'TEXAS 13 SERVER

October I 1982 A Journal of Free Voices 750

WHITE, CLEMENTS A DIItleS WORTH OF DIFFERENCE?

Kevin Kreneck By Joe Holley By Paul Sweeney with the White campaign with the Clements campaign

N AN OLD MOVIE poster on N THIS TYPICALLY wind- the wall just above the steam On The Inside blown, sun-drenched Panhandle trays of bubbly Swedish meat- morning, a small caravan of 0 shiny cars and vans waiting outside balls and bacon-wrapped chicken livers, Gene Autry smiled his perpetual ENDORSEMENTS Amarillo's Hilton Inn pulls into line be- singing-cowboy smile. At the other end hind a big, armadillo-crunching Scout of the cramped restaurant banquet room, See Page 2 carrying Gov. Bill Clements and his wife hemmed in by a noisy crowd of well Rita. Next in line in a Mercedes is Mad wishers, the candidate for governor, Eddie Chiles and his wife Fran, a Repub- lican national committee woman. Bring- sweating in the hot glare of television MAVERICK AND THE JEWS lights, smiled his "how are ya, good to ing up the rear is the press corps, riding in Margaret Spearman's station wagon. see ya" candidate's smile and held aloft a See Page 8 store-bought jug of water. On the short drive to West Texas State Gene Autry, of course, swapped the University in Canyon, Ms. Spearman, a smiling business for an even more lucra- Clements campaign volunteer and an tive line of work, but 42-year-old Mark 8th-grade history teacher, chats about (Continued on Page 12) (Continued on Page 15) •THE OBSERVER'S POSITION •

HIS YEAR, in an exercise that is and it stands to reason that a straight- lieutenant governor, that the two top unusual in the 27-year history of ticket strategy this year enhances the Democratic nominees must be clearly T the Texas Observer, we urge our chances of these four candidates. preferred. readers to vote the straight Democratic Second, people who are conscientious If Bill Clements is re-elected, he will ticket for statehouse offices, top to bot- about their politics have to consider the not only continue blustering and bullying tom. consequences, in the 1984 presidential his way around the governor's office and We make this recommendation with race, of not voting for the Democratic the legislature. He will not only continue some misgivings, but also quite con- nominee for governor this year. belittling the importance of unemploy- vinced that it makes good sense for prog- Each precinct's delegate strength in ment in Texas. He will not only continue ressive values and purposes in Texas. the 1984 convention series will be deter- sacrificing civil liberties for his bombas- There are three main reasons. mined by how many votes its citizens tic anti-crime campaigns. He will not First, the straight-ticket strategy is the cast this November for the Democratic only cut and slash state programs, maybe best method of helping to insure the elec- nominee for governor. If the prog- try again to gut state government for a tion of the four progressive nominees on ressives skip voting for Atty. Gen. Mark generation with some new form of his the statewide Democratic ticket — Jim White now, they are directly reducing "water trust plan," and fight to raise col- Hightower for agriculture commissioner, the strength of their precincts in choos- lege tuition and enact a new sales tax on Ann Richards for state treasurer, Jim ing the 1984 Democratic presidential highway users. He will also champion Mattox for attorney general, and Garry nominee. That is not a small matter, it is the re-election of Ronald Reagan or Rea- Mauro for land commissioner. a major matter, and the only way it can gan's successor in Reaganism. The gov- be avoided is by refusing to think ahead a ernor's election in November in Texas The Democratic Party has not nomi- year and a half. To give their precincts could decide the presidential election in nated a single clearly progressive candi- full weight in the selection of the Demo- Texas exactly two years later — and that date for statewide office in Texas since cratic nominee for president in 1984, could decide the whole future direction U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough was re- voters must vote for Mark White this of the country. nominated in 1964, and a progressive has year. not been nominated for a statewide post Although he may, we are not sanguine in the statehouse since before World Third, this is a year in which Repub- that White will win. A White House poll War II. Now, suddenly, we have four licanism nationally means Reaganism. showed him four points ahead, but re- such candidates. This is literally the op- The seated President, who is the most member, Clements has that nine million portunity of a generation. reactionary President since William dollars, and he will use it to drum into the McKinley, has two more years to go, and public mind, as proof of White's incom- The case for the election of each one then either he or some other exponent of petence, the evidence that he has mis- of these four candidates is persuasive, Reaganism will try for another four. It is handled some cases for the state. Can but voters do not really pay much atten- mainly in this dimension, and not in any elections be bought? Unfortunately, they tion to any of the statewide races below close comparison of the Republican and can and they are. In the end, will enough the level of governor or U.S. senator, Democratic candidates for governor and people care to go vote against these Rea-

Incorporating the State Observer and the East Texas Democrat, TE-rx0BSERvER which in turn incorporated the Austin Forum-Advocate. The Progressive Biweekly

The Progressive Biweekly Vol. 74, No. 19 7 October 1, 1982 We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole truth, to human Editor and Publisher: Ronnie Dugger values above all interests, to the rights of humankind as the foundation of democracy; we will take orders from none but our own conscience, and never Co-Editor: Joe Holley will we overlook or misrepresent the truth to serve the interests of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the human spirit. Staff Writer: Ruperto Garcia Writers are responsible for their own work, but not for anything they have not themselves written, and in publishing them we do not necessarily imply that we agree with them because this is a journal of free voices. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Frances Barton, Austin; Elroy Bode, Ei Paso; Chandler Davidson, Houston; Bob Eckhardt, Washington, D.C.; Sissy Farenthold, Houston; Ruperto Garcia, Austin; John Kenneth Galbraith, Cam- 600 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 477-0746 bridge, Mass.; Lawrence Goodwyn, Durham, N.C.; George Hendrick, Ur- bana, Ill.; Molly Ivins, New York City; Larry L. King, Washington, D.C.; Business Manager: Frances Barton Maury Maverick, Jr., San Antonio; Willie Morris, Oxford, Miss.; Kaye Northcott, Austin; James Presley, Texarkana, Tx.; Susan Reid, Austin; A.R. Advertising, Special Projects: Cliff Olofson (Babe) Schwartz, Galveston; Bob Sherrill, Washington, D.C.; Fred Schmidt, Tehachapi, Ca.; Alfred J. Watkins, Austin. The Texas Observer (ISSN 0040-4519) is published biweekly except for a three-week interval between issues in January and July (25 issues per year) by the Texas Observer Publishing Co., 600 West 7th Street. Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 477-0746. Second class CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Warren Burnett, Nina Butts, Jo Clifton, John postage paid at Austin, Texas. Henry Faulk, Bill Helmer, Jack Hopper, Amy Johnson, Laurence Jolidon, Single copy (current or back issue) 75e prepaid. One year, $20: two years, $38: three Mary Lenz, Matt Lyon, Greg Moses, Janie Paleschic, Laura Richardson, years, $56. One year rate for full-time students, $13. Airmail, foreign, group, and bulk rates M. P. Rosenberg, Bob Sindermann, Jr., Paul Sweeney, Lawrence Walsh. on request. Microfilm editions available from Microfilming Corporation of America, Box CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Alan Pogue, Grant Fehr, Bob 10, Sanford. N.C. 27330. • Clare, Russell Lee, Scott Van Osdol, Ronald Cortes Copyright 1982 by Texas Observer Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Material CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Berke Breathed, Jeff Danziger, Ben Sargent, may not be reproduced without permission. Mary Margaret Wade, Gail Woods POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to: 600 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.

2 OCTOBER 1, 1982 POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to: 600 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. ganists? That depends, as always, on Gov. Hobby gave a reception in his that this year, progressive voters have no people. home in the re-election campaign for serious alternative to the straight-ticket If we had our druthers, the Democrats Cong. Bob Eckhardt of Houston in 1980, Democratic strategy. The election of would have nominated progressives for but we do not recall with any apprecia- Hightower, Mattox, Richards, and governor and lieutenant governor, too — tion at all Hobby's roles in the Killer Mauro (and probably the election of Bul- would have nominated a black and an Bees case and in the redistricting and lock) will do wonders in quickening the Hispanic on the ticket — would not have wiretapping legislation in the last regular interest of White and Hobby in the wel- forced a choice between two moderate session of the legislature. fare of the people. In office, we can conservatives (White and Lt. Gov. Bill We would express, too, our distaste count on the progressive Democrats to Hobby) and two right-wing extremists for the unpleasantness that has become be a powerful force in Texas in 1984, (Clements and George Strake). too characteristic in the candidacies of probably dragging the moderate gov- two of the Democratic nominees, Cong. ernor and lieutenant governor along with But we can have less doubt that White them, if necessary. and Hobby will support the Democratic Mattox and Bob Bullock, the comptrol- nominee for president in 1984 than we ler. These' two politicians play "tough So the Observer endorses Mark White can have that Clements and Strake will guy" frequently, apparently seeking to for governor, Bill Hobby for lieutenant support Reagan or his successor-• stun their opponents and frighten their governor, Jim Mattox for attorney gen- nominee. Neither White nor Hobby has critics by the mere ferocity of their at- eral, Jim Hightower for agriculture any record of open party perfidy com- tacks. They are both themselves, in fact, commissioner, Bob Bullock .for com- parable to the records of Allan Shivers, good public servants, but at election time ptroller, Ann Richards for state treas- John Connally, and Bill Clayton. they treat their foes like stinking dogs, urer, and Garry Mauro for land commis- sioner of Texas. We are not here to celebrate or champ- when anyone with common sense knows ion the policy positions of White and that what's really happening is, they In conclusion, U.S. Senator Lloyd Hobby nor to ask people to trust them. themselves cannot adequately control Bentsen is running for re-election as a We are glad that White wants to spend the instinct to kill their opponents. The Democrat, and he is less objectionable people deserve higher-minding cam- than the right-wing Republican, Cong. more for education, in contrast to Clem- ents' crusade to discredit the teachers paigning than Mattox and Bullock some- Jim Collins, who is opposing him. ❑ and their association. But we find times give them. (But all the tough cam- paigning by Mattox and Bullock could White's crying out for blood on Death We now interrupt our recommenda- Row as distasteful as ACLU official not equal the meanness which is com- monplace for .Gov. Clements — for tion by advocating that you vote for John John Duncan did when he said White Henderson, the earnest. and sincere Re- seems to want to kill somebody in his merely one instance, his incredible slur on Sen. Lloyd Doggett of Austin on publican reformer, who is opposing the campaign for governor. We can hope reactionary Democratic incumbent, Jim that White will become more responsive Sept. 9 that "if Mr. Doggett had been at the Alamo, he probably would have Nugent, for railroad commissioner. You to minority constituencies now that he will say that we are inconsistent and we must depend on them, but we would not jumped over the back wall.") for a moment make excuses for his op- So, some misgivings, yes. But in the will reply with Walt Whitman, yes, we position to adequate bilingual education. large picture, we here at the Observer are are inconsistent, we contain multitudes. We can recall appreciatively that Lt. clear in our opinion and recommendation So, some misgivings, yes. R.D.

