B The Dally Tar Heel Monday, October 24, 1977
Jim Holshouser discusses Republican Party, Helms, Hunt and succession
Even though North Carolina politics fit the classic
textbook description of a one-party system, the state's
only Republican governor in this century says two
party politics are alive and kicking.
"People's political attitudes have changed," said
former Gov. Jim Holshouser, chief executive from
1973 until earlier this year. "People are no longer
voting for parties; they're voting for candidates. It's
pretty definitely a two-party state."
A product of the state's Republican stronghold
around Boone, Holshouser's first elective post was in
theN.C. House of Representatives in 1963. Hebecame
minority leader of 1 3 other House Republicans in 1965
and held the party's state chair from 1 966-1 97 1 . After
missing the 1967 General Assembly session,
Holshouser returned to his House seat in 1969. He
stayed there until he ran for governor in 1972.
The former governor concedes that the state's
mountainous western sections are traditionally the
strongest Republican areas, but he discounts the claim
that Republican power is limited to the west. Climbing
party membership in the Piedmont and Republican
victories in legislative elections in Wilmington,
Morehead City and Kinston indicate a rise in
Republican strength across the state, H olshouser says.
"The Democrats outnumber us three to one
statewide," H olshouser said. "But a consistent number
of Democrats vote Republican every time. The eastern
part of the state is still Democrat, but that's beginning
to change."
Of the 1 70 members of the N.C. General Assembly,
only nine are Republicans. One other assembly
member, Sen. Carolyn Mathis of Charlotte, was
elected as a Republican in 1976 but later changed to a
Democrat.
Even though he is a Republican, Holshouser has
become the champion for what has been dubbed a
Democratic program: the proposed constitutional
amendment to allow the state's governors and
lieutenant governors to seek second terms.
Holshouser and former Democratic Gov. Terry
Sanford are founders of the pro-succession
Committee for the Right to Reject or Re-elect.
Holshouser first proposed gubernatorial succession
in 1973 when he advocated a measure that would
apply to whoever became governor in 1977 instead of
the incumbent in 1973. The Democratic General
Assembly killed the 1973 plan.
The succession measure approved by the 1977
General Assembly is different from Holshouser's
original version because it does allow the incumbent to
run again. For that reason, political observers have
called the proposal u power play by incumbent Gov.
Jim Hunt.
Holshouser disagrees with the Hunt power grab
theory, even though succession probably would not
have passed in the legislature without heavy lobbying
from Hunt.
"IN QUOTES"
By DA VI D STACKS
"If the legislature had passed my bill in 1973, it
would have applied to Hunt anyway." Holshouser
said. "1 guess it was inevitable that people today would
tie the issue to him (Hunt). But 1 had hoped people
would look at it in terms of the next century instead of
the next four years."
The former governor says succession could help
defeat the sitting governor if H unt can and does decide
to run for re-election in 1980.
"When a candidate knocks on the door of a house
on an unpaved road, he can promise to pave that road.
That's how he gets into office," Holshouser said, "But
in four years, he's got to go back to that same door on
that same unpaved road and tell why that road didn't
get paved. That's how he gets out of office.
"A challenger running against an incumbent's
record has the advantage. If you've never run for an
office before, you can promise and promise but not
have to worry about it on election day. But it's another
story four years later."
Holshouser says he is glad Hunt and the
Democratic legislature support succession. But he
wonders why they didn't support it in 1973.
"You don't know how frustrating it is to say, "Let's
just make license plates every five years." lor example,,
and have it knocked down just because it was a
Republican who suggested it."
North Carolina is one of only seven states that do
nor allow their governors to succeed themselves. The
Tar Heel state is also one ol the few whose governor
does not have veto power over the legislature.
"I wish the veto were on the ballot along with
succession." Holshouser said. "But I doubt the
legislature w ill consent to giving up that much power.
"Veto is a double-edged sword. You (a governor)
can veto it. or you have to put your John Hancock on
it. You may say those rascals in the legislature did it.
but your name is still on that bill saying you approved
it." '
Holshouser and Republican U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms
both were swept into office onthecoattailsol Richard
Nixon in 1972. After the Republicans came to power
in state government, a rift developed between
followers of Holshouser and the more conservative
Helms.
Helms forces became so powerful that many
Holshouser people, including the governor himself,
were shut out of the 1976 Republican National
Convention. Holshouser went to the convention
anyway as a floor leader for President f ord but was
not allowed to sole as one of the state's delegates.
Little more than a year after the Helms-Holshouser
feud, the former governor says the state Republican
Party is re-uniting itself and becoming a cohesive
political group.
