f .. '.
i
Democrats and the politics of passivity
Letters to
By JAMES WECHSLER
CONCEIVABLY THE decline of Richard
Nixon has ruined the prospects of
many 1974 Republican Congressional and
local candidates and even gravely imperil-
ed the GOP's national chances in 1976. But.
Democrats who believe they can now safe-
ly freeze the ball and wait for the final
whistle could blunder into unexpected
trouble.
Too many of them seem to be succumb-
ing to the strategy of passivity. Their posi-
tion was most elegantly outlined by John
Kenneth Galbraith in a recent Newsweek
essay in which he counseled a concerted
effort to prolong Nixon's reign for at least
six more months. Among other things he
wrote:
... . the longer we wait, the more peo-
ple will go down in the ship with Mr. Nix-
on. This will be of inestimable benefit to
the Republic .. . Another winter will teach
us much about the economics of benign
inaction .. . Given another six months, the
Nixon blight will be deep on Capitol
Hill...
"Our best chance of getting something
done is to have Mr. Nixon around a bit
longer as the visible symbol of what is
wrong .. ."
WHILE GALBRAITH parenthetically
conceded that some Democrats might suf-
fer from growing voter hostility to all in-
cumbents, he suggested that such indis-
criminate slaughter might also be produc-
tive: " . .. there has been an assumption
that an incumbent, if not affirmatively
larcenous, should be reelected." But he
plainly envisaged the Republicans as the
primary victims of Nixon's survival, just
as "the early Depression years tied Mr.
Hoover and his political coreligionists
firmly and justifiably to economic advers-
ity."
Galbraith, of course, is a mischievous
fellow whose words must be scrutinized to
ascertain whether his tongue is furtively
lodged in his cheek. A vigilant Republican
might speculate that his remarks were
deviously designed to hasten anti-Nixon
rebellion among Republican politicos.
But many Democrats for whom inertia is
a preferred way of life may find his scen-
ario irresistible; indeed, they have been
acting it out. They may discover too late
that they have confounded themselves.
In another country in another time,
there was a political sect known as Com-
munists whose disciples embraced the doc-
trine of "the worse, the better." The place
was pre-Nazi Germany; the gospel was
that the advent of Adolf Hitler would
swiftly rid Germans of their Social-Demo-
cratic illusions and lead them to see Len-
inist light.
One must interpose for those who read
as they- run that no vulgar analogy is in-
tended; Galbraith and Nixon wear neither
red nor brown shirts, nor are barricades
being built in the streets.
But there is a haunting similarity in the
notion that what Americans need is a de-
liberate protracted continuance of disarray
and dissembling in high places to teach
them the enduring virtues of Democratic
progressivism.
IF THERE WERE any doubt of the per-
ils in this course, it should be finally dis-
pelled by the energy turmoil. Whatever the
true condition of our resources, the fact is
that the country is torn by a deepening
distrust of any emergency pronouncement
that emerges from Washington.
To talk frivolously-or rapaciously-
about the political dividends of keeping
Mr. Nixon around as a target in these cir-
cumstances can only encourage the charge
that Democrats care more about beating
Republicans than about the state of the
Republic. A lot of Americans could ex-
perience mounting political nausea over
that spectacle -- and the beneficiary of
their disgust is more likely to be a dema-
gogue such as George Wallace than a lib-
eral Democrat.
SOME DEMOCRATIC statespersons may
feel that Mr. Nixon's continued presence is
a special luxury because it seems to spare
them the obligation of offering affirmative
positions of their own. In the oil mess, as
in other matters, the Democratic Congres-
9f
~l (
vote yes
To The Daily:
I STRONGLY urge a yes vote in
the January 22 special election for
an Area Skills (vocational-techni-
cal) (Center.
~ The greatest gap in our educa-
tional system today centers on stu-
dent dropouts during high school
years. These are the unmotivated,
the unskilled and the source of
ther costly problems to those who
pay the taxes.
Young people, ages 14-24, in
Washtenaw County constitute 18
per cent of the labor force, but
aver 36 per cent of them are un-
employed. Welfare costs, c r i m e
statistics and high auto insurance
rates focus on this age bracket and
more often than not on the unskill-
ed and the unemployed.
The community college meets a
real need but picks students up
after high school where the pro-
posed Center wouldgive them em
ployable skills before they leave
high shcool.
As a legislator, I want no dupli-
:ation - no inefficiency - and as
a taxpayer, I want no new taxes.
