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Show In And Out Of Campus Politics ! c By DAVE ROWLAND The campus Young Democrats organization is in trouble. Although it is true that in last Thursday's meeting, the YD's made a last minute unification effort under the name of the College Democrats, and although they appointed a fact finding committee to look into and hopefully resolve their differences, it was nothing more than a token effort to pump new blood into an organization organi-zation whose members will never be one again. There can be no such thing as a compromise in the present situation, and a compromise solution is the only thing that can save the YD's this late in the game. How It Happened Briefly, the two factions involved in the fight for power of a strong campus Democratic organization are those headed by present University YD president, Fred Bruhn, who opposes YD Programs Chairman George Milligan. The issue resolves around whether or not the University Young Democrats want to become affiliated with a state and national Democratic organization or whether they want to maintain the independent status they've had for years. Milligan says the YD's want affiliation, and claimed that in amendments to the YD constitution, he has the right to ask the state Democratic committee to step in and give the University such an organization. Whether Milligan has the right to ask for a chartered YD club or not, that's what he's done, and Bruhn isn't happy about it. The Bruhnt of the Attack Bruhn opposes affiliation with any outside Democratic Demo-cratic organization, especially in an election year, because be-cause of several restrictions the outside could and would place on him and his committee which, he could retain if he were not in a chartered group. The big case in point is the inability to express preference as a YD organization on a Presidential candidate, not that the organization intends to exercise that privilege, but it's good to be able to have. It is the State and National Committee policy for college affiliates to remain re-main aloof on the subject of possible Democratic aspirants. as-pirants. In recent weeks Bruhn and several of his committee com-mittee have come out in favor of peace candidates McCarthy and Kennedy, and Bruhn himself signed a form letter recently denouncing Lyndon Johnson and his policies, though he did so as an individual and not as president of the YD's. It is therefore a bit of odd timing that Milligan who is decidedly pro-Johnson, should now ask to become affiliated with an outside organization, during an election elec-tion year that is. What's In A Name? Milligan says that the name Young Democrats is the copyrighted trademark of all chartered college Democratic organizations in the country, and continues con-tinues that Bruhn and his friends have no right to use that name and its implications to run their club. It would probably be wise if, at this point, the YD's did change their names to the Happy Jacks as Milligan suggests, but maintain their independent status, at least for the remainder of the election year Thevn 1 have the advantage, or did have the advantage Z last Thursday's meeting, of being a powerful gr " with the right to express good democratic dialog the issues of 1968, which they would not be entiS , under a state charter. J Because the YD's have been independent for th past few years they have evolved into, potential , one of the best sounding blocks for the Democrat party on any campus in the country, because they not obliged to fall into the Mickey Mouse line C stipulations that the state and national jackasses fee; is best for the party. Democratic national Commit Chairman, John Baily, come out m strong, support. 4 1 Lyndon Johnson, and implied that he speaks tor fir entire National Committee in his statement of. suppo He then made sure that Johnson dissenters worlds unable to voice their opinions by declaring itiv"" for any affiliated organization to make statements ol1 any kind on political candidates. The result is W tended to get Johnson back in the White House M t another four years of enthusiastic credible (orisfev 1 incredible) leadership probably marred only bys; solemn commitments, poverty and race riots Mr. Whether this is his proposition or not, the t result of Baily's actions is nothing more or less t 1 extremely bad politics. i Independance or Bust c Bruhn states that his independence YD's are recof nized by the Hinckley Institute, and ASUU, which tie; are. He is now faced with the problem of probate;, losing his Presidential position to George Milligan , who several think is the aspiring politician of the YD's. bolting another Democratic organization on campus ( or staying to fight, and hoping his committee keep; , its independence, and he keeps his job. Bruhn te chosen to do the latter. At the Thursday meeting If : brought forth a resolution censuring the committee ( members who have advocated becoming a chartered r organization, and further asked for a vote of coni: dence for the present club. He didn't get his way, bir got a temporary compromise instead. Bruhn W-as W-as well as anyone that under the new chartered or ganization, the club will lose much of the power f previously possessed. An off-campus independer might be a good sounding board, but with a charted organization on campus as well, Bruhn and his sf porters would have no-one important to listen to them So he fights to keep powerful independent organization and rightly so. Milligan accuses Bruhn and present Executive club members of being disinterested in the organization except ex-cept when their positions are threatened. He furttier accuses the group under Bruhn of sinking into corr. plete disorganization. If this is true; and there's m reason to believe it's false, Bruhn should recognize tfc short-comings of his group, realize the possibilities ' 1 their importance, and get the YD ball rolling andro- i ing good. The time has passed for lukewarm tactic- i The time for votes to be counted is here. . |