MARCH 15, 1968 k Texas Observer

ournal of Free Voices A Window to The South 25c ladden Lets COPE Get off the Hook

Galveston whose ranks comes State AFL-CIO presi- reportedly agreed that Texas labor would Don Gladden almost won endorsement dent Hank Brown. Brown was the leader concentrate on Don Yarborough's elec- of opposition to endorsement and put the from the State AFL-CIO's Committee on tion and would not impair Barnes' ef- Political Education (COPE) but in the question here as one of whether delegates forts. Thus a considerable amount of out end settled for a statement that Texas support the leadership of their labor or- of state money, the figure $200,000 was organized labor "recommend[s] support ganization. This was a basis on which heard, most of it from labor sources, for our friend Don Gladden for lieutenant Gladden did not want to wage his contest would be raised for the DY campaign. governor." Probably Gladden had the for endorsement, knowing that if the is- Brown is reported to have given this ver- sue became a vote of confidence for votes to win a floor fight on endorsement sion of the situation during a caucus with Brown then Gladden would fare less well the Harris county delegation the Thurs- but he decided in a meeting with the AFL- than otherwise. CIO executive committee, just before the day night before the convention began. matter was submitted to delegates here, That afternoon Brown reportedly told an that endorsement would not be worth the THE REASONS for Brown's International Brotherhood of Electrical price of causing an almost-certain split .in insistence on no endorsement do not lie Workers caucus that national labor the state labor organization. in fears that labor's money would be money would be made available to Don Yarborough so long as Barnes was not Gladden still is uncertain whether he spread too thin thereby, though most of the state news media reported the story turned on (his chief opponent endorsed) decided the matter correctly. He had by Texas labor. things going his way when he decided to this way. Endorsement does mean labor Yarborough denies making any such let COPE off the hook and not take the commits itself to back a candidate with agreements that would withhold help issue to a probably divisive battle on the money, whereas recommendation does convention floor. It was a tough decision not, but Gladden said he was not pri- from Gladden and aid Barnes. He is known to have talked about the DY cam- and some tears were shed by more than marily seeking labor's money. He told the paign with labor leaders, discussing how one man before it was taken. Don Yar- Observer he gladly would have taken en- to help that drive. Whether Ralph Yar- borough, as expected, won COPE's full dorsement even if it meant he would not endorsement for governor. Republican receive a penny of labor money. En- borough was or was not party to a deal in support of Barnes, probably Meany voters were urged to "consider the quali- dorsement, to Gladden, meant credibility fications" of John Trice for that guberna- as a candidate against the powerful Ben and President Johnson were the main torial nomination. Barnes. It would mean, as he often said prosecutors of the understanding with this weekend, he "would not be relegated Brown, as was discussed in the last issue Gladden maintains he has the strongest in press accounts to the bottom para- of the Observer. If, as is speculated, backing from Texas organized labor that graphs of stories on inside pages next Brown did make a commitment to na- any candidate for lieutenant governor has to stories of Johnnie Mae Hackworth's tional labor leaders that the State AFL- received. This claim probably overlooks gubernatorial campaign." Endorsement CIO would not impede the Barnes cam- 1962, when the AFL-CIO concentrated, in . meant, in Gladden's mind, that he would paign, then Brown's prestige was on the vain, on electing Jimmy Turman virtually be taken seriously by the press, by politi- line at Galveston. Indeed, that appeared to the exclusion of every other statewide cal workers, by other liberal campaign the issue here, since getting some Texas race. Also, Yarborough's 1960 race for the money sources, and by the voters. COPE money was not Gladden's main state's No. 2 job drew high state labor Brown probably under s t o o d this concern, as he said several times during interest, though Gladden is probably cor- and yet he persisted in holding endorse- this weekend. Also a consideration in rect in saying he has more support from ment from Gladden. Probably Brown felt the proceedings, but to a far lesser ex- labor this year than Yarborough did eight tent, was Gladden's underdog role in the years ago. he had been put on the defensive in a very public way by Gladden's determined bid race. Saturday night, after the COPE meeting for endorsement and resented this. But, The International Brotherhood of Elec- broke up, the machinists union, the State more to the point, Brown had committed, trical Workers became an object of much AFL-CIO's largest single component, with somewhere along the line, that Barnes' interest for both Brown and Gladden, 30,000 members, voted endorsement of candidacy is to be given every advantage. though this union had only about 6,000 of Gladden and Yarborough. The next morn- The nature of the deal that Brown has the more than 121,000 votes at the conven- ing the local presidents of the communi- made with national labor leaders is still tion. Since the IBEW is a building trades cations workers unanimously voted en- uncertain. One version is that Sen. Ralph union and since Gladden had managed to dorsement of Gladden. These two unions Yarborough, George Meany, Hank Brown, have them leaning his way through most formed the bulk of Gladden's delegate and Gerald Brown, the executive secre- of the three-day convention ( they went support here and never wavered in their tary of the Texas building trades council, back and forth, according to who was commitment to his endorsement. Gener- had met, evidently in Washington. Presi- haranguing them at caucuses), their im- ally, Gladden's votes here were among the dent Johnson is said to have been in portance became magnified. Gladden felt industrial union members; opposition touch with the men by telephone during he could carry most of the industrial un- came from the building trades from the course of their deliberations. It was ions and, if he could make inroads in the ranks of the building trades, he could win person, and behind the scenes arm twist- my legislative career I have been willing the endorsement. Brown spoke to the ing and cajoling. Gladden at a Friday to walk clown the streets of my home- IBEW Thursday afternoon, Gladden that morning press conference asked that he town with them and I would wish they evening, Brown Friday morning. Early and Barnes be permitted to debate be- would walk down the streets of Galves- Friday afternoon IBEW voted in caucus fore the convention, rather than speak ton with me." to stay with Gladden. Another caucus was separately. Brown later ruled this proce- The swing of the IBEW behind Glad- held at 4 p.m. that day, evidently with no dure contrary to the COPE constitution. den, and word of other smaller locals get- change in stance resulting. Saturday be- Gladden told reporters: "If Barnes has ting behind him (such as a Pasadena oil- fore the vote on endorsement Brown so- made some private commitments to or- workers union that had 7,400 votes), the licited the aid of four senators who have ganized labor the delegates are entitled resolute standing with Gladden of the ma- good labor voting records. Appearing at to know it. These delegates need to know chinists and the CWA all tended to make the IBEW caucus that day were State where Barnes stands on such issues as it appear that things were swinging Glad- Sen. Don Kennard of Fort Worth, A. R. the right to work law." Gladden then read den's way, despite Brown's adamant (Babe) Schwartz of Galveston, Oscar a clipping from the Amarillo Daily News stand. Mauzy of Dallas, and Charles Wilson of of a few days before in which Barnes was Then, Friday night, it appeared that Lufkin, who urged that Gladden not be quoted as saying, "... I strongly support Gladden had locked things up with a endorsed. the right to work laws. I passed a resolu- timely boost from Senator Yarborough. tion last session of the legislature when The senator spoke to a banquet with Schwartz had, the day before, spon- Congress was in session considering right great enthusiasm about liberals' chances sored a coffee reception for Barnes at a to work laws, asking all the Texas Con- in Texas this year, saying "this year fashionable restaurant. Among those on gressmen to vote against repeal. I sent you can win any election you want to hand were State Rep Carl Parker, Port them all telegrams, went to Washington, win," then turned his attention to issues Arthur, Kennard, Wilson, and Mauzy. On and did not testify but was there to be that interest him in the US Senate and hearing what Schwartz planned, State called upon if my testimony was needed." then to state politics. Discussing his Rep. Ed Harris, Galveston, a liberal races for governor in the 1950's Yarbo- House colleague of Gladden's, announced "These delegates need to know this," rough suddenly said, "But what hap- that he would hold a competing recep- Gladden went on, "and whether [Barnes] pened in 1956? Jerry Holleman [Brown's tion for Gladden at a Walgreen's drug has privately committed to the contrary predecessor as state AFL-CIO president] store, which, unlike the restaurant, is on this issue .... The people of Texas defeted to Price Daniel." Holleman, who fully integrated. However, Gladden was need to know this .... Ben Barnes, in later became a consultant to manage- unable to attend this affair since he be- view of his bad labor voting record, must ment, was referred to once or twice came tied up in eleventh hour negotia- have made some sort of commitment to more by Yarborough, who then said, tions. get this labor support. "You took me on faith in those years of "It seems to be the number one issue the 1950's, I had no proven record of THURSDAY AND Friday were before this convention whether Hank service. But if you've got a man of the given to caucuses, hearing emissaries of Brown can keep me from getting labor's legislature who's served already, you Brown or Gladden or those two men in endorsement," Gladden went on. "During know his record . . . and you don't sup- port him, let me tell you the lobbyists and others will be there next year telling you `So and so voted all those years for THE TEXAS OBSERVER labor and when he ran they turned their The Texas Observer Publishing Co. backs on him.' . . . Let the people know A Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South 62nd YEAR—ESTABLISHED 1906 who stuck their necks out against the Shivers and Connally types that you're Vol. LX, No. 5 March 15, 1968 gonna stand up for them, too. . . ." This was almost unanimously inter- Incorporating the State Observer and the East Unsigned articles are the editor's. preted by those in the audience as the Texas Democrat, which in turn incorporated the Subscription Representatives: A r ling t o n, senator's saying: "Endorse Gladden." The State Week and Austin Forum-Advocate. George N. Green, 300 E. South College St., CR 7- audience, not having anticipated any- 0080; Austin, Mrs. Helen C. Spear, 2615 Pecos, We will serve no group or party but will hew HO 5-1805; Corpus Christi, Penny Dudley, 1224 1/2 thing of this sort, became excited. hard to the truth as we find it and the right Second St., TU 4-1460; Dallas, Mrs. Cordye Hall, "I broke the 'sound barrier' in Texas," as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole truth, 5835 Ellsworth, TA 1-1205; El Paso, Philip Himel- Yarborough went on, referring to his to human values above all interests, to the rights stein, 331 Rainbow Circle, 584-3238; Ft. Worth, of man as the foundation of democracy; we will Dolores Jacobsen, 3025 Greene Ave., WA 4-9655; being the first postwar statewide candi- take orders from none but our own conscience, Houston, Mrs. Kitty Peacock, PO Box 13059, date to speak out for liberal values, "and and never will we overlook or misrepresent the 523-0685; Lubbock, Doris Blaisdell, 2515 24th St.; now those who are trying to get in- la- truth to serve the interests of the powerful or Midland, Eva Dennis, 4306 Douglas, OX 4-2825; cater to the ignoble in the human spirit. Snyder, Enid Turner, 2210 30th St., HI 3-9497 or bor halls [to speak] across the state are HI 3-6061; San Antonio, Mrs. Mae B. Tuggle, 531 those who have antilabor records. .. . Editor, Greg Olds. Elmhurst, TA 6-3583; Wichita Falls, Jerry Lewis, Associate Editor, Kaye Northcott. 2910 Speedway, 766-0409. "Tomorrow is March 2. It's Texas In- Editor-at-large, Ronnie Dugger. dependence Day. . . . Sam Houston broke Business Manager, Sarah Payne. The Observer is published by Texas Observer Associate Manager, C. R. Olofson. Co., Ltd., biweekly from Austin, Texas. Entered a military dictatorship in Texas. Let me as second-class matter April 26, 1937, at the Post tell you this is the year to break the Contributing Editors, Winston Bode, Bill Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act of March [Establishment's] yoke. Where Sam Brammer, Lee Clark, Sue Horn Estes, Larry 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at Austin, Goodwyn, Harris Green, Bill Helmer, Dave Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $6.00 a year; Houston had 783 persons with him you've Hickey, Franklin Jones, Lyman Jones, Larry L. two years, $11.00; thred years, $15.00. Foreigr got four million [registered voters]. It King, Georgia Earnest Klipple, Al Melinger, rates on request. Single copies 25c; prices for Robert L. Montgomery, Willie Morris, James ten or more for students, or bulk orders, on ought to be easy." Presley, Charles Ramsdell, John Rogers, Mary request. It then seemed that Roy Evans, the Beth Rogers, Roger Shattuck, Robert Sherrill, Dan Strawn, Tom Sutherland, Charles Alan Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas Ob- secretary-treasurer of the State AFL-CIO, Wright. server, 504 West 24th St., Austin, Texas 78705. all but acknowledged that the senator's Telephone GR 7-0746. Editor's residence phone, Contributing Photographer, Russell Lee. words had put the final touch of victory GR 8-2333. on Gladden's campaign for endorsement. The editor has exclusive control over the edi- Houston office: 1005 S. Shepherd Drive, Hous- Evans is known to have supported en- torial policies and contents of the Observer. ton, Texas 77019. Telephone 523-0685. None of the other people who are associated dorsement for Gladden and to have dif- with the enterprise shares this responsibility Change of Address: Please give old and new fered at times with Brown on how the with him. Writers are responsible for their own address and allow three weeks. work, but not for anything they have not them- organization should be run. It evidently selves written, and in publishing them the editor Form 3579 regarding undelivered copies: Send seemed to Evans that it had suddenly does not necessarily imply that he agrees with to Texas Observer, 504 W. 24th, Austin, Texas them, because this is a journal of free voices. 78705. become time to close ranks; he said, of Brown, "I know who's sold the pro- sided. Barnes called for changes in the Texas labor — he's been our friend. While gram of the labor movement the last workmen's compensation law, progress we may not share his aspirations on this seven years. . . . I know who is the presi- in education, fighting pollution, height- matter we know he'll continue as our dent of the Texas AFL-CIO." He recalled ened industrial development, annual leg- friend." Brown then turned toward the that when Brown first was named presi- islative sessions, a revised state consti- press table and cautioned the press not dent, at Galveston in 1961 "the labor tution, and "a special agency in the state to write about a "civil war" existing with- movement didn't come into town with government to be singled out to handle in the ranks of labor, recalling that in $150,000 [to spend on election cam- the problems of the working man." He 1961, when a labor convention faced an- paigns]. It came in with nothing. . . . cautioned the delegates not to "take for other potentially divisive issue the State "I don't know how you stand now," granted that someone is against you with- AFL-CIO came out of that all right and Evans went on, speaking of the Glad- out ever talking to them." He was in- has since increased its membership by den matter. "You may beat both Hank terrupted by applause once, when he three times. Brown predicted that if a and me tomorrow. . . . Hank says we said, "I stand ready to work with you "civil war" ensued at this convention won't have to have a roll call vote to- "we'll probably just come back six years morrow. . . . But I agree with Hank from now three times as strong as to- [whatever happens] it won't divide us." day." Evans then dramatically introduced 114Holleman Urged: Gladden said, "I want to talk to you Gladden, who was seated in the audience. about the 'civil war,' too. Whatever war He was the only person not at the head there is will be over this afternoon and table to be introduced. Tumultuous ap- ork with Shivers there will be an honorable peace," he plause ensued from most of the crowd, Houston said, to applause. He praised Brown's mostly on its feet. There were some scat- and Evans' contributions to the state la- tered boos. Senators Mauzy and Schwartz Jerry Holleman, the first president bor movement and then turned to the did not join in the ovation. of the Texas AFL-CIO, is quoted in a matter of his endorsement, asserting recent issue of the conservative "Whatever action is taken today I'll be Houston Tribune as saying he urged, out there working for the same goals G LADDEN AND his supporters unsuccessfully, that -labor try to work were jubilant after the banquet, feeling as I have for the last ten or twenty with Allan Shivers when Shivers first years. . . . The issue here is whether victory the next day now within grasp. became governor. There was some concern that Yarborough you're going to support a candidate who "One of the greatest mistakes believes in your philosophy." He then had been at least obliquely critical of Texas labor ever made," Holleman is Brown, in recalling the now-embarrassing took the ten points of labor's bill of quoted as saying, "was splitting with rights one by one and discussed his past Holleman incident of 1956 and perhaps Allan Shivers in 1950 and opposing subtly suggesting that that situation was stands on each. His most enthusiastic him. They did that over my protest applause came when he said, of the mini- comparable to Brown's handling of the and the protests of some other labor Gladden matter this year. Yarborough mum wage, "Instead of going to New told the officials. We could have gotten along Braunfels, as the previous speaker did, Observer he did not intend his with Shivers and had very cordial remarks to be construed as pertaining I went and marched with the Valley farm relations with him the whole time he workers." Recalling his being the princi- to the Gladden endorsement situation was governor." nor to be critical of Brown, whom he de- pal author last year of a bill providing The Tribune summarized the situa- for union shops for public employees, scribed as "my good friend." But virtu- tion: "Instead, Shivers reacted in ally everyone who attended the banquet Gladden recalled, "we only got twelve much the same manner as most poli- votes... . We couldn't win but that wasn't could see the speech only in this light, ticians do when someone attacks so much on the delegates' minds was the the issue and it shouldn't be the issue them. He fought back and gave labor here today." Repeating Barnes' statement Gladden endorsement question. And, it a rough time. And, although he is noted, Yarborough had been picked in the Amarillo paper about the state wanted to retire to private life after right to work law Gladden said, to thun- up at the Houston airport and driven to serving his second elective term as the Galveston banquet by A. L. Smith, derous applause, "I don't believe Texas governor, the threats of labor to beat organized labor wants the presiding offi- president of an 11,000-member Fort him prompted him to run for and Worth machinists' local and the key man cer of the highest elective body of the win a third term." state to be a man who on every oppor- in leading machinist support for endorse- The Tribune ment. article contended that tunity has voted against the people — labor is this year committing the There was talk that the building trades especially when there is running against same "blunder" as it did with Shivers him a man who on every opportunity might pull out if Gladden were endorsed, in not endorsing Ben Barnes for lieu- has voted with the people." which would be a damaging blow to tenant governor. "Organized labor ap- the State AFL-CIO. The next day, the parently intends to demonstrate once day endorsements and recommendations again this year its long-nurtured tra- A THREE-HOUR recess then were to be announced, it was clear Brown dition for cutting off its nose to spite occurred so the executive committee had not given up and was still working its face," the Tribune story said. El could form its recommendation to the against endorsing Gladden. Later that delegates. The committee used this time morning Barnes and Gladden spoke to to confer with Gladden and it was fin- the delegates. Gene Smith, the Fort Worth to solve the many problems that face ally agreed that he would accept a rec- conservative who is the third man in the Texas." ommendation. The committee unani- race, declined to appear, wiring Brown Barnes closed with a significant story mously ratified the agreement. that "my two liberal opponents . . . are taken from the life of Sam Houston, say- That afternoon as delegates filed into welcome to such endorsement," since "I ing "I can't vouch for its authenticity, the meeting center word of the agree- do not seek the endorsement of any polit- but this morning I can share the senti- ment spread and tension eased. There ical power group of organized labor...." ment expressed by it. It's my under- was keen disappointment by many who Barnes was introduced by Brown, who standing that Sam Houston—as he fought had stood fast for an endorsement, re- said, "We found in the last session of the to protect our state—once lifted his head lief among those who were concerned legislature we could have some rapport in prayer and asked for the help of the more about the effects of the conven- with this man." Barnes promised fair- Almighty. Then he qualified it by saying, tion's decision on the future of the state ness if elected lieutenant governor, point- 'But, Lord, if you can't help ME, please labor organization. ed out that four of six bills in which la- don't help my enemies!' " Brown, looking pleased, opened the bor was most interested in 1967 were Gladden was introduced by Brown as , session, saying, "The pressure is begin- passed by the House over which he pre- "a man who needs no introduction to March 15, 1968 3

