The Texas Observer JAN. 21, 1966

A Journal of Free Voices A Window to The South 25c Tower's 'Really Affirmative Approach'

"In our estimation, conservatism is sy- nonymous with progress. We have allowed ourselves too long to be placed on the de- fensive as negativists, enemies of progress. Liberals raise the cry, 'You are always against everything; what are you for?' This charge has often thrown nervous con- fusion in conservative ranks and precipi- tated the defensive attitude which has prompted conservatives either to apologize for the things they believe in, or to modi- fy their principles. Actually the conserva- tive approach is the really affirmative ap- proach, because we advocate that which time and experience have proven valuable, sound and productive... .. Liberal propos- als as manifested in the 'New Deal,' the `Square Deal' and the 'New Frontier' are destructiVe, not progressive. They are re- actionary." —U.S. Sen. John G. Tower, R-Tex. in A Program for Conservatives

Austin. Four years and eight months ago, the voters of Texas rejected U.S. Sen. William Blakley's bid for six years in the United States Senate, sending up instead John Goodwin Tower, 35, a government profes- sor at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls. The victory was especially delectable to the Republican Party because the seat Tower took was the one which had belong- ed to Lyndon Johnson. Tower became the Larry Lee first Republican senator from Texas since Reconstruction and the only Republican senator elected by popular vote from any of the states which made up the Confed- eracy. Sleek, professorial, soft-spoken, Tower had demonstrated a ready way with words ("I guess I'm something of a Burkean") and offered a sense of consistency and style which made his philosophy agreeable listening to those who disagreed. Most be- lieve his election was a result of defections from the Democratic line by liberals anxi- ous to halt the parade of tories which their party's power structure had proposed for office. Observer editor Willie Morris wrote in 1961, "Each conscious liberal vote for Tower cancels an unconscious liberal vote for Blakley. We appeal to reason in urging a vote for Tower." So now it is five years later. So much has happened—and so little. The young professor went up to Washington and ran into some party fossils who shuttled him to unimportant committee assignments. He larity so awesome to Tower's own party for Goldwater-Miller gave him $5,000 for wrote a book about his thinking called A that the GOP proposes nothing more than his campaign. Program for Conservatives. In the intro- a token candidate against him. The Republicans, say their Texas com- duction Barry Goldwater wrote, "Senator mitteeman, are ready to dedicate much Tower will have two main campaign John Tower has made a mark on the think- treasure to Tower's reelection. His defeat themes this year. One is the war in Viet- ing of our times." Tower himself was al- would cripple their experiment. At the Re- nam, which meshes nicely with his spot most apologetic: "Perhaps it is presumptu- publican executive committee meeting this on the Senate armed forces committee and ous for one who has served in the Congress month, they handed out a chart of the his strong stand for military readiness. The so short a time to advocate a legislative Sam Houston succession to the Senate other is an appropriate point of disagree- program. But I believe that there must be which showed a total of seven incumbency ment for a Republican senator to take, a a comprehensive alternative on which the elections since 1918, with the incumbent stand against Johnson's call for repeal of conservative can hang his hat." In elegant- winning every time. A private poll taken Section 14-B of the Taft-Hartley Act. ly filigreed academic prose, true to its own last year showed that Tower could beat Tower worked with the filibuster which assumptions, Tower wrote of his farm bill Waggoner Carr or Jim Wright, and a effectively stalled this campaign last year, (all subsidies to be jerked in eight years), source high in the Texas Democratic Party's his labor bill ("union antitrust legislation," and he can, in addition, claim agreement on this subject with Gov. John Connally. loyalist faction concedes that Tower might he called it), and his foreign policy resolu- win rather easily with the war issue. The tion ("to press by all diplomatic means for In a big newspaper ad soliciting sup- Republican strategy will be to keep the the withdrawal of Soviet, communist Chin- port for the fight against 14-B repeal, Con- vote low, and it has become clear that the ese, other communist forces, both uni- nally is quoted underneath a message from GOP would welcome again the support of formed and covert, from all areas entered Tower. Last year, when Tower voted to re- liberals who want to crumble the struc- by them since 1939; to reduce communist tain gubernatorial votes of poverty pro- ture of the current state Democratic lead- war machines, and the economies which grams, Connally responded with a wire ership. support them, to levels at which they can Tower made public. All that the wire con- Tower's Washington career falls roughly no longer threaten the peace of the world; tained was a plea for help in getting more into three separate careers: 1961-62, Tower to fully arm, both in material and morally, civil defense money, but Sen. Yarborough, the philosopher; 1962-64, Tower the cam- ourselves for these tasks"). He shadowed loyalist Democrat, apparently had no such paigner and great man's shadow; and 1964- the steps of Senator Goldwater and gam- telegram to display. And last November, now, Tower the seasoned and practical bled his political future on the Arizonan's Tower shared a San Angelo podium with politician, trying to work within the sys- chances to make a major change in the way Connally to denounce pacifist demonstra- tem. There has been much talk of his mod- Americans think about their government. tions and "muddy-headed intellectuals." eration, although the analysis of his votes The assassination. The Goldwater de- Somewhere along the way, the history pro- and statements which follows perhaps in- bacle. And now John Tower is 40 and fessor had retreated, and the junior sena- dicates that this has been halting, as well plumper, with a vote for the 1965 Omnibus tor began using "Harvard" and "Wellesley" as helped by outside disputes and related Farm Bill and its price supports on his as terms of derision. He introduced William to some accidents of time. It began quite record and facing a candidate who will Buckley's articles attacking the John Birch soon after the Goldwater defeat. When have the backing of a governor with popu- Society into the Congressional Record, even Goldwater went down in flames, so did 2 The Texas Observer as the committee called National Citizens Republican Congressmen Ed Foreman and Bruce Alger of Texas, and the GOP state- house delegation in Texas dropped to one THE TEXAS OBSERVER man. Accordingly, Tower spoke plainly © Texas Observer Co., Ltd. 1966 when the State Republican Executive Com- A Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South mittee met in Austin a year ago, telling 59th YEAR — ESTABLISHED 1906 them that the GOP must adopt a responsi- Vol. 57, No. 26 ble attitude and support "our President" on 7.4Z? January 21, 1966 the matters where agreement was possible. Incorporating the State Observer and the The Observer publishes articles, essays, and East Texas Democrat, which in turn incor- The senator's signs of moderation have creative work of the shorter forms having to been very public: an offer to mediate the ported the State Week and Austin Forum- do in various ways with this area. The pay Advocate. depends; at present it is token. Unsolicited Gulf dock strike, a bill to extend impacted We will serve no group or party but will hew manuscripts must be accompanied by return school area aid, support of the Social Se- hard to the truth as we find it and the right postage. curity cost-of-living hike (but a vote as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole truth, to human values above all interests, to The Observer is published by Texas Observer against the bill) ; a proposal that cities pay Co., Ltd., biweekly from Austin, Texas. En the rights of man as the foundation of democ- the federal government part of increased racy; we will take orders from none but our tered as second-class matter April 26, 1937, at the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act tax revenues from urban renewal (but a own conscience, and never will we overlook or of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at vote against the Department of Housing misrepresent the truth to serve the interests Austin, Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $5.00 of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the and Urban Development) ; a vote for the human spirit. a year; two years, $9.50; three years, $13.00. farm bill, and praise for the designation of Foreign rates on request. Single copies 25c; Editor and General Manager, Ronnie Dugger. Negro Robert Weaver, an old sparring part- Partner, prices for ten or more for students, or bulk Mrs. R. D. Randolph. orders, on request. ner, as HUD secretary. Associate Editor, Larry Lee. Business Manager, Sarah Payne. Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas Contributing Editors, Elroy Bode, Bill Bram- Observer, 504 West 24th St., Austin 5, Texas Larry Lee, who joins the Observer as mer, Larry Goodwyn, Harris Green, Franklin Telephone GR 7-0746. associate editor with this issue, worked for Jones, Lyman Jones, Larry L. King, Georgia Change of Address: Please give old and new the last three years for United Press In- Earnest Klipple, Robert L. Montgomery, Willie address and allow three weeks. ternational in Montgomery, Dallas, Lub- Morris, James Presley, Charles Ramsdell, Subscription Representatives: Austin, Mrs. bock, and in Austin, where he watched the Roger Shattuck, Robert Sherrill, Dan Strawn, Helen C. Spear, 2615 Pecos, HO 5-1805; Dallas, Tom Sutherland, Charles Alan Wright. Mrs. Cordye Hall, 5835 Ellsworth, TA 1-1205; 58th and 59th legislatures. At the Universi- Staff Artist, Charles Erickson. Denton, Fred Lusk, Box 8134 NTS; Fort Worth, ty of Texas he had studied journalism, was Contributing Photographer, Russell Lee. Dolores Jacobsen, 3025 Greene Ave., WA 4-9655; a movie writer on the Daily Texan, that The editor has exclusive control over the edi- Houston, Mrs. Shirley Jay, 10306 Clifford Dr., newspaper's managing editor for a brief torial policies and contents of the Observer. PA 3-8682; Huntsville, Jessie L. Murphree, Box None of the other people who are associated 2284 SHS; Lubbock, Doris Blaisdell, 2515 24th time, and one of the original editors of with the enterprise shares this responsibility St.; Midland, Eva Dennis, 4306 Douglas, OX 4- Riata, the student literary magazine. He with him. Writers are responsible for their own 2825; Odessa, Enid Turner, 1706 Glenwood, EM was born. 24 years ago to a newspapering work, but not for anything they have not them- 6-2269; Rio Grande Valley, Mrs. Jack Butler, family in Fort Worth. Out of what he selves written, and in publishing them the edi- 601 Houston, McAllen, MU 6-5675; San Antonio, tor does not necessarily imply that he agrees Mrs. Mae B. Tuggle, 531 Elmhurst, TA 6-3583; calls "a twisted sense of duty and (unan- with them, because this