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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1978)
Portland Observer Thursday, October 19, 1978 Page Will Blacks vote? 1974, over 500 corporations have established w ell-financed, and smoothly-operating PACs. Armed w ith com puterized lists o f em ployees, and seemingly unlim ited funds, PACs have already demon strated their clout, at the ballot box, as well as in Congress. ARCO’ s Civic Action Program is a prim e example o f corporate political muscle. According to the Wall Street Journal, ARCO spends approximately $750,000 per year on its amazingly effective political ac tion program. ARCO uses its PAC to m obilize thousands o f em- ployee/voters. A d d itio n a lly , the political action committee actively lobbies fo r com pany-backed legislation, and showers “ friendly” candidates w ith generous con tributions. Some corporations and profes sional organizations shy away from the more innovative political techniques, such as A R C O ’ s program . Instead, they sim ply provide candidates w ith lavish political contributions. For example, during 1977-78, the Am erican Medical Association’s PAC, the Real Estate lobby, and the Auto Dealer’s PAC each raised over a m illio n dollars. So far, the fourteen largest business committees and New Right groups have amassed nearly $14 m illion for political activities. Aside from formidable financial resources, business ar.d conservative interests have another strategic ad vantage — mass apathy, especially among minorities and workers. Un fortunately, the conservative forces — who hope to make a real killing in November — are far from apathetic and moribund. On the contrary, they have once again discovered that political action pays o ff handsomely. A prominent conservative lobbyist summarized the current p o litic a l situation with a brilliant one-liner: "Congressmen firs t learn how to count and then to th in k .” A nd developments during the last session o f Congress certainly confirm that sim ple though hig h ly in s ig h tfu l analysis. To remain in office, politicians must count votes as well as dollar bills. While money is highly impor tant, even the richest and most heavily financed candidate comes to the electorate as a pleading sup plicant. Regardless o f slick adver tisements, plus cocktail parties, and $500-a-plate dinners, we — the Black electorate — can make a “ life or death” decision fo r a p o litic ia n whether he be friend or foe. Our political power is there; we need only use it. by Bayard Rustin Over ten years ago, M artin Luther King boldly speculated about the great potential o f a united, well- organized, and militant Black elec torate. "T he Negro vote,” he said, " i s only a p a rtia lly realized strength." W ith massive registration and mobilization efforts, Dr. King predicted th a t Black electoral "pressure can achieve measurable results, the Negro citizen w ill make his influence felt.” Analysis R M * \> W * w * • Felicia Robertson practices her new clarinet. Felicia, ten, is a fifth grader at Multnomah Elementary School. She is the daughter of Mrs. Edna Robertson. Portland NAACP seeks candidates The Portland Branch o f the National Association for the Advance ment o f Colored People (N AAC P) has chosen a five person nominating committee for the purpose o f nominating a slate o f six officers and thirteen board members for the 1979 elections. Members of the nominating committee are: Mr. James Lee (Chair), M r. C .A. White, Ms. Brenda Knapper, Ms. Florice Walker, and Ms. Pina Williams. Offices to be filled are (1) President, (2) 1st Vice President, (3) 2nd Vice President, (4) Secretary, (5) Treasurer and (6) Parlimentarian/ Sargeant at Arms. The thirteen positions on the board w ill be filled by persons who are willing and/or capable of chairing the thirteen stand ing committees as outlined by the constitution. A ll communications o f intent or desire to serve in any o f these positions must be received in the NAACP Branch office no later than 3:00 p.m., November 1, 1978. Please forward all correspondence to: NAACP — Nominating Commit tee, 2752 N. Williams Avenue, Port land, Oregon 97227, Phone 284- 7722. Branch hours are 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Monday through Friday. Domestic violence workshop sot A Portland Conference on Violence Against Women and Children w ill be presented by the Women’ s Night Watch, October 27th-29th, at Port land State University. The conference is designed to illuminate the problems o f violence and w ill serve as the ground-breaker for creating a Portland Commission on Violence Against Women. The