Page 2
Portland Observer
Thursdiy. October 20. 1977
The necessity of allies
W? see the world
by Bayard Rustia
through Black eyes
Let them retire
Congress is m o vin g to w a rd a m e n d in g the n atio n's
m an da to ry age re tire m e n t la w .
A lth o u g h this
change is d esign ed to a llo w the e ld e rly p oo r to
co n tin u e to w o rk b e tw e e n age 65 a nd 70, it w ill have
serious repercussions on the lo b o r force.
K eeping e ld e rly w orkers on the p a y ro ll fo r on
extra fiv e years w ill adversely e ffe c t a ffirm a tiv e
action by tyin g d o w n m any positions that co uld be
fille d by m in o ritie s
In m any jo b areas — w h e re
positions are lim ite d — u pw a rd m o b ility o f yo un ge r
w orkers is d e te rm in e d by the n um ber o f positions
vacated by retirem ents.
AAany o ld e r w orkers are a le rt a n d a ble to p erfo rm
responsibly. Others are m e re ly h o ld in g a p osition
and m an ag em en t is le ttin g th em ride u ntil re tire
ment. W e a ll have kn o w n o ld e r w orkers w ho have
fa ile d to p erform b ut no one w o u ld be m ean e n o ug h
to fire them a fte r years o f good service and w ith
re tire m e n t so near.
The real issue is n ot w he th er the person b etw e e n
65 and 70 years o f a ge should be o //o w e d to w o rk -
the issue is w h e th e r th ey w ill h ove to w ork to eat. It is
a crim e that o ld e r p eo ple, h a vin g w orked fo r 45
years or m ore, con n ot have a happy and satisfying
retirem ent. W ith g o o d health core and m o n e y to
spend, they co uld c o n tin u e to co n trib u te to society in
w ha te ver w a y they choose.
The real answ er is not raising the re tire m e n t age
but p ro vid in g a g ua ra n te e d a n n u a l incom e fo r a ll
citizens.
Sounds like Portland
The te rm in a tio n o f C. Delores Tucker, Secretary o f
the C o m m o n w e a lth o f P ennsylvania, by G o verno r
M ilto n Shapp should b rin g to m in d current a nd past
events in Portland.
Mrs. Tucker, a Black w om an , was to ld that she was
fire d because she had m ade m ore than 150 speeches
in a 28 m onth p erio d , e a rn in g $65,000 in fees, and
that she had used her sta ff to w rite her speeches.
She was ca lle d fro m a m ee ting o f the N a tio n a l
Association o f Secretaries o f State, o f w hich she was
to be e le cte d president, and co n fro n te d by the
G overnor and the A ttorn ey G e ne ra l, w ho asked her
to resign. She refused to resign a nd was fire d .
Mrs. Tucker told the press, "T h e charges m ade
ogainst m e have a lre a d y been e x p lo re d fu lly by the
State Legislature, the State Ethics Board and the
G o verno r's o ffic e in the past. They are n ow b e in g
dre dg ed up as an excuse to cover the real
issues...Am ong these issues is w h e th e r or not a
person o f p rin c ip le a nd fairness supervising the state
e le ctio n m ach in e ry is a th re at to a p o w e r-h u n g ry
gang "
U nable to fin d a n y th in g a gainst her p erform an ce
in o ffic e , the G overnor said she " d id things no o the r
Secretary e ver d id . She re v ita liz e d e very d e p a rt
m e n t."
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As a n o th e r in o senes o f attacks on Black o ffic ia ls ,
Mrs. Tucker's fa te strikes h om e N e a rly e ve ry Black
e le cte d or a p p o in te d o ffic ia l o f a ny sig n ific a n c e has
been attacked a nd slandered.
Some have been
d riv e n to resign just o u ‘ o f sheer e xha ustio n from
th e ir se lf-d efe n se
Some have been re n d e re d
in e ffe c tiv e and others have chosen to ig n o re the
accusations or fig h t bock,
Mrs. Tucker's statem ent that a ll accusations had
lo n g b e fo re been inve stiga te d and dism issed - then
d re d g e d up a g a in to be used against her — rem ind s
us o f rece nt references In the d a ily press to fo u n ta in
pens a nd e xp e n sive tape p la yers - issues th a t have
lo n g been la id to rest.