is a journal of free Cambridge, Mass., Victor Emanuel, 33 Aberdeen swered) hope," Lee votes in Republican voices. Ave., Apt. 3A. primaries. Despite these signs or tokens of change, ments to the farm bill, which would have Tower has been rated by a conservative denied credit to the communist nations for group, the Americans for Constitutional their purchases in this country . . . I did Action, with a cumulative score of 99% not agree then, ,and I do not agree now, for his votes in the past five years, mak- that an absence of internal problems in ing him the most conservative man in the Soviet Russia is good tidings for the west- Senate by their standards. ern world . . . The well-fed communist Listed below by topics is a summary of countries are more able to cause trouble Tower's public declarations and the deci- than lean, under-fed countries. They are sions he returned when they called for the. able to wage war; they are better able to yeas and nays. wage not only war, but economic compe- tition with the free world."5 encourage them to create a favorable poli- tical climate in which private capital will The Cuban question spurs Tower to ex- The World Outside be attracted. They need to have private ceptionally bold talk. In 1963, he spoke capital . . . we need to insist on encourage- Senator Tower's view of the world out- on "Cuba and our foreign policy" on a ment of private investment in under-de- side can be described as military interven- radio-television broadcast presented by the veloped countries."" tion and diplomatic isolation. The United (White) Citizens' Council from Jackson, Tower voted against the 1965 foreign Nations and foreign aid have been objects Miss. After advocating a blockade and in- aid bill, although he refrained from speak- vasion of Cuba, Tower was asked if such of his wrath from the beginning, although ing against in on final passage. In 1964 he action would touch off a general war. "I he has not pushed the idea of getting out achieved a victory with his amendment don't think so . . . I don't think that they of the world organization. forbidding foreign aid to Indonesia.0 Last would initiate the thermonuclear war that In 1962, when the Congo was in turmoil year he said Nasser had adopted a "go to they know they cannot win over Cuba .. . hell" attitude about the United States simi- and the U.N. in deep financial trouble, Of course it would be highly destructive Tower said the United States should give lar to Sukarno's. Tower suggested cutting to us, but ultimately we could rebuild; but off aid to the United Arab Republic, but the organization a loan instead of buying we would be the victors, and communism, its bonds.' The next year, he attacked his amendment has not been adopted.'2 would have disappeared from this world. In 1963 Tower spoke to a Chicago rally President Kennedy's support of U.N. inter- Of course, we don't want a thermonuclear vention in Katanga ("a major shortcoming honoring ex-King Peter II of Yugoslavia war; don't ever let me convey the impres- and commemorating a battle in 1389 in of the Administration's foreign policy, to sion that we do, but I think that the real say the very least"), and he denounced the which the Turks overwhelmed the Serbs. danger comes not in going to the brink of He said on that occasion, "We cannot co- U.N.: "The United Nations military cam- war, but in shrinking from the brink of paign against Katanga to overpower the exist with a great power that is bent on our war."6 Two months later, Tower accused destruction. We shall prosecute the battle only independent pro-Western and anti- the Soviets of making a profit on Cuban communist government in central Africa, against communism until we are victori- sugar, calling this laissez-faire communism. ous."13 with approval and support of the State "It reminds us of the British mercantilism Department, is . . . convincing the Ameri- of the 18th century. Now we see the Rus- can people more and more each day of the sians adopting trappings of the capitalis- War and the Military futility of the United Nations as an effec- tic system and coming up with 'Soviet tive instrument for peace. I venture to pre- Last January Tower was named to the mercantilism.' "7 dict in future days it will be more and Senate armed forces committee, a plum more difficult to convince members of Con- The rioting in 1963 and 1964 in Panama which caused jubilation among party pro- gress, who are responsible to the American ("a country that would not even exist were fessionals in Texas. "We have more than people and who are responsive to the mani- it not for the United States") led Tower a quarter million defense personnel both festations of opinion of the American peo- to decry the world situation in general. civilian and military in Texas. This com- ple, that the United Nations merits the fi- "No recitation of detail is needed here. You mittee authorizes expenditures for one half nancial, moral, and policy support of the are all familiar with the situations in Cuba, of the national budget ... Much of the basic United States."2 Last August, Tower was Panama, Zanzibar, Vietnam, Laos, Berlin, industry in our state is vitally concerned calling for a firm stand on the question the Congo, Cyprus, and almost any other in the military equipment field, and mili- of Russia's U.N. debt: "There are indica- place you can place your finger on the tary wages in Texas annually amount to tions that we American taxpayers may soon globe. The overall picture is certainly not three quarters of a billion dollars. I believe be asked to voluntarily contribute even one in which we can take great comfort the new post will afford a position of great more money to the U.N. . . . The Russians . . . I believe our government should em- service to my state and for that reason I could let us pay for everything the U.N. bark once again on a diplomatic and eco- am very pleased," Tower exulted. 14 Last does and their veto power tell us where nomic crusade to bolster the cause of free- May he asked the committee to press for and when we can spend our money."3 dom around the world."8 work on a backlog of repair work at the In a 1963 speech to the Daughters of the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station with an Tower often talks as an economist when initial $250,000. He listed more than $1 describing the nation's relations with the American Revolution, Tower said the Alli- ance for Progress was being used to force million in repairs he said were needed at rest of the world. Last July, Sen. Strom the base, ranging from work on runways Thurmond of South Carolina proudly Latin American countries to develop "so- cialistic schemes. We are insisting that to fixing up the steel sashes in Building pointed out himself, Tower, and others as 8.15 A little later, he reported the commit- advisors to Young Americans for Freedom, Latin American countries develop socialis- tic plans, that they expropriate property, tee's favorable view of producing the F-1I1 when Sen. J. W. Fulbright called it a "vigil- (TFX) built by General Dynamics/Fort ante group" responsible for a "nuisance that they confiscate property, that they compete with private enterprise." Foreign Worth as manned bomber to stall a "bomb- boycott campaign" against Firestone Tire er gap" in the 1970's.16 (This speech was a and Rubber Co. (The firth had announced, aid, he said, is a primary cause for the gold drain.9 far cry from the one Barry Goldwater then withdrawn, plans to construct a syn- made in Fort Worth in the 1964 campaign, thetic rubber plant for Roumania.') In What does Tower propose? He gave the hinting at dark misdeeds behind procure- 1964, Tower had said in a broadcast to answer in April, 1964, in a broadcast over ment of the contract for the big firm which the people, "I opposed the recent trade a Milwaukee television station: "I think is a keystone of that city's economy.) And agreement with the Soviet Union, in which foreign aid is having the opposite effect last September, Tower announced a 10,000- our government approved the sale of huge of what it should have. The main prob- man expansion of Army training facilities quantities of wheat to communist-bloc na- lem in Latin America is that private capi- at Fort Bliss, Fort Sam Houston, and Fort tions. In addition, I vigorously opposed the tal is flowing out of Latin America. What Wolters. 17 granting of American credit to the com- we need to do is to help them to stabilize munists for those sales. I supported amend- their currency to help them to create or January 21, 1966 From the beginning of his service in the At adjournment last year, Tower set out joined Connally and Cong. 0. C. Fisher at Senate, Tower's attitude towards the mili- on a 25-day trip of military bases in Europe an Americanism Day rally at which those tary has been more than warm. It is the and Asia, including Vietnam. He paid for who question the government's war policy only field where he has pushed for stepped part of the trip himself. In World War II were condemned. "In spite of what the up federal spending. This year he can be the senator served as an enlisted man peaceniks, beatniks, and muddy-minded expected to oppose Great Society programs aboard an amphibious gunboat in the west- intellectuals say or think, we cannot abdi- on the grounds that they cripple the war ern Pacific. His concern for the wishes of cate our responsibility as the leader of the effort. "You can't have a Great Society the Joint Chiefs and the fact that an Air free world, or we abdicate the freedom of unless you have a secure society," he told Force lieutenant colonel accompanied him men everywhere fighting communism," he the Republican state committee this month. on the tour notwithstanding, Tower sought said.33 (After the talk two high school choirs Last year he told the DAR in San Antonio, to show in Vietnam that it was the enlisted sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "We see the Administration cut $8 billion men he was interested in meeting, not just and 200 pigeons were released "and wheeled from what the Joint Chiefs feel is neces- the commanders. The troopers, he said, in- overhead in graceful arcs," as the San. sary to properly defend our interests. We dicated that the lightweight, futuristic M- Angelo newspaper put it.) When the Sena- see that money, or a goodly portion of it, 16 rifle is necessary for fighting in South tors Kennedy supported the idea of donat- channeled into welfare projects of very Vietnam. Tower returned with firm recom- ing American blood to North Vietnamese questionable value. We see no new manned mendations about the war : pinpoint bomb- through the International Red Cross, Tower bomber program in the works, or in the ing in the Hanoi area, a sealed-off Hai- said, "I'm very much opposed to giving offing. We see no funds for a major naval phong harbor, and more money including blood to anybody but our people." He then construction program. We see no funds for money for M-16's.25 Additionally, Tower put in a plug for a nationwide college new and modern aircraft carriers or sub- seems ready to support a GI bill of rights campus "bleed-in" to supply plasma for marines. We have no fleet in the Indian of some kind, but not one as broad as Yar- American troops, not the casualties of both Ocean, which bids fair to become a tinder- borough's "cold war GI bill" which would sides. box. We see less money for military re- extend help to all veterans, regardless of search and development. Less for military whether they have served in a war zone. 26 Civil Rights personnel. Less for new weapons and equip- However, Tower voted for Yarborough's ment, less military assistance and less mili- GI Bill last session. Senator Tower has voted against every tary operation and maintenance. And less major piece of civil rights legislation de- for veterans."18 Tower had said earlier last Whatever his ties with the men in the field, Tower's sympathies with military bated since he went to Washington in June, year that the administration should add 1961. $6 billion in defense spending sought by commanders run deep. "Policy should be the military's top brass. 