But after careful study I am
:-onvinced that plans for this Cen-
ter are sound and non-duplicative
and I pledge myself as a legislator
to strive to see that the best pos-
sible results are obtained.
Finally, it's going to cost me less
as a taxpayer to pay for this Cent-
er now than to have to subsidize
all the other future costs which will
surely come if this gap in our edu-
-ational system is not closed.
I urge a yes vote on January 22.
--Gilbert Bursley
State Senator
Chairman of Senate
Education Committee
Jan. 17
cover-up
To The Daily:
AS REGULAR readers of your
tabloid during our tenure at t h e.
University, we, the undersigned,
have become increasinglv per!rh
ed by your blatant omission of one
of the most crucial issues of our
time.
While yogi have devoted reams of
newsprint to Watergate, the ener-
gv crisis, and increased tuition,
we have read nary a word about
the lack, nay the appalling lack,
of adequate and proper facilities
for our favorite avocation a n d
undoubtedly that of the vast via-
jority of our peers, namely bad-
minton.
Although we respect your eighty-
three (83) years of editorial free-
dom, we feel compelled to brIgr
' this matter to your attention, for
The Daily
we know that you, as the bulwark
of the free-thinking community,
would bring this perilous oversight
into the public forum. Like our
brothers and sisters in the g a v ,
chicano and black communities, we
too, as members of the balminton
community, have been victimized
by the capitalistic power-mongers.
To illustrate our point, w h i l e
recently indulging in this athletic
pursuit at Waterman Gym, we
were maliciously brutalized without
provocatiop by an unruly throng of
cagers. We were then forcibly es-
corted from the playing surface and
watched in horror as the swarms
descended onto the court tramp-
ling our shuttlecocks and dismem-
bering our net. And travesties like
this go unreported daily! Is our
rage unjustified? We think not.
While we are sure you did not
intentionally overlook the badmin-
ton controversy, 'e are now con-
fident you will perceive the dis-
turbing ramifications of this trend,
and will take such steps 'as are
ncessary to ameliorate the situa-
tion.
--Lawrence Tyner '7i
Jan. 9
comedy
To The Daily
THE BOLD, blaring headline
which was spread across your front
page Jan. 11 was indicative of the
unreasonable amount of attention
you pay Student Government Coun-
cil. SGC is regarded by most stu-
dents (even among the 3 per cent
of us who bothered to vote) as a
source of weekly entertainment
which serves as our very own cam-
pus situation comedy. One anxious-
ly awaits each Friday to see what
Lee, Dave, Jeff, and the rest of
the gang havekchosen to amuse us
with this week.
I am only surprised that Gil did
not resign' sooner. How he ever
managed to preside for jo many
months over such a meaningless
bunch of buffoons is more than I
ran ever hope to Tinderotend n.,«
only needs to readthe latest sur-
real account of last week'-, meet-
ing - complete with= its blocking
of the exit by SRP forces, and
reactionary calling of the oolice -
to see how decrepit and useless
SGC really is. I urge my fellow
students to join me in refusing to
nay the SGC assessment which ap-
nears on the first billing of the
winter term. Maybe then w.: will
he able to drive SGC down the
drain, wheredittruly belongs.
--.Jim Burns '77
Jan. 14
sional leadership has hardly distinguished
itself; while a few Senators have spoken
out, nothing resembling a sustained
Democratic offensive is visible. For some
the comfortable stance is anti-Nixon rhe-
toric and for others politics has temporar-
ily become a spectator sport. Only recent-
ly has there been any sign of real life on
impeachment proceedings; crucial weeks
were wasted.
The most fatefully missed opportunity
was the failure - during the interim when
the Vice Presidency was vacant - to press
for legislation that would have authorized
a special national election next year. While
some Democrats may have been genuinely
sensitive to the charge of striving to "re-
verse the mandate," too many were immo-
bilized by a reluctance to eliminate Rich-
ard Nixon as a symbol. Now a Harris poll
shows there would have been broad public
support for such a move.
"Six more months" of Nixon could mean
Gerald Ford's elevation to the Presidency
just as the Congressional battles begin.
This could prove the least favorable time-
table for Democrats. The strategy of post-
ponement is not only a cynical risk for the
country: it could be one of the big politi-
cal misjudgments of the century.
James Wechsler is Editorial Page Editor of the
New York Post. Copyright 1974 - The New
York Post Corporation.
