John Gitlitz
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The assassination
of U.S. democracy
Assassination is an ugly word.
Citizens of this country have
expressed shock and dismay over
reports of CIA-backed plots to kill
unfriendly heads of state. Plagues
depicting the slain John F. Kennedy
still hang in homes across the nation
where devoted followers of JFK still
mourn his loss. And now President
Gerald Ford has been the target of
two assassination attempts within 17
days.
A free society cannot long survive
waves of assassination. With every
slain leader of a free state,
democracy loses its appeal for the
talented and those with leadership
potential. More than individual
policymakers are killed with each
assassination; the entire premise of
citizen participation in leadership
positions is increasingly imperiled.
Many political analysts believe
that if Edward Kennedy seeks the
presidency, he will be assassinated
by some nut who wants the infamy
of slaying the remaining Kennedy
brother. It would seem that this dire
prediction now holds for anyone
who seeks or holds that office.
Nelson Rockefeller correctly
labeled the first of the two attempts
against Ford as one of the risks of
Offer expires Oct. 6
Voter registration isn't hard. It
doesn't hurt. All it takes is some
form of identification, residence in
Orange County for at least one day
(without any definite plans to leave
any time soon) and the time and
interest to go to official registration
center.
Both today and next Wednesday,
the time commitment will be
minimized by an official registration
center in Woollen Gym's main lobby
from noon to 8 p.m.
Recent controversy over the
location and expansion of
fraternities and sororities
underscores the need for student
input into town governance. With a
mayoral election coming up and
several alderman seats and school
board posts to be filled, students in
Chapel Hill and Carrboro have an
immediate chance to push those
candidates who will push the
student's interest.
In Carrboro, a bus referendum
hp Hatty
Cole C. Campbell
Editor
83rd Year of Editorial Freedom
Jim Grimsley
Managing Editor
Greg Porter
Associate Editor
Ralph J. I race
Executive Editor
Jim Roberts
News Editor
Robin Clark
Features Editor
Susan
Shackelford
Sports Editor
Barnie Day
Projects Editor
Joyce Fitzpatrick
Graphic Arts
Business: Reynolds Bailey, business manager; Elizabeth Bailey, advertising manager.
Staff: Martha Buie, Elisabeth Corley, Mark Dabowski, Ellen Horowitz, Larry Kulbeck, Linda
Livengood. .
Composition editor: Mike Leccese
Student Graphics, Inc: Dean Gerdes, shop foreman; Stan Beaty, Henry Lee, Chiquetta
Shackelford, typesetters; Donna Carroll, Carolyn Kuhn, ad composition; Brenda Marlow,
Joni Peters, news composition.
Printed by Hinton Enterprises in Mebane, N.C., the Da7y Tar Heel publishes weekdays
during the regular academic year.
Wednesday, September 24, 1975
the job. If that risk increases much
further, no rational person will
gamble all for the momentary power
and influence of a 4- or 8-year term.
Either the means to select and
preserve the chief executive will alter
substantially, even to the point of
police-state protection for the
president which would isolate him
or her from the people, or only
irrational and power-crazy
individuals will seek the post.
Neither development would serve
the interests of the electorate. An
isolated president would become an
increasingly insensitive president,
perhaps to the point of placing
personal safety far above collective
rights and freedoms. A power-mad
president could very well jeopardize
the welfare of the state and the
liberties of the people for his own
benefit.
Even the crazies and the right
wingers and the left-wingers and all
other dissidents would lose under
these circumstances. One bullet will
not overthrow the capitalist,
democratic, middle-class dominated
system. But it may help advance an
evolution to a more repressive
system.
Violence is never an answer.
will be voted on. Bus funding is an
issue close to every commuting
student's and University worker's
heart. The only way it will pass is for
those who support a Carrboro bus
system to outvote those opposed.
That's obvious.
And the only way for any of this to
be accomplished is for students and
University workers to register and
vote.
For those who can't make it to
Woollen Gym today or next
Wednesday, registration is possible
at the Chapel Hill Municipal
Building (behind the fire station on
Airport Road) on Thursdays from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5
p.m.; on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. The hours for registration at
the Carrboro Town Hall on Main
Street are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturdays.
The prudent will make haste, for
this offer expires on October 6.
