The Texas Observer APRIL 17, 1964

A Journal of Free Voices A Window to The South 25c

A Photograph Sen. Ralph Yarborough • • •RuBy ss eII lee we can be sure. Let us therefore recall, as we enter this crucial fortnight, what we iciaJ gen. Jhere know about Ralph Yarborough. We know that he is a good man. Get to work for Ralph Yarborough! That is disputed, for some voters will choose to We know that he is courageous. He has is the unmistakable meaning of the front believe the original report. not done everything liberals wanted him to page of the Dallas Morning News last Sun- Furthermore, we know, from listening to as quickly as we'd hoped, but in the terms day. The reactionary power structure is Gordon McLendon, that he is the low- of today's issues and the realities in Texas, out to get Sen. Yarborough, and they will, downest political fighter in Texas politics he has been as courageous a defender of unless the good and honest loyal Demo- since Allan Shivers. Who but an unscrupu- the best American values and the rights of crats of Texas who have known him for lous politician would call such a fine public every person of every color as Sam Hous- the good and honest man he is lo these servant as Yarborough, in a passage bear- ton was; he has earned a secure place in many years get to work now and stay at it ing on the assassination and its aftermath, Texas history alongside Houston, Reagan, until 7 p.m. on the evening of May the "a left-wing character assassin"? Gordon Hogg, and Allred. second. McLendon does. Not only so. He also We know that he has integrity. We know We do not mean anyone should give less strongly implies that Senator Yarborough that he would never take a penny bribe; time to Don Yarborough's campaign. John is a traitor to Texas; he even goes as far that he would throw any man out of his Connally is an active leader of the power as to say that Yarborough had better be office who so much as hinted at one; that structure that is trying to get Sen. Yar- careful, and that he is "in danger." In this he has taken far more scrupulous precau- borough. Don Yarborough is a liberal can- issue we give McLendon his say, and we tions to keep his sources of campaign funds didate and his election as governor is much review his bankruptcy in 1952. In this edi- diverse and non-committing than most to be desired. John Connally is the candi- torial we express our opinion that he is not Texas politicians ever think of. date of the corporations and Don Yarbor- fit to receive the vote of a single Texas We know that he has lost elections ra- ough is the candidate of the people. Democrat. ther than abandon the Democratic Party. Connally marked himself as a Republi- That same front page of the Dallas News He has been there. He led the Democrats can kind of Texas Democrat in nothing so last Sunday also carried an editorial en- of Texas through the dark years when he clearly as in his attempt to get Allan Shiv- dorsing, for the Democratic primary, John was the only leader; he leads through this ers or Joe Kilgore to run against Sen. Yar- Connally for governor, Preston Smith for dark year, too, and without him it would borough. Sen. Yarborough means every- lieutenant governor, Jim Langdon for rail- be very much darker. thing to the rich men's club that has con- road commissioner, Gordon McLendon for The people who know this are called on trolled Texas politics for decades. If he U.S. senator, and Millard Shivers for agri- to act on it. If someone came up to us now wins re-election, they see the handwriting culture commissioner. That just happens and said "But what can one person do?" on the wall: Democracy in Texas. If he can to be a perfect list of people not to vote for. we would not be able to contain our fury. be defeated, they are back in velvet. One person can do all that anyone can do— all that he can do! This is the time to do it THE WHOLE PURPOSE of if there ever has been a time and if there THE PRICE of being a good such a thing as the Estes statement and man in Texas politics is very, very high. will ever be a time again. May the memory such a thing as McLendon's scurrilous of John Kennedy sober us and give us en- Sen. Yarborough has paid the price before; abuse of Yarborough is to put the straight- ergy for the good fight we must win. ❑ now he is paying it again. He can never forward Democrats who favor progressive be sure from which direction he will be solutions for the nation's problems on the Photographs of Senator Ralph Yarbor- whacked next. The source of the shocking defensive. There will be more attacks on ough at his home in Austin, taken recently attack on him last Sunday was so obvious Yarborough in the Dallas News—of that by Russell Lee. and discredited, it signified that the big boys are really desperate now and will not stop at anything the next two weeks. THE TEXASTEXAS OBSERVER

The Dallas News quoted Billy Sol Estes, A Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South the convicted former Pecos businessman, 58th YEAR — ESTABLISHED 1906 that he gave Sen. Yarborough $50,000 in April 17, 1964 cash in 1960, a year in which Sen. Yar- Vol. 56, No. 8 70W borough had no political campaign. Yar- Incorporating the State Observer and the San Antonio, Mrs. Mae B. Tuggle, 531 Elm- borough called this "an infamous lie out East Texas Democrat, which in turn incor- hurst, TA 2-7154; Tyler, Mrs. Erik Thomsen, of the whole cloth" in the same News story. porated the State Week and Austin Forum- 1209 So. Broadway, LY 4-4862. Advocate. The editor has exclusive control over the edi- Estes brought forward no records and We will serve no group or party but will hew torial policies and contents of the Observer. there is no statement in the story what the hard to the truth as we find it and the right None of the other people who are associated $50,000 was supposed to be for. The Dallas as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole with the enterprise shares this responsibility truth, to human values above all interests, to with him. Writers are responsible for their own News' reporter, Jimmy Banks, said Estes. work, but not for anything they have not them- named witnesses he said saw him give the the rights of man as the foundation of democ- racy; we will take orders from none but our selves written, and in publishing them the edi- money to Yarborough, but Banks did not own conscience, and never will we overlook or tor does not necessarily imply that he agrees name them, and if he interviewed them, he misrepresent the truth to serve the interests with them, because this is a journal of free of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the voices. did not report what they said Sunday. The Observer publishes articles, essays, and Monday morning, with just two telephone human spirit. Editor and General Manager, Ronnie Dugger. creative work of the shorter forms having to calls, the Observer was able to ascertain Partner, Mrs. R. D. Randolph. do in various ways with this area. The pay that the trustee in Estes' bankruptcy in Business Manager, Sarah Payne. depends; at present it is token. Unsolicited El Paso has never seen or heard of any- Contributing Editors, J. Frank Dobie, Larry manuscripts must be accompanied by return postage. Unsigned articles are the editor's. thing in Estes' records that would sub- Goodwyn, Franklin Jones, Lyman Jones, Willie Morris, James Presley, Charles Ramsdell, Roger The Observer is published by Texas Observer stantiate the charge (see page four). Shattuck, Dan Strawn, Tom Sutherland, Charles Co., Ltd., biweekly from Austin, Texas. En- This is an extremely grave matter. We Alan Wright. tered as second-class matter April 26, 1937, at Staff Artist, Charles Erickson. the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act must close this paper now. We are called of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at upon to lay it on the line. We know Sen. Contributing Photographer, Russell Lee. Subscription Representatives: Austin, Mrs. Austin, Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $5.00 Ralph Yarborough: we, all of us who know Helen C. Spear, 2615 Pecos, HO 5-1805; Dallas. a year; two years, $9.50; three years, $13.00. him, know him to be an honest man. It is Mrs. Cordye Hall, 5835 Ellsworth, TA 1-1205; Foreign rates on request. Single copies 25c; a blessing that this charge was made three Fort Worth, Mrs. Jesse Baker, 3212 Greene St.. prices for ten or more for students, or bulk weeks before election day, for it can be WA 7-2959; Houston, Mrs. Shirley Jay, 10306 orders, on request. Cliffwood Dr., PA 3-8682; Lubbock, Doris Blais- Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas shown for what it is by May 2; but it will dell, 2515 24th St.; Midland, Eva Dennis, 4306 Observer, 504 West 24th St., Austin 5, Texas. hurt some, no matter how conclusively it Douglas, OX 4-2825; Odessa, Enid Turner, 1706 Telephone GR 7-0746. Glenwood, EM 6-2269; Rio Grande Valley, Mrs. Change of Address: Please give old and new 2 The Texas Observer Jack Butler, 601 Houston, McAllen, MU 6-5675; addresses E,,nd allow three weeks. 7 Estes vs. Sen. Yarborough An Accusation and an Ans Austin him at the bank of which he is an official The Observer can further report that Harry Moore, vice president of the El in El Paso Monday morning. After reading W. J. Worsham, a Pecos farmer, flew Sen. Paso National Bank and the trustee in the him excerpts from the News story attribu- Yarborough into Pecos from El Paso for bankruptcy of Billy Sol Estes in federal ting the statement to Estes that he had the barbecue and took up a collection of court in El Paso, told the Texas Observer given Yarborough the $50,000, the Ob- about $900 to help defray Yarborough's by long distance from El Paso this week server asked Moore "if there is anything expenses in campaigning around the state that he has never seen or heard of any- in any records in the Estes bankruptcy" to for Kennedy-Johnson. Yarborough said he thing in Estes' records that would bear out substantiate Estes' statement. was not reimbursed for such expenses by the statement attributed to Estes in the "Of course, we are searching for certain the state headquarters for Kennedy-John- Dallas Morning News Sunday that he, things [in the records], and only those son. "I was campaigning all over the state Estes, gave Sen. Ralph Yarborough $50,000 having to do with the bankruptcy," Moore at my own expense," he said. in cash on Nov. 6, 1960. replied. "Other investigators have gone Yarborough told the Observer that $400 The News quoted Sen. Yarborough as over all the records extremely carefully— of the money was put up by Estes, but stating that the report "is an infamous lie two congressional committees, the FBI, In- that Worsham got this sum from Estes. out of the whole cloth" and as saying fur- ternal Revenue. I've seen no indication of "There wasn't one penny of it delivered to ther he doubted Estes made the statement anything like that. I've never heard any- me by Billy Sol Estes," Yarborough said. and that it sounds like "another dirty Dal- thing like this mentioned, nor have I seen Yarborough recalled that Worsham also las News trick." any indication of anything like this." gave the senator a list of the people who Senator Yarborough's headquarters Mon- Estes' lawyer, John Cofer of Austin, re- had contributed, and that this list is in day provided the Observer with this full fused to assist the Observer to find Estes Yarborough's records in Washington. (In- text of Yarborough's comment on the re- for further interviewing this week on the cidentally, Yarborough said, it was Wor- port: grounds he has previously given when such sham who collected the sums Estes con- inquiries have been made, by the Observer tributed to help defray costs of Yarbor- "This is an infamous lie out of the whole and by other papers—that Cofer's policy is ough's radio broadcasts.) cloth, concocted by the Dallas News, the that his client should not make statements same paper that printed the -infamous at- Contacted by the Observer by long dis- to the newspapers and that Cofer will not tance in Taft, Worsham, referring to the