Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 21

"1 Sentinel Editnrinl Tuesday, July 18, 1972 SantateSrnttnrl-2I Power Politics Opinion Although the announcements made a Wg play during a quiet time in the news we have our doubts about the effectiveness of the report by Mayor Richard J. Daley that he would be supporting all Democratic candidates and by the Teamsters Union that they would support the re-election of President Richard Nixon. As chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, Mayor Daley has to support all Democrats. There is no regulation on how strongly he has to lend his support. There was a time when labor support was an extremely powerful asset in American politics, but we have the idea today that labor members vote the way they please, regardless of the recommendations of their leaders.

It is rather evident, too, that big town politicians do not carry the political strength of yesteryears. Bossism certainly exists as evidenced in Chicago, but whether this power carries over into the ballot box in a presidential election is subject to considerable question. In 1960 Cook County just about won the presidential election for John F. Kennedy, but the politics of 1972 are far different. Members of both major political parties are inclined to vote more for the in- dividual today than the ticket.

There was a great deal of discussion in the primaries that there were major cross-overs in states where such voting is allowed. It has been clear in California that voters cross the ballot frequently in Congressional and legislative races. The same thing took place in 1968 when Richard Nixon carried California by 200,000 votes despite heavy Democratic registration. In 1964 it was just as evident that many Republicans voted for Lyndon B. Johnson.

During the 1972 primaries Democrats pretty well split up their vote for the major candidates although by the time of the convention at Miami Beach George McGovern had all the votes. But whether a Democrat who supported Henry Jackson or Hubert Humphrey or Edmund Muskie will vote Democratic in the 1972 presidential election remains to be determined. There are an extraordinary number of factors which play a role in a presidential election, including the personal popularity of the candidates, the State of the Union, the international situation, etc. However, among all of these conditions we would downgrade the appeal of power politics on either side. We simply don't believe it plays the dominating role of earlier years in Amerincan political contests.

In Santa Cruz about the only place that a predominant vote was cast was at the three precincts on the University of California campus where a Republican candidate is just about as popular as a cat in a dog kennel. Admittedly, power politics has rarely been effective in California elections as it has been in eastern and midwestern states or in the deep south. A recent example would be the situation in San Francisco, a city with exceptionally strong Democratic registration. Mayor Joseph Alioto was a big Humphrey supporter, but San Francisco Democrats voted for George McGovern. Los Angeles has a Democratic mayor in Sam Yorty, but voted for Richard Nixon in 1968.

We don't mean that the mayors can't win in municipal elections for both Yorty and Alioto have won re-election, but they do not play a big role in state or federal contests. And we have the idea that in November, 1972, when the voters go to the polls they won't be paying much attention to what Mayor Daley or the labor bosses say. 1972 ly "He wants to get out of the national park. Too many "Bee-utiful!" Andrew Tully's 'Capital Fare' American Ex-POWs On Amnesty fort to our enemies." The delegates were speaking for an organization of 3,000 active members which has an additional mailing list containing more than 9,000 names. In using such strong language, the delegates spoke to a facet of the problem seldom mentioned by proponents of a soft approach to military fugitives.

Their offense is not merely that they broke the law. It is also, more seriously, that they contributed to the cause of an enemy engaged in the killing of Americans in battle. In some quite civilized countries, this is considered treason or next to it and a few even impose the death penalty upon violators. Of course it is next to impossible to measure the extent to which our own draft dodgers and deserters contributed to the North Vietnamese cause, and incidentally to world Communism. But at the very least, they gave the enemy pleasure and ammunition for its propaganda mill.

Any country at war is pleased to learn that its enemy WASHINGTON Since the question of amnesty for draft dodgers and deserters will be a major issue in the Presidential campaign, it seems only fair to consider an opinion emitted as it were from the horse's mouth. This is a resolution at the convention of American Ex-Prisoners of War in Portland, strongly condemning those who eluded the draft or fled the armed forces. Unfortunately, the action was little noted during the media's frantic preoccupation with the Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach, but from here comment seems mandatory. The resolution, endorsed by 300 ex-POW delegates, was a swift kick in the pants to the "I Won't Go" crowd. It opposed any efforts to grant amnesty for "the crimes committed by draft dodgers and deserters who by their acts have willfully and perversely given aid and com is having that kind of trouble, and usually cites such trouble in its efforts to influence world opinion.

