The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • Page 8

Tribune, Tuesday, December 3, 1968 mmmm urn Page Of Opinion The Cities' Tax Options THE WISCONSIN Legislature in 1967 took a small step toward letting hard-pressed municipalities tap new tax sources. It permitted cities, by action of their own governing bodies, to assess a of up to $9 a year on motor vehicles and a room tax on hotel-motel accommodations within their jurisdiction. The City of Madison adopted the $9 vehicle tax a year ago, then backed away from it. No municipality in the state, to our knowledge, has braved the wrath of vehicle owners to impose it. But last week the City of Milwaukee imposed a 3 per cent city tax on transient rooms (which already are subject to the state sales tax) and Madison is considering it this week.

Old Ties Broken, New Ones Unformed American Voter At Loose IN MADISON, the vehicle the mayor and aldermen refuse to raise some $500,000 a year. Only a dent in a $25 million city budget, perhaps, but a help. The tax on hotel-motel rooms would raise a possible $125,000 a year. The arguments for the two taxes are not the same. The motor vehicle, taxed by the state for license and fuel, pays no local property tax.

and probably should: it certainly costs the city plenty for parking, policing and street construction. The tax on a room, on the other hand, is simply a way of tapping another tax pigeon, generally a non-resident and usually a business traveler, tourist or convention-goer. CITY OR AREA taxes always are touchy matters because business can go elsewhere to avoid them. Yet many cities impose city income or payroll taxes, illegal in survive. The Tribune proposing the wheel or room tax for La Crosse or any other city.

But it is surprising to hear cities cry about their restricted tax base while they refuse to use these options. Our Political Future THE MORNING-after analyses cranked out by commentators and vote analysts in the first few days after Nov. 5 have come and gone. They ranged from studies of where the Wallace vote would have gone in a two-man field (NBC said Nixon would have got two out of three) to the accuracy of the polls (Gallup hit it practically on the nose. Harris had Humphrey winning in the popular vote).

A MORE USEFUL and revealing study is what the future holds for the American elective process, and the prospects of the two-party (or morel system. This is the sort of thing Washington columnist Joseph Kraft attempted last month after the '68 returns had had time to jell. The first of his three-part series runs on this page today. READERS undoubtedly will disagree with some of predictions. So do we.

His basic finding, the traditional party allegiances built up since the 1930s. now crumbling, have still to find a new seems sound enough. The next few years in Washington and in the state capitals will be full of trouble and tensions, but be interesting. series may help Tribune readers to make their own forecasts for 1972 and bevond. Bv JOSEPH KRAFT (First of a Three-Part Series) IS THE YEAR of the big Richard Nixon said on the night of the Oregon primary as incoming returns first convinced him that he could go all the way.

Instead, it became the year of the mini-change. Why? The answer is that 1968 originally did shape up as the year of a landmark an election like those of 1896, and 1860, when basic voting patterns were realigned to form new national majorities. But this year when everything came up for grabs, nobody grabbed. The result was an unmajor i- ty that leaves major elements of the electorate still casting about for new loyalties. This series will try to assess the future of two parties in their efforts to lay permanent hold on the four basic groups now on the loose: the South, the plains states, the upper- income groups of the northern cities and suburbs, and the low-income whites of the northern cities.

The South, until very recently, was the most homogeneous part of the rural and Protestant, low on immigrants, and devoted to keeping the Negro in his place. The political expression of that homogeneous culture was blind, unquestioning loyalty to the Democratic party. But industrialization has set in motion a drift to the cities that has made the urban South the most volatile part of the country. As a part of the general switch away from the old pattern, there is an increasing tendency to vote in the more industrialized states around the Southern heartland. In both national and local elections.

Republicans have been steadily gaining ground in Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. THE MIRROR-opposite of the South is to be found in the plains states stretching from Ohio west through Illinois, Iowa, and the Dakotas to the eastern slopes of the Rockies. This area, too. was largely rural and Protestant, but the political expression of the homogeneous culture of the prairies was an overwhelming Republican loyalty. During the past two decades, however, the cultural homogeneity of the plains has been shattered.

Denominational colleges, which used to be finishing schools designed to confirm local gentry in provincial hostility to the cities, have become feeders to the graduate schools of the great universities back East. Familv-owned firms have been absorbed into huge national companies which accept unions as a matter of course. And in breaking away from the old homogeneity there has been a disposition to part company with the Republican party. Thus in 1968, Kansas, Iowa, and North Dakota all had Democratic The upper-income voters of the North were once a pure projection of the business interest. And in the past the Gold Coast or Silk Stocking district of the cities and the more genteel, 45 minutes from-Broadway type suburbs used regularly to return Republican candidates.