W e hove to a gree w ith C le ve la n d G ilcrease's
associates in W ashington, D.C. that the press has
chased 3,000 m ile s across the country just to co n tin u e
its harassm ent o f him .
Surely th ere are m ore
im p o rta n t issues rig h t here at hom e th a t c o u ld bear
som e in v e s tig a tiv e re p o rtin g — lik e rociol d is c rim in a
tio n. Let's see a good, hard inve stiga tion o f racism
rig h t here in g o o d o ld Portland
Revolution doser
The g o v e rn m e n t o f South A frica has ban ne d
n e a rly e very Black o rg a n iz a tio n in that n a tio n and
has closed its tw o m ajor Black new spapers A t the
sam e tim e , at least e le v e n Black leaders w ere
arrested a nd hom es, o ffice s and churches w ere
ra id e d The o rg a n iza tio n s a n d persons b a n n e d are
considered m oderates since th e ir m ore m ilito n t
counterparts have been b a n ne d e a rlie r.
The arrests fo llo w e d pressure in South A frica
resu ltin g fro m the m urder o f Steve B ilko, a Block
a ctivist, in a prison.
C arter A d m in is tra tio n spokesm en have said that
the actions hove b ro ug ht a b o u t o reassessment o f the
U nited Stales' re la tio n s h ip w ith South A fric o . A good
b e g in n in g w o u ld be b a n n in g the sale o f the South
A fric a n K ru ge rran d and the presence o f South
A fric a n citizens in this country and h a ltin g a ll tax
breaks fo r U.S. corporations d o in g business in South
A fric o .
South A fric a is ra p id ly m o v in g to w a rd re v o lu tio n
and the sooner the U.S. cuts its ties w ith the w h ite
g o v e rn m e n t th e better.
Credit, not blame
C om m issioner Jordan is g e ttin g the b la m e fo r the
city not g e ttin g in v o lv e d in the "W a r on P o verty"
because he a nd C om m issioner Ivancie insisted on
citizen p a rtic ip a tio n . M ayor G oldschm idt o ffe re d to
a p p o in t a c o m m itte e to look into fo rm in g a c ity -w id e
agency. Jordan and Ivancie w an te d that com m ittee
selected by the a ffe c te d com m unities
They should be co m m en de d fo r th eir e ffo rt to keep
p e o p le program s in the hands o f the p e o p le .
C O M P E TITIO N * WHY
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Community Service
ONPA 1973
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201
North Killingsworth, Portland. Oregon »7217 Mailing address:
P.0. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97206. Telephone: 283 2486.
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year outside Portland
Second Class Postage Paid at Portland Oregon
The Portland Observer s official position is expressed only in
its Publishers column (We See The World 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
ALFRED L HENDERSON
Editor'Pubb.ber
National Advertising Representative
New la r k
■
MEMBER
MEMSEN
(= s
if
19
Oregon
Newspaper
Publishers
Association
1
S
“
NÊWAL PER
Association
Founds
fMS
1st Place
Best Ad Results
ONPA 1973
5th Place
Best Editorial
NNPA 1973
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
NN A 1973
2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
■y leadership
ONPA 1975
A curious thing about politics is its
puazling inconsistency. It is not unusual
for something to be given with one hand
and to be taken away with the other.
Recently, for instance, the Senate passed
a minimum wage bill which was a definite
improvement over the version passed by
the House of Representatives.
The
Senate then turned around and voted to
deregulate the price of natural gaa. a
move that would hurt most Americans
and inflict special hardships on the poor.
Ironically, this time, the House voted for
a superior bill.
It would probably take a genius to
make sense of the way the Senate and the
House voted on these two issues There
are. nonetheless, some important lessons
to be learned from these two recent
votes.
The first is the tremendous
diversity of issues which affect the Black
community. Limited resources means
that we can tackle only some issues
Thus, while many Black organizations
actively worked for the passage of an
improved minimum wage bill land are
continuing to work for the superior
Senate version). I doubt whether there is
a major Black organization which has
made a determined effort to affect the
natural gas vote.