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ning to ease just the least bit." Gladden there were a few scattered no's. Brown ens, Joe Pool of Dallas, and to help Cong. was permitted, as a special courtesy, to said, "Now 1 see some of you smiling John Young, Corpus Christi. appear before the delegates. He was es- who were not. It's a lot easier now than In the hours following the convention corted to the rostrum by a five-man com- it was two hours ago." Gladden was given more than $2,p00 from mittee. He was greeted enthusiastically various labor sources. by the delegates, who gave him a stand- Brown told the Galveston newspaper The next day, addressing the CWA lo- ing ovation. that a floor fight vote could have gone cal presidents, Gladden said, "Most likely either way, depending on what time of I could've gotten a demonstration of "I have worked long and hard in the day the vote was taken. He said the ma- strength on the floor. . . Yesterday at last several weeks lining up my friends jority kept switching throughout the con- noon [when the crucial decision was to win the endorsement of this conven- vention and noted that one delegation made with the executive committee tion," he began. "I am satisfied that if had held eleven caucuses one day. He said against a floor fight] I was physically the people in this convention work as he had never seen such "an emotional exhausted and possibly didn't exercise hard in the precincts as they have in this stirring of so many people." COPE has my best judgment," said Gladden, who convention on this issue we can win this $100,000 or so ready to spend on Texas had gotten two or three hours' sleep race . . . I could have come forward on political races, not counting local area each of the two nights before the vote. the floor of this convention — but it council money that also will be spent "Are you happy and satisfied with the would have been somewhat damaging to as those councils see fit. Another $100,000 outcome?" a CWA man asked. "I'm more this organization and to the chances of will be sought. Most of the state COPE content than satisfied," Gladden an- candidates we support. . . . With the Money will go for legislative and Con- swered. "We did what we came here to friends I've got within and without or- gressional campaigns. It is understood do," he said, indicating he believed his ganized labor I'm satisfied we're going that funds already committed include: candidacy would be taken more serious- forward and win," Gladden said, to more $25,000 for Don Yarborough, $75,000 for ly now. "But there was a time or two yes- cheers. legislative races, and $15,000 in four Con- terday afternoon when I wasn't sure I On the voice vote as to endorsing Yar- gressional campaigns, against Cong. Bob was either satisfied or content. . . But I borough and recommending Gladden Casey of Houston, John Dowdy of Ath- believe we did the right thing." G.O. YD's Debate Vietnam, Rangers

