Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

A By MIKE BALL Columnist "I'm the durndest fool you ever had representing you," Sol Blatt told USC law students yesterday, chuckling. Whose to argue with Sol Blatt. rhe 1971 model Blatt, who entered here in 1912, began his eulogy to this state with the theatrics of a back woods preacher who has gotten used to speaking with higher authority in stead of reason. He spoke gradly and at length and in general terms of "feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving none special priviledges," and other Biblical phrases. Blatt took several oc casions to prove his humility. "I love South Carolina, and those who criticize it will have to deal with me, as limited as I am and -as little power as I have," he said. It must be agreed that Blatt has little power since in his thirty odd years as House speaker, his body has accomplished so little tor the hungry, naked, 1 etc. Blatt, the master of in nuendo, talked about teaching "the dishonor of loating" and how "low KENTI The campus CAMI score: 4 students dead, 11 wounded. UNI Now Pulitzer Prize FIi winner James Mich ener reconstructs, hour by hour, the events that led to the bloody climax. He answers such ques tions as: Were outside agitators involved in the riot? Was it necessary to 1912 G down belly-aching has no. place in the picture" and got to the matter at hand, teachers. Blatt, the statistician, told how S.C. had the second highest rate of teacher pay Increase in the nation and cited distracting lists of specific pay' in various parts of the state. By his implication, the state teachers were bums trying to destroy the education system he had seen built up. Blatt, the diplomat, didn't say the teachers were bums, as such, nor did he say that the figures he quoted were only for the minority of Class A teachers in S.C. Blatt, the preacher, made one final emotional plea about a recent day when teachers had said they needed more money, when the State Hospital had told him they would have to turn people away without more tunds, when mothers of retarded children begged tor places in state in stitutions for their children, and blind, deaf and poor people had begged for money. "Ladies and gen tlemen, my heart is not made of stone,'" he bayfully said. When the melodrama was flATE PUS callintheGuard? PU Hereiswhat truly ER happened - and E why. Including portraits of key people who have re mained obscure - until now. Condensed from Michener's forthcoming book. One of 41 articles & features in the March READER'S DIGEST ameco( over, Blatt, the comedian, took over. .his role was the finest of the pertormance. Old Silly Sol laughed away the : taxpayers contribution to Dietzel'-s Palace by, "I'm interested in the whole institution; Lord knows, I'm interested Letters to the edit Moss: < IE'AR MR. HIKEBE: This letter is in response to a recent editorial entitled "Thur mond's Move Viewed Suspiciously," in which the writer opined that Senator Strom Thurmond appointed former State Voter Education Project Director Thomas Moss to his staff "as a last resort, and not truly a progressive move." Impugning the integrity of a man as dedicated to the welfare of the black community and of this State as is Thomas Moss is a degrading affront to the black citizens - in deed, to all citizens - of this State. It is obvious that Tom Moss, whose life's work has been dedicated to serving the prople of his race and of this State, would not have joined the staff of Senator Thurmond had he felt that Senator Thurmond does not have the interests of all of the people of South Carolina - black and white - in mind. I cannot but lament the fact that the writer of this maligned editorial. has shown the most blatant prejudicial pre judgement of Mr. Moss by his implicit attack upon him. And what of Senator Thurmond? The writer's obvious prejudice against him is -manifest in the writer's wishful hope that -Thurmond's power has floun dered.... (and) that Thurmond is running scared." Far from the writer's hopes, Thurmond's ability to deliver for all of the people of South Carolina increases daily: witness the number of federal grants and loans pouring into the State, many for low cost housing, more and better hospitals, and better environmental safeguards; witness the ever Increasing number of South Carolinians in prominent positions of public services in the federal govern ment. Why must Senator Thurmond's hiring of Tom Moss be so pre judicially pre-judged? I noticed a complete lack of acrimonious pre-judgement of Senator Ernest Travel Plans for Europe? Wite SOFA. SOFA is the operator of over 5000 Student Charter Flights citis.