Unemployment Tax Banking on Recession End Texas Unemployment Compensation Layoffs throughout Texas and an un- By Mary Lenz Fund from insolvency and prevent a expected drain on fund revenues precipi- Austin 2,700% tax increase on employers. Some tated the crisis. As explained by the "If anyone refuses to work, he shall be allege the move was just pre-election House Study Group, the unemployment condemned as a slave to the person who grandstanding on the part of the Guy. compensation fund has a trigger which is has denounced him as an idler. The mas- Others say it all proves Democratic set off when money goes below a $225 ter shall feed his slave on bread and gubernatorial candidate Mark White has million floor. The mechanism automati- water . . . He has the right to force him a point when he says Clements isn't cally raises taxes. But due to changing to do any work, no matter how disgust- minding the store. economic conditions, far more revenue ing, with whips and chains." But only a few people raised questions than needed would have been raised at Statute from the first year as to whether the legislation passed was this point. This would have created a of the reign of Edward VI, England, actually going to stave off further tax surplus that would automatically cut 1547 (Capital, Chapter 28) hikes, or, in fact, accomplish much of taxes in 1984, sending the fund plummet- anything. ing below the floor limit again. The EGISLATION PROVIDING un- The bill authorizes Texas to borrow up Study .Group referred to this as the "yo employment benefits has been on to $240 million from the federal govern- yo" effect. L the upswing since the 1500s, but ment to keep the fund from running out When asked about this Rube.Goldberg there are still a few kinks to be worked of money. The minimum annual state tax operation, Texas Employment Commis- out, as witness the most recent gathering of $6 per employee was raised to $28 in sion Chairman Nolan Ward admitted of the Legislature That Wouldn't Die. 1983 under the bill, and there is an that it seemed to work adequately as Gov. Bill Clements called the brethren additional $7 surtax to pay off the $32 long as it wasn't needed, but as soon as it of the 67th together again for their third million interest payments on the federal was needed, it didn't work. special session in order to "rescue" the loan. (Continued on Page 4) THE TEXAS OBSERVER 3 (Continued from Page 3) in January. Spokesmen for the gov- Criss said Texas unemployment bene- ernor's office said Clements had never And neither will the law just passed by fits are "really about average" but that the legislature, Ward claims. seen the November letter and Attorney he believes the state should pay some- General Mark White promptly accused thing more like $200 a week. "I do not Gov. Clements said the bill has saved him of "a crisis-to-crisis approach to think a person out of work can sustain Texas employers an estimated $1.4 bil- government." _life and family on $147 a week for very lion in 1983. But in order for the new law The 106-30 vote of approval in the long — not with current utility rates," he to live up to its reputation, Ward says House and the Senate aye of 22-6 indi- said. "you have to end the recession in June cated the skids had been pretty well 1983, and if the recession doesn't end Joe Gunn, secretary-treasurer of greased on behalf of the legislation. The then, it doesn't work." Texas AFL-CIO and a former TEC com- major moves of opposition came from missioner, said while he is "not totally Galveston Rep. Lloyd Criss, vice those opposed to federal borrowing. pleased with the amount of benefits," the chairman of the House Committee on Salado Rep. Stan Schlueter proposed scheduled increase to $168 in October rep- Employment Practices, said whether the using state instead of federal revenues resents substantial progress. He recalls that bill will be effective or not "is going to and was defeated 68-68. Austin Sen. only ten years ago, benefits totalled $63 a depend solely on the economy and the Lloyd Doggett and Dallas Sen. John week. Gunn favors extension of the 26- employment rate. The bill is based on the Leedom also favored use of state funds week period and so does Criss. assumption that the economy is going to get as opposed to what Doggett called "the State law at present would require better, and if it does, this will be pretty close forbidden fruit of deficit finance." nearly 15% unemployment in order for to a permanent solution ... If the economy benefits to be extended past 26 weeks, Criss continues to get worse, I don't think this bill Port Arthur Sen. Carl Parker, sponsor- said. He said there is another problem is going to work." ing the leadership's bill in the Senate, posed by the "GOP-in-fested Department Ward's term expires in November and probably summed up the feelings of of Labor" which is using "creative" arith- the commissioner said he is afraid the many good folks when he declared he metic to report a gradual decline in jobless- TEC "is going to be mistreated when the was tired of hearing people talk about the ness in Texas. federal government "as if it were a for- legislators realize they are going to have Criss said he assumes the aim is "to to pass another tax increase" in January. eign power. We aren't trying to borrow money from Russia. It's our tax money." make Ronald Reagan look better." TEC claims transactions totaled Discussing the complexities of the There was not much discussion during 613,000 in June and rose to 805,000 in employment fund was not nearly as sexy the session itself on the issue of whether August. But the Labor Department re- as lambasting the governor over the ses- the Texas system of unemployment ben- ported Texas unemployment was on the sion's timing, and wringing hands over efits is particularly fair to the unem- decline. Its figures show 7.7% in June and the need to borrow from the dreaded ployed. federal government. 7.0% in August. Criss said he believes un- According to the House Study Group, employment in Texas is nearer to 10%. Although the 54-hour-and-14-minute Texas taxes its employers at the lowest Gunn said in his opinion the Texas unem- session was the shortest on record since rate nationwide, with an average tax of ployment system is ."unfair both to the a one-hour session in 1923, it was also $36 per employee per year. However, workers and to small employers. Small em- the fourth time the 67th legislature has the majority of Texas employers pay ployers get hit with a large amount of tax convened. The Guv came under criti- only the $6 per employee minimum. and don't have a lawyer or accountant to cism on grounds a Nov. 13, 1981, letter Benefits last 26 weeks and new regu- keep up with how to deal with it." from the TEC should have alerted him to lations severely limit benefits to persons Senate Bill 2 passed in the last regular problems with the fund. Criss' staff had who were fired or quit without good session removes discretion of the TEC to issued a 15-page report on its difficulties cause. take away portions of the total benefits, if it is determined a person quit without reason or was fired. Now an all or no- thing decision has to be made. Gunn likened it to sentencing an employee to THE POLITICIAN capital punishment for a minor infrac- THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LYNDON JOHNSON tion. The Drive for Power — from the Frontier to Master of the Senate Ward said, "I can give you a million different horror stories" about people af- fected by SB 2, including several inci- By RONNIE MINER dents of persons he said were denied benefits when they quit to take care of a Send us $20 and we will send you an auto- Name spouse or parent with cancer. graphed copy of Ronnie Dugger's acclaimed "What you've got to remember is book on Lyndon Johnson. (Postage included; Address when we pay a claimant unemployment Texas residents add $.95 sales tax.) City State Zip conipensation, they take that check and go to Safeway and HEB and pay their The Texas Observer • 600 West 7th • Austin, Texas 78701 utility bills and car notes, if they can," Ward said. "They don't pocket that money. It goes right back to the same employers that were taxed. In many Life Insurance and Annuities ways, what it does is to delay layoffs of more workers." ❑ Martin Elfant, CLU 4223 Richmond, Suite 213, Houston, TX 77027 (713) 621-0415 SoYILife Former Observer reporter Mary Lenz is studying economics at UT-Austin.

4 OCTOBER 1, 1982 No Rifts or Tears at Demo Convention

bite that bullet and vote the ticket." The By J. C. Alexander ranks of Democratic conservatism in Texas have demonstrated their willing- Dallas ness to flee to the Republican Party. In 1982 the political party of historical Progressives and liberals haven't a hope dog treading with short nervous steps dominance in Texas has discovered that of electing their candidates by them- across the platform behind Mattox who had taken the dog up to the microphone.) it needs itself. Four years ago the Demo- selves. crats took themselves for granted, while More specifically, it is the down-ballot And Ralph Yarborough, still among the Republicans elected Bill Clements to candidates in this election who have the greatest heart-warmers of the Demo- the governorship. Still smarting from proven their ability to motivate the elec- cratic Party, who was called up time and that defeat, the Democratic Party has torate at the grassroots, a necessary in- again at this convention to exhort the united this year with an unusual degree gredient for victory that those at the top membership to unity, including a call for of harmony. of the ticket may not be able to produce. the support of Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, the There's always talk of "unity" at polit- The top must depend on the bottom to man who defeated Yarborough and re- ical party conventions. It's the standard hold. placed him in the U.S. Senate. benediction for such gatherings. More Amidst all the rhetoric and revelry, And Jim Hightower telling the gay- often than not, however, all the talk of some interesting, odd, and amusing lesbian caucus that his race for agricul- harmony has the quality of a cheap salve scenes stood out. ture commissioner is "more fun than applied too liberally by party chiefs, the choking chickens," unaware of the spe- Such as the sight of Billie Carr, Demo- party faithful and others who toe the cial connotation that the word "chicken" party line. It seldom cures the common cratic National Committeewoman from carries in that community, and receiving Houston, who has never been ashamed ills. a burst of resounding, if nervous, of calling herself a liberal, embracing laughter from the crowd. Perhaps nothing cures vanity quite like gubernatorial nominee Mark White in impotence or poverty, and the Demo- front of a roomful of progressive dele- Two planks in the platform adopted by crats have experienced both lately. The gates, members of the Texas Democrats the Democrats stand out, one endorsing ascension of the New Right, Ronald caucus. a nuclear weapons freeze, the other call- Reagan's election to the presidency, the ing for a switch from appointed to spector of a political process increas- And Jim Mattox showing up at the elected commissioners of the state's Pub- ingly polluted by excessive and un- Dallas Convention Center, out on the lic Utility Commission. floor among the delegates, being led by a matchable amounts of campaign money, Nothing especially telling could be and the attendant results of these events huge English mastiff on a heavy chain, as fitting a companion as there might be for found in the response to the visitations of that now dominate the way we are gov- five aspirants to the presidency in 1984 erned and live, have forced the Demo- Mattox in his campaign for attorney gen- eral. (And the blind girl who owned the — former Vice President Walter Mon- crats to reach a bond they have seldom dale, Sens. Gary Hart of Colorado, Alan achieved. Cranston of California, Fritz Hollings of For two days at the recent Democratic Democrats make Republicans. South Carolina, and former Florida Gov. state convention, "party unity" was We make conditions prosperous Reubin Askew. Sen. Edward Kennedy more than just the bland mouthing of enough to afford to be Republi- of Massachusetts, who did not appear, minions. If not dwelling in the hearts of can. Let that ol' boy get a power was the clear favorite in a Dallas Times all who were here, it at least seemed mower and a second car in his Herald poll of the delegation. Mondale's firmly planted in their heads, resolved of garage, and he thinks he has to speech to the convention struck the necessity to make it work. put a Republican sign in his yard deepest, not only because his attacks on In 1982, the year of the calico ticket, to show he's arrived. Reagan were the most acute but also the slate of Democratic candidates — Cong. Jim Wright probably because he had the savvy to conservative, liberal, and' moderate — bring Ralph Yarborough to the podium in recognizes that the Lloyd Bentsens need I was a college student when the middle of his remarks, where the two the Jim Hightowers, the Mark Whites Harding was president, I was stood together before the crowd. need the Jim Mattoxes. As Jim High- practicing law when Hoover was I have great difficulty finding meaning tower put it, "There's somebody on president, and I was practicing in political conventions, particularly of there for everyone — wild-eyed liberals law when Nixon was president. this sort; they seem so orchestrated, like Lloyd [Bentsen], calm, middle-of- I've seen all the bad ones and seamless and smooth. It's easier to de- the-road moderates like Ann Richards Reagan is the worst of all of scribe. and analyze the rifts, cracks and and myself." them. tears in politics. There weren't any of It is a symbiotic harmony based more Ralph Yarborough significance here. The unity that was ap- on calculation and an analysis of the parent, existed before the convention. It numbers than on affinity of belief. In We've had all this Rea- was displayed but not generated to any Ralph Yarborough's words, "If you read ganomics we can stand, friends. large extent by the occasion, more by the larger circumstance the Democrats now that ticket and don't see someone you Reagamortis has set in. don't like as well as some of the others, Jim Hightower find themselves in. Circumstances we all you're just not human. But go ahead and find ourselves in. ❑

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 5 Labor Celebration Ignores Issues

Workers flexed muscles, but what did it all mean?

By Eileen Welsome union officials and state Democratic Triangle, for example. The stronghold of hopefuls wheeled down the hot streets of the state's labor movement, it is now San Antonio in their open convertibles. San Antonio under seige by oil companies and related With no musical sound system and only industries eager to take back conces- an occasional high school band to liven sions bargained away when there was no - NION LEADERS hailed the re- up the 16-blocks of steel workers, cent Labor Day Parade in San oil glut. Just recently and with great re- pipefitters, electricians, and other luctance, 3,400 members of Oil, Chemi- Antonio as one of the grandest tradesmen, the silent parade seemed displaysu of solidarity in Texas since the cal and Atomic Workers Local 4-23 in more like a funeral procession. 1920s. Officials from 130 labor unions Port Arthur signed a new contract with from the state and national level poured Kirkland, as usual, flogged away at the Texaco that signified an end to the into the city for the two-day celebration state of the economy With all the vigor of longest strike in Texas history. of the 100th anniversary of Labor Day an aging boxer. Charging that a vote for a At the nearby Petrofina plant in Port and the dedication of the 16-foot Samuel Reagan supporter was like a "chicken Arthur, there has been little effort on the Gompers statue, the founder of the voting for Colonel Sanders," he urged part of management to get the 400 American Federation of Labor who died organized labor to oust the politicians workers back to work who walked off in San Antonio in 1924. With the stepped who are ravaging the Country's economy their jobs when oil industry contracts up organizing efforts in Texas earlier this in the upcoming Congressional elections. expired Jan. 8. The situation is also simi- spring, it was probably no accident that Though his jingoistic phrases are often lar at the BF Goodrich plant where organized labor decided to flex its mus- picked up and repeated for weeks by the another 400 or so workers are on strike. cles in another Texas city (especially one national press, his speeches, delivered in And at the U.S. steel plant in Orange, an where the mayor himself, Henry Cis- a slow, deliberate cadence, are, well, additional several hundred workers are neros, was so receptive to blue collar vis- dull. "He's the most boring speaker I out of work because of a strike union itors). But when the parade was over, ever heard," said one labor official who leaders maintain the company forced. when the receptions, press conferences stepped out in the hallway for a quick Undoubtedly, organized labor both here and parties were all through, there was smoke during Kirkland's first speech. in Texas and the rest of the country are still the nagging question of what did it Kirkland predicted that Texas organiz- facing an uncertain future. To survive, all mean. ing efforts will get a needed boost during they will have to adapt their demands at the bargaining table to the changing AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland the current recession. "For years, he economy. aimed a few clever barbs at the Reagan said, Texas has had the benefit of an ex- administration; the Farm Workers an- panding economy, and while that's not In San Antonio CWA President Glenn nounced they were gong to renew the necessarily an argument against Watts offered labor some of the clearest push for bargaining rights in the legisla- unionism, there is a calculated effort to suggestions during a weekend marked ture and received the backing of the try to convince people that economic more by political rhetoric. Recognizing League of United Latin American Citi- growth is somehow related to the pro- that the traditional battles of wages and zens, and Cong. Henry B. Gonzalez gave management, pro-employer point of benefits have already been won, Watts Reagan the dubious distinction of being view reflected in the right-to-work urged tradesmen to seek "employment the first "union-busting president" in the laws." security" rather than "job security" nation's history, much to the delight of through negotiated contracts that Layoffs "vividly" show that em- guaranteed training and retraining "so the crowd who were almost all card- ployers don't always have the workers' carrying union members. that no union member ever lacks the best interests in mind, he said, adding skills to find a job in a changing econo- Yes, it was a great display of solidari- my. " that labor is making definite progress in 0 ty, but maybe it was just that — a dis- . Texas. play. Kirkland, however, failed to address Even the parade itself seemed hollow what is happening to organized labor Eileen Welsome is a reporter for the San and disjointed as Kirkland and a cadre of here in Texas, in places like the Golden Antonio Light.

6 OCTOBER 1, 1982

, froe.te.y1:- ,v•-f 4,10" *A.,41,1.11,06,V4§110.1.Wt Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez before Gompers statue

Rebecca Harrington, Cesar Chavez and Jim Harrington (in cap) represent United Farm Workers—AFL-CIO in San Antonio.