Galveston known as the state YD convention. The of North Vietnam, efforts to deescalate YD's ranged in age from late teens to late the war, recognition in negotiation of Some 450 Young Democrats represent- all thirties but their generations didn't seem parties involved in the conflict, including ing approximately 4,500 members to gap. To the last one they were straight. throughout Texas traveled to Galveston They dressed straight (suits, Sunday the National Liberation Front, massive last weekend for the 17th annual bash dresses), they talked straight (if at times land reform programs in South Vietnam unintelligibly in the parlance of the Pan- and an international conference of all handle or the Piney Woods), they acted concerned parties in Vietnam. straight (beer drinkers, not pot smokers, Kaye Northcott despite the fact they passed a platform The minority report, presented by the asking that alcohol and marijuana be University of Texas at Austin, did not governed by similar laws). They demon- mention the president. It criticized "ruth- Joins the Staff strated a belief in the efficacy of the less bombing of industrial and popula- democratic process and in their Demo- tion centers" in North Vietnam and the Austin ci-atic party. bombing of Laos. "An ineffectual policy Kaye Northcott joined the Observer has thus been relentlessly expanded in its There was little talk of Lyndon John- application," the report said. staff on March 4 as associate editor. son at the convention. A number of dele- She was editor of the Daily Texan at gations displayed McCarthy stickers, but "America cannot remain indifferent to the University of Texas, Austin, holds when the showdown came on Vietnam the suffering exacted upon the civilian journalism and literature degrees the majority supported the president's population of Vietnam by a war which from UT, and has worked for several policy. The convention passed by a vote perpetuates a corruptly inefficient and news publications. of 424 to 109 a moderate resolution on reactionary regime which has little sup- Miss Northcott, 24, is a native of Vietnam similar to those passed by the port among the people of Vietnam. Such Kansas City, Mo., and, at age seven, last two state conventions. The statement, a government cannot win the war, and moved to Houston, where her parents written by the North Texas State Univer- such a government ought not to win the still live. Her first professional jour- war .... We must come to grips with the sity delegation, read in part, "America's human and ideological aspects of this nalistic job was in Detroit during the interest, the interest of peace, cannot be 1964 newspaper strike in that city; horrible, brutalizing war." furthered by expanding the military con- she was assistant editorial page edi- The UTYD's recommended negotiations tor of the Detroit Daily Press, an in- flict in Asia. Such a goal can only be with the NLF and a reconvening of the terim newspaper which gathered a brought about through a negotiated peace Geneva Cony en t i o n. If negotiations circulation of 280,000 before folding .... Today, while we have grave misgiv- should fail, the delegation recommended at the end of the strike. ings for the validity of our original com- "cessation of efforts to control the coun- Since then Miss Nor t h c o t t has mitment, we see no practical alternative tryside of Vietnam in favor of concentra- tion on safeguarding the major cities and worked with the Houston Chronicle, to our basic positinn of now being in the Capitol Bureau of Newspapers securing the lives of those who depend Vietnam. Inc. (the Austin, Waco, Port Arthur, on the United States' military force for and Lufkin dailies), as a summer "The Young Democrats recognize the their safety, and giving increased atten- tion to the formation of a civilian Saigon trainee for Newsweek magazine, and sincerity of the president in searching for with the Houston Post. fl government which has rapport with the a meaningful solution of the conflict." population." As a basis for negotiations, the plat- Because the convention was behind 4 The Texas Observer form suggested a pause in the bombing schedule, debate on the Vietnam issue was limited to 15 minutes on each pro- ceived a black eye in the eyes of the world employed and well-trained enough nar- posed plank. Discussion was calm. from those in your generation who have cotics agents to ferret out every narcotics burned draft cards and blocked entrance- pusher in this country. [Applause.] When ways .... thrown empty bottles at the we convict them, they'll get the longest THE MOST controversial issue car of the president of the United States," prison term that we can give brought to the convention floor was not them." he said. "When you have destroyed part When Carr asked how many YD's pre- Vietnam but the Texas Rangers. The plat- of the office of president, you have de- form committee (which met for seven sent had ever attended one of the Youth stroyed a very fine part of America." Conferences on Crime which he spon and one-half hours, until 5:30 a.m. Sun- [Applause.] sored, fewer than five persons stood up. day) adopted a plank calling for stricter "If I get to be governor of this state," He received a standing ovation from ap- regulation of the Rangers by the Depart- Carr said, "I'm going to see that there are proximately half of the audience at the ment of Public Safety. A minority report end of his speech. supported by the Mexican-American YD's The second candidate to speak, John called for the abolition of the Rangers. Hill, received an enthusiastic reception. A group of about eight Mexican-Ameri- Echoes He told the YD's he supports reregistra- cans caucused Saturday night and agreed Austin tion by voting, all of the latest recommen- to walk out if its platform demands were Walter G. Hall's article, "What's dations of the Texas State Teachers Asso- not adopted. Although Negro delegates Right with LBJ?", which appeared in ciation, and improved workmen's com- had been invited to the caucus, none the Feb. 16 Observer, was reprinted pensation laws. chose to attend. recently by the Houston Post. On racial disturbances, Hill said, "Poli- State president Betsey Wright spoke in The Observer's Feb. 2 issue on de- ticians speak of urban riots only in terms favor of abolition of the Rangers, but she fense spending in Texas was dis- of suppression. Statesmen speak of urban added emotionally, "There is no one who Ctissed at length in the St. Louis Post- riots in terms of suppression and conven- can walk out of this convention and say Dispatch, as was a report on the tion." The former secretary of state said that the YD's are not a friend of the same subject issued later by the he has proposed an interagency prepared- Mexican-Americans." The c o n v en t ion Ripon Society, a liberal Republican ness committee to make plans between voted for abolishing the Rangers by a research and policy organization. The the Department of Public Safety and the vote of 287 to 237. Ripon Forum, published by the so- National Guard. But, he added, "to talk in Most of the long platform was passed ciety, is quoted in the Post-Dispatch terms of suppressing a riot is not to help without being read on the convention as suggesting "that the Johnson fam- racial harmony. I plan to create a task floor and many delegates probably had no ily has a direct economic stake in the force to deal with our problems in this idea what they were passing. The pream- defense boom. By even the most easy- area." ble to the state affairs section said: going standards there seems to be Near the end, Hill warmed to his "The State of Texas produces one-half massive porkbarreling going on be- speech. "Nobody needs to tell me about of the nation's natural gas, one-third of- tween Lyndon Johnson's government industrial safety," he shouted. "I was its oil, and stands sixth in the nation in and Lyndon Johnson's friends." there trying cases for the injured." gross resources. Yet she has not chosen New Left Notes, the national publi- "You talk to me about the mental insti- to utilize these resources for the benefit cation of the Students for a Demo- tutions of this state, I've been there." of her citizens, and as a result, Texas is cratic Society, also took note of the Then he paused and the audience paused. 32nd in the nation in education, 43rd in Feb. 2 Observer, saying: The YD's began to titter and then they the rate of improvement of teachers' pay, "... The information found in this roared. Hill grinned, ducked his head and and has three and one-half million people issue's three lead articles is relevant said, "Maybe later I'll get the charm of a in the poverty bracket, more than in any to more than Texas radicals. 'The John Kennedy. Good night." The crowd other state. Military in Texas,' Informing the Cit- gave him a standing ovation. "Texas is one of only 13 states without izenry,' and 'The Profit of Defense' The candidates were given a spot on a minimum wage law, and is the only constitute the beginnings of a por- the agenda according to the tightness of industrial state without such legislation. trait outlining the military-industrial- their schedules for the evening. After She has long been more concerned with educational complex as it appears on Carr and Hill had both spoken about 30 producing a climate favorable for profits a statewide level. Movement organ- minutes each, Don Yarborough got his rather than one favorable for the develop- izers in any state or urban center turn. The speech was short since he was ment of industrial safety. should make research of this sort a due at a dinner in Waco. He received a "The government of Texas has failed to starting point .for any long-range stra- standing ovation as he walked into the even provide hope for an end to the op- tegic planning, even if they are lim- room. pression of minority groups. In her con- ited to a campus base. On the issue "It is no longer acceptable for some- stitution, Texas affirms that political of university connections with the one to say 'I happen to be for this or that power is inherent to the people, yet she military, the Observer reports on a program.' He must also say how rapidly has betrayed the interest of her citizens. two-week national security seminar the program will be brought out," he said. "The Young Democratic Clubs of Texas conducted at Trinity University by "I am committed to a minimum wage believe that Texas deserves better." the Industrial College of the US of $1.25 in Texas," he said, and the YD's The theme of the convention was "The armed forces. The seminar's admin- gave him another standing ovation. Yar- War on Poverty—toward a new sense of istrator was Col. Leon Taylor, who is borough also stated his support for the dignity and self-confidence." Both Walter also the college's director of public TSTA program, permanent registration, H. Richter, Southwest regional director information. The report contains this Rex Braun's strict pollution bills, and for the Office of Economic Opportunity, gem: 'What do you say to the propo- massive vocational training programs in and Dr. William H. Crook, director of sition that the university is not the Texas. VISTA, spoke to the delegates. Miss place for a military seminar?' the Ob- Referring to Eugene Locke's singing Wright, a member of Sen. Ralph Yarbor- server asked Colonel Taylor. 'We commercials, Yarborough said, "Every ough's staff in Austin, was reelected state think it is the place for this sort of time one of you hear these thousands of president by acclamation. thing,' Taylor said." jingles, I want you to pledge to go out "Perhaps," New Left Notes says, and get one more vote for Don Yarbor- THREE DEMOCRATIC candi- "we should • organize homecoming ough." dates for governor and one for lieutenant parades rather than protest demon- strations when military personnel governor spoke at the convention. Wag- A. R. (BABE) Schwartz of Gal- goner Carr was received somewhat coolly. come to visit our knowledge factor- ves ton spoke for Ben Barnes, a candidate He scored draft resisters, war protesters ies." and drug users. "Your generation has re- March 15, 1968 3 for lieutenant governor, who was not for lieutenant governor, was given proba- Austin to petition for redress of their present. Schwartz, a veteran liberal in the bly the warmest reception of any politi- grievances is not in the American tradi- Texas Senate, explained "the reason Ben cian present. Gladden and Yarborough tion. I disagree." Barnes is important is because he is stickers were rife in the auditorium. The Although Hill and Yarborough had hos- young. He is coming into his first state state representative attacked Barnes, but pitality rooms in the hotel that night, position. I have had no reason to pro- not by name. "One of my opponents talks Gladden was the only candidate who re- test him yet," Schwartz said. "Let's see about crime in the streets," Gladden said.. turned to the convention. Perched atop a what he will do. I'm willing to stop pro- "I say look at the social and economic television set which sat on a dresser in a testing. I'm ready to start passing legis- evils that cause them and correct them. lation." The senator received applause, but room on the seventh floor of the Flagship only a few YD's stood at the end of his "We have a young man seeking the lieu- Hotel, Gladden talked and argued with speech. tenant governorship who thinks that for a YD's until the early hours of Sunday Don Gladden, running against Barnes group of Latin-Americans to come to morning. K.N. The Green Card Dilemma