Sar Jlwl
News: Lynn Medford, assistant news editor. Writers: Art
Eisenstadt, Chris Fuller, Sam Fulwood, Bruce Henderson, Polly
Howes, Bob King, Vernon Loeb, Linda Lowe, Nancy Mattox,
Vernon Mays, Greg Nye, Johnny Oliver, Tim Pittman, William
Roberts, Laura Seism, Merton Vance, Richard Whittle. News
Desk: George Bacso, assistant managing editor. Copy Editors:
Chuck Alston, Janet Creswell, Ben Dobson, Jan Hodges, Clay
Howard, Todd Hughes, Deborah Lott. Rebecca Shirley, Malia
Stinson. Betsy Stuart, Bill Walker.
Features: Critics: John Russell, critic at large; Rick Sebak,
drama; Michael McFee, film. Writers: David Broadwell, Alison
Canoles, Susan Datz, Dan Fesperman, Marty Logod, Fred
Michael, Sue Ann Presley, Gloria Sajgo, Liz Skillen, Bill
Sutherland.
Sports: Jim Thomas, assistant editor. Gene Upchurch, desk
assistant. Writers: Jane Albright, Kevin Barris, Brad Bauler,
Mike Egan, John Hopkins, Bill Moss, Grant Vosburgh, Tom
Ward.
Graphic Arts: Martha Stevens, head photographer. Staff
photographers: Alice Boyle, Charles Hardy, Margaret Kirk,
Howard Shepherd. John Branch, Stan Coss, Nan Parati,
cartoonists.
On Friday the DTH published an article
by Mr. Tom Boney arguing vehemently that
the United States should not negotiate a new
treaty with the Republic of Panama.
As I understand Mr. Boney's case, it rests
on four principal arguments: ( 1) we own the
canal; (2) we have made a more than
generous contribution to' the economic
growth of Panama; (3) continued direct
control of the canal is vital to our economic
security; and (4) continued control is also
vital to our military security. Panama, after
all, is governed at the moment by an
"unstable leftist dictator" (Mr. Boney's
words). Implicit in his case as well
although to his credit unstated is the
assumption that the Panamanians would
probably prove incapable of running the
canal.
Before responding to these arguments, it
should first be made clear that what is at
issue is not giving the Canal Zone back to
Panama, at least not in the immediate future
(figures discussed include 25 and 50 years),
but only revising the present treaty. Should
Panamanian personnel be trained for and
included in the running of the Canal? How
much should the U.S. pay annually for the
Canal? How many military bases should the
U.S. be allowed to maintain in the Canal
Zone (presently the location of the U.S.
Army's Southern Command)? Questions
such as these are being discussed. On each,
the U.S. can make concessions far short of
yielding immediate control over the Canal
itself.
Returning to Mr. Boney's arguments, (1)
'Wxvn.
5Vi
I'VE &LYED THE BUS1NG-IOR-1 MTEGRWON PROBLEM I'fA BUSING ALL THE
Bates vs. O'Neal-more than meets the eye
To the editor.
I am totally stunned at the reactions of
certain people to a recent stand taken by
Student Body President Bill Bates. I heard
these same people not too long ago criticize
students for their reactions to the DTH
problem on the grounds that the students
were forming opinions without "complete
information." These same people
pronounced the students as biased and
unfair because they were only listening to
"one side of the story " And so now 1 find
these very same people proclaiming
themselves almighty and making the very
same irrational and unfair judgments. Do
they know all the facts?
Mike O'Neal's resignation was not
requested by Bates because of "personal
disagreements." Personal disagreement had
very little to do with this decision. On the
same line, the decision was not based solely
on the disagreement over the BSM funds.
True, Bates did feel O'Neal was a bit
underhanded in his efforts and therefore he
disagreed with O'Neal, but this decision has
been pending for quite some time. It is only
unfortunate that the decision was made
during such a stressful period. If anything,
Bates has been kind in refusing to fight back
with the real and binding reasons for his
decision. These reasons could only serve to
hurt O'Neal both personally and politically
in the future. Do not get me wrong O'Neal
knows why yet, he refuses in spite of these
interesting facts to step down like a
gentleman. It will be only unfortunate for
him if Bates is forced to reveal the real facts
behind his decision.
I only wish to add that I think it only
appropriate that these people declaring "Bill
is wrong and Mike is right" weigh the fact in
their minds, that there are always two sides
to every coin.
Debbie Bates
29 Lakeview Mobile Court
The O'Neal ego
To the editor.
The constitutional question posed by
Student Body Treasurer Mike O'Neal as to
his immunity from removal is an important
one, but what is more important is the
insight which this latest move as well as
previous ones gives us into Mike's apparent
attitude toward those for whom and with
whom he is supposed to be working.