tack on President John F. Kennedy Nov. help newspapers get statements from him. 22, 1963, the day he was assassinated in reports he was hearing on the radio that Sen. Yarborough has acknowledged he Estes had said he gave Yarborough $50,000, Dallas. received political contributions from Estes, said angrily that they were not true. "He "The Dallas Morning News is the same as did many other political candidates, that newspaper that printed stories in 1890 im- [Estes] was always a helluva big name- he has used Estes' plane in campaigns, and dropper," and he liked to talk big about plying communist support for Jim Hogg, that Estes was one of many persons who the same newspaper that charged in Octo- big men and big sums of money, Worsham helped defray costs of Yarborough's week- said. ber of 1952 that President Harry Truman ly radio broadcasts. None of this, of course, was a traitor. The reason the Dallas Morn- Worsham said he was with Yarborough postdated Estes' arrest March 29, 1962. all the time at the barbecue. "He was never ing News and other large reactionary dai- Sen Yarborough told a full-dress press lies are against me is because I am for the outa my sight," Worsham said. Worsham conference in -Washington during the Estes said about eight or nine men, including national Democratic program of Lyndon scandal that he had carefully examined all Johnson. They will be giving President Yarborough, met "just a moment in Estes' his records and that the total amount of office" to discuss with Yarborough pro- Johnson the same dirty treatment this fall money Estes had contributed to him, from before the general election that they have posals to require cotton pickers to be paid 1954 on, for his gubernatorial and senato- by the hour. The farmers argued with Yar- given all good Democrats like Jim Hogg rial campaigns and at fund-raising ban- and Presidents Harry Truman and John F. borough that cotton pickers should be paid quets was $6,900. by the pound, Worsham said. Kennedy." Banks' story Sunday stated without ex- The Observer has other good reasons to planation that the total Yarborough had Worsham, too, says he is quite sure Estes' assert that there is nothing in the Estes reported from the Estes family as political contribution to the collection to defray Yar- records that have been examined since his contributions was $3,526, but that Yarbor- borough's expenses campaigning for Ken- troubles began in 1962 that would substan- ough had said that he had received " 'not nedy was $400. "I made him [Yarborough] tiate his statement about the $50,000. Jim- more than $9,000 and probably less than a list of who gave money," Worsham said. my Banks, in the copyrighted Dallas News $7,000" in campaign contributions from It included, he said, himself, his brother, story, said Estes declined to divulge the the Estes family. It is the Observer's un- L. G. Worsham, L. D. and Floyd McNeil, total he has given Yarborough, saying, "It derstanding that funds contributed through J. B. Kirkland, and Estes, and possibly also would take a lot of work in my old records fund-raising banquets to pay off campaign Ralph Burkholder, although W. J. Wor- to come up with the exact amount." debts do not have to be reported and that sham was not sure about Burkholder. These The News quoted Estes on Sen. Yar- the $6,900 total included such funds. men were all farmers in Pecos, he said. borough: Recalling the November, 1960, barbecue Sen. Yarborough said he has placed the "I wouldn't go ten miles to hear him. I've that occasioned his presence at the Estes Dallas News story in the hands of an at- listened to him enough already. I listened home, Sen. Yarborough says it was ar- torney. It is known that the recent Supreme to him so much that I gave him $50,000 at ranged by the state and national Kennedy- Court decision having to do with The New one time in 1960." Johnson campaign committees and was a York Times is being considered. Banks reported that Estes said he gave function not in Yarborough's honor, but Estes has been known to be bitter now Yarborough the $50,000 the afternoon of rather to boost the Kennedy-Johnson ticket. against Sen. Yarborough and responsible a barbecue for the senator at Estes' Pecos Yarborough did not speak because it was a reports have reached the Observer in re- home and that Yarborough had called him Sunday but did stand in a reception line cent weeks that he has been seeking a way about three days beforehand and said he and shake hands, he remembers. This was to make a statement about Yarborough. needed the money. Yarborough did not the only occasion on which he ever visited Estes has been sentenced to eight years have a political campaign in 1960. in Estes' home, he says. The day before iri state prison and 15 years in federal The Observer telephoned Moore, the he campaigned in El Paso with President prison in cases growing out of his business trustee in Estes' bankruptcy, and reached Kennedy; the day after he campaigned for career. His convictions have been appealed 4 The Texas observer Kennedy in San Antonio. and he is free on bond. ❑ of the Scouts out on the Frontier, saying, 'Come on, boys!' "If we could visualize all of mankind as on a vast march coming from dim un- knowns to a great future. . . . Sometimes in Dallas you just stare 'em to death and 'Scouting the Future' run 'em out of town for being a leader. . . . But the poets, the leaders, the statesmen of mankind, they are the scouts, the Dallas before 1960. You didn't hear much about prophets, who write out the future. The Senator Yarborough, responding to a me on the subject of the nomination—I police, the politicians, we're not the proph- large crowd of perhaps 2,500 liberal Demo- didn't have much to do. with that. But I ets, we keep order." crats in Dallas recently, gave a free- helped write those programs." He appeared Speaking very rapidly in the excited at- swinging campaign speech in which he before the platform committee and testi- mosphere of the smoky, spreading meeting characterized himself as a scout on the fied on conservation bills and water and place, Yarborough concluded: New Frontier—a man who helped write air pollution: "I was putting progressive "I want to see Texas in the forefront of many of the programs of the New Frontier measures in that platform." American progress and I fight for that into the 1960 national Democratic plat- Turning on Gordon McLendon, but not ideal. form and then fought for them in the naming him, Yarborough alluded to a state- "I wouldn't be interested in going back Senate. ment attributed to McLendon that he could to Congress to me-too for anybody, presi- He said Dallas was "a citadel of reac- have run as a Republican as easily as a dents or parties. I ask you to re-elect me to tion," a quote that was widely debated Democrat. (McLendon said it was the pos- the United States Senate not as a follower subsequently. He added, however, that a sibility of Goldwater getting the nomina- but as a leader, out on the periphery, scout- ing the future." magazine writer who said the city's "good tion that turned him to the Democrats.) resolutions" after the assassination had not "There are five Republicans running, and In other remarks during the campaign, lasted long was mistaken, and that he I'm the only Democrat running," Yarbor- Sen. Yarborough has said the Big Thicket would have found this out if he had talked ough said. of southeast Texas ought to be made a to "the people of Dallas and the great heart Referring to education bills he co-spon- national park; he has sponsored and helped and soul of the people of Dallas." sored in 1958 and 1964 and that passed, he pass more legislation for education, con- "We're one of the 15 poorest states in said Texans had avoided the Senate educa- servation, and national parks than any tion committee for fear of being "de- other senator from Texas ever has; and the union. We have the resources to be one "I am the only candidate for the United of the five richest states, and if Texas had nounced as evil if any federal money went been properly governed we to education." It's been okay to give federal States Senate who is supporting our Texan would be one Democratic President, Lyndon B. Johnson, of the five richest," he said. "Over and money for highways, he said; "It just de- over," he said, Dallas returns had "made pends on whether it was things or human and his programs." the difference in gubernatorial election beings. I believe in human beings, and if Opening his Dallas campaign headquar- after gubernatorial election, and that's why the Democratic Party ever forgets it's hu- ters, Yarborough said he has seen advance Texas is 35th in the states in education. man beings that count, it'll perish. films and heard tapes that will be used "I haven't been following along behind against him before May 2. "They are ma- "This oligarchy has not been good for the New Frontier," he said. "I've been one licious," he said. 0 Texas. It made its stock in trade vile slan- der . . . and . . . shouted 'Treason,' and that's been the cry that's been heard in this great city that I love and this great state that I love. "If Texas stood among the top ten states where it ought to stand, it would be to the United States what Athens was to Greece," `I Say Beware, Senator' he said. Instead, it is 40th in old age pen- sions, 48th in unemployment compensation payments. "I remember a day under the late Jimmy Allred, the last Democratic Dallas you will have a spokesman for Dallas. . . . governor of Texas, when Texas was in the Gordon McLendon, the Dallas radio man Dallas is my home town. . . . Maybe it's top ten on unemployment compensation. running for the U.S. Senate, is campaigning just about time that you fine people had a When women's suffrage was proposed, we with actors and bands. U.S. senator from Dallas. It might do you were the ninth state to ratify it. But of the The Observer followed him along as he some good to have somebody in that city of last two amendments extending the fran- welcomed Hollywood actor John Wayne Washington who is from Dallas, Texas! chise, Texas has not ratified either one. into Dallas (see later story in this issue), "You know I'm a conservative. . . . I will What's happened to the people of Texas in opened his Dallas headquarters, and ad- not bore you with that. I'm an intractable this short space of time? You have an dressed a buffet crowd at a swank Dallas advocate of free enterprise. I am not oligarchy ruling Texas when you ought to motel. against liberal Democrats, I never have rule," he told the cheering Dallas Demo- McLendon told the airport crowd, "It is been, but I am against radical Democrats." crats. between you and all Texas and all of the Yarborough, he said, is "just as danger- He said he had heard some people argu- racketeers and goons my opponent can ous with your money as a puppy on a new ing Democrats should not take part in the bring in against me." rug. We're gonna tie a corn cob on him and primary. If the best Democrats did that, he He asked his jam-packed campaign head- run him right into the river before this said, they turned the party "over to the quarters during the opening with John campaign is over." evil element in the party. If you don't work Wayne there: "My opponent is known in McLendon's campaign has been verbally in the primary," he said, "you'd even have Washington and laughed at by his fellow colorful. He says Yarborough is "nervous hucksters running for office." senators as the senator from Texas, not as an alligator with the back itch" and the senator for Texas. "slicker than a buttered olive." Further- "He is of, by, and for Northern liberal HAD BEEN CHARGED, more, he's a "left-wing lizard." HE pressure groups who give him his money McLendon has accused Yarborough of Yarborough said, with being a "me too and his orders. He is their tool. He is one Democrat." deleting from a clipping he is mailing out of the most spineless jellyfish I ever saw in the fact that its source is the Texas AFL- "I deny it. I've been in front. I advocated my life. many of the programs of the New Frontier "When I am there [in the U.S. Senate], April 