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The Augusta News-Review - October 25, 1973 - ■Walking I M dfcyW 1/| ■ Dignity „ » jAnli by Al Irby THE RESIGNATION OF EX-VICE PRESIDENT SPIRO AGNEW SAVED THE NATION A BATCH OF CONSTITUTIONAL HEADACHES, AS CONGRESS PUSSY-FOOTS AT ITS RESPONSIBILITY. ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, AGNEW SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED, TRIED AND JAILED. SINCE 7 HIS COUNTRY HAS A NATIONAL WEAKNESS OF ELECTING A RASH OF POLITICAL CHICANERY ARTISTS TO HIGH OFFICES, ONE OF THESE DAYS, THE PRESIDENT OR THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL BE INDICTED, TRIED AND CONVICTED FOR A FELONY WHILE IN OFFICE. Then our sluggard Congress will begin impeachment proceeding in the House, then judgment in the Senate. But knowing the Congress as we do, the snail-pace will take ages to do what it has to do. While this creeping procedure is taking place, the nation will have a convicted felon in the powerful position of the presidency. Suppose Mr. Agnew had not resigned, and he was indicted by that federal grand jury; in the meantime President Nixon was incapacitated, just like that, Agnew would be President. Would the country then wait for his case to be tried? For a possible conviction and sentencing? Many people think a position like that would be rediculous, but that is exactly the position Speaker Carl Albert set up, by his refusal to investigate the Agnew’s legal labyrinth. Mr. Albert and associates reasoned that the case in question was in the courts, and there is where the real danger exists. Since it was before the courts, it could linger in the courts for a very long time indeed, and there is how the possible ridiculous could become the reality. Laying all the fancy constitutional legality aside for a moment, and putting a bit of earthy common sense in action, when a President or Vice President are accused of crimes, the Congress should take over, and move swiftly. That’s the quickest way to clear the confused air, both in justice to the accused and the American people. Grand juries have become a national joke, in keeping testimonies secret; newspapers have their contacts in every grand jury in the nation. The Constitution of the United States basicly supports common sense. All citizen should read it carefully, then maybe we would be inclined to respect all persons’ rights. Pedantic lawyers always try to interpret its broad sweep in obscure sophistry. The Constitution plainly states in criminal trials, for example in (Art. HI), “The trials of all crimes, (except in cases of impeachment), shall be by jury.” - Not all crimes or all accused, criminals, notice, impeachments of high offices of state are clearly excepted. Article 1. is also very plain. The House shall decide on a bill of impeachment, which is not a conviction but an indictment on probable cause.” Here the House acts like a grand jury. The Senate serves as jury to convict or acquit. Constitutional lawyers were arguing the point whether impeachment proceedings should come before or after the criminal trial in Mr. Agnew’s case. Some lawyers were hinting that there was a maneuver to let him off the hook. Again, the framers of the Constitution were foresighted and precise (section 111 of Art. I states: “Judgment in case of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.’ Impeachment does not invalidate a criminal trial, if such is the case. And with all the panoplies that an impeachment proceeding brings to the surface, it would be clear to everyone, that a criminal trial was warranted. There was an irony in the fact that here was a Congress most eager to investigate everybody that passed along, including the President, yet they refused the Vice-President, when he asked it to do so. Os course there were reasons that it prefered to keep hands-off this hot potato. One cardinal reason for ducking Mr. Agnew could be that the law-makers are famous for by-passing real responsibility, it dreads the agony of facing up to hard decisions. Then he Congress is predominately Democratic, and they would just love to leave the Republican hatchet man hanging in some of his own hard-nose “Law and Order” hypocritical nooses. The Democrats supported a fallacious argument, that the drafters of the Constitution didn’t really mean what they said. They had worn the old cliche thin, that, “no man should be above the law” - as if subjecting a Vice-President to public impeachment trial before the Senate while still keeping him in jeopardy of a criminal trial and possible jail, would somehow be telling the public, that he was above the law, but that would have been giving the old Baltimore bully-boy a double lesson in ethics and legalism. Well, Mr. Agnew has used the famed legal phrase, “Nolo contenere”. He talked big and loud before the Republican ladies in California, until he had almost convinced everyone he was going to stay on, indictment or not; but the walls began to close in upon him. The brillant