19 made by civilians, but after the policy is He has used anti-discrimination riders as made, we should leave much of the field a weapon to marshal conservative votes His support of basic research in ocean- decisions to military men," Tower said against legislation he opposes. For example, ography and space is linked with his in- last year.27 In December he said he found in April, 1963, he offered an anti-discrimi- terest in military development. Even as the American commanders in Vietnam frus- nation clause as an amendment to the bill State Department works to preserve the trated by controls. "Commanders should to create the Youth Conservation Corps. "I neutrality of the moon, Tower says, ". . . have more discretion about bombings," he am opposed to S. 1 and signed the minority the frontier of our age is in outer space. It said.28 Back in his first session, in 1961, he report," he said. "I intend to vote against it. is here that the safety and security of joined Strom Thurmond, then a Democrat, our nation will find new application, for it I am frank to admit that my third motiva- in attacking the "muzzling" of Maj. Gen. tion in offering the anti-discrimination can be truly said that whoever controls Edwin A. Walker. "I think we ought to amendments was to kill the bill, which I space can and will control the security and have a complete study of the facts and cir- destiny of nations on earth. The race for consider unwarranted and unwanted." He cumstances of Walker's case, and it should added, "I might say that the proponents of that control is now being run. We had bet- include his reassignment," Tower said; the bill were equally frank in opposing my ter be sure that we don't come in second although his public enthusiasm for Walker best. There is no longer a question of amendments inconsistent with their usual waned after the general declared for gover- whether we will have 'space tanks,' space civil rights position solely on the grounds nor as a Democrat and went on to visit pillboxes,' and 'space sentries.' The only re- that they might kill the bill." (In this case Oxford, Mississippi, during the Meredith the tactic failed 50-41 through a tabling maining question is when they will be there riots.2° and whose they will be." motion.34 ) He tried this tactic at least two The war in Vietnam will be one of the other times in 1963. The Senate tabled a Where would he stop short in the use of major issues in Tower's campaign this year. similar amendment to the domestic peace , military force? Before his election, the line "I fully support our President in his de- corps bill by vote of 49-41, and when Tower he drew was several rungs up the escala- termination to stand firm in the face of tried to use another such rider against the tion ladder. He said in a 1961 interview, communist tyranny and aggression in Viet- Area Redevelopment Act, the chair ruled it "I don't know what price we would have to nam," Tower said last summer as Johnson not germane. Quizzed about the strategy, pay to initiate a nuclear preventive war. stepped up the fight.3° Just before returning Tower smiled and said he was "just trying We could have cleaned the matter up nice- to Washington this month, Tower made it to improve the bills." He said that on ly in 1948 and '49 when the Russians didn't clear that he thought little of the Johnson Negro rights, "I'd probably be regarded as have the bomb. I've heard military men say "peace offensive." "I don't think we can a moderate. I'm against most of this civil we really should have mounted a preventive count on a sudden end unless we think we rights legislation, like the public accom- war then swiftly and cleanly. can back down on our announced mission, modations bill and the fair employment "I'm sure most of the world would have to preserve the independence of South Viet- practices commission bill, because it would hated us for it, but they'd have been able to nam."31 infringe on the citizens' rights to own and sleep securely as a result of it."21 Tower is ready to oppose any softening control property." 35 In 1961 after his election, in a radio de- of the American effort in Southeast Asia, But when major civil rights legislation bate with Sen. Wayne Morse, Tower said, but whether this occurs or not, he cam- was in prospect, Tower deserted GOP "mod- "The time may be imminent when we will paigns long and hard on the simple matter erates," such as Everett Dirksen. He joined have to militarily occupy Cuba." 22 In 1962 of America's presence and against the stock the Dixie filibuster that stymied the civil Tower wrote, "America must declare for villains he calls Vietniks. "I haven't started rights bill in 1963, explaining that in the victory. And she must do so from the inner- a fight in 20 years, mostly because of my public accommodations section of the pro- most fibre outward to the farthest ex- size, but I think I might if one of those posal he saw "sinister implications beyond tremity."23 The test ban treaty he called demonstrations started in my presence," the civil rights issue."36 Early in 1964, the "a cruel deception."24 the senator said in Washington last milestone year in civil rights legislation, month.32 His anger reached a high pitch Tower predicted that a "watered-down ver- 4 The Texas Observer in San Angelo on Sunday, Nov. 7, when he sion" of the Kennedy bill would be passed.37 )es sc. as those in Alabama last winter and spring of all medical and hospital costs for needy Yes s Ye.s `1C3 "probably are justified," Tower added, elderly people, financed by general reve- Yes .e> .1C ye, Nes e s Yes "The finger should be pointed to everyone nues"49 (italics supplied). "(C5 Ycs ies 1", s 4:: all over the country, not just to the South. Interestingly, Tower praised the increase s; ‘iCS \ es Yes 'Qs I'm getting tired of the South being used in Social Security payments linked with the Ye* Yes NC , 'Sc, 'Yes ves as a whipping boy." He said the 1965 act's medicare package, saying as the vote Yes Y es Yes Yes lies )C3 effect would be to "negate the election laws neared, "I am pleased that the bill now 5 *Ye sfc, les Yes sks "ie." of 50 states" and charged that the federal before the Senate includes that 7% figure ' s ‘res k Yes Yes JCS '1'.• "les voting examiners could be used to perpe- along with other Social Security benefits :is"c "T‹, •Ycs sfe, 'Nes Yes tuate an administration in power. He added . . . but I cannot vote for any bill embody- ste-i sre,Te,Ye that he was talking about future admin- ing medicare, for I cannot vote to destroy By March of that year Tower noted that he istrations, not Johnson's. It was wrong, Social Security." Tower added that in 1961, might support the bill if the fair employ- Tower said, to legislate "in an emotional eleven days after reaching the Senate, he ment and public accommodations sections atmosphere created by demonstrations." had voted for the Social Security Act of were removed. 38 When it reached debate in The courts could take care of the problem, 1961.5° Although he did not vote for the the Senate after clearing the house, Tower Tower said. Texas, he added, was free of 1965 Social Security Act, a list issued last said from the floor, "I am no segregationist. such discrimination. The Texas poll tax he fall showed the 7% cost-of-living increase I believe in Negro rights. I believe dis- called "an evidence of citizenship. "44 for Social Security as one of his positions crimination is morally wrong." Then he Curiously, back in 1963, Tower pledged "subsequently adopted by the administra- opened his attack, challenging the public to vote personally for repeal of the state tion." accommodations section and the Fair Em- poll tax. He added that he never adhered to ployment Practices Commission as unconsti- the theory that the poll tax kept anyone War on Poverty tutional. His speech was 87 pages long, who wanted to from voting:15 although cut in the reading because he had Tower offered his own substitute for the Tower's opposition to the war on poyerty an audience of one, Sen. Claiborne Pell, voting rights bill. It had three major pro- began before President Kennedy was killed Rhode Island Democrat assigned to listen. 39 visions: Uniform application of voting re- and before the welfare package was given Tower had a curious victory with an quirements set by the individual states, that title. In 1963, as noted, Tower sought amendment linked with a test case against prohibitions against fraudulent voting in to tag anti-discrimination riders to Youth Motorola. The Illinois Fair Employment federal elections, and a study by the at- Conservation Corps, area redevelopment, Policies Cmsn. had ruled that the firm torney general and the Secretary of De- and domestic peace corps legislation. could not administer a written test to pro- fense to determine whether state election Here is Tower explaining in 1964 how to spective employers on grounds that the test laws discriminate against members of the win the war on poverty: "Catchy slogans discriminated against "culturally disad- armed forces. 46 and expensive government projects are not vantaged groups." Introducing his amend- At least twice, Tower has delivered af- going to get the job done. The only real, ment, Tower said, "It is obvious that tests firmative votes in the civil rights field. He lasting solution to joblessness is obviously can and are being written which are both voted in 1961 to extend the life of the Civil the creation of jobs. . . . In any system that fair and extremely useful." He said the Rights Commission and for the confirma- allows some men and women to climb to the amendment "carefully provided that em- tion of Negro Thurgood Marshall as a fed- top, we are going to have some men and ployers must give such tests to all con- eral judge. 