University of Virginia Library

Williams For Congress

These are times which demand creative,
responsive, intelligent leadership. Murat
Williams, candidate for the United States
Congress from the 7th District, is able to give
to Virginia and to the nation such leadership.
We endorse Mr. Williams without question in
his bid to defeat Republican J. Kenneth
Robinson for the 7th District seat.

Murat Williams has the experience, the
intelligence, and a sound perspective of the
problems that face this country and state
today to provide this Congressional District
with efficient and conscientious
representation. Of almost all candidates in the
nation for congressional seats, Murat Williams
analyzation of the state of the nation's affairs
is most closely attuned with the beliefs of the
moderate to liberal student.

Mr. Williams has been highly critical of the
Nixon Administration's attempts to alleviate
the current economic slump. He believes that
"the place to start is cutting wasteful and
unnecessary government spending." Such lead
balloons as the SST and ABM should be
curbed immediately. "If a major industry
raises its prices unreasonably, the federal
government should simply postpone buying
its product until a more reasonable rate is
established."

What Mr. Williams advocates is a shift in
the nation's priorities. More money needs to
be spent on education and the problems of
pollution rather than on wasteful military
spending and mistaken ventures in Indochina.
His stand on pollution is particularly strong
and therefore most impressive: "Our area has
tremendous potential, but we must be careful
to preserve the natural beauty and great
human resources that we have now. For
example, I favor national anti-pollution
standards that will allow areas like ours to
compete for new industry without the fear
that we will have to accept a polluting factory
that is barred from other localities."

He condemns acts of violence, both on the
streets and on the campuses of colleges.
However, he does recognize the need for the
integration of youth into the political system
and is able to distinguish the problems and
causes about which students are so frustrated,
rather than centering attention on just the
phenomenon of unrest alone.

His opponent, J. Kenneth Robinson,
would have preferred to see a "stronger
stand" on the part of the administration here
last May. He cited the position taken by T.
Marshall Hahn, Jr., at Virginia Tech and said
that he would have preferred to see that type
of disciplinary action taken here. It seems to
us Mr. Robinson shows little deep thought in
his simple, unquestioning affirmation of the
"American way of life" and that his abilities
wax pale in comparison to the long line of
achievements by Murat Williams.

The former editor of College Topics (now
The Cavalier Daily) and Rhodes Scholar
served his country in the field of foreign
affairs from the end of World War II until
1964. Besides numerous diplomatic positions
in many parts of the world, Mr. Williams was
appointed ambassador to El Salvador under
both Republican and Democratic presidents.
Since 1964, when he declined promotion to
the position of Undersecretary of State for
Latin American Affairs, he has lived in
Virginia. He is now a farmer and cattle raiser
in Madison County.

Murat Williams could bring a wide range of
experience and understanding to the halls of
Congress if he is elected. We believe that he is
unquestionably the best man for the job. We
urged all qualified voters in the University
community to make a special effort next
Tuesday to mark their ballots for Murat
Williams, Congressman for the 7th District.
We must have critical, intelligent
representatives who will check the repressive
and blind tendencies of the followers of the
Nixon Administration.