Federal Attorney James R.Thompson of Chicago was brought in on the case at the last minute to augment the legal fire-power, summed up Mr. Agnew in these words: “The man is a crook,and the country is better off to be rid of him.” It was also said around the cloak rooms of Congress that if Mr. Agnew was convicted, and the conviction upheld, then it would be time for Congress to act. But how fast would Congress act? Remember the accused had told those cheering Republican ladies in California, that he would stay-on indictment or not. The Senate would have to hear long testimonies, and defense; and all tiie while Mr. Agnew would still be Vice President of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth. If Congress continues to wait on other branches to carry out its duty and responsibilities;one of these bright mornings, the nation will awake, and have a “Jail-Bird” in the office of the Presidency. B it since this column was prepared, the Agnew story has become moot and hypothetical, because the President has gone berserk and fired Watergate prosecutor, Archibald Cox ams his Deputy Nixon’s mess and resigned as Attorney Genera THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Mallory K. MHlandar Editor and Publisher Mailing Address: Box 963 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4665 Second Class Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30901 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year in Richmond Countyss.oo tax incl. 6 Monthss2.so tax incl. Ohe Year elsewheres6.oo tax incl. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon on Tuesday 1 Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday News items Printed Free Page 4 Bsswumhiimmh. < I R ■ Speaking | < xx I Out 1 < By i Roosevelt Green, Jr. S&. The victory of Maynard Jackson in Atlanta’s mayoralty race is a good sign in the South. While not giving in to ignorant optimism it is necessary to see this victory as a new opportunity for whites to overcome their belief in the inferiority of Blacks. Mayor-elect Jackson is a very intellignet and articulate Black man who has a golden opportunity to make Atlanta a truly democratic city. Mayor Sam Massell’s efforts to holler “nigger” in a sophisticated manner was soundly defeated by sensible Blacks and whites. His appeals to the racist fears and prejudice of some' Atlanta whites did earn him about forty percent of the total vote count and that was disappointing and tragic. It was disappointing but not surprising to see a former so-called white “liberal” turn his back to Blacks. Mayor Massell’s Chameleon politics is nothing new in the South and it did serve to strengthen the belief of many Blacks that white politicians cannot be trusted. This country has a long way to go before Blacks and whites mature to the point of race or ethnicity becoming second to ability to serve. The most encouraging thing about the Atlanta election was not only Vice-mayor Jackson’s victory but the viable coalition of Blacks and whites. Perhaps Augusta can learn from the Atlanta experience since it is now time for a Black mayor of that city. Black Athenians can now cheer Black players on the University of Georgia football team. Black players are now a valuable asset to that team. Horace King, Gene Washington, and Richard Appleby are stars onlhe Georgia team, giving Blacks something to stand up and cheer about. It is unfortunate that Washington will be out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle. We have waited a long time for the day when Blacks could play vital parts on the fairly recently desegregated team. Athens is a very oppressive community for Blacks to endure. There are several Uncle Toms who play an effective role in delaying Black progress in this town. They are on all kinds of community committees and organizations as a result of being handpicked by whites in the so-called power structure. Local Blacks have no faith in those misleaders who profess to speak for the Black community. Black ministers, with few exceptions, continue to preach a pie in the sky gospel of accomodation while church members kick over benches. The hang-up on heaven is no doubt reactive to an oppressive climate which negates the existence of Blacks. The drug abuse problem is increasing along with the crime rate among Blacks. There is n<f much of a future for college educated Blacks in Athens if one rules out public school teaching. Housing and employment discrimination is widespread here in this college town. The sense of powerlessness and alienation is tremendous in this town where Blacks represent a small minority of the population. One does not have to be in Athens long before learning that this is truly a “white” town. Minority business is limited to occupations such as morticians, barbers, beauty shop operators, service station operators, and a few insurance men. Social Service programs abound here but they define the situation as a Black problem. The focus is on individual pathology rather than systems or