17, 1964 5 CIO, and of therefore being "ashamed" of senator, when you trifle with our marvel- grams? "I would do everything in my the source. The clipping charged that ex- ous inheritance, for Texas is the home of power to vote with him," he said. Gov. Shivers is behind McLendon's cam- giants, and you are in danger when you Had he supported Eisenhower and Nix- paign. McLendon says he is not ashamed do it ! on? "I was for Eisenhower. I was not for of his friendship with Shivers, and besides, "But of course, my opponent is no longer Nixon. I voted for Kennedy," he answered. Shivers beat Yarborough twice for gov- a Texan. A long time ago he sold that birth- He added that he was for Eisenhower be- ernor. right when he sold himself to out-of-state cause "the nation needed the strong per- McLendon says Yarborough has "de- pressure groups. He gets his money from sonality of Eisenhower." It was not a clared for socialism" by saying the U.S. them, takes his orders from them, is their Question of issues, he said; he thought may have to follow Denmark's example; servant. . . . there would not have been much difference that Yarbrough wants to treat people "like "The fight is on. It is against the im- under Stevenson, and the nation needed sheep tended by federal shepherds"; and ported goons and the honest working men "the strength of a military man at that that the senator is in hiding on the civil of Texas; it is between the racketeers and moment." rights bill. the blackmail picketers against the hard- McLendon has been running spot an- working Texan union men. . . . I am of nouncements for his own candidacy on his course running against a far left winger LL THIS was just warm-up three Texas stations and offering Yarbor- A who gets his money from people who stand ough free time to answer. Had he been compared to McLendon's attack on Yar- against all that Texans stand for. . . .We taken up? Yes, on all three stations, by Yar- borough at a buffet banquet attended (at of the Old Guard will lick them one more borough's people, he said. However, he $12.50 a head) by about 400 persons in time." Dallas. Most of this speech was written, said, the offer just runs "for seven days and McLendon read it. back" under a federal ruling, because otherwise, he said, a candidate could wait He quoted Yarborough's remark that . . . And The Actor Said until the closing days, "piling up the Dallas was "a citadel of reaction" and time." Federal Judge Sarah T. Hughes' remark To The Bandleader... that there was "a climate of hate" in Dal- The Observer asked what McLendon las that made it a likelier place for the Dallas would say to liberal Democrats. "Our radio President to be assassinated than other An interesting exchange occurred stations were the first radio stations in cities. (Judge Hughes had said this before, during the ceremonies opening Dallas Texas to take a liberal position in the field in the Washington Post and the Observer, headquarters for U.S. Senate candidate of civil rights," he responded. "We urged but the appearance of her opinion on the Gordon McLendon. the quickest possible consideration of civil front page of the Dallas News was the A bandleader who was introducing rights legislation in August, 1963." He said antecedent of McLendon's remarks.) Chill Wills urged the teen-agers who that just before the March on Washington, were present to put McLendon stickers his stations took full-page ads in the two McLendon said Yarborough had "never "on your foreheads or anywhere tlse Washington, D.C., daily papers saying civil spoken up one time to defend this city or you can." rights legislation "needs to be considered." state. . . . My opponent is a spineless jelly- Wills, one of the actors campaign- fish." "The Texas liberal who wants to pre- ing for McLendon, responded : "I came serve social security, the labor union, and On the afternoon of the late President here not to stamp anything on any- its seniority system, the Negro who wants Kennedy's funeral, McLendon said, "we edi- body's forehead, but to put one on that basic liberties, all of these would have my torialized" on KLIF, his Dallas radio sta- other fella's forehead—the one he's devoted support," he said. "But I cannot tion, that "The day of mourning has running against." promise to any minority special interest passed. It is time to take up the business group or ethnic group any special privilege, of today again. . . . All Texans should rise Turning briefly to his program, McLen- because it is my job to represent all ten indignantly and affirmatively to the de- don said he is for medical care under the million Texans," he said. "Anyone who at- fense of this city and state. . . . We need Kerr-Mills bill (he did not mention medi- tempts to represent minority groups on the have deep sorrow, but no shame." care under social security), against deficit promise of votes becomes helplessly con- McLendon then turned back on Yar- spending, for equal voting and education fused in promises, so that lies breed lies borough: rights but against the other sections of the and finally all of it is a great lie and a "If Yarborough cannot understand that pending civil rights bill, and for a 15-year tragic joke. . . . in the end, if I represent the chain of events here was triggered by limit to the life of federal bureaus unless the selfish interest of any group, be it the a Marxist nut, and would have happened Congress votes to extend them. NAM, the NAACP, COPE, PASO, or a anywhere, he is no Texan. The people of "I wonder a little bit toward the end farmers' organization, I may make the all Texas, who are damaged each time Dal- state of Texas suffer as a result, and if las is damaged, should tell him that. The about morality," he said. Under Texas law, the state of Texas suffers, the very groups best way to do that is at your Democratic he said, an officeholder cannot put his rela- suffer as a result. I would still hold that polling place on May 2nd where you can tive on the state payroll. "They do put you what is best for the state and the people pull a little lever and send this left-wing in jail" for this, he said. "As of this mo- in it is best for these individual groups." character assassin exactly where he be- ment, my opponent has paid his son nearly longs." $60,000 of government money, and you are The crowd applauded this, as it had other paying for it. Think that over." He added, sallies, but from this point about midway "It may not be illegal [in Washington], but East of. Pecos it sure' is morally wrong." in the speech, it fell silent. Here, the men who lived on margins found "A Texan I was born. A Texan I have McLendon closed promising to "try to how watered desert strikes a root remained all my life," McLendon continued. make for all of you, to try to make for "I can never be anything else but a Texan, Dallas, a tomorrow that will be as dazzling more radiant than the Judas tree. They and I must think of Texas first when I as the morning sun," and he was given a made see this state deserted by its own senator, standing ovation. the dust turn communicant, and gaps who has other allegiances, as you know. and salt-domes are flowering now. There I have never had but one allegiance and AFTER THIS SPEECH, the Ob- was no sound, I cannot divide it now. Yarborough has server sat down with McLendon and asked and still no sound: no keys twirling aslant, misjudged the pride and character of the him a few questions. no shoot people of this great state, the fundamental bond between all Texans, for in blackening Does he favor President Johnson's elec- of corn crackling—only an etiology of the good name of Dallas he has blackened tion? Yes, he said. How does he think shade, the name of Texas itself. I say beware, Johnson is doing so far? "I don't think he's a pack rat's rustle, perhaps. been in office long enough" to say, he re- 6 The Texas Observer sponded. Would he support Johnson pro- BRUCE CUTLER `I Just Went Busted' The Old Scotchman's Bankruptiy

Dallas "Mr. McLendon: It was 50%, sir. . . ." stockholders' interest, and approximately "The Old Scotchman" who now offers "Referee: What was the amount Mr. Cullen 60 to 70% of the creditors' interest should himself for election to the United States had?" the lawsuit be prosecuted, would be in Senate from Texas was president of the "Mr. McLendon: Cullen and associates effect paying 70% of the costs of the law- Liberty Broadcasting System when it went 50%." suit, which I think the Court should also bankrupt in 1952. He blamed monopolistic "Referee: That makes up the whole 100%. bear in mind." practices of the major leagues for this . . . Now, answer this question. In the What difference the acceptance or re- downfall. Stock in the network was owned Court's mind, those two men who own the jection of the $200,000 offer would make in half by the Cullen interests of Houston and enormous part of that dividend, why will how much the creditors would receive was half by B. R. McLendon, the father of Gor- they not underwrite this lawsuit?" anyone's guess and no one's knowledge, but don McLendon, the Senate candidate now. "Mr. McLendon: Why will they not?" Gordon McLendon himself thought it would Gordon McLendon candidly acknowledged "Referee: Yes." make a lot. His remarks on the point ap- that the interests controlled by the late Roy "Mr. McLendon: Because the estate is in pear in the transcript under the heading, Cullen, the right-wing oil multimillionaire, bankruptcy. I want to go on record saying "Statement of Mr. Gordon McLendon." He invested $400,000 and loaned $600,000 to that it was my advice to Mr. Cullen that said: the network because of Cullen's desire to he not underwrite it. He might have been "I speak for my father, and although I promote conservative politics in broadcast- willing to put some more money into Liber- have not talked to him, I hope I also speak ing. ty Broadcasting System and my advice to for Mr. Hugh Roy Cullen of Houston, and The million dollars of Cullen money was him was not to do so. He is a great Ameri- I speak for myself, and to some extent I committed to the McLendon operation in can, but even so, it would be throwing good hope I speak for the public in here this 1951. Cullen and his associates obtained a money after bad until the lawsuit was tried. morning. six-to-three majority on the network's We are no more obligated to put up more board of directors at the time. Then, the money to fight the lawsuit than A.T. & T., "I am against the settlement of this law- next year, the network went broke. which .is a big creditor itself, and that is a suit [for $200,000] on several grounds; the The hopes of the creditors for a large wealthyealthy corporation." first of which is that the amount of money recovery depended on the outcome of Liber- "Referee: They are not majority stock- is not sufficient to pay out the creditors, ty Broadcasting's anti-trust lawsuit s holders, though, like the two men we are which is my main objective in this lawsuit, against the major baseball interests. The talking about, they are 100% stockholders, although it was not originally filed by me— critical decision was whether to accept the and they are approximately, as I see it it was filed by the board of directors. National League's compromise offer of now, 60% of the creditors. "Second, the settlement of the lawsuit $200,000. D. M. Oldham, the referee in the "Good faith, gentlemen, [Referee Old- under these terms affords no relief what- bankruptcy, made no recommendation but ham continued, apparently addressing the soever from any of the broadcasting re- indicated he thought this was too low, and creditors and the others present at this strictions, which is another major part of so did Gordon McLendon, but there was point,] is not only evidenced by words, but the lawsuit, apart from damages. only $42,000 left in the bankruptcy account, good faith in the eyes of this court is based "Third, settlement of the lawsuit ends and it would have taken $25,000 of that to on acts, and if these men, owning 100% for once and for all any hope of ever re- go through with the trial of the case. of the stock and 60% of the