TEXAS 1) ERVE

A Journal of Free Voices November 9, 1984 $1.00

Pesticide Battle Lines Drawn In the Dirt

By Geoffrey Rips Austin hen Agriculture Com- missioner Jim High- W tower, announced on Wednesday, October 19, that the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) was promulgating new regulations for the application of agricultural pesticides, a political range war that had been raging for months underground suddenly burst to the surface. While the regulations proposed for public comment were the result of ex- haustive negotiations and heated skirmishes between TDA and public and private interest groups, they are not the actual point of contention they are made out to be by groups opposing their im- plementation. Rather, the pesticide regulations are being used by large political and private interest groups to draw the line on Jim

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u Hightower and on a process of

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lan terest groups loose from the A stranglehold on the state's by

to agricultural and economic policies

Pho they so long enjoyed.

------1=z---N -----\--;74 1 = =---1------1---- . • PAGE TWO • ----A -- $ F OE . - — — - —7- -: 52: ---. - . - % „ HE PEOP ..-/-__- -&-.. .- Lines (Continued from Cover) _-:.. Ever since the election of Jim Hightower in 1982,

,_ __ LTh■ conservative political and farm interests have been itching for -- Sr — III PRIE144 mow an opportunity to take a shot at him. Among those interests -' , fiir4,11iitaq-.0•-... f , have been agribusiness concerns who had enjoyed a cozy cofi „_. •--,...--. relationship with Hightower's predecessor, Reagan Brown. ,, ,,, ••••••• 0 For the most part, these interests reap the most benefit from ..;.:__ ,-,46...:_ =En , _ 1 pi i A,7 ; .;.11. - -- „.,,,,,,i r; ur :1111 ' '' ' '11,--- 411 II ;: IP I I li T.J1.11.!' 1°1119:17----":17-.::---...___r-:---- a farm economy in which the large producers control the ;-;:...-,---.:=--.-.------: ji _____ K '....■-..-,..,■-•-._----...... _....._ market. Some of these interests are multinational and are not _ .,..---... .1.---1.1-.._-- ,.. 11•____=. — made or broken by a Texas drought or freeze or by prices =-"---- -4--- ...„, -- for raw commodities in the United States. While they have not, by any measure, been hurt by recent TDA efforts to TEXAS market the products of smaller, independent farmers and BSE'VER ranchers of Texas, in principle these agricultural : The Texas Observer Publishing 0o., 1984 conglomorates don't like the idea. Neither do they like the Ronnie Dugger, Publisher idea of an agriculture commissioner who presumes to exercise any of his regulatory authority. Before Jim Hightower was Vol. 76, No. 22 7,412-'''.6 November 9, 1984 sworn in, agribusiness interests lobbied against any increase Incorporating the State Observer and the East Texas Democrat. which in turn incorporated the Austin Forum-Advocate. in the agriculture department's budget for regulation and inspection, wielding their influence during legislative budget EDITOR Geoffrey Rips ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave DenisOn hearings, including Senate Finance hearings held by state EDITOR AT LARGE Ronnie Dugger Senator Grant Jones, D-Abilene, prior to the 1983 legislative CALENDAR EDITOR Chula Sims session. EDITORIAL INTERN: Terri Langford Prominently represented among the agribusiness interests WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Al Watkins gunning for Hightower has been the Texas Farm Bureau. The LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Alicia Daniel EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Frances Barton, Austin,: Elroy Bode, Kerr- Farm Bureau, while purporting to speak for the agricultural ville; Chandler Davidson. Houston; Bob Eckhardt, Washington. D.C.; Sissy community, actually speaks for its own many varied business Farenthold, Houston; Ruperto Garcia. Austin; John Kenneth Galbraith, Cam- , interests, most notably insurance. On both state and national bridge, Mass.: Lawrence Goodwyn, Durham. N.C.; George Hendrick. Urbana, Ill.; Molly lvins, Dallas; Larry L. King, Washington, D.C.; Maury Maverick, levels, the Farm Bureau combines right-wing rhetoric with Jr., San Antonio; Willie Morris, Oxford, Miss.; Kaye Northcott, Austin; James an assumed authority to speak for the farmer and has been Presley, Texarkana, Tx. ; Susan Reid, Austin; A. R. (Babe) Schwartz, Galveston; used more than once by the Reagan administration to give Fred Schmidt, Tehachapi. Cal., Robert Sherrill, Tallahassee. Fla. a stamp of approval to Reagan farm policy. Texas Farm Bureau CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Warren Burnett. Nina Butts. Jo Clifton, Craig Clifford. John Henry Faulk, Ed Garcia. Bill Helmer, Jack Hopper, Amy Johnson, President S. M. True said the regulations proposed by Laurence Jolidon, Mary Lenz. Matt Lyon. Rick Piltz, Susan Raleigh, Paul Hightower "would be very detrimental to agriculture." Sweeney, Michael Ventura, Lawrence Walsh. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Alan Pogue, Russell Lee, Scott Van Osdol, Alicia Daniel. The opposition to pesticide CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Jeff Danziger, Beth Epstein, Dan Hubig, Pat Johnson, Kevin Kreneck, Carlos Lowry, Joe McDermott, Ben Sargent, Gail regulation is, in part, revenge Woods. A journal of free voices for workers' compensation for farmworkers. We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole truth, to human values above all interests, to the rights of humankind as the foundation of In 1983 and '84, the Texas Farm Bureau led the opposition democracy; we will take orders from none but our own conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent the truth to serve the interests of the power- to legislation providing workers' compensation coverage for ful or cater to the ignoble in the human spirit. farm and ranch workers, passed during the June 1984 special Writers are responsible ,for their own work, but not for anything they have session of the legislature (TO, 1/13/84 and 7/13/84). After not themselves written, and in publishing them we do not necessarily imply a protracted fight, the legislation passed largely because of that we agree with them because this is a journal of free voices. the formation of a coalition of Mexican American and urban Managing Publisher Cliff Olofson legislators with a few progressive rural legislators thrown in Advertising & Development Director Dana Loy for good measure. The legislation was supported by Governor Subscription Manager Alicia Daniel Mark White and Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby, and its Circulation Assistant Stefan Wanstrom passage marked a nadir in the influence of the Farm Bureau. Consultant Frances Barton There is every indication that, since pesticide regulations have Editorial and Business Office been pushed for years by farm worker advocates, part of the 600 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 rancor inspired by the TDA pesticide regulations is a result (512) 477-0746 of the workers' compensation battle. One rural legislator The Texas Observer (ISSN 0040-4519) is published biweekly except for a three-week inter- termed the organized opposition to pesticide regulation val between issues in January and July (25 issues per year) by the Texas Observer Publishing Co., 600 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 477-0746. Second class postage paid "revenge for workers' compensation." The position of the at Austin, Texas. Farm Bureau on this issue has not been devoid of racist Subscription rates, including 5 118% sales tax: one year $23, two years $42, three years $59. One year rate for full-time students, $15. Back issues $2 prepaid. Airmail, foreign. group, undertones. One legislator noted that any time a measure is and bulk rates on request. Microfilm editions available from University Microfilm:Intl., 300 proposed to protect farmworkers the Farm Bureau claims that N. Zech Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106. Copyright 1984 by Texas Observer Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Material may measure will "end agriculture." not be reproduced without permission. Add to this the obvious financial interest of the chemical POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to: 600 %Vest 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. lobby. While the regulations proposed by Hightower do not

2 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 ban the use of any chemical, they do restrict periods during Whitworth is said to still harbor a grudge against Hightower which persons may re-enter fields sprayed with certain for the latter's role, while head of the Texas Consumer chemicals. Any attempt to regulate chemical use in Texas Association, in hearings on the Agent Orange Bill in 1981. is met with swift legislative reaction orchestrated by the Former Ag Commissioner Reagan Brown had considerable chemical lobby, usually in the person of Harry Whitworth chemical company backing in his 1982 primary race against or Jon Fisher of the Texas Chemical Council, which claims Hightower, as did Hightower's 1982 Republican opponent, to represent 90% of the chemical industry in Texas. When Fred Thornberry, on whose behalf Whitworth worked actively. a first draft of the pesticide regulations was circulated for It is not the issue of pesticide regulation per se that has comment in August, Jon Fisher quickly rounded up opposition the chemical industry upset. Rather, it is the fact that the among farm commodity groups and solicited the support of industry perceives the regulations to be emblematic of a trend the Texas Farm Bureau. On September 29, Fisher told a toward greater regulation of industries that for decades have conference on pesticide use that "the regulations propose undue been virtually free of government supervision. The chemical stress for farmers." He did not mention any concern for industry, for instance, is not nearly as wary of the implications possible stress on chemical manufacturers but, as a lobbyist of pesticide regulation as it is of recommendations TDA will for the Texas aerial applicators, Fisher did add that "sections propose in the near future for the management of hazardous discriminate against aerial versus ground [spraying]." waste disposal. Since legislators would have difficulty But that, of course, is not all there is to it. Texas is a major center for chemical manufacturing with large production facilities owned by Dow, DuPont, Monsanto, Diamond Shamrock, Union Carbide, and other industry leaders. The chemical industry gravitated to Texas because of low cost petroleum and what the president of E. I. Du Pont de Nemours

has termed "local and state policies . . . that have encouraged l ie

industrial growth." The last thing these industries want to n

see is any sort of regulation of chemicals or their use. The Da chemical industry has poured large sums of money into ia Alic statewide and local races in an attempt to shore up its influence.

Among the recipients of money from the Free Enterprise by Political Action Committee (FREEPAC), run by Harry to Whitworth, in the past year have been new state Rep. Robert Pho Earley of Portland and state Sen. Bill Sarpalius of Hereford. Hightower, shown promoting native plants earlier this year. In addition to using FREEPAC as a conduit for contributions, a number of chemical manufacturers contribute money to campaigns through their own politcal action committees or indirectly through law firms that represent company interests. Robert Earley, for example, received campaign contributions CONTENTS from Dow Chemical, Monsanto, AG-AIR PAC (the aerial applicators' PAC), as well as loans from Harry Whitworth November 9, 1984 and Jon Fisher. Then there are the notorious dove hunts in South Texas and Mexico, through which Whitworth entertains members of the legislature. Rep. Robert Saunders, D-La Grange, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture FEATURES

and Livestock, has been so entertained. 1 Lines Drawn in the Dirt Geoffrey Rips Add to this the fact that, while Whitworth and Hightower have met on several occasions to negotiate various issues, 5 Poisoned by Pesticides Terri Langford

6 "People" Equals "Power" Dave Denison 8 Trouble in Paradise Steve Long 11 Saving Utilities from Themselves Betty Brink

DEPARTMENTS 15 Political Intelligence 16 Dialogue 18 Social Cause Calendar

20 Books and the Culture:

ue Electoral Discrimination James C. Harrington Pog 22 Poems Grady Hillman Alan

by 23 Afterword: to The Monster of Dinosaur Valley Pho Georgia Earnest Klipple Citrus grower and friends at House committee hearing on regulations. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 3 opposing the politically popular regulation of hazardous waste disposal, the chemical lobby has found it necessary to marshal opposition to Hightower and chemical regulation on an issue that does not directly touch most Texas voters. It is on pesticide regulation that the chemical industry decided to draw the line. In so doing, they reflect the interests of the big business lobbies that ran state government without interference for several decades. While these interests still hold considerable sway in state government, they fear what the re-aligned constituencies of the 1982 state elections could mean, especially in terms of the growing influence of Mexican American, black, urban, and consumer coalitions in the legislature. They regard the implementation of the pesticide regulations as a symbolic act.

ND, IN MANY WAYS, the chief importance of the pesticide regulations is their symbolism. For the first A time in its history, the Texas Department of Agriculture is addressing head-on the human health hazards of agricultural pesticide use — the way it affects farmers, farm families, farm workers, and rural neighbors. "While we hail the over-all good intent and record of this vital industry [the agricultural chemical industry]," Hightower told an October 19 press conference, "we can no longer avert TDA legal counsel Sam Biscoe at House hearing. our eyes from obvious evidence that people are being poisoned, too. . . . Mishandled and misapplied, pesticides can injure funding for five additional inspectors; and the intention of anyone who comes in contact with them. . . . Even a cursory TDA to implement a more effective system of recording look will turn up recent cases of West Texas water wells pesticide use in the state, as well as pesticide poisonings. poisoned with arsenic, of elementary-school yards inadver- Tani Adams, of the Texas Center for Rural Studies, said tently sprayed with a pesticide to kill termites, of fetal damage the proposal represented "an enormous first step forward in suffered when a pregnant woman worked amidst chemical the creation of a system to protect Texans from pesticide residues on crops, and of farmers and workers alike who have hazards." Joe Rankin, vice president of the Texas Farmers died by unwittingly walking into 'hot' fields. . . . Texas has Union and a cotton producer from Crosby County, said, "It's programs, sanctions, and safeguards to protect water, crops, kind of hard for me to understand what the hoopla is all about. and wildlife from harmful exposure to these chemicals, but My friends tell me they don't spray with people in the field. we do next-to-nothing to protect our people. This is not a Then there's no change. That's what the regulations are all question of finding fault with an industry, but of merely taking about — just asking people to be responsible." sensible steps to do what we must do — protect the safety of people first." According to Hightower, his proposals will give Texas farmers and ranchers "some legal defense against suits stemming from pesticide poisonings. With no standards in "That's what the regulations place for notification, warning, and re-entry, producers now have unlimited liability, which will be narrowed by simple are all about — just compliance with these operating procedures." asking people to be responsible." But that's not how the Texas Farm Bureau, the Chemical Council, and their allies choose to see it. The Farm Bureau's While the standards proposed by Hightower were criticized Keith Garrison said the regulations would "cripple agriculture by the Texas Farm Bureau's director of farm labor, Keith in some parts of the state." A Farm Bureau radio broadcast Garrison, as being "overly stringent," several environmental said Hightower's proposal would "shut down agriculture" in and fannworker advocacy groups called for stricter regulation. Texas. The standards proposed by TDA include: the mandatory When Hightower appeared in an October 19 press notification of all adjacent neighbors requesting notification conference in San Juan to explain the proposal, he was prior to aerial spraying of fields; required intervals before confronted by an angry crowd of farmers and aerial re-entry into fields for labor intensive crops with which applicators. According to the McAllen Monitor, Farm Bureau workers have substantial body contact, with lengths of intervals member Newt Dyer said the regulations were "part of a larger determined by the chemicals in use; and the posting of flags effort to socialize agriculture and divert land from private in fields of labor-intensive crops with re-entry intervals longer use to state control." Another farmer said the rules would than seven days. make it "impossible to grow vegetables in the mid-Valley To augment the regulations proposed by the agriculture area." department, Hightower announced: the formation of a Texas Both the Farm Bureau and the Chemical Council contend task force on pesticide use to educate and train those who that there is no documented evidence to support the use chemicals and those who treat chemical victims; the implementation of the regulations. While the inadequate appointment of a committee to study the problems created documentation of pesticide abuse is one of the problems the by a pesticide's drifting beyond the intended target and to agriculture department is trying to correct, there are, recommend anti-drift training and state standards; the addition nonetheless, a number of cases on record of people injured of human health problems to the investigatory duties of the by pesticide misuse. Many are documented in a 100-page TDA 17 TDA inspectors and the determination by TDA to request report issued with the proposed regulations. They include cases