"As Republicans on the local level get their
candidates for local offices. I think the party will pull
itself together. The signal I'm getting is that people
(Republicans) are rallying 'round the flag.' "
Holshouser said.
I he former governor says he w on't have time to do
much campaigning for Helms when the senator runs
for re-election next vear. even though he supports
Helms.
"I have to be involved in a law practice in Boone and
Southern Pines and can't do too much barnstorming,"
Holshouser said. "But 1 don't see him (Helms) getting
beaten. 1 don't even see a Republican primary."
While advocating succession, holshouser is still a
strong critic of H unt. "The governor is elected to take
control of state government. But Hunt as governor has
not been consistent with what he did as lieutenant
governor in 1973."
Alter Holshouser and Hunt went to Raleigh in
1973. the governor fired 100 employees of the state
Department of transportation. As the ranking
Democrat in Raleigh. Hunt appointed a committee to
investigate political hirings and firings in state
government.
"I thought it was a cheap shot." Holshouser said.'
"We lotted resignations Irom fewer employees than
any ol i lie past four Democratic administrations. The
people who jumped on Hunt's bandwagon in 1973
were trying to protect political hacks on the public
payroll who weren't working lor the public.
"We had some rough times in 1973. But we were real
amateurs compared with the present folks. Very
systematically, the legislature this session has gone
through and changed the law to get rid of people."
I he 1977 General Assembly passed a bill that allows
H unt to dismiss any employee who has been with state
government less than five years. All of Holshouser's
appointees fall under jurisdiction of the new law.
" I he worst thing is that it's so blatant and obvious,"
Holshouser said. "If we had done in 1973 what Hunt is
doing now. everybody would have come at us both
barrels."
The former governor says Hunt has made progress
by proposing merit selection of judges, but Hunt has
hurt state government with en masse hirings and
firings, such as wildlife commission and parole board
members.
"The manner in which this thing has been is pretty
savage." Holshouser said. "People who are doing their
jobs should not be sitting up nights worrying about
their jobs.
"If someone in government disagrees with the
captain, he'd best get off the ship before he says
anything." Holshouser said. "That's the proper
position people should take. But the governor can't
afford to have a bunch of yes-men around.him.rHe
-V4
''A' '" ' J
W
! ii ii i I j mir, unman u r m iiiiiiii iii
Jim Holshouser
needs opinion from all sides before he makes a
decision."
David Stacks, a sophomore journalism major from
Blowing Rock, N.C, is a staff writer for the Daily Tar
Heel.
Greg Porter
Editor
Ben Cornelius, Managing Editor
Ed Rankin, Associate Editor
Lou Biuonis, Associate Editor
Laura Scism, University Editor
Elliott Potter. City Editor
Chuck Alston, State and National Editor
Sara Bullard, Features Editor
Chip Ehssiin, Arts Editor
Gene Upchurch. Snorts Editor
Allen Jernigan, Photography Editor
Bathr
(Far in
BSth year of editorial freedom
letters to the editor
North Campus males respond to Mclver's plea
Proposed noise ordinance
needs more study, flexibility
A number of unanswered questions concerning the proposed noise
ordinance for Chapel H ill should prompt the Board of Aldermen to put off a
decision on it until all the ramifications of the ordinance are known.
Alderman Marvin Silver will propose a new noise ordinance at tonight's
board meeting which, though basically sound, could lead to considerable
problems if it is adopted hastily. The ordinance would put a limit of 75
decibels on sound from a continuous source, i.e. bands and jukeboxes. City
police would enforce this level with a noise meter 75 feet from the source of
sound. .
A jukebox at full blast registered about 75 decibels in a test conducted by
Silver last week, while most bands registered from 77 to 80 decibels. The
ordinance includes a provision for permits to exceed the prescribed sound
levels for a given time of day by 10 decibels.
Though supporters of the proposed ordinance say it is not as subject to
discretion as the present one, we're not sure Silver's proposal is free from
subjectivity. Under the present ordinance, one complaint to police makes
them warn the noisemaker and two complaints usually prompts police to
shut the party down. The new ordinance is good because complaints would
no longer end a party if the noise is under the legal limit, but what will
prompt police to measure bands now?
!t should not be solely up to the discretion of police to measure bands,
though Silver said he does not expect police to make rounds of every party.
The police should receive at least one complaint before they measure the
source, not simply ride past various parties they feel may be loud and pull
out their noise meter.
