University of Virginia Library

Student Committee Supports
New York Peace Candidate

By Mike Gartlan
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

A group of University students
have organized a committee to
work for the re-election of Allard
K. Lowenstein, the Congressional
representative from the Fifth
District of New York.

Mr. Lowenstein has received
national publicity recently
concerning his contest with State
Senator Norman Lent. The
excitement stems from evidence
that the liberal Democrat has
overcome an anti-Lowenstein
redistricting plan and has forced
Mr. Lent to use the "Agnewesque
tactics of degrading and
desperation."

Mr. Lenf has resorted to a
name-calling, smear campaign, by
labelling Mr. Lowenstein as "the
darling of the New Left and
probably the most polarizing force
in Congress." Mr. Lent has
commented that Mr. Lowenstein
votes against certain defense
appropriations in Congress were
votes against the concept of
national defense. Mr. Lent then
added that Mr. Lowenstein's faith
was in the "good intentions of the
Russian government and the
Chinese government."

This is the type of Joe
McCarthyism that has been
unleashed against the Congressman.
If he is able to pull off a victory in
this district where a Conservative
party candidate is running ahead in
the United States Senate race, it
would be a tremendous political
upset, especially in a contest where
the Nixon administration policy of
labelling liberal Democrats as
"unpatriotic and friends of
bomb-throwers" is being tested.

Mr. Lowenstein's record is
clearly a notable one. He
co-authored House Resolution
1000 which called for the
immediate withdrawal of all
American troops by June 1971 and
that all military responsibility be
transferred to the South
Vietnamese. More than 100
Congressmen and 35 Senators from
both parties are supporting this
resolution.

Mr. Lowenstein also is an
advocate of extensive Congressional
reform. He has requested legislation
to speed the movement of bills
through committees that are
sometimes delayed at the whim of a
handful of chairmen who also
determine what bills will have
hearings and whose names will
appear on pending legislation.

The Congressman also favors aid
"to help Israel to maintain her
deterrent strength." He has also
outlined programs against crime,
drugs and pornography.

The Congressman has also
visited many countries during his
first year in office. He visited these
areas, which include the middle east
and Vietnam, at his own expense. It
can be noticed also that these trips
were made only when Congress was
not in session.

Many colleges and universities
have organized similar committees
to the one formed here, the ones at
Yale and Notre Dame being the
most active. Last spring, at Notre
Dame, the Senior Class honored Mr.
Lowenstein by making him their
Senior Fellow. In making their
award, the students cited the spirit
of honesty and courage which
motivates his actions.

At the organizational meeting
on Sunday night, Professor William
Harbaugh of the History
Department explained the national
significance of Mr. Lowenstein's
campaign, Jon Miller, a graduate of
the University referred to Mr.
Lowenstein as "the man who
dumped Lyndon Johnson" for his
role in persuading Eugene
McCarthy to seek the Presidency in
1968. Mr. Miller also pointed out
that Mr. Lowenstein is perhaps the
most important "peace candidate"
running for office this fall and that
he is a prime target of the Nixon
administration for his leadership in
anti-war and Congressional reform
movements in Congress.

Mr. Miller pointed out that the
Fifth District has been recently
reapportioned by the New York
State Legislature, which is
predominately Republican. The
region includes a new conservative
region added at the expense of
some of the most liberal areas of
Long Island. Mr. Miller said also
that student assistance in the
campaign could spell the difference
in this fall's election, and that a
victory could have further
ramifications in the 1972
Democratic Convention.

In concluding his remarks, Mr.
Miller reminded the gathering that
Mr. Lowenstein is no stranger in
this part of the country. The
Congressman is a former professor
of Government at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill and
spoke at the University a little over
a year ago.

On that occasion the
Congressman missed his plane in
Washington and chose to drive the
distance in lieu of cancelling his
engagement. He arrived two and a

Anyone interested in
campaigning for Mr. Lowenstein is
asked to come to the table on
second floor Newcomb Hall, or to
call Fred Leffel at 973-6240.