O'Neal has demonstrated a strong desire
to have a part in the making of decisions
concerning students at this University. Such
an interest and willingness to be involved is
certainly an important and commendable
component in the personality of an office
holder. But in order to do an effective job
do we really "own" the Canal Zone?
It should not be forgotten how the present
treaty was originally obtained. Until 1903
what is today Panama was a province of
neighboring Colombia. Throughout the last
decade of the 19th Century the U.S. had been
negotiating with that nation to obtain the
right to build a canal across the isthmus.
Colombia, however, was unwilling to meet
our terms. On November 2, 1903, a U.S.
cruiser appeared off the port of Colon, on
the Carribean end of what is today the Canal
Zone. The following day a group of
rebellious Panamanians declared' their
independence from Colombia. With
Panamanian ports blockaded by American
ships, there was nothing Colombia could do.
Fifteen days later our government and the
new Republic of Panama entered into a
treaty which was singularly favorable to the
United States.
The Canal treaty did not suddenly become
an issue after the riots of 1964. It was
probably never accepted by many
Panamanians, and it was certainly rejected
by other Latin Americans. As early as 1924 a
prominent Peruvian politician made
internationalization of the Canal a central
plank in his campaign platform.
(2) Have we been more than generous
enough already to Panama? Mr. Boney
notes that the average Panamanian (that
mythical being who exists primarily as a
statistic) lives far better than do most Latin
Americans. How the Canal may have
affected distribution of wealth within
Panama is more problematic. In fact, by any
there is also required a basic sensitivity
toward those with whom one must work,
and Mike O'Neal has not allowed this
component to develop, or at least, to surface.
Treasurer O'Neal seems to have injected
too much of his "self into his job, and as a
consequence appears at times unable to
distinguish between the two. What has
resulted is a situation in which issues are
perceived as battles of wills, rather than as
opportunities for cooperation. Conflicts,
whether with the DTH, the BSM, or Bill
Bates, naturally assume a character in which
the personalities overshadow the issues, and
the likelihood of meaningful discussion and
effectively working toward a solution is
reduced. O'Neal's perspective seems to be
one in which issues are confrontations
between himself and the "adversary," in
which the successful exercise of power over
one's opponent becomes rewarding in and of
itself. While this perspective may do
wonderful things in the way of extending
Mike's dominion of power over others, it is
very counterproductive to the proper
carry ing out of his duties as treasurer, and
casts a negative image over Student
Government in the eyes of many students. If
Student Government exists for anything at
all, it is not in order to develop Mike
O'Neal's or anyone else's ego, but rather it is
in order to most effectively serve the variety
of needs of the students at this University.
And this function requires that those who
would serve possess a sensitivity and a
selflessness which O'Neal has yet to
demonstrate.
The latest confrontation between O'Neal
To the editor:
After Saturday's football game, this
version of Branch's cartoon seems more
appropriate.
Thomas C. Cooke
156 Ehringhaus
objective standard (and certainly by any
comparison with Americans living within
the Zone), most Panamanians continue to be
abysmally poor. The Canal is Panama's only
major resource. Yet much of the wealth it
generates wealth which could be used to
develop Panama is not available to that
nation. Moreover, Panama has little choice
in the matter.
These arguments are, obviously, far less
important than those involving the security
of the United States. Is direct control ovef
the Canal vital to our interests, either
economic or military?
(3) Economic security. Mr. Boney's
argument that twenty percent of all shipping
through the Canal either originates or ends
in U.S. ports is, of course, irrelevant. The
more important question is what percentage
of U.S. trade currently uses the Canal? The
figure is surprisingly small in 1971 only
8.8 (of total value), in 1972 9.0.
Moreover, for most of this less than ten
percent of U.S. ocean trade alternate routes
are available and at only marginally more
expense than the present one through the
Canal. Indeed, the Canal continues to be
used as much as it is primarily because fees
are artificially low. They have not been
increased since 1914.
(4) Military security. Two issues can be
raised. Is the Canal itself vital for rapid
movement of American ships between the
Atlantic and the Pacific? And, is the Zone
vital as the base for the U.S. Army's
Southern Command (at whose counter
insurgency schools many a Latin American
FEDERAL JUKES' "ID P0WNK.IOWA.
and the administration he works for will be
- valuable in clarifying the issue of the powers
of the president to fire as well as hire
appointees. However, another issue is
involved here, and it concerns the definition
that should be used in determining the
qualifications for holding an office. In a
democratic government, with respect to any
position that requires one to work with
people, the following general rule might be
useful: when one's own self becomes larger
in one's eyes than the responsibilities of one's
office, one is no longer qualified to serve.