Moreover, though the level of sound is fairly flexible in the proposed
ordinance, the distance from which the sound is measured is not. Silver
proposes that the source of sound be measured from 75 feet. It seems rather
silly, however, to impose the same standard of 75 feet on fraternities in
residential areas and those in isolated areas like the ones on Finley Golf
Course. Noise that might rattle the windows of residential homes would just
fade into a starry night down at Finley.
It's clear that more testing should be done before any specific sound and
distance levels are established in the ordinance. Silver himself has said the
ordinance should be phrased simply so that it can be amended later without
undue difficulty.
If the ordinance does not leave enough leeway, students may find the
ensuing sound of silence deafening.
First kiss tonight
Good grief, Charlie Brown
Hold on to your security blankets. Grab your Beethoven records.
Tonight, Charlie Brown gets his first kiss.
Charlie Brown, the bald-headed, wishy-washy kid in the "Peanuts" comic
strip, finally gets it on with the little red-haired girl whom he has admired for
years. And on national television, even.
Mustering up all his courage, Charlie Brown finally approaches Heather,
as cartoonist Charles Schultz calls her, on an animated CBS-TV special
tonight called "It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown."
The hero of the strip, it seems, is growing up. Charlie Brown probably w ill
begin dating, getting pimples and wondering where babies come from.
Lucy will give up her psychiatric booth for a kissing booth, and Linus will
lose all interest in thumb-sucking. Instead of trying to write the Great
American Novel, Snoopy will turn out romantic dimestore paperbacks.
Schroeder will become gay.
Life gets more complicated every day, doesn't it?
To the editor:
In response to complaints of a lack of
enthusiasm on the part of North Campus
males ("Jock raid repulsed." Letters, Oct.
20.). I am pleased to announce that the first
Old Well Invitational Panty Raid was an
overwhelming success.
Starting out as a somewhat hopelessly
small movement in the Old West T V lounge,
we were soon able to gain much needed
support from the raiding reserves of Old East
and Grimes. From this point, we proceeded
to a number ol North Campus women's
dorms where we soon found that their
enthusiasm is far from lacking.
Although we were unable to gain any truly
active participation, we were able to capture
over 50 panties and other assorted
'unmentionables' from the fair maidens of
Mclver, Kenan. Cobb. Aycock and Ruffin.
We are especially pleased to announce that
Mclver, whose letter prompted our
Thursday night march, was by far the most
generous and hospitable dorm and was
awarded the first Old West Large Jock
Award.
We hope the girls will not give up their
raids w ith only one failure and assure them
we'll be back.
Richard I). Klimkiewic Jr.
8 Old West
To the editor:
As residents ol the Upper Quad, we were
saddened to w itness the lethargy and lack of
thoroughness exhibited by the Mclver
women on their jock raid of Oct. 18. We of
Grimes, as you were passing by. implored
you to stop and sing to us to break the
drudgery of studying for mid-terms. One of
our number even threw his "support"
towards you as you ambled past. Did you
stop and yield to the call of nature? No!
Women of North Campus respond! Do not
judge the Upper Quad by the actions(or lack
thereof) of a few people. Remember
tradition; , remember the mutual raids
between Mclver and Grimes during exams
last spring, and how well everything came off
during those escapades. Put more spirit into
your chants: and we will "support" you 100
percent. Come to Grimes because we
measure up!
Signed by 36 residents of Grimes
To the editor:
Dear Mclver: After reading your letter
concerning jock raids, we at Manly can
sympathize with your disappointment at the
lack of participation of the men's dorms of
Upper Quad. We are. however, not at all
surprised that the other male dorms, being of
an inferior nature, failed to accommodate
you. Our men were a trifle shocked at being,
by-passed by your entourage, having always
been avid ''supporters" of North Campus
women's activities. I n conclusion, we suggest
that to avoid future disappointment in your
late night ventures, come to where the name
implies all - MANLY, (We're proud of our
"boys").
S.O.M.P.
The Manly Zero Association
3L.
Green comments 'absurd'
To the editor:
Lt. Gov. Jimmy Green has been making
some interesting comments in opposition to
the succession amendment. Mr. Green
contends that the right to succession would
give the governor "awesome" power and
make the legislature but "a pawn in the
hands of the governor." That these
comments are absurd is obvious when one
remembers two points that Mr. Green has
conveniently forgotten: ( 1) that the governor
of North Carolina is the only state governor
without veto power and this significantly
adds to the legislature's power because there
is no check over them and (2) the succession
amendment only allows the governor to try
for re-election. The voters may turn him out
of office if they feel his programs are not
worth continuing.