4 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 of injured farmers and farmworkers, most of which would apparently creating a few roadblocks to the department's have been avoided if the precautions outlined in the proposed progress in formulating the regulations. When Hightower was standards had been followed. According to TDA legal counsel apprised of the delay, he turned chief responsibility for the Sam Biscoe, the number of pesticide complaints received by regulations over to department counsel Biscoe, who proceeded the department has increased dramatically in the past year. through the difficult negotiations and lawmaking to produce the standards. ("He's had both ears burned off," Hightower said of Biscoe.) In late September, Hightower's former OT WANTING to be confused by the facts, the associate commissioner, Crockett Camp, accompanied the chemical and agribusiness lobbies have drawn their Chemical Council's Jon Fisher to a meeting in Dallas of groups N line in the dirt and are preparing to fight Hightower opposed to the regulations. Fisher told the Observer that he every inch of the way. Rep. Saunders held an October had invited Camp because he thought Camp would be 31 hearing of the House Agriculture and Livestock committee interested in the meeting. He said Camp paid his own way on the pesticide regulations. The committee membership to and from the meeting. Camp also said he had not represented includes Robert Earley, beneficiary of large chemical PAC anyone at the meeting. Crockett Camp, once an aide to former campaign contributions, and Pete Patterson, a staunch advocate House Speaker Billy Clayton, has close ties to members of of the pre-Hightower days of the agriculture department. State the old guard of Texas agricultural politics. His attendance Sen. Bill Sarpalius has been making noises in the Panhandle at the meeting raised a few eyebrows. media that the proposed standards would break Texas The Dallas meeting, led by the Texas Farm Bureau, produced agriculture, and he has let it be known that he plans to look a request for a 60-day extension of the public comment period. into the operations of the agriculture department. It was But Hightower did not back down. He told the Dallas Morning Sarpalius who, in 1983, did the bidding of the Farm Bureau News that state authorities have been sticking their heads "in and killed workers' compensation coverage for farmworkers the sand for the past decade. We're not giving them 60 days with an eleventh hour filibuster, only to have his own bills to ,basically go out and beat my brains out. We've had a year deregulating agricultural trucking and providing low interest of studying, and we're through studying." farm loans killed in retaliation. Sarpalius has on several State Sen. Hector Uribe, D-Brownsville, says, "The strategy occasions expressed his desire to run for the agriculture of the Chemical Council and the Farm Bureau is to divide commissioner's job in 1986. and conquer. They take consumer issues and make them farmer Rep. Al Luna, D-Houston, chairman-elect of the Mexican and farmworker issues. This is a public health issue first and American Legislative Caucus said he expects a fight over the foremost. regulations during the upcoming legislative session. "I would "We have to make sure the rhetoric is not being captured not be surprised if the Farm Bureau decided to make a run by the other side. The real challenge is how we're going to legislatively at the standards," he said. "The leadership of reshape the public debate. I can just hear some of those the Farm Bureau is sometimes more vocal or vociferous in lobbyists for the Farm Bureau saying, 'This will end positions they take than the rank-and-file members. agriculture in our time.' Now, they're saying you'll destroy The lobbies are playing hardball. During the summer the agriculture if you try to protect the public health. Jim Chemical Council was in close contact with a second-level Hightower is not trying to destroy agriculture. Instead he's official of the agriculture department's regulatory branch, trying to act courageously to protect the public health." Poisoned by Pesticides by Terri Langford

Austin Project of the Texas Center for Rural IS RIGHT hand trembles con- Studies. Workshops were held to discuss stantly and he leans on crutches such topics as federal pesticide regula- H for support. When asked his tions, pesticide alternatives, and farm age, Gary Graham turns and speaks to workers' rights. his wife, Margaret, through a surgical On Aug. 25, 1981, Graham, a mask. "How old am I, honey?" Sherman County sheriff's deputy, "Thirty-six," she answers flatly. Gary's helped rescue two victims from a question is a standard one by now. cropduster crash. Following standard The tremors, the weak knee joints, operating procedure, the pilot "dumped the respiratory problems, and the mem- his load" of the three pesticides he was ory loss are the direct result of pesticide carrying — Ambush, Parathion, and poisoning. Azodrin 5 — before the plane hit the ground. Graham was in Austin September 29,

e Unwittingly, Graham had walked u where he told his story to citizens participating in a statewide conference through the flight path the plane had Pog on pesticide use. The conference, taken as it crashed. "After about an hour and a half, I got kind of sick," Graham

Alan "Pesticides in Texas: Our Time to Act," said, adding that he kept smelling a

by was sponsored by the Texas Pesticide

to chemical odor in the air. He attributed

Pho Terri Langford is the editorial intern at his weak state to fatigue. After being Gary Graham in Austin. the Observer. doused with a fire hose, Graham was THE TEXAS OBSERVER 5 taken to a hospital, where, he said, the "I am now hypersensitive to any kind After Graham told his story to "doctors didn't know what to do ; " of fumes, perfumes, toothpaste, cooking reporters outside the conference, a man because of the lack of information on smells. I lost a good deal of my memory, dressed in a business suit approached dealing with pesticide poisoning. past thoughts and feelings," Graham Graham and corrected his pronunciation When Graham failed to return to his said. "My digestive system collapsed. of the insecticide, Azodrin 5. The man job, still suffering from tremors, I have to drink spring water in glass assured Graham of the correct pronunci- hallucinations, severe depression, and bottles only and have a special room [his ation because "I manufacture it." A memory loss, he was fired, his superiors bedroom] with a filter." stunned, but polite, Graham thanked the saying no one could "really" be harmed Graham went to court to try to recover man for the correction. The man then by pesticides. his workers' compensation. He said so turned and left. Today, Graham cannot travel outside far he has only received $2,000 to cover No one knows why anyone would his bedroom without crutches and the a whole host of bills that add up to over quibble over the pronunciation of a surgical mask he wears over his mouth $100,000. He is in the process of appeal. pesticide. Its use and possible harmful and nose. Since the pesticides knocked Graham has filed suit against one of the effects are, instead, subject for argu- out his immune system, Graham's body manufacturers of one of the pesticides ment. Azodrin 5 is manufactured by has little defense against synthetic materials. but declined to name which one. Shell Chemical Company.

But ACT is not without guiding Organizing Fort Worth principles. Ellison puts them this way: "Our families are important; our com- munities, our children are important. The quality of life for our people is what "People" Equals "Power' we share. That all of our families ought to be able to share the highest quality By Dave Denison of life that is possible and that they ought to have something to say about the things that bring that quality of life." Fort Worth of Tarrant (ACT), a group that seeks The group seeks to empower citizens HE REVEREND D. L. Ellison is to include such people in the decisions that affect their lives. — especially the ones who have been talking: left out traditionally — by forging "I've got an example of a lady "You can't keep hurting me without relationships with different interest T hurting you," Ellison says. "You can't in my church here. She's in her forties, groups and those in power. ACT is part maybe 44. But she has a chronic condi- have a poverty pocket or destitute of the Industrial Areas Foundation tion, a blood condition, and she has to situation in one part of Fort Worth, on (IAF), a network of citizens groups that use an oxygen tank. She's on social the east side, and it doesn't eventually also includes Citizens Organized for security, disability, whatever — she gets affect the west side." Public Service (COPS) in San Antonio. a check. She lives with her daughter. She Ellison is on the eight-member leader- Although ACT had been in an keeps some kids sometimes for extra in- ship team of ACT. He and the group's "incubator stage" for six years, the come. [Now] if her daughter makes $20 lead organizer, Sister Mignonne group went public only two years ago. a week they deduct that. From her [the Konecny, sat down with the Observer "Relationship-building" is a key part mother's] check. They cut that. What in October to discuss ACT's philosophy of the ACT vocabulary, and, according they say is, if she doesn't want her check and its role in Fort Worth politics. to Ellison and Konecny, it indicates a cut, the $20 of the $50, whatever the case key difference between their group and is, her daughter needs to move out. . . . CT IS MADE UP of 20 member- the "movements" that are usually So her daughter would have to start pay- ship churches, representing identified with social change. "There's ing utilities and rent — an 18-year-old A about 10,000 people. The a difference," Konecny said, "between girl, working, going to school full-time, group has a "tri-racial makeup," Ellison a movement that has only a single full load each day and works a little part- said; it is an equal mix of blacks, whites, purpose and a broad-based organization time job at night. and Hispanics. Ellison described the like ACT that has its purpose in being "Those people are living on the largest member church as "upper middle able to participate in the decision- poverty line, and it is everything they class," but a greater number of the making that is taking place. Our issues make now. And it's just started, that's churches are small and mostly black. may change from education to streets. my point. She can see it very vividly The diversity of the group and its We're not a single-issue organization; because she knows it just started." popular base are a source of pride to we're a multi-issue organization." Rev. Ellison sees it vividly, too. Ellison and Konecny. Ellison said he "Or, by the same token," Ellison "Regardless of what Ronald Reagan has does not admire "other religious groups added, "our issues may remain the same been saying," he says, "many of those . . . who claim to represent the people, and politicians change. Democrats go services have been cut." but they represent only the people who out and Republicans come in. You From the Pilgrim Rest Missionary think like they think." know, that's not our concern. Our Baptist Church on Fort Worth's near "We don't have a group that dictates concern is the issues that are affecting south side, where Ellison is pastor, it to our group, that we all have to believe our people regardless of who's in, who would not take much of a walk in any the same thing, walk the same way, act we're having to negotiate with." direction to find people who are living the same way, or we're not a part of A movement, such as the civil rights on the poverty line and who do not feel it," he said. "Diversity. And we're movement in the 1960s, tends to focus befriended by government at any level. proud of that. That's a strong point, not on one issue, Ellison said, "and then Ellison is part of Allied Communities a weak point." once that's achieved there's no reason

6 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 issues. Ellison said, "Who cares about efforts to revitalize the southeast quad- the rhetoric about the deficit in areas rant of the city. With typical pluck, like that? What they want to know is, Ellison tends to turn the equation when can I go to work? When can I around. The mayor is "in very close start providing for my family?" relation with ACT," he says, and "he's There is no hesitation about the one part of what we're doing in Poly." issue that would catch fire in the ACT The ACT philosophy, Ellison says, community: jobs programs. is to take a "this is what we expect you "We want to know what they're going to do" attitude to politicians. "We keep to do about the issue of jobs, the issue building our numbers," he says, "so we of unemployment, the issue of full can hold them accountable." ❑ employment," Konecny said. Good books in every field One of the projects Ellison and JENKINS PUBLISHING CO. Konecny are most proud of is the The Pemberton Press group's work in the Polytechnic area of Fort Worth — the declining neighbor- John H. Jenkins, Publisher hood on the city's near east side. l Box 2085 ;Austin 78768 ie "We've been instrumental in bringing n together a group of really diverse JJJJ -7.1 Da ia interests, people who have an interest etc/Wed-a 2600 E. 7th St.

