University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

No Checks Cashed

I have often wondered just how
economically dependent the city of
Charlottesville is on the University
community. It seems obvious that a
great deal of Charlottesville's bread
is buttered by the students and
faculty of this institution.

We have no right to demand
undue considerations by the downtown
merchants of this city, but I
cannot help but wish these businessmen,
aware of their position of
limited dependence, would extend
a few courtesies to the University
student.

Perhaps I have been spoiled by
the stores on the Corner who by
their own dedication to making a
profit, or concern about the student,
have decided to extend the
simple courtesy of cashing checks
for University students. If you have
enjoyed this privilege and felt your
honor was a sacred thing on the
Corner, do not go downtown and
try to cash a check. You'll be
disillusioned. No one will trust you.

This past Monday, in what was
in no sense a complete survey of
the subject, I tried to cash a rather
small personal check in several of
the businesses downtown. I am sure
I don't look any more dishonest
than the average student, but it
appeared I was a financial "hot
potato," a risk not to be taken by
the enterprising merchant. Where
has man's faith in his fellow man
gone?

As a matter of record, I visited
Roses, the Wise Discount Store, and
Die News. I also visited Woolworth's,
where they considered
cashing the check if I agreed to buy
something. Being a man of principle.
I refused to comply with the
condition. They suggested I try
Standard Drug Story. At Standard's
all the photographic equipment
arrayed on the check-cashing counter
to no avail, they refused to cash
my check.

The University community may
be able to persuade these merchants
to agree to cash checks for
students, if indeed these students
identified themselves as such. The
economical franchise may determine
a change in the company
policy of a few local concerns.

I urge the local merchants to
consider a policy of cashing checks
for students. With the honor system
provisions for cashing checks, the
merchants have no need to fear
taking a loss on a bad check. Most
students use checks to spend their
fortunes here in Charlottesville.
One day soon, the downtown
merchants may see the light as their
comrades on the Corner did. I don't
think this is too much to ask.

Merchants, wake up and acknowledge
where a large part of
that "butter" comes from. It's good
business

The creation of the Jefferson
Party was inevitable; and it had to
be this semester, no later. To most
students who were at the University
last year, the reason for its
formation is obvious: in the two
Student Council elections of the
1968-69 year. Sceptre and Skull &
Keys combined saw only two of
their candidates win out of nine
vacancies, whereas, the UP/VPP
independents staged a coup and
gained seven Council seats. In late
spring, there was much internal
debate as to whether the two
fraternity caucuses should merge -
as they could not feasibly exist as
separate political entitles. Hence, it
was to no surprise that the Student
Study Committee's charge was to
formulate a single party, now called
the Jefferson Party. It is a fair
assumption that the party's membership
will consist of the residuum
of non-progressive students, that is,
the ever diminishing conservative
minority at the University. Joel
Gardner, in his recent interview
with The Cavalier Daily, asserted
that "The party will, we hope, not
be dedicated to any particular
philosophy, but will reflect the
beliefs of its members." Recognizing
that the membership of "the
party will not be seeking to
nominate people that we believe to
have extremist views, such as Tom
Gardner," it may be reasonable
projected that the Jefferson Party
will not seek to nominate liberals
either. Their alternative is to
support candidates "right of center,"
for undecided moderates are
generally residents in absentia.
However, the most accurate indicator
of the Party's direction lies in
its leadership - case in point:
President Joel Gardner. Mr. Gardner,
in his several columns, gives us
little or no evidence where he
stands on an array of issues
confronting the University, other
than his unsubstantiated criticism
of the ideals set forth by student
leaders. Suffice it to say that Mr.
Gardner's views are not within the
liberal mainstream of the University
as depicted by his two unsuccessful
candidacies to Student Council. He
deserves praise, however, for his
consistent efforts to offer an alternative
view point - for governments,
even on a college level,
require close scrutiny. To YAF'ers,
Young Republicans, and other
conservative factions, I hope you
find the Jefferson Party to be a
suitable unifying political organization.

Within the next two weeks,
legislation for the renewal of the
Office of Economic Opportunity
will be before the House of
Representatives. As it left the
Senate, Senator George Murphy
added an amendment concerning
the Legal Services Program of the
OEO. The Murphy Amendment
provides that governors have the
power to veto specific legal assistance
programs within their states,
not subject to the power of the
Director of the OEO to override
that veto, as the law stands
presently.

The Murphy Amendment is
extremely dangerous; if passed by
the House, it would emasculate the
Legal Services Program. At present,
the governor of a state must either
veto the whole Program in his state,
which the OEO Director can
override, or else he must confer and
compromise with the OEO to
selectively limit certain programs.
As proposed, the governor would
be free to strike down any and all
legal assistance endeavors which
could possibly embarrass his administration,
or take it to court.

Senator Murphy wants "the
poor people" to have free lawyers,
but he doesn't want those same
lawyers seeking legal reforms in the
courts in an attempt to improve the
living conditions of their clients.
Senator Murphy's amendment will
forbid the lawyer to propose what
is best for his client, and will force
him to decide whether this action
will challenge or embarrass the
present state administration. No
wonder Senator Mondale of Minnesota
said that the Murphy Amendment
would "rob the [Legal
Services] Program of its promise."

It is vital that pressure be
brought on the House of Representatives
to strike down the Murphy
Amendment. If you've been waiting
around for the best time to let your
Congressman know you exist, write
him now. Tell him to vote down
the Murphy Amendment. His address
is: House Office Buildings,
Washington, D.C. 20003.