47 women who will fall to the bottom or re- cerned individuals without regard to the in- main on the bottom. . . . The truth of the dividuals' race, color, religion, sex, or na- matter is that many persons who make tional origin."40 The roll call vote went Medicare $3,000 a year are quite well off, while against Tower, but suddenly the amend- The question of medical help for old peo- many others who make $4,000 a year may ment was recalled and passed on voice vote be just barely getting by, if at all. . . . The with no trouble. Within hours Tower had ple was one which allowed Tower to bask in the pleasant warmth of consensus without only real, lasting solution to joblessness is received 35 congratulatory telegrams, all actually getting sunburned. As the medicare obviously the creation of new jobs. . . . The from executives "employed by one large vote neared last summer, the junior senator logical route then would be for the admin- electronics firm," the Dallas Morning News istration to encourage, by every means pos- said.41 joined other conservatives in a motion to remove the President's medical help pro- sible, the economic well-being of those who Tower voted (with Yarborough) for an gram from the Social Security bill. Tower provide jobs for American workers. What amendment requiring jury trials for citi- was one of 18 Republicans who voted for we need to do is create a favorable climate zens charged under the act with contempt the amendment (11 were against it) ; it for business that will produce jobs. . . . You of court outside the presence of the judge. was rejected 26-64. Medicare itself was can only do that by stimulating business."51 (Opposed by civil rights groups on the contained in a bill which included boosts Tower then offered specific proposals for theory that Southern juries would clear in Kerr-Mills payments and regular Social helping the poor: reduce oil and beef im- Southern whites of contempt charges, the Security payments, as well as in monies ports. "Foreign oil imports have long amendment was at first narrowly defeated, for child assistance programs to be ad- troubled our domestic producers. They 46-45, but was adopted later.42 ) Tower also ministered jointly by Washington and the would like to see it (sic) curtailed, at least voted against cloture of the Dixie filibuster state capitals. Tower was one of 14 Republi- to the extent that it does not stop explora- and voted for losing amendments to elimin- cans who voted against its final passage tion for new domestic reserves. When this ate federal aid for desegregation, to elimin- (68-21).48 happens, as it has happened, many oil ate fair employment provisions, and to re- workers lose their jobs." He added that the Tower introduced an alternative to the verse federal court holdings on restricted same was true in the meat industry. "I sup- Senate, his "Eldercare" bill, which, he said, housing convenants. He voted for a provis- pose ultimately we will have a situation was more comprehensive than medicare. ion barring discrimination in federally as- where those who have lost jobs as a result Medicare, he said, did not cover costs of sisted programs and against a national of depressed business conditions in those visits to doctors' offices, home calls by doc- referendum on the act.43 two industries can get jobs with the federal He voted against tors, doctors' services at the hospital, sur- the act itself. government training our jobless youngsters gery, dental services, eyeglasses, and drugs. how to raise cattle or drill oil wells." In 1965 the junior senator was just as "Inadequate . . . the wrong approach," said Tower had adopted the same scoffing staunch in his opposition to the federal Tower, who was particularly unhappy over tone in 1963, speaking in San Antonio voting rights act, which passed the Senate, medicare's link with Social Security, a link against VISTA, the domestic peace corps, 77-19. He was one of two Republicans to he said could endanger the system. Late in when he said the volunteers ("probably out stand against the bill on final passage. The 1964, Tower said he expected the Republi- of Harvard or Wellesley") would be sent to other was Strom Thurmond of South Caro- cans in Congress to seek fulfillment of the lina. Conceding that demonstrations such 1964 GOP platform pledge of "full coverage January 21, 1966 5 Arizona to teach Indians how to make representatives of the U.S. Chamber of went to the heart of his attitude on federal- adobe houses or to Georgia to teach farmers Commerce, "As this study group grows and ism. Mass transit would cost at least $9.8 how to raise peanuts.° tends to make this a public issue in the ex- billion over the next decade, he said. "... let The Neighborhood Youth Corps has pro- pectation of getting action in the foresee- us figure how much of this would be paid voked Tower's wrath again and again. Last able future, it should be broader in spon- by Texans. Texans, .according to the Li- year he accused the Department of Labor sorship than one group, NAM, or any other. brary of Congress, pay approximately 4.5 of attempting to "subvert the intent of Con- Perhaps we can even get foundation sup- per cent of all federal taxes. . . . This comes gress" in pressing for the $1.25 minimum port. I think that might facilitate the mat- to $441 million that Texans would be re- wage for workers in the Corps. He quoted ter of taking it to the public in such a way quired to pay in taxes over the next ten a section of the Economic Opportunities Act as to arouse them to arouse congressional years. . . . Most of this, of course, would which said, he said, "In general, enrollee support for it."61 be spent in the urban areas of the East. wages should be a little below the prevail- Tower backed legislation to allow the The figure comes to more than $44 for each ing entrance rates for inexperienced work- agriculture commission of each state to de- man, woman, and child in Texas. A family ers in similar occupations." The suggestion termine whether braceros should be admit- of four would contribute about $176 to was followed by local planners, he said, until ted, thus bypassing the U.S. Secretary of solving the transit problems of persons the Department of Labor intervened. He Labor. The U.S. attorney general would living in cities far away . . ." 68 proposed an amendment, which failed, pro- provide reception centers and transporta- viding that enrollees earn less than the fed- tion for the field hands. Tower said last Farm Policy eral minimum wage. Last summer Tower June that Labor Secretary Willard Wirtz voted against killing the governors' veto had pledged "in correspondence with me to In 1962 Senator Tower introduced his powers against war on, poverty programs work closely with the Texas Employment farm bill, a very brief and very simple and against extending more funds for the Commission to meet the labor needs of Tex- measure which would have instructed the war on poverty. The Senate voted to limit as growers. However, time continues to Secretary of Agriculture to _"reduce the the governors' vetoes on three major pro- drift by, and farmers and ranchers cannot levels of price support annually on all agri- grams, including NYC." conjure workers overnight."62 cultural commodities for. which such sup- Earlier last year, Tower had voted Tower had voted in 1963 to extend the port is provided until such support has been against the bill extending aid to Appa- braceroprogram. removed entirely." It gave the secretary lachia, 'saying disapprovingly in Harlingen six years." Hubert Humphrey, then whip, Last year Tower introduced two bills, that the measure included $17 million to called the idea "disastrous," and the Sen- both of which failed, designed to curb the develop the cattle industry in the depressed ate agreed, 55-17." powers of the National Labor Relations area. He pledged in the Harlingen speech Board. One would have transferred unfair Last year, with Goldwater gone and to fight the President's plans to cut back labor practice cases tb federal courts, election ahead, Tower voted for the Omni- soil conservation spending.55 Soon after- taking the hearings away from the board. bus Farm Bill which he described as "no wards, Cong. Jim Wright said that the $17 The other was the junior senator's plan to exception to the rule of confusion," but "the million which upset Tower was for soil guarantee the right of an employer to go most realistic we have achieved in many conservation, not to develop Appalachia's years." One of his major reasons for the cattle industry." out of business for good, without having the labor board rule that such action was vote was adoption of the amendment re- an unfair labor practice.° taining, for the present, the one-price sys- Labor tem on cotton.n He remains steadfastly against beef imports, and, as noted, con- "Texas unions are strong and well-led," Housing siders limited imports a fine way to fight Tower wrote last June. "They are that way unemployment. Last week Tower announced that he because they pay better attention to their would support the President's nomination knitting than do unions in states where of Robert C. Weaver as secretary of the Education compulsory membership is required."57 new Department of Housing and Urban De- "If I were a laboring man in industry, I velopment, saying, "As ranking minority John Tower and John Connally appear would want the privilege of joining, and I to be in agreement on educational help. probably would join, a labor union," Tower member of the housing subcommittee of the banking and currency committee Both prefer any interstate compact rather said last fall, filibustering against the re- than massive federal aid. peal of 14-B.59 which is responsible for housing ana urban affairs legislation, I have The senator told a group of teachers But Tower has written this: "It is quite -always enjoyed cordial relationships with Dr. Weaver and in southeast Texas last summer, "We could plain that some union practices, either relinquish constitutional prerogatives and through design or as an inevitable conse- his department."" (In 1963, however, Weaver was accusing Tower of a "political- historical wisdom and turn to the federal quence, impose serious restraints upon goverment for imposition of a single, mono- trade, suppress competition and adversely ly inspired campaign" to restrict or destroy the FHA . . . under the guise of sounding an lithic national education policy. But such affect the prices of goods and services to a policy could pervert education in' the consumers."59 alarm against reckless insuring practices.") In his 1962 package, all of name of 'country,' as in the Third Reich or which failed, Tower included a labor bill, Tower had worked to see that a full $106,- 000 was appropriated for a study of the the Soviet Union. Such national policy his "union antitrust legislation," designed, would be a political football at every he said, to punish unions which refuse to FHA" and said last year in debate on the act creating the new department that "I have change of federal administration. The bet- supply workers, refuse to let their members ter alternative is for the states to join in handle certain goods, enforce geographical been a consistent supporter of the Federal Housing Administration."" Nevertheless, such a compact as Dr. (James B.) Conant restrictions against employers, or restrict envisions. Our governor has indicated Tex- production." Tower voted against the new department, as well as the President's rent subsidy plan, as is willing to pursue the possibilities of The National Association of Manufac- in which he saw "evil ramifications." He this approach, and I hope we do."" turers seems to have set something very said, "I think it will have the effect of Despite Tower's reluctance to see step- similar to the Tower labor bill as one of its escalating rents and force those who could legislative goals. On Nov. 21, 1961, Jim ped-up federal spending in the education otherwise pay rent without help to pay field, he joined with Connally last spring in Clay, a legislative assistant to Tower, spoke more."67 at a meeting of the "NAM center for the the view that part of $86 million in federal study of union monopoly power," calling This year President Johnson is seeking aid that Texas was to receive each year for research "that could be used in depth a cabinet level department of mass trans- could be used to pay for a state raise in school teachers' salaries. "As I interpret the and truth as a moral approach to .a political portation. Tower complained about' the use bill," Tower said, "the money could be issue" and telling the audience, including of mass transit funds voted in 1964. He had fought hard against the 1963 mass transit used for teacher salary raises—because it 6 The Texas Observer bill, and one of his arguments against it [the bill] fails to impose specific dead- lines:" Tower said that perhaps $74 million port its further study," he told engineers The friendship between the senator and of the $86 million could be used to supply in Amarillo last September. 