For example, the 1st Congressional District of Ohio, including the better part of Cincinnati and the posh suburb of Indian Hills, used to be a fief for first the Longworths and then the Tafts. But in the postwar era. business has been increasingly infused by a managerial elite, molded in the universities that accept Keynes as the simple truth and accustomed to working harmoniously with Washington. Ever since Adlai Stevenson, the educated upper-middle class (and especially its children) has been increasingly drawn to the Democrats. In 1964, even 1st District Black Anger Ends At Oshkosh A Sad Phase was carried by a Democrat, John J.

Gilligan. And early this year the McCarthy appeal was very strong in the upper- income urban and suburban FINALLY, there are the wage-earners of the great industrial centers, including most of the minority and ethnic groups. Not very long ago, all of them were dominated by experience or memories of the Depression. From Boston through New York and Philadelphia to Baltimore, and from Buffalo through Cleveland to Chicago and Gary, there sprang up great armies of Democratic strength grouped around city machines and the trade unions. In the past decade, however, economic security has been taken increasingly for granted, and a rift has opened between the white ethnic groups, who have established a base, and the black community which is just beginning to stake its claims.

Why Give Permit To Incite Riots? By DAVID LAWRENCE Informative as is the special report just submitted to the national commission on violence which defines last disturbances during the week of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a and seeks to blame the David I.awrcnce Nixon, Humphrey Both Obsolete' among the Republicans FlfSS Up I police as well as the real issue has not been met. The question is not who is responsible for a riot but why city authorities permit a obviously intended to produce to be held under circumstances that threaten the lives of innocent persons. Ever since the March on Washington in 1963 which was carefully guarded by troops and police, the impression has become widespread that dissenters may use the streets for their demonstrations irrespective of hether they block traffic and incite people to riot. The theory has prevailed that any organization has the right to demonstrate, as this is supposedly allowed by the First Amendment to the Constitution under freedom of speech. But the U.S.

Supreme Court has in its decisions upheld the rule that it is not free speech to shout falsely in a crowded theater and cause a panic. Incitement to violence is not tioned. There are plenty of ways to give organizations an opportunity to demonstrate to their content: in stadiums, auditoriums, meeting halls, churches, and even in public school buildings so long as other proceedings are not interrupted. Such gatherings would not infringe on rights or incite to violence. It is when the parades and marches occur on the streets or when demonstrators engage in sit- ins or lie-ins in public buildings or on the streets that disorder is generated.

CERTAINLY there was plenty of provocation of the police in the Chicago riots Those engaged in the rallies were joined by troublemakers who by name-calling started many a fight. Some of the with Molotov cocktails, knives, dart guns, sticks and cans filled with these missiles at the police and shouted obscene words at them. It was only natural that several policemen would become angered. About 192 policemen were injured, and civilians in the crowd who were hurt are estimated at 1.000. The national commission incidentally, released without approval or disapproval the reno't of the investigating task force which was under the direction of Daniel Walk- offers Little Helo er.

a prominent Chicago lawyer. But the investigation indicates clearly that the national commission obtained enough evidence that it was a mistake for the government of the city of Chicago to give a permit in the first place to the various organizations to carry on their crusade. 'Then in we'll put it bock Jhibunz. Alderman Groves favor toach- student needs services repre- of stu- nti Editor, The i should forego some of their salaries so that students will not have to give up This remark seems to echo the opinion of Peter Groves as it was stated in The Tribune (Nov. 28).

Groves savs By SYDNEY J. HARRIS SINCE practically everyone, in and out of print, has been second-guessing the election for the last month, at the urging of numerous readers happy to set down my random reflections on that event: parties tried to commit suicide, and nearly succeeded. due to the closeness of the vote. the Democrats had nominated McCarthy, he would have beaten Nixon overwhelmingly. the Republicans had nominated Rockefeller, he would have beaten Humphrey overwhelmingly.

wTas not Humphrey's in the last two weeks that brought him within a percentage point of Nixon, but simply the continued exposure of Nixon; another week or 10 days, and Humphrey might have won. Democratic ticket had been reversed, with Muskie on top. the Democrats might have won; at a party I attended before the election, at which the guests were equally divided in party affiliation, a straw vote among Nixon, Humphrey, Agnew and Muskie for President gave a large majority to even present. problem facing both parties now is that the only truly enthusiastic voters were those for Wallace. is probably better for the nation that Nixon was elected than Humphrey, for sccial realities will force Nixon to do pretty much the same Humphrey would have done, but Nixon will encounter less bitterness and opposition than Humphrey would have.

proto fascist movement begun by Wallace is certain to grow, unless our No. 1 domestic problem the disintegration of the given both a financial and moral priority over the arms race. -THIS IS THE last election in which labor leaders will be able to influence or direct the votes of their union membership: and the labor vote will no longer be to the Democrats, any more than the Negro vote will be. two-party system may very well become segmented into a four-party system, with the dissident left pulling out of the Democratic party and the dissident right pulling out of the Republican party. Contrary to general belief.

