Special convention report Republican Party WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1976, PAGE 5 n great trouble says local student EDITOR'S NOTE: Fol- lowing is an article by John Broadbent, an area resident and student of political science, who represented the Free Press at the recent Republican Party convention in Kansas City. The article provides a tremendous insight into the party presently in power in the United States, a nation whose actions greatly affect our courtry. Because the actions of our southern neighbours have great influence on us, we, as Canadians, should all be concerned about who is governing the U.S. and who will govern it in the future. by JOHN BROADBENT Nelson A. Rockerfeller, the former Governor of New York, was once asked by a reporter why he could never win the Republican nomina- tion for the Presidency of the United States. He replied by simply asking the reporter, "Have you ever beén to a Republican convention?" To those present at last week's convention in Kansas City, it was patently obvious why someone like Rocke- feller, isually viewed as a liberal, was unacceptable to the majority of the Party. It was also apparent that the Republican Party is in very great trouble and faces the possibility of bursting apart at the seams. A Ford victory in November will be virtually impossible. Whie Editor's Quote Book The first condition under which we can know a man at all is, that he be in essentials something like our- selves. James A. Froude Ontario Ontario Municipal Board IN THE MATTER OF Sec- tion 5(3) of The Pits and Quarries Control Act, 1971 (c. 96), and IN THE MATTER OF a refer- ence by the Minister of Natural Resources for a hearing in connection with the granting of a licence to Erben Rupert Schutz to open, establish or operate a pit within the East Half of Lot 2, Concession 9, in the Geographic Township of Pickering APPOINTMENT FOR HEARING THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD hereby appoints Monday, the l3th day of September, 1976, at the hour of ten o'clock (local time). in the forenoon, at the Board Chambers, 180 Dundas St. West, in the City of Toronto for the continuation of the hearing herein. DATED at Torointo, this 1 7th day of August, 1976. SECRETARY Mrs. Davies there were many indications of the extend of the problem, three were nimmediately obvious: the shadow of Watergate, the Party's lack of a platform, and the duality of the Party. Much has been said and written in the last four years about the Watergate scandal, but nany people are now bored with the topic or no longer find it so sensational. Nevertheless, it would be a very serious mistake to under- estimate the long term impact of the whole affair. Opinion pol!s now show that only 22 per cent ofAmerciaiis identify themselves with the Republican Party, and Watergate nust be viewed as the prime cause of this fall from grace. Richard Nixon was conspicuously absent fronthe 'cnvention, but his sin1 are still viewed as those of the Republican Party. The Party will attempt to down play the Nixon years, but it will be difficult. One indication of this problem ZM Onta safety1 resp Thi yot to m they'r YourOntario GovE our province's schoc motorist to drive wit school bus in front o You will recognize colour. And whenevE lights front and rear, from both directions This is true everyw country roads, and c regardless of the spe this law is a fine of u The only exceptior opposite direction fr of a multi-lane highw, There is somethinc your children to follo at school - to help th by keeping seated ur was the speech given by Senator Howard Baker, second man on the Watergate investigation committee. He addressed the convention on the first night and argued that Republicans should not worry about Watergate. Recent scandals had shown that Dernocratic Congressmen too were capable of illegal and immoral behavior, and the American people wo ld not accept a Watergate criticisn from Jimmy Carter. Yet this reply from Baker was weak and unconvincing. It went over well with the delegates, looking for relief, hope and excuses, but it will not be swallowed by the *American voters. Even Baker knows that there is both a quantitative and quaIlita tivc difference between sleeping with one's secretary and using government agencies to bug and harass political foes. Baker's speech and the but tons reading "Republican Secretaries Can Type" were poor delence against Carter. Arnericans will also remember that this party gave Richard Nixon to the electorate. This party nomi- nated him in 1968 and crowned him in 1972. They will remember that Republi- cans like Senators Goldwater, Scott, and Dole defended Nixon to the end, and most of all they will remember that it was Gerald Ford who pardoned him after the resignation. No, there is no way for the Republicans to shake off the Watergate burden. Apart from the matter of scandal, the Party seemed to lack purpose or positive direction. The platform lacks impetus and tends to con- centrate on a criticism of the Democratic Congress. It is critical of big govern- ment, bureaucracy, taxes, and big spending but it offers nothing positive in reply. The Republicans have no policies, except that of wanting less government. Part of the problem may be that the Party seerns to lack vigorous leadership. The heroes at the Convention were all elderly men, veterans of battles already lost. Alf Laidon, who ran for President in 1936, received a great ovation. Barry Goldwater, froin 1964, gave a speech on crutches. Senators Scott, Javits, and even Strom Thurmond were all there, but past their prime. In fact, Baker was the only young star. So the Republicans go to the electorate as an old party, worn out and without positive policy. Their plat- form is a simplistic critical one. It is cynical and pessimistic about the role of government, and denies the possibility of a creative, responsive Congress. It is the politics of negativism, and one almost wonders why they want' to win. Any failure experienced by American conservatism in the future must be viewed in large part as an intellectual faihire. 'The third obvious problem facing the Republican Party is that it is in fact two parties. There is the establishment, respectable, almost liberal north-eastern section. It is the party of Gerald Ford, Nelson Rocke- feller, and sometimes Richard .Nixon. It is the party which normally wins at the Conven- tion and loses in the elections. It represents the liberal, industrialized north-east, which normally votes for Democra's anyway. The other party is the "Goldwater-Reagan Party", from the south and west. Conservative and funda- mental in politics, this party nominated Goldwater in 1964 and wanted Reagan in 1968 and 1976. These are the people who lose conven- tions but win Republican victories in their states. The sun-belt crowd still react well to speeches against Com- munists, and Reagan's 1976 version of 'The Speech' about the erosion of individual liberty by big government always received a good reception from . them. They even cried when he lost. Most of all, it is important to note that many of them have no use for Ford and the other half of the party. This inherent duality also portends the demise of the Republican Party. There is already talk of forming a third party to the right of the G.O.P. It will almost certainly develop in the event of a Carter victory and continuedDemocratic control of Congress in November. Kansas City was a very appropriate place to hold the 1976 Republican Convention. It is a city of gray, cement buildings; prosperous, sturdy, solid buildings; but dull and uninspiring. Most of the delegates at last week's.con- vention were gray, prosper- ous, and solid men; but dull and uninspiring men. They wore ,.light-blue suits -and white shoes, and they smoked big cigars. PerIaps the most appro- priate description of the delegates was to be found outside the convention centre. As they left the auditorium the last night, a group of protestors outside held up a huge sign. It read simply "Good-bye Dinosaurs". And we all know what happened to the dinosaurs.. rios school bus regulations are everyone's )nsibility. B SCHO0 BUS sis what WK-N SI cando ake sure M r e observed. ernment needs your help in protecting For more information on school bus safety and the ol children. So we urge you as a School Bus Stopping Law, write to: h extra care whenever you see a Public and Safety Information Branch f you or coming towards you. Ministry of Transportation and Communications the school bus by its chrome-yellow 1201 Wilson Avenue er it flashes its alternating red signal Downsview, Ontario M3M 1J8 you must stop. In fact, all traffic must stop. here in Ontario...on highways, ity, town or village streets, and ed limit. The penalty for disobeying and Comnians p to $100 and 4 demerit points.a m nicatla Dv i is for motorists going in the Prem i om the school bus on the other side Minister vay divided by a physical barrier. g else you can do, as well. Instruct w the school bus safety rules learned e bus driver by behaving quîetly and itil it is time to leave the bus. Willam Dvis