Eighty-two years of editorial freedom
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
A perspective on the panhandling psyche
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Mich.
News Phone: 764-0552
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Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. This must be noted in oll reprints.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1972
Massage parlor retrospect
N BECOMING involved with the recent
raids on Ann Arbor massage par-
lors, The Daily was not acting in the be-
lief that prostitution itself is inherently
wrong, but rather that those who back
up such operations are.
Prostitution has been "legalized" by
some states which, by law, force a wo-
man to submit to the sexual desires of
her husband. In most state,, however, it
has been "deemed" illegal, with the
harshest penalties set for those who so-
licit for or operate houses of prostitu-
tion.
Unfortunately, the present statutes
primarily serve to increase the number
and severity of the crimes that are com-
mitted. As in the case of most victim-
less crimes, a network of organized crime
and blackmail has grown up around the
original "offense", with police being
paid off to "keep quiet" and participants
blackmailed in order to retain their
anonymity.
On Sept. 25, The Daily received a phone
call from a young women who had ap-
plied for a job at Ceasar's Retreat Health
and Massage Studio, 212 W. Huron St.
The woman said she had been told that
not only would she be doing topless mas-
sages, but that she would be expected to
perform sexual acts as well.
FOLLOWING HER CALL, The Daily
sent a reporter to apply for a job at
Ceasar's Retreat. The reporter was told
her job would include performing sexual
acts and that she would have a "prac-
tice session with the manager" during
which he would "prepare her for any-
thing." Her pay would be $1.60 an hour;
the studio, meanwhile, would take in
$25 for an hour's massage. The studio
also would receive a membership fee
from customers of $6 a month or $26 a
year. The woman would be paid some-
what more for any sex acts she perform-
ed, though this would be regulated some-
what by "base rates" established by the
club. The Daily decided to proceed with
a story on Ceasar's Retreat.
In doing so, The Daily kept in mind
its strong belief that the women whose
only crime was prostitution should be
safeguarded from possible prosecution.
The Daily instead wanted to direct its
efforts against the state-wide corpora-
tion that maintained Ceasar's Retreat,
worked its female employes double
shifts at low wages, and might develop
into an extortion racket as have other
prostitution rings.
WHYTHEN did The Daily contact the
Ann Arbor Police department before
proceeding with the investigation?
Any story about the massage parlor
would have required comment from the
nanagement of the studios. In addition,
the police would have had to be lcontact-
ed for comment on the legality of such
establishments, their knowledge of its
existence, and .what they might do about
it. Such a story may have tipped off the
proprietors, provided them the chance
to destroy their records and safeguard
themselves - but not the women they
were exploiting.
The police pointed out that the laws
on prostitution specifically state that
immunity from prosecution will automa-
tically be granted those that testify
against the alleged operation. With as-
surance by the police that they were
primarily interested in arresting those
who were behind the operation, The
Daily agreed to cooperate and not re-
lease a story before their investigation
could be completed. And with The Daily's
involvement, the chances of the police
stalling on the Ceasar's Retreat investi-
gation were minimized.
MEANWHILE, the police continued their
investigation of the American Mas-
sage Parlor, 215 S. Fourth Ave., while re-
ceiving further complaints against Cea-
sar's Retreat.
Tuesday the two establishments were
raided, three people arrested, and cus-
tomer records seized. Those arrested
have been described as the "managers"
of the operations, but whether they are
indeed in charge has not yet been de-
termined., Even if they are, there are
probably many layers of "managers"
over them, who will be more difficult to
apprehend.
Those who have any information con-
cerning the operations of either Ceasar's
Retreat or the American Massage Parlor
should contact The Daily or the Ann
Arbor police. Many students and area
residents have either applied for jobs at
these places or have worked there. Any
information could be instrumental in
the investigation and arrest of those on
the higher rungs of these establishments.
Perhaps someday prostitution will be
legalized in this state and a woman will
be free to regulate her services as she
pleases, on her own terms. In the mean-
time, "big timers" must not be allowed
to operate in this town, relying on a
supply of young women from a nearby
campus, exploiting their bodies, and get-
ting off free themselves.
-SARA FITZGERALD
Editor
By CHARLES STEIN
WHETHER OR NOT we care to admit it, there lies within each of
us a dark and sinister alter ego, a hateful, violent little person
lurking around in our mysterious psyches.
And for each of us, there is also some trigger mechanism which
catapults this alter-ego into the forefront of our personalities. For me
that trigger is The Panhandler.