conference w ill be preceded by a benefit concert Friday evening, Oc tober 27th, for Yvonne Wanrow and Mary McGuire, two Northwest women fighting for their right to defend themselves and their children against violence. The concert, featuring Niobeh, Izquierada, and Melanie Kaye, w ill begin at 8:00 p.m. Friday, at PSU’s Smith Memorial Center Ballroom ($3 donation). The conference will begin Satur day morning, October 28th, with a special panel on “ Government, Women, and Violence.” Panelists include Charles Jordan, Portland Commissioner for Public Safety; Dan Mosee, Multnomah County Commissioner for Public Safety; Gretchen Kafoury, State Represen- tative; Kathleen Nachtigal, candidate for Domestic Relations Judge; and Pina Williams, Vice President o f the Oregon Women’ s Political Caucus, who w ill moderate the panel. Satur day and Sunday workshops will focus on domestic violence, rape, in cest, child abuse, working in- terracially, tactics, working with men, women in prisons and mental institutions, forced sterilization, and anti-violence legislation. A women’ s art show o f poster and leaflet art from anti-violence pro grams w ill be on display at the con ference. Anyone who has ever been effect ed by or concerned with violence against women and children is in vited to attend — including groups serving the community, and in dividuals who want to help them selves, their friends and family, or the community in general. Registration fee is $5. Childcare and housing for out-of-town participants w ill be provided. For further infor mation, childcare, or housing, call Women’ s Night Watch, 236-9738. T h ro u g h o u t the last decade, many o f us have followed Dr. King’s sensible advice. Yet, a fte r in numerable registration drives, voter education conferences, and “ get out the v o te " campaigns, the Black com m unity continues to s h o rt change itself politically. Indeed, with each passing year, the enormous political potential o f the Black elec torate dwindles even further. For many politicians, the Black com munity is now viewed as a political paper tig e r, unable to m obilize voters, and unable to organize inten sive lobbying efforts. C onsider fo r a m om ent some d is tu rb in g statistics about Black political participation. Since 1968, the Black vote has steadily declined at an alarming rate. Ten years ago, 587t o f all eligible Blacks voted in the N ixon-H um phrey election. In 1972, only 527« voted in the presidential election. And in 1976, barely 507» cast their ballots in the Ford-Carter contest. The figures for state and local races are even lower. As our political strength continues to d im in ish , the power o f our traditional adversaries continues to grow. Business and conservative groups — never friends o f the civil rights movement — have successfully capitalized on the generally conser vative mood t j f A m erica. T heir political aggressiveness is reminiscent o f the wheeling and dealing o f the old Robber Barons. While their tac tics and ideas m ight seem o u t moded, they won numerous legislative victories during the last year. Sensing a conservative resurgence in the November elec tions, the New Right and its business allies anticipate even sweeter vic tories when Congress reconvenes. To a large extent, these expected victories w ill be engineered by business-dominated P A C ’ s, short for political action committees. Since Ron Brower (Continued from Page 1 Column 6) What skills do you have that w ill make your adjustment smoother? “ I ’ m quick and very poised,” he said softly. “ When matters get tight some people crack up, not me. I ’ ve been tough to endure dark moments and to stay strong in all o f life ’ s situations — or get lost in your own emotions, the same principles apply to basketball.” Ron’s mother Helen is rumored to have been quicker than he was when she starred at Fort Smith H :gh School years before him. On Jack Ramsay’s system Ron says, “ I t ’ s similar to the one in college, because both coaches stress tight defense and a structured o f fense. Now that I know the plays I ’ m becoming more assertive in my game,” he said. “ Every day is a new learning experience.” The man who has been tabbed by coaches as one o f the premiere big guards in years to come was a physical education major at Arkan sas. He plans to establish a com Studio of Hair Design for M an and Woman munity center in his old neigh borhood. “ I ’d like to create new outlets and give youngsters motivation to be somebody. Pro athletes can be a great help in uplifting community spirit and development.” Brewer’s advice to youngsters caught in the “ Jock-trap” is to get all