The Michigan Daily
Vol. LXXXVI, No. 68-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Saturday, August 14, 1976 Ten Cents Twelve Pages
Ford scores platform wins
KANSAS CITY, Mo. l(>t - President
Ford's supporters won a key test yes-
terday in the Republican convention plat-
form committee and his chief delegate
counter, James Baker, said several un-
committed delegates have promised pri-
vately to announce their support for
Ford after they arrive in Kansas City.
But Baker declined to say how many
delegates he was talking about.
JUST A FEW hours after Baker told
a news conference Ford had more than
enough votes to win the GOP presidential
nomination, John Sears, Ronald Reagan's
campaign manager, said that he was
sticking by his claim that Reagan bus
1,140 votes, 10 more than are needed for
the nomination.
While the campaign strategists were
issuing their conflicting claims, the plat-
form committee wis the scene of tests
brlwean Reagan and Ford supporters
over foreign policy questions.
The Ford camp won a key test when
the committee voted 55 to 43 to reject an
amendment that called for the United
States to maintain nermanent sovereignty
over the Panama Canal.
THE COMMITTEE then rejected by
voice votes platform amendments that
world have implied criticisms of Ford
policies toward Africa and the Soviet
Union.
The African amendment would have
implied criticism of support for moves
to end white minority rule in southern
African countries. The Soviet policy plank
would have been implicitly critical of
Ford's refusal to invite exiled Russian
author Alexander Solzhenitsyn to the
White House.
John East of North Carolina, a Reagan
supporter, arguing for the amendment,
said, "Pressure is being brought on us
to change the treaty (with Panama) by
the Soviet Union and leftist regimes .. .
If you indicate weakness, I am convinced
you will be provoked."
REP. JOHN ANDERSON of Illinois, a
Ford backer, opposed the amendment.
Be said that "if we take the simplistic
view that we own it . . . then what it
See FORD, Page 2
AP Photo
Reagan campaign manager John Sears talks with reporters yesterday in Kansas City. Sears claims that Reagan has 10
more votes than needed for nomination.
K.C. falls
prey to
pom om
politics
KANSAS CITY (u-It takes everything
from political genius to pom-pom girls to
win a presidential nomination, and Presi-
dent Ford and Ronald Reagan are bringing
helpers by the hundreds to the Republican
National Convention.
In the two poshest hotels in town, com-
mand posts are bristling with small armies
of paid and volunteer workers who plan
and execute strategy, type, drive, paint,
answer phones, play the tuba or just cheer
at the right time.
THE PRESIDENT Ford Committee is
camped at the Crown Center, the Kansas
City showplace hotel, with a staff of about
130 belonging to the committee, augmented
by 90 from the President's White House
staff, some on temporary campaign duty,
Reagan and company are at the Alameda
Plaza, equally luxurious although several
miles farther from the convention arena
than lord. Reagan has a staff of about 200,
his original campaign organization plus
some specialists and extras signed on for
the convention.
Both sides have recruited volunteers of
every conceivable talent. Reagan probably
has the most. He expects as many as 1,000
general utility helpers. These youthful le-
gions paid their own expenses to come here
and do their bit for the cause.
FORD CALLS his youth corps "the Pres-
identials." There's another group just for
women and a hospitality contingent to
greet delegates at the airport and make
sure they're happy.
Reagan has a team of 30 pom-pom girls
called the "Reaganettes" who will appear
at rallies and about anywhere else there
are people or cameras. And there's some-
thing called "Schweik's Tykes," a kiddie
See K.C., Page 5
Hays abandons bid for re-election
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio GV) - Rep Wayne Hays,
whose affair with Elizabeth Ray touched off a congress
sional sex scandal which has virtually destroyed his po-
litical career, withdrew yesterday as a candidate for
re-election.
However, Justice Department officials said Hays' with-
drawal will have no effect on their investigations of al-
leged payroll improprieties involving Ray's employment
on Hays' House Administration Committee..
HAYS, who only three months ago was one of the most
powerful and most feared men in the House, submitted
his withdrawal letter to the Columbiana County Board of
Elections here.
He will retain his seat, minus most of his powerful
chairmanships, until his 14th term expires in January.
IN A STATEMENT released in'Washington, the Demo.
cratic congressman cited health reasons and what he
called harassment by The Washington Post, which first
reported the payroll-sex scandal.
"I do this with a heavy heart," Hays said in his state-
ment.
"However, the current state of my health coupled
with the harassment my family and I have taken from
the Washington Post have led me to conclude that I should
step down at the end of my ctrrent term."
In an interview Thursday, lays had said he was con-
sidering withdrawal because "I don't want to give that
woman another chance to make an appearance."
"IF MY NOT running would wipe out her publicity,
that would be a factor," Flays said then. Ray has used
the scandal to promote her book, Washington Fringe
Benefit.
Ray had claimed that Hays put her on the committee
payroll solely for the purpose of sex.
Hays was not immediately available for further com-
See HAYS, Page 2
"-a ys