I think this would be a healthy tendency. Forge. The Deep Causes Isn't It The Truth! ------------Un-American i Somebody in public office is always trying to monkey with our American traditions and folk art like for example, the attempt by a Midwestern city council to enact an ordinance that would prohibit barber poles in front of new buildings. barber shop without a striped pole is like apple pie without of Opinions By ERIC GOFFER OUR SOCIAL DOCTORS are speaking about the social body as if it weie a real body. Listen: is a most dangerous error to treat symptoms and not get at the root causes of the disease This is a sociologist talking about riots and crime in the streets.

Just to stop the rioters and the muggers is treat Society is sick and these social doctors say that we have to cure the whole of a every soul to the the riots and the mugging can be really stopped. Now the simple fact is that society is not a body, and sociologists are not doctors, and talk about the roof causes of the disease, the underlying infection, is pretentious double talk. It is probably true that in human affairs there are no deep are no depths, only surface and symptoms. When you see the role that example and imitation play in shaping events, and how minds are affected by words, gestures and symbols, you realize that history is made by trivial superficial agencies; by gimmicks and toys. Not to know that, in human affairs, the trivial is not trivial is to ignore a chief ingredient of un queness.

IT IS superficiality that makes him so fantastic a creature. His nobleness and vileness, his hatreds, loves and dedications are all skin deep. The sudden, drastic transformations of which he is capable are due to the fact that the tensions which shape his attitudes are surface phenomena. Think of the incredible transformations we have witnessed in recent decades. In less than 20 years the Japanese and the Germans have become the foremost traders of the world, and the Jews the foremost warriors.

When solving human problems we have to grasp, and hang on to, what we see. Riots, mugging and crime in the streets should be dealt with not as if they were the outer manifestations of some dark disorders in the cellars of the mind, but as the perverse high jinks and shenanigans of spoiled, unruly juveniles of every age who think they can get a wav with it. You have here a virulent form of juvenile delinquency on a 'cale. Swift, unrelenting justice will take the fun out of lawlessness and cause juveniles to think twice before they let themselves go. THERE IS no proof that righting wrongs and satisfying demands can stop riots and crime.

It has been proven again and again that tame, meek antagonists incite juveniles to violence. Both the hoodlum students and the Black Power murder boys have displayed their ufmost savaeerv on campuses and in cities where authority was hesitant, unpre- nared and genuinely benevolent. What can social psychologists and sociologists prescribe for w'ell fed. well clad Negro juveniles who want to have a ball looting, burning and shooting, and for students who want to make history on the campuses0 What sort of soul healing is there for a studerr leader Columbia who is reported to have said: much as we would like to, wc are not strong enough as vet to ge- stroy the United States. But we are strong enough to destroy budget prioraie er over Do not teacher sent the most dent Groves fails to consider that La Crosse teachers simply will not continue to work for the salaries they have received in the past, and that bargaining agents for the city had no choice.

The day when salaried workers had to accept. with no voice in the matter. whatever wages an employer was willing to pay, or go without a job is becoming a thing of the past Why should teachers be asked to make sacrifices no one else is willing to make0 Why should teachers adjust their salaries to suit hat taxpayers are willing to begrudge any more than an insurance agent would offer a policy to an indigent person at a reduced premium0 Groves implies that additional student programs and facilities are needed. We now have non-academic programs Saty. such as driver education and music, plus services such a- transportation, meals, guidance.

and school-sponsored social activities. I am not opposed to these thing- hut if we demand services formerly provided by the family and church, then must foot the bill. Why ask teachers to pick up the tab? Why not plumbers, office workers janitors, insurance agents: in other words, taxpayers. including teachers0 Asking teachers to forego part of their salaries plus paying their share of taxes in the interest of student needs is emotional blackmail. Groves says.

have no intention of telling the board where to take it (the money) from He also says he would not recommend teacher salary cuts Just what does he ommend'' statements are worthless blind criticism and of no help whatever in solving the school budget problem R. M. Burzinski. 3158 S. 28th La Crosse.

Jhsi jki IU sa TWENTY YEARS AGO-1948 McGilvray Bridge declared unsafe for travel; La Crosse and Trempealeau County officials close highway. Chinese Communist capture of Suchow confirmed by government military sources. Henry S. Rice, 65, president of Rice Grocery Co. and active in grocery industry for 46 years, dies.