The ex-POWs' resolution comes at a time when both major political parties have acknowledged the amnesty issue. Both President Nixon and George McGovern have said that some kind of amnesty is in order, with Nixon taking a somewhat harder line by emphasizing that the fugitives would be expected to "pay the price that anyone should pay for violating the law." Clearly, sentiment is building up for some form of general amnesty. Indeed, The New York Times reports that in recent months the federal judiciary has gradually but dramatically rse its policies in draft cases by granting amnesty to draft dodgers on the condition that they perform some kind of public service as penance for their refusal to serve in uniform. The defendants also are placed on probation, meaning they must the plight of the average landowner cannot be dismissed entirely either. Nevertheless, pleas from property owners that denial of zoning which would allow six to-seven times the current use will result in economic hardship have to be received with guarded sympathy, in light of sewage difficulties and their precedent-setting effect for surrounding areas.

Under existing circumstances, it doesn't seem logical for one to anticipate such possible snowball-type" developments within the Aptos and Capitola Sanitation Districts (and pro The View From The Beat Needed Breathing Spell The Similarities HE, he. report regularly to the court and in most cases may not leave the court's jurisdiction without permission. This seems like a reasonable, even felicitous, policy for dealing with draft dodgers. Deserters, of course, are a different package, and their punishment has to be more severe. There is not much point in being overly vindictive, not because vin-dictiveness would be wrong but because it wouldn't serve any purpose.

After all, the idea is to rehabilitate the fugitives if possible, not to wreak vengeance. But the ex-POWs have made a good point. However you look at it, the draft dodgers did their country a dirty trick and they should not be permitted to get away with it. While they enjoyed their furtive freedom, some other young men were killed and wounded who might not have been called up if the dodgers had done their duty. And after all, the dodgers did thumb their noses at the law.

(c) 1972 by The McNaught Syndicate, Inc. bably East Cliff District come July 25). The manner in which building bans were placed in those two sanitation districts is bound to be subject of legal questioning, but public hearings presumably bring those issues to the forefront. The ironic thing about the sewage problem is that the apparent way to solve the matter is to expend treatment plants which in turn will have the effect of allowing more development that Santa Cruz County seriously questions. After all is said and done, this county will be thankful for a "breathing period" long or short which some believe became a necessity so suddenly.

eral information officer with a group of people, aiming at setting up a clinic in the methadone program, alcoholism and drug abuse for the poor citizens of Santa Cruz County. As the program yet has no money, I am volunteering my services because I believe that humans should help one another. Meanwhile, I am looking for a full or part-time job in order to support myself (any kind of work). But so far I have had no luck. Also, I will have no place to live.

Therefore, I am asking if there is anyone able to give me free room and board in exchange for housework. If there is any way you can help, please write or phone me. Thank you. Virat Sampan vejsobha Doctor of Pharmacy c-o John M. Steele 331 Cabrillo Ave.

c-o John M. Steeld 331 Cabrillc Ave. PLIASI NOTI The Sentinel welcomes letters from its readers. Itt.n uibmitted to the "Voice of the People" column must be signeo legibly and include name and address I mnmrx nf 750 words or less will be given preference. The Sentinel reserves the right to edit as it deems necessary Anonymous letters will not oe con sidered.

A By BRUCE McPHERSON Sentinel Staff Writer County supervisors are making a determined effort to tell big developers they should hold off on proposals for "progress." With the aid of some unusual three-vote majorities and a building ban levied in mid-county due to sewage treatment plant limitations, they are having some success. It's not the most pleasant or safest course to take, but it appears necessary at this point to protect the general welfare of existing county residents. To maintain the growth rate at an ever-increasing pace is bound to place a heavier burden on water, traffic, education, as well as sewage facilities. Some large suits have been fileed against the board, and-more are to be anticipated, if it continues to take this stand-offish approach. A break is needed now, however, to give this county the opportunity to regroup its thoughts to find out where or-how far we are going.

To continue at the present gait will only make it more difficult for supervisors to pause later. This became evident in Boulder Creek where, because of i high density mountain development approved there Of The People ficials, if they could get together unofficially as men. Don't expect any quick solution. And the time may not be in this decade. But this reporter believes that some time and some place the human adaptability of the Vietnamese peoples is such that, as in Korea, some i ng accommodation will be reached.

But this perhaps will be some years after the North Vietnamese go vernment becomes convinced it cannot conquer the South by force. (Newspaper Enterprise Assn.) PIEASI NOT! The Sentinel welcome letters from its readers. letters submitted the "Voice of the People" column must be signed egibly and include name and address letters of 2S0 words or less will be given preference. The Sentinel reserves the right to edit as it deems necessary Anonymous letters will not be con sidered. NAIOtO com years ago, a judge as much as warned the board its hands were tied to pass a current application for adjacent property.