Obviously, Mr. Green does not put much
faith in the people of North Carolina if he
does not think they are intelligent enough to
know w hether their leaders are doing a good
job. The current system makes the governor
a lame-duck almost from the day that he
enters the office. M r. Green should disregard
his personal antipathy toward Gov. Hunt
and realize that the succession amendment
will benefit the people by giving them a
choice.
Harrison Kaplan
303 Stacv
Reevaluate admissions policies
To the editor;
Although much has been said concerning
the Bakke dilemma, the dialogue should
continue because of this issue's importance
to society. Therefore, 1 will contribute yet
another opinion for consideration.
Many comments have been made
concerning whether or not the minority
students admitted to the University of
California at Davis Medical School were
"qualified" or "unqualified." Was Bakke
more qualified than the applicants chosen
under the school's minority admissions plan?
How should we decide if an applicant is a
high-potential (qualified) student or a low
potential one?
Currently the usual basis of judgment
seems to be the applicant's MCAT scores
and undergraduate quality point average.
But do such indicators really measure an
applicant's potential as a doctor (or any
other professional)? Does one's QPA
indicate one's "qualifications" or one's
ability to beat the undergraduate system? Do
MCAT scores indicate one's potential or
one's talent for taking standardized tests?
How, then should we judge?
The Bakke case points out the need to re
evaluate traditional graduate (and
undergraduate) admission policies.
Traditionally, the question we have asked
has been. "Which applicants hae made and
probably will make the highest grades?"
However, the more important question is,
"Which applicants offer the greatest
potential contributions to society after
graduation?" Obviously this question is a
more difficult one to answer, but it is more
socially responsible.
The time has come for society and its
institutions of higher education to ask some
hard questions. No longer can society, and
that means you and 1, rest comfortably on
the ways of the past.
Rick Reams
312 Lewis
letters
policy
The Daily Tar Heel welcomes
contributions and letters to the editor.
Letters must be signed, typed on a 60
space line, double-spaced and must be
accompanied by a return address.
Letters chosen for publication are
subject to editing.
Take time to vote
To the editor:
I have followed the intellectual debate on
the succession amendment in the DTH with
interest, but 1 feel that it is time to focus on
the reality of the situation and what our role
as the educated and informed electorate is.
First, we must realize that this issue is
indeed a constitutional amendment. Citizens
of North Carolina cannot avoid this issue
with the apathy that is currently being
encountered. We will have to live with the
result of the November election even if we
choose not to vote on the issue; Therefore, an
uncast vote is a vote for the group that can
get the vote out.
It is easy to let J im H unt become the center
of the question. We must, however, have the
foresight to look past Jim Hunt to the time
when our classmates will be the leaders of
North Carolina, We must take the time to
assess the role Of the governor's office and
how this amendment will affect the office
instead of how it will affect Jim Hunt, And
most especially, we must be willing to
participate, through our vote, in the future
direction of our state.
Opinions voiced in the DTH are worthless
unless they are voiced on the November
ballot. I appeal to the University community
to take the time to vote. Apathy in the
majority leads to rule by the minority.
Catherine Morton
421 Granville East
"Well-fed dogs'
To the editor:
It galls me to hear Rick Kania, et al.,
equate affirmative action with classic
historical discrimination. In the past blacks
were systematically excluded from all but the
lowest rungs of the economic ladder. To be
black was to be out period. Now, under
"discriminatory" affirmative action, white
students still garner 80-90 percent of spaces
in graduate and professional schools. To be
white is not to be out. Whites still receive the
vast majority of places available.
Gentlemen, you are like well-fed dogs
fighting over scraps thrown to strays. How
dare you claim you're being starved out.
Lee Kessler
709-A Hibbard Drive
Happiness in bondage?
To the editor:
1 was one of the persons attending the Oct.
1 1 meeting concerning the four week drop
period. I was at first informed that Faculty
Council members would be present this
was not the case. The CGC committee
members said that our arguments would be
presented at the Oct. 21 meeting of the
Faculty Council. Apparently this is also
untrue.
The CGC appears to be caught
unprepared, first with no proposal to
submit, and now with no faculty member to
submit the proposal. 1 must conclude from
this that the CGC does not care about the
issue of the four week drop any more than
the majority of the students, who may be
angered but not enough to do anything
about it.
lt looks as if the students have been
railroaded again. The mistake of the four
week drop has been forced on us by the
administration and faculty in their
conviction that academic freedom is the
freedom to do as they please without
listening to the largest voice in academia.
Perhaps, as Pauline Reage has said in The
Stury of O, there is happiness in bondage.
Rodney A. Craven
27 Spring Garden