University of Virginia Library

Battle: Education
Seen Critical

During the summer primary, Mr.
Battle had come out with a firm
position stating the need for
consumer protection laws. After
the runoff in August, Mr. Battle
then re-asserted his belief that
present laws were inadequate in
giving the consumer the protection
he needs and proceeded to outline
his own plan.

When asked by reporters the
following day what he thought of
his opponent's statement, Mr.
Holton, caught with his platform
down, replied that of course, he
believed the consumer ought to be
protected.

Later, when he had more time
to ponder his remarks, Mr. Holton
realized his statement had been
inadequate. He then outlined his
own plan in the area, which proved
to be a poor imitation of Bill
Battle's.

Mr. Holton has stated that he
feels there is no need for any new
consumer protection laws, that
what is necessary is simply the
enforcement of present laws. He
stated he would, if elected, appoint
an assistant, whom he would call
"Mr. Protection," to travel around
the state and prosecute fraud.

Mr. Battle feels this is an
incomplete and ineffective method
of helping the citizens in a field
they are desperately ignorant of.
Calling "Mr. Protection" a "cousin
of Mr. Clean," Bill Battle will create
a separate department of consumer
affairs with a complete staff of
experts.

Another major area of
disagreement is in state finance. Mr.
Holton has fielded a two-pronged
attack on the state, promising
expansion and improvement of all
state services, and at the same time
promising a $9 tax rebate to all
Virginians.

Mr. Battle feels this policy is
fiscal irresponsibility and suicide.
He has consistently stated he would
like to end the sales tax completely,
but will make no promises until
there is a substitute from of
revenue. Education, he feels, is a
critical concern of the state, and to
give a rebate out of the food tax,
which is set aside entirely for
education. Would not solve
anything.

This theme of responsibility is
perhaps the keystone to the entire
election, for it is what separates the
platforms of the two candidates.
Mr. Battle has stated it is only the
responsible thing that a party
nominate its candidates through the
democratic primary system instead
of in the closed rooms of a party
convention. Linwood Holton was
nominated by such a convention,
and he has defended it enduringly.

William Battle also takes a stand
on national issues. He has asserted
that he is in favor of the direct
election of the President. Linwood
Holton has opposed it.

The last issue seems, however, to
be the only thing that separates
Linwood Holton from Richard
Nixon. Mr. Holton has repeatedly
tried to make the gubernatorial
campaign into a national affair, by
urging everyone to vote for a man
who'll carry on the tradition of
President Nixon. When asked to
comment on a national issue,
besides the direct election of the
President, he says, in effect, "If it's
all right with Dick, it's all right with
me."

Along this line, the national
Republican Party has poured its
entire resources into the election of
Linwood Holton. Thus, the cream
of the Republican crop has
stumped the state, praising the
policies of Mr. Holton. Such men
are the President himself, along
with Spiro Agnew and Ronald
Reagan, A puzzled listener to Mr.

Holton's liberalism is tempted to
ask what happened to Rockefeller,
Javits, Percy, and Hatfield.

On November 4, the people of
Virginia will decide who will lead
them for four years. Without a
doubt, it will be the closest election
the state has seen in 100 years, and
this is good. It is important to have
a political system that allows for
choice between two vital parties,
and the availability of this choice
has already been proven.

But to demand change for its
own sake is as wrong as the system
that has existed until now. The
Byrd machine is an insult, but that
dynasty has ended. Mills Godwin
will leave office and as he is
relegated to the heap, he will take
with him all the garbage that was
the Byrds. That will happen no
matter who is elected tomorrow.

But in its place, the people will
hopefully elect a leadership that is
dynamic, but at the same time
responsible. That leadership will
not try to carry out wild promises,
but it will be able to carry out what
it has promised.

The people will look at the
platform, at the man, and at the
record. Bill Battle now appears to
stand out in all three. The question
is, will he carry out his promises?