Samuel Gompers Memorial Parade, Labor Day, San Antonio

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 7 Maverick and the Jews The prevalent pressure felt by the si- lent opponents of the Lebanon invasion is internal: people censoring themselves because they don't want the Jewish community to appear fractious. They feel the Jews should put up a united front, and although topics may be de- bated within the "family," public discord A LOVERS QUARREL provides a foothold for anti-Semitism. Maverick contends that this appear- ance of unanimity hurts more than it OVER LEBANON helps, especially when directed toward what he feels is a bad cause. Jews, he says, need to air differences ". . . so the Gentiles won't think everybody is in a lock step, one voice all for that god- damned war. . . . These reactionary Jews say to me, 'you shouldn't say any- "The Gentiles are congratulatin' me for all the wrong thing,' and I say, 'you're the one that's reasons . . . the Jews are jumpin' on me for all the sowing the seed, you and Menachem Begin are sowing the seeds for the new wrong reasons." holocaust.' " Though Rabbi Stahl says there has been little actual trouble over Maverick's By John Schwartz controversial, but Maverick didn't know writing ("Maury has made a big deal out what controversy was until he took on of a split in San Antonio which hardly Austin Israel. exists"), he readily admits that Maverick Maverick has always been close to has angered a great many Jews. At the HE LEBANON WAR is over same time, many have been close friends now, or seems to be. But one war Jews, and he has always supported Is- rael. But when he began to disagree with with Maverick, and pillars of the prog- T has spawned others. The new ressive community. The oposing emo- Israel's policies, he loudly criticized the battleground is not Lebanon; it is the tions pull strongly; every conversation minds and hearts of progressives. Begin government, going so far as to call it "fascist." When Israel invaded Leba- begins with, "I love him, but. . . ." Not Many Gentiles hate what Israel has non, Maverick got louder, and the trou- only do they violently disagree with done; 60% of Americans polled said they ble got worse. Maverick about Israel, they feel that disapproved of the invasion. Most Jews Maverick's attacks foment anti- have publicly thrown their support Maverick's criticism went beyond Is- Semitism. firmly behind Israel and the Begin gov- rael to the American Jewish community; he exhorted Jews who opposed the Maverick agrees that his attacks on Is- ernment. There is no clear line marking rael are misunderstood by Gentiles — Israel's supporters from its detractors; it Begin government to speak up. He be- came convinced that fear of reprisal and also by Jews. "The Gentiles are con- is unpredictable. There are Jewish dis- gratulatin' me for all the wrong reasons," senters — mainly in the Northeast, within the Jewish community was keep- ing Jews from coming out. he says, "the Jews are jumpin' on me for where Jews need not feel so isolated. all the wrong reasons — nobody's doin' There are many non-Jews whose support I spoke with three leaders of the Texas anything right about the goddamned for Israel outdoes that of the Jewish Jewish community who have been in- thing." community. (Including, strangely volved in conflicts with Maverick over enough, members of the religious right.) Israel: insurance executive Bernard Without neat classifications, it is easy to Rapoport, San Antonio Rabbi Samuel ANY SUPPORTERS of the Is- lose track. The battle goes on whether Stahl, and San Antonio insurance con- raeli invasion opposed the we keep track or not. sultant lawyer Mendel Kaliff. All three m Vietnam War, and suffered for believe Israel is correct. It is more than a it. Mendel Kaliff lost almost half of his The liberal community is being torn business because of his antiwar activity. apart by the Israel question. For some, it "my country, right or wrong" argument; they are well-informed and persuasive. Rabbi Stahl took part in moratoriums, is an internal struggle: a love for Israel and is now active in the antinuclear versus a hatred of war. For others, it is a They journey to Israel to find out for themselves; they return with mountains movement. Rapoport headed up Busi- rift in old friendships as Israel's former nessmen against the War in Vietnam. supporters become detractors, and those of facts, statistics, and stories. who remain pro-Israel respond. Tempers Do those who disagree with Israel fear But they say this is not the same kind run high, voices are raised. Language reprisals from within the Jewish commu- of war. Says Kaliff, "If I were to identify becomes abusive; as with most who have nity? Stahl believes there is no external with anything, it would be a dove. But been in love, the divorce is bitter. pressure: "Ten Jews called (Maury), he this isn't a dove-hawk situation over The city in Texas most affected by this told me, to tell him they don't agree with there. You let your kids go down in a conflict is San Antonio. No, there has what Israel is doing, but they're afraid to bomb shelter every day for two years been no rioting in the streets. This war is speak out because of the pressure. I said, and you're going to get sick and tired of more personal: less dangerous, but no `Maury, that's their problem!' " Though I it. You'd better tell the PLO 'you get you less sad. discussed my anti-Begin stance with ass out of here!' " each interviewee, no one suggested I But why was invasion necessary? should not write this article — though all Kaliff says, "They're talking about OST OF THOSE problems of them were willing to argue me out of started with San Antonio Habib getting the Nobel prize, well my position. Timidity in the face of firm Habib is a pretty good little diplomat, as lawyer Maury Maverick, Jr. opinions may keep some people from all the Bechtel soldiers are, but where do Maverick writes a column for the San talking, but Stahl and the others knew of Antonio Express News, you think Habib's trump card came many of them no direct pressure. from? — the pressure the Israelis were a OCTOBER 1, 1982 putting on the PLO. And were it not for of America is there in aid and trade that quote every word I said. And I want to that situation, the PLO would still be when Israel attacks, we, in effect, are at- tell you I love Maury, I love his Momma there." tacking. We have to watch. Especially Terrell and I love most of all Maury now. Senior, but I'm sick of his ridin' the Bernard Rapoport says, "I certainly Jews' ass about this. That son of a bitch don't like what's going on, I don't like all Rapoport says, "Now the people of Is- rael are the remnants of six million peo- ought to know something about defense the emphasis on war, and I don't like the — he was a Marine!" killing and I don't like anything that de- ple killed for no reason other than the tracts from Israel getting on about its fact that they were Jews. And if they're a San Antonio Express-News reporter business, which is making it the flower of little nervous at times, they've got a right Jan Jarboe, a friend of Maverick's, at- the Middle East. The military skirmishes to be." tended a presentation by Kaliff and oth- take away from that effort. But what do ers about their recent tour of Lebanon. The Holocaust is always present, part She said, "It was such a hawkish display people want Israel to do, let them have of the weight of five thousand years of another Yom Kippur War, another sur- of solidarity, it scared me to death. I was Jewish history. And it is being put to too scared to ask a question. And I knew reptitious attack, and be threatened and constant use, harnessing of the power of almost emasculated?" then that Maury was right — on this frustration and pain, the harvest of the issue there is no freedom of speech." These arguments do not convince Holocaust. From that, a New Jew is de- Jarboe says, "There is the idea that the Maverick, whose law practice suffered veloping. Kaliff takes it farther, "They're left-wing Jewish doves are somehow the during the Vietnam War because he de- not walking into the Goddamned ovens kooks or the crazy people, and therefore fended draft resisters. He does not see anymore carrying a stone bar of soap. Maury is a kook or a crazy person. Dis- the distinction that made Israel's inva- They're not going to do it. That's the sent is going on all over the United sion a just war. "The Jews have really kind of Jew Maury wants." States. In New York it's going on, and in been the conscience of the world," he Kaliff adds, "They've got the bomb Atlanta it's going on, and in Chicago it's says. "And Israel has lost its innocence, over there and they're going to use it going on and the only thing Maury has and that causes the Jews all over the when and if the time comes. They're done is raise the issue locally, and I think world to lose their innocence if they re- for that he should be congratulated. He's main silent and don't say anything." going to go down fighting. And nobody's going to screw with them any more." one of the most courageous men in this Maverick is afraid that Israeli temerity whole city. Because he's put on the line will be the country's downfall. "We The harshest words from Israel's sup- his friendships for his whole life. . . . Christians are better in killin' (than porters are reserved for the media. The Jews)," he says. "They start playin' the media is too accepting of PLO figures, "It's not Maury — the Jews are being Christians' game, and they're gonna get too suspicious of Israeli figures, anti- paranoid. They either don't know the beat at it. . . . They're stuck with a good Israel, or worse. There is merit to these truth or don't want to know the truth." reputation. They can't abandon it." claims since the international media con- The thing that worries Jarboe the most centrate on flashy stories over analysis. is the revival of anti-semitic feeling she That is exactly the sort of talk that in- " . . The truth is coming out about that has seen since the war. "And I know that furiates Israel's loyalists. No one likes Lebanon thing," says Kaliff. "The truth Maury and I, and other liberal people in moral kibbitzing. Rapoport complains, 4 4 . will prevail in spite of the Dan this state, are going to have to be defend- it's easy to be altruistic and aesthe- Rathers. . . . It really makes a great ing those very people that were in that tic and to be moral and to castigate room against the viciousness of anti- someone else's morals when one is not story to show a baby crying and some bombs hitting some streets, no question Semitic behavior." involved or threatened." He, Kaliff and about that, that's all we saw on televi- others complain about the attention sion. But it was damned rare when they drawn to Israel's "conscience." They showed the little villages in Galilee being wonder aloud why no one bothers asking T'S A LATE night telephone inter- about the conscience or innocence of the bombed." At the bottom, this is a propaganda view with Maverick, and he does not PLO. sound particularly heroic. He "The Jews," Kaliff says, "are sup- war, a struggle to see who can dissemi- I nate their side's story. Truth, as usual, is sounds tired. He says: posed to just be a bunch of goddamned ,, the first casualty. Who is telling the . . . I'm not happy as an enemy of the rabbis walkin' around in long black Jews. . . . As an Anglo liberal I'm a beards, long curls over their ears sayin', truth? How can you tell? Sincerity is no longer useful, because people are willing lonely person. I know that Jews don't `yessir, yessir, yessir.' He adds. "And like to hear Christians say that 'some of they love the Jewish underdog. But when to sincerely believe what someone else my best friends are Jews' but what are the Jew stands up like a man and defends tells them. That goes for the media and they gonna do . . . with me when I say himself, "what happened to the Jewish the tourists. Feelings are a poor guide to most of my best friends are Jews? .. . conscience?" the truth when emotions run so high. And it's really true." "I didn't see (Maury) wringing his Perhaps the truths in war can only be Now he is lonelier than ever. It's not a hands when the Israelis were killed by determined post-mortem by historians; a good time to be preaching dove-ishness the PLO in the upper Galilee area, nor war's present moment is brutal ephem- to the San Antonio Jews. Their ideals are did I see Maury wringing his hands when era. Beirut's truth lies in a mass grave, or no longer his, but at least he need not the Jewish athletes were killed in the the bottom of a deep well. conform his conscience to a national pol- Olympics. . . . What Israel did is what icy. And he need not convince himself everybody in the world wanted them to ND FINALLY the anger comes that he is right. with a white-knuckled do." back to a personal level, back to grip on an idealism that might not func- Rabbi Stahl says, "There are people Maury Maverick, Jr. in one tion past the next Israeli cabinet. Al- A legiance is not faith. looking for a reason to jump on Israel, seething,' ambivalent fireball. Kaliff says, and all those years the PLO occupied "I say F--- Maury, I've had it with him. Ideals are a Jew's life blood; we need Lebanon, and made a total wreck out of Now on a personal basis we're still the more than just politics or history. Some the country, . . . and murdered a thou- best of friends but I'm gettin' sick and of the early Zionists said that the Jews sand people there, nobody said a word." tired of riding the Jews' ass over this. If I must stand outside of and above history But we watch Israel so closely be- sound emotional it's because I am. I — it's what Maverick has been saying all cause of our national interests. So much hope you're taping, because you can along. It must be painful to realize that

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 9 he may be right. Israel may make a bet- all through the Vietnam war, they .. . "But one thing has happened to the ter ideal than a nation, especially a sustained me in my loneliness. gow internal struggles: the ice is breaking. militarist nation. Must we give up our that's all gone, except for a half a dozen Public opinion is shifting faster than ever ideals for the Jewish state to survive? friends that I have, it's all gone. Shit — against Israel, and anti-Begin sentiment Dialectical puzzles and paradoxes are in- I'm a victim of the f Vietnam, uh, is growing within Israel. tegral to Jewish study; they needn't Israeli war. That's a serious thing .. . always be solved, but they must be at- I'm not having' any fun doin' this shit. "And at home? Maverick called today to tell me that four Jews have called the tempted. Those who truly love an ideal Who in the hell am I gonna talk to now? or place or person must be willing to look You understand what I'm sayin'?" day after the camp attack to say they are at it in the strong clear light, and criticize no longer angry at him. Some call on the when necessary. By refusing to ques- * * * phone; a couple refused to give their tion, we turn our backs on our faith. names. One stopped him on the street, Maverick continued, "And I'm lonely. but began crying before he could say I'm a lonely person, like any person who much. It is a great shock, but it is bring- wants to talk about liberty and justice. Schwartz adds: "These interviews ing some people to their senses. Under- . . . Those are the people I've talked to were conducted before last week's Pales- standing is breaking through." ❑ all my life — now, suddenly over this tinian camp massacre by Christian issue, . . . the vast masses of Jewish Phalangists, which were possibly con- people don't talk anymore about music, doned by the Israelis. The situation is in or liberty, or the bill of rights, or black flux, and American troops are being sent John Schwartz is a law student at UT- people suffering. They were the people in. It is impossible to know what will Austin and a former editor of the Daily who, all through the McCarthy period, happen next. Texan.