community pathology. The goal here is similar to the rest of the country in terms of helping clients to adjust to maladjustment. No effort is made to organize and educate clients politically and economically to deal for themselves. I have seen progress in Athens but it has come so slowly because of a lack of Black and white positive leadership. There are some whites and Blacks who are concerned about the basic social problem but their influence is limited. Black rage is tremendous and often erupts in public situations where Blacks and whites congregate such as local high school football games. The mayor of Athens somewhat recently announced a “get tough” policy in dealing with the violence of Blacks toward whites at those games. The most positive force for change in Athens is the university community in a limited sense. Blacks are generally accepted on the university campus where Black faculty and students are few and lily white social fraternities still prevail. A Black mayor or sheriff could proprobably be elected in Athens with the development of a coalition of Blacks, students, and liberal white university faculty members. I want to close by citing the often used quote of Edmund Burke who said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Race relations will never improve in this country or on the fifty plantations until concerned and committed Blacks and whites do more than think about doing something that is right and just. Many whites and Blacks who are in positions where they could bring change prefer to meditate on job security and the art of playing it “safe”. Blacks do not do needed things because of the fear of being regarded as Uncle Toms. Whites do not do good things because they do not want to “rock the boat” or be seen as “nigger lovers”. Blacks and whites are going to have to summon up what the late philosopher-theologian Paul Tillich called “the courage to be”. It takes an awful lot of courage and love to “be” what we ought to “be”. Harambee II SUBSCRIBE ’ TODAY 9 THE NEWS-REVIEW P.O. BOX 953 J AUGUSTA, GEORGIA 30903 * Num Address 1 City yw (in county) |B.oo One year (out of county) $6.00 TO BE rjgfcs* equal /fMFj THE AGNEW CASE All the glitter and ceremony of the White House annoucement of Gerald Ford’s appointment to the Vice Presidency cannot cover the deep shame the Agnew case has brought to Washington, or can it obscure the serious questions it raises about current political morality and the system of justice in America. Coming on top of the Watergate scandals and the continuing battle over the secret White House tapes, the Agnew case is a terrible blow to the country’s self-confidence and to the average citizen’s faith in his leaders. , Black citizens can take no satisfaction from Mr. Agnew’s removal from office Although he was clearly one of the most unpopular national leaders in the view of Black communities, there is no joy in a situation in which our national leadership, which should be strong and just, is instead shaken by corruption and greed. From the time Mr. Agnew justified his refusal to visit and campaign in Black neighborhoods by saying “once you’ve seen one slum you’ve seem them all”, and continuing through his hard law and order stance and his position as a symbol of negativism on a national scale, the former Vice President has been a thorn in the side of people who hoped for policies of reconciliation instead of further divisiveness. Now, according to a meticulously detailed bill of particulars compiled by the Justice Department, it seems that this champion of law and order was taking bribes not only as Governor of Maryland, but while occupying the second highest office in the land, one breath away from the Presidency itself. In exchange for his resignation, the government decided not to press all of these charges, allowing him to plea bargain his way out of jail by accepting one count of tax evasion, a felony that would put lesser mortals behind bars. I can fully understand the government’s position that it is better to allow Mr. Agnew to resign in humiliation rather than put the country through the long ordeal of a trial and the resultant verdict and sentencing, but very few Black Americans can readily accept the two-tier system of criminal justice this reflects. High officials ought to be held to higher standards of behavior than the rest of us. Those who would lead must be worthy of that leadership. Opinion generally is that a public official on the take ought to have the book thrown at him, rather than get off with a light tap on the wrists. Most people feel that when government office becomes a license to steal then the guilty ought to suffer the full penalties of the law, especially when they’ve hidden their own corruption behind a screen of charges of “permissiveness and pleas to get tough with criminals. Why, so many people are asking today, should a high official who has been on the take get off with a lesser sentence than some poor kid who took a joyride in someone else’s automobile? How many thousands upon thousands of people are locked up in prison today whose crimes are so much less than those of former Vice President has been charged with? How many thousands upon thousands of people are today on parole or probation and are forced to inform correction officials of their every movement while the former Vice President was released on his own recognizance? And how many petty criminals are caged up for months just until their trial comes up and what is their reaction to a betrayer of the public’s trust getting off without ever seeing the inside of a jailhouse? Just as the charges against Mr. Agnew corroded faith in the government, his light sentence has corroded faith in the system of criminal justice. 