*"(Al's*'Tel*.iv Bombay. Bangkok, Nairobi.) Up to 70% sav ings over normal fares. Dear SOFA, Please send me infor. individa satudents in Eur in - cluding listings of student Flghts. Name ..- --- ---- -..-. Address - -. - --.- .... . City.. .--..-.-- --State -- -Zip- - Mail to: SOFA European student York NY106 (2286-d60 w For tours to Eastern Europe,' stu den htel riding & sFelling campe New York, NY 10036 (2t2 765.7422) 4k Revi in athletics--I want to see the Gamecocks beat every other team." He laughed away liquor by-the-drink with a few allusions to his own love of the devils brew. The Pudgy Pillar of the House laughed away the violation of Federal or ledicated t F. Hollings when he did a sudden about-face and began to show concern for the same poverty stricken citizens of this State whom he, as Governor, had ignored completely. Likewise, let us deal with Senator Thurmond in good faith. In hiring Tom Moss to his staff, Thurmond has moved openly to demonstrate his concern for the welfare of all of the citizens of this State. Surely we can give to Thurmond, and to Tom Moss, the benefit of a little good faith and support as Thurmond works to serve all of the people of South Carolina. JOHN CARBAUGH The Law School Repressive DEAR MR. BEEBE: As a sequel to their boycott against the Omsk troupe, it really would not show such bad form if the Radicals for Capitalism were to rush to the nearest campus library and burn in public any copies of Pushkin, Chekov, Dostoevsky, or any other author they find "repressive," for that matter, that they could lay their hands on. DENNISJ. ADAMS Double standard DEAR MRt. BEEBE: I think it highly unfair that a uniform enforcement of the rules on the cQnsumption of food and beverage~ in the student lounge are not implimented. The fact that a "art" show is being conducted does not give the participants any more right to consume these illegal and harmful items (they must be harmful or they wouldn't be illegal'i than the mild, careful students that normally frequent the lounge. Either the items should be banned or allowed. The double standard should not be allowed to remami. T.A. SMITH ROLFE is Public eM ead CM . .,..,wei, sted legislation by his body. Asked If he would hire a woman page Blatt said, "No, Ma'am." "The only way a woman will work as a page is when the court puts her there and then she's not going to work, she'll draw com pensation," he quipped. o blacks Fans DEAR MR. BEEBE: I could 'not help get the feeling that some of our USC fans were not acting like a No. I All-American audience Saturday afternoon at the game against UNC. This was felt especially when UNC came on the court and were introduced. Please, let's don't imitate some of our northern mob counterparts. Our team is good, but it must still prove itself the best, just as we must prove ourselves to be the best audience. DAVID J. COATES Open house IAR MR. BEEBE: This letter is written because of concern ofithe recent controversy on open house policies. It should be noted thai when one comes to college. one is supposedly mature enough to accept responsibilites of an adult world. USC allows minimum opportunity for this. Opposition to more liberalized visitation is weak. For instance, some close-minded people argue that liberal visitation would en courage sexual activities. Such activities may take place in a car, in the bushes, in a local motel, or in an apartment. If a boy is not In a fraternity, where does he take his date after a show? Nowhere, unless his funds are sufficient. What about an intimate con versation? Do -you suggest Don's, the Campus Club. or some place equally as private? Besides, a student's room is not merely a bedroom; it is his own private home. Girls sometimes argue that liberal visitation will Invade their privacy. They can deep their doors closed; moreover, it is not as though a whole heard of males would constantly swarm the halls. It is a pity that so many students here allow themselves to-live in the Dark Ages. A trip to any university of a comparable size, or smaller, would reveal that USC Is indeed behind. Co-ed dorms and 24-hour visitation abound. Some people here seem to be afraid that such institutions would mar the spotless reputation of USC. Open your eyes, Carolina. Think about it. Open your doors!!!!! NAMES WITHI-ID BY . . . .. , -, HE1lEST