indebtedness, establishing the Liberty network, which In an interesting confrontation, the are not willing to back this lawsuit, I can't was almost a public institution, I feel cer- referee asked Gordon McLendon why his have much faith in their recommendation tain in saying, and father and the Cullens did not underwrite that we go along and spend your money "Fourth, speaking for myself personally, the lawsuit themselves, instead of insisting with only $42,000 left in the case, and who- and this is a far smaller point than the first that the bankrupt company pay the bills. ever loses that case is going to have an three, this also ends whatever career I The subject came up during the creditors' enormous amount of costs taxed against might have in broadcasting baseball be- hearing on whether to accept the compro- them for both the plaintiff and the defend- cause the penalty that will be imposed mise offer in the U.S. district court for the ants, and in the eyes of this court this law- upon me for having brought the lawsuit northern district of Texas on Jan. 25, 1955. suit—this corporation is not only bank- is a complete boycott. Oldham had just established, not only that rupt but it has almost bankrupted the "That is all, Judge." McLendon's father and the Cullens owned Trustee sitting over there." A lawyer for a creditor asked McLendon the bankrupt company's .stock half and An attorney for the bankrupt company, "what damages you expect to be able to half, but also that McLendon's father had Hawkins Golden, apparently feeling the prove" if the lawsuit was prosecuted, and filed a claim against the network's assets sting of this rebuke, defended his clients McLendon guessed, "Approximately twelve of $158,235 and the Cullens had filed a at this point by telling the referee: million dollars." However, his position as claim of $600,000. This left the more than "Mr. Golden: If your Honor please, may I further elicted from him by the referee 200 other creditors' still pending claims of say that the McLendon and also the Cullen was that the Cullens and his father had a total of about $280,135 the short end of interests, owning as they do 100% of the no duty to underwrite the lawsuit, and the the stick by a ratio of almost three to one. referee, rather than risk the bankrupt com- Here are pertinent excerpts from the pany's remaining assets in the suit, ac- transcript of the referee's interrogation of On Electing a Businessman cepted the $200,000 offer. Gordon McLendon, the Senate candidate The Dallas News reported April 7: this year: "In his talk [in Austin], McLendon cLENDON got started broad- "Referee [Oldham]: . . . the greater part commended the Dallas News' editorials M of this money has got to go to pay a divi- casting major league baseball on KLIF in on the civil rights bill in Congress. Dallas. He called his broadcasts "re-crea- dend on those two big claims [the Cullens' And he quoted the News' columnist, and McLendon's father's], and in addition tions." Except for a tag line to that effect, the late Lynn Landrum, as saying he'd there was no further explanation during a to that they are big stockholders of this 'vote for the man I'd ch000se to run a corporation. What amount, Gordon, of broadcast that he was not present at the fine business.' " 0 stock, does your father own." April 17, 1964 7 game and that the cracking bats, roaring network I and I did it jointly. Mr. Cullen is first, Referee Oldham sought to rehabili- crowds, exciting put-outs, and doublings a very good American, in my opinion. He tate the network. At the 1952 meeting of back to second were his own dreamed-up has gotten past the age where he has any creditors he spoke of having conferred with dressing up of the sparse, cryptic reports desire to .accumulate any more wealth. He the network's officers about saving it and on the tickertape. has often said to me that most people of his disappointment that they felt this Willie Morris, former editor of the Ob- consider him a great benefactor and phil- would be impossible. "Of course," Oldham server who is now an editor at Harper's, anthropist, but that actually he isn't, that said, "there is nothing more destructive of had an amusing story in The New Yorker he is very selfish, because he wants to see a business than bankruptcy, it is a liquida- a few months back on the Old Scotchman's his money spent before he dies, so he has tion of a severe form, and I am still hoping thrilling re-creations as they were heard in been involved in trying to give away his that some proposition can come to the his home town of Yazoo City, Mississippi.. money to what he calls worthwhile pro- Court . . . to hold it together . . ." Catching on to the trick courtesy of a short- jects. The Liberty Broadcasting System had McLendon said he did not ask Cullen for wave radio at home, young Willie amazed identified itself as a network for American more funds because he felt the anti-trust and hornswoggled the drug-store fans by free enterprise, and indisputably our com- suit would yield enough proceeds to pay predicting in advance, with amazing pre- mentators were commentators who were off the creditors. But then, its prosecution vision, who would skid home for the third on the right side of the fence. Mr. Cullen cut short by the acceptance of the $200,000 and tying run, who would pop out to the wanted to see the Liberty network further settlement, it did not. Although creditors' shortstop to end the inning. Eventually the principles of free enterprise. So for that claims that had been allowed and approved Willie was -caught, but he had never made matter did I. Because he thought it was totaled $1,053,477.16, the liquidation of the a bet on the strength of his advance know- doing so and would continue to do so, in company's assets, including the judgements ledge from the short-wave radio, and his order to make it even stronger he consented in the lawsuits, yielded only $567,985.65. father let him off with a gentle admonition. to go into it, but not for any reason of The trustee of the bankruptcy, in his final profit." Liberty Broadcasting was a network in report on Nov. 13, 1956, told Referee Old- the ordinary sense except that it owned • ham that $268,468.87 in claims had been no radio stations. McLendon's broadcasts paid; that after expenses were subtracted, of the ball games were the backbone of the Yarborough on The Subject only $71,647.56 was left; and that "Thus, business. More and more the majors felt he Sen. Ralph Yarborough was quoted it will be seen that a final unsecured divi- was cutting down attendance in their minor by UPI from El Paso charging that dend should be paid at the rate of 6.9%." leagues by making the major league games Gordon _McLendon took a bankruptcy Most of the creditors got about 31 cents on seem ,so attractive, and they gradually at,11 in the amount of $1 million and paid the dollar. charged him more and more for the right •:* his creditors only $300,000, about to broadcast them. which the senator said: "He is the last person who should be talking about SENATE- CANDIDATE Gordon McLendon was asked about the question McLendon's campaign literature refers to of accuracy in his re-creations during the fiscal irresponsibility. . . . If he would • his business backgtound twice. first meeting of the creditors of the bank- 4:4 do that to private creditors, what rupt network in federal court in Dallas would he do with public money?" El In a flyer entitled, "Know Your Candi- July 8, 1952. date," this information is given: Referee Oldham asked: "That trimming "After leaving the naval service in 1945, "Q. Not for any mercenary reasons. We so McLendon and his father formed a business that you put onto it, you did that personal- understand those things. . . . Did he under- ly, and that was a good exposition of what parnership, principally in the broadcasting take to control the management in any way field. Together they own and operate radio was going on, or did you paint it rather by putting six directors on the board? high?" stations in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, What was his idea in that? Was he going to Buffalo, Chicago, and San Francisco. They Gordon McLendon replied: "I endeavored supervise it?" also share interests in motion picture to paint it both ways, accurately and a "A. I don't know sir, and I would have had theaters, film production, - oil and real colorful picture of what went on ?" no objections to Mr. Cullen's objectives as estate." The question mark after the word "on" to the network because they were much the does appear in the transcript, although A handcard advocating McLendon as a same as my own. Mr. Cullen made no candidate for those voters who "are for just why, the Observer cannot say. attempt to do anything unreasonable." In 1951, a year during which the Liberty businessmen with some horse sense in "Q. There was no friction that ever de- Washington" identifies McLendon with Broadcasting System lost money on a three veloped in the matter between you all?" million dollar gross, the Cullen interests these two items that bear on his business "A. None at all, sir." background: invested $400,000 and loaned the system "Q. Your breakdown, as I view it, was $600,000. Hugh Roy Cullen was a close "A conservative Democrat . . . a success- solely that you could not get along with ful businessman. friend of the late Sen. Joe McCarthy big baseball." and his far right proclivites were "Voted one of America's 10 Outstanding "A. That is exactly it... ." Young Men by United States Junior Cham- well known. His motive in socking a mil- "Q. Have you made an effort to see Mr. lion bucks into the McLendon operation ber of Commerce in 1951." Cullen and get him to come back and help (Inexplicably, the flyer, "Know Your apparently was similar to H. L. Hunt's in us tide this over . . . ?" backing the defunct Facts Forum programs Candidate," says McLendon was voted one "A. No sir, I haven't. The reason for that of the Jaycees' 10 outstanding in 1961, and Life Line, the radio propaganda com- is that Mr. Cullen is getting quite old. The mentaries that are being heard all over the instead of 1951.) network was becoming a burden to him, far The Observer asked candidate McLendon United States today. more than it should have become right Referee Oldham's curiosity on this sub- in Dallas if he had anything he wanted to there at the last, and he spent half of his say about the bankruptcy of his company ject in 1952 gives one now a clear insight time and worrying, the other half, calling into why Cullen backed McLendon. The in 1952. up friends of his and trying to put pressure "I just went busted," he replied. The transcript reads: on them, trying to use his personal friend- "Referee: Why—first, how did you get major leagues raised the price of his ships to get advertising for us . . ." franchise to broadcast their games every Cullen interested in this Dallas broadcast- Commentators on the Liberty network ing—did you do it?" year, "and they had a right to, it was included John W. Vandercook, Joseph C. becoming more valuable," he said. What "Mr. [Gordon] McLendon: I did, sir." Harsch, and John T. Flynn. "Q. How did you get him interested up really did it, he said, was the refusal, in here in a Dallas enterprise?". 1952, of every one of the 16 major league "A. I better qualify that by saying that Mr. THE BANKRUPTCY was forced teams to permit him to continue his broad- Foster [James Foster, vice president of the on Liberty in May, 1952, by creditors who casting of the games. In his anti-trust suit, filed a petition to bring it about so they he said, "I complained that the 16 clubs 8 The Texas Observer could collect debts due tl3em. From the had gotten together and had together agreed that they would never give me Buffalo, Chicago, and San Francisco. We European country from extraterritorial broadcast rights. We went to them one by have the sales rights to sell time for a waters. McLendon said he had no other one, and every one said `No'." radio station in Tijuana, Mexico, that radio interests, other than those he had The Liberty Broadcasting System did covers all of Southern California." mentioned, but acknowledged he has been not own any stations. As for the present, The Observer had been informed of a seeking radio interests in Europe. "We 14 years later, McLendon said: "I own six report that McLendon was interested, also, tried to get 'em, but we didn't make it. stations, in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, in a radio set-up for broadcasting into a We're still trying," he said. R.D. Big John Wayne Comes to Texas