Tomah citizens face shortage of milk supply in confusion over deliveries following two-cent drop in price to producers. Department and general store sales in La Crosse up 14 per over a year ago. Rivermen report muskrat population showing in Mississippi River bottomlands. THIRTY YEARS AGO-1938 City considering big storm sewer project; expects to vote bond issue to cover cost. Gov.

La Fcllette, retired in recent election, boosts salaries of executive staff by $2.000 for remaining month of tenure ending Jan. 1. Sen. Borah, R-Idaho, tests hysterical world armament trend, says people are going to on question of going to war. Harold F.

McCormick, reaper magnate, sued by Mrs. Olive Randolph Colby of Kansas City, for $2 million, alleging breach of promise. Despite recent assurances to the contrary, chief of police restricts access of Jews to streets and quarters. FORTY YEARS AGO-1928 Majority of Wisconsin counties favor state highway commission proposal for four-cent gasoline tax to finance state hard roads. Commander Richard E.

South Pole expedition sailing southward to establish base on edge of Antarctic ice barrier. Speaker of the House Nicholas Longworth bangs the gavel to open 70th session of Congress. Highway 3 south of Winona in motorists routed via Highway 35. River and harbor work on Upper Mississippi River calls for $20 million appropriation, engineers estimate. F'iske popular Irish tenor, opens three-day engagement at the Majestic Theater FIFTY YEARS AGO-1918 Wounded men being returned from World War bat- tlef elds to be placed in hospitals within 300 miles of home, War Department announces.

All allied nations making demand for surrender of former German emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm, through the Netherlands government. More than 80 per cent of St. Wenceslaus School pupils at home with flu; say officials who consider closing the school. Frank P. Hixon, president of the Chamber of Commerce, By JOHN WYNGAARD in sorrow than in anger the thoughtful Wisconsin citizen observes such seemingly inexplicable events as the angry and destructive rioting of black students in Oshkosh State University, and the suspension of about 90 of them in retaliation.

From the viewpoint of the earnest men in Wisconsin higher education, from teachers to administrators and regents, the incident could not have come at a worse time. Almost surely the smoldering indignation of many citizens paying high taxes for the education of such young people will be communicated to the legislature. That body already is worried about finding the money to finance the explosively rising costs of the university systems. The citizen of middle years or above, who remembers his own college days finds himself stunned by such events when he recalls the disciplinary procedures at college in his own youth. There doubtless remains for example, thousands of Wisconsin residents who knew such stern men as Dean Scott Goodnight of the University of Wisconsin in an earlier era.

or Dean George C. Sellcrv. a no-nonsense scholar who was one of the adornments of the College of Letters and Science in Madison ANY STUDENT during their regimes who stepped out of line even slightly knew that punishment would be sure and swift. The kind of disruptions that the University at Madison endured a vear ago. and Oshkosh a little more than a week ago.

could not have been conceived What does the black student want0 The puzzled question echoes over Wisconsin After years of struggle for integration, these rebels now complain that they do not have a separate student union on the camDus for the black student bodv and they insist upon hiring more black teachers Perhaps the outsider can only understand these things, and then dimly, by imagining himself born and reared to manhood in a black skin. These people are mostly products of the ghetto, in Milwaukee and elsewhere No one who has the slighter knowledce of their backgrounds can be surprised that there is a deeD bitterness and frustration and indignation in their hearts, and that these outbreaks senseless as they appear are somehow outlets for such feelings Obviously they are wrong Plainly they will hurt themselves. and even the cause of their people, far more than they will hurt the institutions against which they revolt. BUT THAT is not the whole story. The notorious eruption last fall at the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin was not a black demonstration nor were other unsavory recent incidents.

It was led by whites. Many are members of the upper midfile class, as indicated by their family background. Many can lay down the com- narativelv high nonresident tuition charges and dormitory rentals, and come to Madison intending to continue through graduate school. These are the nihilists, the conscious revolutiona'ies They perhaps are more hurtful to the higher education institution as a whole than the impulsive rebellion of the small black college community in white Oshkosh. It needs to be emphasized again that they are not numerous.

But they are noisy. They know how to command attention, and they want it for their own destructive purposes. (BibkL Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said. will never fail you nor forsake 13:5. Ca (Crnrnir W.

T. BURGESS, Publisher SANFORD GOLTZ, Editor appoints committee to ar- and Sunday naming In the La Crosse Tribune anti Cass La Crosse, Wis 54401. The La Crosse Tribune is a member of range for homecoming welcome to all La Crosse and area soldiers. La Crosse County completes construction of county tuberculosis sanitorium in Onalaska at cosi of W. C.

Winter is chairman of the board. Lee Fnterprlses. and of the Assoc Fress. The Associated Press Is entitled exc'usve'y to the use for repub- licaflcn of a I local news printed in this newspaper as well as all AP news dispatches. Second Class postage paid at La Crosse, Wisconsin.

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