The panhandler you say. You mean that poor innocent creature
of misfortune? That little woman or man-child, forced out, into the
world at a tender age, left alone to battle the cruel elements of life.
Yes, the panhandler I answer. That dirty, scruffy little' beggar who
constantly harrasses you as you try to walk peacefully from One part
of campus to another.
The mere sight of one of these rip-off artists causes a Jekyll-Hyde-
ian transformation within me, and I turn from a mild-mannered
reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper (?) into a. screaming
raging reactionary.
"Got any spare change man?" the panhandler asks.
"Get a job you mangy hippie", I shout, barely able to restrain
myself from pounding him into the ground "a la" hardhat.
LEST YOU dismiss me as little more than a modern day Scrooge, I
should add that I have always considered myself a charitable person.
I usually contribute generously to the various legitimate solicitors on
campus, even if it means foregoing a Miller's ice cream cone.
This frightening schizophrenia has prompted me to sit down and
try to analyze the root causes of my antipathy to banhandlers. Much
of it stems, I think, from my past experiences in the great city of
New York, the panhandling capital of the nation.
One incident that quickly comes ,to mind took place in the
Pennsylvania Railroad Station about a year ago.
I was sitting in the waiting room, waiting for a train, as the name
implies, when I was approached by a tall thin freak about 20 years
old.
He told me that he had just returned from Washington where he had
spent 40 days in jail because he didn't have enough money to pay his
bail for a Mayday arrest. He needed eight dollars to buy a train ticket
back to Hartford, Connecticut.
A POLITICAL PRISONER I thought. How can I refuse him? And
although I don't put much stock in a person's looks, his face practically
reeked of sincerity.
i As it happened I was rather pinched for funds at the time, so all
I could spare was a measly fifty cents. I felt incredibly small putting
the, two quarters in his palm, but he put his hand on my shoulder and
said, "That's all right, brother, I understand."
His words had an uplifting effect of my spirit and I got up to
catch my train feeling that I had done my share for humanity. I de-
cided to buy a magazine before heading home, and it was at the maga-
zine stand where I had my fall from innocence.
There at the counter, handing my two quarters to the salesman
was my political prisoner, buying the latest issue of Time Maga-
zine. The revolution had been betrayed.
Even now I conjure up visions of Ann Arbor panhandlers, totalling
up their accounts -for the day, and walking around the corner where
they are met by chauffer driven limousines which take them home
to palatial suburban mansions.
Deep down, I'm sure I know this isn't really true, but that
doesn't stop me from going into a rage when I encounter a panhandler
on the city's streets.
Some day I may rid myself of this chronic hatred, but for now,
it's in my blood.
Charles Stein, Daily night editor, is well known for his treatise, "On
Suckiness," which appeared recently on this page.
I
......... . '
Realignment of South Korea
HE IMPOSITION of martial. law in
South Korea, declared Tuesday by
South Korean President Chung-hee Park,
serves to reveal a previously hid-
den fact. The government of South Korea
is apparently concerned with establish-
ing closer diplomatic relations with the
Communist government of North Korea,
even at the expense of risking relations
with the United States.
In proclaiming martial law, President
Park suspended some provisions of the
South Korean constitution, in effect
since 1963, outlawed political activity, ef-
fected press censorship, and dissolved
the National Assembly. He did promise,
however, that the people would be able
to vote in late November on several pro-
posed revisions to their constitution, and
that constitutional rule would be re-
stored by the end of the year "at the
latest." (One such revision would al-
low Park to serve his fourth consecutive
term.)
Park claimed that his moves were
necessary, in order to protect the na-
tion from "unfavorable changes in and
around the country." In particular, he
cited a significant shift in the balance
of power among the countries around
the Korean peninsula.
Editorial Staff
SARA FITZGERALD
Editor
PAT BAUER ,.......... ..Associate Managing Editor
LINDSAY CHANEY .. ............Editorial Director
MARK DELLEN . .......Magazine Editor
LINDA, DREEBEN ...,. . Associate Managing Editor
Park apparently referred to Japan's
normalization of relations with the Peo-
ple's Republic of China.
Furthermore, in recent years Japan
has replaced the United States as South
Korea's chief source of economic aid. In
addition, the U.S., which currently has
40,000 troops stationed in South Korea,
has been slowly cutting military aid to
that country.
THE IMPLICATIONS are clear. When
the U.S. was South Korea's closest
ally, it was important for that country
to maintain an official air of democracy.