82 the ex-senator continues, and their political the raise teachers had been promised. Con- Four water bills he co-sponsored last association is open. Last November, Gold- nally, facing an organized effort to make year were approved by Congress. They pro- water went to San Antonio to speak at a the raise come true, had expressed the vide for intra-governmental cooperation in $250-per-plate fund-raising dinner for the same opinion.73 Eventually the idea was development of water and for studies on 1966 campaign. Whatever he said at the simply dropped and the teachers were desalinization and rainfall utilization. He dinner never reached print, because the given a compromise raise from state rev- voted against the anti-pollution act. "I was GOP said reporters would have to buy the enues. active in Senate work on the water pollu- $250.00 steak to hear him talk, but at a Tower "is an opponent of general fed- tion bill," he said in his October newslet- reception earlier ($2.50 per person), Gold- eral aid to education," his office said in ter." water said, "John Tower is a little man in 1963.74 However: In 1962 he voted for an Last year, Tower cried out against a pro- body; he's a tremendous man in heart, unsuccessful amendment to remove scholar- posed $20 million cut in federal spending soul, and intellect." The GOP, Goldwater ships for needy students from that year's for soil and water conservation and predo- added, was a healthy organization, despite college aid bill and to substitute an in- tor and rodent control. "Each district in its troubles." crease in the National Defense Education Texas would lose an average of $7,000 in Just after the Goldwater debacle in 1964 Act scholarship funds. He has been a con- funds for technical assistance," he said." Tower blamed party in-fighting for the de- sistent supporter of NDEA grants." Last Congress restored the money, and Tower feat and offered a defense for national year he voted for the $4.7-billion college aid called the action "a graphic example of the chairman Dean Burch.91 Two months later, bill which provided federal scholarships wisdom which Congress can bring to though, Tower was present at a State Re- and direct grants to colleges, as well as set- bear. . . . "85 publican Executive Committee meeting ting up a National Teachers Corps for pov- which adopted a toned-down version of the anti-extremism resolution which had spur- erty-stricken areas." Earlier last year he Oil had voted for an amendment changing red a spirited fight at the 1964 national the allocation formula for aid to impover- Like any Texas politician interested in convention. ished school districts, which would have getting reelected, Tower has voted staunch- When moderate Republicans got good no- lowered the f e d e r al money for urban ly against withdrawal of the oil depletion tices last August by issuing a public invi- schools, as well as weakened support for allowance. Last November, too late for tation for Birch Society members to leave the elementary and secondary education passage, he introduced a separate bill to cut their party, Tower commented that he act.77 The senator has upheld federal aid oil imports 17%. "Total oil imports must saw no "grave threat" from the society to so-called "impacted areas," that is, com- be frozen or rolled back," he told the Pan- and added, " . . . their active participation munities whose schools serve children of handle Geological Society last year." in both parties is relatively small." (Gold- federal employes who live on tax-exempt In 1963 Tower pledged to fight any legis- water had said, " . . . they haven't done property, such as military bases.78 lation resulting from a seven-department anything dangerous to the party as far as study of the oil industry made at the di- I am concerned.") 92 On federal aid for basic research, Tower Nineteen days later Tower said, "My said in 1963, when faced with a bill for rection of the Office of Emergency Plan- ning. The report found deficiencies in the views are clear. I believe the John Birch $690 million in spending over a three-year Society is a liability to the conservative period, "I don't think that massive federal regulatory system and said $1 billion per year in federal taxes were lost because of cause. I think they tend to be too exclu- spending in this area can be justified." sive and accept certain premises that I Nevertheless, he was successful last year the oil depletion allowances. "This report was kept secret from the people of the don't accept and a lot of people don't ac- as co-sponsor of a bill to back oceanogra- cept."" phic research. He said in his Senate speech country and was obviously the background for the measure, "Mr. President, knowledge material used by Atty. Gen. Bobby Ken- SOURCES nedy in his recent attack upon state oil of the oceans is power [his italics]-nation- The World Outside al power to exert military and economic in- regulatory agencies. So it now appears 1. Obs. March 23, 1962. 2. Congressional Rec- that the attorney general's comments were ord, January 17, 1963, pp. 475-6. 3. Dallas Times fluence a r o u n d the world . . . present the opening guns on a high-level campaign Herald, Aug. 8, 1965. 4. Corpus Christi Caller, American sea power is based upon only the July 7, 1965. 5. Weekly radio report, May 10, to federalize the petroleum industry." 87 1964. 6. Transcript of the Citizens' Council - most circumspect knowledge of the real Forum, March 20, 1963. 7. News release, May secrets of the oceans."" Legislation to federalize the oil industry 5, 1963. 8. Washington ,newsletter, January, never materialized, but the next year, 1964, 1964. 9. Corpus Christi Caller (undated). 10 Tower still wages a battle on behalf of Tower accused President Johnson of "cal- News release, April 21, 1963. 11. New York his plan to extend tax credits to citizens Times, Aug. 13, 1964. 12. News release, Jan. 8, lously turning his back on the two indus- 1965. 13. Dallas Morning News, July 2, 1963. with dependents in college. It would mean tries of most importance to his own state War and the Military $350 in tax relief for families with child- . . . the oil and cattle industries." Tower 14. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jan. 15, 1965. ren in college. It was narrowly defeated 15. Corpus Christi Caller, May 6, 1965. 16. Aus- said he wrote Johnson about the oil import tin Statesman, May 12, 1965. 17. Corpus Christi last year,. 48-45.81 situation and received in reply "a curt Caller, Sept. 18, 1965. 18. San Antonio Express, March 18, 1965. 19. San Antonio Express-News, note" from Lawrence O'Brien, then a White Jan. 30, 1965. 20. Hays. County Citizen, June house staff assistant, who wrote, "Since 16, 1965. 21. Obs., Feb. 11, 1961. 22. Obs., Aug. Conservation 9, 1963. 23. A Program for Conservatives, Mac- oil controls are the responsibility of the fadden books, New York, 1962, p. 30. 24. Obs., Tower's latest official biography sheet, Department of the Interior, your letter to Aug. 9, 1963. 25. News release, Dec. 20, 1965. issued this week, calls him "a nationally- the President has been made available to 26. Dallas Morning News, Jan. 12, 1966. 27. Dal- las Morning News, Nov. 11, 1965. 28. Dallas known progressive conservative" and lists Secretary Udall. "99 Morning News, (1965, undated). 29. Obs., Sept. among his 1965 legislative successes "far- 1, 1961. 30. Houston Chronicle, July 29, 1965. 31. Dallas Times Herald, Jan. 3, 1966. 32. Dallas reaching soil and water conservation meas- Times Herald, Dec. 16, 1965. 33. San Angelo ures." However, in 1963 Tower voted for Tower, Goldwater and the JBS Standard-Times, Nov. 8, 1965. amendments to weaken presidential prero- Civil Rights From 1961 through the 1964 elections, 34. News release, April 10, 1963. 35. Houston gatives under the wilderness act. Tower was Barry Goldwater's most ardent Post, Aug. 22, 1963. 36. San Antonio Express, Oct. 10, 1963. 37. Corpus Christi Caller, Jan. He has indicated his support for a water disciple. State GOP chairman Peter O'Don- 16, 1964. 38. Dallas Morning News, March 19, plan so far-reaching that it staggers the nell Jr. described Tower's role in the Gold- 1964. 39. Dallas Morning News, March 20, 1964. imagination - the proposed $100 billion water camp' as "one of Goldwater's prin- 40. News release, May 20, 1964. 41. Dallas Morn- ing News, June 22, 1964. 42. Obs., May 15, 1964. North American Water and Power Alli- cipal advisors and strategists." Tower re- 43. Obs., June 26, 1964. 44. San Antonio Ex- ance, a scheme to tap rivers in Alaska and mained loyal to the , cause in 1964, even press, March 19, 1965: 45. San Antonio Ex- press, Oct. 10, 1963. 46. Dallas Morning News, the Yukon and bring their water as far when offered the chance of running as vice April 29. 1965. 47. Obs., July 12, 1963. south as northern Mexico. "I endorse the president with a moderate-liberal candi- general idea of this proposition and sup- date." January 21,,1966 7 mealcare Housing 6, 1965. 81. Weekly radio report, Feb. 9, 1964. 48. Houston Post, Oct. 31, 1965. 49. Houston 64. Dallas Morning News, Jan. 14, 1966. 65. Chronicle, Dec. 20, 1964. 50. Dallas Morning Conservation Houston Post, March 15, 1963. 66. Congression- 82. News release, Sept. 20, 1965. 83. News re- News, July 7, 1965. al Record-Senate, August 11, 1965, p. 19,264. lease, Oct. 24, 1965. 84. Dallas Morning News, War on Poverty 67. Dallas Times Herald, March 3, 1965. 68. April 4, 1965. 85. Dallas Morning News, July - 51. Weekly report, March 22, 1964. 52. Weekly News release, April, 1963. 18, 1965. report, March 29, 1964. 53. San Antonio Ex- Farm, Policy press, Oct. 10, 1963. 54. Obs., Sept. 3 and Sept. 69. A Program for Conservatives, p. 143-4. Oil 17, 1965. 55. Obs., Feb. 19, 1965. 56. Obs., March 70. Obs., Sept. 7, 1962. 71. News release, Sept. 86. Dallas Times Herald, Sept. 22, 1965. 87. 5, 1965. 19, 1965. Report to the people, July 21, 1963. 88. Report Labor Education to the people, June 13, 1964. 57. Houston Chronicle, June 30, 1965. 58 News 72. Corpus Christi Caller, Sept. 19, 1965. 73. Tower, Goldwater, and the JBS release, Oct. 8, 1965. 59. A Program for Conser- Dallas Morning News, March 1, 1965. 74. Week- 89. Dallas Times Herald, Oct. 20, 1963. 90. San vatives, p. 51. 60. Ibid., pp. 54-55. 61. Special ly radio report, Oct. 13, 1963. 75. ADA World, Antonio Express-News, Nov. 6, 1965. 91. Corpus report of the Texas Industrial Union Council, Oct., 1962. 76. Obs., Sept. 17, 1965. 77. ADA Christi Caller, Nov. 14, 1964. 92. Houston Chron- 1961. 62. Robstown Record, June 6, 1965. 63. World, Nov., 1965. 78. Weekly radio report, icle, Sept., 1965. 93. Houston Chronicle, Sept. Dallas Morning News, March 5, 1965. Oct. 13, 1963. 79. Ibid. 80. News release, Aug. 18, 1965. 0

`Convince Them of What They Believe' Can Texas Labor Help the Poor?

