Editorials and Comments
Who's To Blame And Who’s To Suffer?
The appeals for sacrifice and self
denial evoked by the energy crisis are
heard by black people with a
mounting sense of frustration and
anfWr We are assured that-all are
being asked to make equal sacrifices,
but it is painfully apparent that the
lower your income and the darker
your skin, the more you will have to
give up. * _
" There is a great deal of difference
between requiring a yacht owner to
forego a season's boating, and telling
a black auto worker that he faces
indefinite unemployment. We have
endured inflation, and recession, and
high unemployment, and now, we are
told, a critical shortage of fuel, and
with-each new crisis blacks learn,
with renewed poignancy, the truth to
the saying: “Last in, first out.”
One wonders just who the govern
ment’s public relations campaign,
which implies that a wasteful society
is to blame for the energy shortage, is
directed at. ? Black families, even
the upwardly mobile, very often don’t
have the resources sufficient to
provide for their basic necessities.
By suggesting that they and other
working Americans have created this
situation, the Administration is
simply trying to disavow the
responsibility for its own failures.
— • • r
Mistrust of the President's ability
to resolve the energy problems with
justice and equity is universally
shared by working people. And
Watergate is not the only reason for
their suspicions. For they remember
that every other period of economic
slump has elicited from the Nixon
Administration policies which have
only worsened their plight.
As we enter a new year, economists
are almost unanimous in predicting a
sharp increase in unemployment; job
loss will be the most severe,
moreover, in industries which have
traditionally employed large num
bers of blacks. As of yet the Ad
ministration has not proposed a
public employment program massive
enmiffh to soften the impact. \
inistration’s athe
sh of gasoline is to permit
prices i rise until, it is hoped,
motoris will be persuaded to use
some other means of transportation.
Once again it is poor people and
working people who will suffer - the
privileged can well afford the in
creased prices. _
The question of who in fact is to
blame has not been adequately an
swered. It is apparent, however, that
the oil companies have contributed to
the current shortage, and many
believe that they bear the heaviest
burden of responsibility. In 1972-ibil
firms donated staggering amounts --
$5 million by one account -- to the
President’s re-election campaign.
Thus -no one can be blamed for
doubting Nixon’s ability or force of
will to deal with the oil firms.
Black people have already suffered
from the policies of this industry.
Last year thousands of small, in
dependent service stations were
forced to close because of the refusal
of the major oil dealers to supply
them with gas. Many of these were
owned by blacks; there was a time, in
fact, when operating a service station
represented one of the few en
trepreneurial opportunities for poor
blacks. Now this option is closed.
Congress, as part of its in
vestigations into the energy shortage,
is expected to give careful
examination to the role played by the
oil industry. The- AFL - CIO has
already urged Congrees to consider
regulating oil firms through a form of
nationalization, much as public
utilities function. I think such a
proposal would be a justifiable and
effective means of regulation, and
should be adopted if there is strong
evidence that industry policies are
largely responsible for the shortage.
Something else is also necessary if
a shortage truly exists - there must
be equality sacrifice. We have
already witnessed one shameful
attempt to exploit the nation’s fuel
problems to thwart school in
tegration. The proposal to amend the
Emergency Energy Act to forbid fuel
allocation to public school busing was
one' of the most cynical and
outrageous acts in a year which
produced a great deal of talk about
the need to restore confidence in
government.
** v
sacrifice in times of emergency if
government is honorable and just.
But there is no justice for those
without jobs, and there is no honor in
trying to cripple racial integration in
the name of energy conservation.
(Guest Editorial by Bayan Rustin')
A COMMENTARYON AMERICAN NEGRO AFFAIRS
By ROY WILKINS *
In offering The Post Mr. Wilkins’ column,'
Garland Atkins, publisher of the Charlotte
Post and president of General Publishing
Company said:
We are among those who believe that the
vast economic and social significance of this
new era for the Negro American calls for a
new kind of evaluation and interpretation - a
report Jorwhiteand Black readers alike from
a black writer who has the respect and con
fidence of both. Roy Wilkins is such a man.
The new column he will do for us will be a
thoughtful and informative appraisal of news
and trends in the changing American life of
these new times. It will be an analysis from
the black side.
Look for and read Mr. Wilkins’ thought
provoking column on the Editorial page every
Thursday beginning January 31.
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Published every Thursday by the General Publishing Company.
Executive Offices at 105 South Main Street, Belmont, N.C. 28012, known
office of publication 2315 LaSalle Street, Charlotte, N.C. 2S215.
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lnAnn n M0T.Society Writer
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James Peeler.
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TELEPHONES - (704) 382-1308 A 382-1387
4
To Be Equal
Gerald Ford Opens Lines To Blacks -
JR.
A small breach was made
in the iron curtain surroun
ding the top leadership of the
executive branch of the
government the other daj
when Vice President Geralc
Ford held_a luncheon
meeting, one of a projectec
series, with a representative
sampling of black leaders.