Alic in the Polytechnic area — everybody Austin, Texas

by from citizens to members of the college 447-4701 to [Texas Wesleyan is in the area], educa- carnes _al carbon Pho tors, etcetera — and develop a plan for cabrito Rev. D. L. Ellison. the revitalization of the Polytechnic area," Konecny said. for it. The movement's over. We don't Ellison said it was an ACT press Observer Bequests see ourselves as a movement." conference about a year ago that raised "We're talking about negotiation. In Austin attorney Vivian Mahlab has the issue of what was to be done in the agreed to consult with those in- order to negotiate you've got to have neighborhood. "And [because] an atti- terested in including the Observer in something to bring to the table yourself. tude of those of us who live here their estate planning. For further in- You're negotiating with a power person, changed, things changed in Poly [the and you've got to have some power. Polytechnic area]," he said. formation, contact Vivian Mahlab, You've got to have something that attorney-at-law, P.C., at 617 Blanco, equals power. We don't have a lot of Austin, Texas 78703, or call money, we've got people." "In order to negotiate, 512-477-1700. ACT was a part of the statewide IAF voter registration drive that signed up you've got to have some- 104,000 new people to vote. ACT thing to bring to the table HEALTHY registered about 7,500 people in 23 Fort Worth precincts, Ellison said. yourself." LUNCH "When you register hundreds of thousands of folk around the state of SUNDAY Texas, you are again bringing something CTIVISTS AND city officials in to the table that speaks of power," Fort Worth tend to refer to BRUNCH Ellison said. "And I don't care if you're ACT as "a growing ... AND SANDWICHES, CHILI, a Republican or a Democrat or an organization" or "still a building organi- TACOS, CHALUPAS, AND RESTAURANT BAKED DESSERTS. Independent. If you want to go back in zation." There is a sense that the JUSTIN'S ICE CREAM office, you can't keep ignoring those development has been slow so far. But AND FRESH YOGHURT. kinds of numbers." Ruth Ann McKinney, an assistant city SOUP AND SALAD BAR. Konecny acknowledged that the manager, says the task is not an easy 11:30 AM UNTIL 5:00 PM one for ACT. "Fort Worth doesn't have MONDAY THRU SUNDAY. "business people" may turn out as many 224-4515 voters in the November election. She a history of strong participation from said a victory for ACT would mean grassroots organizations," she says. . ' r • • • . el, 0 . • . I' . "that our precincts vote at a higher rate" As to whether things have "turned • • • V• IF e ,11:111up • • V •. than usual. around" in the Polytechnic area, she "We don't just have an election in says, "We're not to that point yet." Fort Worth in November," she said. Vernell Stearns, another assistant city "We have an election in Fort Worth in manager, says ACT is "a force to be THE April." Those city elections will be a reckoned with" but that other groups much more crucial test of ACT's deserve credit too for the progress in GREENHOUSE political muscle than how Tarrant Polytechnic. ACT's contribution, he County votes in the Presidential race. says, is that it "promoted a more ABOVE THE KANGAROO COURT In some of the areas of the state most comprehensive approach" — one that DOWNTOWN RIVERWALK affected by unemployment and poverty, involved wider citizen participation. 314 NORTH PRESA the Presidential candidates did not Mayor Bob Bolen's office tends to see SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS always seem to be addressing central ACT as a player in the government's THE TEXAS OBSERVER 7 not succeed, to end his life. For days Clear Lake Suicides after that, concerned parents wondered if the deadly cycle were over. Community and media reaction was swift. While network crews descended on the area, concerned parents and Trouble in Paradise school officials assembled students and imported psychologists to counsel the students. Everyone seemed to have good By Steven Long advice about how to prevent further suicides, yet nobody could put a finger on why people were killing themselves Clear Lake On August 9, Warren Edward Kuns in Clear Lake in the first place. Some OT FAR from the seamy east was found in a field near Seabrook with answers may lie in the nature of the end of Houston, comfortably a gunshot wound. community itself. N tucked away from the smoke- By mid-September, Sean Brian stack industries of Pasadena and Texas Woods, age 19, again of El Lago, was N 1960, what is now called Clear City, lies the American dream. It is found dead in his pick-up truck. Again Lake was mostly bald prairie, cattle called Clear Lake, a generic term for a gunshot wound. He had attended Clear land covered with the salt grass of nine municipalities on the shores of that Lake High School. I the Texas coast. About the only building shallow waterway that empties into On October 3, Wesley Tiedt of El that really amounted to anything was the Galveston Bay. The community is an Lago took his life. Tiedt was described mansion Tom West had built on the outgrowth of the Johnson Space Center. as a "bright, good-looking boy." Ac- shores of the lake. There were a few Only 24 years old, it is an infant city, quaintances say that he just did not "bay houses" built out of plywood and even by Texas standards. The first appear to be the kind of person who tar paper and used by affluent Houstoni- generation of children to have spent their would take his own life. They say that ans who wanted to escape their growing formative years on "the lake" are he had everything going for him. city. They lolled away their weekends coming of age. They are also killing under watercolor skies while fishing or themselves. Lisa Schatz, 15, was a pretty Clear Lake sophomore. She lived in the very watching their children water-ski on the The community was rocked by the affluent Brook Forest area. Again, always calm waters of the lake. deaths of six students or former students acquaintances say that her death was a Near the fishing villages of Kemah of Clear Lake and Clear Creek High big surprise because she seemed so and Seabrook, more imposing summer School in a five-week period. Rumors normal. The evening before her death, homes and a few actual residences of a suicide pact circulated around the Lisa spent the night with a friend, went dotted the shoreline. The children of towns, and concerned parents began to to the football game, did teenage things. these few year-round residents attended ask fundamental questions about the The following morning she ate breakfast the small Class AA Clear Creek High schools — and the small cities in which and returned home to shoot herself. She School. Clear Creek in those days was they live. Some remembered Jonestown left eleven suicide notes saying that she a basketball power, and nearby Dickin- where 900 adults and children took their "couldn't handle it any more." She also son kids looked with envy to their near lives. Police say that the six suicides left similar messages on her bathroom neighbors to the north for this reason. were only those which were reported. and bedroom mirrors in lipstick. Clear Creek considered itself superior. They say that there were probably more. Even their rivals privately agreed that A siege mentality exists in the they probably were. administration of the Clear Creek Inde- One girl left notes ,saying pendent School District. Superintendent In one afternoon, President John F. Dr. John F. Ward will only communi- she "couldn't handle it Kennedy changed all this and took cate with reporters through press re- America into the space age. Speaking leases. A secretary says, "We are anymore." in Rice Stadium, the President an- getting tired of talking to snippy report- nounced his administration's commit- ers." ment to the newest frontier of all — Gary Shivers, 15, lived in space, and he resolved that the United Middlebrook. He was under the care of T ALL BEGAN on February 14, States would land a man on the moon a therapist. In newspaper accounts, his in a decade. NASA was born. 1984, when 14-year-old Ruth mother said that she felt that Gary was Shortly thereafter, it was announced I Schafhauser was found hanging progressing. He even told his mother, that the Manned Spacecraft Center 4 from a tree behind a Safeway store on upon hearing of the death of Lisa Schatz, would be located near the small Gulf NASA Road 1 near the small community that what she had done was "crazy." of El Lago. The girl was allegedly Freeway town of Webster, close by the Yet, three days later, he hanged himself shores of Clear Lake. The power and unhappy about her parents' move from in his home. West Germany to the Clear Lake area might of the United States, Lyndon in 1982. She had been despondent and Darren Thibodeaux made good Johnson, Sam Rayburn, and Brown and had complained to friends and family grades. Friends describe him as being Root had the facility constructed in very nice and polite. The ninth grader went that she wanted to return to her little time. Along with this came into the garage of his home, started the homeland. Her father was employed by development. Las Vegas developer Del engine of the family automobile, and a NASA contractor. Webb and others began building com- died of carbon monoxide poisoning on munities like Clear Lake City and October 11. Nassau Bay. Families arrived from Cape Steven Long is publisher of In Between The following day, an unidentified Canaveral, Boston, Kansas City, and Magazine, Galveston and Clear Lake. Clear Creek student attempted, but did Huntsville, Alabama. Even a few native-