the education that’ s possible. “ Being talented doesn’t always get you to the pros, I ’m not saying that it’ s all political but only a chosen few w ill ever make it. Look at all the fine players cut during NBA pre-season. I f an athlete has a marketable degree, he's still a w inner. . The W OODLAW N HAIR DEN 1314 N.E. Oakum St. 285-1277 (Continued from Page 1 Column 6) organizations,” and that none o f the m inority organizations responded. Spokesman for the group that has filed suit maintain that community organizations representing the m inority communities should have been a part o f the planning process and should be represented on the CEDS advisory committee. z b re a d wiu DRAFT you for o n iy i s < D ays: S at., Sun., A M o n . C a ll: 2 8 8 - 8 7 6 8 For m o w In fo r m a tio n School Board hears Coalition The Community Coalition for School Integration will aooear before the School Board, Monday, October 23rd to discuss: November 27th date for presentation of findings and recommendations to the Board; a time line for consideration by the Board; opportunities for the Board to raise questions about the findings and data. The Board meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at 631 N.E. Clackamas. ’The PRODUCE CENTER of PORTLAND FRESH, CRISP, RED DELICIOUS JUKE LOCALLY GROWN CARROTS 25L*2* FRESH LOCAL #1 CAULIFLOWER ea CRANBERRIES PKG. OCEAN SPRAY FRESH ■osc PEARS GOLDEN DIJON 4 lbs. J1 PEARS 3 DIAMONDS CRUSHID SPRUCE PINEAPPLE Minced CLAMS M oi. 10 ox. 4T TIN FOREST GROVE Mand. ORANGES* 1102. 79* TM 39 2 TIN • FRESH, LEAN 1 •CROUNDVEAL $ 29: IN PKGS. OF 10 lbs or more NORWEGIAN JARLSBERG 2» SWISS CHESSE lb. • USDA INSPECTED BEEF FLANK STEAKS $ |8 9 I PRICES GOOD THRU SAT.. OCT. 21 19781 SHERIDAN FRUIT Co. S.E. UNION & OAK « 2 3 5 -9 3 5 3 D x - B e i M v i d ’s Professionally Supervised 4---------- REPAIRS Free Eef/mefee • EM IR filH C V CASES : - - _ Woft Compterai Whde You Wat In Most Cases « PERTURBI RELIMES 1er Better P it. . . Brekea A Cracked Acatare« Needed NISSIH8 T R I T I Replaced... Bridge« A Partial« Repaired NO MTBHST 0 « CAMT CMAKM H» le a k «r FI m r m Cd. »• 0 m 4 Whk OWW NMdW O m M kap«ka Crack», ! CMg«. Xoagh tartara« and Laaaa FH can caaa rartaw condition« to • fera », T m » m and Maat«. Han't Ina Tban H.inrd.1 hn«r.vad A»»aara». ; Ckawin» Md S»aa»m» ara .ha« litra laaafln. t for I I I Accepted “ I W E L FA R RE E P A T IE N ITS TS EXTRACTIONS «IM F . J • * MC Y * EMERGENCY T raatmant * Lai U» Unta Yen UfHU AU Year Dentei Problem» O rM a ra t» • r a n t a i n . F illin g » A SecAum O vnng C i Ira th a n . 4 W ttn g . M e» ORTHODONTIC O a e a rta n a t X a ra tC a » a rc « M » a t« 4 a n ftra a * * Carat Frtrad Ug T« JO E l e l e w A ra ra w O n tiid d iitk C»tn SPORTS HOUR 1801 N.E. A lberta Organization signing the letter were Columbia Environmental Council, Coalition for Safe Power, Consumer Power League, Forelaws on Board, Gray Panthers Utilities and Taxes Task Force, Mobilization for Survival, New American Move ment, Trojan Decommissioning A1 liance, Portland Citizens Aganist Racism and Radical Women. CAUTION;» P/W , Jeri Curl, Hair Relaxing, Styla Hair Cutting for Mon and Woman, Henna Tints and Highlighting. JOE’S PLACE Ten community groups have demanded that Public U tility Com missioner Charles Davis deny Port land General Electric’ s request to make automatic rate changes. PGE had requested authority to adjust electric rates quarterly accor ding to varying costs production or purchase of power. The organizations signing the letter to Davit fear that this would allow the utility companies to pass the costs o f plant breadowns on to ratepayers. “ It is absolutely unacceptable for PGE to have in its hands a way automatically to pass mismanagement costs on to us” , they wrote. Commissioner Davis recently denied a request by PGE for a sur charge to cover increased cost o f purchasing power while Trojan is shut down. The groups state that “ if the power cost adjustment were in place at this time, PGE would not even have had to ask for a sur charge.” Currently, the utility com panies must ask the Public U tility Commissioner for permission to in crease rates. City sued OCTOBER SPECIAL 10% OFF ON Groups oppose automatic utility rate change Praa- Abrawrancaraaa^«» E s tim a te s * " " FWOtd« NO P R E S E R V A T IV E S ADDED AU Deatal INSURANCE Accepted MADE WITH PURE LIQUID VEGETABLE SHORTENING Baked just right for you! e T o r r n . A v a tla b l. n t o u r O H ica JJ7-J4J7 HOURS- • J Í4 M toSWd.M Uwreese D /t. p i/u u v u L CkSGDtf koü * d s n t is t Strip |.C'r 51 S »* Ave. Between Aider A Wathmglen ( j H H C H ALSO IM SALIM A tU C IN I F