Over a year ago I called or
president Nixon to meet with
black leaders to get a feeling
for our problems and concern
and to open the White House
to our views. There was no
answer then, but now the Vice
President is doing just that.
In ordinary times this
would be nothing .<jpfrjp| hMt
at a~TTme when Tumors o*if thp-J
President’s impending
resignation are rife and
impeachment proceedings are
under consideration, such a
meeting has significance. It
means that the man who may
succeed to the Presidency is
striving to understand the
position of minorities whose
cause he has often opposed in
the past, and that he feels
national leadership must be
open and responsive to key
segments of the population.
At the meeting Mr. Ford
impressed me, as he's im
pressed most people, as a
decent r earnest man anxious
to do right and concerned that
the public's trust in govern
ment and the stability of our
institutions be recovered. He
seemed to be concerned with
the difficulties faced by black
people today, and especially to
Mumjf .hagdshins we.
face.
At this point, it is doubtful
that his concern and
responsiveness can be
translated into aggressive
leadership and innovative
programs. More important
than anything that transpired
at the meeting, which was
more in the nature of a
general discussion, was the
fact that it took place at all.
The meeting, and those that
are planned to follow it,
represents a first, major step,
in the education of Gerald
Ford.
Most blacks are wary ot
him. His years in the House,
representing a largely white.
middle class district, were
marked by conservatism
and opposition to scores of
bills that would advance the
civil rights and economic and
social conditions of minorities.
The excuse for these votes
has been that he was reflec
ting the conservatism of his
district and now that he has a
national constituency, he will
change. The problem with that
is that as minority leader he
had a national constituency,
and also had a safe enough
seat that he could afford to
risk a few votes that his
district wouldn’t like.
But the minority leader’s
real constituency is the party
membership of the House and
the will of the President. So
there is a case to be made for
a change of attitude based on
the new constituency a
President or Vice President
has. —.
Under such conditions
past votes in the House are not
as important as a man’s
character and his view of his
responsibilities. And in this
regard, it is worth quoting
Representative Andrew
Young's statement when he
became the only black
Congressman to vote for Mr.
Ford's confirmation:
"Out of my own southern
experience," Congressman
Young said, “I have con
fidence that people can
overcome past parochial
views and develop a broader
perspective which takes into
account the interest of the
people. Decent men, placed in
positions of trust, will serve
decently. 1 believe that Mr.
Ford is a decent man."
Even political foes like
Young agree that Ford is a
decent man. His personal
integrity is his strong suit.
Now he will have to put
substance behind it in the
form of real moral leadership.
Right now he is a relatively
unknown quantity in people’s
minds but if he can demon
strate that he cares, that he,
listens, that he will act on
behalf of the poor and the
voiceless as he has acted in
the past on behalf of the
wealthy and the powerful,
then he will have gone a long
way toward easing people’s
-fears about the possible major
transitions in our country's
leadership.
HE HADA
5 dream *' ,
1929-1966 |
^ / ^ x If
MAYNARD N. JACKSON
MAYOR
ATLANTA,GA.
HON. ANDREW
YOUNG
A CONGRESSMAN,
^ATLANTA, GA.
_W
What A Happy Birthday....It Would Have Been
New Handbook Gives Advice
Pratical advice on bow to increase Black
voter registration ahd political participation is
contained in a new'publication of the National
Urban League-'Tbe Power of the Ballot.” A
Handbook for Black Political Participation.”
Prepared by the League’s Citiienahip
Education Deapartment which has registered
75,000 new Black voters in 17 cities since June
1972, the book contains numerous tips for
community groups who want to begin local
citiienship education^ voter registration and
get-out-the-vote campaigns.
Among some of the points made in the
publications are the following:
-It is becoming increasingly apparent that
such appeals as “Everyone has a duty to
vote,” "voting is an important way to have a
say,” do not provide the motivation to increase
participation in the slums...Increasingly, the
level of participation by minorities is tied to
whether or not these are viable candidates
jwho raise and speak to issues which concern
minorities and the poor." '
-A Black theater owner may be persuaded to
let a Deputy Registrar register the people at a
theater during slack hours. The price of ad
mission would be that a citizen must
register...These and other techniques are a
means by which Black business persons can be
involved in non-partisan political programs,
and provide a means of advertising black
owned businesses.
-Political research shows that the more
concerned a voter is with the issues, the more
likely he or she is to vote...Therefore, a major
objective of your voting drive will be to en
courage the widest possible public discussion
of important election issues.” '
The publication is available through the
communications departments, National Urban
League, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New
York 10022 at a cost of $2.50 a copy.
Sacred Heart To Service Regional Testing Center
oaureu neari will serve as
one of the regional testing
centers of the national
American College Testing
Program for the Charlotte -
Mecklenburg - Belmont area.