San Antonio in the unorganized fields ; and in Texas, the local representatives, any of whom might Something new appears to be happening poorest, most underpaid, most numerous have been commissioned to represent their in organized labor in Texas. Texas AFL- unorganized workers are Negroes and internationals at the meeting, were present CIO President Hank Brown's repeated Mexican-Americans, which weakens or- from the operating engineers, rubber declarations that the organized workers ganized labor's zeal for organizing them to workers, painters, carpenters, 'pipefitters, have a duty to organize those who are poor whatever extent racial hostilities persist electrical workers, cement workers, stone and divided, even though doing so will cost among Texas union men. masons, machinists, transit workers, rub- union money and will require some of the Kermit Davison, Huntsville, has been ber workers, auto workers, retail clerks, organizing zeal of the thirties, led to a new put on Texas AFL-CIO's staff as a public brewery workers, federal employees, print- kind of labor meeting in San Antonio early information officer for labor in East Texas. ers. this month. Here were the assembled brass Father of one of the student leaders in the Lester Graham, regional director of of Texas labor and representatives of many Huntsville civil rights movement, (who labor for the state of Texas, said that of the international unions, standing and Davison says is now in college in Hunts- with three and a half million workers, wildly applauding a Catholic priest who ville, giving most of his time to his studies, Texas has fewer than half a million in had just told them to get out of town and not to civil rights,) the elder Davison's unions. But he discussed the problem of stay out if they didn't organize the poor work now consists of encouraging Negroes volunteers for organizing with candor. "We into unions. to pay their poll taxes. Where, the ObserVer do not have many more volunteer workers, The internationals are to organized labor asked him, would he start, organizing the not too many," he allowed. "They don't what the great national companies are to unorganized workers of East Texas? He have time, and they have to make a living. U.S. business; the state labor offices are to said in the woods industry-lumber, pulp It costs money to organize. But it's just labor what the state manufacturers' as- wood. The two big companies, he said, are like bread on the water, it comes, back in sociations are to business. Only if the in- Champion Paper and Fiber Co. and Inter- the form of cake." National labor, he said, ternationals commit their treasure and national Paper Co. In addition, he said, would provide a coordinator and as much their men to a labor project can it really there are a number of sawmills; he speci- manpower as other duties permitted, if have substance. Repeated declarations by fied Temple Industries, L&M, Park, Batcher the relevant union authorities agreed. Texas AFL-CIO that the poor mexicano Lumber Co. Wages for the thousands of . and Negro workers must be organized workers, many of them Negroes, in this THE INDUSTRIAL UNION DE- could have no effect unless and until the industry, Davison said, run as low as 50 or PARTMENT (IUD) of the national' AFL- big internationals decided to go to work on 75 cents an hour, and on the average are CIO is in effect the old CIO; Walter Reuth- that organizing. perhaps $1.25. er is the IUD president. Its national di- Thus it mattered that during a recent rector of organizing is a fiery, pudgy orator labor meeting in San Francisco, representa- BROWN BEGAN the conference named Nick Zonarich, who came out of the tives of ten internationals met with Brown in San Antonio with the fact that the in- mines in Pennsylvania and was formerly and listened to his appeal for the commit- dustrial wage average in San Antonio is president of the aluminum workers. ment and wherewithal to organize the $79 a week, the lowest of any U.S. city with Zonarich had a number of his staffers Latin-American workers in San Antonio a quarter million people or more. J. Elro present in San Antonio, and his message and in the toes of Texas, the lower Valley. Brown, international oilworkers' staffer, was plain: IUD is ready now to start a This month's meeting in San Antonio was says unorganized workers in the Valley drive in Brownsville and didn't need to wait intended to convince staffers of the in- make 50 cents an hour up to $1.90 an until March (when Brown has another ternationals who were present to go back hour, top. Only eight out of 100 workers in meeting scheduled to receive the final de- to their bosses and sell them on committing San Antonio belong to unions, Brown said. cisions' of the internationals and get the internationals to the project. Brown Challenging racial discrimination in clear started in earnest). wants a quarter of a million dollars and at words-as he and his secretary-treasurer, The most impressive characteristic of the least ten internationals involved in a two- Roy Evans, have done since they took over San Antonio meeting was the way the year drive. He said in San Antonio that the Texas AFL-CIO, carrying on the tra- speakers felt moved to say the truth that seven internationals have already said yes, ditions of their immediate predecessors, the labor movement, (implicitly as com- but their names were not given out. Jerry Holleman and Fred Schmidt-Brown pared with the civil rights movement,) has Apart from the fact that the real power said any union member who was guilty of gone soft. "Many of us have attended many in labor lies with the internationals, "or- racial discrimination would be cast out as meetings about the organizing of the un- ganizing the unorganized" in Texas has "unworthy of membership." organized," Zonarich said. "It's true of all two other kinds of preliminary difficulties: It appeared, from the round of self-in- our conventions-we're talking and passing the union men themselves have lost much troductions that then followed, that repre- resolutions and it seems we get very little of their crusading zeal, so that not many sentatives of the international unions of action out of it." But IUD has been doing volunteers can be mustered for pioneering the brickworkers, meatcutters, oilworkers, the work for "the past couple of years ironworkers, bookbinders, and communica- now," and is in "the business of organizing 8 The Texas Observer tions workers were present. In addition, the unorganized," he said. (Elections have been going labor's way in Texas the past George Meany or those close to him may couple of months; the day before, Steve have nixed the idea. GOING Williams, IUD's coordinator in Texas, had How much money would be involved? won an election involving 500 workers at Zonarich said if ten internationals took the Dallas Automotive Parts Shop, Zon- part, the cost might be $100,000, $10,000 SOUTH- arich said.) for each international on the average, and "Texas needs a strong and powerful labor this could be kicked in with organizers, WES movement," he said. "You can only get figured at the rate of $1,200 per man per your rights with a labor union. They em- month, or in cash. There would be an area ploy you for whatever they can hire you coordinating committee, with the target for, except for minimum wage standards. companies selected in advance. Brown Another reason is a great gentleman that said a coordinating drive in San Antonio comes from the State of Texas." alone, not counting manpower, would cost Texas, Zonarich said, is "a barefoot econ- $10,000. Real hospitality omy" from El Paso to Brownsville, and Zonarich said of the mineworkers' or- and comfort awaits you IUD is prepared to go into "the Browns- ganizing in the crafts on the Gulf Coast, at an Alsonett Hotel or Motel . ville area" with money and manpower, "believe me, the only reason District 50 Family and commercial rates . calling on all the local unions there now to has been raiding is because we haven't been TEXAS working at it." With coordination, he said, help. "The climate is ripe now to hit this Denison area of organizing Texas," Zonarich said. the mineworkers might be told, "You take "If the President announced to the world some plants and we'll take some." Dennison Hotel that his Administration has declared war Brown said Texas AFL-CIO's resolution 117 S. Burnett Ave. on poverty, I don't know of a better place to set up a broad-based organizing drive Lubbock for the labor unions to start than Texas." on its own if the internationals won't do it Caprock Hotel The internationals, Zonarich said, "have has caused displeasure in national labor, Main & Texas St. the dough. Don't be mistaken—there's with some talk even