Da//as when Congress chose the President. Now, over here and train them at SAC and John Wayne, who flew into Texas last though, we've got this democracy and the give them the equipment they need and week to campaign for "my old friend, politician kowtows to whomever wants the they'll keep Red China so busy they'll Gordon McLendon," for the U.S. Senate, most. Instead of going in and running his have to tell Russia to stop." is best and most recently known in Texas office the way he should, the politician • Back in Texas, Wayne, having berated as one of the heroes of "The Alamo." appeals to the popular vote, that being the the way our leaders "bring every decision Wayne's appearances attracted a good deal mob vote. Believe me, this can ruin Ameri- to us," continued: "I was gonna say 'some- more attention than McLendon's when ca." thing's got to give,' but I'm beginning to Wayne was with him. Keeping in mind that this article ap- hate that word, 'give.' " Anyway, he said, About half the thousand or so people peared in May, 1963, well before the events Gordon McLendon is "a real friend, a who showed up for McLendon's rally wel- of last November, one can obtain from it staunch one. As we say in Western movies, coming Wayne to Love Field in Dallas were further insights into Wayne's kind of Re- he's my kind a man, and I think he's your teen-agers. Wayne obligingly handed out publicanism. Discussing attempts to make kind of man." pre-signed autographs on little white cards, "The Alamo" an historically accurate Responding, McLendon said of "Duke," and his Hollywood sidekick, Chill Wills, movie, Wayne told Morgan: that is, Wayne: "He is so deeply interested sent color photographs spinning out above "See how we treated Santa Anna. He in your problems here in this state. . . . the heads of the screaming fans. The photo- wasn't all bad. . . . You know, he was Duke sat up with me for many an hour, graphs were of Wayne, not McLendon. quite a boy. He got a charter of freedom many a night, many a day, dreaming about the picture 'The Alamo.' If I ever do get to The broad-shouldered star did not want for the Mexican people that was a lot like ours. But then, when he took over, he pulled the U.S. Senate—and I bloody well am to be mistaken as a Democrat, just because gonna get there!—this is gonna be the first he was in Texas campaigning for a candi- a Kennedy and started grabbing the pow- man I name an honorary Texan—Duke date for a Democratic nomination. "He's er." Wayne!" a Democrat, and I'm a Republican," Wayne Wayne also blamed U.S. Secretary of The McLendon-Wayne party flew around said at McLendon's Dallas headquarters State Dean Rusk for telling Truman "not to go all the way" in Korea, for being "the Texas last week in the private airplane of opening, "but I think that the kind of Re- Clint Murchison, Jr., the Dallas multimil- publican I am and the kind of Democrat one who wouldn't fight the thing all the lionaire. It has been announced that Bob he is had better get together." way in Cuba," and for "putting up a coali- tion government with the commies in Cummings, another Hollywood actor, will Wayne told a little more about the kind Laos." act as pilot for McLendon as the campaign of Republican he is before a banquet crowd "Listen," Wayne was quoted, "all we've really gets going. Cummings, however, will in Dallas for McLendon. "If Harry Byrd got to do is bring 400 Nationalist Chinese not make any speeches. or Strom Thurmond wanted me, I'd walk ❑ from here to Nome and back for them," he said. He blasted the Democratic Admin- istration for giving aid to Tito and for "taking the air cover off the Bay of Pigs." Connally's Quiet Spring And he said: "I charge that the Congress is too willing to give up its balance of power to the ad- One has a certain difficulty presenting Chillicothe, who is retiring; requested a ministrative department. The Administra- both sides of the current race for the Demo- U.S. House subcommittee to provide funds tion is too willing to bring every decision to cratic nomination for governor, namely, against screw-worms in Mexico; partici- us through newspapers and TV and have the fact that only one of the candidates, pated as Mrs. Lyndon Johnson was given us make decisions for 'em. I'd like to see Don Yarborough, has been active. The an honorary degree in Denton; told dele- somebody up there who will make decis- other, Governor John Connally, is going gates to the National Petroleum Refiners ions." about here and there on official business, Assn. in San Antonio that local and state Just what Wayne means by this thought but he has not made speeches that are governmental activity is the answer to a can be more clearly divined from Thomas recognizably political. The phenomenon is growing federal government ; and ad- B. Morgan's article about him, entitled causing some of the interest and specula- dressed the West Texas chamber of com- "God and Man in Hollywood," in Esquire tion that friends of the governor suggest merce on tourist and industrial develop- Magazine last May. Morgan said Wayne, he is trying to keep wetted down by main- ment. "America's best-loved superpatriot," be- taining his silence about his challenger. lieves "the country is being ruined by He told Walter Mansell of the Houston `democracy.' " He quoted Wayne directly Gov. Connally told the Dallas News last Chronicle that he will ask the legislature on this subject. month that he would stay at his desk and in 1965 to abolish the state ad valorem "Obviously," Wayne said, "government carry out his duties. "Actually, I believe (property) tax so cities and counties can is the enemy of an individual. . . . Our that is the best type of campaigning. . . . have the money. The tax raised $42.4 mil- country used to be small enough so that a Now I have a record and they can judge lion last year, of which $35 million went to man who'd proven himself and who had me by it," the News quoted him. He has the available school fund. held to that policy, although he will be some understanding could get himself sent Mrs. Connally was host at the Governor's to Congress and the people back home making more speaking and civic appear- ances from this week on. Mansion to hundreds of women from would just go on about their business be- around the state who gave teas and coffees lieving that whatever he'd do would be In recent weeks, he has gone to Quanah good enough for them. Those were the days to join in tributes to Sen. George Moffett, April 17, 1964 9 for Connally when he was running two Express, Connally gave out some themes will. He emphasized the creation of five years ago. A strategy meeting of about 30 he may be expected to pursue on his three- new schools for children of migrant work- of Connally's key supporters was reported a-week breakfast talks on a statewide TV ers last November and said five more are in the San Antonio Express, but not much network up to voting time. He pointed to planned. was let out about the proceedings. One sees new industries in Texas, more tourists, the The governor will testify before the Connally billboards around the state, but establishment of the Texas Development Warren Commission on April 21, it has not much other evidence of his candidacy Agency. He said he knows of no responsi- been announced in Washington. That will for renomination. ble person who advocates a higher sales be eleven days before the May 2 pri- In an interview with the San Antonio tax, which Don Yarborough says Connally mary. Don Yarborough on `The Big Lobby'

Fort Worth He explains that the governor appointed "Imagine the great gall, thinking he Don Yarborough is making half a dozen the parks and wildlife board that made the could get by with this!" Yarborough says. or so speeches every day, campaigning ruling that lets shell dredgers destroy He recalls that it was Gov. Jim Hogg who hither and yon, and the question arises, oysters so they can get more shell. This established the 10% limit and contends that how to present the gist and tone of it. The hurts fishing, and that hurts people who "You go back to Babylon, back to Greece, Observer monitored one of his numerous like to go to the coast weekends to fish, back to the Dark Ages, back to the French 30-minute local TV shows in Fort Worth, he says. He tells about the publication of Revolution, to Nero—any of them—no listened in as he addressed a large house-ful ads "slandering the oyster industry" in the dictator ever had the gall to put such an of supporters in the Negro section of this Houston area and says "the big dredgers" interest rate on the backs of the people. city, and covered a speech he made to paid for them and Ben Kaplan, "the gover- I'm sure that even the loan sharks were Dallas Democrats. nor's PR man" in Houston, placed them. shocked." His emphasis is all-out criticism of Con- "I charge him with doing nothing for Connally and the lobbyists, Don Yar- nally as "the worst governor in the history education. I charge him with destroying borough charges, "are gonna level an in- of this state." He says lobbyists run the conservation. This man knows that he can't crease in the general sales tax of at least government under Connally and that if the answer — If I ever saw an admission of three and probably four percent, across the governor is re-elected, he will lay a four- guilt!" Yarborough says. But, he says, board, on food and medicine. They intend percent-sales tax onto the backs of the "His lobbyist cronies are saying to him, to pick your feathers." Connally admitted poor. His method is to simplify, his manner `Keep quiet, this guy can't beat you, even in the 1962 campaign, Yarborough charges, is at once both informal and evangelical. though you've been the worst governor in that he was a lobbyist for "the big gas On TV he stressed that "the big lobby" the history of this state.' " interest." Is he likely to increase the gas is telling Connally to relax, that he can't Don Yarborough leans heavily against tax or the oil allowable? he asks. lose, and the challenger admits that he the secret sessions of the governor's com- Yarborough charges Connally has done can't beat Connally himself, but that "you," mission held on higher education. In ap- "everything he possibly could to fight the the voter, can; "I want you to be one of the parent, inexplicit rejoinder, the commission Kennedy administration"; he has fought generals in this campaign. . . . I want you held an open session last week with the "medical care down the line" and "has done to help shape policy." He urges individuals chief of the California system of colleges. everything he could to fight aid to educa- to get into the swim by going down to his Connally attended and asked a question. tion." Lobbyist Tom Sealy of Midland is campaign headquarters and pitch in. It is "the closest friend the governor's got, a personal, you-to-me approach. YARBOROUGH ASSAILS Con- except Allan Shivers," and this is one What has Connally done about educa- nally for the loan regulatory bill, which reason why the last legislature cut taxes tion? he asks. He bets the listener can't replaced the 10% constitutional interest on corporations $20 million "and made up think of a thing. One thing he did do, Yar- ceiling with a scale of charges reported by most of it with a general sales tax on work borough says, is line-item veto $12 million the Observer at the time. The legislature clothes of less than $10." out of the higher education appropriation rejected a 36% limit bill, which almost bill and then fail to call the special session passed in 1961, and instead passed a bill B EFORE an integrated gather- to reappropriate it. (Capitol reporters re- acceptable