aily-Friday, May 30, 1980-Page 11 Dems halt platform hearings to avoid squabble WASHINGTON (UPI) - Chairman John White of the Democratic National Committee, a backer of President Car- ter, has postponed the party's platform hearings in apparent hope of avoiding an issues fight with Sen. Edward Ken- nedy. But there was some dispute yester- day over where the request for the delay came from originally. THE WASHINGTON Post reported it originated with Carter's campaign chairman, Robert Strauss. Bob Neuman, committee deputy chairman, said the request came not from Strauss but from Detroit Mayor Coleman Young - a prominent Carter supporter who chairs the platform committee. Young backed up Neuman's account. "THE IDEA originated in a conver- sation between White and Coleman Young. I am not denying they talked about it over there at the Carter cam- paign, but the decision originated at the DNC (Democratic National Commit- tee), not at Carter-Mondale," Neuman said. Young said the idea for the delay "did not come from any particular point," and not from Strauss. "Very frankly we Democrata need some time to attempt to achieve maximum unity in our party. The dif- ference in that one week might give everybody the chance to look at the mathematics, understand them and, based on that understanding, take the steps necessary to bring the party together," said Young, who was atten- ding preliminary platform hearings in Houston. AP Photo SPECTATORS AT A RALLY for President Jimmy Carter hold up signs, some of a more humorous nature, during the president's speech yesterday in Columbus, Ohio. Republican presidential aspirant Ronald Reagan held a rally of his own several blocks away. Carter, Reagan stump in Ohio From AP and UPI COLUMBUS, Ohio - In a preview of the fall campaign, President Carter declared yesterday he is making progress in solving America's problems, but Ronald Reagan at a rival rally said the nation "can't afford four more years" of Carter in the White House. With bands playing and supporters shouting "Jimmy, Jimmy," and waving miniature American flags, the president told a sun-drenched crowd at Nationwide Plaza he wanted to "set the record straight about our nation and about our future." THE SHIRTSLEEVED president declared that "we're turning the tide" in energy, the economy, and foreign policy, but did not mention the American hostages in Iran - the issue that had kept him away from the cam- paign trail before yesterday. Several blocks away, Reagn asserted the time had come to turn Carter out of office. Meanwhile, Sen. Edward Kennedy proposed that both he and Carter free their delegates to nominate anyone they please at the Democratic National Convention in New York City next August. Kennedy also renewed his demand for a debate with the president. CARTER PREDICTED that "begin- ning in the summer, the inflation rate is going to go down." In foreign policy, the nation is meeting "aggression and terrorism with peaceful means," he said. "We will stand alone if necessary." The president didn't mention Reagan's name as he spoke to young people and office workers in a crowd estimated by police at 7,000 persons. While Carter was concluding his speech, Reagan opened fire on the president at a rally at the Ohio Statehouse six blocks away. "What is so tragic ... is that Jimmy Carter is making millions of Americans pay for his mistakes in office, literally with the loss of their jobs and economic well-being of their families," the for- mer California governor said. Reagan charged that Carter had backed down on pledges to increase defense spending and balance the federal budget, and predigted that because of the president's miscalculations, "we're going to have another deficit." FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1980 9:00 pm-1 am ANN ARBOR LESBIAN/GAY MALE PRIDE WEEK BENEFIT DANCE FEATURING DANCING AND A CASH BAR AT THE ANDERSON ROOM, MICHIGAN UNION Sponsored by the GAY LIBERATION FRONT $2.50 donation at the door Tickets available at all CTC outlets; SCHOOLKIDS RECORDS, Ann Arbor; RECORDLAND in Briarwood Mall, Ann Arbor; WHER EHOUSE RECORDS, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, East Lansing and Lansing; ELDERLY INSTRUMENTS, East Lansing. MAIL ORDER: Send check for amount and a self addressed, stamped envelopto:Fle EAssociates, 201 S. Main, Suite 409, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. For more Uiomtin callo(313)31995-9066.5