of putting Texas AFL- Paris money in the labor movement. All we need CIO "in trusteeship," but he meant it any- to do is convince them of what they way. "We've got to organize this town Nicholson Hotel believe." come hell or high water," he said. "I'm 750 Bonham Street The voice of the next speaker, Gerald gonna scream and holler and lie and cheat Port Arthur Brown, executive secretary of the State until we get this town organized!'" The Goodhue Hotel Building Trades -Council and spokesman president of the San Antonio labor council 549 5th St. for the counterpart national council, came backed him up, noting that the industrial Sabine Hotel wage in San Antonio is $42 a week lower from a network of concerns quite different 600 Procter from Zonarich's. than that in Houston. The United Mineworkers, who are not Texarkana members of national AFL-CIO, are raid- Grim Hotel THE LAST SPEAKER was also 3rd St. & State Line Ave ing the construction trades in the area the roughest — Father Sherrill Smith, di- along the coast from Beaumont-Port Arthur rector of the social action department of Waco to Corpus Christi. "We got news from 'em the Catholic diocese of San Antonio. Raleigh Hotel —we're gonna out-organize 'em," Brown "Labor this part of the country ought Eight & Austin Ave. said. He said the mineworkers "like to ruin to put up or shut up," he said. "If you don't us all" in Oakland, Cal., and Baton Rouge, I don't want to see you back in this place. I OKLAHOMA La. "They're trying to price us out of busi- dont want to see you around any more, I Ada ness, is what it amounts to," he said. "They don't want to pray for you any more—I'm Hotel Aldrigde are not excluding anyone. They're hiitin' too busy praying for the slaves around McAlester everyplace, raidin' everyone." here. Gerald Brown gave the example of the "If you can't do the job—if you can't Hotel Aldridge construction of a hospital in the costal work our your jurisdictional difficulties, Shawnee area. The standard building trades had a then you haven't achieved the point of ma- Hotel Aldridge contract for the job. "District No. 50," the turity—if you can't do it. then in a way mineworkers, wrote the contractor, saying you're a failure. You have your own little KANSAS that while the building trades would use six group, you're fat, and you don't give a Topeka journeymen plumbers and six apprentices, damn about the others." Jayhawk Hotel the mineworkers would use one journey- He had earned his credentials on many 700 Jackson St. man and six apprentices and save them picket lines, Father Smith said; he had Jayhawk Highway Hotel 60% on their labor costs; "which," Brown been to the labor conventions and heard U.S. Hwys. 24 & 75 said, "—they were right, and they woulda the oratory. "The chips are down as far done it." Brown said in effect the mine- as I'm concerned, in San Antonio and the LOUISIANA workers give the contractors whatever con- Lake Charles *This statement was quoted in the San An- tract terms they want, as long as the mine- tonio Express after the quote, "We've got to Hotel Charleston workers get the work and the members. organize this town come hell or high water." 900 Ryan St. In a letter to several newspapers and TV sta- The mineworkers' pay scales on construc- Shreveport tion work vary from $1 to $3 an hour, tions, Brown said, "The use of this quotation out of context ... is misleading and designed to Hotel Washington Youree Brown said. Texas AFL-CIO is backing up smear Texas AFL-CIO in its efforts to organize. I do not refute the statement. However, in fair- 401 Edwards the established building trades. ness the full text should have been quoted." In open discussion, before the "buzz ses- Brown asked that his statement be presented For additional information and "in full and in its proper sequence, which will rates write or call: sions" that were closed to the two reporters put an entirely different view on the matter." present, (one from the San Antonio Ex- The full text, Brown said, was: "If necessary, ALSONETT HOTELS/MOTELS press, the other the Observer,) Elro Brown I'm gonna scream and holler and lie and cheat until we get this town organized. For these are 9-East Huron Street of the oilworkers asked Zonarich what had the tactics being used by the cheap wage em- Chicago, Illinois happened to an idea that the initial union ployers of San Antonio and South Texas to Tele: (312) SU 7.3933 deprive the workers of their fair share of pro- dues for the unorganized poor be very low. ductivity. Make no mistake, this will be a hard Zonarich said that couldn't be settled for and arduous task—and expensive. We must all the internationals at once; that each fight fire with fire. It can and must be done by the AFL-CIO." would have to make its own decisions on it. This led to informed speculation later that January 21, 1966 9 Valley. I wonder why only ten interna- up and applauded with passion ; were they Texas beginning March 1, and Lester Gra- tionals are aimed at—why not twenty? If younger they'd have cheered. ham will head the San Antonio drive. And this thing has to be done—why not twen- One of them turned to a reporter and this time the additional words from Brown ty?" Send organizers, some of whom could said, "Those are words, too." —that "Far too long, we have talked of or- and would speak some Spanish, he pleaded. But since then, the words have begun ganizing South Texas. The time for action He wanted to see, the priest concluded, to become action. The IUD has begun inter- is at hand. Labor must meet its responsi- "if all these hi-falutin' words here will be viewing in the lower Valley for the hiring bility and raise the standards of one-half turned into actions." Something in his man- of ten organizers from among Valley peo- ner—insulting, furious, heedless, and slight- ple, Evans told the Observer. Hank Brown million poverty stricken workers in Texas" ly profane—got to these salaried bureau- has announced that Steve Williams will di- —had the quieter sound that words have crats of the working men, and they stood rect expanded IUD operations in South sometimes. R.D.

From the AFL-CIO The Legislators' Report Cards

Austin of the 180 voting legislators, or 46%. pends, for each reader, on his or her at- Rural east and west Texas and—for a titudes on the 20 test votes labor selected surprise — Central Texas are represented U SING AS A STANDARD the and on the ways labor thought legislators by the most conservative Texas legislators, number of legislators from an area who should vote. Eight of the 20 test votes con- while Houston and the Gulf Coast, along voted right or wrong two-thirds of the time cerned wages, job safety, and other sub- with South Texas, are sending the most or more by labor's evaluations, here is how jects of particular concern to workers. liberal legislators to Austin, an Observer the various geographical areas of Texas Here are the ways legislators had to vote analysis of organized labor's voting evalua- fared: to be classified right, issue by issue, on tion shows. East Texas, 20 voting wrong two-thirds labor's evaluation of the 1965 legislature: By labor's standards, only one out of five of the time or more, four voting right two- For giving women equal legal status with Texas legislators voted "right" two-thirds thirds of the time or more; North Texas, men, repealing the poll tax, limiting in- of the time or more in 1965, while nearly 10 wrong, 3 right; South Texas, 13 right, stallment loan charges to 10% annually, half of them voted "wrong" two-thirds of 8 wrong; West Texas, 29 wrong, 2 right; lowering the now-legal charges on small the time or more. Houston-Gulf Coast, 13 right, 2 wrong; loans, prohibiting the importation of pro- Just two senators turned up "right" Central Texas, a traditionally brass-collar fessional strikebreakers across the state three-fourths of the time or more, Franklin Democratic area, 16 wrong, 2 right. line, letting newly unionized city transit Spears of San Antonio, a candidate for at- Here, in light of pending political possi- workers retain their bargaining rights, re- torney general this year, and A. R. (Babe) bilities this year, are some engrossing quiring certain vehicles to stop at railroad Schwartz of Galveston. Spears had a 7- voting evaluations, according to the values grade crossings on farm-to-market roads, right, 1-wrong record, Schwartz 10-2. Sens. of organized labor in Texas: allowing cities of more than 10,000 to with- Abraham Kazen, Laredo, a candidate for Sen. Martin Dies, Lufkin, a likely candi- hold union dues from employees, and ex- Congress this year, and Roy Harrington, date for Congress, right 5 times, wrong 7. empting the aged from half of local proper- Port Arthur, both rated 8-4 right