Growing Up The Promise of Israel

Austin fender, not the aggressor, in these strug- I still love Israel, but it is a love tem- gles, and I remember feeling pride in pered by sadness and outrage. It is pos- WAS RAISED to love Israel. In that. It kept Israel outside of history, sible to love a country yet despise its elementary school we saved quar- which had been one precept of the early leadership; I love America, but not the I ters to plant trees in Israel, and we Zionists. Israel was a religious state to Reaganauts. Begin represents the worst participated in United Jewish Appeal me, above imperialism and other forces side of the Israeli character, but not the money drives. my father, I remember, that corrupted other nations. only side. planted an entire forest, and I wondered Israel now spends more money on That argument does not absolve Israel how many quarters it took. Our quarters arms per capita than any other country, — after all, Israel elected Begin. (Though went to making the desert bloom — Is- and is fourth in total arms spending after that is more a testament to his powers of rael's miracle, conquering a harsh land the US, the USSR, and China. The coun- parliamentary maneuvering than demo- through mastery of plowshares. try we strove to defend has become en- cratic triumph.) In high school, my friend Randy had gorged on the tools of war. And now This is a leadership problem, the same been saving money for years to buy his there has been an invasion of Lebanon, one we've had in this country over the first car. He gave the money to Israel an invasion that continues. last ten years. Why are there so few good instead. In college, speakers ranging The idea that there was no alternative candidates? What's happened to our from Max I. Dimont (author of The Inde- leadership? And why are people electing structible Jews) to Monty Hall (yes, to invasion might be more plausible if Prime Minister Menachim Begin and De- hawks with simplistic solutions to our THE Monty Hall) stirred the various problems? It is reminiscent of the 1930's. congregations. Money was needed; a fense Minister Ariel Sharon were not in great country was being built. command. Begin's warlike nature was There is Israeli opposition to both the well known even in 1948, and his meth- war and Begin. On August 6, Abba Eban Israel meant safe harbor to me. Even if wrote in the Jerusalem Post that "these the anti-Semites I grew up with got what ods have been denounced by the likes of Albert Einstein and Hannah Arendt. weeks . . . have been a dark age for the they wanted, there would be a place for Begin has unclenched the PLO fist — moral history of the Jewish people. . . ." me to go — I would not have to die in gas I hope the dissenters grow in strength. chambers (photos of which we had been for now -- and invaded the only country in the region smaller than Israel. He has They are the only hope against Begin and shown, along with the stacks of corpses his ilk, who rely more'on militarism than and near-corpses rotting in concentra- won, but the very existence of Israel demonstrates that you cannot destroy a on sense. Begin is the sort of man Nor- tion camps). A self-proclaimed neo-Nazi man Mailer was referring to when he said in my high school sported a bumper people by killing many of them and dis- persing the rest. Exiles strengthen over that "Bad guys become leaders in a bad sticker on his black Volkswagen proc- time." laiming, "Israel must die." It was a time, long to return to their homeland — long for revenge. This is a new diaspora; When I was very young, they used to strange place for a Jewish kid to grow show us maps so we could see that Israel up. Israel was a magic friend granted Israel has given the PLO spiritual am- munition to last 100 years. had enemies all around, and that they statehood. might someday push Israel into the sea. And that paradise had to be defended. We are not used to two bad sides in a Now I realize Israel's worst enemy may Sunday school lecturers recounted Is- conflict: we expect a good guy to root be within. Begin and Sharon have won rael's victory in the 1967 war — and its for, a bad guy to hiss. Things don't often the war, but could lose a nation — and narrower scrape in 1970's Yom Kippur work out that way. The PLO terrorists endanger Jews around the world. War. Galveston's reform rabbi, Samuel and the Israeli government are both Whatever happened to plowshares? Stahl, pointed out that Israel was the de- gravely at fault. J. S

10 OCTOBER 1, 1982 • POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

terms, and now we've started to sell concludes that "increasingly, political is- ✓ Presidential hopeful Walter Mondale, eager to win the endorsement of agricul- weapons to nations that need technol- sues are being decided not on their ture commissioner candidate Jim ogy, that need to learn how to grow merits but out of deference to monied "Whole Hog" Hightower, invited High- food." special interests." The magazine points tower and campaign aide Krysti Ozmun Dellums said he hoped that the peace out that since the bulk of PAC dollars go up to his suite at the Hyatt Regency dur- movement would not become "the white to incumbents, "PACs have a powerful ing the Democratic state convention in middle class movement of the 80s," and built-in constituency against reform — Dallas. Mondale made his pitch, High- he reminded his listeners that Martin members of Congress themselves." tower listened, and then told Mondale he Luther King saw the insanity of nuclear Focusing on the many narrow inter- would do two things: he would introduce weapons 20 years ago. ests getting into the PAC act, Common Mondale to Hightower supporters Cause lists such affiliates as the Drum ✓ Jack Anderson reports that the Rea- around the state and he would critique gan administration's dramatic an- Reconditioners PAC, the National Tur- his campaign in Texas, letting him know nouncement recently of a $200 million key Foundation PAC, the International when he was doing something wrong. He aid program for businesses along the Association of Amusement Park and At- added that he would do the same thing, Mexican border was an election-year po- tractions PAC, the Whimsical Alterna- of course, for any other Democratic can- litical ploy, nothing more. According to tive Coalition PAC, the Michigan didate who asked. Anderson, the money was there all Blueberry Growers Association PAC, along. It is part of what SBA had left and others. ✓ The Aug. 17 decision by Judge Jerry Buchmeyer of Dallas striking down the over in funds for this year's loan pro- Common Cause gives its "Leaders of Texas law that prohibits homosexual gram. One reason it hadn't been spent, the PAC" Award to Sen. Charles acts as a violation of the constitutional Anderson writes, is that the SBA has Grassley (R-Iowa) who received guarantees of privacy and equal protec- been much more tightfisted in coming to $722,211 from PACs and. Texas' own tion under the law can be appealed by the rescue of small businessmen feeling Cong. Jim Wright who accepted $345,073 any district attorney in Texas, since the the effects of high interest rates and the in PAC money. case was a class-action suit. Dallas recession. ✓ The Libertarian newsletter County District Attorney Henry Wade Gov. Bill Clements, of course, along Frontlines reports that Houston Cong. has announced that he will not appeal on with San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson, Ron Paul may seek the Libertarian Party the grounds that cases were seldom claimed a large share of the credit for the nomination for the presidential race in prosecuted under that law, although, as loan program. Anderson also points out 1984. Paul says that "It is very prema- Al Calkin of the Dallas Gay/Lesbian Po- that border businesses will be paying the ture for me to be serious about thinking litical Caucus points out, the law did same rates as any of the SBA's other about it one way or another, but that the exert a chilling effect on licensed profes- borrowers, and that a program that thought has crossed my mind." He also sionals. Doctors, attorneys, and other li- would have provided low-interest loans noted that he is up for re-election as a censed professionals were under con- to the stricken businesses was killed by Republican and that he couldn't think stant threat of license revocation. the Reagan administration last year. much farther than that until the race is over. At the state convention Calkin noted ✓ House Speaker Bill Clayton who has that Atty. Gen. Mark White had 30 days refused to endorse Mark White, is mak- in which to appeal and was in an uncom- ing a point of putting himself on record fortable position between the traditional as endorsing Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby over conservative voter and the gay voter, Republican George Strake. "We have a who represents approximately 10% of lean and limited government in Texas — the registered voters in this state. Calkin and that's the way Bill Hobby wants to speculated that White would quietly en- keep it," Clayton said. "As long as Bill courage some district attorney to appeal Hobby is lieutenant governor, I feel con- the case. fident that the good record we began to- at's Pt' Cong. Ron Dellums of California de- gether will be carried through." IteMsAb2111?_ livered one of the most thoughtful Mark White says he presumes Billy speeches at the state convention in Dal- Clayton got crossways with him over re- Parisian Charm. Omelette & las. Speaking to the Caucus of Black districting disagreements. Champagne Breakfast. Beautiful Crepes. Afternoon Cocktails. Democrats, Dellums noted that black ✓ The August, 1982 issue of Common Americans have been conspicuous in Cause Magazine examines the influence Gallant Waiters. Delicious their silence on the questions of peace of special interest money in politics and Quiche. Evening Romance. and nuclear proliferation. "Everyone," Continental Steaks, Mysterious he said, "stands equal in front of a nu- Women. Famous Pastries. clear weapon. A nuclear bomb is an ANDERSON & COMPANY Cognac & Midnight Rendezvous. equal opportunity destroyer." COFFEE TEA SPICES In short, it's about everything Dellums, who for ten years has served TWO JEFFERSON SQUARE a great European style on the House Armed Services Commit- AUSTIN, TEXAS 77131 restaurant is all about. tee, told the black Democrats that 512 453-15:33 "militarism is inappropriate in the 1980s when two-thirds of the world's popula- Send me your list. IheOld tion lives in abject poverty. Twelve mil- Name recan St lion children die every year of starvation and most of them are black and brown. Street 310 East 6th St. This administration has evolved a for- City Zip Austin, Texas eign policy that sees the world in military

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 11 "Dolph Briscoe used to tell me to take care of those county officials; they're the ones that get you elected."

Photo by Keith Dannemiller

WHITE (Continued from Cover) good for the state, but he's not; he's too Briscoe and John Hill shared, not an big." elevator, but a speaker's platform, and it Wells White, Jr., Houston native, Baylor was the same in Dallas where a jubilant graduate, and Texas attorney general, Temple, who carried Bowie County Ralph Yarborough told his fellow Demo- can't quit just yet. A candidate for gov- and most of Northeast Texas by a large crats attending the state convention that ernor smiles a lot, particularly when the margin in the Democratic primary, and "Victory's in the air!" good-guy white hat doesn't quite fit but Slagle, chairman of the state Democratic he has to wear it anyway so people won't Party, talked about party unity and get- Railroad Commissioner Buddy Tem- mistake him for the bad little hombre in ting out the vote, and White came back ple professes to agree. On the short hop black. Gene Autry would understand. to talk about unemployment. "Fifty per- from Texarkana to Tyler, he sat across cent of young black 18-year-olds are un- the aisle from the man he once called The jug of water had been purchased a employed," he said, "and unemployment "the Pinnochio of Texas politics" and few minutes earlier across the state line listed his reasons: "Texas is still a Dem- throughout the state is serious moving ocratic state," he said, "Clements' nega- in Texarkana, Arkansas. "You've heard toward critical. And when you're unem- how Bill Clements says he's gonna steal tive rating is unusually high, Democrats ployed in Texas, where do you go? in Texas are realizing that these general water from Arkansas," White told the We've got a governor going around the good-natured crowd wedged into the elections are no longer slam dunks, and country saying unemployment in Texas we're better prepared this election. The banquet room. "Well I'm here to tell you is insignificant. It may be insignificant to that we got this water from Arkansas just fourth thing is the state of the economy. him in Hilton Head, South Carolina or People are rightfully disenchanted with a few minutes ago, and it's more Arkan- Shangrila, Oklahoma or Vail, Colorado, sas water than Bill Clements has ever Reaganomics. People are going to be where he's been lately, but it's not insig- saying, 'I'm sick of this; I've had enough brought into this state, or ever will. And nificant when you go to the unemploy- we bought it fair and square." of it.' " (Later Temple offered a fifth rea- ment office in Fort Worth, as I have, and son for his optimism. "Lloyd Bentsen is The Texarkana, Texas people laughed, talk to a 63-year-old man sitting there heading the ticket. We didn't have that and White — in his East Texas drawl holding his wife's hand, and he's out of the last time. I think Bentsen will wipe that is both forceful'and a bit ponderous, work for the first time in his life. Two Collins out. I think he will annihilate like a taped voice at a slightly slower years short of retirement, and he's him.") speed — went on to talk about coopera- scared. That's not insignificant; that's tion and good will and Bill Clements' ab- cruel." Temple, who said he had no 'doubt that rasive, mean-tempered ways. He said he Clements was beatable when he himself Texarkana was the third stop on day made his last-minute leap into the Dem- hoped Texans had seen the last of their number two of a three-day tour with educational system being kicked around ocratic primary last spring, pointed out Slagle, Temple, and Armstrong in tow. that no Democratic candidate today can and that teachers' salaries could be in- Earlier that morning, White and friends creased without raising taxes. The Dem- compete with Clements' money and that had greeted shift workers outside the Clements will be using that money to ocrats, he said, were so unified this time gate at Bell Helicopter in Euless, and that in Austin a few days earlier, John boost White's negative rating. "Person- they had addressed a breakfast meeting ally, I was always surprised by Mark's Hill and Dolph Briscoe had ridden the of Dallas County Democrats. After same elevator. He introduced his travel- low negatives," he said. Texarkana, they would campaign at an Many Democrats would also be sur- ing companions — Bob Armstrong, airport rally in Tyler and a rally for local Buddy Temple, and Bob Slagle. prised, particularly die-hard Bob Democrats in San Antonio. Armstrong — and to a lesser extent, Armstrong reminded the audience that Everywhere the message was the Buddy Temple — supporters whose av- Bill Clements, with four more years in same: the Democrats lost in 1978 be- ersion to Mark White is almost as strong office, would be able to make appoint- cause, in Slagle's words, they "set a new as their Clements dyspepsia (maybe ments to every board and commission in record for negligence, indolence, and just stronger since Mark White is one of their the state that are on six-year cycles. being lazy;" Bill Clements is out of own). Molly Ivins recently quoted one of Two-thirds, he said, are already Republi- touch, insensitive, and Ronald Reagan's them, an anonymous veteran of many can appointees. (Clements has appointed right-hand mail; emphasizing education political wars: "It's our lying s.o.b. about 3,000 members of state boards and and the state's deteriorating economy, against their lying s.o.b," he told her. commissions. The Senate has vetoed White offered himself as an experienced, The bad feelings are both personal and only four.) compassionate public servant who rep- political. "Clements really doesn't understand resents, in the words of congressional "Mark White seems to have been run- the problems of the average busi- candidate Solomon Ortiz, "el partido de ning for governor since the day he be- nessman," Armsirong said. "I've talked la gente," the party of the people. came secretary of state," an Austin to businessmen who said they voted for The message was the same at Mark lawyer and another of those anonymous him because they thought he would be White Night in Austin, where Dolph political veterans commented recently.