8 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 born Texans from League City and Are there more cliques in Clear Lake Friendswood made the grade. than in other high schools? Perhaps. Throughout the '60s, the best and the Peer imitation has reached a state of brightest of America's scientific com- art in the area. Designer clothes, munity gravitated to the shores of Clear swimming pools, new cars, and credit Lake. Most thought that the move was cards for 16-year-old kids are the norm, a sojourn, a temporary home to be used not the exception. In Clear Lake most Information for until the job was over and they could parents can afford it; others just try. return to Duluth, Kansas City, or Income levels are among the highest in Historians, Minneapolis. Few considered that they Texas. Supkis says, "The pressures are would raise their families, live, and die great. Clear Lake is supposed to be the Researchers, on that stretch of barren Texas plain. best in everything. If you don't measure Most are still there. up, you are a second-class citizen." Nostalgia Buffs, Clear Lake is a city which is not. It A few years ago, the New York-born & Observer Fans is a community without a past. Houston Supkis became so fed up with the system holds a large part of it hostage through that she tried to start a Jesuit school. a series of annexations carried out in "I ran up against a brick wall," she the '70s. The hottest political issue of says. She could get no organizational the '80s is still disannexation. There support from other parents. They liked Bound Volumes: The 1983 bound aren't many grandparents in Clear Lake. Clear Lake just the way it was. issues of The Texas Observer are now As one high school student said, Bryan Jackson is the 17-year-old ready. In maroon, washable binding, "Grandparents are people who live two editor of Lake Reflections, Clear Lake the price is $20. Also available at $20 thousand miles away, who we visit High School's student newspaper. In a each are volumes for the years 1963 every two or three years at Christmas." strident 1983 editorial, Jackson called through 1982. Several years ago a funeral home opened for a resident psychologist for the in Clear Lake and was forced to close district's 20,000 students. Among other for lack of business. things, he cited depression and suicide as reasons for the need. "Though Cumulative Index: The clothbound numerous counselors at both high cumulative edition of The Texas Clear Lake is schools have repeatedly requested such Observer Index covering the years services, their requests have continu- 1954-1970 may be obtained for $20. a city without a past. ously been denied by a budget-wary The newly published 1971-1981 index central administration . . . there have is now available for $55 (hardback) and Clear Lake residents don't consider been suicides and attempted suicides. $30 (softbound). themselves Texans, while many of their Yet none of the students were able to first generation children do. That could turn to their school for assistance or be part of the problem residents are therapy." Jackson ended his appeal with facing today, according to University of this message: "It will not be inexpen- Back Issues: Issues dated January 10, Texas Medical Branch child psychiatrist sive. It will not appear positive to the 1963, to the present are available at $2 Dr. Kay G. Holt. "First generation parents or the local public. But if one each. Earlier issues are out of stock, Americans faced many problems which student's life can be saved, if only one but photocopies of articles from issues their parents had not faced. They were problem can be solved that might have dated December 13, 1954 through on new ground, blazing trails which the ruined an entire life, then the money December 27, 1962 will be provided parents had never traveled. It can be would have been well spent, and most at $2 per article. very rough on the children. Suicide was importantly of all, the action will have just one of the many problems which been a moral one." The appeal was first generation Americans faced." ignored by the administration. • The complete backfile Jane Supkis moved to El Lago in Microfilm: Bryan Jackson is furious at the (1954-1983) is approximately $450. In- 1960. "We couldn't afford the house, administration of his school. He says but we had to get away from the dividual years may be ordered that they are more interested in the separately. To order, or to obtain ad- pollution of Texas City." Supkis has image of the school than the students' seen it all. Her neighbors have been ditional information regarding the welfare. 35mm microfilm editions, please write astronauts, engineers, and NASA con- tractors. She is now municipal judge in Suicide is nothing new to Clear Lake, to Univ. Microfilms Intl., 300 N. Zeeb that small but affluent community. She and the phenomenon is not limited to Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106. is also very critical of the school system. students. Robert Incerto, Jr., a young Jane Supkis is not surprised at what has man in his twenties, shot himself in his apartment. 1983 began with the news happened in her town. She relates that Address your order (except for microfilm) her 25-year-old son says that he is that Shaynon Grant Ford, 21, shot himself in Oakbrook Park after breaking to the Observer Business Office. Texas surprised that the suicides did not residents please add the 5 18% sales tax to happen sooner. "The people in the up with his girlfriend. A week later, Dr. your remittance. Materials will be sent schools are looking for National Merit Nanette Bruckner, a University of postpaid. scholars, the brightest students. If a kid Houston at Clear Lake psychologist, doesn't fit into that mold, the teachers shot herself. and the administration are just not Bryan Jackson says, "I don't remem- THE TEXAS OBSERVER interested in him. They have institution- ber a year going by since I have been 600 W. 7th ST. — AUSTIN 78701 alized cliques. If you don't fit in, you old enough to know what is going on, (512) 477-0746 drop through the cracks." since I started junior high, that one or THE TEXAS OBSERVER 9 two people, either students or teachers, says that those who commit suicide in problems. Students who prefer not to didn't kill themselves in the course of a violent fashion do it "with the be identified say that the problem has the year." objective of making a point. That may improved somewhat this year. Yet, Veteran police officers are quick to be consistent with the sense of emptiness while it is improving overall, they also point out that there are no statistics that — of really not having an existence." say that their peers are moving toward show that Clear Lake leads other parts The quality of life in Clear Lake is harder drugs, such as cocaine. The of Harris County in suicides. They do the lifestyle to which most Americans controversial Palmer Drug Abuse Pro- say, however, that it seems that a higher aspire. Parents are actively involved in gram (PDAP) had been active on incidence of suicides are reported in campus in past years, but it seems not more affluent areas than in poverty to be maintaining such a high profile areas. "It's kind of today. At one time it had been fashiona- Psychologists argue that the peer ble to be involved with PDAP. Some pressure that encourages an adolescent a sore subject of the Clear Lake suicide victims had to speak with a Valley Girl accent, wear to bring up." problems with drugs in the past, but, designer jeans, and drive nothing but a significantly, autopsy findings did not Pontiac Fiero may also contribute to the reveal that drugs were related at the time copy-cat nature of the Clear Lake making sure their children participate in of death. suicides. According to Roberta Diddel, activities from youth soccer games to The business community has had little a psychologist with Houston's Pain and the renowned Clear Lake High School interest in the social problems in their Fitness Center, "In a sense the roles Choir. Families live in homes which are community. David Ross is the president which teenagers provide for themselves markedly a cut above the way most other of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of are good things. They are addressing people live. Everyone is close to the Commerce. He says that the subject of real serious problems. When there are water, and many have a boat. The the suicides has not been brought up at a group of peers which are suicidal, if restaurants are generally superb, and a single board or committee meeting. an individual is without a sense of there is a plethora of unique shops to The Clear Lake Chamber is one of the identity, or depressed to a point where serve the community's needs. Most most active in the state. It is interesting they see no future for themselves, then residents are members of some sort of that the community leaders are not the structure of someone else's behavior club, and the backyard barbecue has discussing a problem which has gained may be attractive." been raised to a culinary art. The national attention. Of the seven teenage suicides since economy is booming, and has done so The Chamber's attitude may reflect last February, six have been of a violent without a break since the '60s. the thoughts of many in the community nature. Diddle says, "You can't ignore With the attractiveness of living in who wish that the problem would go the statement that makes about the value Clear Lake has come growing pains. away. Clear Lake is used to pleasant of their bodies and themselves, that they Traffic is horrendous, and civic organi- things, good publicity, space would blow themselves away. Often the zations are trying to do something about spectaculars, and local festivals. The comment you hear is that 'I'd kill it. So far, their efforts have been futile. glare of media attention to the problems myself, but it would upset my parents, But traffic does not generally drive at the school don't reflect the image the or my wife would find the body, or if people to take their own lives. community would like to project. On I could find a way to do it, I would, Like most large high schools, Clear a Monday following several deaths, a if it wouldn't upset anyone.' " Diddel Lake has had its share of drug-related 16-year-old high school junior said, regarding the talk around the school about the problem, "It might as well have been forgotten. It's kind of a sore ON REAGAN subject to bring up." THE MAN AND HIS PRESIDENCY LEAR LAKE is a community of superachievers: they have put C man on the moon, they right- By RONNIE WOOER fully take credit for bringing the world into the era of high tech, their lives have "An extremely useful and an extremely frightening book." — been successful. Failure is unacceptable. Washington Post Most Clear Lake parents expect their "Sheds much light on the Reagan record . . . No one who reads Mr. children to measure up to their achieve- ments. Some simply do not. Psycholo- Dugger's illuminating book will be surprised again at the insensitivity gists admit that this year's educational of Ronald Reagan." — Anthony Lewis, New York Times reforms, with the accompanying tighten- "It should be read by all who claim to be serious about what course ing up of academic standards, could be playing a part in the Bay Area tragedies. this nation is going to take." — Houston Post Supkis says, "The pressures at home to achieve are tremendous. Some kids don't make it. They just aren't what their Send us $20 and we will send you an autographed Name parents expect." There is something copy of Ronnie Dugger's acclaimed book on fundamentally wrong with Clear Lake, Ronald Reagan. (Postage included; Texas residents Address and the experts don't have any solid add $.95 sales tax.) answers. The disturbing thing is: if there City State Zip is something wrong with Clear Lake, The Texas Observer • 600 West 7th • Austin, Texas 78701 is there something wrong with the American dream'? ❑ 10 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 Granbury's resort and retirement lake community just outside town. Comanche Peak Hazards The women, whose main testimony before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) and in depositions for- warded to the Justice Department dealt with falsification of documents, falsifi- Saving Utilities from Themselves cation of inspection reports, and harass- ment by their supervisors when they attempted to protest illegal activities, all By Betty Brink said that despite the personal sacrifices they have made and the threats against Fort Worth names of government employees the their homes and lives, they would all do it again. ALLING THE Comanche Peak Chamber wanted fired) when the Reagan Hatley, who was a supervisor for five nuclear plant whistle-blowers Administration took over. years, said, "I know falsification has "patriots . . . who took their After leaving the Justice Department, C gone on, and I know how unsafe this consciences to work with them," Ralph Roisman founded Trial Lawyers for plant is. The threats and harassments Nader, in early October, joined the fight Public Justice. He also represents [against me] started two days after I left to deny the plant's owners, Texas Charles Atchison of Azle, [TO, March the plant. . . . I've had to move and Utilities Electric Company, an operating 25, 1983] the man other whistleblowers we've all learned that it's not safe to license. call "the grandaddy of all whistleblow- ers" in Atchison's $10 million lawsuit drive the same car all the time. I've In a news conference in Fort Worth, against Brown & Root, filed after the gotten threatening phone calls; we've all where he was joined by four of the Department of Labor ruled that Brown gotten threats to burn our houses. whistle-blowers recently fired from the & Root fired Atchison illegally for "We wouldn't be here if we didn't plant's construction site near Glen Rose reporting defective welds back in 1980. know [the plant] wasn't safe. We didn't in Somervell County, Nader said that It was the first ruling against Brown & know how unsafe it was until we all got Comanche Peak is now "nationally Root under the protected activities, or together and began to compare notes." recognized as a troubled plant . . . with "whistleblower," act. Since then, four Nuemeyer said that, along with the many sisters and brothers." "Based on more workers have been ordered rein- threatening phone calls, "you get calls information from the workers here and stated after being fired by Brown & Root from people telling you about other testimony before the Atomic Safety and for reporting illegal activities at Coman- things that are wrong at Comanche Licensing Board," Nader continued, Peak. Other workers who will say, 'Let "very severe design and construction che Peak. me tell you what I know . . . you've deficiencies [have been found at the The four former Brown & Root already risked everything . . . but I can't plant] . . . which have led to cover-ups workers who appeared with Nader in by management and NRC inspectors." Fort Worth had been either fired or afford to go public.' " Without a complete and independent forced to resign. They were Sue Ann Nuemeyer said that she had decided reinspection, he said, "from top to Nuemeyer, an American Society of once to sell everything she had and take bottom [along with] all of its records Mechanical Engineers quality control her children and move as far away as . . . answering all safety questions," the welding inspector; Dobie Hatley, docu- she could. Then she decided, "No, this plant should not be allowed to operate. ment control supervisor; Linda Barnes is my home. Texas is my home._ I can't and Meddie Gregory, both of whom just walk out and give this state to the Nader's consumer advocacy group, • worked in document control and the people who want to destroy it." Public Citizen, has opened an office in permanent records vault. Austin and will now join opponents of Gregory, who is the sole support of Comanche Peak, who include: Dallas her invalid sister and nephew, and who intervenor Juanita Ellis, head of Citizens was one of the highest paid women of Association for Sound Energy (CASE), "I know how unsafe the group, making $1000 a week when which has opposed the plant since its she was fired because Brown & Root beginning in 1973; the Washington, this plant is." suspected she was working with the D.C., based Government Accountability other whistle-blowers, said, that she Project (GAP) led by Billie Garde (TO, "could not sleep at night" if she had 6/1/84); and Trial Lawyers for Public All but one of the women are divorced not reported what she knew about Justice led by Tony Roisman. Roisman, or widowed and the sole support of their falsification of documents, and in many whose group is focusing on the whistle- families. Only one has found other cases no documentation at all, of critical blower cases and alleged harassment of employment; Hatley and Gregory are safety installations. "This plant may kill quality control inspectors working for awaiting the outcome of Brown & Root people, and no one's paycheck is worth Brown & Root, Inc., the main contractor appeals after the Labor Department one single life," Gregory said. for Comanche Peak, is a former Justice ruled in the women's favor and ordered The women's testimony, taken in Department lawyer. His reputation for B&R to reinstate them with back pay, depositions by Billie Garde and Tony aggressive and effective prosecution of benefits and legal expenses. Barnes's Roisman this summer and introduced hazardous waste violators led to the husband, a former deputy with the into evidence before the ASLB, has been inclusion of his name on the U.S. Granbury Police Department, is also out credited with extending the life of the Chamber of Commerce's "hit list" (the of work after being fired for reporting licensing hearing process and opening police brutality to the Granbury City doors into othe areas of construction Council. Granbury is the nearest town deficiencies formerly glossed over by Betty Brink, a frequent Observer con- to Glen Rose, and the plants twin the utility and the Nuclear Regulatory tributor, lives in Kountze. containment towers can be seen from Commission (NRC). THE TEXAS OBSERVER 11 For example, during the harassment However, questions raised to inter- and the official report found no "safety hearings held in Fort Worth in Septem- venors and the NRC as far back as 1979 violations," even though it did confirm ber and early October, Nuemeyer by welders, who said the liner welds many of Butler's charges. Butler's testified that she had been forced by were defective and would leak over allegations and the NRC report were supervisors to sign "stacks and stacks" time, suddenly began to dovetail with forgotten until Nuemeyer's testimony of inspection reports which she had Nuemeyer's testimony of falsified in- triggered intervenors' memories of never seen before — inspections that had spection reports. Butler as well as other welders who supposedly been performed on welds on In June of 1979, welder Dave Butler confirmed the charges at the time. In the stainless steel liners in the spent fuel went to his supervisors and told them September, the chairman of the licensing pool, the transfer canal between the that he was having problems with the board, Peter Bloch, ordered the NRC containment building and the fuel pool liner plate welds because they were not to reopen its investigation into the and the reactor containment liner, the being done to procedure. His supervi- defective weld allegations first raised in most critical radioactive containment sors ignored him, Butler said. 1979. areas of the plant. To further complicate Butler, who charged then that the In a telephone interview recently, the problem for Nuemeyer, the work on faulty welds were in the "north and Butler, who is now self-employed in the liners and inspections had been south fuel storage pools, containment Oklahoma and had no wish to come back performed before she was even hired. building number 1, and the transfer to Texas to testify "unless there's no Under regulatory law, no inspector canal" told the Fort Worth Star- other way," told me that all of the except the one who actually performs Telegram in a 1979 interview after he allegations he made in 1979 were valid an inspection can sign a report testifying quit the job in protest, saying, "Gravel, and then he made a few more. to the validity of the work being sand and pebbles washed down between "In 1979 I was 24 years old and had performed. Nuemeyer, who knew the been welding since I was 17," Butler law and knew that she would be at great said. "I welded on the liners in the fuel risk if she signed the reports, protested. A former welder said the building [the spent fuel pool], the She was switched from the night shift welds were not up to transfer canal, and the containment to the day shift and told that one of her exclusively." He said that he not only co-workers was also signing the reports standard. welded on the liner but he "made repairs without protest. Nuemeyer caved in, on the liner welds that were bad .. . signed the reports, and was subsequently the liner and concrete walls when at least those that we found with the switched back to the night shift after she workers hosed down buckets used to liquid penetrant test [a dye test] . . . but completed the sign-offs. pour concrete." The stainless steel must the liquid test is no good since it only The reports she signed were supposed be "mirror clean" in order to be welded shows up surface problems, so we only to show that the welds on the liners were on safely, Butler said. fixed surface holes. If there were cracks safe. "Some of the material washed down or cavities behind the plate or below the between the seam being welded and its surface more than 1/4 inch, then they metal backing strip," Butler continued, are still there. I worked on weld repairs ANDERSON& COMPANY leaving an area "between the backing for about three months. COFFEE plate and the weld filled with the sand "In 1982, a friend, who was then a TEA SPICES mixture, leaving the seam vulnerable to TWO JEFFERSON SWAIM quality control inspector at Comanche AUSTIN, TEXAS 7W/31 slippage and leakage." Peak, called and said 'I need to know 512 453-1533 Butler further said that cooling water where all the bad welds are in the liners Send me your list. "circulating around the [spent fuel] . . . we're reinspecting and I was told pellets could cause faulty welds to crack to call you and find out what you can Name . . . [allowing] radioactive water to seep remember.' Street into the concrete wall." "I told him that they were all bad. At the time, Butler's allegations were But I'd been gone too long, I couldn't City Zip investigated by the regional NRC office, tell him where to find specific ones. He

12 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 told me they were still using the liquid contractors who have been charged with of the real possibility that the plant may penetrant test, and I said then it doesn't using defective paint inside the reactor not go on line. matter, you'll never find them." containment building, paint which could Roisman, who feels strongly that the As to inspections, Butler said, "I slough off and clog critical cooling license will be denied, says that more hardly ever saw a Brown & Root systems needed in an emergency to than any other thing, Texas Utilities is inspector down there and I never saw safely shut down the reactor, are still "doing it to themselves. an NRC man; as far as I know it was pending before the board along with "It's like they're pouring themselves never inspected. I spent two or three further testimony on harassment and a glass of lye and then drinking it," he months making repairs and there was other technical issues. said earlier this fall, an analogy which never any paper work . . . no numbers, A ruling on the license request is not gave Nader's closing summation at the like weld seam certification numbers. expected until some time in 1985, but press conference in Fort Worth added "I was concerned then and I'm for the first time in the long and weight: concerned now because procedures frustrating fight to deny Texas Utilities "Some utilities," Nader said, "need weren't right . . . it was just one big an operating license, opponents speak to be saved from themselves." 11:1 cover-up." In September, under persistent ques- tioning by Peter Bloch, chairman of the ASLB, Tom Brandt, an engineer for Best Texas Utilities, admitted under oath that gest Western Inn documents which would have confirmed western that the inspections on the stainless steel LBJ WORLDWIDE liners in the spent fuel pool, in particular LODGING inspections done for cleanliness before The perfect welding was done, had been "lost" and place to stay that plant builders could not document on your visit to that the inspections weere done, even though Brandt said that he was "very confident" the inspections had been DALLAS performed. for business Meddie Gregory told the Observer that, in 1979, when Butler made his or pleasure . . . allegations and when the NRC con- Congenial service at an ducted its investigation into the validity of the welds in the liners, "document Economical Rate. Conve- control was totally out of procedure .. . nient North Dallas location, in other words there were no documents minutes to famous stores ... great shopping and ice skating for the NRC to review because three- ... finest restaurants, entertain- fourths of the chits [used to verify ment centers ... Medical City materials and welder qualifications] Hospital, Texas A&M, SMU were lost." campuses, Surtran Terminal. At the time, she said, "no one at the Expressway to downtown, plant knew who welded on the liners airport. or if it was ever done. Those 'lost' 205 fine rooms, swimming pool, chits," she said, "were part of the free parking, courtesy van, valet documentation brought to Suzy service, Home Box Office, com- [Nuemeyer] to sign in 1982." plimentary Surtran pickup, J. Brandt later testified that the plant's Fred Armadillo's Lounge and document control center had been out Direct Grill, dancing. Banquet and of procedure from 1977 until 1982.* Reservation meeting facilities. Special Questions raised by other whistle- Phone week-end rates. Children under blowers, concerning cover-ups by paint 18 free when accompanied by 214-231-8477 parent. *The controversy surrounding the integrity of the write for free brochure welds in the spent fuel pool liner takes on added significance because of the NRC ruling that nuclear BEST WESTERN INN-LBJ power plants may soon be required to store spent 8est fuel (the radioactive waste from the reactor core) (Jester! 8051 LBJ Freeway at Coit Rd. woclIt3wtOt DALLAS, TEXAS 75251 on site for the lifetime of the plant (about 30 to tOOGINO 35 years) plus 30 years after decommissioning. 214-234-2431 (TO, December 23, 1983) For plants such as Comanche Peak, whose spent fuel pool was NAME designed and built to hold spent fuel for a maximum of seven years before it would be moved ADDRESS to make way for additional waste from the reactor. the change will mean a dangerously cramped CITY, STATE, ZIP storage space with highly radioactive waste stored in Somervell County for 60 years or more. With that in mind, the issue of the defective welds in the liner is even more a safety issue today than DALLAS, TEXAS 75251 it was in 1979. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 13 It's Our 30th Birthday and We'd Like You to Send Us a Card!

