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Show rlt CAPITOL ' ' feAf? WATCHDOG By Bill Hendrix Utah Democrats disowned The Democratic National Convention in New York managed to work an in-- in-- tolerable hardship on national office seeking I'tah Democrats last week. In order to gain party support. I'tah Democrats must endorse the use of Federal funds for abortion. In addition, unless the Equal Plights Amendment is endorsed, no party money will be made available. These unpopular issues in Utah make it nearly impossible for Democratic candidates to show unity with their national leaders. For example. Rep. Gunn McKay, facing his toughest challenge after five terms in office from Utah House Speaker James Hansen, will receive no national party support unless he endorses the ERA. At a time when McKay needs his party's support the most he has been cast-off without respect for his undeviating loyalty in Congress for ten years. A proud one-third of Utah's population still calls itself Democartic, but it is a traditional label for most, more than a practical affiliation. Former U.S. Congressman Wayne Owens expressed his dismay at the Convention joining other disenchanted Utah delegates who turned over their votes to alternates, or took a walk when it came time to vote on the unac ceptable platform items. The President and Sen. Kennedy, through their convention forces, hammered out a platform that is in conflict with good, loyal Utah Democrats. One U.S. Senator, Harry F. Byrd of Virginia, after many years of dissatisfaction with the way the Democratic leaders were taking his party, finally split with his family tradition. He now calls himself an Independent Democrat, believing in the .Jefferson and Jackson principles of democracy the foundation of the party but divorcing himself from unacceptable values which are polarizing around the Democratic label. There has been no love lost between western Democrats and the White House. Utah Democrats, like Governor Scott Matheson, have become very popular by fighting with the President over everything from water to missiles. It is unfortunate that Utah Democrats have to disassociate themselves from their party's platform in' order to get elected. Perhaps the time has come to make a distinction between Utah Democrats and National Democrats the way Sen. Byrd did several years ago. |