Page 2 Portland Observer Thursday. September 19, 1974 C om m itm ent can change (Continued from pg. 1, col. 9, to the principle of hiring and promoting minorities. "The problem with af firm ative action until now is that it operates only at the entry level," he said. In his own office, minorities make up 40 percent of the staff, but they are mainly clerks and aides. There is one Black Welfare Assistance Supervisor, who was pro moled recently, and several minority Welfare Assistance WE . _ J SEE THE WORLD I I THROUGH BLACK EYES ALFRED L HENDERSON Editor Publisher EDITORIAL FOCUS \\ oodlawn l Continued from pg. 1, col. 9, Racism or realism ? Amnesty only for crime Even w th the g ro w in g controversy o ve r am nesty • d ra ft e vaders a n d President Ford s h a lf-h e a rte d a tte m p t at c o n d itio n a l a m nesty, the basic question o f the V ie tn a m W ar has not been addressed by the Ui ’ ed States G o v e rn m e n t: Was the V ie tn a m W ar a le g a l w ar? N o w that most A m e rica n s fe e l that the w a r was at best, a m istake, it is tim e fo r this g o v e rn m e n t to d e te rm in e the le g a lity o f the w a r It is cu r o p in io n that this w a r w hich was ne ve r d e c la re d by Congress c o u ld not h a ve b een le g a l. If e war w as ille g a l, the ne xt lo g ic a l step- is to d e te rm in e w h o are the c rim in a ls The c rim in a ls co u ld not be those A m e ric a n citizens w h o refused to be in v o lv e d in the w a r — those w h o resisted the d ra ft or d eserted the A rm y ; those w h o p ro ­ tested in the streets; those w h o re fu se d to pay th e ir " w a r ta x ' . If is they w h o served as the conscience o f th e n a tio n . The re a l c rim in a ls a re the presidents, the chiefs o f sta ff, a n d the m ilita ry leaders w h o sent in n o cen t boys to s la u g h te r a n d to be sla u g h te re d The c rim in a ls a re the congressm en w h o vo te d the fu n d s a n d th e citizens w h o stood by a n d let it happen There sh o u ld be no q u e stio n o f am nesty, but a m nesty sh o u ld be g iv e n to those w h o cre a te d the w a r. P ublic service should be re q u ire d o f those w h o p e rp e tra te d a w a r th a t w as fo u g h t fo r the e c o n o m ic b e n e f't o f this co u n try a n d not fo r the d e m o cra tic rig h ts o f the V ie tn a m e se The Loyalty O a th sh o u ld be re q u ire d o f those w h o supported the w a r a c tiv e ly or th ro u g h th e ir silence. Those m e x ile must be w e lc o m e d h o m e as heros a n d th e |O'ls o p e n e d Those w h o s a crifice d to liv e th e tru th m ust be h o n o re d . Serious co n sid e ra tio n m ust be g iv e n to co m p e n sa tio n fo r those w h o w e re itq u re d fo r th e ir lo y a lty to the A m e rica n p rin cip le s Let experts decide Form er President Richard N ix o n is d o in g e v e ry th in g possible to h a lt in v e s tig a tio n s into his ro le in W a te rg a te a n d to a v o id g e ttin g on the w itness stand w h e re his hesitancy to te ll the truth co u ld put h im in c o n te m p t o f court. Fust he re sig n e d fro m the Presidency ra th e r than go th ro u g n a n im p e a c h m e n t tria l; then he a n n o u n ce d th a t he w o u ld resign fro m the C a lifo rn ia a n d N e w York Bor A ssociations, both o f w inch a re in v e s tig a tin g his conduct. The latest d e v e lo p m e n t is his sudden severe illness a n d the p o s s ib ility o f h o s p ita liz a tio n at the very tim e that he is supposed to te s tify a t the trials o f E rlichrnan a n d H a ld e m a n . In lig h t of S pecial Prosecutor Jaw orski's re /e la tio n th a t N ix o n w as u n d e r in v e s tig a tio n in ten d iffe re n t areas, a n d the re ce n t ru m o rs that the Jaw orski s ta ff has e v id e n c e th a t N ix o n h e lp e d p lan the W a te rg a te b u rg la ry , it is n a tu re 1 th a t he w o u ld w a n t to a v o id te s tify in g under oath. If p o o r h e a lth is to be the next excuse fo r a v o id in g the tru th , the A m e ric a n p e o p le ha ve the rig h t to k n o w th e true state o f N ix o n 's h e a lth W ith tr '' o n flic tm g statem ents a b o u t the se ve rity o f p h le b itis a n d its sudden a p p e a ra n c e in this case, the court sh o u ld re q u ire e x a m in a tio n by a p a n e l o f court a p p o in te d physm ians It is not e n o u g h to fly N ix o n 's o ld frie n d o u t to C a lifo rn ia on an A ir Force |et to te ll th e w o rld he is near de a th . Let us h e a r fro tn som e n e u tra l experts w h o can base th e ir d ia g n o s is on s c ie n tific e vid e n ce a n d not on e m o tio n a lis m Then p e rh a p s M r N ixo n w ill have his day in court. W ill racism re a r its ugly head a g a in as P ortland a pproaches th e receipt o f