That was approved on a 3 to 2 vote, incidentally, but anyone who thinks the majority of this board is locked into a Harry- Sanson-Mello threesome either possesses an outdated magic ball or hasn't visited the supervisors' chambers lately. That has not been the threesome which has carried the weight in all major land use decisions lately. While the need for a slowdown especially in the mid-county must be realized, People's Parks Editor: Acrimonious debates boiling around city and county parks are an example of the arid arguments between and among elected officials (at all levels) which tend to alienate the citizenry. All that is at stake is the democratic process. I daresay visitors to Delaveaga Park, Swanton (Natural Bridges) Park, Harvey West, or Felton Big Trees (Co we 11 Memorial Redwood) do not trouble their minds over the peculiarities of political jurisdictions nor let it interfere with their recreation.

The ideal meaning implied by the word itself: "Recreation" meaning re-creation would seem to transcend all controversy over "whose parks?" The question should in all justice be: Where parks (are), or how many (parks). With questions such as these perhaps the involvement of many would overcome the vapid quarrels of the few with their (the many) committment, planning, and contributions to a broad based community (not county or city) effort for more and better recreational facilities. How many of our parks, long thought of as city, or county, have become regional in scope; how many regional or state parks near the obsolete ci Voice Ray Cromley- Note WASHINGTON (NEA) -The North-South Korea nonag-gression agreement has implications for Vietnam. Eventually. First, note the similarities between Pyongyang and Hanoi.

Each is dominated by a doc-rinaire Communist regime. Neither is known for its ability to bend or give. Each has serious economic and manpower problems which could be eased only by closer cooperation with the South and with non-Ccmmunist neighbors. Each is deathly afraid of domination by China or Russia. Each is attempting to walk a tightrope between those two Red giants.

For each, this tightrope walk is made difficult by economic and military dependence due in large measure to war in Vietnam and tension in Korea. Each wants U.S. troops to go home. It is not wise to stretch an analogy. Hanoi's rulers are their own men and fighting a war of this intensity and bitterness this long tends to bind men into rigid patterns.

But the north-South Korean a-greements bring to mind a quality for compromise in the attitude of Asian peoples I have known closely over the past years which in the long run bodes well for peace in that part of the world if the proper conditions can be set up. Unfortunately the conditions may take generations. The limited North-South Korea agreement itself took two decades of uneasy truce. But perhaps in his day time can be telescoped. This reporter has found among many officials and people in Japan, Korea Thailand, South Vietnam both Chinas, Laos and Cambodia a depth of understanding of human qualities and an ability to accommodate with men of strongly dif ferent concepts when the time seemed propitious for working agreements.

In my last trip to Seoul, this reporter was repeatedly surprised at finding men in sensitive jobs involving national security in the South Korean government and military who had had high posts in the North Korean Communist government. I think of one South Korean general officer with whom I talked at length who had in North Korea been one of the most influential men in thought and ideological control. He was later given the task of weeding out untrustworthy types in the higher echelons of the South Korean army. From what this reporter could determine, this attitude toward former North Korean Communists held true among the most dedicated aiiti-Com-munists. This human willingness to accept other Koreans may not lead to unification.

But it certainly suggests the North-South nonagression agreement can be made to add up and can pos- sibly lead to working arrangements in a wider number of fields. This, even after taking into account the knowledge that one North Korean objective is certainly the withdrawal of all U.S. troops. In personal as distinct from public talks in South Vietnam, this reporter has noted among men with responsible positions in the Thieu government a considerable empathy with the, peoples of North Vietnam, with whom many are related by blood and marriage. This again, among officials who are strongly anti-Communist.

Numbers of these Southern officials have told me they believe that in time some arrangements can be worked out with Northern of ty boundaries are now used by city dwellers? The question answers itself. I do not imply that our many dedicated park people have been remiss in their planning and prosecution of a far-sighted park-recreation program; in doing their job as they see it. Bickering among public officials at different levels of government, however, acts to discourage public participation, and many worthwhile contributions by private individuals. Officials, whose tenure is brief, at best, should encourage more participation in these areas among people about the people's parks; also beach access, roadside rests, trails for horses and bikes, overnight camping stops, natural areas, sanctuaries for wildlife, and even tot-lots in certain neighborhoods. I would like to see the various parks and recreation committees, and commissions publicize meetings and encourage more citizen participation.

Robert Hall Grover Lane Can You Help? Editor: I hold a doctor's degree in clinical pharmacy from the Univeisity of the Pacific. Presently I am working as a drug consultant and gen In the world championship chess matches that Russian and his American challenger were inspired by all the highest motives. These included national pride, the will to win, good sportsmanship and money. Folks didn't realize that chess was a sport until Bobby Fischer called Boris Spassky's attention to its possibilities for financial gain. Chess experts will command more respect now that it's been shown they can be just as greedy as baseball players and prize fighters.

In chess, as in the game of life, it's much easier to be a good loser when a fellow knows he's going to be adequately compensated for losing..