to broad segments of the loan ing at Dr. Marion Brooks' home in Fort torted that only $800,000 of this came from industry that set rates ranging from high Worth, Yarborough spoke mockingly of education.) percentages on small loans to smaller per- Connally's support of poll tax repeal as centages on larger loans. Yarborough 10 The Texas Observer devastatingly harmful to that cause. After charges that this law legalizes interest Connally attacked "Boss Pena" and "bloc charges of 320%. voting" at the League of Women Voters' rally for repeal, Yarborough said, "There SUBSCRIBE .ampaign Cards Sr Placards Bumper strips were some wilted flowers on the [ladies'] Brochures gr Flyers & Letterheads Fr Env OR RENEW • lope k Vertical Post ers & Buttons & Ribb tns 8. Badges & Process Color Work 8r. Art THE TEXAS OBSERVER erk ikr Forms ar Newspapers 8r. Political P 504 West 24th Street inting 8• Books 8z Silk Screen Work & Mag Hard-nosed Mortgage Loans, Austin 5, Texas Ines & Car Signs & Novelties 8, Pictures no romance added . . . . Enclosed is $5.00 for a one- I • t t . a year subscription to the Observer is .t • J. W. "TOMMY" TUCKER for: S Correspondent Name kit Address is P. 0. Box 66103 City, State Houston, Texas 77006 8. Silk Screen Work & Political Printing & El This is a renewal. ovelti es & Mimeograph Supplies & Conventi JAckson 4-2211 This is a new subscription. .0 Badges & Ads ertising Campaigns & Stati c nery & Cards & Announcements & invitatio hats. They stumbled outa there saying, `Wasn't that a funny way to help us.' " Yarborough was standing in a crowd of listeners. The phone rang. Quick as a wit he said, "Tell him I won't quit talkin'." The Four Republicans In Dallas at Louann's for a large con- fabulation of Dallas Democrats, Don Yar- borough followed immediately behind Sen. Ralph Yarborough. Don Yarborough called Austin the President's war against poverty. He has for a governor who would "stand up for The four-way competition for the Re- warned of socialism and internationalism. those new principles of the New Frontier" publican nomination against Senator Yar- He has called on President Johnson to stop and regretted that Connally has been com- ough has been friendly in a cutting kind the "rioters all over America" from rioting, mitted, not to these principles, but to "the of way ; amiably acid, one might say. The and he has proclaimed his opposition to big lobby in Austin." contenders agree that the senator is a no- every period, paragraph, and title of the goodnik ; their difficulties proceed from civil rights bill and commends "the Dallas He asked the Democrats if they remem- the similarities of their platforms, and Morning News and other public-spirited bered Allan Shivers and reminded them they have been at pains to establish distinc- media" for opposing it. He has come out Shivers has endorsed Connally. "You re- tions among themselves. They are all for against the wheat sale, medicare, federal member the land scandal, don't you, the Goldwater and against federal spending aid to education, the war on poverty, and insurance scandal? We may have to reveal and Democratic foreign policy. transferring U.S. military sovereignty to some things that will make even the Allan One line of argument has concerned who the U.N. Yarborough is a rubber stamp Shivers Administration second in terms senator, he says. of black pages of the history of the state," can beat Yarborough in November. Jack he said; but not any more, in this speech, Cox, the Houston oilman who was the best Cox and Davis agree that the U.S. should on this theme. known of the four heretofore, frankly as- immediately blockade Cuba. Morris and serts that he's the only one who can. This Bush take a less militant stand, advocat- "He [Connally] reduced taxes last time has caused the state campaign manager ing only U.S. support for a Cuban govern- while talking about the needs of the pro- for Robert Morris, the Dallas lawyer, to ment in exile. "I advocate recognition of a fessors by more than $20 million. They ask the state GOP chairman to call Cox Cuban government in exile and [would] were reduced on the big banks, on sulphur, down for spreading the unavoidable impli- on the corporation franchise tax, and yet 11 cation that none of the other three can. April 17, 1964 he made the money up from the work George Bush, the second Houston oilman clothes of less than $10," the challenger running, reasons that only he can win, be- said. cause Cox has lost two statewide races al- "While the present President has declared ready and finished weak in Houston, while a war on poverty," Yarborough said, "he Bush can carry Houston big, as any Re- [Connally] has declared war against the publican must do to win. Dr. Milton Davis, Yarborough poverty-stricken people of this state." the thoracic surgeon from Dallas, is gen- Yarborough closed calling for "a rising erally expected to run fourth, but he, too, tide of Texans who are dedicated to the has reasoned out why he's the best man to For principles of the New Frontier" and are beat Yarborough. "Jack has already run "willing to stand up and support the Demo- two statewide races and lost both of them," cratic administration and who are going he says. "The other two opponents are wel- to be proud of the Democratic Party on come additions to Texas from the East, Governor the national level." but it doesn't seem like either of them Yarborough favored a goal of $176 a could identify sufficiently with the large month for Texas old age pensions, the rate numbers of independent and normally Rally in California, but said later this would Democrat voters in East Texas to carry take more than two years to attain. In an the state in November." Austin press conference, Yarborough fa- Cox also slipped in a dig against Morris' vored a higher natural gas tax, a sales tax New Jersey origin. Cox said Morris said Zilker Park ceiling, and more oil tax income from high- that Cox, in announcing at the last minute, er allowables. On the other hand, he op- welched on an agreement to turn his or- posed a personal or corporate income tax. ganization over to Morris. Cox said evi- n Barton Springs He said he favors turning the state prop- dently Morris, being from New Jersey so erty tax over to cities and counties. recently, can't understand that no one owns Yarborough's workers were jubilant people in Texas. Austin when some of Connally's key Latin-Ameri- Former Democrat Cox has conducted a can leaders in San Antonio—an area Con- lusty down-with-Democrats campaign. He nally carried heavily in 1962—came over has noted that Michael Harrington, the to the Yarborough camp. One of them country's leading socialist, is working in Free Drinks brought 20 workers with him. [11 The Evening Of MARTIN ELFANT Since 1866 Sun Life of Canada The Place in Austin Thursday, 1001 Century Building GOOD FOOD Houston, Texas GOOD BEER April 23 1607 San Jacinto (Pd. Pol. Adv.) CA 4-0686 GE 7-4171 encourage this government every way to ris wants to take appellate jurisdiction in reclaim its country. This means financial school prayer cases away from the U.S. and military assistance," Bush explains. Supreme Court. Bush rejoiced when far- out rightist ex-Gen. Edwin Walker en- Bush, too, would vote against the civil dorsed Cox, but Morris people did too, rea- rights bill in its entirety. The issue is not The soning that Cox has the onus of the en- hate or love, he states, but constitution- dorsement while Morris has the bulk of ality. "I have compassion in my heart for people felled by unfortunate dislocations Walker's supporters. Democratic in our economy," he says of the war on Whether he is the last-runner or not, poverty, "but I feel our local government Dr. Davis has succeeded best in distinguish- can best do the job." Only "unbridled free ing himself from the other. candidates on Conventions enterprise" can cure unemployment, he be- the issues. In addition to the air-sea block- ade around Cuba that he advocates, he in- lieves. Bush has sparred with Roy Evans "A liberal state platform" vs. "Lay off of the AFL-CIO on labor issues and says sists on "no treaties with Russia," with- drawal from the U.N., and disbanding the the issues" : that's the gist of the Demo- Yarborough "will sell all Texans down the cratic convention struggles this year that river in order to please his labor bosses in arms control commission. Since Cox and Morris also want the U.S. out of the U.N. begin with the precinct conventions that Detroit." Bush also says Yarborough must will be held May 2. account to the voters for "his complicity and Cox is for the Cuban blockade, Davis' claim to distinctiveness might be blurred Common sense and the gathering statis- with Billy Sol Estes." tics lead one to the conclusion that the Bush called Sen. Fulbright's recent for- but for his additional advocacy of repeal of the federal income tax, backed up by "sell- liberal Democrats hold a much better hand eign policy statement "unenlightened ap- this year than in 1962, when the conserva- peasement," but could not compete with ing off excess government industrial prop- erties such as TVA and REA." tives won the state convention handily. Morris' persistent emphasis on foreign The 715,000 Texans who voted for Jack policy. Morris called it "unalloyed appease- Dr. Davis also advances a diagnosis of poverty which is undoubtedly the only one Cox, the Republican, against John Con- ment" and advocated encouraging Chiang nally, the Democrat, in November, 1962, to invade mainland China. Morris wants a of its kind ever to come from a thoracic surgeon : "There are four main causes for lived mostly in the conservative precincts full check-up to find communists in the that are now counted on to give Connally State Department. On another subject, Mor- poverty: Welfare, unemployment compen- sation, the $1.25 minimum wage, and infla- most of his backing, to the extent he gets 12 The Texas Observer tion due to deficit spending." it from them, in his opposition to a liberal Texas Democratic platform. The fly in the tory ointment is the law that gives each precinct a county conven- tion vote for each 25 votes it casts for the Democratic nominee for governor in the general election. The votes for Cox in the conservative precincts in November, 1962,. dramatically reduced the conservative Democrats' proportion of the delegates in the convention series for 1964. Consider the two largest metropolitan areas, Dallas and Houston. In Dallas, ac- cording to a responsible liberal source, the liberals already have about 70 of the 107 precincts they need to win. They won more than 60 precinct chairmanships without contests. Dallas tory Democrats have nat- urally become alarmed and have put to- gether a war chest for the convention strug- gle. The latest figures from the liberal source show that, with 1,407 of the county's 2,812 delegate votes needed to win, the lib- erals now count on a cinch 1,507 delegates, grant the conservatives 849 cinch votes, and figure that only 456 more votes are "swing"—that is, are votes in precincts that could go either way. The all-Negro pre- VA cincts alone have 405 of the delegates, In Texas . . . about two-sevenths of the total the liberals need to win. In Harris County the situation is similar. at a picnic, beer is a natural A Houston Post survey of the situation When you're relaxing at your favorite outdoor beauty spot with confirmed Observer predictions as much as a year ago that the liberal-loyalists will friends or family, and your thirst's whetted by fresh air and exer- win there. Harris County will have about cise—that's the ideal time for a cool, refreshing glass of beer. In one-sixth of the entire state convention fact, you can name your recreation—swimming, hiking, or just vote. watching TV—and chances are nothing in the world fits it quite "The liberal-loyalist faction will almost as well as beer. certainly regain control of the Democratic Your familiar glass of beer is also a pleasurable reminder that convention from the conservatives, who we live in a land of personal freedom—and that our right to enjoy have organized the past two conventions," beer and ale, if