El Paso permitted to live across the border and their Juarez maids and gardeners, as evi- work in the United States provided he denced Like Topsy, the "green card" alien com- by letters to the El Paso Herald had achieved immigrant status and held Post. The Anglos' evident concern has led muter system has simply grown and an alien registration receipt card, the some Mexican-Americans to think that grown over the last 40 years into what green card (which now is blue). many Anglos (as well as many Mexican- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy called the in- Americans ) have come to regard the corrigible "creature of administrative in- Texas Sen. Ralph Yarborough, a co- Southwest as a sort of antebellum South genuity." To correct the situation Ken- sponsor of the Kennedy bill, contends that the full extent of the green card problem with Mexicans fulfilling the domestic nedy introduced, in December, a bill pro- roles of cooks, servants, and nannies once viding "that each commuter alien must can't now be known, as no one knows how many green carders there are, where they played by Negroes, stereotyping Mexicans be regularly certified every six months just as the plantation system stereotyped by the Department of Labor that his American Negroes. presence in the United States to seek or However, the question of commuter continue employment does not adversely Philip Darraugh Ortego maids is not a green card problem; it is affect the wages and working conditions a white card problem and closely related of American workers similarly employed." to the overall dilemma. White cards are The bill contains provisions for revoca- work, and the extent to which they de- intended to permit persons from Mexico tion of a commuter alien's labor clearance press wages north of the Rio Grande. to shop in the United States. Many maids, for violation of immigration regulations, Yarborough says estimates range from gardeners, and other workers use the such as the prohibition on strikebreak- 40,000 to 400,000 green carders. white cards to cross the border to their ing. US jobs. Do the white carders work in The green card alien commuter system N JANUARY and February other occupations? No one knows for is a loophole in the US immigration laws the Select Commission on Western Hem- sure. If they do, which jobs? For what that permits an alien to work in the isphere Immigration held hearings in El wages? And to what extent, if any, does United States by day and live in Mexico Paso, San Diego (California), Browns- the white carder adversely affect wages by night. Legally this "commuter" has ville, and Detroit to assess the alien com- and working conditions in American bor- met all the requirements for immigrant muter's impact on the US border econ- der cities? status in the United States; that is, he is omy. The commission was established a There are 50,000 green card holders in a bona fide "potential" American citizen few years ago by Congress and is com- the El Paso area, of whom an estimated But the rub is that unlike other immi- posed of 15 members—five Senators, five 12,000 commute north of the river grants (with the exception of Canadians) House members, and five persons select-. ( though, again, Sen. Yarborough believes, most green carders are immigrants in ed by the President. It was formed to con- in the absence of reliable data, that such the true sense of the word, since they do sider just such problems as the green figures are questionable). Of the area's not come into this country for permanent card situation. 75,000 white card holders, how many are residence. They are simply making the The week before the commission's El illegal commuter workers? best of two worlds; earning what to them Paso hearing the US-Mexico Border Cities The figures that most alarm Yarbo- are high wages in the United States and Association Assembly, a group of busi- rough are the unemployment rates for spending them in Mexico, a country that ness leaders, went on record not only Texas and El Paso. He said at the local has a considerably lower cost of living. urging development of new alien com- hearing that the unemployment rate in The effect of this is to depress wages muter programs to insure the free flow El Paso was 4.4% last November, com- paid in US border cities. of labor between the United States and pared to Texas' 2.8% and the nation's The "commuter system" actually repre- Mexico, but also strongly opposed the 1.9%. Senator Kennedy, unable to attend sents an international rapprochement Kennedy bill. Most of the delegates were the hearing here, said in a prepared state- between the United States and Mexico; convinced that the bill would seriously ment that unemployment rates are very many critics of the system have come to much higher in such Texas communities affect the economy of border cities. En- as Laredo, Eagle Pass, Zapata, Brackett- call it a "revolving door" policy as to rique Munoz Brohez, a former president foreign labor. Back in the 'twenties when of the Juarez chamber of commerce, said ville, Cotulla, and Crystal City, while the the United States needed the labor that "tremendous problems" would be cre- estimated number of commuters from was available in both Canada and Mex- ated in this country, particularly in relo- Mexico has been more than double the ico, an informal agreement was struck cating the families of green carders to number of unemployed. • that created the alien commuter. He was north of the border. Misunderstanding of the Kennedy bill LOCAL BUSINESS leaders Mr. Ortego is on the faculty of New has led many El Pasoans to believe that from both sides of the border testified Mexico State University and lives in El the legislation would close the border, that any disruption of the status quo Paso. creating an economic depression along would have dire effects on the economies the border. Many local housewives were of both El Paso and Juarez. One business 6 The Texas Observer concerned about the prospective loss of spokesman said the Kennedy bill was "missing the point." Another argued that long duration, is recommended by this undercutting US labor standards, and the "no effort to improve El Paso's lot would commission." twin-plant concept of American compan- succeed without a companion effort to ies establishing plants on the Mexican improve Juarez." Businessmen testified side of the border, using low wage labor that Latin women possess "an inimitable BUT MOST OF the labor leaders to assemble US semi-finished goods for testifying before the commission de- dexterity that is necessary in the needle the American market. The Texas AFL- trade." Justification for hiring Mexicans plored the necessity for more surveys, CIO has adopted a resolution repudiating studies, and hearings. "You know our in El Paso's garment industry was based the green card system. on the contention that they are "pecu- problems," one of them said. "Give us some relief to once and for all get rid of In his testimony before the commis- liarly adapted to the garment industry." sion, David North, executive director of Americans of Mexican descent often were this very unfair competition to our work- ers." the Inter-Agency Committee on Mexican referred to as "our people" by the Anglo American Affairs, insisted that "some business leaders. Henry Munoz, Jr., equal opportunity type of control needs to be installed since A presentation by the El Paso Cham- director of the Texas AFL-CIO, testified the history of this system makes it im- ber of Commerce had a touch of the that "the alien commuter [green card] mensely clear that the normal labor mar- promotional about it, complete with pam- law is 'an international racket' because ket forces will never cause a rise in wages phlets extolling the virtues of El Paso. At workers who are citizens of the United and working conditions along the US- one point in the presentation one of these States in border towns are treated worse Mexican border.:' And in the closing re- virtues was identified as the availability now than they were 30 years ago." He marks of his testimony, J. D. Givens, of cheap labor. The tenor of the business called the US-Mexico border the "Mexi- secretary-treasurer of the El Paso cen- community's case was that "the only solu- can-Dixon line," arguing that "many em- tral labor union, restated the position of tion to the problems of the underprivi- ployers in Texas prefer commuters to citi- the members of the AFL-CIO in El Paso: leged in the El Pso area and probably zen workers because the commuter is "If aliens are working in this country along the entire US-Mexico border is to more easily exploited." Munoz went on to they should be required to live here." upgrade skills and to create job oppor- identify the primary cause of unemploy- tunities." ment and underemployment as the unfair The Mexican government has expressed A number of witnesses urged delibera- labor competition created by the green its opposition to any modification of the tion and gradualism, arguing that "econo- card commuters. He urged that "the De- present status of the green card com- mics alone must not be the sole concern" partment of Labor issue a regulation for a muters. Mexican Foreign Secretary An- of the commission, because the problem minimum wage law of $1.25 to be appli- tonio Carillo Flores contends that the deals "with human lives, with basic hu- cable to green-card holders and commut- green card commuters have "acquired man needs" that encompass the "en- ers," as a step toward solving the deli- rights" and that any change of their sta- tire sociological spectrum." The Rev. Rob- cate international problem. Another step tus would be a violation of those rights. ert Getz, a young priest from Fabens, he recommended was that unfair exemp- But the nature of those rights remains Texas, implored the commission not to tions from the Fair Labor Standards to be defined. And what of the rights of disrupt what has become a "way of life," Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the American worker? the same words used at the hearing by and the Child Labor Laws "should be re- The green card dilemma invites no William P. Hughes, US consul general in moved so that all workers from both easy resolution, but it seems clear some- Juarez. Dr. Melvin P. Straus, professor sides of the Rio Grande are accorded the thing must be done. One witness put it: of political science at the University of safeguards of the laws." Above all, he "The way we stand now, we just keep Texas at El Paso, suggested "the need for pointed out, the Texas AFL-CIO is not looking away to see if the problem ceases more extensive research before any leg- trying to shut down the Texas border. It to exist." The problem will not go away; islation, or at least legislation meant for is simply opposed to runaway plants, it can only get worse. 0 The Riot Commission Speaks

Austin turbance: "Three civil rights advocates deeply into Houston and some of those It was a series of racial incidents which were arrested for leading a protest and other cities because Congress was tread- precipitated the disorder at Texas South- for their participation in organizing a ing over that ground with heavy boots at ern University last May [Obs., June 9-23], boycott of classes at the predominantly the time we were making our study," the according to the US Riot Commission Negro Texas Southern University. "Bond Post reported. The commission member Report released March 2. "We found that was set at $25,000 each. The court refused was referring to the Senate investigating violence was generated by an increasingly for several days to reduce bond, even committee's riot hearings. disturbed social atmosphere, in which though TSU officials dropped the charges The complete text of the 250,000 word typically not one but a series of incidents which they had originally pressed." report has been printed in paperback by occurred over a period of weeks or The report gave a one-page account of Bantam and is available in many book- months prior to the outbreak of disor- the TSU disturbance in which a police- stores for $1.25. ders," the report said. "Most cities had man was killed and several persons in- jured. "The origin of the shot that killed three or more such incidents; Houston THE COMMISSION report did had ten over a five-month period. the officer was not determined," it said. The commission explained it did not not set lightly with a majority of state "These earlier or prior incidents were and city leaders. Gov. John Connally linked in the minds of many Negroes to make a thorough study of the economic factors in the Negro communities in pshawed the commission's charge that the pre-existing reservoir of underlying "white racism" was a fundamental cause grievances. With each such incident, frus- Houston, Jackson, Miss., and Nashville, Tenn., "because their disturbances were of rioting last spring and summer. "We tration and tension grew until at some have problems and we have inequities in point a final incident, often similar to the more directly campus-related than city- related." this country," Connally said. "But to say incidents preceding it, occurred and was that all our problems are the direct result followed almost immediately by vio- Charles Culhane of the Houston Post's of racism is a very grave mistake. Any lence." Washington bureau said a member of the such conclusion could spell more severe The commission gave Houston as a typ- commission who asked not to be identi- trouble for us in the future." The gov- ical example of alleged discriminatory fied by name gave another reason why ernor added, "I'm hopeful that [the re- administration of justice, involving a case the group did not delve into the Houston a month and a half before the TSU dis- situation. "We didn't want to go too March 15, 1968 7 port] will not be interpreted as condon- ing lawlessness and civil disorder regard- less of the claimed justification for such lawlessness and disorder." Houston Mayor Louie Welch blamed The TS U Five black racism rather than white racism for Houston the case that the question of whether a the disturbances. "This white racism is Harris county officials, faced with re- truly impartial jury could be gathered by less today than it has been in the last 400 ports of planned attempts to disrupt the either side was in doubt. • years in America," Welch said. trial of one of five Texas Southern Uni- Reports reaching the mayor's office State Sen. Barbara Jordan, Houston, versity students indicted after last May's said that Negroes planned to pack the Texas' only Negro senator, countered the campus riots, successfully sought a hear- courtroom when Freeman's trial opened mayor, saying the failure to recognize ing on whether the court should order a and to disrupt it, an informed source said. that white prejudice is the root of the change of venue. The hearing will be held The decision to seek a venue change was conflict in "unrealistic." March 21. reached afterwards. Freeman; Floyd Houston Police Chief Herman Short The unprecedented and unusual actions Nichols, 26; Trazawell Franklin Jr., 20; was less than pleased with the report. were filed separately but almost simul- Douglas Wayne Waller, 21; and John He said the commission "and other slob- taneously by Harris county District Attor- Parker, 20, are under indictments re- bering groups" offer "an open invitation ney Carol S. Vance, who will prosecute turned after the May 16 and '17 riots at to engage in riots. He denied Charges the cases, and Harry Patterson, president the TSU campus. One indictment is for that the Houston police had "over-re- of the Houston Bar Association. They murder in the death of rookie Patrolman acted" to racial incidents. sought the hearing after efforts to have Raymond Kuba, and two are for assault In Washington, Rep. George Mahon, defense counsel ask a change of venue to murder Patrolmen Blaylock and Allen Lubbock, called the report "a great dis- failed, an informed source said. Mean- D. Duger. The defendants will be tried appointment." The chairman of the while, he has passed the case of Charles separately. House appropriations commit tee de- Freeman, 18, scheduled to go on trial Nichols has sought an injunction manded that the commission put a price March 4 on a charge of assault to mur- against Vance to keep him from enforc- tag on its recommendations and suggest der Houston Patrolman Robert G. Blay- ing a section of the Texas Penal Code how to raise the money. "I do not believe lock, and no new trial date has been set. which defines a person engaged in a riot. the present Congress will, or would, raise Vance and Patterson, who filed his mo- Nichols claims the code violates the First, taxes sufficiently to finance this massive tion in behalf of the eleven-man board of Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth additional program in a time of war, or directors of the' Houston Bar Association, Amendments to the US Constitution. inflation and of a projected $20 billion cited what they said was an excessive He maintains that the only link between deficit. We can't pass the 10% surtax, so amount of pre-trial publicity in the case. him and the alleged crimes at TSU is how could you expect us to accept a sur- "We are not taking the position that the "that at some previous time he was ac- tax of 50 to 100 per cent or more in order trial should or should not be moved," tive individually and as a member of a to pay for this huge leap upward in gov- Patterson said. He said that there had group protesting faculty and administra- ernment expenditures?" K.N. been sufficient pretrial news coverage of tion policies at TSU." fl The Big Thicket Story

