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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1971)
font braden V Trouble ahead for Muskie? DOVER, N.H.-There are a great many more spruce trees than there are people in New Hampshire butboth stand silent before Edmund Muskie. The front-runner tramped through wet snow from one small meeting to another last Tuesday and was greeted with a politeness so granite-faced that it could not possibly be mistaken for enthusiasm. It may be that his is the way New Hampshire is. Having one of everything already, as Robert Frost once pointed out-one mountain, one university, one stateman, one President-New Hampshire isn't about to cross the street to shake hands with something there's more than one oflike a presidential candidate. It may be that good neighbor Muskie understands the sufficiency of New Hampshire men. At any rate, he does not affront them by crossing the street to shake hands with them. Then, too, the Muskie campaign is only now getting under way. A headquarters in Manchester, this states' largest city, is now just opening; and in-state staff is only now being assembled. Muskie's organization seems to have taken New Hampshire almost as much for granted as New Hampshire seems to take Muskie. If all this is New England reticence, Muskie has nothing to worry about. Three months from now his neighbors will give him votes to which a neighbor may feel entitled and all will be well. But even at this early date it is impossible to down the suspicion that there may be trouble ahead. Is it a warning of trouble to watch Muskie walking through a crowded college cafeteria on his way to a meeting while the diners hardly bother to look up from their coffee? Is it a warning of trouble that he can speak for 20 minutes without worrying about being interrupted by applause? Is it a warning of trouble that a man waiting for a haircut in a barber shop murmurs a polite, "No thanks," when asked if he would like the candidate now walking through the door to autograph a picture? Would these things happen to a Lindsay? A Kennedy? Is it Muskie or is it New Hampshire? One feels an almost irresistible impulse to speak out: "Look, this man you're not even bothering to look at is one of the best and most intelligent and bravest leaders of your country. He's worked hard for you. He's a man who listens, a man you can trust. He cares about you Do something to show you care about him." Of all the folkways by which Americans conduct their politics, the folkway which makes New Hampshire a major test for the Presidency is the least logical. New Hampshire is small; any group of 10 people constitute a power bloc. It is unrepresentative. It doesn't have a major city. It has only one newspaper of any size and it is one which can be counted upon to deliver 15 to 20 of the state's vote to Sam Yorty, who runs not to win an office but to maintain a career. It would be more logical to hold the primary in a single Chicago ward. But the folkway exists and Muskie has to exist with it, though it may destroy him and the chances for victory of a Democratic Party which has made him the man with the best chance of winning. If Muskie is running scared, if he is offended by the lack of attention here, he doesn't show it. But every sign indicates as of now that the Muskie name and the easy Muskie style are creating about as much excitement as a soft New Hampshire snow. Copyright 1971, Los Angeles Times 41 curtis tarr The Draft responds Curtis Tarr is director of the U.S. Selective Service System. The agent for progress and improvement is participation. The Selective Service System has undergone many significant changes in the past two years. Many of the changes are directly attributed to the young men and women who participated responsibly during this difficult period of change. Our chief mechanism for this youth involvement has been the Selective Service Youth Advisory Committees. Established in every state across the country, the groups have discussed the ideas, suggestions and criticisms of youth on a wide variety of draft topics. One of the more important changes brought about concerned the age of local draft board members. The youth committees suggested lower ages and a curtailment of the length of service on local boards. Regulations previously stated tha citizens could not be appointed to local boards beyond their 75th birthday or for more than 25 years. The new regulation and law limit service on local draft boards to 20 years and set a minimum age of 65 years. A maximum age of 18 has been set for appointment to local boards. In accord with our youth advisers' recommendations, the new law abolished student deferments for all college students who were not enrolled during the 1970-71 academic year. In other words, from now on, no more college deferments will be granted. But the law also provides that both undergraduate and graduate students who receive induction orders will have their inductions postponed until the end of their MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1971 current academic term, quarter, or semester. A student in his last academic year can have his induction postponed until the end of the school year, allowing him to graduate. The advisers were concerned that draft calls varied from community to community, and they sought a more uniform approach to selecting men for service. In the past a system based upon total registration was used to apportion the national draft call to the state headquarters, who in turn apportioned the call to individual local draft boards. The new regulations removed the requirement to use this system and instead established a uniform national call. Now all men in the nation with the same lottery numbers who are available will receive induction notices at nearly the same time. It was recommended that young men be afforded a judicial review of appeals to local and state boards in classification matters. The new law provides a realistic move in this direction, permitting a young man appealing his classification to bring witnesses and present his appeal to a quorum of the board. The young man also is allowed now to make a personal appearance before the Senate and Presidential a peal boards. Appointed by the President upon the recommendations of the state governor, the local board member holds, perhaps v the most important position in the Selective Service System. A young man or woman who might be interested in serving on a local board or in assuming other volunteer positions in the Selective Service System should contact the office of his or her governor. THE DAILY NEBRASKAN Final Tryoufs For The Boyfriend first musical in new playhouse Tuos. 7:30 p.m. Lincoln Community Playhouse 18th & L WHITC CVC9 COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT White Eyes Union South Crib 8:00 -10:30 p.m., December 9 and 10 (Thurs., and Fri) sponsored by Union Program Council . Nebraska Union FREE concert t ; rr-- i v v-v. - Li J v t 1 vv 4 j , A-. iW 7. - . LJ She's fallen for your line. Now come have a look at ours. Sm tnmk Stmt 1KB f vn-rtna y Re9titrd Jwtr Amricn Gm Society h I' 1- k i. l V i: v 1 I ' $ ' i i " I; : l V" C X - v V r PAGE 5
