Vote November 7th-
it makes a difference
by Norman Slvgel
Executive Director
Youth Citizenship Fund
understood the potential
and power of the vote.
Chicanos in Crystal City,
Texas were able to get
a foothold in their local
community by utilizing
their right to vote. For
the first time Chicanos
elected Chicanos to the
school board which gives
them a powerful voice
in the education of their
children. Young people in
B e r k e le y ,
California
have also understood the
potential and used
the
power of the vote. Blacks,
Chicanos and young peo
ple In these communities
have organized
around
It — they got themselves
registered, they made
sure they had someone
to vote for and of course
they made sure
they
voted.
It wasn't easy. In these
communities It took s
great deal of hard work
and the capacity to keep
at It. Now, the results
are In, and Blacks, Chi
canos and the young have
achieved political power.
They are now on their
way to confronting and
dealing with the problems
that affect their lives.
It was the vote — and
the understanding of how
to use it — that helped
bring about local politi
cal power to those who
organized around
the
vote.
If Blacks in Greene
County did not register,
did not set up their own
political party, did not
come out and vote, the
lhlb year, twenty-five
million IN to 25 year old
Americans are eligible
to vote for the firs t time
In a national election. Hut
extending the right to vote
to the young does not mean
they will vote - - or even
register.
It Is no secret
that
many millions of young
people are alienated from
the nation's politics, an
tagonistic toward its gov
ernments,
and i n d i f
ferent to its future. Many
ask the question "why
should 1 vote? It doesn't
make a difference — my
vote doesn't count."
The alienation and in
difference
are Indeed
great. Yet, we cannot af
ford to sit back and allow
things to "Just happen.”
We must and should have
a say In what happens
to our lives and what
happens to the communi
ties we live In. America
has many problems that
must be confronted; rac
ism, war, poverty, sex
ism, pollution and dis
honesty are but a few.
The vote Is a tool, the
function of which if un
derstood correctly, can
help us confront and deal
with these problems. The
vote is a means for an
individual to express his
or
her beliefs; a tool
which has. In the past,
and, can In the present
and future, bring about
change.
The vote does make a
difference. Black citizens
in Greene County, Ala
bama
and
Hancock
County, Georgia
have
brought about dramatic
"Although national public
changes in th .ir local opinion polls show Black vot
government because they ers lavor George McGovern
county would still be run
by a few wealthy whites.
But the blacks in Greene
County understood
the
vote and what it could
mean. They used it and
as a result things are
changing In Greene Coun
ty. And change is what
the vote Is all about.
If It happened in Greene
County, Alabama; Han
cock County, Georgia;
Crystal City, Texas and
Berkeley, California, it
can happen anywhere. So
begin to understand the
vote. It can be an in
credibly
powerful tool.
It would be crazy and al
most suicidal for young
people - dedicated
to
seeing
change
come
about - not to use the
vote.
If you say you want to
see change come about,
then don't Just talk -s ta rt
doing something about it.
Begin by registering to
vote. Then, make sure
you vote this November
7th. Remember Greene
County, Alabama, Han
cock County,
Georgia;
Crystal City, Texas and
Berkeley, California. It
can be done.
Norman Slegal is the
Executive Director of the
Washington-based Youth
Citizenship Fund. Thia
is one in a series of
articles prepared by the
Youth Citizenship Fund
in the hope that every
one will participate in the
November 7th election.
Diggs w ill head
D.C. committee
Sums jieople would ra tte r
Fauntroy of tie D istric t and
have tie Bouse D is tric t of
Diggs
(all
Democrats) —
Columbia Committee die than
were Black.
be taken over try a Black
Observers here who sup
person In the next session,
port Home Rule for Washing
but such w ill not be the case,
ton acknowledged that although
reported
Informed Capitol
there is some chance that
H ill sources last week.