its C o m m u n ity D e v e lo p ­ m ent Ac, fu n d s? A lre a d y th e re is s p e cu la tio n in the local w h ite press that th e re w ill be " a p a ra d e fro m N orth P ortland lo b b y in g lo n g a n d lo u d tha, the a re a sh o u ld be a llo w e d to ke e p w h a , is c o n ­ sid e re d 'th e ir fe d e ra l b u c k s '." P ortland is to receive a, leas, $8 6 m illio n fo r p ro g ra m s in housing and c o m m u n ity d e v e lo p m e n t. This can in c lu d e some re h a b ilita tio n , lo w -co s, le a sin g p ro g ra m s construction o f co m m u n ity fa c ilitie s , etc. O n e w o u ld assume th a , som e o f the m o n e y w o u ld go to th e areas th a , h o ve no, had the o p p o rtu n ity fo r re h a b ilita tio n th a , the M o d e l C ities a re a has — Southeast, Lents, N o rth w e st, etc. The residents o f these areas ha ve w a ite d a lo n g tim e a n d nee d assistance. But th e re a re also areas in M o d e l C ities th a t have not had th e ir share o f re h a b ilita tio n p rogram s e ith e r, lik e Boise a n d Elio, We w o u ld also hope th a , the p h a sing out o f the M o d e l C ities Program w ill no, b rin g an e n d to h o using p ro g ra m s in this are a . It w o u ld be too bad if the gam s tha, have b een m a d e in th e las, fiv e years w e re lost due to fu tu re ne g lect. W e hop e th a , w h e n the tim e com es to d iv id e up the m o n e y, racism and petty je a lo u sie s w ill no, be the d e c id in g factors. Concerned citizens absent O n ly fiv e citize n s a tte n d e d a p u b lic h e a rin g on a proposed c ity o rd in a n c e to insure citize n s' p a r­ tic ip a tio n in th e se le ctio n o f C ity C o m m issioners to fill va ca n cies m m id -te rm Los, S pring, w h e n C harles Jordan w as a p p o in te d to f ill Lloyd A n d e rso n 's vacated p o sitio n , a g re a t u p ro a r w as ra ise d Some citizens w e re g e n u in e ly co n ce rn e d th o , the s e le ctio n had kjeen m ade secretly a n d others w e re ius , upset th a , a Black hod been chosen. At C o m m issio n e r M cC ready's su ggestion, the C o u n cil a p p o in te d a c o m m itte e to fin d a b etter m e th o d o f a p p o in tm e n t. The p u b lic h e a rin g to discuss the c o m m itte e 's re c o m m e n d a tio n fa ile d to d ra w an y o f the co n ce rn e d citizens Do the voters iust no, care h o w th e ir C o m ­ m issioners a re selected? Do th e y o n ly care a fte r th e fa ct, or d o th e y o n ly care w h e n the a p p o in te e is B la c k ’ 0 pen prim a ry best To the Editor. I do not agree with your editorial "Open Primary No Answer", appearing in the September 12th issue of the Observer. I say bravo" to Clay Myers' proposal for an open primary system. The two party system is not. men tinned in the Constitution of the United States of America An open primary in my o p in io n w o u ld te n d to s treng th en ra th e r than w eaken e x istin g political parties. Such parties could still nominate their candi dates and promote their elec tion. In doing so, however, they would be more aware of the whole electorate rather than the party regular. They also could still adopt a party platform. An open prim ary in my opinion would enfranchise all voters in all elections. At the present time some who register to vote must choose to tv- disenfranchised in the primary if they feel they are neither Democrat or Re publican. I wonder if voters in Washington State feel that the Democratic and Kepubli can parties are weaker be­ cause Washington State has an open | rimary? as a priority to the official dedication took six years and involved many of the resi­ dents of the Woodlawn com­ munity. Joseia Mann is chairman of the Woodlawn Park Design Committee, and Glen Childs is chairman of the Physical Planning Com mittee. Mrs. Inez Battles is current chairman of the Woodlawn Executive Board. F o rm e r chairm en include Frank Jacobs. Josiah Nunn, Bobbie Numm and Clarence Jensen. Betty W hit«, director of the Portland Development Commission's Woodlawn of­ fice, said “The history of Woodlawn Park has been a history of the involvement of people in an exciting and challenging effort, and it has demonstrat«‘d for all to see that citizens’ |iarticipation works. For the people of Woodlawn, it has indeed been a very personal ex­ perience." Socialists W o rk e rs (w ho com pute grants,. There are no Adult Service Workers. Learning that there were two aides who had been employed for four years and had not hern promoted, he im m e d ia t e ly to ld Joh n Burch. Multnomah District Adm inistrator for the Wei fare Department, that this was a case of affirm ative action not operating properly. Burch agreed and the two went to Salem and presented their case to the Personnel Director. The two aides were