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The Texas Observer • 600 West 7th • Austin, Texas 78701

14 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 • POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

more got 60 percent of the government Whittington and Ruben Montemayor." benefits. According to the report, "If Whittington is a board member who is Rumors of Wealth Congress desires to provide a greater seen as a progressive advocate and who income assistance to the smaller produc- White says had an almost identical V Rumors get out once in a while that ers a different mechanism for determin- voting record to Montemayor's. But most of the wealth in America is in the ing payments would have to be de- Whittington does not now defend the hands of very few people. Now the vised." board's history over the worst years of government is embarking on a project Though farmers in Arizona, Califor- the prison crisis. Montemayor told a to look into this. The Federal Reserve nia, and Mississippi got the highest newspaper recently that the prison board Board and six other federal agencies are average benefits, farmers in Texas had "acted properly" in those years. conducting a survey on the distribution received about a fourth of all the money CURE advised the governor's office of wealth in the United States. Initial spent by the Agriculture Department. in advance of the appointment that the findings were disclosed in October and group would oppose it. Sullivan says the participating researchers called them v Judge Harley Clark on October 24 governor "is kind of taking us for "striking." The study found a concen- held off from issuing a temporary granted." tration of wealth in the hands of "a small restraining order that would have pro- number of families with very high hibited the Texas Employment Commis- incomes." Specifically, the top 2 per- sion from continuing to deny farmwork- cent of the families control 30 percent ers unemployment compensation claims. Noted of all financial assets. One problem the Another hearing is scheduled for Nov. researchers have is getting those rich 13. The battle for workers' compensa- On George Bush's "kick a little folk to talk. "The wealthy are a very tion for farmworkers was won last ass" remark: elusive group and we really don't know summer, but the court case on unem- "With this crude display the Vice very much about them," a Federal ployment comp is expected to stretch President accomplished the opposite Reserve researcher told the Associated into the winter. The Texas Civil Liber- of what he intended. His strained Press. "It is harder to interview wealthy ties Union is arguing the case. State Rep. effort to to be one of the boys people. They are usually unwilling to Lloyd Criss, D-Galveston, has an- proved nothing so much as his participate in surveys." nounced that he will carry legislation in distance from them. He defended the coming session to include farmwork- his gracelessness as "an old Texas V The Wall Street Journal reports that ers in the unemployment compensation football expression," only underlin- plans have been advanced to move Hong program. ing his inauthenticity. Bush never Kong to Texas rather than to have the V The TCLU won a victory on the played "Texas football." He was merchants and workers stick around privacy rights front in late September captain of the baseball team, and when China takes over the city in 1997. when Judge Joseph Hart of Travis the team was Yale's. One of the Leo J. Tolle, Jr. of Our Lady of the County prohibited the Texas Department boys is one of the many things Lake University in San Antonio told the of Mental Health and Mental Retarda- George Bush is not. Journal the Rio Grande Valley is the tion from using polygraph tests on its "Bush is a Yankee who tried to "ideal location" for Hong Kong manu- employees. Hart ruled the tests violated make it as a cowboy, and the facturing firms that wish to relocate. the employees' right to privacy. Stetson makes him a very peculiar- Four Hong Kong entrepreneurs have looking Yankee indeed. He's too reportedly expressed interest already, conservative to be a New England and Texas business executives are Surprise Republican, yet he's not a blood- forming a task force to lure even more. red Sunbelt conservative, and he's V Governor Mark White said at a press not a moderate, either. He votes in conference October 18 that he was Texas, his only home is in Maine, Press Tax "surprised" at the firestorm caused by and he works in Washington. The his reappointment of Ruben Vice Presidency, a job that demands V Comptroller Bob Bullock has asked Montemayor to the Texas prison board. no independent identity, compounds Attorney General Jim Mattox for an Rep. Ray Keller, R-Duncanville, had his identity crisis. Even larger-than- opinion on whether the sales tax on called the appointment "a dramatic step life figures such as Lyndon Johnson newspapers is constitutional. Bullock backward." CURE, the prison reform were diminished by it. What hap- says, "freedom of the press and freedom group, said Montemayor's previous pens to someone who is not larger of speech are directly endangered" by record on the board was "deplorable." than life?" the tax. Also, he says "the tax is an CURE director Charles Sullivan said Sidney Blumenthal, The New administrative nightmare." The legisla- Montemayor is "a board member who Republic, November 5, 1984. ture included the tax in part of the plan said everything was fine when he was passed in special session last summer. on the board a few years ago," and said the reappointment is not an encouraging BED & BREAKFAST — CORPUS CHRISTI V A handful of the nation's largest sign for prison reform. "The house is on fire and he comes up with a used Take a break from the sameness of motel accom- farmers received a disproportionate modations. Over 20 listings, many within walking share of government farm benefits, fire extinguisher that never worked in distance of the water. Friendly, hospitable hosts. according to a recent Senate Budget the first place," Sullivan said. Breakfasts — continental to Texas-size. Rates from $20. Sand Dollar Hospitality, 3605 Mendenhall, Cor- Committee publication. The 17 percent White claimed there is "an pus Christi, Texas 78415. (512) 853-1222. of the farmers working 500 acres or indiscernable difference between Harry THE TEXAS OBSERVER 15 • DIALOGUE • justice) of available actions seldom Dr. B. and EDB permeates such barriers to public discus- English Wars, Cont'd. sion. I read with interest Dave Denison's In his account of "The English Wars" article on TDH Commissioner Robert Paul B. Thompson, in the Sept. 28 issue, Rod Davis ignores Bernstein, particularly the section on Asst. Professor Philosophy Section 10 of the Constitution: "The EDB, which provides a key case study and Agricultural Economics Legislature shall . . . establish . . . a in my research on agricultural ethics. College Station university of the first class . . . styled Denison's article does not acknowledge `The University of Texas' , for the the distinction between toxic and carcin- A Friend (?) Writes promotion of literature, and the arts and ogenic risks associated with this (and A couple of years ago, a friend pur- sciences ... " There is every reason to many other) agricultural chemicals. In chased a subscription to your publication believe that the authors of the Constitu- sufficient doses, EDB is toxic, or for me as a Christmas gift (as a joke, tion, written in 1876, subscribed to the poisonous; it may also be carcinogenic of course). I received The Texas(?) definition of "literature" of their con- or cancer causing in doses which are Observer for a full year and let the temporary, Matthew Arnold, namely the well below the levels indicated as safe subscription finally expire. (By the way, best that's been thought and said in the with respect to toxicity. (Denison's I have never received so many "last last 3,000 years. Mr. Davis dismisses citation of an NBC documentary appears issues" of a magazine in my life.) this concept as "Institutional Litera- to reference two workers who died from Recently, and for no reason, I began ture," but the authors of the Constitution toxic exposure to EDB; I have not seen receiving your magazine again, and were no doubt aware, as most of us are, the program and cannot be sure. If so, believe me, I do not want to endure that reading the best that's been thought it does not disprove Bernstein's claim another year of The Texas (?) Observer. and said is the best foundation for that no human cancers can be traced to First of all, your magazine is misnamed. learning how to write. In this context, EDB.) Toxic risks are generally born We must live in different states because Mr. Davis's assertion that UT tenure- by handlers of the chemical, and the views and opinions expressed in your track faculty teach only 8 % of the residents of communities in which it is magazine certainly do not reflect the , "composition work-load" is a gross used; carcinogenic risks are born by this views and opinions of the state in which oversimplification. In fact almost all population as well as by people who I was born and have lived all of my English literature courses require a great consume traces of the chemical in food. life. This is why I am typing your deal of composition; indeed many are The regulatory problem of controlling magazine's name the way it should be officially designated as substantial writ- ing component courses. Mr. Davis, toxic and cancer risks is complicated by typed: The TEXAS(?) Observer. the fact that some of the substitutes for however, apparently would be happier EDB which are less carcinogenic are Your publication conducted a vitriolic if something closer to 100% of the more toxic; thus, the "simple" solution attack on former Governor Clements in faculty taught E306. If that were the to the EDB problem is to shift the favor of the messianic Mark White — case, there would be no courses for relatively small risk to a large number saviour of the common man. Oh, you English majors (over 500), English of consumers (who also happen to be remember his sermon on the hill: lower graduate students (over 100), or the politically powerful) toward a larger risk utility bills, no new taxes, take politics hundreds of students from other depart- to a smaller number of agricultural out of education, the list goes on and ments who need advanced English laborers (who also happen to be politi- on. Your publication offered him to its courses. In short, we would become a cally weak). Is this the sort of regulatory readers on a silver platter. But wait! He junior college, in clear violation of the strategy liberals want to endorse? was only an appetizer. Your house constitutional requirement that this be speciality is now Fritz Mondale and Risk problems become even more a university of the "first class." Many Geraldine Ferraro — vintage HHH of our competitors in the latter category difficult to sort out; sincere regulators 1960's liberalism. For dessert, you (and if Denison's article is any indica- have achieved eminence in research by recommend the savory Lloyd Doggett, cutting basic English requirements to tion, Bernstein is no exception) often fail who lacks not only the fundamental to distinguish between politically accept- two, one, or no English courses. After qualities but also the social and political all, teaching writing is very difficult and able risks (as auto accidents, smoking, polish to be a United States Senator. and barbecue apparently are) and ethi- very expensive. It would be much easier cally acceptable risks, or risks which So, please? Stop sending me The for this university to respond to Mr. should be accepted or allowed in virtue Texas(?) Observer and kindly delete my Davis's complaints by cutting basic of their necessity for achieving vital or name from your records. You see, I am English requirements, in which case Mr. extremely valuable social benefits. The also tired of receiving junk mail from Davis will have talked himself out of mere fact that the risks of smoking or Save the Whales, Gay Lib, Doggett for a job. Hence we should be praising military adventurism appear to be Senate, Common Cause, Sierra Club, rather than blaming this university for accepted politically by many Texans is People for the American Way, Nader's resisting such temptations and taking on not, in itself, decisive evidence that Raiders, and so forth. the heavy burden of hundreds of re- anything of significant moral worth is William C. Keese, quired English courses even as it gained thereby. It is politics, however, Longview attempts to meet the constitutional and not ethics which makes news; hence P.S. I have had some fun with your requirement that it be a university of journalists will always be more inter- publication. I have enjoyed circulating the first class in the promotion of ested in politically unacceptable risks your "Social Cause Calendar" to my literature. (like EDB), too. It is little wonder that colleagues to inform them of socially Jerome Bump, analysis and comparison of the risks and important causes such as the annual Director, Sophomore English Program, benefits (including considerations of "San Antonio Gay Fiesta." Ole! University of Texas at Austin

16 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 (Advertisement)

A Public Service Message from the American Income Life Insurance Co.—Waco, Texas—Bernard Rapoport, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer GOD FROM A MACHINE