Dempsie Henley, The Big Thicket Story, the problems—and the politics—of con- set up competition between Texas and Waco: The Texian Press, 1967, 274 pp. servation. Though attempts to protect the Washington, finally concluding that hope $6.95. Thicket date back into the 1930's, it was lay in the federal government alone. The not until 1962, when Price Daniel made most interesting sections of The Big Knoxville, Tenn. the lushly vegetated region an issue in his Thicket Story describe trips through the is many things: Thicket by interested federal officials, The Big Thicket Story most notably Sen. Ralph Yarborough and a collection of lore, an autobiography, a glimpse into the machinery of local and Supreme Court Justice William 0. Doug- Pete Gunter las. The campaign to gain federal support state politics. Most significantly, however, it is an account of a long uphill fight to is long and arduous, and the reader must struggle through dozens of fishfries, fid- save East Texas' last wilderness area from fourth campaign for governor, that a coor- the bulldozer, the power saw, and the dinated drive to establish a park material- dler's contests, newspaper headlines, jeep power of entrenched lobbies. There are ized. Unfortunately, when Daniel's cam- caravans, and broken appointments be- now several books dealing with the Big paign failed, the drive to create a park fore hope creaks into view. In the end, Thicket. This is the only one which ex- collapsed. The Big Thicket Story consists however, a glimmer of hope does appear: plains not only what has been done to largely in subsequent attempts by Henley Sen. Yarborough introduces his bill to cre- protect the Thicket, but what has been and the Big Thicket Association to build a ate a Big Thicket National Park of "75,000 conservationist movement from scratch. contiguous acres," while Justice Douglas, done to prevent its protection. in his book Henley begins his book with reminis- In the beginning conservationists Farewell to Texas, argues the cences of depression years in the East turned to the state government for help. unique values of the Thicket before a Texas backwoods, and then plunges But though state officials proved gener- growing national audience. The hopes of ous with verbal blessings and promises, conservationists appear on the verge of quickly into the struggle (beginning in becoming a reality. the early 1960's) to establish a Big Thicket no concrete action was ever taken. While park. As the struggle gains momentum, conservationists waited impatiently,. lum- tales of bear hunts, oil field booms, and ber companies speeded up their cutting HAPPY ENDINGS, however, are impoverished rural families give way to schedules and bragged that with "their even rarer in life than in Italian movies. man Connally" in office they had nothing Mr. Gunter, a Texan, is on the faculty While one arm of the federal government to worry about. Judging from Connally's attempts to protect the Thicket, Henley at the University of Tennessee. His article actions — or inactions — they appear to on the Thicket appeared in the Sept. 15 reveals, another is attempting to destroy have been correct. it. Operating under the Department of Ag- Observer. Reluctantly, conservationists turned to riculture, the newly - formed Southeast 8 The Texas Observer the federal government, first hoping to Texas Resource Conservation and Devel- *Kaksivii. er

opment Project is seeking permission to major lumber companies, particularly one lum- words are misspelled, sometimes with ber company ... It is generally known through- unique effect: in almost no other literary level almost the entire Big Thicket for out the Thicket country that this particular lum- cattle grazing and rice farming. Pine Is- ber company acquired what title it has to many context will one hear of a jeep being land Bayou, the heart of the proposed Big of its thousands of acres of valuable timber land "wenched" out -of a ditch. by putting in "push roads" and then asserting Thicket National Monument, would be "use and possession" by cutting the timber. Finally, though The Big Thicket Story channelled and turned into a drainage abuse ditch; its heron rookeries, wild orchids, Homesteaders who protested were met at tells a great deal about the needless the courthouse door by batteries of cor- of a unique wilderness, it might have told and bearded cypress would be lost for that good. Henley's book ends, therefore, not poration lawyers and the threat of lengthy a great deal more. Henley mentions on a note of triumph but with a plea: we and expensive legal battles. In the end the in 1929, 3,100 acres of Big Thicket land must act now, or forever hold our peace. settlers failed to stick together, and lost were added to the Alabama:Coushatta In- their claims. If they had persisted, Henley reservation near Livingston. He does' But The Big Thicket Story is more than dian a chronicle of the frustrations and suc- concludes, they would almost certainly not mention either that this lavish gift' have won, and the history of the Big was first denuded of every bit of timber. cesses a single conservationist movement. The problems which conservationists face Thicket would have turned out quite dif- and every blade of grass, or that many. ferently. There is much more to be told Indians literally starved to death amid' in East Texas are much like those they concerning the "land-grabbing tactics" of the hearty generosity. He cites the less' must face elsewhere, and the problems of the big lumber interests in the region. But than humanitarian practices of giant lum-. conservation, as Henley observes, are na- Henley's lawyers have informed him that ber companies. Yet he does not mention tional problems. The oilwell refuse, slush that such companies have intentionally: pits, "push" roads, seismograph trails, the whole truth cannot be told, and I must, under the circumstances, concede cut one area of virgin beech forest singled pipelines, red flag subdivisions and aim- that the advice of lawyers is priceless. out for inclusion in a future Big Thicket less bulldozings which deface and disvalue National Monument; that lumber inter- the Big Thicket are symbolic of our na- ests were very probably behind attempts tional slovenliness towards nature every- ( involving efforts to buy incriminating in- where. The angry, recalcitrant attitude of I F I WERE to pick the major flaws in The Big Thicket Story, they formation and false charges of sexual per- lumber interests in deep East Texas mir- would be three. version) to slander Big Thicket Associa- rors the redwood-cutting temper of lum- members; that the same interests ber companies nationally. The difference, First, the book is so centered in the tion character and exploits of its author that have been far less than candid concerning if any, is one of degree. It is not simply the reader ends' up knowing a great deal their knowledge of the bird-sprayings and that lumber interests have opposed even more about Mr. Henley (who is now run- tree-poisonings which decorate recent Big the most nominal efforts to protect the ning for Congress against John Dowdy) Thicket history. Thicket. They have attempted, Henley than about the Thicket.. This is perhaps charges, to destroy the region's great unavoidable, considering his autobio- botanical wealth by accelerating cutting graphical approach. But the result is lia- T IS EASY, however, to make schedules into untouched regions, aiming ble to be embarrassing: as, for example, criticisms. It is a great deal harder to to destroy precisely those species (such when cheesecake photographs of Mrs. make the case for conservation both pop- as - magnolia) which make the Thicket Henley (a former movie starlet) are dis- ular and interesting. Yet this is what suitable for inclusion in a park. Yet much played across the page from newspaper Dempsie Henley has done. Without books of the remaining wilderness which these headlines announcing Mr. Henley's elec- like The Big Thicket Story, few would companies have vowed to level before a tion triumph as mayor of Liberty. Second, know about the Big Thicket and its value, park can be established probably was not printing errors and lapses in literary style and fewer would care. If what is left of theirs to begin with. Henley writes: detract from the message of The Big the Big Thicket is finally to be saved from Frequently, an irate settler would deliberately Thicket Story. Punctuation marks and the bulldozer, we will have books like The set fire to the Thicket as a protest to what he whole lines of print turn up missing; Big Thicket Story to thank. considered 'land-grabbing' tactics of some of the J. Mason Brewer at East Texas and Commerce Writers Series. The author, professor of of Southwest Writers Anthology, English at East Texas State and a for- James W. Lee, current president of the Having spent an evening with tireless, mer president of the Texas Folklore So- Texas Folklore Society and general ed- 71-year-old J. Mason Brewer during his ciety, is the Jim Byrd of frequent con- itor of the Southwest Writers Series — visit to East Texas State University, I tributions to the Observer. Reading the Brewer explained how he had managed am inclined to go even further than the late J. Frank Dobie, who called Brewer March 15, 1968 "the best story-teller of the Negro Folk- Tale writing anywhere today." Brewer is James Presley The Dallas Civil Liberties Union hard to equal. I would not swap my cordially invites experience for two such evenings with, Byrd's-eye view, an excellent one, by the say, Truman Capote, whom I consider a way, made me want to meet Brewer. An all Observer readers in North Texas to a fine writer, or John Updike or any num- hour after I had finished reading it I reception honoring ber of other literary lights. An unassum- learned Brewer was to appear at ETSU. ing, patient, warm man, Brewer provides WILLIE MORRIS I drove 125 miles from Texarkana to editor-in-chief of Harper's magazine and the the stimulating kind of dinner compan- Commerce to see him. I'll always be glad ionship that leaves the afterglow of his former editor of The Texas Observer. graciousness and kindliness instead of I did. the memory of having tensely counted "This is certainly a red-letter day for Mr. Morris' book, North Toward Home, will liberties in one's bon mots. me," Brewer, a native of Goliad, Texas, be on sale for the benefit of civil said at an on-campus dinner honoring Texas. He will autograph copies during the Coinciding with Brewer's visit to the reception, which will be in the home of Mr. ETSU in December, Steck Vaughn Co. him following his program of poetry reading, folk songs, and folk tales. Sur- and Mrs. Bartram Kelley, 4808 Drexel Drive, had published the first major study of Dallas, 7-9 p.m., Friday, March 22. his life and work, Dr. James W. Byrd's rounded at the head of the table by a J. Mason Brewer: Negro Folklorist (Aus- triumvirate of Northeast Texas letters— (Adv.) tin, $1), Number 12 of the Southwest Byrd, mustached Martin Shockley, editor

his prolific output while teaching too ("I president of the North Carolina Folklore :stay up nights and mornings"), discussed Other Texas Negro Folk Tales (1958), Society. His list of published works runs and Worser Days and Better Times -the Negro in Mexican folklore, lapsed to pages, beginning in 1932. He has pub- Into clear Spanish as well as oldtime (1965). He considers' the snuff-dipping lished more Negro folktales than any tales and the dog ghost stories to be Negro dialect when the occasion warrant- other author. sympathized with the vicissitudes of Brewer's most original contributions to Southwest literature. Brewer created the ;a fellow writer, recalled mutual friends Professor of English at Livingston Col- -.in San Antonio and Austin when he was lege in Salisbury, NC, since 1959, Brewer character of Aunt Dicy, of the snuff-dip- ping tales, he told me, and Byrd calls :chairman of the English department at writes most of his stories in dialect, a the volume "probably the only collec- "Huston-Tillotson College, and spoke now-rare genre in American literature. 4armly of the late Langston Hughes, Many of them were tion of snuff-dipping tales published in collected in Texas. the English language." "poet laureate of the Negro people." I One of his stories is "John's Trip to :was most impressed by his humanness, Hell." A boy, John runs away from home Brewer has most often been likened to by that rare quality of giving his un- because of the plethora of preachers vis- Joel Chandler Harris, author of-the Uncle 'divided attention to the person directly iting at his house. They had eaten all Remus stories that head the list of Amer- in his presence, as if that person were the fried chicken and had got the warm- ican folktales. Comparing the two, Byrd the only other person in the world. (Any- est places around the log fire. When finds Brewer's use of dialect "more gen- vne who has watched Henry B. Gonzalez John returned, preachers still clogged the uine and colorful, his dialogue more con- 'moving, ever so slowly, through a crowd house. vincing, his interpretations more valid." will know what I mean.) I 'spec' so. "Hello dere, John," say Sandy. "Whar you :$ As the leading and the most prolific been?" "In recent years," Byrd points out, Negro folklorist in the country today, "Ah's been whar you tole me," 'low John—"to "the story told in Negro dialect has gone Brewer is a man with many firsts. He hell." "Well, how is things down dere?" say Sandy. out of style. Dialect is taboo with many is the only Negro to serve on the Re- "Jes' lack dey is heah," say John—"so many leading publishing houses. To Brewer, a search Committee of the American Folk- damn preachuhs 'noun' de fiah till you cain't git realistic professor of English, this seems to hit." lore Society and its Council, and as an absurd. Certainly some Negroes speak officer; the only Negro elected to the Byrd judges as Brewer's four best long with a Harvard accent, but most of them, 'Texas Institute of Letters; and a vice works The Word On the Brazos (preach- like most other Americans, speak in a er tales, 1953), Aunt Dicy Tales (snuff- distinct vernacular." The Texas Observer dipping stories, 1956), Dog Ghosts and Certainly dialect is out of style now,

IN HOUSTON

WILLIAM F. MARKS IS OUR GENERAL AGENT FOR THE 3520 Special Union Labor Disability Policy Montrose This is the policy that pays you $200 per month when you are disabled and Blvd., unable to work due to sickness or accident. . pays IN ADDITION to benefits received elsewhere for workmen's com- No. 107 pensation, health and welfare, group and Union benefits.