12 OCTOBER 1, 1982

• "I've always had the feeling that he governors who raise taxes. They do to trial at the drop of a hat. "You may never really believed anything. He's change governors." call that rolling over," Richrds says, "but fairly predictable, not in terms of ideol- I call it acting responsibly." ogy, but where the majority is on emo- As the campaign moves into its last Several other cases irritate liberal tional issues, that's where you'll find month, Bill Clements is pounding away Democrats. Last spring White brought Mark White." at Mark White's alleged incompetence, suit against General Motors, charging Politically, liberal Democratic distaste citing, for example, a $66,000 default that the company was abusing Texas for Mark White usually focuses on posi- judgment against Texas A&M because consumers by requiring Texas auto deal- tions he has taken as attorney general — the attorney general's office failed to ap- ers to participate in consumer rebates. voting rights (where he managed to cede pear in court for the case. Labeling Buddy Temple charged that White's ac- White "Malpractice Mark," Clements the progressive ground to the likes of Bill tion had caused GM to exclude Texas Clements and David Dean), the illegal campaign manager Jim Francis charges from a sales campaign that offered much alien question, bilingual education, elec- that the Texas A&M case is not an iso- lower interest rates to the consumer. The tronic surveillance, capital punishment. lated incident. He cites another default auto dealers finally gave in and agreed to White insists that his position as the judgment, for $230,000, in Travis County conditions they had earlier rejected. In state's attorney general is not necessarily against the Department of Mental Health what seemed to be another instance of his personal position. On the bilingual and Mental Retardation because the at- Mark White trying to be all things to all education question, for example, he told torney general failed to show up for trial. voters, he appeared on television saying the Observer last spring (TO, 3/26/82) Francis also charge§ that White failed to that he had won a victory for consumers. that "My commitment, and I think some file timely appeals in other cases as well. Actually he was rescuing them from a of the misunderstanding that people have dilemma of his and the auto dealers' own of this office is that as a state lawyer, I have to defend the law that may or may making. not agree with my own thoughts on what More recently, White irritated liberals the law might ought to be. I have gone • by petitioning the Supreme Court to set out and vigorously supported changes in aside a stay of the execution of Charles our bilingual law, worked very closely "You don't need a lawyer, Bass. "The appeals go on and on with the Mexican American political — forever," White said. "It's reckless and legislative — caucus to see that we have you need a magician to makes the justice system appear foolish. an updated bilingual law which touches get those prisoners off the It's ridiculous to think (the appeals) are not only the needs of the Spanish- any more than an abuse of the judicial speaking child, but every other child who floor." system." comes to this state who does not have John Duncan of the Texas Civil Liber- English as a first language . . ." ties called White's petition "a cheap On the plane from Tyler to San An stunt." As Duncan saw it, "the gov- tonio, White reminisced about another ernor's campaign is the only reason he conflict between his personal beliefs and "He can criticize me for mistakes a did it." his AG duties — the Ruiz vs. Estelle case young lawyer made who's making 19 to over prison conditions. "I'm down there 25 thousand dollars a year working in the N 1977, MARK WHITE quit after trying to tell the most liberal judge in attorney general's office," White said, five years as secretary of state to run Texas [U.S. District Judge William "but he can't show me one instance I for attorney general in the Demo- Wayne Justice of Tyler] that the state is where those mistakes have yet to cost cratic primary against Price Daniel, Jr., doing everything it can to take care of its the state any money. We fully expect the former speaker of the House and bearer prisoners and, up jumps the devil, he judgment in the A&M case to be set of one of the most famous names in [Clements] vetoes the appropriations aside." Texas politics. White, as much_ an bill" (a bill authorizing over $39 million underdog as Bill Clements, rode a half- in prison construction money). White also contends that his office has million-dollar end-of-the-campaign White said he told Clements, "You won 98% of its 31,000 cases, that his of- media blitz to victory over Daniel. In the don't need a lawyer, you need a magician _ fice has won most cases on appeal, and general election, he got more votes than to get those prisoners off the floor." He he says, "I'll defy you to find a lawyer either John Hill or Bill Clements and de- mimicked the governor's snarling re- who's won over William Wayne Justice feated Republican James Baker III, the sponse: 'Well, how're we gonna do twice in three weeks." (Both the prison man who now serves as Ronald Reagan's it?' " White said he told the governor he and the bilingual cases were reversed on chief of staff. didn't know; maybe the state could put appeal in favor of more modest adjust- White, an indefatigable campaigner, them in tents. ments.) believes he can do it again, and at this "Those are the facts," White said just "The won-loss ratio is a spurious is- writing, the polls show him neck-and- before landing in San Antonio, "and I'll neck with Bill Clements. His financial put them in an affadavit. That prison sue," Austin labor attorney David situation is good, he says. "We're not case is when I knew we needed a new Richards says, "both for Clements to going to match Clements obviously. We governor." raise and White to respond to. Many of spent 1.3 and 1.5 million in the primary, "The most important case," White these are routine cases with no adver- and we look to spend between three and added, "is one we stayed out of court on, sary — forfeiture cases, default four. We can afford to be outspent two, to litigation on desegregation of higher edu- judgments, consent judgments. There's one." • cation under Title XI.* They don't build no way to really get a handle on those White picked up $4.2 million in statues to governors who avoided law- types of cases." pledges in June, and he expects to collect suits. They also don't build statues to Richards, who says he has dealt with 60 to 80% of that. He anticipates pledges White's predecessors, Crawford Martin overall between 5 and 6 million dollars * On a related issue, White has failed to issue an and John Hill, as well as with White, says and expects to collect about 4 million of opinion on Rep. Wilhemina Delco's request, re- Mark White is the only one of the three that. About $2.8 million of that will be peated 13 times, as to whether Prairie View A&M, the black adjunct of Texas A&M, is entitled to an who has made genuine efforts to reach spent on media. He also has fund-raisers equal share of the Permanent University Fund. out-of-court settlements instead of going scheduled around the state that are de- THE TEXAS OBSERVER 13 signed, in White's words, "to trigger tenth as much as the other two. I'd like earlier differences on consumer matters. funds for us at a time when we need to see the governor give more emphasis "Just on appointments alone," High- them." on restitution, public service in lieu of tower said, "you are talking about judg- White has also maintained the strong restitution, working with juvenile justice. es, which are just critical, and the Col- ties with county officials he developed There are a lot of community needs to be lege Coordinating Board and the Water during his five-year term as secretary of developed here that would give judges Board. Those have a critical impact on state. "County governments across more a feeling of confidence that they people. I want Mark White to be making Texas are all Democrats," he points out, can try some alternatives." those appointments. I'm going to be "and I think that we've got a good solid White also said he will soon release a sending him a list." relationship with country government — plan emphasizing crime prevention N A HOT, SUNNY morning in county commissioners, sheriffs, county through education, neighborhood pa- Harlingen a few days before the judges. Dolph Briscoe used to tell me to trols, and other efforts to combat crime state convention, Mark White, take care of those county officials; on the local level before it reaches crisis accompanied by Slagle, Temple, and they're the ones that get you elected." proportions. He was vague on the de- Armstrong, walked into a community And if that happens? How would Gov. tails. center filled with two high school bands Mark White differ from Gov. Bill Clem- On water: "Bill Clements has been and 400 or so noisy, enthusiastic suppor- ents? On a late-night flight from San An- there 31/2 years, and we're no closer to a ters. The enthusiasm was infectious. tonio to Austin — with the man who water plan than when he took office. If "How long are we going to put up with withdrew from the Democratic primary there's ever been a case where the fed- this?" Bob Armstrong shouted. "We can runoff sitting across the aisle and the eral government should be taking action, put up with it for four more years if we man he defeated in the primary flying the it's this case, something like the Tennes- don't get the vote out or we can put up plane — White ranged over a variety of see Valley Authority. There's no way all with it for four more months if we unite issues that he said distinguished him these states can be working together to behind our Democratic nominee." from the Republican incumbent. bring in massive amounts of water." The normally reserved Buddy Temple "This governor has really misled peo- Voter turnout, as Bob Slagle points got caught up in the moment and told ple on a number of issues," he said. "For out everywhere he goes, is the key. the crowd that he and Armstrong were example, when he vetoed the prison ap- Three votes per precinct in 1978, he "uniting to see that we put an end to this propriations bill in 1979 and then had to says, would have meant a Hill victory. reign of terror that Bill Clements has spend money on the same thing in 1981. Both Slagle and White believe their con- brought to our state." (Afterwards, he He's masquerading as a fiscal conserva- servative compadres are pretty well cor- chuckled about the hyperbole.) tive, but that's voodoo economics if ever raled. "(Dolph) Briscoe's doing a heck of I saw it." a lot of phone-calling," White said re- White reminded the mostly Hispanic audience that "unemployment problems On education: "I don't know of one cently. "Groaner Pitts (Brownwood businessman and longtime political that you have faced for so many years thing you can point to, to show where are now worsened by depressions and he's (Clements) induced pride and re- operative) crisscrossed territory he used to cover for Connally, right after Clem- recessions to the north and devaluations spect in the teaching profession. He to the south. Unemployment in the Val- ought to be looking to the future instead ents rode the train through there. He says we're in good shape. He told me, ley has always run higher, but since Bill of grumbling about the past." In his Clements got his job, we've had 250,000 speeches White frequently points out `We're gonna beat that s.o.b.' Ben Barnes is helping." Texans lose their jobs. With your help, that a new prison guard makes a higher we'll turn that around." starting salary than a new teacher. Liberal Democrats, some of them at "That's not right," he says. least, are playing the coy mistress. "I Moving to education, White charged that Clements has "turned his back first On the economy: just can't vote for the man (White)," an White conceded that of all on the teachers and then on the Bill Clements can be blamed for the Austin attorney said recently. "I'll vote for the Vegetarian Party instead." people of this state. When he says state's economic problems to "about the teachers don't work, he's badly mis- same degree you can blame Briscoe for Another Austin attorney, a long-time taken. . . . He's unconcerned with the supporting Jimmy Carter. I think you liberal, counsels a vote for Clements to people, and he doesn't understand the could speak out about some of the new purge the party of conservatives like role of the state government in this soci- federalism programs because when the White and Briscoe. Advocating a ety. We're spending $600 million for new choice comes to either keep the pro- strategy reminiscent of the John Tower prisons. Let's get to work and make sure grams or raise unemployment taxes, race in 1960, the old liberal argues that that Texas has the number one educa- most people will want to keep the pro- four more years of Bill Clements is more tional program in the nation." grams. A lot of things could have been palatable, and ultimately more healthful, started 31/2 years ago in vocational and than eight years of Mark White and the Wrapping up his 15-minute speech, technical training." same old conservative Democrats who White charged that "this governor is try- ing to buy the office, and he'll spend White also comes down hard on Clem- for years have run Texas for the corpo- rate interests.. Four years from now, he whatever it takes to get elected. I think ents' unwillingness to listen to warnings the people of Texas resent the arrogance about the unemployment tax crisis, says, the party will be ready to nominate a Jim Hightower to run for governor. and power and wealth of a man who another example, he says, of Clements' thinks he can purchase the office." government-by-crisis attitude. Billie Carr of Houston says no. She and White hugged each other at the White thanked his supporters, the On the governor's "War on Drugs" bands from La Joya and Edcouch-Elsa legislation: "I've endorsed those pro- Texas Democrats' caucus in Dallas dur- ing the state convention, and in Carr's slid into a lively tune, pretty high school grams and supported them." (In last girls waved flags and kicked their legs in spring's Observer interview White said words, "When Mark White comes to the liberal caucus and we put our arms unison, and men and women, most of he would have pushed for more privacy them Hispanic, clambered to their feet safeguards before signing the war-on- around each other, and we both mean it, that's got to be a first." cheering and applauding. Mark White, drugs legislation.) looking out at the crowd through the On criminal justice: "This governor White was also assuring liberals at the shrewd eyes of a hungry hawk, waved has almost totally ignored the judiciary convention that he won't forget them, and smiled his good-guy smile, then in, this state. It's an equal third branch of and Jim Hightower says that's one rea- began to make his way toward the door. government, and yet it spends only a son he's supporting White, despite their The bands played "Mr. Touchdown." ❑ 14 OCTOBER 1, 1982 • • he's been about as effective as anyone I've seen at making inconsistent statements and getting away with it." Lloyd Doggett Photo by Ronald Cartes

