University of Virginia Library

Murat Williams

Ex-Candidate Stresses Congress' Leadership

By MARSHA MASSEY

"I was shocked at Mr.
Nixon's statement last week
stating that Congress is a place
of special interests" Mural
Williams, an unsuccessful
candidate in last November's
election, told a gathering of the
Raven Society Monday night.

"Congress is a service
organization, and more
important, it is a place for real
leadership that represents the
people" he asserted, "for
Congressmen are identified
with ideas."

"I ran for Congress to win,
and because I thought I could
on the basis of a few simple
ideas," he said forcefully

Fair Taxation

These ideas included
fairness in taxation, protection
of environment, rational use of
federal funds, and consumer
protection, according to Mr
Williams, who was defeated by
seventh district Congressman J.
Kenneth Robinson

"Congress could help
correct the mistakes of the
executive," he said "Changes
in the environment and in war
and peace are urgent."

Failure Explained

"I didn't win because I
failed to articulate my simple
ideas well enough. I didn't
confine myself to a few ideas,"
he explained. He later said that
he thought that his campaign
had improved environmental
matters.

"I have often been called a
liberal, and I am proud of this
but it would not have been
practical to say this during the
campaign," said Mr. Williams

"The rural people of my
district resist change, they
want the best of the past o
them liberals want change.
They are victims of a
demonology."

This demonology Mr.
Williams explained, is vague and
involves many aspects of life.
He identified the liberal as the
American people's most recent
demon. He blamed the late
Sen. Joe McCarthy's convincing
the public that all liberals were
"soft on communism."

Lack Of Rural Support

"I thought I knew the rural
people's ways and needs and I
thought they would listen to
my ideas, but I did not get the
support from the rural areas I
expected," he said.

Mr Williams, who spoke out
against the Vietnam situation in
1967, said, "I was stronger in
domestic areas than I was in
foreign policy, but in foreign
policy I hope we will realize
that we do not have to be
number one when we can be
partners with the rest of the
world."