American Income is pleased to reprint this Sept. 27th sermon by Rabbi mankind would bask benignly in the glow of blessings that Mordecai Podet of Temple Rodef Sholom in Waco. would emanate from the commonwealth . . . Remember? I do. But by then I had become a little cautious in my enthusiasm. Watching a few minutes of soap opera, I was reminded of By then I could recall that not many years before, men of ancient, classical drama. Ancient Greek and Roman play- good will had pressed ardently for education as humanity's wrights sometimes enmeshed their characters in such universal healer, as the path to peace and plenty and justice. complicated and perplex dilemmas that no human solution Then, as we witnessed the murder of millions and the seemed possible. But the crisis would be resolved. Stage degradation of millions more at the hands of the most educated machinery would waft a god — many being available in the society the world had known, that hope shriveled. Who Greek and Roman pantheons — onto the stage to intervene mentions it today? in the action and set everything right. By then I could recall the high expectations that energized This dramatic device has given us the expression "god from so many people to welcome and advance the social system a machine" — deus ex machina — a phrase used in literary of which it was enthusiastically said, "I have seen the future criticism to characterize an artificially introduced, improbable and it works!" Remember that? Social engineering was going solution to a plot problem. to bring redemption from war, hate, pestilence, sorrow ... The "Soviet experiment" as it was called. Well, that red rose has We Jews, at a particularly painful period of our ancient surely lost its bloom. history, developed a similar device not for the stage but for real life. We were so tormented by invading oppressors, so There have been many new entrants in the messianic wracked by fratricidal dissensions, so distressed by tortured sweepstakes. The Technocrats — does anyone remember uncertainty regarding the future that no human remedy seemed them? Universal psychoanalysis as the royal road to utopian possible. So we conceived of a supernatural intervenor whb humanity. Harvard Professor B. F. Skinner's psychological would usher in an era of perfect freedom and security, a engineering excited many including some Wacoans . . . So did messiah. the Greening of America, Consciousness Three, the Age of Aquarius, now off stage; and the advent of the computer, now Because we have endured many periods of such deep just taking center stage. distress that no human capacity seemed equal to overcoming them, there have risen among us many claimants for the role Surely each of these has some virtue, some value for human of messiah. None ever won the broad or lasting allegiance betterment. of Jews because of a surprisingly simple, starkly functional But none has or can come near fulfilling the expectations test which Judaism sets the announced messiah. If he brings for social betterment attached to them. The reason they must about what men have called God's kingdom on earth — an fail is given in a Chassidic observation. "Why," a Chassidic era of perfect freedom and security — he is the messiah. But sage asks, "Why has the messianic age not arrived neither if, despite his appearance, freedom remains for many men yesterday nor today?" "Because," he explains, "Because we a dream for the future, if security remains for most of mankind are the same today as we were yesterday!" a mirage, if his efforts do not much change let alone end hatred, So far in human history, all great, all noble ideas and hunger, misery, war — clearly, he is not the messiah. schemes for human salvation have foundered on the hard rock Now by that test, a messiah has not yet appeared. If the of our human propensity to stay as we are and to look to some past is a guide to the future, it seems unwise to hold one's irresistible force outside ourselves to save us from our troubles, breath in expectation of one. our failings and distress. Still, something in our human nature makes us turn hopefully, But, my friends, the deus ex machina is to be found only gaze eagerly toward the latest deus ex machina, the newest in bad plays, in make believe. In real life, what seems to be messianic claimant, as the longed for solution for the perverse a sweeping messianic wave of the future, an overwhelming perplexities of human existence. In our time, the claim is made force for social, economic and political good, inevitably not for men but for systems and technologies. dissipates amid the shoals of unchanged human character. Do you recall the excitement, the exaltation, the idealistic If we remain the same today as we were yesterday, it is clear expectations that bloomed with the appearance of each of that even the nuclear bomb will not end wars, nor the computer these? age bring social peace and security. We must change. . . . Nuclear energy — By making war too awful to contem- Which is what these high holy days are all about. Judaism plate, it,was to usher in an era of lasting peace. By producing assures us that we can change ourselves, that change from cheaply whatever mankind needs, it would end need and toil within is possible. It had better be. Experience teaches us and free us for higher pursuits. Remember? I do. I enthused that no other way works. about it . . . and joined in the conferences and preached about If we remain today exactly the same selfish, greedy, the new priorities of life . . . So far, salvation is delayed. impulsive, egotistical, envious, grudge bearing creatures we .. The United Nations Organization — that was going to be were yesterday, we will find ways to distort every promising the arena for civilized airing of differences and nonviolent idea and pervert every fresh invention to our own corruptive settlements in an atmosphere of reason and good will. purpose. Remember? I do. I enthused about that, too . . . and worked But as — however gradually and slightly — we change for its success through involvement in its lay support groups, ourselves inwardly, we find even the old and banal acquiring through preaching and teaching from pulpit and platform .. . a glow and leading toward salvation. My, how that has soured! Therefore, make this the high holy day season it is meant . . . The re-creation of a State of Israel — For a hundred years to be: A time of self knowledge, of self judgement and of Zionist literature promised that with the establishment of a change. That way lies the road toward becoming the men and Jewish commonwealth, Jewish problems would cease and all women we were meant to be.

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 17 • SOCIAL CAUSE CALENDAR

Notices of future events must reach the ETHNIC WOMEN'S SYMPOSIUM 18, Dallas, with speakers Jim Wallis,

Observer at least three weeks before the Southwest Texas State University, the . editor of Sojourners magazine, and Nora event. Governor's Commission for Women, The Hallett, Director of the Regional Develop- University Women's Network, and related ment for FOR. Workshops, films, music, organizations will sponsor "Ethnic games, and worship are being planned. LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP Women in Texas," part of the continuing For registration information contact Bar- The Sierra Club, Austin, will have a symposium series, "Multicultures of the bara Hunter, 5544 N. Colony, Lewisville, legislative workshop November 10, South Southwest," November 14 - 17, Southwest 75056, (214) 370-3805. The public is Austin Multi-Purpose Center, 2508 Dur- Texas State University, San Marcos. Guest invited; registration costs are low; child- care is available. wood, Austin, to discuss and report on , speakers will include many noted cultural sunset review of natural resource agencies, historians including Ruthe Winegarten, concurrent sessions on state water re- Blandina Cardenas-Ramirez, Susan NLG CONFERENCE sources policy, regulation of hazardous Cayleff, Melissa Hield, and Marcella waste disposal, and funding of acquisitions Washington. Workshops will treat all The National Lawyers Guild, Texoma of parks and natural areas by the state. aspects of the history and culture of ethnic Region, Annual Conference will be Call Ken Kramer, (512) 476-6962, for women in Texas --- for example, folk November 16- 18, Austin. Speakers and details. medicine and curanderas, the writing of topics include: legal services for prisoners, black women, black women in Texas Charles Sullivan (CURE co-founder); politics, women workers, Mexican undoc- women in prison, Martha Quinlin (CURE FERRON TO PERFORM umented women, and the history of member); toxic wastes and peSt.Wclik., Canadian singer-songwriter Ferron will German-Texas women. Conference fee, disposal, Robin Alexander; Central ArrieM perform at Liberty Lunch, Austin, $14. For a complete schedule and to ica update, Roberto Soto; legal support to November 10, 9 p.m., to benefit the Texas register, contact Office of Continuing the sanctuary movement; and, a National Organization for Women. Admis- Education, SWTSU, U.S.C. Room 217, mortem of the election. To register sion, $6.50. Contact Kathy Cornell, (512) San Marcos, TX 78666, (512) 245-2507. details call (512) 447-6859. 327-8129. WILDLIFE HABIT PRESERVATION CATHOLIC GAY RIGHTS OBSERVANCES The Texas Coast is undergoing inciiits- COALITION: SEMINAR November 18, 1977 — National ing changes as pressures from population Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Center will Women's Conference opened in growth and coastal development continue offer a workshop on Homosexuality and Houston. at a rapid pace. Development activities can

Family Ministry. November 14, at the November 21, 1966 — National negatively affect wildlife habitats and Center, 1225 W. Division, Slaton, 9:30 Organization for Women founded. environmental quality. A workshop on coastal development and mitigatio a.m.-5 p.m., for educators, counselors, November 21, 1922 — Rebecca L. social workers, priests, ministers, and Felton appointed first woman U.S. "Wildlife Habitat Preservation," sp' families and friends of gay and lesbian Senator. sored by the Galveston and Houston Si persons. Workshop leaders will be Robert aubs, will delve into ways that eni — President November 22, 1963 mental quality and wildlife habitats Nugent, SDS, and Jeannine Gramick, Kennedy assassinated in Dallas. ttl SSND; topics are "Homosexual Life- be maintained while allowing sensib e — Former styles: Fictions and Facts" and November 26, 1883 coastal development. November 17, "Homosexual Christians and the Church: slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth Texas A&M's Galveston campus on Challenges and Responses." $30 registra- died. Pelican Island, $8 registration, 8:30 a. tion fee includes tuition, materials and 6 p.m. For more information contact lunch. Contact Father Lawrence Hemp, Brandt Mannchen, (713) 522-1489, or St. Joseph's Church, 205 S. 19th St., TEXANS AND THEIR LAND 645-5316. Slaton, (806) 828-3944. The Philosophy Department and Office of Continuing Education at Texas A&M TRANSPORTATION CRISIS IN THE HOUSE OF MARY University are sponsoring a public pro- IN HOUSTON? "Does Houston Have A Transportation "In the House of Mary," a contempo- gram of lectures, discussions and films, of a forum rary harvest celebration and pageant by November 16- 17, Rudder Conference Crisis?" will be the theme sponsored by the Citizens' Environmental Austin composer, Tina Marsh, will be Center, Texas A&M University, College Station. The theme of the program, "The Coalition and Rice Student Interest Center, - Capitol City Playhouse, November 14 17, Rice University, Memorial 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; $6. A 12-member Land Myth in Texas Agriculture," expres- November 20, Center Grand Hall, 7 p.m. Assumptions children's chorus, dancers, musicians and ses the idea that the land and people of regarding Houston's mobility needs, cost visual artists will be featured. Texas have a special relationship which influences the moral character and aes- effective ways to deal with traffic, and thetic values. Speakers will draw from continuing growth is the area will be BLACK ARTISTS' EXHIBITION geography, history, folklore, film studies discussed by transportation specialists The Black Arts Alliance will present its and philosophy in making their presenta- from the public and private sectors. "1984 Regional Black Artists' Exhibi- tions. For complete program schedule Contact CEC, 1413 Westheimer, Houston, tion," a mixed-media exhibit of works by contact Pearl Thompson, Department of (713) 523-3431, for more information.

23 central Texas artists, November 15- Philosophy, Texas A&M, College Station, January 5, George Washington Carver 77843, (409) 845-5660. ARTISTS FOR PEACE Museum, 1165 Angelina St., Austin. An The Austin Peace and Justice Coalition opening reception will be November 15, FELLOWSHIP OF will sponsor an art auction, December 8, 5-8 p.m., at the Carver Museum, with RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE Catholic Student Center, 2010 University artists in attendance. Reception and exhibit The 3rd Regional Fellowship of Recon- Avenue, Austin. Donations of artwork are are free. ciliation Conference will be November 16 - now being solicited to help the Coalition

18 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 Good morning, Yes Mr. Prime Central Minister, we are I'm sorry to Would you Intelligence planning to hear you haven't like me to Agency. overthrow your been officially send you a gov't in the very informed. BROCHURE? near future.

1984 son l Simp

C9 ID r-A- S impscryu 0/989 Caro and its 31-member organizations continue SIGNED TOURS complete list is available for a $5 processing educational work to reduce nuclear weap- fee to any group deemed progressive in purpose. ons, stop military intervention, and In order to make museums in the San Antonio Museum Association more acces- AUSTIN redirect military spending to meet human ACLU, 447-5849; ACORN, 442-8321: needs. Contributing artists will receive sible to the deaf community, the Art Museum, Witte Museum, and Transporta- Alternative Views (ACTV), Box 7279, 78712; 25% of the selling price for their dona- Aran. Friends Service Cmte., 474-2399; tions. Deadline for donations is November tion Museum will begin signed tours in November. For more information about Amnesty Intl., Box 4951. 78765; Anti-Hunger 24. Contact Nancy O'Keefe, (512) 451- Coalition of Tx. (ACT), 474-9921; Assoc. for 5877, to contribute a work. these special tours, contact Martha Smith, Retarded Citizens (ARC), 476-7044;. (512) 226-5544. Audubon Scty., 4724523; Audubon Scty. (National), 327-1943; Aus. Lesbian-Gay Pol. CHILDREN OF WAR TOUR Caucus, 474-2717; Aus. Nghbrhood Fund, BOOK SIGNING 454-0963; Aus. Peace and Justice Coalition, Thirty-three young people, ages 12-17, 474-5877;. Aus. Tenants Ccl., 474-1961; Aus. Philip Russell, author of Mexico in from war zones will tour schools, Women's Alcohol Resource and Education Transition, will autograph his new work, churches, community centers with children Center (AWARE), 472-5553; Aus. Women's El Salvador in Crisis, November 30, from the Children's Peace Network. Six Centr., 472-3775; Aus. Women's Political Paperbacks Mas!, 1819 Blanco Rd., skilled group leaders are needed to Caucus, 474-1798; Aus. Writers' League, San Antonio, 7 p.m. accompany this group as it travels through- 444-9379; Austinites for Public Transporta- out six regions. To volunteer or to get tion, 454-9060; Black Aus. Demo§., 478-6576; more information on sponsoring a visit by Blackland Nghbrhood Ass., 474-1243; Brthrhood of Viet Vets., 892-4220; Center the group to your city, call or write Judith for Battered Women, 472-HURT; Central ZIEGLER FELLOWSHIPS Thompson, Religious Task America Resource Center, 476-9841; Central The Samuel E. Ziegler Fellowship is Force/Mobilization for Survival, 855 Ans. Demos., 477-6587; Central Tx. Lignite a $2,000 award used to support research Oxford, Brooklyn, NY 11217; (212) 858- Watch, 479-0678; Citizens Party, 459-1022; in fields benefiting civil liberties and 6882. Ctzns. Party (Gay Caucus), 472-1717; Ctzns. United for Rehab. of Errants (CURE), 476- human rights work. Undergraduates, 4762; Cmte. in Solidarity with the People of . graduate students, full-time faculty, or CARTIER-BRESSON. IN MEXICO El Salvador, 477-4728; Common Cause, 474- individuals engaged in such work are The Art Museum of South Texas will 2374; Demo. Socialists of America (DSA), eligible. Deadline for application is feature the exhibition, "Henri Cartier- 458-2472: Ecology Action, 478-1645; El January 15, 1985. A paper not to exceed Bresson: Photographs from Mexico 1934 Central Chicano, 472-9832; Grandparents 5000 words is required. For information for Nuclear Disarmament Action, 453-1727; and 1963," a collection of 45 photographs Gray Panthers, 458-3738; IMPACT, 472- contact, The Samuel E. Ziegler Educa- taken by the French photographer who wad tional Fund, 1900 Southland Center, 3903; In These Times (Tx. Bureau), 477- a master at capturing the "decisive 3281; Lawyers Alliance for Nuclear Arms Dallas, 75201. moment" in his photographs of life as it Control (LANAC), 476-5121 League of was lived in the streets; through Women Voters, 451-6710; Leonard Peltier November 25, Art Museum of South Support Group, 472-4142; Live Oak Fund 476-5714; Lone Star Alliance, CORRECTION: HANDWORK Texas, 1902 North Shoreline Drive, for Change, Corpus Christi. 472-3998; LUCHA, 477-5770; LULAC, 477- EXHIBIT 6511, ext. 2859; Max's Pot. 928-4786; Mxn.- Women and Their Work will present Amn. Demos., 473-9441; Music Umbrella, "HandWork: Women's Folk Textiles," an Progressive Organizations 476-1324; Nat'l Lawyers' Guild, 472-6270; exhibition of fine needlework from the NOW, 452-7276; Nuclear Weapons Freeze ethnic traditions of Texas, at the Scurry The Observer has built up lists of organiza- Campaign, 476-3294; Organizing Cmte. for tions in Texas we regard as progressive. The a Nat'l. Writers Union, (OCNWU), P.O. Box County Museum, Snyder, through editor invites communications recommending 4184, 78765; Pax Christi, 258-3942; People December 21. This is a correction from organizations for inclusion. We will generally for the American Way, 472-7007; Phogg the Diamond M Museum, Snyder. For print the listings for Austin and Around Texas Foundation, Box 13549, 78711; Planned information on the exhibit call (512) 477- in one issue, followed by Dallas, Fort Worth; Parenthood, 472-0868; Poverty Education 1064. Houston and San Antonio in the next. The and Research' Center (PERC), 474-5019: Box