John Galbraith
I
47e £ftrIian Da i1
Eighty-three years of editorial freedom
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
Brubeck and
sons
in a
new
key
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Mi. 48104
News Phone: 764-05c
52Z
-~
TWO GENERATIONS OF BRU-
BECK; Dave Brubeck and sons
Darids, Chris, and Dan; t h e
Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
conductors Eric Kunzel and Don
Th. Jaeger, Charlene Peterson,
soprano, University Choral Un-
ion, New Heavenly Blue. Thurs.,
January 17, Hill Auditorium.
Special concert of the University
Musical Society. All Brubeck pro-
gram.
By ROY CHERNUS
Dave Brubeck and sons' musical
potpourri in Hill Auditorium on
Thurday night displayed t h e i r
(heriditary?) talents. However, it
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1974
Remember the Palestinians
Blake reminisces,
performs ragtime
H THE signing of the agreement to
disengage military forces along the
Suez canal yesterday, the first faltering
move toward a reasonable state of peace
in the Middle East was taken.
The process of disengagement and ne-
gotiation along the Suez alone will take
a tremendous amount of time and work
as talks continue.
sut the eventual Israeli withdrawal
from the Sinai, as difficult as it may be,
is no doubt the easiest problem of Arab-
Israeli negotiations to resolve.
This point was demonstrated Thursday
Sports Staff
DAN ORUS
Sports Editor
FRA L GO
Mnaging Sports Editor
BOB McGIjN............... Executive Sports Editor
CHUCK BLOOM..............Associate Sports Editor
JO~L GREEK .......+.......Associate sports Editor
RICH STUCK ...........Contributing Sports Editor
BOB HEUER ..............Contributing sports Editor
Business Stall
MILL LACKFOrD
Business Manager
RAY CATALINO................ operations Manager
SHERRY CASTLE ...............Advertising Manager
SANDY FIEN8ERG............... Finance Manager
DAVE BURLESON .............. ..... Sales Manager
DEPT. MGRS.: Steve LeMire, Jane Dunning, Paula
Schwkch
ASSOC. MGRS.: Joan Ades, Chantai Banciltion, Lind&
Ross, Mark SaCpainte. $ uan n e Tiberio, Kevin
Trimmer
ASST. MGRS.: Marlene Katz, Bill Nealon
STAFF: Sue DeSmet, Laurte Gross, Debbie Novess,
Carol Petok, kMimi Btr-oni
SALESPEOPLE: W e n d ItPols, ToM Kettinger, Eric
Phillips, P e t e r Anders, R o b e r t Fischer, Paula
Sebwach, Jack Nazara, John Anderson
DAILY WEATHER ]UREAU: William Marino and
Dennis Dismacnek (forecasters)
when, upon the announcement that a
compromise had been reached, Syrian of-
ficials threatened to break diplomatic re-
lations with Egypt. It was reported that
some Syrians regard the agreement to be
harmful to the interests of Syria and
those of the cause of Arab unity.
THROUGHOUT MOST of the history of
the Arab-Israeli conflict, supporters
'of Arab unification have rallied their
cause around a policy of war against the
Israelis. Apparently Egypt's Sadat is at-
tempting to fight that trend with his
country's negotiations. Hopefully Egypt,
the United States and the Soviet Union
will be able to convince the Syrians to do
the same.
Even if they are successful, the prob-
lems of negotiating over the strategic
Golan Heights will be considerably more
difficult than negotiations about the Si-
nai desert.
The final problem, however, even if the
Arabs and the Israelis continue to make
progress, will be the oppressive plight of
the Palestinian refugees. It is certainly
clear that no settlement will work with-
out justice for the Palestinians, but at
this point they apparently continue to be
ignored.
ONE CONTINUAL source of Arab-Israe-
li friction, for example, has been the
Israeli policy to strike back at the coun-
try from which Palestinian terrorist raids
have originated. No matter what rela-
tions exist in the future between Israel
and the Arab states, if Palestinian griev-
ances are ignored the raids will continue,
and no doubt Israeli retaliation will fol-
low.
By ROY CHERNUS
A substantial figure in Amer-
ican musical history is in Ann Ar-
bor this weekend, black ragtime
pianist Eubie Blake. Blake, now
90 years old, is the last surviving
exponent of the turn-of-the-century
ragtime and vaudeville musical
traditions.
Blake reminisced and performed
for an hour yesterday at the
Stearns Building on North Campus.
Tomorrow he will participate along
with others in the dedication of the
Eva Jessye black musical collec-
tion to the University at the Stearns
Building begining at 3:00.