The price of natural gas at first, may
not. seem to be a civil rights or Black
issue
Certainly, the proponents of
deregulation were not motivated by some
anti Black spirit. Rather, the attraction
of deregulation is that it appears to
provide a simple, sweeping solution to a
complex problem. There ia. however,
strong evidence that deregulation will
lead to considerably larger consumer
expenditures and only a negligible in
create in natural gas production. If thia
view is correct, then, as the Congrei
sional Budget Office observed, “the quea
tion becomes primarily one of income
distribution.“ If natural gas prices are
deregulated, an additional »76 billion will
flow from consumers to the industry
between now and 1985. If oil prices are
also decontrolled, the effect could be aa
devastating to the economy as the four
fold increase in oil prices imposed by
OPEC which was a major cause of the
recession. When we recall the staggering
and continuing damage inflicted on Black
American» by the recession, it becomes
clear that the issues of energy and
economic growth may be aa important to
our future as the traditional civil rights
agenda.
The importance of such issues as
natural gas deregulation leads to a second
lesson that can be drawn from the Senate
vote on minimum wage and natural gas
deregulation. Because civil rights organi
xations are unable to give their full
attention to every issue vitally affecting
Black Americana, we must have a sirs
tegy or set of principles to guide us in
dealing with the whole gamut of crucial
issues. Otherwise, we will find ourselves
outmaneuvered and outgunned
What
we win in one vote will be taken away
with another.
Our response must be based upon an
analysis of allies and coalitions. It has
occasionally been suggested that Blacks
should apply the philosophy of the British
Prime Minister who proclaimed that his
country had no permanent allies, no
permanent enemies, only permanent in
tereata." The difficulty with thia ap
proach ia that politics within a country
differ profoundly from relations between
countries. The victories won by the civil
nghts movement were largely possible
because of the power of moral concerns in
domestic politic*.
More fundamentally, we are part of a
community that ia concerned with build
ing a more just, decent, and responsible
society. It ia inevitable that, from lime to
time, serious differences will arise within
that community. However, a disagree
ment with a friend is different than a
disagreement with an enemy.
One
expects to he able to amicably resolve
disagreements with friends and make
every possible effort to prevent disagree
m enu from escalating into quarrels. It is
no secret that there are today some
issues on which the Black community has
important differences with our friends.
But we must not allow disagreements on
this or that issue to obscure the necessity
to work together if we are to achieve the
goals we believe in.
U. as I believe, new issues like natural
gas deregulation are assuming a growing
importance for Black Americans, then it
is essential to remember the special
quality of our relationship with the labor
movement, the liberal community, and
other elements of the coalition for social
justice. The question* which will increaa
ingly determine Black progress - full
employment, economic growth, energy,
and economic justice - cannot be solved
unless the coalition is strong and united.
The undersUnding that economic issue*
are central can form the basis for a
renewed politics of equality.
Elution '72
State Representative Reger M artie has announced that he ia a candidate for the
Republican nomination for Governor. M artin, who ia a resident of I-«*'» Oswego, ia
vice president of United Sales Associates and M artin Electric. A six term legislator.
Martin was unanimously re elected House Republican Leader for the 1977 session
Evelyn CrvweU. an associate professor at Portland State University and immediate
past chairman of the \ W CA Board, has announced her candidacy for the Democratic
nomination for representative in District 16. the position now held by Representative
Wally Priestley, Ms. Crowells activities include the Public Education Research
Council of Oregon, the M artin Luther King Scholarship Fund. Catholic Daughters of
America. Portland A rt Association. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the City Club.
She is an eighteen year resident of Portland.
Arnold Biskar is a candidate for City Council, Position 2. held by Commissioner
Mildred Schwab. A certified public accountant. Biakar has served on two citizens
budget task forces, the Cultural Resources Committee for the Chamber of Commerce,
and the boards of the Portland Ballet Society. Young Audiences of Oregon and the Red
Cross. He is ( hairman of Radio Station KBOOs financial advisory committee and ia a
former Little League coach. In announcing his candidacy he said, “I want to go on
record at the beginning of my campaign as supporting full and equal human rights for
all, a Council more responsive to an increasing self determination for neighborhoods,
and as supporting the maintenance and upgrading of our housing stock, including
downtown housing."
The Multnomah County Democratic Central Committee will meet on Thursday,
October 20. 1977 - 7:45 p.m promptly. Polish Hall. 3832 N. Interstate at Failing
Street.
The Agenda includes debate of four measures 1. STATE: Water
Development Loan Fund Created: 2. STATE: Development of Non-nuclear Natural
Energy Resources; 3. C IT Y OF PO RTLA ND: Authorizes Power Contracts, and
4. M U L T N O M A H CO UNTY: Charter Amendment - Reorganization of County
Commission.
