European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes tuesday november 12, 1991 a presidential hopeful sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa presents a Blue Collar image As he lifts lobster traps aboard the lady Lynn Del off the Portsmouth n.h., coast. Looking on is the boats first mate Jodi Day. Democrats vie for labor support in volatile presidential Campaign by Karen Ball a labor writer Washington Iowa sen. Tom Harkin has wowed Union audiences with his Blue Collar roots and rousing attacks on president Bush. But labor activists insist the scramble for their support in next years democratic presidential race is still wide open. Any one of the top tier democrats a Harkin Nebraska sen. Bob Kerrey or Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton a has a shot at picking up labor dollars and volunteers activists say because All Are starting As unknowns and none is the Clear favorite. A they Are untested quantities a said Rachelle Horowitz political director of the american federation of teachers. A a we be Only seen the beginning of the stump speech. They re not National politicians  adding to the uncertainty is the lingering question of whether new York gov. Mario Cuomo a longtime Friend of organized labor will join the race. The six major declared candidates will have a Chance to take their messages directly to the 14 million member Al Cio at the labor federations biennial convention this week in Detroit. Today the Al Cio will hold a two hour forum featuring All six contenders. Videotaped highlights will be sent to Union members nationwide to help them decide whom to support. If Cuomo were to enter the race he would instantly inherit Strong Union backing. Still labor insiders say that Many Are fed up with the governor s Public wavering Over whether to run Angl gets 75 years in Dallas apr a Soldier was sentenced to 75 years in prison saturday for a shooting and robbery that left a baseball Umpire partially paralysed. Army pvt. Kevin Bivins 22, was convicted of aggravated robbery Friday night in the robbery and shooting last july near a Dallas restaurant. The Dallas county jury deliberated during the punishment phase for about six hours saturday. State District judge John Creuzot then sentenced Bivins. A what you did son was terrible Quot Creuzot told Bivins who was stationed at fort Hood in Killeen. A you need to realize things like this shake up this whole county. People just done to feel Safe when they go out to eat late at  Bivins faced a maximum penalty of 99 years in prison and fines up to $10,000 in the robbery that led to the shooting of american league Umpire Steve Palermo. Bivins also will be tried on two counts of attempted murder. That other candidates still have a shot at activists who can Wield considerable influence in the nominating process. Plus Cuomo a relationship with labor is not worry free his budget cuts in new York angered unionized Public employees. Absent a Cuomo candidacy Harkin is Given the Edge for labors support. He has built a pro labor record during his tenure in the . Senate and has invigorated Union crowds with his a never defend always attack strategy for taking on Bush. Just the same Many labor officials privately wonder if the Liberal Harkin would have any real possibility of defeating Bush in the general election. Those concerns Are prompting some labor activists to take a closer look at Clinton and Kerrey. Clinton has hurdles to overcome. He is viewed with scepticism because of his affiliation with the centrist democratic leadership Council. With Clinton As its chairman the Council supported Bush on a free Trade pact with Mexico that was strongly opposed by the Al Cio. In addition Arkansas does not require workers in Union shops to pay dues. State labor officials Are annoyed that the Clinton administration has sought to lure new business by promoting Arkansas As a right to work state. At the same time however Clinton has substantial backing from Blacks who make up a growing segment of the Trade movement and could help him overcome the , shooting Palermo and former Southern methodist University football player Terence Mann were among a group that chased robbers who attacked two waitresses. Mann also was wounded in the incident. Earlier saturday Palermo told the associated press from his Home in Overland Park kan., that he was pleased with the jurors decision. A they found the right verdict because in a still a prisoner too. Until i can walk out of these braces and shed these crutches. Ill be a prisoner a Palermo said. The shot to his Back partially paralysed him. A the question is whether its going to be 99 years in my prison with braces and crutches a Palermo said. Bivins testified that he shot both men july 7 outside the restaurant after he said Mann opened fire. A i was prepared to fight Quot Bivins said adding that he believed Mann pulled a gun. Mann and police say no other gun was involved.  helps veterans buy own businesses Washington a just in time for veterans Day the Small business administration and a franchisers Trade group launched a program aimed at making it easier for military veterans to Purchase their own businesses. More than 100 members of the International franchise association Are offering veterans either a reduced franchise fee or Market rate financing for up to half the fee. For its part the sea is providing management and financial counselling to interested veterans and offering Loans to eligible Vietnam and disabled veterans. All veterans have until aug. 15, 1993, to apply to the program. Armed forces members returning to civilian life Between now and that Date will have two years from the Date of discharge to apply. Information is available through Sbars 110 local  schools Boom Washington a the number of students applying to medical school jumped 14 percent in 1991, the largest increase in 18 years the association of american medical colleges reported sunday. The medical school class entering this year 16,205 students was the largest since 1985. The group said 33,301 applicants were in this years Pool up from 29,243 in 1990. Women asians and other minority applicants account for much of the increase. A total of 5,487 asian Pacific islanders applied to medical schools in 1991, a 26 percent increase Over last year. Minority applicants increased by 14 percent to 3,605. The association estimates that nearly 38,000 people Hope to enter medical school next fall the largest number since 1977, when 40,567 applied. A we Are seeing an increasing proportion of non science majors among medical College admission test examinees among applicants and among new medical school entrants a said or. Robert Petersdorf president of the association which represents the nations 126 accredited medical schools. The report was presented at the associations annual  thankful Fairfield . A hungarian president Arpad Goncz on a . Tour thanked a group of americans on sunday for bringing nine Young hungarians to the United states for heart surgery unavailable at Home. Several . Chapters of the rotary International organization in new Jersey made the surgery possible. The rotarians plan to bring 50 More hungarians to the area in the next three years. A the ideas of the movement Are very Noble and very practical a Goncz told about 250 rotarians at a hotel Brunch in  courting geniuses los Angeles a being a 12-year-old Genius May not get you into some movies but the University of California says that a Good enough to skip High school and earn a College degree. The schools los Angeles Campus has taken about 30 prodigies in the past 10 years through its informal Early College admissions program. A an investment in super Bright kids is probably the cheapest investment we can make Tor the return we get for it a said Michel Melkanoff an emeritus professor of engineering and computer science who has been a conduit for gifted youngsters enrolling at Urcla. A How Many millions would it be Worth to discover one Einstein a year a he told the los Angeles times in a Story published sunday. Eugene Volokh was among the first Young admissions when he was 12. He had begun learning differential equations on his own at 9. Now 23 and a Law student with degrees in mathematics and computer science Volokh said his fellow Urcla students were better to him than his Grade school Peers