UF00083575_00019.pdf

UF00083575_00019.txt

UF00083575_00019_pdf.txt

Hr. Farris lryant

P.0. lo: 563
Ocala, Florida

Dear larris:

The discussion of the platform was interesting, but it some-
how sealed devoid of such originality and lessen interest
material. I believe that political ensign-I. of cause,

are often won by pursuit of relatively uniwortant, but highly
emotional ismes.

Hhile it is true that platforms are seldom read by the
electorate with any but passing interest. platforms tend to
set the pace for a candidate and they _a_r_g read by the press
who reproduce such parts of it as they consider good reading."
'l'luretore. the best planks within a platform are those which
the voter regards as having some direct relation to him --
one which he can do scathing about as a partieipmt at least
subconsciously. For ample, a voter wants better and more
roads, but he is inclined to feel that if they come it will
be because someone else builds them. Get up a fund raising
drive to build roads and you have his interest, but this. of
cause. is impractical.

But issues which directly concern his family and his pocket-
book as to earnings are easily understood and appreciated.
Taxes? 0! course they're inportant to him, but even here he
is likely to realise that he has little to do about than one
way, or another. except as to couplain.

heres an issue which night have appeal and it is one which,
while at first glance you may feel to he a misleading one for
a gubernatorial candidate. is not actually so. because you
could help to do something about it.



It concerns television. a very personal, family interest ~-
and a very timely, most nanorthy subject because of current
inqsiries and "scandals."

1 mar admit personal concern, but that tends to prove the
personal. "I an a participant" idea to a degree.

MOMS

TV sports events are very popular with young boys (as well

as old ones) but they are being sponsored to an ever
increasing degree by cigarettes and beer. Famous stars are
actually doing the cannot-dials thanselves -- a long cry from
the time when conscientious baseball stars mldn't smoke in
public to avoid influencing young boys. In the light of
cancer research and our age-old belief that sinking is bad
for growing kids, this to me seems to be a very bad situation.
The beer question is obvious too.

In my opinion, network and station policies prohibiting such
sponsorship would in no way decrease advertising revenues.
because there are plenty of razors. automobiles, etc. who
would and do sponsor such events to great advantage. Properly
handled. I believe that we could avoid condmtion by 11!
people in Florida with such a stand.

M&MWION

Equally as bad are the use of such harmful habit-forming
products within the body of the shows themselves -- the
non-comercial content. A cowboy hero can hardly stagger
through a half-hour program without at least one elbow-bending
scene at a bar -- always a straight shot. A hero or two who
didn't drink would be refreshing, but entirely unique. Some
western characters don't drink. but they are the ones who
play the part of the weakling. the sissy who orders a
sarsaparills amid the derision of the regular guys.

For the girls. we have the well-groomed, much sought after
ladies of society and fashion who always seen to enjoy a
cocktail and are seldom without a cigarette. There is no
doubt in my mind that TV is creating an image of "success"
of any quality -- you name it -- wherein liquor and smokes
are an integral part.

The great detectives (usually "private eyes" who make the
regular policemen look a little silly and what about this,
get most of their evidence in cocktail lounges.

Of course. the constant use of gun fire on TV today is repre-
hensible, but I doubt that problem coupsres with booze and
smokes as a detriment to society as represented by influence
of the youngsters.

~3-

The local Florida station has little to say about program
content. TV stations, unlike radio stations. must depend
on networks and Warner Brothers for program content for sur-
vival. So, we would be attacking someone in New York and
Hollywood and perhaps with the endorsement of our local TV

people.

Investigations, etc.. are now going on nationally. and we
could become a vocal contributor to same.

Maybe cigarettes and liquor should be barred from the air
except for late hours when none, but adults are looking to
any degree. Whether we're looking for legislation. or
voluntary industry police action is a moot question, but
Florida legislation describing what can be included on
Florida stations would certainly wake up the newspapers and
most emphatically. They compete for such advertising revenue
and in my opinion, newspaper advertising of such products

is OK -- by no means as persuasive except upon those already
using such products. I believe we would find sports person-
alities, show business people, etc., swinging in behind such
a move. too.

Would state legislation barring such sponsorship be enforceable?
If not, we still can combat it by endorsement of national
effort and take the lead in doing same.

Isn't this as close an issue to the mothers' hearts as the
obscene literature question? This is a new type of anti-
prostitution war. Women who use their bodies for hire are.
of course, condecmed. but there is no doubt in my mind that
Whitey Ford. the Yankees' pitcher, is also letting his "body"
for hire when he does a cigarette commercial. which he has
done, and that the ill effects are far more reaching than
that caused by the ladies of ill repute. Venereal diseases
are easily cured today -- cancer is considerably worse and
so far, beyond the reach of medicine once entrenched. Use of
alcoholic beverages is far more detrimental, too.

i believe that this is truly an emotional issue which can

be easily understood by the electorate. that he can be made to
feel "used" personally and that he will get behind someone
who seeks to shield his kids from such influence. He does

it now within the confines of his own family to the extent

of his personal influence, but what a job when a football

hero competes for his son's attention.

All this from a pretty good "beverage consumer" (except during
campaign time) and you will note absence of cannent on cigars.

Best regards,
(Au-L.




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