Bill Patterson
214 Glandon Drive
Remove the O'Neal cancer
To the editor.
In one of the first issues of The Daily Tar
Heel, I remember reading a pledge to the
students from the President of the Student
Body, Bill Bates, promising better
relationships with the administration,
organizations, and a one-to-one
correspondence with those he represents
the students.
While reading the Tuesday, September 23
issue of the DTH, 1 read about criticisms of
our Student Body Treasurer, Mike O'Neal.
Quite a change in tones from the earlier
vision of what the new year would bring. I
congratulate the DTH on finally bringing us
two sides of the story as it has been going on
for over weeks, but once again, nothing
dictator has been trained). 1 personally do
not understand why the Southern Command
must remain in Panama or why most if not
all of its functions cannot be transferred to
either Flqrida or California.
The Canal is perhaps more valuable as a
means of transit between the Atlantic and
Pacific. Yet, many navy vessels are too large
to use the Canal. Robert Cox wrote in
"Choices for Partnership or Bloodshed in
Panama" that "in 1970 there were about
1300 ships afloat, under construction or on
order which could not enter the Panama
Canal locks. There were approximately
1,750 more ships that could not pass through
the Canal fully laden because of draft
limitations. . .A ranking State Department
expert in Panamanian affairs now terms the
Canal a military asset of declining value.'
In summary, even immediate complete
return of the Canal to Panama would not be
a disaster for the U.S.
Now let me reverse the question. Are U.S.
interests hurt in any way by not negotiating a
new Canal Treaty? If the U.S. persists in an
intransigent attitude on the Canal Treaty
violent clashes such as those of 1964 will
become increasingly likely. The Canal itself
is probably indefensible. Even small guerilla
efforts could easily blow up locks or ships
and put the Canal out of use for months at a
time. It is unlikely that Panama could '
become another Vietnam, but it is not
inconceivable. Many of my, Latin American
friends are certain that this is in store for the
future. Yet even violence of a much lesser
nature would be tragic. Moreover, it would
probably have effects far transcending the
borders of Panama. A serious clash between
Panama and the U.S. would produce an
alignment throughout Latin America hostile
to the United States. It would make the
position of U.S. economic investments
throughout the continent infinitely more
precarious. It might lead to the final demise
of the O. A.S., and it almost certainly would
produce censure of the U.S. in the United
Nations. Both Mr. Boney and Mr. Greg Porter
have criticized on this page the Secretary of
State for continuing to negotiate with
Panama in spite of an amendment to the
State Department Appropriations Bill
passed by the House of Representatives
prohibiting such negotiations. Ambassador
Bunker, of course, has no legal obligation to
cease negotiating until a similar bill is passed
by the Senate and signed by the President. I
earnestly hope this does not occur. If a treaty
seriously detrimental to the interests of the
United States were to emerge from current
talks and I believe this unlikely it could
always be rejected by the Senate, and no
damage would have been done. (I see a
greater danger that a treaty beneficial to the
United States but resented by the powerful
and vocal Canal Zone lobby would be
rejected.) To prohibit by law that
negotiations even be undertaken is to ensure
that American interests will be damaged.
positive is revealed from all the print.
Whether or not Mike O'Neal is doing his
job according to the law, spending countless
hours in his office, or wasting pencil lead
does not solve the problem at hand. The
dissension of the treasurer from the rest of
the University is the most important issue,
for without cooperation from organizations,
the different governing bodies, and
especially the one in charge of distributing
the funds, Bill Bates' ideal of where the
University's potential could take us wilL
remain exactly that a personal conception.
To hold the office of treasurer is enticing. As
we have witnessed, O'Neal's power is
unique and unyielding. In order for Bill
Bates to achieve even the first phase of his
master plan, he should solve his
administration's internal disorders, namely
the department of the treasury. When he
realizes where the symptoms are originating,
I have faith in him to cure the disease and
move forward to an immediate and complete
recovery.
This University has too much to offer,
and for any one person to have the power to
take our rights into his own hands is a crime.
To investigate an organization is his
alternative, but to convict it before the
evidence has been obtained by freezing its
funds is an even worse crime.
It is not too late, but time is fleeting. Mr.
Bates, remove the cancer from your
administration.
Larry Segal
Junior history major
I r SL vvHO vOULD NOT BE AE-Jr
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