Committee assignments In
I lie remarks came In re
the 93rd Congressional ses
sponse to statements attrl-
sion could stack tie group
luted to Representative Joel
against
any
p r o g r e ssiv e
T . BroyhUl (G O P-Va.) that
chairmanship
Diggs might
t l * legitimacy of ttie Com hope to wield, there Is an
mittee had to be called into
equal chance that just tie op
question. This was generally
posite could occur.
taken as a threat to scrap
In some circles, it has been
tie D is tric t Committee which
speculated that heading the
should te carried In the next
Committee might become too
session
by Representative
time consuming a task for
Charles
Diggs,
a
Black
Diggs, who already chairs the
Michigan Democrat.
House
Sub-Committee
on
in the past, tlie Committee
A frica.
But the Michigan
has teen under tie chairman
legislator has already said
ship of Representative John
that should le take over tie
L . M cM illan of South Caro
D istric t Committee, he would
lina.
However, last month
seek out a highly competent
the veteran Democrat of 24
staff to assist him in the
years was defeated In his bid
work.
fo r
re-election (with tie
If tie Committee has been
Black vote playing a signifi
legitimate up to now, say
cant role). As a result,Diggs
Black Capitol H ill sources,
will assuredly ascend to the
it should continue to be legi
Committee chairmanship by
timate, at least until a Home
virtue of seniority standing
Rule bill is passed.
That,
during the next session.
predict
sources close to
The Committee has tra
Fauntroy, should occur tn the
ditionally field decisive power
next Congressional session.
over many of the affairs of
" I t ’ s just like the m atter
this city, which still has no
of bussing,” said one Black
real vote In national affairs
official. "When I was bussed
and a city council chosen by
past white schools to get to
the President of tie United
a Black school for segrega
States.
tion, it was alright.
But
Last year tie Committee
now, bussing white kids past
contained 16 Democrats and
white schools to get to inte
10
Republicans.
Eight of
grated schools, there's a lot
those persons were from the
of fuss. Now, all of a sudden,
South and three — Ronald
it’ s a big issue."
Dellums of California, W alter
Portland 'Obser.er Thursday, November 2,1972
’
THE RIGHT TO
VOTE WAS WON
WITH BLOOD AND
LIVES DON’T
THROW IT AWAY
Page 3
AMD
£ i.t À N ii« 4 * * ? 2 K S
NCR. H & N.E. PORTLAND
ONE DAY SERVICE
KNIT BLOCKING
OUR SPECIALTY
a voteless
people is a
hopeless
people.
We Give
MINOS StSAjSS NO CMASOe
PIC* US I OtUVfSV
282-8361
'954 N. W illiams Ave.
‘‘You’*« Tried The Rest, Now Try The Bost"
N. Alexander, Proprietor
Louise
Circuit
JffQffiJUDGE
For Judge of the Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial District, Multnomah County, Dept. No. 1
Louise Javne has the ex perience and
ability required ot a judge, resulting
from 20 y e a rs of rep resen tin g people,
not special in te re s ts .
H er d is tin
guished civil and crim in al p ractice
includes ap p earan ces
before
the
Suprem e C ourt of O regon, the United
States C ourt of Appeals to r the Ninth
C irc u it, and the United States Su-
prem e C ourt.
Y O U h a v e th e rig h t to E L E C T !
Paid by the Committee to Elect Jayne for Judge
k< neti. K raerrer. C^airr-
Black voters favor McGovern
toe
r
F A M IL Y ^
LAW YER.
Wife in Name Only
During Ih n r courtship. Hannah
spoke soulfulls to Jim about the
Joy» of raiding a family Hut right
after the marriage, the changed
her tune In fact, she refused lo
hase actual relations uith him
I -inally Jim sued for an annul
ment
"She is a wife in name only,”
he complained in court "She
deliheralelv misled me u ilh all
lhal talk about raising a family,
the marriage was based on
fraud "
"M aybe I was less than hon
est," Hannah conceded " Ilu l if
people had lo tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the
truth before the wedding, there
would lie mights few nt ,rnagcs "
over Richard Nixon 4 to 1
and although
thre are now
more Blacks registered than
ever lefo re, the re is evidence
that fewer and fewer Blacks
vote in Presidential elections
every four years," an Inde
pendent
political
research
firm said this week.