. up to FIVE YEARS for accident.

. up to TWO YEARS for sickness.

. with an ARBITRATION CLAUSE for Union Labor.

. . . offered by a company whose employees are organized and represented by Local 277 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union of the AFL-CIO.

AMERICACAN INCOME LIFE AtotaweeL

Executive Offices, P. 0. Box 208, Waco, Texas BERNARD RAPOPORT President but I can't help thinking that tomorrow's have finally lulled us all, white and black Negro, and white too, will be thankful and in between, into a blurry sameness of dull speech and meaningless vocabu- for Brewer's work. One day, when ra- lary, these tales will be a vivid record 09e 7ePt dio and television's standardized accents of a vanishing or vanished, and possibly and Madison Avenue's puffed-up jargon richer, America. Cast what you would hold in your gripping hand to the last. Do you remember cotton candy Shimmering on hot Summer sidewalks Dropped from your hand As a gift to the sun? Wagons Red or otherwise Will not save you from A Disaster Area the coming heat. Repeat aloud to yourself Houston tors who attempt consolation, are worn the chant you say and weary with the casualties from the to slow time Perhaps it is time for the President to over-burdened highway. spinning day by day — declare the stretch of highway from Buf- I will not grow old falo to Richland, Texas, a disaster area Fairfield church ladies have attempted I will not grow old. and to bring federal relief to the good to cut the death toll by going out into the Austin —DON HYDE people of Fairfield, the county seat of weather and setting up a roadside stand Freestone county, which centers this dan- on weekends and holidays, to slow the Mr. Hyde is a young poet who also is gerous stretch of road. speeding traffic with offers of free hot part owner of the Vulcan Gas Co., an Twenty-two persons were killed in more coffee. The home folk slip around a farm- Austin psychedelic light show establish- to-market road rather than take their ment. than 40 wrecks in 1967 on the two-lane, 35-mile-long blacktop strip into which lives in their hands on US 75. Even so, March 15, 1968 11 the divided, four-lane Interstate Highway wrecks sometimes occur right in town, 45 and US 75 drops off at Richland, al- barely missing the houses. most without warning. To help the car- There is no doubt that tourist traffic nage along, the state recently raised the will increase heavily on this stretch of You CAN speed limit from 65 miles to 70 miles an road with the opening in April of Hemis- hour. On November 18, at 2 a.m., my Fair at San Antonio. daughter, going around a truck, met a piggyback transport loaded with cars News of any major wreck is reported VOTE for McCARTHY head-on. Mercifully, she died at the in- to the office of the Dept. of Public stant of impact. Her little boy escaped Safety in Austin as quickly as possible. in Texas injury. Her two small daughters had be- This office is open day and night. It is here that one must turn for information tween them nine broken bones. You can bring democracy to the when a car is so long overdue that one According to the owner of Fairfield's Democratic Party. wrecking service, in recent months some suspects its occupants may be in the Fair- By attending your precinct con- 500 trucks a night have passed through field hospital or the Fairfield mortuary, vention May 4 you can cast a vote town, most of them after midnight, some- or some other hospital or mortuary along for Senator McCarthy. Any quali- times as many as ten piggybacks in a its route. Fairfield people, like people fied voter can participate (but cluster, conveying dawn deliveries for everywhere, do all they can to get the only a handful usually do). Houston or for Dallas. word quickly to those concerned, but it There are many in your precinct • often takes time to identify a lone driver who are for McCarthy. If they are The 35-mile death trap Fairfield cen- or to make out the names of the nearest ters is a ruffle of road—literally a roller located and urged to attend you of kin from the words of a hurt and will in many cases have enough coaster—up one hill and down another, distracted child. with scant view ahead at any point. It votes to appoint McCarthy dele- has no shoulders except for a few yards If Texas cannot eliminate this two-lane, gates to the county or district in a few spots. Where there is a vestige shoulderless death trap, perhaps the fed- convention. of shoulder it softens with the least rain. eral government should step in, perhaps For more information write: All the way along, arroyos and ravines stationing a military contingent at Rich- run up to the very edge of the narrow land and at Buffalo to reduce speeding roadbed. When a car goes off it must roll or to escort vehicles until the two lanes DISSENTING DEMOCRATS over and over, often to land in water at of the superhighway can be brought to- of TEXAS the bottom. No white line is painted gether across Freestone county. Box 876, Austin Tex. 78767 along the black edge to show where the M. Jourdan Atkinson, Box 33, Texas earth drops away. Southern University, Houston, Tex. 77004. Name Fairfield people number about two thousand. Now that the traffic between Bob Warner of the Texas Highway De- Address Texas' two major cities has outgrown partment says IH 45 in Navarro, Free- City, State, Zip safety on Highway 75, they must deal with stone, and Leon counties will be separ- the tragedies of strangers. It is to the ate from US 75 and thus will greatly re- I enclose $ contribution to help Freestone county hospital in Fairfield lieve pressure in the heavily traveled with the printing & other costs. that the broken bodies are brought. It is area. Portions of IH 45 in all three here the orphaned children are comforted counties are now under construction; DISSENTING DEMOCRATS till relatives come to claim them. But some of these are close to completion, of TEXAS though the people at the hospital special- lie says. IH 45 is not scheduled for com- ize in tender loving care, they, like the pletion, however, until 1972, when all in- is dedicated to replacing LBJ with staff at the mortuary, like the crew of terstate system construction is to be fin- the best alternative candidate. the wrecking service, like the town pas- ished.—Ed. *alreopaplot irliM44.11.01mti':