The pieces Blakeperformed in-
cluded his ragtimes "I'm Just Wild
About Harry", "Charleston Rag",
and his versions of "The Man I
Love", "Stars and Stripes For-
ever", and even the "Pilgrim's
March" by Wagner.
The verve and wit of this man
both verbally and musically were
incredible. Just when, for instance,
in Stars and Stripes you think
you know what's going to come
next, Blake hits you with any one
of a battery of musical tricks: a
turn of phrase, abrupt rhythmic
and accent changes, jaunty inter-
ludes, etc.
Upon being asked if Wagner ever
heard his version of "Pilgrim's
March," Blake replied, "If he did,
that's probably what killed him!"
Blake reminisced about his pro-
fessional debut in a "medicine
show": "Well, none of you young-
sters would probably know what a
medicine show was, but it was
started by doctors who flunked out
of school and had to make a liv-
ing."
"They used horse-drawn wag-
ons with two big gasoline lamps
and had pianists like me and 'Yal-
luh' Nelson playing on, the back.
But we didn't like what they did to
us, so I started playing in hous-
es of ill-repute."
In 1915, Blake met lyricist and
bandleader Noble Sissle who as a
songwriting duo played a crucial
role in the development of Amer-
ican musical theatre and black in-
volvement in show business.
They wrote a show in 1921 with
Miller and Lyles called "Shuffle
Along" that not only introduced
ragtime syncopated rhythms into
Broadway musical theatre for good,
but also introduced blacks into the
entertainment world after much
racist resistance.
raised serious questions as to whe-
ther jazz and classical styles can
be combined successfully.
Such combinations have b e e n
around since the 50's with t h e
pioneering efforts of Gunther Schul-
ler, John Lewis, William Russo,
et. al. It is surprising that Bru-
beck first attempted the genre
only in the late 60's after almost
20 years of writing his own brand
of jazz with subtle classical over-
tones.
But whatever Brubeck gained in
expressing profound religious and
political sentiments through text,
he lost musically. The many styl-
istic novelties of these works pro-
voke little more than initial inter-
est.
Truth (a cantata), Brubeck's
magnum opus, occupied the second
half of the program and called for
the combined forces of Jaeger, Pet-
erson, orchestra, chorus, and rock
group.
These, diverse protagonists were
reconciled convincingly in a des-
perate political statement about
American violence and repression
in the 60's. The well-crafted vocal
and orchestral writing manipulating
an atonal theme was juxtaposed in-
triguingly with some driving blues-
rock by New Heavenly Blue.
Still, music does not live by
contrasts alone, and the work of-
fered little in overall dramatic mo-
mentum. There were snatches of
burlesqued tunes and march-an-
themns, in the manner of Charles
Ives, Bernstein-like orchestra flam-
boyance, and contrived percussive
climaxes, but where was Brubeck?
Not even Jaeger's conscientious
direction, Peterson's radiance, nor
ended with a slick late-movie
soundtrack.
What a relief it was then when
Brubeck and the boys finally sat
down themselves to do such selec-
tions as Take Five and Three to
Get Ready, Four to Go which bore
the unmistakeable Brubeck signa-
ARTS
_ __ _ ____ '
freewheeling rock could uncover
any distinct musical identity be-
hind the notes.
As for the other works, Fugal
Fanfare offered substantial brass
fugues and vibrant rhythmic and
textural changes in the rest of the
orchestra, only to be dampened by
jazz sections that sounded pasted
on.
Brubeck attempted emotional
fervor and 'exotic' Middle-Eastern
flavor in excerpts from his ora-
torio Light in the Wilderness and
ture and exposed the budding tal-
ents of Chris, Darius and D a n
clearly.
The musical communication
among them was almost telepathic
and the tunes were as fresh as they
were back in the 50's when such
uncommon rhythms as 5/4 and 7/4
caused a furor in the jazz world.
DANTON TO SAN FRAN
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) - R a y
Danton has been added to the
regular cast of "The Streets of
San Francisco" series.
COMIC OPERA GUILD -- Mozart's Bastien and Bastienne;
Gilbert's Ages Ago: Trueblood Theater at 2 and 8.
DRAMA-PTP, Modern Studies and Residential College pre-
sent Marlowe's Dr. Faustus in Res. Coll. Aud., East Quad,
at 8 tonight.
SCHOOL OF MUSIC-Presentation of the Eva Jessye Afro-
American Music Collection in Stearns Bldg., North Cam-
pus at 3.
Tiii r .M ~-.-t i rnn 0_1A lv ccv r r~rvnl m,, " ,v. -