This test is one of the standard
national examinations for
students seeking admission to
hundreds of colleges and
universities.
The exam will be ad
ministered on February 23,
1974 and April 27, 1974.
Students interested in taking
th«r examination on these
dates should contact their
local high school guidance
counselor.
For the best sports coverage
of the Cl A A and the MEAC
read the Charlotte Post each
week.
Car Pool Participants
-To Receive Deduction^
Some seven million
motorists could receive
reductions of up to 18 per cent
in their auto insurance
premiums by participating in
car pools or using mass
transportation during the
energy crisis under changes in
classification definitions
announced today by the
Insurance Services Office.
The dollar reduction would
vary state, but it would
average $30 for eligible
motorists.
ISO, a national in
surance rating, statistical and
advisory organization, said
the savings become available
Feb. 1 and would reflect
reduced use of cars by pool
participant?. And hopefully,
added ISO, the changes
encourage other drivers to
join car pools or use available
mass transportation.
The announcement—wan
made by Daniel J. Mc
Namara, president of ISO, at
a joint press conference in
Atlanta with Georgia In
surance Commissioner
Johnnie L. Caldwell. Com
missioner Caldwell is
chairman of a special task
force of the National
Association of Insurance
Commissioners (NAIC) which
is studying the impact of
energy conservation
measures on property and
liability insurance.
The changes involve two
classifications of drivers who
use their cars to travel to and
from work or school.
Cars which are driven
between three and ten miles
one way and are used two
days or less a week, or two
weeks or less in a five-week
period, will now be classified
as "pleasure use.” Owners of
these cars could receive rate
reductions of 13 per cent. •
Cars which are driven 10
miles or more one way, but
with the same limitations, will
now be classified as “less than
10 miles.” Owners of these
cars could receive reductions
oT 18 per cent.—
ISO said the changes in
classification definitions are
being submitted immediately
to insurance regulatory
authorities in 40 states, the
District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico.
By Jim Martin
- Report From Washington
' ' . • t
The Federal Energy
Office has proposed a gasoline
rationing plan that could be
put into effect if, and only if,
tne gap between supply and
demand of gas becomes too
great to manage through
conservation and allocation
efforts, *
While we might well hope
that rationing will not be
required, we must never
theless consider in an
ticipation what it would do.
The program, if implemented,
would do four things:
1. Provide an equitable
system of supply of gasoline;
2. Preserve economic
stability;
3. Maximize individual
freedom of choice;
4. Establish a workable
administrative framework to
deal with critical shortages of
gasoline.
My office has received
hundreds of letters from
concerned constituents who
might suffer extreme hard
ships where rationing might
be imposed. As one example,
consider the traveling
salesman who uses his car in
the course of his work. Any
plan that would ration this
person the same amount as an
office worker would be unfair.
By the same token, forcing the
salesman to purchase ration
coupons from individuals who
do not need them puts him at
the mercy of people who might
not be Interested in his
problems.
The proposed rationing plan
would place the salesman and
others with similar work_
related gasoline requirements
into a commercial
classification, since he and
others like him need ad
ditional fuel for their
livelihood.
The area that would be
most affected by the rationing
proposal is pleasure driving.
The Department of Tran
sportation and Federal High
way Administration has
estimated that 72 per cent of
all gasoline is sold for use in
private vehicles. What the
plan would do. If it became
necessary to implement,
would force a reduction of
pleasure driving, which
represents about 47 per cent of
the total gasoline consumed
No one is advocating that
pleasure driving be abolished.
Under the proposed rationing
plan, a person would still be
able to “go for a ride” if they
car-pooled on other occasions,
or used tile bus. This would
make their allotment
available for uses other than
getting to their jobs.
Under the - ration plan,
gasoline coupons would be
provided to purchasers of
retail gasoline supplies. The
coupons would be freely
transferrable on both a formal
and informal basis. Drivers
who conserved fuel and used
fewer than their monthly
ration could do whatever they
wished with their excess
coupons.
The Governor of North
Carolina as in other states,
would be authorized to create
state offices of gasoline
rationing, as well as branches.
The states would have five
percept of the gasoline
coupons "set aside" to deal
with hardship cases. The "set
aside" system would allow
the states to determine which
citizens should get more
gasoline coupons for reasons
such as physical handicaps,
service in voluntary rescue
and fire-fighting services and
other "exceptional needs ”
The gasoline rationing plan
is strictly a standby program.
It was geared to be announced
March 1st, but because
petroleum supplies are high
enough to make rationing
unlikely, it will be held In
obeyance until late spring. At
that time, the Administration
will take another look at the
picture when spring and
summer driving demands
begin to cut into gasoline
supplies.
The government’s proposed
rationing plan is not intended
as a final regulation, but
rather as a vehicle for further
comment and discussion.
Any thought you might have
on it should be addressed to
Mr. William Simon at the
Federal Energy Office in
Washington...or to me.
Attention
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