business like state government who He claims credit for chopping back the CLEMENTS (from Cover) knows how to manage a business." runaway growth of state government. Armstrong warns his listeners that "It's "We had the fastest-growing state bu- what her youngsters learn: "How the going to be close. So you shouldn't have reaucracy in the nation," he says. "A country was founded. . . . Under the a golf game or hunting expedition or fish- very dubious honor." He explains that curriculum, it's not so much patriotism, ing expedition on election day." Like a he has instituted "zero-based budgeting, but you instill pride in the birth of the military man answering smartly to his management by objective, and opera- nation. It's very apolitical. I don't think superior, he declares: "Governor, you tional audits. Today, there are 2,000 it's right to make little Republicans out of can count on people in this area to do fewer state government employees." them." Then she adds, "I'd hate to be an everything in their power to get you re- He boasts of achievements and ac- 8th-grader today. How can you teach a elected." complishments. Calling attention to the kid sitting in class who hasn't had a bath Eddie Chiles takes the podium. An $1.3 billion state government surplus, he in three days?" aging millionaire, an apostle of "the free asks, "How do you like that?" He asks Like Ms. Spearman's cut-and-dried — enterprise system," owner of the Texas his audience to think of the future, of the and apparently squeaky clean — exer- Rangers baseball franchise, Chiles at- year 2000, when the state will have cises in Americana, the Clements cam- tests: "I've known Bill for 25 years. I've grown to 21 or 22 million. "How many paign is an exercise in symbol-making. come to know an honest man, an intelli- hospitals, roads, highways, and parks With high school bands pounding out gent man, a bright, bright businessman will we need?" he asks. He tells of estab- "The Eyes of Texas" and, of course, — and a bad competitor." Everyone lishing "Texas 2000," the task force now "Texas, Our Texas,' the campaign mood chuckles, and Chiles adds, "We need Bill issuing a plan to deal with these and is upbeat and jubilant — the vibrant at- Clements. I personally recommend other complex issues. mosphere of a parade or a football rally. him." Clements reminds listeners that three The pageantry,.the music, the speeches, By now, the governor himself is the former governors — Allan Shivers, John the prayers — all following a precise, or- master of ceremonies, and he calls on the Connally, Preston Smith — support his chestrated ritual. And the fun is officially first lady. Rita Clements, a gold chain candidacy, as well as four former attor- sanctioned. With proper ceremony, for glistening against her purple blouse, neys general (Gerald Mann, John Ben example, Dr. Gail Shannon declares steps to the podium and tells how she Shepperd, Will Wilson, Waggoner Carr). solemnly to his fresh-faced West Texas startled a talk-show hostess by explain- All are or have been Democrats. The al- State University students: "Texas has ing that she served on her husband's ternative, he says, is an "incompetent always been known as a leader. The rea- election advisory committee. "She lawyer," a man who has spent most of son for that is the people involved. We're asked, 'Does he listen to your advice?' I his life working for the government and very fortunate to have our number one said, 'He is a man of will, but he lis- "never had to meet a payroll." He never Texan, a true leader, the governor of tens.' " At this, the governor pops up to mentions his opponent's name. Texas, Bill Clements." the microphone, saying, "I sure do." In Canyon, Vernon, Plainview, and (The governor frequently credits Rita for HOUGH HE BURST onto the Sherman, from the dusty panhandle urging him to run for governor in 1978, Texas political scene in 1978 with plains to the salty Red River, the steely- once blurting out before an audience T his $7-million upset victory over eyed governor, accompanied by his at- gathered at the Wilbarger County Dem. candidate John Hill, Bill Clements tractive, bejeweled wife, is presented in courthouse steps, "This is my wife, Rita. had been active politically for some the context of red-white-and-blue bunt- I sleep with her." Unfazed by the nerv- years. He was a major contributor to the ing, Cub Scouts, "We Luv the Guy" ous silence that greeted his remark, Nixon campaign and was rewarded with signs, white-helmeted drill teams, minis- Clements went on to say, "Rita talks in the post of deputy assistant secretary of ters, mayors, and judges. her sleep. And I listen to her.") defense. President Ford called him "the There is the patrician John Armstrong, Finally the stage belongs to the gov- best general manager of the Pentagon." for example, a courtly, self-possessed ernor. Accompanied by drum rolls and He was, however, in constant conflict South Texan who is chief of operations applause, he stands before the audience with his boss, Defense Secretary James for his family's King Ranch. Introduced and thunders out a catalog of accom- Schlesinger, and in Nov., 1975, President as "a great Texan and a great Amer- plishments. He's been tough on crimi- Ford replaced the combative Texan with ican," his dry voice assures, "I can't tell nals, he says, and "Crime has actually Donald Rumsfeld. you what a thrill it is to come to this dropped. We passed 14 of 16 anti-crime In a 1975 Washington Post column, rally. We're not blessed very often with bills. You said you wanted me to do Joseph Kraft alluded to the problems be- the chance to vote for a candidate totally something about the three-billion dollar tween Schlesinger and Clements: "In and completely qualified. You need insidious drug business . . . I don't want theory, the deputy defense secretary is somebody running a fifteen-billion-dollar any drug peddlers in Texas." supposed to be the alter ego to the secre-

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 15 tary, ready to take on any of the manifold Clements' urging, the Navy had pur- Carver, who died just before the verdict responsibilities which come to a head in chased Sylvester the Bull for an experi- while on vacation in Spain, also paid a the Pentagon. But Mr. Clements, though ment to determine whether radio waves bribe of $1.5 million to the Qatar gov- an amiable person and a sharp busi- could harm cattle. Sylvester was kept in ernment during the deal. Wrote U.S. nessman, has been wholly unable to ful- a 10-foot-square pen, and by the time the District Court Judge William C. Hanson: fill his duties in the field of international obese animal was shot in 1980, the Navy "Carver's misconduct ended with the policy." had spent $13,000 for his upkeep. Appar- bribe itself, while Sedco's extended to all Kraft wrote that Clements' most im- ently no experiments were ever per- the facts and circumstances in the case. portant deficiency was in the area of formed. The great weight of evidence supports arms control, and he charged that "Mr. Bill Clements had been governor for the fact that Sedco's representations Clements lacks any of the background little more than a year when the offshore were false." oil rig in the Bay of Campeche, off the required for understanding the compli- Back in Texas, a bundle of multi- cated issues connected with achieving a Mexican coast, ruptured, causing the stable arms balance." largest oil spill the world had ever seen. million-dollar lawsuits are still pending The resultant oil slick, threatening mi- against the firm as a result of the massive It may have been that Bill Clements blowout three years ago. wasn't interested in achieving a stable gratory birds, turtles, shrimp beds, and arms balance. At the time, his oil-drilling resort beaches, grew to the size of South firm, SEDCO — the world's largest — Carolina, and in late 1979, cleanup ef- was procuring contracts from the Shah forts were costing the federal govern- of Iran, and the Defense Dept. was be- ment $75,000-a-day. The rig itself had HE GOVERNOR'S penchant for coming, in Kraft's words, "a major force been leased to PEMEX, the Mexican the callous remark continues. government's oil concern, by SEDCO. in scattering weapons to Iran and Arab T In the last month alone, for ex- countries." ample, the state's chief executive has "As to the arms sales," Kraft wrote, turned a deaf ear to Houstqn consumers "Mr. Schlesinger did not interfere. The worried about the high cost of utilities. Clements policy of abundant sales to When asked about the activities of the such countries as Iran and Saudi Arabia "I don't know of any Public Utility Commission — an agency prevailed, even though those countries that guarantees utilities in Texas a better did not make any accommodation to housewives that are rate of return than anywhere else in the American needs in the matter of oil pric- qualified [to serve on the nation — 18% on the average — he de- es. Mr. Schlesinger grumbled pri- clared: "People are just going to have to vately. . . ." PUC]." conserve more. When I grew up, there Clements was also implicated in the was no air conditioning and I got along Dept. of Defense coverup of the bomb- fine." ings in Cambodia in 1969 and 1970. In The governor's contempt for consum- Senate testimony in 1973, Assistant De- ers was underscored in an interview with fense Secretary Jerry W. Friedheim told (SEDCO was placed in a blind trust Galveston's In Between Magazine. the Arnred Services Committee that "a when Clements became governor and is Asked if he would place a consumer rep- great deal of consultation" in the Penta- run by his son B. Gill Clements.) resentative on the commission, a gon was involved in falsifying the reports Clements wasn't particularly con- housewife, for example, he replied, "I sent to Congress. According to the cerned about the oil spill. He likened en- don't know of any housewives that are Washington Post, Friedheim said that vironmentalists to "Chicken Little," and qualified," He added, "When you start senior Pentagon officials "ordered that said their concerns were "much ado talking to me about 'I want a consumer accurate information would go only to about nothing." What the coast could on there,' well, I'm not interested." designated people.' " use to alleviate the problem, he said, was Asked if he'd put a "consumer,counsel- Bill Clements' Pentagon actions also a good hurricane. or's office" in the utilities commission, earned him two of Sen. William Prox- When a Texas A&M biologist, Dr. he added: "I am a consumer. And in me mire's Golden Fleece Awards. The first Roy Hann, criticized the state's cleanup they've got a treat counselor." was for a $1.2 million Pentagon "party efforts about six months after the spill, it In Brownsville, where an incineration fund." According to the Dallas Morning turned out that he was contradicting the ship, the Vulcanus, is burning DDT, News, Clements defended his entertain- governor, who insisted that the cleanup PCBs and other chemical trash at sea, ment expenditures as an important tool was working well. Clements' response the governor doubted that problems in dealing with foreign oficials. "It's a was to enter into a course of intimida- exist. "I have not heard anyone in au- mission of the Department of Defense to tion. The governor announced that the thority, like our Texas Health Commis- support the foreign policy of the U.S. president of Texas A&M University had sion, or air group, or water group, I have government," he said. been warned about statements arising not heard anyone say that it's causing Proxmire cited the following "extraor- from the university. Noting that the gov- any environmental disturbance on our dinary expenses": $12,161 for "secret ernor had in the past exercised veto Texas Gulf Coast." entertainment by the National Security power over the Texas A&M budget, Says Rep. Al Luna, a Houston Demo- Agency" (a masked ball, perhaps); David McNeely wrote in a pointed col- crat: "His attitude is too flip, too $2,500 for a farewell party for Clements umn: "Does this sound like the state- casual." Luna was interviewed just be- and Rumsfeld when both left govern- ment of a public-spirited governor, or fore the recent special session — called ment service in Jan., 1977; more than does this sound like it's coming from to keep the unemployment fund from $3,000 for a visit of a Mexican Air Force someone who has most of his net worth triggering a precipitous rise in em- official which included a tour of Disney- tied up in SEDCO?" ployers' taxes. Noting that the governor land; $244 for cufflinks and tie tacks SEDCO, meanwhile, lost a federal had called the matter a "boogey bear," given to Clements and Rumsfeld at the court case ruling last year and was or- Luna added: "I don't think he takes taxpayer-financed farewell function. dered to pay $13.2 million for deceiving these things seriously." Clements won his second Golden an Iowa man by falsely luring him into The governor had been ignoring that Fleece Award in 1978, after he had been Persian Gulf oil drilling venture. The trial particular problem for months. On Nov. elected governor. Four years earlier, at disclosed that the Iowa man, Roy J. 13, 1981, the Texas Employment Corn-

16 OCTOBER 1, 1982 mission's three-person board sent him a Texas to seek a federal bailout of $244 claims four years ago. Especially notable letter declaring that "The reserve fund million. The state will pay some $32 mil- were promises that he would prune has become dangerously small. This is lion in interest — "a $32 million blun- 25,000 state employees from the state inadequate to cover a significant surge in der," in the words of Sen. Doggett. payrolls. Or that he would fight like "a unemployment in today's wage and ben- The increased cost to employers did caged bear" for initiative and referen- efit levels." A month later, TEC filed its not soar by 2000% as would have hap- dum. annual report, fulfilling its legal require- pened without the special session. Yet Neither of those goals has been ment. The governor had been warned the cost that employers' must bear didn't reached. Clements now says he kept "that changes in the law were necessary go up by the mere 56% that Clements down the state bureaucracy by 11,000 to protect the solvency of the fund." prophesied, not once but many times. In employees. Here's his arithmetic: he in- Less than two weeks later, TEC warned the end, the increase of the minimum tax sists that he cut 2,000 workers from the the governor's office of a potential state pyroll, and that, had he not been 1600% increase in employers' taxes — a governor, another 9,000 people would rise from $6 per person to $96 for most have been employed by taxpayers. At a employers. By. February, he still was ig- rally in Sherman, after the governor's noring the problem, despite legislative "His attitude is too flip, speech, Perry Flippin, managing editor subcommittee hearings and subsequent of the Sherman Democrat, noted that headlines about the issue. too casual." "When he said he eliminated 2,000 jobs, After months of inattention, when he Al Luna everybody stood up. But no One remem- could no longer distance himself from bered that he promised to eliminate the issue, he pointed his finger, not at 25,000." himself, but at somebody else. Asked at Several state agencies are demoralized an August 26 press conference about the employers' pay went from $6 per em- by the loss of financial — as well as TEC correspondence, he declared that ployee to $28 annually, a jump of nearly moral — support. Understaffing and un- he'd checked with his aides and "no one 500%. derfunding at the Texas Department of has any memory of this, and in my judg- To one observer, the TEC affair was Health, for example, have made it all but ment Texas Employment Commission impossible to gather data on cancer an example of Clements' inexperience in people have been negligent in not an- statistics and identify environmental state government, of his continued un- ticipating this problem. hotspots. Implementation of such willingness to acquaint himself with its "Now if they have some letter of workings. "If you knew something about skimpy programs as occupational safety notification . . . let them produce it," he state government, your reactions would exist only because of federal funding. added, "because I don't have such a let- have been much different," this source, At the Texas Department of Water ter. I've had my staff search our files. No who asked not to be named, explained. Resources, budget and staff reductions one has any recollection of any such no- "Just reading the papers, you'd see that in the enforcement and field operations tice." unemployment was going up. Then division destroyed much of the capabil- Clements made this claim in press con- you'd think to yourself: 'Hey, I better ity of an already anemic section. Be- ferences throughout the state in his 19- look and see how the benefit fund is do- tween Sept. 1979, and Feb. 1980, 59 out stop, whirlwind tour. In Plainview, he ing.' " of 200 positions in the enforcement divi- sion were eliminated, more than a quar- twice said he would "defy" anyone to Although many credit Clements with ter of an important section that was al- produce a letter warning him that the improving- his knowledge and under- ready spread too thin. Only a nationwide state's jobless benefit fund could go standing of the governor's -office, of its scandal prompted by the Love Canal broke.. He even used the occasion to powers and responsibilities, his record nightmare in upstate New York, con- ridicule other state officials involved still reflects the blind spots that led him with the issue: Rep. Lloyd Criss, to make grandiose — and unrealistic — (Continued on Page 18) chairman of the House Committee on Employment Practices, TEC Chairman. Nolan Ward, and of course, Atty. Gen. Mark White. By Labor Day, the governor's office suddenly admitted that it had discovered the letter that Clements just a day or two before was defying anyone to produce. "Yeah, we saw it, but the governor never saw it," Hilary Doran, the governor's chief of staff, told the Austin American- Statesman. The problem, Doran said, had not been made serious-sounding enough by TEC. This led Sen. Lloyd Doggett to say on the Senate floor that, if Clements had been governor when the Alamo was surrounded, he would have replied to pleas for help by saying, "Aw, there's not that many Mexicans." Added Doggett to the Observer: "On the whole, he's been about as effective as anyone I've seen at making inconsistent state- ments and getting away with it." The climax of the drama surrounding the unemployment benefit fund saw the governor with egg on his face. The law he authorized on September 10 forced

