; , . , t ' ' ~ ' ' ,'', ' , , ';. , ,;fir . ,,', r ',!t ', ,,, , ! ,,, , + ' ' K NAVE6 . T t NC2 ~ACt l A M5($ J THE6bl VOF~MW, Iti A. 'lilt btMCLAt,~ --(C kAbA ,"0H IN)Tw! JOAL FLY 60k t -1 zii j1/5' SI f < I I X1t 61 .00P.5 PO F WPP"M ~ty#asw sw i The Michigan Daily Edited and managed by Students at the University of Michigan Wednesday, June 16, 1976 News Phone: 764-0552 Don Bolles' tragic deat TWO WEEKS AGO today, Don Bolles, a 47-year-old newsman with 14 years of investigative reporting un- der his belt at the Arizona Republic, received a tip in an investigation he was conducting on high-level corruption in the state. Even though he later admitted from his hospital bed that he did not trust his underworld con- tact as a reliable source, he pursued the tip anyway. That day, as he turned the ignition key in his car, a powerful bomb planted in the floorboard was detonated. Bolles, the father of seven children and a Pulitzer prize nominee eleven years ago for stories treating bribery and kickbacks, lost a leg in the blast. His other leg and an arm were later amputated. Last Sunday, Bolles died in a Phoenix hospital. The Bolles incident underscores the fact that jour- nalism, especially investigative reporting; is a profession laden with risks, and one in which grudges are not quick- ly forgotten. The alleged killer, who was charged with the murder shortly after the newsman lost his battle for life, is accused of planting the bomb and luring Bolles to the car in revenge for the reporter's past exposes of underworld activity. The killing of a reporter in the line of his or her investigative activities is the most drastic form of prior restraint imaginable, one which particularly stirs the anger and emotions of journalists and others who hold dear a free press. Dan Bolles was killed solely because he saught ta uncaver and print what the public has a right ta knaw -- the truth. Last Sunday. the world of journalism lost a fine re- porter who for many years brought credit to his profes- sion. That same day, those committed to the ideals of journalism and a free press lost a vital little bit of our- selves. The year of the primary By DOC KRALIK THE PRIMARIES are at last over. The ex- perts need no longer be confused by Any- body But Carter movements or the attempted resurrection of Hubert Humphrey. In this popu- list year, the startling shift of power from the party regulars to the primary voter was apparent at a news conference held by Chi- cago Mayor Richard Daley on the last day of the primaries. "By God," Daley said, "You gotta admire him." Indeed, despite all his in- clinations to the contrary, Boss Daley had to admire Carter. The power had gone to the people. But what are the consequences of letting the voters decide? In the Pennsylvania primary, all good labor Democrats were supposed to band together behind the Humphrey surrogate to de- molish once and for all this smooth-talking Georgian. When they failed to do so, they ruined Humphrey for good. In the North Carolina pri- mary, the voters refused to believe that Reagan was finished, enabling him to persist when no one thought he could or should. Why have the voters consistently refused to act in a "rational" manner? THE ANSWER IS TWOFOLD, lying In the nature of the primaries themselves and in the influence of television. The primaries are spread alt over the country, and over four months. But to the primary voter, the campaign is comprised of only those few television commercials and speeches that reach him. The candidate must make an impression quickly, and the first im- ptressions are the most important. To solve the dilemma, the wise candidate relies heavily on his personality. His manner, his face, and his values are more important than his record, his ideas, and his party cre- dentials. Television has acquired exaggerated force in the primaries because the average voter gets most of his political information from the tele- vision news. This wouldn't be so bad if TV offered prime time debates and detailed analyses of the candidates. But TV news reduces a can- didate's campaign to a series of sixty-second equal-time segments each night. This, in turn, wouldn't be so awful if the segments offered the candidates' differing views in detail. In- stead, the spots are essentially identical. POOR TELEVISION reporting compounds the tendency of the primaries to value personality over ideology. Moreover, voters appear to react to candidates in the same way they react to new TV series. The ideal primary candidate might be compared to ABC's "'The Bionic Wom- an" - good-looking, but dreadfully lacking in plot. Clearly, the primary system is as riddled with problems as the caucus system that pre- ceded it. Yet it is no worse. Barry, Goldwater, one of the more disastrous nominees in history, won his nomination almost totally by caucus support, winning only the California primary. The principle behind the primaries - testing voter reaction and campaign skills - is a good one. The problems are mainly procedural. By 1980, there may be regional primaries which will allow coherent debate on policy and local issues. In addition, TV may recover its courage, shrug off its shallow scoreboard re- porting, and help the candidates present their facts as well as their faces. Doc Kralik, a former Daily staffer, is a Uni- versity late student.. BETH FRSFOMAN PETE PETERSEN KATHY MULHERN CASSIE ST. CLAIR DEBBIE DREYFUS$ BETH STRATFORD NANCY BOCK DAN BLUGERMAN. OLLIE KIESEL DON SMPSON .... Sumner Business Staff .Bu.siness Manager Advertising Coordinator Display Advertising Manager ....Circulation Manager ..... Classified Manager H ead Carier .splay Adverttising Ass't Manaer ........... Salesperson ............. Salesperson ..... .. . n. . . i..... Salesperson LettE clericals To The Daily: I wish to express my thanks to the 373 members of UAW Local 2001 who voted for me, and to the many friends and volunteers who worked so hard on behalf of the Unity slate of candidates in an effort to save the local union we clericals need so badly. I'm sure they know, as I do, that the elec- tion results do not come about through lack of commitment to the union on our part, but rath- er, as the logical outcome of a systematic campaign, aided and abetted by the Michigan Daily, to destroy the great union of which we are a part. It is understandable to lose an election to forthright and dedi- cated opponents; it is yet an- other matter to lose through slander of the vilest sort, slan- der which the inexperienced and ignorant staff of the Michigan Daily chooses to print as "truth." Apparently, ethics, the principles of journalism, and a knowledge of the facts of life cannot be learned in the uni- versity's undergraduate class- rooms. The Daily's partisanship in our internal local union elec- tion is no more warranted than bias on the part of the Univer- sity Record would be during an SGA election. But then, of course, the group receiving the Daily's support has made many absurd claims of wishing to represent the student population and also, hospital patients. It is ors to The Daily also very likely that the Daily will show this letter to Carolyn Weeks prior to publication, end thus give her yet another unfair advantage over her opponent, Debbie Moorehead, since this has been the admitted poli:y of the Michigan Daily in the very recent past. The membership of Local 2001 faces its last great choice be- fore decertification - the ch ice between Debbie Moorehead and Carolyn Weeks for President. On this choice rides the future of all University clericals. I urge all clericals to put aside thir differences and unite to save this local. I urge you to give your support to Debbie Moore- head. Susan Sasselarn TODAY'S STAFF: News-George Lobsenz, Ken Parsigian, Tim Schick, Barbara Zahs Editorial-Jim Tobin Photo Technician-Scott Eccker