European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 14, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes . Friday january 14,1994 yd.gpverh0 by Richard l. Berke the new York times Washington in a stunning denouement to his state of the Commonwealth address and perhaps to his political career gov. L. Doug As Wilder of Virginia said wednes Day that he would not run for the . Senate. The decision by the outgoing governor not to Challenge the incumbent sen. Charles s. Robb for the democratic nomination greatly changes the political calculus in what had been expected to be one of the Nastiest Senate contests in the country this year v in this stage in my life i feel the need to take another direction said Wilder who had announced last july that he would Challenge Robb his longtime political rival. Wilder had capped a two decade political career by being elected the first Black Gover nor of Virginia. State Law bars governors from seeking a consecutive term. During his tenure As governor Wilder took unexpected political gambles such As running for the democratic presidential nomination in 1988, and pulling out after realizing he was picking up Little National support and hurting his popular support at Home. His decision to take on Robb with whom he has publicly feuded for years was threaten ing to tear apart the state s democratic party. Wilder s departure from the race gives Robb a much clearer shot at winning the democratic nomination and allows him to focus on the general election where the prob Able Republican candidate is former Marine it. Col. Oliver l. North.,North became a National hero to Many conservatives for his Lead ing role in the Iran Contra affair. Robb must still beat out a Richmond Law yer Sylvia Clute in the june 14 democratic primary. Wilder 62, told the legislators in Rich mond i am not retired from seeking the an Swers to the problems that continue to con front us but from seeking elective office at this time i would also Hope that it does t appear too fraught with arrogance to say that i Don t question what the outcome of the primary and the general election As Well would have been he said As the audience laughed. L. Douglas Wilder helping to free South Africa actor Danny Glover a founder of artists for a free South Africa Speaks at a news conference wednesday in new York where it was announced that the group would travel to South Africa later that Day. The eight Day tour is aimed at getting the country s 18 million Blacks to Regis Ter to vote. The Long night of oppression and apartheid will end when South africans vote in the country s first multiracial election april 27, Glover said. No evidence found of impropriety in new Jersey election Newark . A Federal and state prosecutors Are dropping their investigations into explosive comments that democrats and Black clergy were paid to keep minorities away from the polls during the re cent gubernatorial election. . Attorney Michael Chertoff said wednesday that an exhaustive two month probe turned up no evidence to support comments made then retracted by Edward j. Rollins jr., the former Campaign manager for Republican  Christie Whitman. State and Federal teams shared information but reached Independent conclusions Chertoff said. There was t anybody that said. We had been offered those funds said George Kugler one of two for Mer state attorneys general appointed special counsels in the state s investigation. Whitman who had immediately branded Rollins a liar said she was relieved the probe was Over. Since i knew it never happened. This was the inevitable outcome she said. Whitman will succeed gov. Jim Florio a Democrat on tuesday. She Defeated Florio by just 26,093 votes out of More than 2.5 million cast the second closest margin in state history. Rollins issued a Brief statement from his Washington office wednesday apologizing to Whitman the Black Community and the clergy. A week after the nov. 2 election Rollins told report ers at a Washington breakfast that $500,000 was distributed to Black ministers and democratic workers to discourage Blacks from voting. On nov. 19, he said he fabricated the Story. The state democratic party went to court seeking a new election then dropped the suit after its own probe failed to uncover sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. . Urged to do More than dream on King Day by Mark Bousian los Angeles times Washington As the United states stands poised to commemorate the ninth annual Martin Luther King or. Day on monday the slain civil rights Leader s widow and other activists Are clamouring for broader nationwide recognition of the Holiday. Today unfortunately too Many americans perceive the King Holiday As an african american Holiday said Coretta Scott King chairwoman of the Martin Luther King or. Federal Holiday commission. The commission is a Federal Agency charged with coordinating Obser Vance of the Holiday. Our goal is to change this to help them understand that the King Holiday is an american Holiday she said. As partial evidence that the Holiday is getting too Little recognition the commission Points to a recent nationwide Survey indicating that 67.4 percent of Ameri cans participated in no events to Mark the Day. Al though the figure was Down from 74.5 percent in 1991, it remains too High commission members said. Of those who said they did Mark the Day in some Way 52 percent did so by taking the Day off while 12 percent participated in a Church or school function. The Observance was created nov. 2, 1983, through legislation signed by then president Reagan. It designated the third monday of every january As a Federal Holiday honouring King. The commission was created 10 months later to oversee the Holiday s Observance nationwide. The United states officially observed the Day for the first time in 1986. King s widow serves As a lifetime member of the group which cannot draw More than half its members from the same political party. The commissioners include Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt housing and Urban development Secretary Henry g. Cisneros Senate minority Leader Robert Dole a Kan. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy Bush administration Hud Secretary Jack Kemp sen. Edward m. Kennedy a mass. And musician Stevie won Der. In recent months the commission and other groups have planned a series of efforts not Only to broaden americans awareness of the Holiday but also to trans form it from a largely ceremonial event into an Occa Sion for activism and Community service. The commission and other groups Are calling for americans to remember King by undertaking Community service projects and working to help combat the rising tide of violence among . Youth. Community service and nonviolent social change were Cornerstones of King s philosophy the groups say and should become the Means by which the Day is commemorated. We have made great Progress with the King holi Day but it is not where it should be not where we want it to be and certainly not where it can be Coretta Scott King said. We want the King Holiday to become a time for every american to make a contribution How Ever Small to help alleviate such conditions As hunger homelessness and illiteracy to fight drugs gangs crime and violence in All  _ As in years past the King Center in Atlanta is work ing to whip up enthusiasm for the Holiday by sponsor ing National King week which includes an awards cer Emony in Washington honouring recipients who have made significant contributions to the growth spirit and development of the Holiday a symposium in at Lanta addressing the problem of youth violence a Parade in Atlanta on saturday and a commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Mon Day at which Coretta Scott King will deliver a state of the dream address. This year s efforts have found a foot Soldier in the american committee to invigorate the King Holiday a newly formed group headed by Peter b. Kovler who also spearheaded widely publicized efforts in 1982 to commemorate the Centennial of president Franklin  s birth. Kovler says his committee Hopes to serve As a re source and information Clearinghouse for publicizing the Holiday