we so desire, is just one, but an important one, of the Post reported. "Projections show that the liberals would have 2,429 of the 4,212 those personal freedoms. delegates, or a margin of 646," if tradi- tional voting patterns prevail, the news- In Texas ... beer goes with fun, with relaxation paper said. In Harris, five conservative UNITED STATES BREWERS ASSOCIATION, INC. River Oaks boxes have dropped from 88 905 International Life Bldg., Austin 1, Texas to 41 delegates to the Harris County Demo- both to Johnson and to him; delegates who (Connally's), platform at the state conven- cratic convention because of their 80% are not for Don Yarborough and will not tion. turnout for Cox in November, 1962. insist on a liberal platform for Texas Demo- • The outcome of the state Democratic crats. convention this June probably depends on The latest tabulation of the Harris Coun- Connally had his men convention leaders how many compromise deals the Connally ty prospect to reach the Observer, from a into Austin last week, and the women were forces can make with groups usually count- responsible liberal source, would give the in last Monday. The women were advised ed as liberal Democrats. Curiosity will fo- liberals 2,230 county convention votes of to work through the men. The women are cus upon the influence of the steelworkers the 2,154 votes they need to win. Conserva- helping obtain precinct and county conven- in Houston and the autoworkers in Fort tives are conceded about 1,621 votes, with tion leaders for Connally this week. Worth, since these two groups of unionists another 456 votes or so counted as "swing." Next week, a brochure and a resolution have been influential so far this year in the will be sent to the precinct chairmen who maneuverings that resulted in the Texas THE TORY DEMOCRATS' prob- are selected. The Observer can report, from AFL-CIO endorsing no one in the gover- lem has therefore become: How to avert sources inside Connally's meeting Monday, nor's race. liberal Democrats' demands that the state that the Connally resolution—the key to It has been speculated that an issue platform be outright liberal? the basic tory strategy in the conventions— might materialize at the state convention will seek to commit precinct conventions to over whether Gov. Connally or Sen. Yar- In Houston, powerful business-political supporting Connally as head of the Texas borough should lead the Texas delegation leaders who have been identified not only delegation to the Democratic national con- to the national convention, but if liberal with Connally, but with Johnson in the vention ; to do everything possible to sup- leaders have resolved on seeking to draw past have been arguing that issues should port Johnson (there is no mention -of his such a line in June, they are not yet saying be avoided in the precinct, county, and program) ; and to support Connally and his, so. ❑ state conventions; that a fight over the • platform will just tear up the state's Demo- crats; and that the best way to support Johnson is to back him and let the issues go. Cabe!! vs. Bryant To the contrary, says, for example, Bill Kilgarlin, the Democratic chairman in Houston. One of the dividing lines in the Dallas guaranteed by individual initiative and free conventions may be drawn, he says, be- Bruce Alger was the only Congressman enterprise. tween people who are for Johnson and - his in the United States who voted against the "It was because of this belief that I ap- program, on one hand, and people who are federal school milk program back in 1958. plauded the recent stand of Congressman for Johnson and against his program, on Earl Cabell, who this year seeks the Demo- Alger on the bill continuing the pro- the other. cratic nomination against Alger, agreed gram. . . . with Alger's vote that year. "Sincerely yours, Earl Cabell." This theme has been expressed recently On Oct. 9, 1958, Edward C. Schwille, a Cabell paid for a political advertisement by Senator Ralph Yarborough, who calls for Alger in the Dallas News for Oct. 25, for support of Johnson and his program. Dallas conservative, wrote Cabell, who is a dairy owner, asking him about the "fed- 1958. The ad called attention to an Alger It underlay the recent dispute over the TV broadcast and bore the slogan, "Effec- State Democratic Executive Committee's eral school milk bill" that had been .passed by the Congress some months before. Four tive Representation." That same fall Cabell resolution calling on all Democratic candi- sat at a head table during a luncheon to dates to ask everyone, including conserva- days later, Oct. 13, Cabell wrote Schwille: II hear a report from Alger. tives, to vote as Democrats, and Don Yar- . . I am glad to give you a run-down Alger was being vigorously opposed by borough's refusal to go along, and Senator on the Federal School Milk Program and State Representative Barefoot Sanders that Yarborough's reluctant assent, hedged by my opinion of. same. - fall, and Sanders lost. Sanders is now the his observation that the resolution should "In the first place, this program is not U.S. district attorney here. This spring have included a demand that the persons so one wherein the undernourished or indigent Baxton Bryant, who is running against voting agree to vote for the Democrats in school-child is singled out for free milk. Cabell for the Democratic nomination November as well as May. Nor is it a matter of the purchase of sur- April 17, 1964 13 A liberal leader in Dallas indicated that plus milk for distribution to the needy. the main issue will be a resolution to in- "In essence, the program is this: if the struct precinct delegates to county conven- school sells milk to all students at below tions to support "Johnson and the liberal cost (including handling costs not to ex- To Buy or Sell Real Estate national platform." ceed 1.9c per half pint), then 3c per half In Harris County pint will be rebated. . . The Democratic Coalition's newsletter, circulated last week, said that Coalition "Thil program undoubtedly increases the Call consumption of milk, but I and many others workers have prepared a set of sample Bill Shead MI 9-7565 resolutions. "The immediate goal is to make in the industry feel that it is a Socialistic the Democratic Party in Texas join with one, and has no place in a system that was • the national Democratic Party in support- ing the President and his program," the newsletter said. Under the heading, "The For Jobs and Freedom real. danger of treachery," the newsletter said: "The turncoats in the Democratic Party who vote in the Democratic primary in May and betray us by voting Republi- MARTIN ELFANT can in November must not be permitted to write the party platform and to control the FOR YOUR party machinery." STATE REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS COUNTY POS. 5 GOV. CONNALLY has written some letters about the situation and called his leaders into Austin recently for A FULL TIME LIBERAL strategy conferences. From present indica- (Pd. Pol. Adv.) tions, he will want delegates who are loyal against Alger, has accused Cabell of sup- porting Alger in 1958 against Sanders, and MEMORANDUM TO SUBSCRIBERS Cabell has admitted it. At one public meet- Please notify us promptly about anything irregular in your receipt of the ing, Cabell asked Bryant, who is a minister Observer. on inactive status, if he would bar a past sinner from his church. Bryant replied he If we do not have a subscription representative in your area and you want to would not, but he wouldn't make him be it, please drop the editor a line. The representatives are listed in the mast- pastor either. head on page 2. If your favorite news stand does not handle the Observer, you might ask him BRYANT HAS ACCUSED Ca- if he will, and let us know. bell of attending a meeting of GOP precinct Be sure to allow us three weeks if possible for changes of address. workers in 1960. In this accusation he has Thank you. been joined by Peter O'Donnell, the Texas GOP chairman, who is probably pulling for SARAH PAYNE, Business Manager Bryant on the theory he would be easier The Texas Observer ■ for Alger to beat than Cabell. Cabell ad- mits he went to the meeting but didn't know it was a meeting of precinct workers. Bryant also accuses Cabell of attending one of the National Indignation Convention rallies that were held in Dallas to protest the training of Yugoslavian pilots in the U.S. This was the immediate context re- cently as Bryant and Cabell both spoke before about 2,500 Dallas Democrats in a North Dallas meeting hall. "Let's get rid of Bruce Alger," Cabell said to the crowd. Dallas does not want to be represented by "nuts," he said, and he added "that when I use the term nuts I'm referring to nuts at both end of the spec- trum. And I say when we're out to beat Bruce Alger, we're not going to beat him with another nut." Cabell concluded his extremely short statement that he should be nominated to "prove the Democratic Party is not made up of nuts on either end of the spectrum." Each time he said "nuts," he said it with an italicizing tone of voice. Bryant, following him, handled it this way. "If you nominate my opponent, you will not be nominating a nut," he said. "I think he's a very outstanding businessman, and I think he's been a wonderful member of the Republican Party. . . . I am the only Some 4000 Texans gathered in Austin recently for a real Democrat in this race." "RALPH YARBOROUGH APPRECIATION DINNER" Bryant said he is for beating Alger, but as their way of saying "thanks" for our Senior Senator's he is also for supporting Johnson, "the years of service to the people of Texas. His entire career, present civil rights program, including pub- lic accommodations—period," medicare un- as a teacher, lawyer, soldier, judge and United States der social security, the war on poverty, a Senator, has been one of service to others. Youth Conservation Corps. And, he said, Senator Ralph Yarborough serves Texas today as a "I'm for the U.N." member of three important Senate Committees, Chair- If Cabell goes to Congress, Bryant says, man of three vital Senate Sub-Committees. He will there'll still be only one congressman in continue to represent our State with distinction and the United States who is opposed to the honor during his second six-year term. federal school milk program, but he'll be a Democrat instead of a Republican. Bryant accused Cabell then of welcom- ing Gen. Edwin Walker back to Dallas af- ter the late President Kennedy had fired him and with sitting on the platform and to applauding Walker "as he accused the U.N. of betraying the U.S." He said Cabell presented Walker a hat, but when Adlai Stevenson came to town, Cabell got out of town. "If he was going to present Gen. Walker a hat, the least he could have done was to give Adlai Stevenson a helmet," Bryant said. Bryant has now accused Cabell of ap- proving purchase of the Dallas bus sys- tem from private interests for $5.5 million when its assessed valuation was only $3.5 million. He is supported in this contention make hay out of the same field, Cabell's realizes you have to stand for. principle. by Mrs. Elizabeth Blessing, a member of record as mayor, because of Cabell's oppo- Perhaps the main pitch for Cabell is the the city council who has also been critical sition to pay raises for the city's garbage "unity" argument: that Dallas Democrats of the purchase price in the transaction collectors. Some Democrats are not going are on a unity program, that Cabell is the that socialized Dallas' bus system. along with Bryant because they remember unity candidate, that Cabell has the better the compromises he made with "down- chance to beat Alger, and that Bryant C ABELL'S UPHOLDERS among town," that is with the Dallas power struc- would lose. the Democrats recite his courageous fight ture, when he ran for Congress in 1962. At the start of the campaign Cabell was against the Dallas power structure for slum Bryant says frankly he thought he'd play strongly favored to beat Bryant. Now the clearance. But Bryant has been able to the game with them in 1962, but now he outcome is very much in doubt. R.D.