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 19 13549; Poverty, Education and Research and Agriculture Information Network, 846- Assn. for Refugees from Central America, 585- Center Professionals for Nuclear Arms 2506. Corpus Christi: American GI Forum, 4003; Cmte. Against Public Utilities, Box 789, Limitations, 443-9826; Red Ryder Preserva- 241-8647; Amigos de las Americas. Box 1437, Brownsville 78520; La Raza Legal Alliance, tion Soc., 479-8548; Save Barton Creek 78403; Coastal Bend Sierra Club, 883-0586; 402 E. Harrison, 2nd Floor. Harlingen, 78550; Assn., 451-7739; Sierra Club, 478-1264; C.C. Cmte. on Justice in El Salvador, 884-6699; Oficina Legal, Box 1493, San Juan, 78589; Socialist Party, 452-3722; Sponsor Coordina- C.C. Coalition of Black Demos., 151 Jade Dr., Proyecto Libertad, 425-9552; Sierra Club, 687- tor for Refugees, 454-2519; Txns. for 78409; Gulf Coast Conservation Assoc., 991- 2169; Tx. Health Coalition, 113 W. Harding, Children, 445-0414; Tx. Abortion Rights 9690; League of Women Voters, 991-4059; Harlingen. 78550; United Farm Workers Action League (TARAL), 478-0094; Tx. LULAC, 882-8284; NAACP, 884-8541; NOW, Union, 787-2233; Valley Citizens for a Bilateral Alliance, 474-5019; Tx. Center for Rural 883-4469; OPUS, 881-6308; Tx. Pesticide Nuclear Weapons Freeze, 682-1857; Valley Studies, 474-0811; Tx. Cmte. on Natural Abuse Coalition, 855-7061 Women's Shelter, Inter-religious Task force on Central America, Resources, 443-8037; Tx. Council on Family 881-8888. Denton: Tx. Gay Task Force, 387- Valley Pesticide Coalition, 968-9574; Valley Violence, 327-8582; Tx. Death Penalty Action 8216 El Paso: El Paso Interreligious Sponsor- Troqueros, 1101 Vine, Suite A, McAllen Group, 3104 Dancy, 78722; Tx. Environmen- ing Organization, 772-1483; El Paso Peace 78501. Waco: ACLU. 755-3611; American GI tal Coalition, 476-3961; Tx. Farm Workers Coalition, 9524 Bellis Ave., 79925; Santa Lucia Forum, 799-8712; Audubon Society, 3701 Union, 441-0837; Tx. Fathers for Equal Reach Out, 518 Gallagher, 79915. Euless: Dist. Beverly Dr., 76711; Baylor Young Demos.,. Rights, 452-0848; Tx. Mobilization for 10 Demos., 283-7001. Fredericksburg: 756-4839; Bread for the World, 772-3135; Survival, 474-5877; Tx. Pesticide Project, Fredericksburg Peace Alliance, 997-3263. CURE, 754-2008; IMPACT, 772-7006: League 474-0811; Tx. Solar Energy Society, 472- Gainesville: Organizing Cmte for Nat'l Writers of Women Voters, 754-1066; LULAC, 776- 1252; Tx. Women's Political Caucus, 474- Union, 411 N. Morris St., 76240. Galveston: 0438; NOW 752-5975. Wichita Falls: Citizens 1798; Travis Cty. Demo. Women's Cmte., Sierra Club, 765-9289. Garland: Bread for the for Nuclear Awareness, 691-6001. 443-0479; UCAM, c/o Carlota Smith, Dept. World, 495-1494. Hereford: People Opposed of Linguistics, UT-Austin. 78712; UNICEF, to Wasted Energy Repository, 258-7583; Tx. 837-7248; United Farm Workers Union, 474- Rural Legal Aid, 364-3961. Littlefield: FORT WORTH 5019; Univ. Employees Union, 478-0546; Socialist Party, Box 926, 79339. Lubbock: UniY. Mobilization for Survival, 476-4503; National Lawyers' Guild. 799-2714; Network, ACLU, 534-6883; ACORN, 924-1401; West Aus. Demos., 454-2828; Women and 796-1905; NOW, 793-0582; South Plains Allied Communities of Tarrant (ACT), 332- Their Work 477-1064 . Women's Advocacy Alternative Resources Coalition. 796-1905; 1830; Bread for the World (Dist. 12), 924- Project, 477-8113. South Plains Clergy and Laity Concerned, 2007 1440; Citizens for Education on Nuclear 28th St., 79411; West Tx. Demo,s., 792-5720. Arms (CEINIA), 295-6587; Citizens for Fair Midland: United Viet. Vets. Organization, 684- Utility Regulations, 478-6372; Citizens' 3768;` Tx. Women's Political Caucus-Permian Party, 834-5123; Coalition of Labor Union AROUND TEXAS Basin, 683-3863. Muleshoe: Chicanos Unidos- Women, 540-1393; Conscientious Objector Amarillo: Clergy and Laity Concerned, 373- Campesinos, Inc., 272-4233; Defensa, 272- Awareness Cmte., 457-6148; Dist. 10 Demos., 8668; Panhandle Environmental Awareness 4233. Nacogdoches: Tx. Crate on Natural 283-7001; Dist. 12 Demos., 535-7803; Farm Cmte., 376-8903; Women's Action for Nuclear Resources, 564-9728. Raymondville: Centro Workers' Support Cinte., 927-0808; Disarmament, 381-1039. Arlington: United del Pueblo. 759 W. Hidalgo, 78580. Robstown: Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), 274- Viet. Vets. Organization, 461-6453. Arp: Citizens Against Dumps, Rt. 2, 78380. San 7554; First Friday, 927-0808; Ft. Worth Task NOW, 566-8263. Bastrop: Central. Tx. Lignite Angelo: Conch° Valley Sierra Club, 94-2424. Force on Central America. 921-0419; Watch, 321-5246. Ray City Matagorda Co. San Marcos: Americans for a Secure Future, IMPACT, 923-4806; Mental Health Assn., Citizens for Environmental Protection, 245- 396-4222; Students Against Continqr,,d Involve 335-5405; Mexican-American Demos., 626- 2261. Beaumont: NOW, 833-9966; Sierra ment in El Salvador, (Austin ) 443-8525. 8305; NOW. 338-4456: Nuclear Weapons Club, 866-2814; United Viet. Vets. Organiza- Saratoga: Big Thicket Assn., 274-5000. Freeze Campaign, 926-3827; Sierra Club, tion, 727-4873. Bonham: Citizens Party, 111 Temple: Ground Zero, 771-3779; Temple 923-9718; Tarrant Co. Demo. Womens' E. 5th St., 75418. Bryan: Brazos Civil Liberties Peace Group, 771-3779; United Viet. Vets. Club, 261-6583: Tarrant Co. Precinct Work- Union, 846-1436. College Station: Alternative, Organization, 773-7987; Texas City: Gulf ers' Club, 429-2706; Tx. Coalition of Black 846-8022; Brazos Valley Peace Action, 693- Coast Council on Foreign Affairs, 938-1211, Demos., 534-7737: Tx. Tenants' Union, 923- 1532; Brazos Valley Sierra Club, 696-7437; ext. 296/297. Tyler: Interfaith Peace Fellow- 5071; Traditional Native American, Circle, Bread for the World, 696-2802; Gay Student ship, 593-5650; NOW, 566-2705; Tyler Peace. 926-9258; Women's Political Caucus, 336- Services, 846-8022; NOW 696-9538; Women Group, 561-5501. Valley (Rio Grande): Border 8700. • BOOKS AND THE CULTURE • who is a Valley Mexican American; a black woman is now Secretary of the State (the same position from which Electoral Discrimination Mark White began his political climb By James C. Harrington to the Governor's mansion). In the last 10 years, Hispanics have come to dominate electoral politics in YNDON JOHNSON often Blacks now make up 12 percent of the Rio Grande Valley. San Antonio bragged about the 1965 Voting the Texas legislature, and Hispanic elected Henry Cisneros as mayor, and L Rights Act as his premier piece representation in the state Senate may more than half that city council is of civil rights legislation; just give 'em Hispanic or black. And so on in the vote, he reasoned, and other civil Houston, Corpus Christi, and with rights reforms wouldn't be far behind. MINORITY VOTE countless school boards, county com- History may yet prove him right. In DILUTION missions, and justices of the peace. almost twenty years, the mostly white Chandler Davidson (ed.), However, despite such progress, male leadership in the South and the there remain large gaps in representa- Southwest has begun to give way. Howard University Press, 1984 tion. Even though blacks are 12 percent 298 pages, $24.95 of the Texas population, only 124 James C. Harrington is the legal elected officials of the 24,728 covered 'director for the Texas Civil Liberties hit 20 percent in two years. Texas can by the Voting Rights Act preclearance Union. now boast of a Supreme Court justice provisions are black - a mere 0.8%.

20 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 The same is true of Hispanics, who treatise. The essays speak to different governments not only set policy and take make up 21 percent of the state but only topics but overlap enough to show the actions which affect us directly, but they 6.3 percent of its elected officials. different perspectives and approaches of also are large (and often the largest) Texas also has lower minority repre- the authors. (Davidson co-authors two employers in the community. Especially sentation than most other states of the of the essays, one with George Korbel, in poorer, rural areas the school district South and Southwest. Blacks in Ala- a noted voting rights attorney from San often provides the county's largest bama, Louisiana, Mississippi, the Caro- Antonio). payroll. linas and Virginia are represented at The result is a scholarly, easy-to-read In a real sense, winning a truly about 20 to 25 percent of what their volume, discussing the ins and outs of representational vote is a bread and population would merit; in Texas the electoral discrimination and the Voting butter issue for minorities, since they figure is 6.7 percent (even worse than Rights Act. Politial scientists, govern- are often the poorer members of the Georgia's 14 percent). ment teachers, civil rights workers, and community. The figures for Hispanics in Texas lawyers will find it invaluable; others That accounts in part for "the fierce are just as dismal. Arizona has a will find in Minority Vote Dilution a tenacity" and deviousness with which respectable 81.5 percent representation challenge to complacency — as David- the minority voter is resisted. The issue of its Hispanic population. California son puts it, "minorities can now vote becomes intertwined — as it should — and Colorado show 34 percent and 47 — they just cannot cast an effective with economic opportunity in our soci- percent respectively. But Texas checks vote." ety. Just like Lyndon said. in with a low 30 percent. The lack of an effective vote is more Davidson puts it well: the case on the local level than on the These startling figures underline two It would be a mistake to minimize points. state and national levels, where minority the future potential of ... the Voting First, they show how pervasive the votes can at long last make or break an Rights Act, as well as the Fourteenth discrimination has been in Texas. The election — and result in more minority and Fifteenth Amendments, as levers gains compelled by the Voting Rights appointments to state and national to pry open the tightly shut political Act are dramatic only because the policy-making positions. Stronger na- systems of the South and Southwest. numbers had nowhere to move but up. tional strength explains why Ronald Yet the history of racial minorities in Reagan did an about-face and signed into America, and in those areas in particu- Going from zero to one minority lar is a troubling reminder of the skill, representative on the Abilene City law an extension of the Voting Rights Act, which he had opposed and which the resourcefulness, the fierce tenacity, Council is an impressive gain of 100 and, above all, the patience of privi- percent but still short of the two council strengthened voting rights legislation. leged groups in fighting to uphold the members one would expect in a popula- But it is local government that is more social and political structures that tion which is 7 percent black and 22 important in our day-to-day lives. Local guarantees their dominance. ❑ percent Mexican American. ■ Second, the statistics show the contin- ued vitality of ever more clever tech- niques to delay or deny voting rights, such as at-large elections, run-off elec- tions, place voting, decreased size of governmental bodies, exclusive slating groups, and gerrymandering (cracking, Printers — Stationers — Mailers — Typesetters stacking, and packing) — all of which are effectively manipulated to dilute — High Speed Web Offset Publication Press — minority voting strength. Minority Vote Dilution, an excellent Counseling — Designing collection of 12 essays, edited by Chandler Davidson of Rice University, Copy Writing — Editing contributes to our understanding of these various schemes. The essays analyze Trade — Computer Sales and Services - past and present-day practices of vote dilution, one of the major tactics of - Complete Computer Data Processing Services electoral discrimination (the others being candidate dilution and disenfran- chisement). The historical essays make intriguing points about Texas' past, especially the LIED *FUTURA TRADES UNION COUNCIL LABEL ) PRESS discriminatory impact of the Progressive 7 AUSTIN movement and "reform" government. IN TEXAS For example, the 1905 Terrell Election Law, widely hailed as "progressive," was Texas' major disenfranchising legis- lation. All the essays are well-re- IFIWOLOR111 searched, some are analytical, some 1714 South Congress center on legal arguments, and a few 512/442-7836 offer creative remedies to ensure voting P.O. Box 3485 Austin, Texas 78764 strength and enforcement of voting laws. The essay format saves what other- wise might have been a dry academic