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 17 (Continued from Page 17) benefits and looking for ways to fire gressional hearings, and federal legisla- other public employees, the governor tion reversed the trend. appointed pro-industry types to the Pub- lic Utility Commission — one of whom Clements has failed to deliver on other was so bold as to recently tell a group of promises. He never came through with Wall Street bond salesmen that they the $1 billion in tax relief promised to shouldn't worry, Texas consumers are taxpayers; instead he eliminated the not unhappy with higher telephone and state property tax that was not even electric bills. Consumers in Texas, being collected. On other promises — for therefore, provide their utilities with the example, his declaration that he would highest profit rate among the nation's 50 veto the bill removing the 10% ceiling on states. home mortgages — he seldom stands firm. Although he's said many times that T'S THAT SORT of attitude that he's always opposed higher interest typifies the Clements' administra- The final rates, Clements does not bite the bullet. tion. Behind his well organized, With his signature in 1981, the Texas I assembly computerized, ten-million-dollar cam- of all U.S. nu- usury ceiling on consumer loans — a law paign machine is a solid phalanx of ba- clear weapons takes that had kept gouging money lenders at rons from the world of utilities, oil, real place in the Texas Panhandle. Hous- bay for decades — was just about oblit- estate, banking, and petrochemicals. The ton has more oil company headquar- erated. lobbyists may hedge their bets, but the ters than any other city in the world. Other public servants are also getting magnates are banking on Clements. The whole state reeks of Sunbelt short shrift from the governor. Although Already they have been amply re- boosters, strident anti-unionists, po- he opposed salary increases for teachers, warded. State boards and commissions litical hucksters, and new industry he, oddly enough, now takes credit for are studded with wealthy contributors. and money. raising their pay. He meanwhile vetoed The Western Company's Eddie Chiles, health insurance for teachers, explaining for example, is a $40,000 donor; his re- THIS IS THE LOOK OF TEXAS that their husbands' policies would suf- ward was appointment to the board of TODAY and the Texas Observer fice. Most curiously, the governor had regents at North Texas State University. has its independent eye on all of it. earlier, designated the health insurance Perry Bass of Fort Worth, who has We offer the latest in corporate bill an "emergency" item, only to veto it. poured more than $40,000 into the re- scams and political scandals as well No wonder that an organizer for the election effort, is chairman of the Texas Texas State Employees Union has called as articles on those who have other, Parks and Wildlife Department. Robert Clements "our best ally!" and more humane, visions of what Dedman of Dallas, chairman of the State While skimping on teachers' pay and our state can be. Become an Ob- Highway Board, is a $17,500 contributor. server subscriber today, order a gift (It is Dedman who proposes doubling for a friend, or instruct us to enter a both Dallas' Central Expressway and the state's gasoline tax.) Chiles, Bass, and library subscription under your pa- WHAT EVER Dedman are all "Eagles," the super-rich tronage. HAPPENED TO club of Clements supporters who have contributed at least $10,000 to his cam- THE COMIC paign. POLITICAL This year's campaign is already as Send the Observer to — dirty as the Tower/Krueger campaign in NOVEL? 1978 or the Clements/Hill campaign that name Dirty Politics is Fun same year, when Clements heaved a by H. B. Fox rubber chicken at his opponent. With author of The 2000-Mile Turtle Mark White scoring Clements' mean- spirited, abrasive personality and the address $7.95 paperback Clements campaign offering up a sorry "Dirty Politics is Fun was fun. H. B. little National Inquirer look-alike called Fox is as sardonic as Franklin Jones." — city state zip the Texas Spectator (one so-called news Fred Schmidt item after another denigrating Mark O this subscription is for myself "I enjoyed every page of Fox's vivid White), one would be hard-pressed to gift subscription: send card in my name ❑ description of the political scene in realize that this is a crucial election. ❑ $20 enclosed for a one-year subscription ❑ bill me for $20 Texas and Washington. . . . Always But crucial it is. If Bill Clements is re- leaves the pompous and snobbish wholly elected, Chiles, Bass, Dedman, and My name & address (if different) — vanquished." — Franklin Jones, Sr. company will be running every board "A wondrously funny and wholly and commission in the state, and though name original yarn on present-day Texas Bill Clements is putting some distance politics. . . . It's a must."—John Henry between himself and his fellow Republi- Faulk can candidates his re-election will legiti- address "This book is tremendous." —J. Edwin mate Texas once-and-for-all as a two- Smith party state. This election, moreover, is a " . . referendum on Reaganism and could No less savvy than Safire or city state zip Buchwald." — The Kirkus Reviews very well decide the presidential election in Texas two years from now. William P. Only $7.95 at your local bookstore or Clements knows it's important. He has a from Madrona Publishers, 2116 cool 10 million riding on the outcome. ❑ THE TEXAS OBSERVER Western Ave., Seattle, Washington 600 W. 7th, Austin, Texas 78701 98121. Paul Sweeney of Austin is a frequent Observer contributor.

18 OCTOBER 1, 19E Morning News Reporter Given The Boot After Bank Story

Reporter believes Dallas paper panicked in face of lawsuit.

depend on The News for all the news that More bank withdrawals of $3.5 million. By Tom Johnson was fit to print, it might seem charitable (The Abilene bank borrowed $86 million Dallas to say that they were somewhat from the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas shortchanged. during the week.) NE OF THE MORE bizarre For then they wouldn't have learned Wednesday July 14 — The News runs episodes in recent Texas that The News fired Golz after the bank what Langer calls "clarifying" story in 0 newspaper annals began inau- threatened a $190 million lawsuit and business section which amounts to vi- spiciously on Friday, July 9, when the took out full-page ads in other papers, tuperative statement by Earney tearing Dallas Morning News published a one- including the Wall Street Journal, de- down the Golz story. Another $1.5 mil- column, front-page copyrighted story by nouncing The News and Golz individ- lion withdrawn from bank. (Some new veteran investigative reporter Earl Golz. ually in the most vehement terms. Nor deposits were acquired during the week The piece, which told of an FBI probe would they have known that the affair but the net deposit loss, according to into loans practices at the Abilene Na- had been picked up by papers such as the Earney, was about $50 million out of tional Bank and implied that the bank New York Times, or that Newsweek total deposits of $428 million.) might be top-heavy with questionable magazine had said The News was in Thursday July 15 — Full-page ad energy-related loans, was probably skip- error with the Golz piece. signed by Earney and attacking Golz readers. Just another ped by most News Here is a rough chronology of what personally on nine aspects of the original dry financial account by Golz, whose happened: July 9 story appears in Southwest edition style can lean toward the labyrinthine. Friday July 9 — Story runs in The of the Wall Street Journal; characteriza- Careful readers of The News might News under Golz byline, telling of FBI tions of Golz's reporting range from have seen a follow-up story in the busi- investigation of loans by Abilene Na- "blatant lie" to "ridiculous and totally ness section of Wednesday, July 14, tional to energy and oil-drilling firms, false implication." Earney writes that which was essentially a contentious some of which had filed for bankruptcy. "you can't totally escape slander if statement by Don Earney, chairman of Some $50 million withdrawn from bank, you're in the public eye." Ad also says the bank, strongly refuting the main mainly by credit unions and institutional Golz "conveniently refers" to collapse of thrust of the Golz story. There the mat- investors outside of Texas, according to Penn Square Bank in Oklahoma City, ter lay for three weeks. Earney, also chief executive officer of which has failed four days before the has "chosen to be But those same readers must have the bank. Golz story; says News small as a newspaper." been a bit puzzled when Abilene Na- Monday July 12 — Morning meeting of The News on Au- tional next surfaced in attorneys for Abilene National Bank and Friday July 16 — Same ads appear in gust 7 in a front-page story relating the The News, whose parent company, Dallas Times Herald, Fort Worth Star- bank's essential collapse and its takeover A. H. Belo Corp., is traditionally repre- Telegram and Abilene Reporter-News. in emergency action by Mercantile sented in damage suits by Dallas law firm Times Herald runs front-page story on Texas Corp. of Dallas. No mention was of Locke Purnell Boren Laney & Neely; the whole affair. The New York Times made of the July 9 Golz story, which had lawsuit of up to $190 million threatened. runs story with Dallas dateline stating hinted at just such a possibility. Had Afternoon meetings attended by Golz that substantial amounts have been careful or oth- readers of The News, and his superior, state editor Wayne Ep- withdrawn from the Abilene bank "in the erwise, missed something? Well, yes and person, and by News managing editor wake of a newspaper report that the no. Ralph Langer, business editor Cheryl bank suffered heavy losses on loans to They had gotten their money's worth Hall and attorney John McElhaney of oil-and-gas ventures"; Times also says, (still only 25 cents for "Texas' Leading Locke Purnell. Evening meeting of at- Langer "declined to comment when Newspaper") if they had read the origi- torneys. Additional bank withdrawals of asked if the Golz article (was) accurate. - nal Golz story a month earlier which was $10.5 million. (Word was passed at The News to Ep- a paragon of solid, old-school Tuesday July 13 — Meeting of lawyers person and Golz about midweek to drop newspapering: meaty but not trendy, and for both sides with top News executives the Abilene bank story completely.) all alone. But if they had continued to on fourth (executive) floor of newspaper. Monday July 26 — Newsweek, in a THE TEXAS OBSERVER 19 story about the July 5 collapse of-Penn tal equity fund and thus was insolvent on bility and reputation as a newspaper re- Square Bank, states: "A Dallas Morning June 30, more than a week before the porter, which is my livelihood." News report incorrectly linking the Golz story ran. Earney could not be reached for com- Abilene National Bank to loans ment and attorney McElhaney said he packaged by Penn Square set off a two- had to "respectfully decline to comment day bank run." OLZ, a 48-YEAR-OLD graduate in this matter." Langer said it is policy at Wednesday July 28 — Langer requests of Northwestern University and The News "never to discuss personnel that Epperson and Golz resign; Epper- a prize-winning reporter at The matters in public." The Wall Street son resigns. News for 13 years, has a penchant for Journal, however quoted Langer on Au- Thursday July 29 — Golz dismissed. tenacious digging into intricately con- gust 16 as saying that Golz's situation; Friday August 6 — Abilene National trived financial structures which may "was not in any way affected by the Bank, deemed by federal bank regulators conceal a house of cards. He is now dig- bank going under or not going under." to be in "imminent danger of failure," ging into his own case. There were some minor technical er- taken over by Mercantile Texas, acting "I think The News just panicked when rors in the July 9 story, Golz acknowl- under emergency federal authority. Ear- they got threatened with a $190 million edges, but he feels they in no way detract ney and other top officers of bank forced lawsuit and when they saw the Earney from the main thrust of the piece. to resign. Extensive coverage in August ads all over the place," Golz said. "Ear- "Events have proven me and Epper- 7 edition of The News still makes no ney and his lawyers were screaming to son right and Earney, Langer and The mention of the July 9 Golz story— had he high heaven that we were ruining their News wrong." Golz said. "We're still become a non-person? — but uses quote bank because we caused a run with an unemployed, however." by mercantile officer citing "adverse inaccurate story. Top management at One News insider said the Newsweek publicity due to problems related to asset The News caved in to Earney instead of comment was "the straw that broke the quality, rapid growth and liquidity." standing by our own story. "Now the camel's back" in that Langer and Execu- Saturday August 7 — Both New York whole world knows that they ruined their tive Editor Burl Osborne felt the Times and Washington Post report that own bank and we had an accurate newspaper's perceived credibility was at federal banking officials say the bank story," he said. stake and that therefore Epperson and went under because of bad loans. Times Golz also said The News would proba- Golz had to go. "Osborne would like to says "loan losses were too great for the bly have been advised to fight the see The News be The New York Times of bank to continue operations." Post says threatened lawsuit had not Stephen Phil- the Southwest," the insider continued, the bank, "whose loan portfolio was rid- bin, Locke Purnell's recognized au- "and so he can't have Newsweek and the dled with bad energy credits . . . would thority on libel and the media, entered Times impugning the paper's credibility. have failed whether or not there had Baylor Hospital with terminal leukemia So heads rolled." been a run on deposits." on July 9, the day Golz's story ran. Phil- Golz described Osborne as "a Ben Saturday August 14 — The News runs bin died July 31. Bradlee clone." Bradlee is top news Associated Press story under Abilene Golz said he is preparing to file his executive at the Washington Post. dateline which reveals that Abilene Na- own lawsuit against the Abilene bank The Wall Street Journal ran a brief tional had a $5 million deficit in its capi- and The News for "damaging my credi- piece about the imbroglio August 16. The headline read: "How Dallas Reporter's Hot Story Won a Pink Slip Instead of a Prize." ❑

Tom Johnson is a former reporter with the Dallas Morning News and the As- sociated Press.

