The Michigan Daily
Vol LXXXVI, No. 10-S
AN EDITORIAL
Ann Arbor, Michigan-Tuesday, May 18, 1976
Ten Cents
Twelve Pages
Ford awaits vital
Udall: A man for the
era needs Michigan
MICHIGAN MANDATE for Morris Udall of Ari- <
a : na in today's presidential primary may turn the
tide of the campaign in favor of a statesman who of-p
fers :t pragmatic vision for the future of the UnitedX
States. Mo Udall combines a spirited idealism with ar
staunch, detailed program of reform to forge the kind
of candidacy the nations needs in a crucial era of
transition -
It is the governing commandment of this politicala
year that voters are weary of a corrupt and bloated
governmem, that they yearn for a fresh banner to
follow and iiew hopes to embrace. The nation's spirit
has stagnated; in the wake of our most devastating
and disillusioning political scandal the doldrums of
the Ford Administration have entrapped us.
It is clear that 1976 presents an historic opportunity
to choose the road the nation will follow during a new
era, a post-Watergate era in which politicians must'
make their pitch on the issues of integrity and open-
ness. Which road shall it be?
Gerald Ford has begun down his road already, and;
it is one without promise. While not an incompetent
executive, Ford has demonstrated a lack of concern
for the nation's pressing domestic problems and has
placed foreign policy in the hands of a secretary of
statepreoccupied with his private conception world<
-order. He lacks imagination and leadership in a timeu
which crise out for such qualities.
Ronald Reagan's road is far bleaker. Simplistic,
glib, Reagan is an advocate of the ulrta-right whose
campaign has consisted of half-baked, jingoistic pleas
for a return to Cold War diplomacy and Calvin Cool-
idge fiscal policy. He is a dangerous man.
But the candidate who has so far attracated the:
most attention and support is Jimmy Carter, he Demo-
cras' frontrunner. Carter's enigmatic appeal, a curious
blend of anti-Washington rhetoric and Southern moral-
in, has made an impressive dent in the electorate.
It is clear that many see him as the fresh leader for
which the Watergate-torn nation cries out.
But we see Carter as a false idol. The major les-
sons of Richard Nixon's downfall are these: only an
open government can satisfy the people, whether it
at liberal or conservative; a spirit of compromise
nmas for the most effective and representative gov-
ernment.
Carter shows signs of ignoring these lessons, his
ik of a Carter adminisration brings startling memo-
of Nixtn's owt. Ie is a candidate so imoress'd
Ith himself and his mission that he will tolerate few
'nstructive critics in his administration and will
'sten to little dissent outside of it. His record as gover-
nor of Georgia suggests asi much already. Carter's
appeal is his smile and his sermon-like campaign-
\merica needs more.
It needs Mo Udall. As a congressman on the firon-
lt of reformist law-making, Udall has confronted the
nation's ills with nuts-and-bolts legislation which
breathes not only hope, but an air of the practical, of
a dwn-to-earth.
Consider Udall's stand on the issues. He supoirts:
* the enactment of the lfumphrey-Hawkins full em-
tloyment bill.
* the defeat of Senate Bill one, the oppressive
criminal code revision.
. enactment of the Equal Rights Amendment.
* the establishment of a national health insurance
plan.
* a ban of "Saturday Night Special" handguns.
Udall is a man for the times. He promises progres
sive, practical leadership when we can afford nothing
else. Most emphatically, the Daily urges you to vote
fir Morris Udall today.
State primary test
By The Associated Press
President Ford and Ronald Reagan stayed home
yesterday, while Democrats Jimmy Carter and
Morris Udall went to Ford's home state of Michi:
gan. Everyone seemed to have one eye on Michi-
gan and the other on Ford's other home, the White
House.
Michigan was holding Republican and Democratic
presidential primaries Tuesday, and the GOP vote
in his home state was considered a crucial test for
Ford, who has lost five of the last six primaries to
challenger Reagan.
REAGAN'S NATIONAL campaign chairman, Sen.
Paul Laxalt of Nevada, said yesterday a Reagan
victory in Michigan "would be tantamount to a
nomination" for the former California governor.
Laxalt told a news conference in Lansing, Mich.,
that such a victory in Ford's home state "is still
very much a long shot." But, he added, "political
lightning may strike."
Laxalt said "the Ford campaign couldn't recover
from that kind of loss," and added it would "strain
the President's credibility" as an electable candi-
date.
FRONTRUNNER CARTER was challenged in
Michigan by Udall and in Maryland by California
Gov. Edmund Brown, but he said neither was cru-
cial in his getting the Democratic nomination. He is
absolutely" certain of a first ballot nomination,
Carter said.
"A defeat for Brown would be a serious blow
. . it could not be so serious to me," Carter said
of his race against Brown, who is facing his first
primary test. Carter left Maryland for Michigan
yesterday, while Brown continued stumping in
Maryland.
IN MICHIGAN later, Carter said: "One good thing
about my campaign has been that I can accommo-
date a loss every now and then without having it
deal a major blow to me. I don't have to win every
primary."
Carter said he thought he would do well in Michi-
gan - "I don't intend to lose" - but he said a loss
would not cripple his chances.
Udall, in Michigan also, demanded an apology
from Carter and from Detroit Mayor Coleman
Young over a remark Young made tying Udall to
the racial policies of the Mormon Church.
UDALL SAID HIS parents were Mormon leaders
but that he split with the church 30 years ago over
its policies, which deny blacks the rank of priest,
which is given to every other faithful male mem-
ber.
"I paid the price of doing so in my own family
and among my friends," Udall said, adding that
Young either "deliberately distorted the record or
he doesn't care whether he did or not"
Young refusedto apologize, calling Udall a "cry-
baby" and Carter said that he did not believe in
attacks based on a man's religion but that the ar-
gument did not involve him. "That's a problem be-
tween Mr. Udall and Mayor Young . . ." he said.
Though Reagan and Ford stayed out of Michigan
on Monday, both have been busy in the state in re-
cent days.
Daily Photo by SCOTT ECCKER
Fire call
Firemen responded to an apparent fire at the C. C. little Science Building last weekend, only to dis-
cover -that the smoke they saw was steam.
Vote in today's Michgan primary