T l * firm , Political Assoc
iates, leaded by Georgia State
Representative Julian Bond,
ie|x ited that .i recent Gallup
[soil gave McGovern a 4 to I
lead over Nixon among Black
vote rs.
" T l * support Blacks cur
rently give McGovern near
ly mat. lies tie average vote
Blacks have glvenliemocratlc
candidates In national elec
tions since I9S2," George Gal
lup reported.
" 1 le vote of Blacks for tie
Democratic
(presidential)
candidates
in tie last five
elections averages 77
je r
cent," tie Gallup report said.
"These figures and predic
tions must le encouraging to
McGovern supportersanddis-
appointlng to tie Nixonltes,”
Political Associates sax) in
a pre-election report on po
tential Black voting strength
and current trends, " h it a
closer look at tie declining
lercentages of eligible vot
ers among Blacks who actu
ally vote in 1’ residental elec
tions would startle anyone in
terested In Black participation
In American decision mak
ing."
A sm aller
percentage of
registered aid eligible Blacks
actually voted in N o rth e m cil-
tes In the 1960's than In tlie
1940s. Southern Blacks, who
have had greater difficulty in
winning tlie franchise, tend to
vote In larger percentages
than tlieir Northern counter
parts, and in rare instances,
are registered In higher per
centages than are Northern
Blacks.
"In 1968, " Political As
sociates
reported, "13 per
cent fewer registered Blacks
than whites voted for Presi
dent. Had these voters par
ticipated in tlie 1968 election
and split their votes In direct
proportion to those Blacks who
did vote, Hubert Humphrey and
not Richard Nixon would now
le President
of tie United
States."
Low political participation
and low income and education
levels are parallels. Political
Associates said. As long as
disproportionate» numbers of
Blacks live below or near the
poverty line, low voting pro
files w ill result.
"In conclusion," Political
Associates said, "black pol
iticians and Black political ac
tivists of any party must make
a special election period ef
fort
to Insure a maximum
Black vote."
With Ron Hendren
A Y O U N G V IE W OF W A S H IN G T O N
Nevertheless, the court granted
Jim an annulment I he Judge said
Hannah's deception involved no
minor m ailer but an essential
element of matrimony itself.
ll is true lhal the law will over
look a certain amount of what it
calls "the deceptive arl>" in
courting Ilul deception about (he
intent lo have sexual relations is
usually considered too vital lo be
condoned
This is so even if the subject
of ses is never mentioned before
the wedding Courts say lhal Ibe
sexual rcl.ilKinship, even if not
discussed, is nonetheless con
sidered by common consent
to be implied in the contract of
marriage
On the other hand, lying about
something less important will not
ordinarily Justify an annulment,
l or example:
A disgruntled wife sought a
decree on the ground that her
spouse had lied about having a
college education But Ihe Judge
decided this was not adequate
grounds lo annul the marriage.
"Surely every representation
leading up In a marriage cannot
he material." said the Judge " The
fact that a hrunelle turned In a
blonde overnight, or that Ihe
beautiful teeth were discovered
lo be false, or lhal ihe ruddy
pink complexion gave way sud
denly to pallor, or that a woman
misstated her age. would lead no
court lo annul the marriage for
fraud Ihe fraud must relate to
something vital.”
A p u b lic service fe a tu re o f llie
A m e ric a n B a r A aaoelallon am i
th e O reg o n S late B a r Assoeia-
a lin n . W ritte n by W ill B e rn a rd .
