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<br />Council Chamber
<br />Eugene, Oregon
<br />April 26, 1971
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<br />Adjourned meeting of the Common €ouncil of the city of Eugene, Oregon was called to order by His
<br />Hunor Mayor Lester E. Anderson at 7:30 p.m. on April 26, 1971 in the Council Chamber with the following
<br />Councilmen present: Councilmen Teague, Mohr, and McDonald; Mrs. Beal and Mrs. Campbell; Councilmen
<br />Williams and Hershner.
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<br />I. Spring Action Coordinating Committee Requestc c
<br />*A. Resolution referring issue to voters - Mayor Anderson said he would use his prerogative to
<br />confine the first portion of the meeting to the referendum which was proposed at. the committee
<br />meeting, and whether or not the referendum will be placed on the ballot. It is a policy matter
<br />whether or not this referendum is in the public interest, whether its impact is important,
<br />whether it will be of benefit to our community and if it will, in the final analysis, be
<br />of any benefit to us as citizens and to our country.
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<br />Mrs. Susan Hanning, 1371 West 4th, said the Spring Action Coordinating Committee had decided
<br />to request that the Council make a decision on both resolutions preiously presented to them:
<br />1) to bring a resolution before the voters of Eugene to end the war in Indochina; and 2)
<br />A resolution of the Council urging Congressman John Dellenback to take an active part in
<br />bringing an immediate end to the war, and urging him to cast an affirmative vote on HB 4100,
<br />the Vietnam Disengagement Act of 1971.
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<br />Mrs. Hanning said that she spoke not only for the Spring Action Coordinating Committee but for
<br />hundreds of people all across the nation.
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<br />Mr. Ted Goertzel, 545 East 34th, said the proposal for the resolution on the ballot was
<br />simply to allow the people of Eugene to vote on the war.
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<br />Mr. Ron Eachus, ASUO, said the referendum was perhaps the most crucial issue to be faced in
<br />a long time. There are two avenues for peace - the position of the President and the present
<br />American policy, or to get out completely and immediately. He felt voting would truly benefit
<br />the public and it would be in the interests of the city of Eugene to state its position
<br />regarding disengagement from the war in Vietnam.
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<br />Mr. Andy Thompson, 489 East 19th, said the b,asic issue being raised was why should not the
<br />peop~e_of Euge~e vote on national policy. This particular resolution becomes appropriate in
<br />two ways. A great deal of money is spent on this war, and the citizens should vote whether
<br />or not they want to spend their money in this way. The second reason is the civil unrest and
<br />disorder. Perhpas voting on the issue would solve some of the unrest.
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<br />Marian Guran, 1859 Lawrence, felt the measure was entirely appropriate to be placed on the
<br />ballot of the city of Eugene.
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<br />Mike Fox, 1799 West 25th said this movement has a broad base of support, including almost
<br />the entire nation. He was speaking for Lane County Veterans against the War. He said the
<br />majority of the American people favor withdrawal immediately and that they can best be
<br />heard at the polling places.
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<br />Mrs. Sue Gordon, 1136 East 20th, .said this war prompts great dispair in our youth, and that
<br />they are frustated knowing the draft faces them. She felt many citizens would appreciate the
<br />opportunity to express themselves at the polls.
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<br />Charles Gray, 1059 Hilyard, explained a graph he had drawn on vacated 13th Avenue demonstrating
<br />the relative use of tax monies for health, education and welfare, and for the war. He urged
<br />the Council to let the people of Eugene express themselves on this issue which so clearly
<br />relates to these expenditures.
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<br />Wesley Nicholsen, 2370 MissioD~ said he has lived in Eugene 28 years and known many issues
<br />during that time, but none which had caused such turmoil, division of families and break-up
<br />of friendship as this issue had caused. He could see no reason against putting it on the
<br />ballot to give people a chance to express themselves.
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<br />Mr. James Weaver, 23011Spring Boulevard, said it would be necessary for the people of Eugene
<br />to speak in a strong voice against this war and for immediate withdrawal in order to convert
<br />the President and Congressman to vote for a deadline.
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<br />No one spoke in opposition to the resolution.
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<br />Mr. McDonald said he was all in favor of getting out of the war. However, he was concerned
<br />that the Council was setting a precedent in referring a national issue to the people.
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<br />Mrs. Beal felt this was an overriding issue which distnnbed both young and old. This City
<br />has a very small voice, but if there were many voices like it, perhaps the President and the
<br />Congress would have to listen. This was her faith in democracy.
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<br />Mr. Williams thought the major question before the Council was a policy decision on how it
<br />would conduct itself in the future. He questioned themmost effective way to influence the
<br />flow of policy in America and the Council role in that activity. He felt public opinion could
<br />be determined by conduct of polls and that democratic decision making was a separate role
<br />from that of determining public opinion. If the people want to influence Congress or the
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<br />* See Page 8 Item V for Committee minutes on this item.
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<br />4/26/71 - 1
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