Observations A NEW START IN THE STATEHOUSE We rue a certain indefiniteness in Don ation of Texas Latin-Americans from his change of direction under John Connally, Yarborough's campaign so far. He has not administration. In fiscal policy, spending, who is himself a rich man's lawyer and has yet made his affirmative program clear election reform, redistricting, party poli- served as a yeoman in rich men's politics enough. He told reporters he favors a nat- tics, and the governor's role as a leader for all his political life. We very seriously pre- ural gas tax, but he also opposed a cor- his national party's. cause in Texas, Con- dict that if Connally is renominated and porate income tax, which opposition he nally played the same doubledealing game reelected, he will advocate much higher should reconsider. Yet we also know from we have had in recent years from Coke college tuition and legislation to authorize observation of his previous campaigns and Stevenson, Allan Shivers, and Price Daniel. a city sales tax. Instead of moving toward from his many general and specific state- Little wonder Shivers has endorsed Con- the free college tuition California enjoys, ments that he would be a far better gov- nally. Connally can be counted on to protect big ernor for Texas than John Connally has Don Yarborough, on the other hand, can business from the higher taxes for them been. be counted upon to lead a struggle for state- that this would entail. Instead of trying to Connally has been a caretaker gov- house populism and to stimulate a new look repeal the general sales tax, he can be ernor; he has been holding the fort for the into the causes of the profound sickness of counted upon to broaden it—if not to in- tory Democrats and big business. He did our state government. It is very difficult to crease its rate, as Don Yarborough has not so little to ruffle the feathers of the Re- get hold of what's•wrong in Austin. We've convincingly predicted, then to increase its publicrat legislature of 1963, they paid him been thinking about it for a decade and coverage again, as he increased it in 1963. practically no attention. He talked big still haven't got it well formulated. In a Readers of the Observer know that the about education, vetoing $12 million he campaign it is necessary to simplify; Don signs have become unmistakable that the said he was going to guard for the colleges Yarborough offers the best simplification business power structure is preparing for ,like a "Mother Hen," but the egg never available when he says the state is "lobby- a major push in 1965 to give the cities the hatched, you notice: he called no special controlled." But why? Why have the people power to levy sales taxes, and we all know session to give this money to the colleges. stopped paying attention to state govern- where Connally will stand on that—we He watched pacifically as the legislature ment? In what ways have the lobbyists ac- know without him saying; we know from cut taxes on the banks, the sulphur compa- tually reshaped the very procedures of gov- knowing who he is. nies, and other big businesses and increased ernment in the statehouse to condition ev- There is a real chance for a real change them on the people through the sales tax. erything to run their way? How has it under Don Yarborough. It will not, right He explicitly declared that redistricting come to pass that most of the state's vital off, be a New Day, but it will be a New was not a part of his must program; and research, in tax policy, in the shape and Start. And brother, it's time for that!. then, when a Houston court ordered it at responsibilities of the agencies, in public once, he accused the judges of behaving as spending, is actually financed by the big- On Jesse Owens Republicans, a clear violation of the law- gest corporations of Texas through the yers' code, in the name of which he him- Texas Research League? What can be done We wish to enter a special plea that Tex- self recently became so incensed against about these things? as liberals extend as much energy as they can spare to help nominate Judge Jesse Melvin Belli. He never even asked the legis- The really important issue in the gov- Owens of Wichita Falls to the Texas Rail- lature to ratify the federal poll tax repeal ernor's race is this large issue: the philo- road Commission. amendment: asked directly about this at a sophical corruption of the state govern- Owens is the first liberal Democrat to press conference, he said he was not pur- ment. The governor must be willing to un- suing that course. Instead, he said, he seek the job of regulating the Texas oil dertake and encourage really organic ex- wanted the Texas poll tax repealed, only. amination of what has happened, what is April 17, 1964 15 Thus spared a real test, the legislature happening, and what can be made to submitted the amendment; and then change. Thre is no hope of this kind of what did its champion, the governor, do? He gutted it by saying it might lead to bloc voting. Behind this was his own oppo- J. W. "TOMMY" TUCKER sition to the Kennedy Administration's Group Subscriptions fight for public accommodations legislation, b medicare, and federal aid to education; his A message for the special attention Appraisal of Real Estate own snub of Negroes; the increasing alien- of liberal groups or union locals: Subscriptions to the Observer can 3317 Montrose Boulevard EUR O P E be bought by groups at a cost of $4 a year, provided ten or more subscrip- An unregimented trip stiessing individual Houston, Texas 77006 freedom. Low cost yet covers all the usual tions are entered at one time. If you plus places other tours miss. Unless the belong to a group that might be in- standard tour is a "must" for you, discover terested in this, perhaps you will want JAckson 4-2211 this unique tour before you go to Europe. to take the matter up with the others. EUROPE SUMMER TOURS (Adv.) 255 Sequoia, Dept. J—Pasadena, California industry during the years I have watched No, seriously—there has been entirely Texas politics. The man he is running On George Bush too much levity in this matter. We wish to against, appointed by John Connally, is We think the legions of good conserva- endorse George Bush for the Republican just another dignified errand boy for the tives among our readers should go vote in nomination for the U.S. Senate. We take major companies. Owens, who has never the Republican primary May 2 to avert this step for several reasons. First, we fig- got less than 46% of the vote in his previ- various disasters. ure it'll help him out. The four GOP can- ous statewide races, is pledged to increase Republicans may not have the two Yar- didates have had great difficulty looking the Texas production allowable. He can be boroughs to vote against in November un- like different peas in their pod, and from expected really to favor the independents less they vote Republican May 2. Further- now on Bush can say he is the only con- over the majors. more, if they're not careful, the only one tender for the nomination who has been of the four Republican Senate candidates endorsed by the Texas Observer. Second, Too many years have passed since the Bush is pleasant to talk to, and he admits Railroad Commission had a genuinely inde- who does not favor withdrawing from the U.N., George Bush, will be their party's to having normal human feelings for the pendent-minded commissioner to help over- poor and the dispossessed, although he does see the state government's regulation of the nominee against Sen. Yarborough. Even this would not be the ultimate calamity. not let these feelings interfere, in any way, oil industry. The nomination of Owens is with his steadfast convictions against the one of the most important causes going. The red-hot write-in campaign for Nixon might deprive Goldwater of this thumping issues. Third, he is the candidate of the Texas victory over home-breaking. Where Republican power structure, which has al- On Dan Sullivan else but in the Republican balloting places ready been sufficiently humiliated in the next May 2 can a Texas conservative get Goldwater affair. Finally, it seems to us At this point it appears that Joe Pool, such a bargain just by dropping in : war that Connecticut needs a senator from the wily Republican congressman-at-large, with Cuba, 1864 with Goldwater, and Gen. Texas. (who calls himself a Democrat,) will lead Edwin Walker as Admiral of the Texas All together now, conservatives: "Vote into a runoff with either Dan Sullivan of Navy under Cox, Morris, or Davis! Republican May the second!" R.D. West Texas or Robert Baker of Houston close behind. Baker voted for the general sales tax and for doubling college tuition in the legislature; he is an angle-shooter who is now shooting the angles of being Marquis Childs on Ralph a Johnson Democrat. Dan Sullivan, on the other hand, is and has steadfastly been a The national columnist, Marquis Childs, respectable Goldwater to the ultra right, Yarborough, Kennedy-Johnson kind of made a swing through Texas late in March concentrate much of their fire on Yarbor- Democrat. It is very likely, it seems to us, and wrote a column on the current U.S. ough as the exponent of spending programs that whoever gets into the runoff against Senate race in Texas. It appeared in the and deficit financing. Pool will be nominated. Pool is utterly dis- Washington Post; we excerpt it here. Big oil is said to be behind the McLendon credited and won in 1962 merely because Gordon McLendon, who bills himself as campaign helping to pay the bill that will of the fluke involving Woodrow Bean. It "The Old Scotchman" and whose billboards include $90,000 for billboards alone, with follows that a little extra effort the next are spreading like a rash across the state amounts for television time adding up to two weeks to be sure the liberal Demo- and carry in big letters "Beat Ralph Yar- sizable totals. Mrs. Clint Murchison Jr., cratic community turns out the maximum borough," is of the new wave in Ameri- wife of the head of one of the richest votes for Sullivan can well help elect this can politics. families in the nation, came to Austin to hard-fighting young man and establish him He has never run for office before. His help open McLendon headquarters. McLen- as a person to be contended with in state views on issues are expressed in the broad don's campaign manager, George W. Sand- politics in the future. generalities of conservatives. But he is a lin, chairman of the Democratic Executive radio personality, a radio voice, and as the Committee and a henchman of former Gov. 16 The Texas Observer owner of radio stations in Texas' largest Allan Shivers, in 1952 helped to turn over cities he has a hold on a powerful media the Democratic machinery for General of communication. Eisenhower and the Republicans in that The new wave leans heavily on show- year. manship and intensive concentration on All this poses a problem in political television and radio to put over a brand balance for President Johnson. His antipa- name the voter will remember favorably in thy to Yarborough in the past is no secret. the polling booth. McLendon's headquarters But if a conservative like McLendon, who plan a blitz for the two weeks of the cam- would vote against most of the Johnson paign leading up to the primary on May 2. measures, or another Republican like Sen. State-wide television, repeated spot an- John Tower, were to be elected from Texas, nouncements on radio stations in every the President's own state, it would be a dis- community in the state, the goal is to tie tinct embarrassment. Yarborough to big spending in Washington The visitor is told of a little drama that and to Billie Sol Estes, Texas' fallen angel put this problem in blunt fashion. Gathered who contributed to one of Yarborough's in the office of Gov. John Connally were past campaigns. Shivers, Rep. Joe Kilgore and some of the The blitz being planned resembles that more potent wheelers and dealers in fin- put on for Birch Bayh, a comparatively ance and politics. The governor got the unknown Democrat in Indiana, in defeating President on the phone in the White House a veteran Republican Senator, Homer Cape- to tell him it was the consensus of the hart. By most calculations Senator Yarbor- group that he should give a thumbs-down ough, running for his second full term, signal on Yarborough and support either should win. But the effects of the new-wave Kilgore, who has a conservative record, or technique are unpredictable and the Yar- perhaps Shivers for the Senate. borough managers are scared. This may be a romanticized version of They see their man—a moderate by na- what happened. In any event, the President tional standards, a liberal when measured said a firm no. If there had been any inten- against the conservatism of much of Texas tion of shoving Yarborough aside for an —as the target of attack from every direc- anointed candidate approved by the hier- tion. Four candidates in the Republican archy of power in the state, it has been primary for the Senate seat, ranging from abandoned. . . . Marquis Childs