Counting the jobless
by \e m o fi Jordan
Now that the unemployment rate u. firmly below the doubledigit level there seems
to be less national urgency about dealing with the problem of joblessness
That's a mistake - and a big one at that. People in and out of government have
become mesmerized by statistics and projections that show the unemployment rate
moving downward by steps. The Administration has said it expects unemployment to
fall below five percent by 1961. and if it believes that, then it is leaning on a very shaky
reed.
Actually, unemployment remains unconscionably high and there's no real downturn
in sight. Federal job-creation programs will make only a minimal impart on the
problem and there s little indication that the private sector will increase its hiring
enough to make a dent in the ranks of the jobless
In fact, the number of jobs in the private sector have been expanding, while the
numbers of unemployed have not declined appreciably. What that means is that the
private sector is creating enough jobs for skilled and trained people, but the rest of the
work force is unable to benefit.
And at the very foot of the problem is the strange situation that few people can even
agree on how many people are unemployed at all.
The official statistics consistently understate true unemployment. They are baaed
on survey data that counts as unemployed individuals who are not currently working
and who say they are actively looking for work They count as employed, people who
are working part time, even a few hours a week, although they want and need full time
jobs.
Now that may be a way to keep the books, but it doesn't give an accurate picture of
the job market. It doesn't count people who have given up looking for jobs because
they re not available. It doesn't even count these "discouraged workers" as being part
of the labor force at all.
All of this and more will be examined by a new high level commission that will study
the official unemployment statistics and make recommendations for changes.
It doesn't take much to figure out that this is a politically explosive area. There's a
vested interest in rosy figures. Numbers that show mass misery wind up putting
pressure on political leaders to do something about it, at whatever coat to their other
interests.
That's why there's so much support for dropping unemployment figures altogether
and would make everything come up looking grand.
But putting on blinkers won't make the problem, or the jobless, go away. It's a form
of self deception that can only lead to more suffering and trouble for the country
further down the line.
$7.50
$8*00
in Tri-County Aroa
Other
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Address
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Portland Observer
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Kragerraad
(Continued from page 1 column 4)
thia coin supporting a racist and exploits
tive government, they are not even a
good investment for the consumer since
premium and taxes on the coin increase
the price five to eight percent over an
ounce of gold.
But most important of all, what the ads
don't mention are facta about the condi
tions of Black South Africans who work in
the gold mines to produce the gold for the
coin*. Ninety percent of the miners are
Blacks. 75 percent of whom are migrant
laborers who are forbidden by law to
bring their families to live with them and
therefore must live separated for eleven
months of the year. It ia a documented
fact that an average of three miners die
per shift per day and that Blacks are
given the most dangerous jobs which
account* for an additional 20,000 injuries
per year. The average monthly wage for
the white miner ia »563. while the
average wage for Black miners is »124.
Union organizing is made extremely
difficult for Blacks and the many rigid
and racist laws of apartheid make it next
to impossible to protest living or working
conditions without bringing violence and
other injustices upon themselves.
In light of the racism and exploitation
that are a part of the South African
government's policies, tales of the Kru
gerrand to help support that government
are deplorable.
Sale* of the Krugerrand can only help
to strengthen a society which has given
little sign of sharing its wealth or power
with the majority of it* people Oppo
nents of the sale of the Krugerrand in
Portland urge those who agree with them
to call the suppliers to protest. They are:
Investment companies: T .E. Slaker
Company. 224 9600; Omega Securities
Inc., 221 1111; U.S. Gold and Silver
Investment.
Inc., 228 9553;
Merrill
Lynch. 221-4600. Coin Shops: Columbia
Coin Company. 223-6278 and Alpine Coin
Compnay, 254 3656
To protest the South African pretence
in the U.S. and the sale of the coin, call
the toll free Krugerrand number. 600
453 2400.
To learn more about the Kruggerand
or if you would like to join members of
"Portland Citizens Against Racism" in
protesting the sales, call Cli at 281 7886
or Elizabeth Groff at 235 8954.
Civil Rights
(Continued from page 1
that this type of discrimination can no
longer exist. Stevenson expressed the
opinion that most current discrimination
i i inadvertent, the result of outdated
personnel practices, but that the effects
of discrimination are there.