C 1972 American Bar Association
RICHARD NIXON: THE MEN BEHIND THE MAN
W ASHING TO N In one way re-elected
or not and like it or not Richard Nixon
will surely he remembered as one of Ihe
most effective Presidents since Roosevelt
In four years he has ( I ) apparently
coine very close lo achieving peace ol his
sort in the Vietnam conflict which has
plagued (his country for twelve years,(2 )
thawed relations wilh Red China, Amer
ica's bitterest and most feared enemy for
the last quarter o f a century, and (3 ) at
Ihe same time eased tensions with Russia,
whose leaders aren’t even speaking with
the Chinese, and who, along wilh Ihe
Chinese, have been directly aiding (he
North Vietnamese
Those three accomplishments in them
selves mark Nixon as a man of consider
able talent, a diplomat to he reckoned
with in Ihe affairs of the world
On Ihe other hand, Nixon has proved
astonishingly inept here at home lie has
cloistered himself in the White House,
surrounded by one o f (he most brazen
and high-handed collection of knuckle
heads. klutzes and even crooks to be
assembled at one lime in Ihe White Bouse
in this century And what is equally
remarkable, he refuses lo rid himself of
the bums, even when faced with irre
futable evidence of their disservice to him
and to the democratic process
Less fortunate still, Ihe President's
poor ludgincnt about personal advisors
extends as well lo his choices for ludges
and cabinet members, for he has
appointed a Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court who apparently tries to
tell the Speaker o f Ihe ¡louse of Repre-
senlatives what laws should and should
not be passed.
appointed a Secretary of Agriculture
who within months after his confirmation
perpetrated the Great Grain Robbery of
all time, and exhibited his scorn for the
small farmers whose interests he is sup
posed to represent.
appointed a Secretary of Commerce,
now his campaign finance chairman, who
collects millions of dollars from undis
closed sources, funnels thousands through
obscure Mexican bank accounts and de
funct corporations, supports a spy oper
ation from a small fortune stashed in
his office safe, and has Ihe unmitigated
gall to maintain that the whole affair is
completely proper.
The mind boggles Washington hasn't
witnessed anything like it since Ulysses S.
Grant floundered in the near total cor
ruption of his staff and friends 100 years
ago But the country re-elected Grant,
and Nixon, with a 25 point lead, seems
headed toward his four more years as
well.
If so, we can only hope he will have
the good sense to clean house after the
victory celebration is over, and find some
advisors who will help him devote serious,
innovative attention to the problems here
at home which have gone begging for the
last decade
But it ’s a hollo- hope, not voiced with
much assuredness, for the only ’^•ople
who seem to have Mr N ixon’s var are
those who ought to be kicked out on
theirs.
has earned
your vote.
Here’s why.
He has campaigned harder than any
candidate in the history of the third
congressional district.
Mike Walsh has met and talked to and
listened to over seventy thousand
people.
Mike Walsh was born in Portland and
grew up in the Irvington district. He
He has been going hard since January. attended Portland University and
Door to door. Person to person.
earned a schol irship award. He went
Walking the district.
on to Georgetown University Law
School in Washington, D C. and
He now kno vs what the people want
worked on Capitol Hill as a
and need. Mike Walsh is concerned
congressional
assistant.
about the issues that concern you.
Mike returned to Portland and was
And he has demonstrated he has the
energy and the interest to give his full appointed law clerk to former Chief
Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court,
attention to the problems of the
William
C. Perry. He has been a
third district.
practicing attorney in Portland for
Edith Green has been in office for
twelve years.
eighteen years.
Mike is married and has three
She has concentrated on higher
daughters. He has been an active
education. Now it is time to elect a
leader in many community projects.
congressman who pays attention to
the district.
Seventy thousand people!
M i k e W a ls h
H e ’ll d o m o r e f o r y o u .
H e re .
©Copyright I 97 J by
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At hom e.
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C h a irm e n 11®1 N E ,39th Awe P o rtla n d O r e g o n