Park's government and democratic con-
stitution was at best a Thieu-like dicta-
torship. However, now that the political
tides in Asia have changed, Park appar-
ently feels it is time to drop the mas-
querade, and begin to embrace South
Korea's neighbors - both communist and
non-communist.
Both South and North Korea, in fact,
agreed in July to work for reunification
of the two countries. Such reunification
would probably involve compromise on
the part of both.
Naturally, U. S. officials have express-
ed deep dismay at Park's move to mar-
tial law and called the actions unneces-
sary and unjustified.
Actually, the state of martial law in
itself is not the crucial point. What is at
stake here is the future of the South Ko-
rean government. At this point, it ap-
pears that the people of that country in
the winter elections may choose a gov-
ernment not to the liking of the United
States.
HRP an
By TOM WIEDER
WHILE THE Human Rights Party has
made steeply graduated income taxes
one of its chief platform planks in the
election campaign, it has done virtually
nothing to bring them about. It has, in
fact helped to thwart Democratic efforts
to establish progressive taxation.
Last February, HRP opposed the 1 per
cent flat rate city income tax, saying
that instead it would work on the state
level for steeply graduated income taxes.
Well, HRP had an excellent opportunity
to support such a tax this summer and
they blew it.
The Michigan Democratic Party soon-
sored what was called the BEST petition
(Better Education/Sound Taxation), a far-
reaching proposal to provide property tax
relief for the poor, elderly and tenants, es-
tablish a steeply graduated state income
tax and equalize the quality of public edu-
cation throughout the state.
AT THE SAME time, the Michigan Edu-
cation Association (MEA) launched two
counter proposals, which will appear on
the November ballot as Proposals C and
D. Proposal C, like the BEST petition, low-
ers the limit on local property taxes. Pro-
posal D would eliminate the State consti-
tutional ban on graduated taxes.
The intent of all the ,proposals was to
provide property tax relief, eliminate the
property tax as the chief means of financ-
ing public education, and establish a school
financing system that would provide equal,
quality -education for all districts, from
inner city Detroit to affluent suburbs.
But there were key differences. The
Letters to
To The Daily: bound u
I'M SUPPORTING Perry Bullard conventic
for State Representative in the 53rd But stat
District, to select
I admit that I did not vote for them on
Perry in the August Democratic ist revol
primary. Instead, I supported Hel- force HR
en Forsythe because I believed ity the p
(as I still believe) that it is vit- ing a car
ally important to have an activist ative. H]
woman in Lansing leading the sentative
fight on issues like abortion and elect th
the end to sex discrimination in 53rd Di
employment and education. When himself
it appeared that HRP would nom- coterie o
inate such a candidate, I was pre- aawoma
pared to enthusiastically support lature.
her.
But it seems that HRP was no IN CO
more willing to run an activist wo- Perry's
man for the Legislature or for paign for
MEA Proposal D merely allows a graduated
tax, it doesn't require one. The BEST
proposal would have mandated a steeply
graduated state income tax, and would have
anchored the slope of graduation in the
state constitution.
There were other advantages to the BEST
proposal. With the reduction in local pro-
perty taxes, landlords stood to reap huge
dividends in the form of tax savings. This
was one of HRP's chief objections to the
city tax. But the BEST petition required
these savings to be passed on to tenants.
IT ALSO ESTABLISHED a statewide bus-
iness property tax. The MEA Proposal C,
supported by Republican Governor Milli-
ken, allows businesses to escape some half-
billion dollars in local property taxes and
maintains the constitutional' prohibition of a
state-wide business property tax.
Finally, the BEST petition required the
state to maintain at least the present level
of support for the schools. The MEA pro-
posals have no such guarantee.
If both MEA proposals pass, property
taxes will be cut and the legislature might
pass atgraduatedeincome tax, or it could
raise the flat-rate tax (favored by the
GOP) or it could do nothing.
Present polls indicate that the property
tax relief proposal (C) will pass, but/the
graduated tax proposal (D) won't. If this
happens, the legislature would have no
choice but to increase the flat rate tax to
keep the schools afloat. By combining the
two proposals, the BEST petition increased
the chances of getting a graduated tax.
WITH A REPUBLICAN Governor and
a Republican-controlled state Senate, it is
doubtful that a graduated tax will be pass-
ed at least until 1974, even if Proposal
D does pass. The Michigan GOP has al-
ways opposed graduated taxes.
With the BEST proposal, families earn-
ing approximately $20,000 a year or less
would have paid lower income taxes and
those above $20,000, higher ones. With the
present level of education expenditures
maintained, the income taxes for a fam-
ily earning $100,000 a year would have
gone from 3.7 per cent to 12.5 per cent.