1 myself don’t feel that anything would be served by locking the man up, but then justice is rarely served by locking anyone up, except perhaps for the most retrograde and violent criminals. If anything good at all is to come out of this shameful story, it is for the country to learn to extend the leniency given Mr. Agnew to the faceless thousands of accused persons whose crimes were less than his and whose fate has been far, far worse. Announcement: WBBQ Radio Now has a opening for a personality Announcer - D.J. Good Opportunity for Right person. Must have F.C.C. 3rd Class License with Broadcast Indorsement. Send Audition tape and Resume to: Harley Drew - Box 1443 - Augusta, Ga. 30903 OR Call 279-6610 for an appointment. An Equal Opportunity Employer ® IF THE BLACK COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE BLACK FUTURE, IT SHOULD HELP IMPOSE ORDER WHERE NEEDED. |[GoiNG~^rl l !PLACES 411 I ■ with Philip Waring B| HISTORY-MAKING JACKSON ELECTION BODES WELL FOR SOUTH As I write this colum (7 A.M., Oct. 21) the nation is being bombarded with news of the Constitutional Crisis brought about by President Nixon’s cruel firing of top Federal legal officials. Major news of the week for me and millions of Black Americans, however, is the smashing election victory for mayor of Atlanta won by Maynard Holbrook Jackson. Most important, however, was how he won. Despite the crass attempts by Mayor Sam Massell’s to divide the city along racial lines, Mr. Jackson won 97 percent of the Black vote and almost 25 percent of whites. The Atlanta Journal editorial commended the voters for repudiating Mayor Massell’s attempt to “bring Ku Klux Klan politics back to city hall” and hailed the city’s “flexibility and broadmindedness”. Gov. Jimmy Carter said that there was no real polarization in “the city too busy to hate”. MAYNARD LOVED BY URBAN LEAGUE MOVEMENT A close personal friend of Vernon Jordan, Maynard was invited to speak at the NUL’s 61st anniversary conference dinner in 1971. Later that year 1 shared a platform with him as he spoke at the Westchester County League’s 55th anniversary program. Upon our introduction at a cocktail party held at one of the Rockfeller homes, he responded most warmly upon learning of my Augusta and Georgia background and involvement. We spent a pleasant seven minutes talking Black politics but a great part of the time was used by this brilliant attorney talking about “his good friend Ed Mclntyre” of Augusta. Some 15 different local Urban Leagues have invited Maynard Jackson to speak at their annual dinner programs. He is highly regarded by the entire Urban League Movement. Atlanta, which is a model city both for the South and the nation, did well by itself in electing him mayor. He will carry on its many human, business and physical progressive programs. WHAT ABOUT AUGUSTA? Many students of race relations hail Maynard’s victory as mayor of a large Southern city as the beginning of the “Second Reconstruction”. This has been moving along slowly for several years as witnessed by election of Black mayors in ome forty Southern towns including Chapel Hill, N.C. Tallahassee and Columbus, Ga. and Congresspersons from Atlanta and Houston. And let’s not forget vice mayors in Miami (a woman), Richmond and Atlanta. Let’s not go off on “cloud nine” because these achievements are long, long over due and represent less than one percent at that. So we will have our work cut out for us. This brings up the question “What About Augusta?”. When will it get a state senator? What about a better spread of only three out of sixteen city councilmen in a city over 50 percent Black? Scores of Southern cities have Black judges sitting in courts of record. But what about Augusta? Is “Going Places” pushing too hard? USRY’S SEAFOOD MARKET “Eat the fish today that was sleeping in the Gulf last night 2005 OLD SAVANNAH ROAD I -ZSrfiUk (North) I .“AUGUSTA’S FRESHEST FISH” I Open Thurs., Fri., & Sat 9 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. I RE ELECT 1 I JL } JOHN D. CHAVOUSJ f TO THE ■ 1 BOARD of education! S ztC COUNTY WIDE ELECTION 9 NOVEMBER 6, 1973 > K HBI HHB Punch ■ V “The First Responsibility of Our Schools Is To w J EDUCATE ■ W Our Children: Mentally Physically Morally” 9 Physically Morally”