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20 OCTOBER 1, 1982 •BOOKS AND THE CULTURE •

Hannay Chronicles Life and Loves of Bubber Drum

feeding of Alpo. To make us feel we're in memory of his mother's final days, which LOVE AND OTHER real Texas, there's a scene at Scholz's occurred when he was 12: "She was NATURAL DISASTERS beer garden, and one at the Chicken hooked up to several buzzing machines Ranch, and one at Memorial Park in with yellow hoses, and I remember By Allen Hannay Houston. thinking she looked like a Saturn rocket If you believe, as I do, that woman has connected to the launch pad. Later that Boston: Atlantic — Little, Brown week, when she died, I imagined the 241 pp., $12.95 two breasts but only one bosom (dic- tionaries bear me out in this), you will be steam hoses breaking away, and her somewhat disoriented by the opening body lifting slowly into orbit." scene, in which Bubber, using his Big What I like best about the book is not By Richard Phelan Beam flashlight, checks out his girl the story, or the bizarre props and situa- friend's "bosoms" by the technique doc- tions, but the sweet-temperedness and tors call transilluminations: "Important, goodness of the main characters. Paper- McGregor slender, elastic and somehow feminine thin and improbable as they are, they are ligaments showed up as a shadowy net," members of what E. M. Forster says is HE HERO AND narrator of this etc. The whole book is like that — nice, the only true aristocracy: ". . . an aris- novel is a huge 19-year-old boy zany ideas; a bright schoolboy's still- tocracy of the sensitive, the considerate, T_ named Bubber Drumm. He plays shaky grip on vocabulary and grammar. and the plucky. Its members are to be high-school football in Merry, Texas; has Of course Bubber is a schoolboy, and found in all nations and classes. . . . a cowlick which, according to the he's narrating the story. He's also an They represent the true human tradition, woman he loves, makes his head look honor roll student and a National Merit the one victory of our queer race over "like a partially opened can"; and lives Scholar, which these days doesn't nec- cruelty and chaos." That's quite a re- with his widowered father, who owns a cesarily indicate excellence of any kind sponsibility for Bubber and Ruby to filling station and a serpentarium, which whatever. Still, I don't think Bubber is carry, but they do it. seems to be a roadside snake show. responsible. He is a scholar-athlete in I also like Mr. Hannay's civilized pref- Bubber has a pet .tiger that has grown the rarefied tradition of Paul Robeson, erence for variety as opposed to con- too big to be wrestled with safely — it Whizzer White, and Bill Bradley, and formity in human beings and their activi- weighs 400 pounds. And he falls in love those guys don't say things like, "We ties. This is his first novel. I hope he with his girl friend's mother, a red-haired must have lay like that for several writes more. He really does know how to registered nurse who is, after all, only hours." I blame Mr. Hannay for such be funny. If he will raise his sights and thirty-five, and has a beautiful figure unsightly bits. If I'm right, then we have his standards, and pasS up such well- which she makes even better by jogging here, for the first time in history, a riddled targets as old men's digestive at night with Bubber, the tiger bounding character more literate than the writer problems and dumb-ass football players, along beside them on a leash. who created him. he can write a comic novel far more seri- Those facts alone should tell you Remember the days of piston planes, ous than this one, a novel that not only whether Love And Other Natural Disas- when, as the pilot did his mag checks just gets laughs but draws blood. ❑ ters is a book you'll want to read. It's before takeoff, first one part and then about as lightweight as fiction can get. another of the aircraft vibrated in re- Richard Phelan, the author of Texas The plot is so simple — boy meets girl, sponse to the varying RPM's of the en- Wild, is a former staff writer at Sports boy gets girl pregnant — that to devote a gines? This book has something in com- Illustrated. whole sentence to it would be to give it mon with those revving engines. There away in its entirety. What fills out the are laughs in it for everybody, but the pages is the oddball, screwball, goofball stuff that I find funny may not cause you ornamentation that Mr. Hannay packs to vibrate at all. Mr. Hannay tries every- around it. thing, from a Hee-Haw sort of country There are characters named Ruby clownishness to sardonic asides, black Butts and Sinclair Cznek and Sondra humor, and a quite worldly wit. At one Nickle. Sondra is "a gullible little extreme is the name of a romantic ballad brunette from a broken home," which I played at Merry's Roundup dance: You think means an easy lay. There's a 20- Walked All Over My Heart, And foot reticulated python named Loops Squashed That Sucker Flat. (Somebody whose habitat is the Drumms' living should go ahead and write that song, so room and kitchen. As an attention- we could all have the pleasure of watch- grabber toward the end, there's the ing Porter Waggoner's sequins flash on tiger's offhand consumption of a live and off as he sings it.) Somewhere to- Pekingese as a supplement to his regular ward the other extreme is Bubber's ° SOCIAL CAUSE CALENDAR°

Notices on upcoming events must reach be a report on European women's shelters. Alliance, 477-3281; Red Ryder Preservation the Observer at least three weeks in ad- Reservations necessary; call (512) 327- Scty. (UT), 479-8548; Rural America, 459-3320; vance. 8582. Save Barton Creek, 472-4104; Sierra. Club, 478- 1264; Socialist Party of Tx., 452-3722; South COLLOQUIUM ON BATTERED WOMEN DAY Aus. Demos., 447-4091; Students for Political LATIN AMERICA Oct. 16 is the second National Day of Awareness (Austin High), 476-0777; Tx. Abor- The second of a 14-part series on Latin Unity in commemoration of battered wo- tion Rights Action League (TARAL), 478-0094; Tx. Consumer Assn., 477-1882; Tx. Council on American social, political, and economic al- men. Women's shelters in Texas cities will Family Violence, 327-8582; Tx. Environmental ternatives, sponsored by the Institute of sponsor events to memorialize victims of Coalition, 476-3961; Tx. Fathers for Equal Latin American Studies, UT-Austin, will domestic violence and to celebrate work Rights, 452-0848; Tx. Mobilization for Survival, occur on Friday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m. in Room done towards ending violence against wo- 474-5877; Tx. Pesticide Research & Education 155 of the Business and Economics Build- men. Call your local shelter for details, or Project, 474-0811; Tx. Solar Energy Society, ing on the UT-Austin campus. Call 471- (512) 327-8582. 472-1252; Travis Cty. Demo. Women, 453-3243; 5551 for more information on the series. Travis Cty. YD's, 453-3796; Univ. Mobilization COMANCHE PEAK TOUR for Survival, 476-4503; UT YD's, 452-8516; West TARAL BENEFIT The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club Aus. Demos., 454-1291; Women's Pol. Caucus, 474-1798; Zilker Park Posse, 472-1053. The Texas Abortion Rights Action will hold its annual statewide meeting at the League (TARAL) will sponsor a benefit Glen Rose YMCA Camp near Dallas, Oct HOUSTON Fun Run-Walk on Oct. 2 beginning at 9:30 16- 17. Part of the afternoon activities on ACLU, 524-5925; ACORN, 523-6989; Amnesty a.m. from the gazebo on the Town Lake the 16th will include an optional tour of the Intl., 529-1892; Brotherhood of Viet. Vet., 728- Hike and Bike Trail, Austin. Registration at Comanche Peak nuclear power plant now 4857; Citizens' Anti-Nuclear Info. Team (CAN 9 a.m.; call 478-0094 for information. under construction. For information: Sierra IT), 522-3343; Citizens Party, 633-8587; Demo. Club, (512) 478-1264. Socialist( Organizing Crate., 921-6906; Gay Po- DRAFT FORUM l it ic,0 Caucus, 521-1000; Harris Cty. Concerned C.I.A. FILM SHOWING Women, 674-6798; Harris Cty. Demos., 528-2057; On Oct. 4, the day of St. Francis, Pax Alan Francovich's "On Company Busi- Houston Area Women's Center, 528-6798; Christi of Austin will sponsor a discussion ness," a documentary on the C.I.A. which Hutviton Interfaith Hunger Coalition, 522-3955; IfthiSion Nonviolent Action, 661-9889; Inter- led by Vietnam veterans on registration, the won the Intl. Film Critics award at Berlin in draft, and conscientious objection. This faith Peaceforce of Houston, 688-3803; Lesbian 1980, will be shown at the Varsity Theater, and Gay Demos. of Texas, 521-1000; Mxn.-Arnn. event is also a show of support for Benja- Austin, on Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 22-26. min Sassway, the man from California who Demos., 6944 Navigation, Houston 77011; Moc- kingbird Alliance, 747-1837; NAACP, 1018 was found guilty of not registering and who Clebourne, Houston 77001; North Harris Co. will be sentenced that day. UT Catholic Demos., P.O. Box 90704, 77290; Nuclear Center, Austin, 7:30 p.m. Progressive Organizations Weapons Freeze Campaign, 522-2422; Park The Observer has built up lists of organizations People, Inc., 741-2524; PASO, 46716 Fairfield, SANTOS EXHIBIT in Texas we regard as progressive. The editor in- Houston 77023; Senate Dist. 15 Demo. Coali- An outstanding exhibition of religious vites communications recommending organiza- tion, 862-8431; Sierra Club, 228-0037; Tx. Abor- tions for inclusion. We will generally run the list- tion Rights Action League (TARAL), 520-0850; folk art of the American Southwest will Tx. Coalition of Black Demo&, 674-0968; Tx. open at the Amon Carter Museum, Ft. ings for Austin, San Antonio. and Houston in one issue followed by Dallas, Fort Worth, and Around Demo&,667-6194; Tx. Fathers for Equal Rights, Worth, Oct. 8, called "Santos: The Reli- Texas in the next. 960-0407; Toxic Substances Task Force, 228- gious Folk Art of New Mexico." The ex- 0037; UofH YD's, 749-7347; Westside Demos., hibit features paintings and sculptures of AUSTIN 464-2536; Women's Lobby Alliance, 521-0439. saints created from local materials by 18th ACLU (Central Tx.), 477-4335; ACORN 442- and 19th century Hispanic folk artists. 8321; Alternative Views (ACTV), Box 7279, 78712; Amn. Friends Service Cmte., 474-2399; SAN ANTONIO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WATCH Amnesty Intl., Bx. 4951, Aus. 78765; Anti- ACLU, 224-6791; Amnesty Intl., Box LH134, Hunger Coalition of Tx. (ACT), 474-9921; Au- 78212; Bread for the World, 494-1042; Civil The Austin Nurses' Environmental dubon Say., 4474155; Austinites for Public Rights Litigation Center, 224-1061; Citizens Health Watch will hold a conference enti- Transportation, 441-2651; Aus. Lambda, 478- Concerned About Nuclear Power, 655-0543; tled "Environmental Health Issues: A 8653; Austin Lesbian-Gay Pol. Caucus, 478- Communities Organized for Public Service Texas Overview" on Oct. 8, Joe C. 8653; Aus. Nghbrhood Cci., 442-8411; Aus. (COPS), 222-2367; Coalition Against U.S. Inter Thompson Conference Center in Austin. Nghbrhood Fund, 451-2347; Aus. Tenants' Cci., vention in El Salvador, 225-6913; Demos. for Lois Gibbs of the Love Canal Homeowners 4741%1; Aus. Women's Centr., 472-3775; Aus. Action, Research & Education (DARE), 674- Association and Senator Lloyd Doggett will Women's Political Caucus, 472-3606; Black 0351; Ecumenical Peace Group, 736-2587; Fel- Aus. Demos., 478-6576; Brthrhood of Viet. lowship of Reconciliation, 432-5715; Habitat, speak. Call 512-443-7931 for more informa- Vets., 443.4830; Central Aus. Demos., 477- 822-9100; International Center for Peace tion. 6487 Central Tx. Lignite Watch, 443-7931; Through Culture, 822-0461; Latin-American ARTISTS FOR PEACE Ctzns. Coalition for an Economical Energy Assistance, 732-0960; Metropolitan Congrega- Policy, 474-4738; Ctzns Party, 451-3864; Ctzns, tional Alliance, 349-2401; Mxn.-Amn. Demo&, Peace activist artists in Austin will pre- United for Rehab. of Errants (CURE), 476-4762; 227-1341; NAACP, 224-7636; Organizations sent a week of peace events, including Cade. in Solidarity with the People of El Sal- United for East Side Development, 824-4422; music, dance, drama, and an art exhibit by vador (CISPES), 477-4728; Consumers Union, Pax Christi, 432-5715; People for Peace, 822- 50 Austin artists. The peace week begins 477-4431; Demo. Socialists of America (DSA), 3089; Physicians for Social Responsibility, Oct. 11 with the opening of the exhibit at 926-9600; Ecology Action, 478-1645; El Centro 691-0375; Poc•r People's Coalition for Human the Dougherty Cultural Arts Center and Chicano, 477-7769 or 476-3747; Grandparents Services, 923-3037; Presbyterian Peace Fellow- ends Oct. 17 with a dinner and entertain- for Nuclear Disarmament Action, 453-1727; ship, 732-9927; Proyecto Hospitalidad, 726- Gray Panthers, 345-1869; IMPACT, 472-3903; 9306;Residents Organized for Better and ment benefit for the Austin Peace and Jus- Lawyers Alliance for Nuclear Arms Control Beautiful Environmental Development (ROB- tice Coalition Education Fund at the Univ. (LANAC), 477-2774; Lone Star Alliance, 478- BED), 226-1973; St. Mary's Human Rights Methodist Church, 4-8 p.m. Call 263-2586 7481; LULAC, 451-3219; Max's Pot, 928-4786; Assn., 436-3107; S. A. Demo. League, 344-1497; or 474-5877 for times and places of events. Mxn.-Amn. Demos., 444-7688 or 472-9211; NOW, S. A. day Alliance, Metropolitan Commnty. 472-3775; November 29th Coalition, 478-6733; Church, 102 S. Pine; S. A. Human Rights Com- FAMILY VIOLENCE MEET Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign, 459-0762; mission, 436-4013; San Antonians for Freedom The Texas Council on Family Violence Nurses' Environmental Health Watch, 454- of Choice 733-3248; Sierra Club, 271-7169; Tx. 3932; Northeast Aus. Demos, 836-3533; Or- Fathers for Equal Rights, 337-6803; United will hold its annual statewide meeting for ganizing Crnte. for a Nat'l. Writers Union, Campuses Protesting Nuclear War, 691-0375; members and other people interested in (OCNWU), P.O. Box 4184, Austin 78765; Pax United Citizens Project Planning and Operat- working to end family violence, Oct. 15 - 16, Christi, 476-7351; Phogg Foundation, Box ing Corp. 224-4278. Vietnam Vets. Against in Port Aransas at the Beachhead Con- 13549; Poverty, Education and Research War, 826-2441; Women's Political Caucus, 655- dominium. Among other presentations will Center (PERK), 474-5019; Progressive Writers' 3724.

22 A Public Service Message from the American Income Life Insurance Co.—Waco, Texas—Bernard Rapoport, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Perhaps the most important political book this year!

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