placml on the civil aer vice list for W elfare Assis tance Workers, and at the same tune the college degree requirement for the W AW (►osition was dropped. Gomez has Informed the District Office tha, the Al burn Office cannot hear th«- affirm ative action responai bility for the entire district, that all branch offices must participate. "John Burch has reacted favorably to the idea,” he said "I believe he is really committed to a policy of affirm ative action." "The fact that I am the highest ranking minority in W elfare means they haven't been doing much. One of the main problems is the lark of minorities in policy making positions and p«>sitions where they ran make affirm ative action work." he explained. Gomez believes the system can be changed and is working to prove that he is right, lie knows that there are minorities who are quali bed for administrative | h » si tions and uses hintelf as an example, lie ho,H-s that his success in hiring qualified minorities, esp«*ei«lly in pro fessional and supervisory positions, sv ill demonstrate to other department heads anil managers across the state that affirm ative action ran become a reality. SHOP lENOW'S TO R B R A N D S you Im o VA R IE TIES you lik, SIZES you w a n t • • • • • • • A ll ite m s s u b je c t to p r io r sale N o P h o n e o r M a il O rd e rs ! •10. LADIES' SWIMSUITS ‘4 R ayon w ith nylon lining V A U G H N S T O N L Y 1.49. LADIES SWIM CAPS 80« W a te r-tite design V A U G H N S T O N L Y 4.99. LADIES PANTS 2 22 8 99. LADIES' FASHION TOPS 4 57 100% polyester Go«x1 colors, styles 16 88. LADIES' PANTSUITS 1 0 '7 100% polyester doubleknit, great buys ‘15. JUNIOR SIZE DRESSES T ri County area, $6 00 12 80. JUNIOR SIZE DRESSES 99 <, acetate I t , n y l o n 5 0 % polyettei Second Class Postage Paid at Portland, Oregon 11 99. MEN S PANTS REDUCED The Portland Observer's official position is expressed only in its Publishers column (We See The W orld Through Black Eyes,. Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the individual w riter or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer. 6 M7 100'61 pstly< st< r. easy ■ arc 29 ‘»5. MEN'S CASUAL SUITS cotton. 2 2 -7 > «lots k < mm I s . SPECIAL PURCHASE FLARE JEANS FOR BOVS. GIRLS VALANCES R E D U C E D Reg 4 88-9 88. now J 9 7 e 97 Reg V 44-1.1 88 now 4 47 9 97 R E G 6 88 to 26 88 L’A* Itu R ayon acetate w ith whit« cotton lining 3-fold pin h pleats M ite re d corners Special group of ,e»ns in solui colors and pi uls C u tfcd. b el, loops. 3-6X LOOP PILE RUGS GO INDOORS OR OUTDOORS SAVE DEEP-PILE TERRY TOWELS Q97 _ / 6x9 REG 17 66 77 H E R C U L O N * olefin rugs b right. Iocke«4 » ” » Ght«« •« i ••»>*«. d •« &•••»•♦ • it*»» as« u-. W artls 3 Big 6 5 % polyester 3 5 % cotton, now only (Continued from pg. 1. col. 3) to the outrage of the entire country, by pardoning Tricky Dick. And even though Ford has needed no big money to get to the top, a short look at his close chums makes it clear whose interests he will rule in. As listed by Michael G. Jensen in the August 19th New York Times, they in­ clude: Rodney W. M arkley, Jr., the Ford Motor Com pany's rhief Washington lob­ byist: W illiam W hyte of United States Steel; I-eon Parma, an executive of Tele dyne. Inc.; and Stark Ritchie, chief general counsel of the American Petroleum Insti tute, to name a lew." Studor states that it is no problem for Democrats and Republicans to file the names of their contributors. If they get caught with their finger in the pie, they get uncon ditional pardons. "But for Vietnam war resisters. Black activists like George Jack son, antiw ar activists like Frank Giese, and supporters of the Socialist W orkers campaign, there is only sys­ tematic government harass ment and victimization." Studor states that these laws, rather than ending corruption, are perpetrating the most corrupt aspect of A m eric a n politics: the monopoly maintained by the twin parties of capital on p o litic a l action in this country. "In these circumstances we're not going to comply with the demand for lists of our m em bers and sup poi ers," he said. Support Ihe Black Press- REG 42.95 COCKTAIL TABLE Sparkling smoked glass and chrome- plated steel tables 1 4-m thick glass C o ck ta il table. S iix29xl4". end table. 20x28x19.1,1 high - i MEMBER N U n A e R Associllion ■ Foundod 1995 GttAQudiup Regularly It can S3V6 your life Save on catalog overstocks, special p u rch ases. L im ited q u a n titie s. D eliv ery charge. M ONTG OM ERY W ARD V A U G H N S T S T O R E O P E N M o n . T h u rs . F ri . 9:30-9 00 Sun., Noon -5 fill O th e r d a y s " 30 5 III W A L N U T P A R K S T O R E O P E N M o n T h ru S a, . 9:30-5:3(1, Closed Sunday B A R G A IN A N N E X O P E N M on T h u rs F ri 9-30-0 00 Sun Noon-5 n„ O t'lie r d a y s 9 <«,..-> J g I 4