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 21 Untitled Haloed family in late model car door cracked, a luminous island in the deserted asphalt Two women in front study the pickles on their hamburgers Two children in back murmur quietly over their fries furtively scanning the sidewalks uncomfortable in the exposure of the overhead POEMS They chose this street for safety Only a block from the square parked in front of an office By Grady Hillman no cop will ask them to move Here they'll sleep until the birds of dawn alert them to the city Then, with the softness of cats they'll slip into the cafe near the courthouse and sip coffee until 9 or until the patience of the waitress is stretched beyond refills Execution They'll pay and leave for the prison Through the guard's lounge two blocks to sign the sheet through the nervous paper sack clutching crowd Fearful of red-eye guards in pre-release They enter the brass/glass door to the eyes of through the visiting room daddy son mate beige curtains covering bars through the concrete maze through the locker room through the yard packed with wooden shacks tar papered and raw through the dog pen, concertina wire and chain link Song of Autry hovering above the cinderblock box where the condemned exercise Helicopter drone entering the room on a swell of green through death row, ten cells Springtime mid-afternoon window by the bed #1, next to the shower, wire screened sheds a strange limning to our lovemaking for visitors Aching in his throat, he nestles in the yellow room through the green door to Doom comes with the moon, the appointed hour Dour beaked choppers aim aerial cams The gurney grabs you Slam of prison gates rippling through the media flock clean white sheets locked on every movement below leg straps on the other side Slowly, i touch her breast; finger to nipple makes neck and arm straps towards you poignant contact placed near the window that holds the snake plastic silhouette of death no less violent than chalk marks on a sidewalk except non-random organized The room so small, so intimate During electrocutions Meeting the Walls Prison Writer's Workshop reporters must have been frightened for the First Time that fire would leap and scorch from the ignited anemones of fingers 7 men in white to the graphite pencil lightning rods the jury only four feet away sitting in on my life much too close to escape the smoke Faces frozen they observe and feel Now the scribes hover like angels my groping for the key seeking the last utterance of consciousness that will unlock or venomous spit space

Grady Hillman was writer-in-residence with the Windham School System of the Texas Department of Corrections from the fall of 1980 to January 1984. He is the author of a book of poetry, Forces (Place of Herons Press) and a forthcoming book of Inca translations.

22 NOVEMBER 9, 1984 • AFTERWORD •

was found dead in Dinosaur Valley State Park. (So this was the cause of the uneasy vibes, the pensive Fed.) Center had been working only a short while. He had been hired to test computers. The Monster of Dinosaur Valley He was from Washington state. He was 33. He told a co-worker he was going to the park to take pictures of dinosaur By Georgia Earnest Klipple tracks and Texas longhorns. When he didn't show for work subsequently, the volunteer fire department, sheriff, Austin the road from the dinosaur graveyard. D.P.S., Park Rangefs, Brown and Root LEN ROSE, Texas, 50 miles The swimming pool, spring-fed, was employees, and others, some mounted, from the Fort Worth-Big D Olympic size. Not intentionally — the searched for two days. A Ranger found G Metroplex, was an elegant Olympic idea hadn't reached the U.S. Center. He was lying under a tree, his resort from the 1850s to the 1920s. when the pool was dug. Two dozen camera a few feet away. (What was on Fourteen spring-fed spas strung out cabins built of petrified wood sur- the film?) He was in remote reaches of along the Paluxy River catered to the rounded the original bath house, which the park, where visitors rarely go — up affluent who were either ill or indulging is complete with white pillars and still on a mountain, just inside the park the physical fitness kick of the times. used. But the cabins were vacant. (This property fence. (Maybe some longhorns A handful of natives — owners of spas town is almost as dead as the dinosaurs. would climb that mountain, but the and related business, no doubt — Curibus vibes. Isn't that a federal dinosaur tracks he wanted to photograph prospered; witness the half-dozen, once- marshal unhappy over his breakfast at were far below in the river bed. And charming Victorian houses dripping the Linda's Other Place? Over Linda's how far from the park property fence celebrated gingerbread. They crown heavenly cream_ gravy? How could he was Comanche Peak?) Rattlesnake bite, hills and bluffs well above the threat of be?) the locals said. Plenty of rattlesnakes at floods that always came, wiping out a Between the spa and the dinosaur Glen Rose. Two small puncture wounds spa or two each time until only one was graveyard a public park holds picnic below the knee. (Can other things make left. tables. Glen Rose by local option is dry, fang marks?) No official ruling made That isn't all that is unique to Glen so — typical result of such prohibitions public at the time. Rose. Up and down the Paluxy in — the ground around is strewn with The story is not ended. Earlier in the various attitudes of chase and repose are empty beer cans and smashed liquor year the Dallas News mentioned protest- the tracks of meat-eating and plant- bottles. Between the eras of dinosaurs ers at Comanche Peak. The Texas eating dinosaurs forever frozen in stone. and Victorian spas, Indians could survey Observer did a story. Recently a back A group of gigantic rocks shaped like their territory of the many waters, some page item in the Austin American- dinosaur heads and bodies looks like a medicinal (sulphur springs). Statesman observed that a federal petrified dinosaur graveyard. (Strange. A sign, heavily defaced, evidently investigation of Comanche Peak was Those heads with eyes are straight out with the same rebellious vigor that under way. of Walt Disney. This is petrified wood strewed forbidden empties, gives direc- Meanwhile, Comanche Peak broods country. Homes, stores, gasoline sta- tions on how to get out of town in from its hilltop home. Broods over the tions built of it dot the town. Dinosaur emergency. (What emergency? Flood? dead town, the abandoned Indian medic- fossils?) The impressive collection of Well, all you had to do was get up on inal springs, the stomping ground of the dinosaur tracks housed at the Texas the bluff, out of the flood plain. Glen long extinct dinosaur. Broods with a Memorial Museum in Austin was cut Rose had been doing that since before terrible new kind of catastrophic capa- from the rock bed of the Paluxy River the Civil War. This sign is new, just bility. Tyrannosaurus Rex, the terrible at Glen Rose. Texas developed the 1500- scratched up. New things are hard to king lizard, stalked his doomed prey acre Dinosaur Valley State Park around find in Glen Rose. We never did find 200,000,000 years ago along the bed of the tracks. An oil company donated life- the grocery.) Wait, here was something the Paluxy. Undammed Paluxy waters size statues of Brontosaurus and Tyran- new — a brand new, 6-lane, superhigh- obliterated the works of God and the nosaurus Rex — elysian to a child's way, smooth as a mirror, heading works of man for 70 years as spa after eyes. (But where are the children? The nowhere. We drove it. Drove until we spa went down the river and owners tourists? Other state parks are elbow to came to a brown-uniformed, armed went bankrupt. Now it is nuclear power elbow in late summer.) guard in the middle of the highway. To — the High Tech king lizard. A cagey We chose Glen Rose for our vacation one side, a narrow road led to — ah, sign (don't alarm anyone — bad for because two members of our family this was it — the fearsome, round-top business) says "go this way, go that, were under nine and interested in towers of a nuclear power station — in emergency," (Never is the term dinosaurs. It turned out that the rest of Comanche Peak. (So this was the source "nuclear power" used, but always us, well over nine, were intrigued by of possible emergency.) "steam electric station.") You can't a number of things at Glen Rose. We That's still not all. The Glen Rose leave town by way of the slick, new stayed in that one remaining spa across Reporter, a weekly, carried this head- superhighway because — "broad is the line: BODY FOUND IN DINO PARK. path that leadeth unto destruction," as A couple of days before we arrived, the Bible says — the new highway leads Georgia Klipple is a long-time contribu- Bruce Center, identified as a safety into the mouth of the monster. To each tor to the Observer. engineer with the Comanche Peak plant, epoch its own destroyer. ❑ THE TEXAS OBSERVER 23 Postmaster. if undeliverable, send Forth 3579 to The Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th, Austin, Texas 78701

TOXIC WASTE CITIZENS HEARING. Houston. Tuesday, October 2, 1984. 6:00 to 10:00 CLASSIFIED p.m. Free. Speak out on toxic waste; learn about the problems, and solutions, and ways you can help. University of Houston, Hilton, University BOOK HUNTING? No obligation search for rare Park Campus, Entrance #1, Constellation Room or out-of-print books. Sue Spradlin, 261. Contact: Pamela Brodie, Texas Toxics BOOKFRONT. (512) 472-2540, Box 5545, Campaign, 713-526-2667. Austin, Texas 78763. TEXANNA specialist. Browsing by appointment only. 1112 W. 10th, JOIN THE ACLU. Membership $20. Texas Civil Austin. Liberties Union, 600 West 7th, Austin 78701.

Signs • Banners • Decals • Gold Leaf • Show CENTRAL AMERICAN TIMES — Photos, Cards • Window Lettering • Screen Printing • articles by Central Americans, in English transla- Truck Lettering. tion. $18 for 12 issues (one year). Sample issue: Fox Signs, P.O. Box 10816, Dallas 75207. $2. Enlace Press, P.O. Box 159, Port Aransas, Texas 78373.

THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY meets first AUSTIN PUBLIC INTEREST law firm Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m., Austin Public drowning in sea of paperwork needs part-time Library, 800 Guadalupe, meeting room A. Contact assistance with typing and file reorganization. Fun, Gary Edward Johnson, 1500 Royal Crest #132, fast-paced work environment. Great learning BEHIND THE TARPON INN Austin 78741, (512) 441-6378, or LP Headquar- experience. Contact Diane. 477-4451. PORT ARANSAS — OPEN DAILY ters, 7887 Katy Freeway #385, Houston 77024, (713) 686-1776. WHEATSVILLE FOOD CO-OP. 3101 Guada- lupe, Austin 78705. Open 9 to 11. THE AUSTIN TENANTS' COUNCIL'S mobile tool lending library offers a variety of tools for house and apartment repairs to low/moderate income THE JUST-PUBLISHED 1971-1981 Texas tenants or homeowners in East or South Austin. Observer Index is now available. Contact the Transportation provided. Se habla espanol. business office at 600 W. 7th, Austin 78701, (512) 477-0746. ginns' 474-1962. COPYING SERVICE 2404 San Ga- BACKPACKING — MOUNTAINEERING — FREEWHEELING BICYCLES. briel, Austin. For whatever your bicycle needs. RAFTING. Outback Expeditions, P.O. Box 44, Copying • Binding Terlingua, Texas 79852. (915) 371-2490. THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY Printing • Color Copying DRAFT REGISTRATION QUESTONS? Draft VIOLENCE needs your support to our efforts to Graphics •Word Processing counseling available from American Friends end domestic assaults in our state. Only $25 buys a yearly membership and our highly acclaimed Service Committee, 1022 W. 6th, Austin 78703 Austin • Lubbock • Son Marcos (512) 474-2399. monthly newsletter, The River. Write to: Texas Council on Family Violence, 509-A Westy Lynn. Austin, Texas 78703 or call 512/482-8200 for our ••• 41Ck MA BELL by Bryan Sloan is a book explaining membership brochure and newsletter samply. .:i144....►-4, ,,,,, their deceptive accounting practices and how Bell has averaged over 42% profit annually for 25 OPEN MONDAY- SA1V RDAY 10-6 AND OPEN SUNDAY 10- 4 years, and has already received far more telephone Classified advertising is 40(r per word. rate raises than due. $7.50 at your book store Discounts for multiple insertions within a 12- or order postpaid from Vantage Press, 516 West month period: 25 times, 60%; 12 times, 30%; 34th Street, New York, N.Y. 10001. 6 times, 15%. WATSON & COMPANY

Life Insurance and Annuities BOOKS egixa Martin Elfant, CLU 604 BLANCO STREET (PECAN SQUARE) 4724190 4223 Richmond, Suite 213, Houston, TX 77027 Stab= (713) 621-0415

24 NOVEMBER 9, 1984