VOTERS NEED TO KNOW CANDIDATES

With this election year being publicized as different, the Republicans and Democrats add a chapter of excitement to the presidential conventions held to select nominees for president of the United States.

When the 4,288 delegates to last week's Democratic National Convention boarded airplanes for New York, some were happy while others wore a frown. But nothing is perfect.

We knew that the governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton, 45, was the Democrats' choice. In past years the name of the nominee was a secret announced at the convention. There were always rumors, but nothing was definite until the announcement. After the announcement the nominee named his running mate. But Clinton's running mate, Sen. Albert Gore Jr., 44, was also known before the convention.

One of the differences in this campaign is there were many Democrats who aspired to the presidency.

There also was Ross Perot, who embarked upon a possible run as an independent. Being a billionaire from Texas, he was bent on having his way about everything. He thought he would be an excellent choice for president. He said he would change everything from limiting powers of Congress, granted to that body in the Constitution, to streamlining the government. When he discovered his name on the ballot might cause a three-way tie, and the choice of president would be decided by the House of Representatives, he pulled out of the race, having spent several million of his bankroll.

Because Perot was such a rich man and so successful in business, he acquired a large following that both Republicans and Democrats are now trying to attract. Many of his followers are anxious for improvements on a number of fronts, including health, education and employment.

It isn't easy to assume the job of president. Being a Good Samaritan abroad and a problem-solver at home is more than a 24-hour job. If the head of the king lies heavy on his pillow, the same applies to the head of the president of the United States. Like the father and mother in the family unit, he hears about the public's needs, wants, and complaints, and it wouldn't be surprising if he sometimes thinks, "Why did I get myself into this mess?"

Years ago, only men became involved in politics; it wasn't considered a womanly field. Women voiced their opinions and persuaded their fathers and husbands, and influenced the vote, but did not become major factors at conventions. Today the audience seemed to be a preponderance of women as shown on television. Often it was hard to find a handful of men. The new National Women's Political Caucus, a bipartisan group working to elect women to local and national offices, has attracted both major parties.

The Democrats broke the barrier for women in 1984, when Geraldine Ferraro was chosen the vice presidential nominee. That was a first for women, who received the right to vote through Amendment 19 on June 4, 1919.

This year, in the Democratic Party, there are six women candidates for U.S. Senate and 154 for the House.

Between now and the Republicans' convention in Houston Aug. 17-20, it behooves every person who votes to study the candidates and issues. Every vote is important.