiewicz that under no circumstances did he want to be considered for vice-president. Stevenson's decision, uncharacteristic for any ambitious politician, was not unique at this party-splitting convention. At least two other prospective vice-presidential nominees Gov. Reubin Askew of Florida and Sen. Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut also ruled out any chance of accepting the second spot on the ticket Dead Ends In each case the reason was different, but a common thread ran throughout: The great schism in the Democratic party might wreck their political careers if they went on the ticket, Moreover, other handicaps surrounded other possible choices leaked by McGovern and his aides.

President Leonard Woodcock of the United Auto Workers (UMW), whose name was floated by McGovern himself, would have been anathema to Rep. Roman Pudnski of Illinois. Republican Sen. Charles H. Percy, Puduskl's opponent in the Illinois senate race, has been endorsed by Woodcock's UAW.

Still another prospect on McGovern's list, Sen. Walter F. Mandate of Minnesota, would surely have rejected a formal offer. His intimates were certain he would not have exchanged easy re-election to the senate this year for an uphill vice-presidential campaign. A footnote: When Rep.

Wilbur Mills of Arkansas asked his staff whether he should accept if asked, the unanimous feeling was this: He should accept only if McGovern applied serious pressure, and only after the senator assured Mills that ha would take immediate steps to shore up tattered relationships with business. But the call never came. 4t Publlshere-Hall Syndicate Russell Baker senior by two years, growled, "Just a minute, there. Just a minute. Tonight I get the car.

If I don't I am going to quit driving Mother to the supermarket on Saturdays, and you all know what that means." They all knew what that meant Mrs. Sweeney couldn't drive. Sweeney hated to drive on supermarket parking lots on Saturdays, and Buster spent his Saturdays in mysteriously private ways. Margo, they knew, was the only person who could deliver the groceries for the Sweeneys, and without the groceries it was hard to see how the Sweeneys could survive. "She learned this from watching Mayor Daley's behavior at the convention," Mrs.

Sweeney whispered to Sweeney. "Margo knows that without her, the family hasn't a chance of carrying the groceries." "We'll compromise," Sweeney announced. "Buster will get the car for two hours, then Margo will get the car for two hours." Margo said she wanted nothing to do with the present Mrs. Sweeney would need young strength and energy to sustain it beyond another four years, Buster pointed out. His walkout could very well leave the family easy victims for internal revenue, the medical profession and other such vultures.

Mrs. Sweeney explained in whispers that Buster was copying the strategy he had seen George McGovern use to assure himself of the nomination. "Ever since he read McGovern's threat in Life magazine to walk out on the party if he wasn't nominated," Mrs. Sweeney said, "Buster has insisted on having his way, or else." Sweeney said when you thought about it you had to admire that toughness in Buster. It had a great quality of newness about it, he said, and if he, Sweeney, could write he would like to write a powerful magazine article about it in which he would call it "the new toughness." "Come across with that car," snarled Buster.

Sweeney was about to hand him the car keys when Mar go, Buster's sister and his By Russell Baker FT WAS WONDERFUL for Sweeney returning home to the whole darned family after the rigors of Miami Beach, but the family mood was disappointingly political. They had sat through too many dawns, watching Sissy Farenthold being nominated for the vice-presidency and listening to Ohio pass. "I want the car, and I want it right now," were young Buster Sweeney's words of greeting, "and if I don't get it, plus money for a full tank of gas, I am going to walk out of this family and not play the elder son anymore." "What's wrong with the kid?" Sweeney asked his wife. "Have you been letting him read about Bobby Fischer's carryings-on at the chess championship?" "Buster can't tell the castled position on the king's side from the Nimzo-Indian defense," Sweeney's wife said. "Ever since he saw how politicians behave when they don't get their way, he's been sulking around here like a candidate for President of the United States." with compromises, because it was dishonorable to compromise a position that was as morally right as hers.

She walked out while Sweeney looked about or a television camera on which he could specu-. late about possibly luring her back to the A. P. in the fall. Finding none, Sweeney did the other natural thing and announced that he was going out for a drink while Mrs.

Sweeney prepared his dinner. "You can go out for a drink if you want to," Mrs. Sweeney whispered to him, "but if you don't take me with you, and if we tlon't eat dinner afterward at the Flaming Caligula Steak Chop House, you get nothing to eat from my kitchen for the rest of the month." Sweeney was aghast. "You learned that from watching George Meany threaten to starve McGovern's campaign because he couldn't have his way," Sweeney said. "In the new politics," Mrs.

Sweeney replied, "even sappy old moms can threaten not to play." Sweeney is switching to Nixon. New York Tlmee Service Buster was impatient with this dillydallying. If he were to pull out of the family and run on an independent ticket, he told Sweeney, Sweeney would not only lose an income tax exemption, but would also acquire a nasty reputation in the neighborhood for treating his children badly. What would happen to the Sweeney family then? he demanded. It was already showing signs of old age.

Youth had passed it by. The coalition that Sweeney had built in the 1940s.