even break out of the unemployment and workmen's compensation systems. The Texas Education Agency has yielded to the innovation of bilingual teaching only under combined local and federal pres- sures. The idea of job training for jobs that are guaranteed in the ghettoes, which Yew-Gene Locke candidates like Locke and John Hill are now endorsing, are federal ideas. They got started in New York City, were pro- Austin lines—I quote them with confidence, I moted by Senator Robert Kennedy, and I tuned in to hear Eugene Locke, Gov- heard them clearly—were, "Texas is great. have been adopted by Lyndon Johnson; ernor Connally's nominee for governor, It can be greater!" lo, then!—the Texas politicians endorse open his campaign in Dallas, and I list- the programs. Most of the state agencies Then the Governor—no, he's not gov- are in their nature administrative: high- ened very carefully, but I couldn't hear ernor yet, is he; I mean the nominee, anything. I checked the volume regula- ways, public safety, land records. What, with his lovely wife on his arm, walked beyond the administrative, is tor of the TV, and it was in order; the out on the elevated ramp that ran out state gov- room, in fact, was full of the sounds of ernment? Most of the vital life of the into the convention hall among the cheer- country is in the cities. Is the job of a voice, I just couldn't hear it saying any- ing, demonstrating, sign-carrying dele- thing. Mayor of Houston more important than gates, and reaching down to touch their the job of Governor of Texas? If the gov- I tried and tried. I caught something fingertips as they eagerly extended their ernor is nothing but a glib administrator about crime being unfortunate, and hands up to him, he moved slowly to- of the things that are going on anyway, there was something else, out at the ward . . . oh: toward the camera. the answer is yes. faintest perimeter of hearinghension, And this wasn't a convention, either, What, then, is the governor's race about technical education in jobs that about? will exist when the education is over. was it? I was so damn confused. It is nice to have a graceful head Slightly encouraged, I kept listening, and of state, but flowers wilt in the heat. The explanation of it all occurred to Don Yarborough is speaking about a state at, last I was rewarded. me from somewhere in my subconscious. consumer-protection agency or council. It was the jingle! They had been playing Abruptly, I heard Mr. Locke say, in Here is one area where something new, tones as clear as peals from a tuning it subliminally all during the speech. Of course! something modern and real, might be fork, "But I say to you—and I believe done for the people. it!" I admit that I did not hear the rest of the sentence and this thwarted me "Yew-Gene Locke should be Guvvv-uh- The state still criminally neglects the some more, but I supposed that my mind ner of Texas, Guv-uh-ner of Tex-us should mentally ill: the central criminality is was still gonging around from the reson- be Yew-Gene-Locke . . . Yew-Gene Locke the failure to provide enough "shrinks." ances of the preliminary declaration. should be Guvvv-uh-ner of Texas, Gov- The mental doctors in the state hospitals uh-ner of Tex-us should be Yew-Gene are grossly overworked; the moral mean- Time was running out, and knowing I Locke. . . ." had to do something or just write off the ing of that fact is the neglect and aban- half hour as a loss, I turned on myself And I say to you, fellow Texans — donment of good people, thousands of in a fury and said, "Dammit, there must and I believe it!—our safety in the streets them, to the de facto imprisonment of be something wrong with you! You're depends upon the proposition, Winston mental hospitalization, when they could not listening or something. Concentrate!" Tastes Good Like a Cigarette Should, and be treated and restored to free life if the Just in time, too, because I heard the furthermore, for the future of our state, txapayers provided enough doctors. How line that is bound to prevent Eugene and indeed our country and the whole about that? More of the same — more Locke from being governor. A man who emphasis on local out-patient clinics — Free World, we must unite together in or will we get enough can blunder into an admission of this the faith of our fathers, Ma-ma Loves doctors? gravity will never get elected. His last Real-Kill! Ma-ma Loves Real-Kill! Ma-ma The old cliches will not do these days. Loves Real-Kill! How long must we be told and told and 12 The Texas Observer told that Blotz is for better education and Blatz is for "a water program"? What Does It Matter? about the education of the people in the CLASSIFIED The underlying doubt in the governor's corruption in political fund-raising that is now literally unavoidable? What about ANNE'S TYPING SERVICE: Duplicating (multi- race is whether it matters. lith, mimeo, ditto), Xeroxing, Mailing, Public the implications of "a water progiam" for Notary. Specialize in rush jobs, including Sun- What has state government become? small business vs. big business, for the days. Formerly known as Marjorie Delafield Is it just an administrative' shadow of farmer against the industry? Typing and Duplicating Service. Call HI 2-7008, Austin. prevailing federal policies? In the Texas The pap that passes for policy in politi- Railroad Commission the state is the cus- BOOKPLATES. Free catalog. Many beautiful cal speeches in Texas would nourish a designs. Special designing too. Address: BOOK- todian of the price control system of the three-year-old, but not a five-year-old. PLATES, Yellow Springs 8, Ohio. major oil companies. Texas is against What, what, will the state do to help the anybody getting better than less than an cities and the federa,l government im- prove life in the Texas ghettoes? What, what specifically, and how? .Wri 111Z *: MARTIN ELFANT Come on boys—it's a big field, lots of competition: Tell it like it is, tell us like Since 1886 we cared, some of us do. R.D. Sun Life of Canada The Place in Austin 1001 Century Building ATHENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL GOOD FOOD CHILDREN 2-6 GOOD BEER Houston, Texas Red River at 41st GR 6-9700 1601 San Jadnto • CA 4-0686 or GR 7-4171 GL 4-4239 MION~I~•~•••••••••••••••••••••••••, plicitly was told me off the record. But, be assured, Yarborough did what he thought he could to help Gladden. And, though it could always be argued that perhaps Yarborough didn't do enough, if you want to express your anger about this, the man to aim your dissatisfaction Is Labor Split? at is not Don Yarborough but Hank Brown, 308 West 1 1 th, Austin. That's Austin issue just the week before the COPE con- where the problem was. The Gladden question has been settled vention. The Young Democrats, to a lesser now by COPE and I, for one, do not ex- extent, did the same. Leaders of the Negro Melting Butter and Mexican-American organizations have pect the ranks of organized labor in Mark Adams, who has set the type for Texas to be split by the decision. I don't been unwilling to confront the Vietnam matter despite the war's taking a highly the Observer for various periods of his like the decision, but it is far too much life, has pointed out something to me that to say, as several writers of the Dallas disproportionate number of their own races. underscores the Observer's articles about News have been doing lately, that griev- the extent of military spending in Texas, ous internal dissension will ensue. But it is not Vietnam but the Johnson presidency that is crunching down on the as well as our remarks at other times that The State AFL-CIO has been led for six the nation is not getting both guns and and one-half years now by two men state's liberal movement. Many liberals are unwilling to challenge the president, butter but is melting down some of the whose personalities, temperaments, back- butter to make guns. grounds, and ideologies vary markedly. with his still-imposing power in this state, on this vital issue or any other, particu- The Pentagon, as reported, spent more Hank Brown, the president of the organi- than $5 billion in this state in fiscal 1967 zation, and Roy Evans, its secretary- larly in a year when the election of a lib- eral governor may at last be achieved (or, ($5,289,315,000, the Dallas News reported treasurer, have nonetheless always shared the other day). Adams wondered how a common bond that has, so far, been as some phrase it, be permitted). This prospect, long a dream of Texas liberals, much, by comparison, was spent on the more important than their undeniable is the hostage Johnson holds captive poverty war in this state. The figure: and deep-felt differences: they are com- while liberals, the vast majority of whom $47,216,890. As Adams Puts it, for every mitted to strengthening the Texas labor know that Vietnam is the most mon- dollar spent in Texas for defense nearly movement. They have done so. The Glad- strous atrocity this nation has ever com- one penny is spent to relieve poverty. den matter, as vital as it was to the heart mitted, cringe. But to challenge the war Another way of looking at the poverty and soul of the AFL-CIO and to proving is to risk Johnson's pulling the rug out war is that the nation spends about $14 a the sincerity of that organization's com- from under the campaign of Don Yarbor- year in Texas per each of the approxi- mitment to certain basic principles, is ough, and that, it is developing, is a risk mately 3.5 million impoverished inhabi- not, so far as I can tell, dividing Texas too great for Texas liberals to endure. tants of this state on anti-poverty, while organized labor, and will not. concurrently spending about $500 a year Feelings ran high at Galveston and How ironic it will be if Don Yarborough is not elected this year. Liberals will have in Texas per each of our 10,000,000 total there are some bitterly disappointed peo- hocked their consciences for nothing. inhabitants, regardless of need, on war- ple who regret that COPE did not fully I think Johnson needs Yarborough making. live up to its moral obligation to Gladden. more than the other way around. LBJ is But COPE and the AFL-CIO have had quite likely to trail every statewide Dem- An Individual Acts these divisive battles before and have ocratic candidate this year and who else survived them. Indeed it can be said that can get out the votes for the Democratic Elroy Bode, the El Paso writer, has Texas organized labor flourishes on such ticket better than Don Yarborough? Do recently undertaken a personal project contention; the movement h a s grown you think Negroes, Mexican-Americans, to do what he can, in his way, about the markedly in the last several years despite working people, and liberals (who are war. Elroy spent much of the past several those years being ones of internal squab- still the party's most active workers in weeks in writing a "statement of con- bling, sometimes along the Brown-Evans the precincts in turning out the vote) are cern" about Vietnam and in finding factionalism, sometimes on other mat- going to be inspired by the candidacy of sponsors to publish the statement in the ters. As Brown said of Texas labor, "They Eugene Locke, Waggoner Carr, or Pres- El Paso paper. He found 31 other local are like alley cats, the more they fight the ton Smith? citizens to sign and help pay for the ad, more of them there are." And what of the estimated 1.3 million which was run recently. This is not to take back one syllable of "I know, of course, that to those who what I have written about the question new voters in Texas? It may be that, sud- denly, Texas is now a liberal political are in any way knowledgeable about our of endorsing Gladden in recent weeks. involvement in Vietnam, the ad says COPE exposed, at Galveston, its basic state; that the addition of these hundreds nothing new," Elroy has written me. "It is lack of conviction in the principles organ- of thousands of newcomers to the Texas ized labor espouses; the organization electoral politics has, without our yet March 15, 1968 13 failed a man who has stood forthrightly fully realizing it, made this no longer a for those principles. The decision is one bastion of establishment, status quo poli- that will prove as corrosive of the princi- tics. MEETINGS ples the organization seeks to advance as No, I think Lyndon Johnson needs Don THE THURSDAY CLUB of Dallas meets each was the non-endorsement of Don Yarbor- Yarborough far more than the other way Thursday noon for lunch (cafeteria style) at the Downtown YMCA, 605 No. Ervay St:, ough in 1964 for governor. around. Dallas. Good discussion. You're welcome. In- I think Brown cuts too many private formal, no dues. deals and then convenes his troops to Did What He Could The TRAVIS COUNTY LIBERAL DEMO- ratify accomplished facts. I think that CRATS meet at the Spanish Village, 802 Red undemocratic and bad for labor. It has There are some liberals around the River, at 8 p.m. on the first Thursday. You're led to cynicism among others of the lib- state who are mad at Don Yarborough, invited. eral community as regards organized who got COPE's full endorsement, for CENTRAL TEXAS ACLU luncheon meeting. 2nd labor. what happened to Gladden at Galveston. Friday of every month. Scholz'. From noon. All Yet the failure of COPE at Galveston Let me point out that Don Yarborough welcome. (Please note new location). is but one of the failures we have seen did everything he could behind the scenes ITEMS for this feature cost, for the first entry, in Texas liberalism in recent times. Texas to aid Gladden's quest for endorsement. 7c a word, and for each subsequent entry, 5c a word. We must receive them one week before Liberal Democrats showed similar timor- I would be betraying confidences if I the date of the issue in which they are to be ousness in failing to meet the Vietnam were more explicit, for what I know ex- published. even quite mild in what it says. But my purpose was not to appeal to either hawk or dove but to the unread, confused, " ,... a conscience-troubling story ... typically be- fuddled people who are finally fair style of reporting ... examines in depth the feeling dissatisfied with the five minutes of tele- question : Can personal responsibility be vision news and the newspaper headlines. avoided in the impersonal and horribly I wanted the ad to be a kind of Vietnam destructive warfare of the atomic age?" primer for the non-reader; also, I wanted —Kemper Diehl, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS to try to make dissent respectable .... to say that dissenters can appeal to reason, "It asks some very searching questions, can say things in a level, non-hysterical questions that will remain with the reader long way. I was also hoping that people of all after the book is finished." kinds of persuasions — John Birch and MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS (London) SDS, Republican and Democrat, hawk and dove—might be able to react with a .. Eatherly's witness ... is supremely minimum of emotion and a maximum valuable. His doubts go to the heart of today's of thought." national anguish. DARK STAR seeks neither to destroy nor enhance the Eatherly legned. It is In these wretched times when the indi- vidual feels so impotent an honest, readable effort ... to separate to affect the tide of events Bode's act is Eatherly the man from Eatherly the figure of one which we may consider hopefully, that one person still legend—and to assess both." believes strongly enough in the —Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., BOOK WORLD American democratic experiment to bestir himself Eatherly "has been lionized by some writers, and viciously attacked by others. Dugger's in behalf of appealing to public opinion. calm, well-researched, deeply analytical treatment is the first that presents this Perhaps other individuals, in other cities, now-famous Texan in sympathetic perspective." DARK STAR "is laced with reminders will follow this example and speak up at a time when dialogue is very much that the problem of guilt is more apropos today than at Hiroshima." needed. —Leonard Sanders, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM G.O. "Mr. Dugger's book is not perfect, but it is illuminated by compassion and touched with awe ... —John Wain, PUNCH (London) DARK STAR is interesting reading and it brings home to the individual reader the 7ite Way significance of another individual's dilemma. Yet I do not hold any particular defense for West I Claude Eatherly ..,. or wnat to make him heroic ... Neither does Ronnie Dugger in this book." I kissed the earth And the girl was of the earth. "The real topic is not the complicated, yet basically common, life of a Texas war flier Nights, cities, days who might or might not have cracked up through guilt complex ... It is an attempt to Bounced into a neon daze. arrive at some answer to the haunting question of today's world, 'Is any of it my doing?' I impressed upon her lips And if it is, what can I do about it?" The liturgy of growth "So the burden of Dugger's book is whether or not acting on orders, doing things because Toward horizons, weeds and baseball you are told, does away with your right—if that is the word—to feel horror at what you After the dance: also the rain and the have done." wind. —A. C. Greene, DALLAS TIMES-HERALD I was left there, "DARK STAR is a book worth reading. More important, it is worthy of reflection." With a wound pulsing, —Bert Kruger Smith, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN A prophet lavishly tongued Tented in Wyoming, "Eatherly is a complex personality, and the truth about him is subject to many Going to other places. interpretations. One thing is clear: DARK STAR as the publishers claim, is a probing, The kiss was a historical marker challenging book which demands to be read by all responsible people." The girl, a body covered by mine. —Basil Payne, BOOK TALK (London) ... a book on the subject of conscience, that rate quality so sorely needed in our —GEORGE W. de SCHWEINITZ morally callous times, and about the lack of it, which is driving us inevitably to new Hiroshimas." Beaumont —Edith Morris in SATURDAY REVIEW The writer is on the faculty of Lamar Tech.