But HRP, the self-proclaimed champion of
graduated taxes, refused to support the
drive to get the BEST proposal on the bal-
lot. The drive failed by a large margin
to get the required number of signatures, so
HRP's non-support probably wasn't decis-
ive. This was not known in advance, of
course, and hardly justifies HRP's failure
to support a highly progressive tax plan.
WHY DIDN'T HRP support the BEST pro-
posal? Several objections were raised. First,
the rate of graduation would have been
written into the state constitution, rather
than allowing it to be set by the legislaure.
Second,corporate income taxes wouldn't be
graduated.
In response to the first objection, the
proposal set only the minimum rates of
graduation - rates as steep as any in the
nation. The legislature was permitted to
make the rates even steeper for incomes
over $25,000, but was not =permitted *to
lower them. Such a system preserved the
progressivity of the tax.
The second objection makes no sense at
d taxes: Graduated hypocrisy
all. The purpose of graduated taxes is to
redistribute income from higher to lower
income persons. A graduated tax on cor-
porate income doesn't do this, for there
is no evidence that the stockholders of
larger corporations are any wealthier than
those of smaller corporations. It is a grad-
uated tax on the personal income of the
stockholders themselves, not on the corpora-
tions, which redistributes income.
Perhaps, as many of their statements
indicate, HRP simply didn't understand the
proposal. More likely, however, HRP ge-
fused to support this highly progressive
legislation primarily because it was drawn
up and sponsored by the Democratic par-
ty.
HRP HAS endorsed Proposal D, after
failing to support the far-better Demo-
cratic BEST proposal. Yet they have the
amazing audacity to put the following
statement in their main campaign bro-
chure: "The Democrats and Republicans
have both refused to spell out their position
on this referendum, indicating again their
unwillingness to challenge the present eco-
nomic structure."
Had HRP investigated, they would have
found out that, at its August state conven-
tion, the Michigan Democratic Party of-
ficially endorsed Proposal D and is pre-
sently distributing literature and expend-
ing funds to get it passed.
HRP has presented another case of steep-
ly graduated hypocrisy.
Tor Wieder, '73, is active in Democra-
tic political circles.
J'
The Daily: Shapiro for Bullard
nder state law to hold a
on rather than a primary.
e law did not force HRP
its candidate by grilling
their fidelity to the social-
lution. State law did not
P to make ideological pur-
primary criterion in select-
ndidate for state represent-
RP talks about how repre-
its party is, but if you
e HRP candidate in the
strict he will still find
hamstrung by that small
of ideologues who ruled out
n candidate for the legis-
NTRAST, I believe t h a t
candidacy and my cam-
r Congress (although I lost
come convinced
that he has a
sense of how to operate as a minor-
ity legislator in, Lansing. For no
matter what party controls the
legislature, anyone from Ann Ar-
bor who is concerned about issues
like legalization of drugs, improv-
ing the quality of education, and
curbing the powers of giant utili-
ties like Michigan Bell is going to
fin himself in a very small minor-
ity. What is needed are the skills
of an advocate for unpopular caus-
es, not the skills of a comminity
organizer. What is needed is some-
one like Perry Bullard whosunder-
stands the legislative process a.-O
is committed to left-wing programs,
not someone who is going to use
the legislature as a platform to
posture, much in the way HRP of-
has a far different definition of
the word than I have.
I think it is important that on
issues like the legalization of mari-
juana, on issues like the end to sex
discrimination in education, Ann
Arbor have an effective advocate in
Lansing. I am confident that Per-
ry Bullard will be that kind of
spokesman for unpopular causes.
That's why I'm supporting h i m
without reservation.
-Walter E. Sha piro
Oct. 18
Daystar angry
To The Daily:
I WOULD like to comment on
two recent references in The Daily
to the Daystar concert series.
suasions as well as inflating the
profit by a factor of 10. We da
appreciate the correction w h i c h
was printed but are still concerned
about inaccuracy in details and the
tone of the reporting.
Daystar is a student controlled
concert series with participation
open to any and all registered stu-
dent organizations. Its goal is to
provide entertainment to the com-
munity, rather than rip off stu-
dents and make exhorbitant pro-
fits as would a private promoter.
We charge admission, and barring
either a sudden change in our
socio-economic structure or genero-
sity by performers, will continue
to do so. Last year our average
profit from fourteen conce"tis was
less than $375.00 ner concert -