14 The Texas Observer DARK STAR: HIROSHIMA RECONSIDERED IN THE LIFE OF CLAUDE EATHERLY OF LINCOLN PARK, TEXAS by Ronnie Dugger. World Publishing Co., 254 pp., photographs by Russell Lee. List Price $5.95. Optional membership in the Observer Discount Club, at $5.00 for one BUMPERSTRIPS: year, entitles readers to order DARK STAR—or any hardbound book in print (except textbooks)—for 20% less than the list price. Please add the 3% Austin and state sales tax to your remittance. McCARTHY PRESIDENT PEACE

THE TEXAS OBSERVER BOOKSTORE Fluorescent, genuine peel-off Also Campaign Buttons 1 for 25c — 5 for $1 504 WEST 24TH, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705 1,000 for $65 DISSENTING DEMOCRATS OF TEXAS Box 876, Austin, Texas 78767 destined to "out - Haley" old J. Evetts himself. George M. Sammons, 4002 Prescott.I Dialogue Dallas, Tex. 75219. Liberalism Is Dead It was interesting to read Walter G. Hall's eulogy of President Johnson and Some Rather Kind the similar comments in your letters col umn by jingoists Wharton and Garwood (Dialogue, Feb. 16). Liberalism seems to have devolved to charts and facades Words About L B J which purport to show that this or that ideal has been given bureaucratic form. more workable or will produce the peace There is not a shadow of a doubt in the Reluctantly with LBJ we all so ardently desire. minds of these writers that the estab- Thank you for the article, "What's I am proud and thankful that we in our lishment of "liberal" agencies or the Right with LBJ?" [Obs., Feb. 16]. I was wonderful country have the right to dis- passage of "liberal" laws has been of about to write The Texas Observer off as sent and protest against anything we feel enormous benefit to the nation. Or, ap- the mouthpiece of the radical, rabid, irre- is an injustice and an infringement of parently, that the waging of a "liberal". sponsible left. My confidence is restored. our rights guaranteed us in our Bill of war has been based solely on bringing Walter G. Hall has expressed what I be- Rights. ... [But] I have about concluded the blessings of "peace with freedom" lieve are the feelings of many independ- that just "being against everything" has to the South China Sea. ent, non - politically-committed liberals: become a way of life for some people and I applaud these gentlemen. For they . the Vietnam war we don't like! So far the frankly I'm fed up with it .... have stated quite clearly what the hip-, "Ain't It Awful" critics have not offered I am going to vote for Don Yarborough pies, Dissenting Democrats, and confused, an acceptable alternative. Considering the for governor and Don Gladden for lieu- Republicans have been trying to say for present Republican possibilities, reluc- tenant governor. If Lyndon Johnson is many months: "Liberalism is Dead!" tantly, I'll stay with LBJ.—Howard J. En- the Democratic nominee for president, Liberalism's demise began when it ern-. Dean, 5535 Sylmar, Houston, Tex. 77036. and I hope he is, I will vote for him. braced the draft and called for equal uni-: Jane E. Howell, 2514 W. Clarendon Dr., versal military slavery. A few deviated; Proud of the President Dallas, Tex. 75211. and called for substitute slavery. The ' The Observer's Dialogue of March 1 Miss Howell has subscribed since 1955. more cunning used the old reliable meth- commenting on Walter Hall's "What's —Ed. od of wage slavery. But all these liberals.' Right with LBJ?" did little to refute the heartily endorsed the growth of the state : article .... The Temerity to Praise LBJ and stood foursquare when the Unitect States entered Vietnam in support of Johnson's record is just pretty good. It is not at all surprising that Walter I hoped for better but I expected less. Bao Dai, who had been appointed pup- G. Hall's article in the Feb. 16 issue gen- pet emperor by the Japanese and was Even though I've no devotion or un- erated a medley of disfavor in some quar- abashed enthusiasm for him, I'm proud later reenthroned by the French. It never , ters. Hell's bells! Didn't Mr. Hall actually occurred to the liberals that Kennedy's: of him as one Texan regarding another. have the temerity to praise Lyndon John- I wouldn't demand he stay on as presi- 15,000-man force was precedent for John-: son as well as the unmitigated brass to son's half-million (or more). It never dent if he wants to quit. Can you imagine insinuate that LBJ critics may be woeful- the abuse all presidents are going to have passed their minds, like good Germans,. ly wrong in some rather important as- that Nuremberg was filled with men who to endure (rightly or wrongly) the rest of pects? this century? One thing more, Mr. Editor. kept charts and substituted them for You will notice that this pro-Johnson Writing from a purely practical point freedom. They all believed fondly in be- reader doesn't call any of Johnson's of view, Walter Hall has refused to be nevolent despotism. critics unpatriotic. No. I say they're sucked in by the wave of emotionalism I must point out the incongruity of mostly red with anger. and accompanying bitterness which has your article, "How It is on the Right"‘ William Robert King, 2202 Winsted engulfed the thinking processes of so [Obs., Feb. 16]. You should have titled Lane, Austin, Tex. 78703. many good people in these trying days. It it ,"How It is Elsewhere on the Right." is obvious that Mr. Hall, dealing more J. F. C. Moore, president, Center for Give the Devil His Due in fact than fancy, is convinced that his- Libertarian Studies, Box 2524, San An- tory will present LBJ in a much less tonio, Tex. 78206. I have been a subscriber to The Texas harsh manner than appears to be the Observer for a number of years and have fashion among some of his more extreme Thirty Pieces of Silver thought for a long time I couldn't do detractors. without it. But I have changed my mind. A beautiful article on Don Gladden I am not renewing my subscription this Walter Hall makes a very strong case ["Gladden and COPE," Obs., March 1]! year. My reason is that I'm sick and tired for more support for the President "dur- You called him an "unapologetic" liberal. of G.O.'s downgrading everything that ing one of the most difficult and turbu- My first reaction was to take offense to Lyndon Johnson does or says. No, I am lent eras in our history." To an unbiased the term. I wouldn't have thought liberals not and never have been a devoted fan observer it might appear that Mr. Hall have had any cause to be apologetic— of President Johnson's, but I do believe is simply appealing for common-sense un til in giving the devil his due. Lyndon John- fair play in place of vitriolic nonsense. What's wrong with us, anyway? Are we son has put through many measures that Certainly he has good reason to suspect masochists? Do we enjoy being the under- that some liberals have become entrapped for a long, long time I have hoped and March 15, 1968 15 prayed would be passed. They may have in a morass of determined vituperation been watered-down but to me that was ON LAKE AUSTIN the fault of Congress, which is filled Personal Service — Quality Insurance with too many senile-old men whose fac- ulties have stultified and they refuse to Alice Anderson—"Bow" Williams THE PIER live in the 20th century. ... INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE IS OPEN Up to now Olds, [Don] Allford, Eugene 808A E 46th, Austin. Texas FROSTY BEER & FAMOUS FISH McCarthy, et al., have not come up with 465-6577 AN 3-9109 Jim Walls, Prop. any suggestion that strikes me as any dog? Or are we just lacking in plain old- tra views towards the editorial in the liberal candidate won the Democratic fashioned guts? Certainly these hereto- March 1 issue. nomination." fore fighting liberal senators who have First let me defend Charlie Wilson and However, as ene who has been closely defected to Hill and/or Barnes must get Don Kennard. These gentlemen have ad- associated with Congressman Bush, I their jollies in losing. ... The Republi- vanced more progressive legislation in a would like to point out some of his in- cans, electing more and more of their day's service in either the House or Sen- terests in the Negro community that I kind—would they have gotten as far as ate than Don Yarborough has in his life- personally know about which do not jibe they have by taking the position "Our time. Their credentials are without ques- with the Observer's charge that he is a candidate has only a small chance, so let's tion. They have votes recorded by which "racist." (This charge made in reference support a Democrat and hope he'll drop they may be measured, and I might add, to the Congressman's proposals for a bet- us an occasional crumb when in office." in the same column as Don Gladden. Why ter future for Texas Mexican-Americans, As for labor, this is not the first time is their personal conviction to support which refer to the "stability of family; its leaders have sold out their member- John Hill any more insidious than Hank their respect for law; their service, to ship. Had Hank Brown been truly rep- Brown and Roy Evans's dilemma and ap- country.") resentative of the men who elected him, parent equivocation over Don Gladden! Here are some of Congressman Bush's he would have delighted in having a man If they "fly liberal colors," they proved it, activities in the Negro community: He like DG in the lieutenant governor's race, not promised it. Yet they were returned created the Forward Action program in and led the way for his endorsement. ... to the House bi-annually, and now have 1967 which placed 100 Negro youths in To Mr. Brown goes the 1968 Thirty Pieces been promoted to bench Tories across summer jobs in his district. He has set of Silver Award. the hall. They now are 2/31, rather than a goal of 300 jobs for- the summer of So apparently the term "unapologetic" 2/150, and you seek to impeach their 1968 for young Negroes—with a Negro was apropos after all, and Don Gladden "leadership." specialist added to his staff for six is one of the few able to wear the label. Now as to the governor's race. Don Yar- months beginning March 1 to interview Here's a liberal with guts—one who'll borough has been no more of a leader in applicants and talk to prospective em- give of his time, money, and energy to the past four years than Barry Goldwater, ployers. (Incidentally, the only paid sec- battle the odds for the principles we ad- unless postcards from France have retary in Mr. Bush's active Houston office vocate. If we as liberals can't give this stirred progressive feelings at precinct or is a young Negro.) proven representative and friend of the county conventions. My leaders are those He assisted Prairie View A&M College people our full, unanimous support, then who go into the lion's den in Austin each in getting the first ROTC unit in a pre- we do, indeed, have cause to be apologetic day and who earn the votes of their con- dominantly Negro college and arranged in belonging to such a group. stituency by their leadership. I ascribe to have President Alvin Thomas visit Yale Cybel, Houston, Tex. leadership to those who can champion University as a visiting fellow of Daven- "losing causes" and yet be re-elected. If port College. An Opposite View this makes me a pragmatist, then so be it. He personally requested Senator Mc- Lest silence be construed as acquies- With respect to the lieutenant govern- Clellan to schedule hearings for testimony cence to the innuendos towards several or's race, let's measure voting records of Texas Southern University students on state senators and a salute to Don Yar- and vote our conscience. Nevertheless the riot at the school. This was granted. borough's leadership, I beg to state con- don't throw the baby out with the bath- He has sponsored Negro girls' softball water and if the labor leadership opts to 16 and volleyball teams for three years; he The Texas Observer go with Speaker Barnes, don't try to cru- was instrumental in securing a Post Of- cify them personally for their convictions, fice Sub-station for Acres Home, a Negro or for their "agreements." I would gladly subdivision in his district; he arranged trade either candidate for what recent for the Texas Southern University Glee history recalls and I'll give the Establish- Club to sing at the Capitol in Washington ment four governors for one lieutenant and at Yale University. governor so far as potent reform legis- lation is concerned. He arranged for inspection, in coopera- I agree that the tide may very well tion with the county health officer, by have turned. John Hill realizes it also and public health officials of open dumping his instincts are sound. His leadership situation in Acres Home—leading to im- potential is, in my opinion, more mature provement in health standards in that and less inflammatory. Liberalism can community. grow in a healthy climate during his ten- Congressman Bush has visited all of ure in the governor's chair. A more the predominantly Negro schools in his stormy candidate can do nothing except district. be a catalyst for the militant opposition He voted for both pieces of civil rights of the lobby and special interest groups. legislation in the first session of the 90th Legislation in Texas is generated from Congress. within the legislature, not from guberna- Admittedly, there's more that the Con- torial pressure. Let's endorse less fire- gressman can do, but compare this with eating speeches and more effective repre- what others have done. This is not the sentation. record of a "racist." Thank you for providing the forum for Jack Steel, 5010 Westbriar, Apt. 4, thinking Texans. Houston, Tex. 77027. Jon N. Coffee, 313 Capital National Mr. Steel misread the item. I did not Bank Bldg., Austin, Tex. 78701. say Bush was a "racist" but that his con- P. S. Ronnie Dugger's memorial to Jim trasting of Negroes who demonstrate McKeithan was a moving tribute and with Mexican - Americans' stability, law- wholly accurate. ahidingness, and service to country "is surely racism, assigning virtuous attri- Bush's Record on Race butes. to one race in contrast to the im- I think it was very generous for the plied attributes of another." My point, in publisher of The Texas Observer to pre- the course of remarking on the civilized dict (Observations, March 1) that George directions of Bush's career, was that Bush would have won the Texas govern- nevertheless he had made a racist re- or's race "whether a conservative or the mark.—R.D.