with Rep. Bill Hollowell, Grand Saline, a pos- ty taxes on the first $3,000 of their home- labor. Eleven senators were wrong at least sible gubernatorial candidate, right, 10-8. steads; two-thirds of the time, labor said—notably Rep. Reed Quilliam, Lubbock, another pos- Against the congressional redistricting including Galloway Calhoun of Tyler, also sible entry . for governor, wrong, 9-8. bill that passed, four-year terms for gov- an attorney general candidate, who had 9 Rep. Paul Haring, Goliad, a candidate for ernors and other statewide officials, a 39- wrong, 3 right. the Railroad Commission, right, 14-2. member Senate, allowing longer trucks and Three state representatives (and no sena- Senators paired off against each other by the combination of trailers on the high- tors) voted perfectly by labor's selected redistricting, Neveille Colson, Navasota, ways, letting banks and savings and loan voting tests—John Alaniz of San Antonio, wrong, 7-4, and Bill Moore, Bryan, half and associations get 17.5% interest instead of a candidate for Bexar County commission- half, 5-5; Culp Krueger, El Campo, wrong the present 10% limit, authorizing cities er, J. Ed .Harris of Galveston, and Ronald 6-5, and William (Bill) Patman, Ganado, to levy city sales taxes, making the draw- Roberts, formerly of Hillsboro, all 18-0. half and half, 6-6; Dorsey Hardeman, San ing of unemployment compensation more Only one senator, and no representatives, Angelo, wrong 9-2, and Pete Snelson, Mid- difficult, memorializing Congress to retain got a goose-egg in the "right" column- land, wrong 7-4; Jack Hightower, Vernon, 14-B of Taft-Hartley, commending Gov. Sen. H. J. (Doc) Blanchard of Lubbock, wrong 8-3, and Andy Rogers, Childress, John Connally for opposing a required who had an 11 wrong, 0 right record. half and half, 6-6; Louis Crump, San Saba, $1.25 an hour wage rate in the Neighbor- The labor evaluation did not total up the wrong 8-3, and J. P. Word, Meridian, wrong hood Youth Corps, and record for each of the 180 voting legisla- 10-2. For permanent registration of voters, as tors—that was left to the reader to do. Rep. Wayne Connally, Floresville, the against the annual registration system; for The Observer figures that the chart shows governor's brother and announced candi- the labor-backed job safety bill, and against two senators and 20 representatives voting date for the State Senate, wrong, 11-2. the Texas Manufacturers' Assn. substitute right three-fourths or more, another two Rep. Bob Eckhardt, possible candidate that barely passed the House, then died. senators and 13 representatives right be- for Congress in Houston, right 14-4. Texas labor's purpose in evaluating tween two-thirds and three-fourths of the The legislature's only Republican, Frank Texas legislators as right or wrong is, of time, for an overall of 37, or 21% of the Cahoon of Midland, had a moderately con- course, to help the ones it thinks right, legislature. servative voting record, 11 wrong, 7 right, to beat the ones it thinks wrong. The labor said. U.S. Senator Ralph Yarbor- AFL-CIO's evaluation of the 1965 legis- Seven senators and 50 representatives lators said: were wrong, labor said, three-fourths or ough's new administrative assistant, former more; another four senators and 21 rep- Rep. Dick Cherry of Waco, voted right 16 "Generally, the action of the 1965 Tex- resentatives were wrong between two- times, wrong only twice, on labor's scoring. as legislature was self-serving for the thirds and three-fourths of the time, for an Sen. Ralph Hall of Rockwall, in the late politicians who dominate the present overall wrong, two-thirds or more, of 83 House Speaker Sam Rayburn's district, government of this state. The voters dis- voted wrong, 8-2, labor said. posed of three of the self-serving pro- 10 The Texas Observer The meaning of these evaluations de- ducts of the Texas legislature in the 3-8; Andy Rogers, Childress, 6 -6; Bill Clayton, mont, 11-6; A. R. Schwartz, Galveston, 10-2; J. constitutional amendment election of Springlake, 2-13; Maurice Doke, Wichita Falls, Ed Harris, Galveston, 18-0; Neil Caldwell, Alvin, 1965. Perhaps many of the `wrong'- 1-12; W. S. (Bill) Heatly, Paducah, 2-11; Vernon 13-5; Josh Gates, Richmond, 7-9; Dean Nugent, Wichita Falls, 6-8; Ralph Wayne, Texas City, 7-11. voting legislators will be disposed of in Stewart, • Plainview, 1-16; Grady Hazlewood, Amarillo, 1966." 3-8; A. C. Hallmark, Dalhart, 3-14; Grainger Here, area by area, with the "right?' vote Mcllhany, Wheeler, 10-8; Walter Knapp, Ama- Central Texas total given first, the "wrong," second, and rillo, 1-14; Hudson Moyer, Amarillo, 3-11; J. M. "Red" Simpson, Amarillo, 2-15; Fritz Thomp- AUSTIN: 'Charles F. Herring, 6-6; Bob Arm- with the senators' names and records in son, Borger, 2-15. strong, 6-12; Pat Cain, 3-15; Don Cavness, 3-15; black type, are labor's evaluations of the Wilson Foreman, 8-9. Gene Fondren, Taylor, 4-14; Henry Fletcher, 1965 legislature by area : Luling, 7-10; Murray Watson, Mart, 5-6; Dick Houston-Gulf Coast Cherry, Waco, 16-2; George Cowden, Waco, HOUSTON: Criss Cole, 7-4; Tom Bass, 11-7; 5-12; Jack Woods, Waco, 5-13; Jack Hawkins, Chet Brooks, 12-6; F. Lee Duggan Jr., 8-10; Groesbeck, 6-11; Glenn Johnson, Temple, 4-14; East Texas Bob Eckhardt, 14-4; Paul Floyd, 8-10; Don Charles A. Wheeler, Jr., Temple, 6-11; Milton A. M. Atkin, Paris, 4-8; Bob Bass, DeKalb, Garrison, 8-10; Henry Grover, 8-10; John Ray Schiller, Cameron, 4-14; 9-8; E. M. Edwards, Pattonville, 3-15; Nelson Harrison, 13-5; J. E. (Jake) Johnson, 13-5; W. Louis Crump, San Saba, 3-8; J. P. Word, Cowles, Hallsville, 3-14; James L. Slider, Naples, H. Miller, 6-12; Willis J. Whatley, 5-12; Charles Meridian, 2-10; Tom Holmes, Granbury, 4-14; 3-14; Neal Solomon, Mt. Vernon, 2-15; Jack Whitfield, 10-5. Travis V. McClinton, Oglesby, 3-14; James Strong, Longview, 7-4; Galloway Calhoun, Jr., D. Roy Harrington, Port Arthur, 8-4; Carl Nugent, Kerrville, 3-13; Ronald Roberts, Hills- Tyler, 3-9; John Allen, Longview, 5-12; George Parker, Port Arthur, 12-4; J. D. Weldon, Port boro, 18-0; W. T. (Bill) Satterwhite, Ennis, Hinson, Mineola, 8-9; Bill Hollowell, Grand Arthur, 10-2; Clyde Haynes, Vidor, 15-2; Rufus 2-16; Terry Townsend, Brady, 2-14; J. E. Ward, Saline, 10-8; Guy •McDonald, Henderson, 5-12; Kilpatrick, Beaumont, 12-6; Will Smith, Beau- Glen Rose, 5-13. R.D. John Mobley, Kilgore, 2-15; Billy Williamson, Tyler, 3-15; Martin Dies, Lufkin, 5-7; Steve Burgess, Nacogdoches, 3-15; Emmett Lack, Kountze, 15- 2; J. E. Miller, Jr., Burkeville, 12-4; Rayford Price, Frankston, 5-13; Neveille Colson, Nava- sota, 4-7; William Moore, Bryan, 5-5; David Crews, Conroe, 3-12; David Haines, Bryan, 5-12; Cameron Hightower, Liberty, 10-7; Charles Jungmichael, La Grange, 3-15; George Rich- ards, Huntsville, 3-14; Charles Wilson, Trinity, 12-4; Ralph Hall, Rockwall, 2-8; Vernon Beck- ham, Denison, 7-9; James Cole, Greenville, 6-12; W. T. Dungan, McKinney, 4-13; Don Hefton, Sherman, 3-15; Alonzo Jamison, Denton, 9-8; Jim Markgraf, Scurry, 13-5. Texas Politics in a Stew

North Texas V Don Yarborough of Houston is think- She got 11,000 votes for governor in 1964, DALLAS: George Parkhouse, 2-10; Ben At- ing about running for governor a third and "This time I'm going to win," AP well, 5-13; Cooper Blankenship, 8-8; John Field, quoted her. 7-10; David Ivy, 8-10; Ben Lewis, 11-7; Dick Mc- time. Kissack, 4-13; James Stroud, 12-5; Jim Wade, V A poll labor has taken shows that 4-9; John Wright, 4-10; among people most likely to vote in The U.S. Senate Seat FORT WORTH: Don Kennard, 6-6; Dave Atty. Gen. Waggoner Carr, delighted Finney, 12-5; Howard Green, 15-2; Jack Mc- the Democratic primary this spring, Don Laughlin, 7-7; George "Skeet" Richardson, 14-3; Yarborough has a 43% favorable image, that Cong. Jim Wright, Fort Worth, Joe Shannon, Jr., 6-12; Tommy Shannon, 8-9; won't oppose him for the U.S. Senate, (see W. C. Sherman, 5-9. and 71% are aware of him. For Jim Tom Creighton, Mineral Wells, 2-10; Jack Wright, the image is 40% favorable, and related item,) referred to Wright as "Jim" Crain, Nocona, 1-13; Wayne Gibbens, Brecken- 59% know of him. Thus Don Yarborough and "a very effective congressman" whose ridge, 1-15. was shown as better off with Democratic decision strengthened the Texas Democrats. votes than Wright. Gov. John Connally V Roy Evans, Texas AFL-CIO secretary- South Texas had, among these likely voters in the Demo- treasurer, said "the Connally estab- SAN ANTONIO: Franklin Spears, 7-1; John cratic primary, a 91% favorable rating and Alaniz, 18-0; Joe Bernal, 16-2; V. E. (Red) January 21, 1966 Berry, 12-4; Jake Johnson, 14-4; Glenn. Koth- 100% awareness—formidable, indeed. One mann, 15-3; Tom Lee, 17-1; R. L. Vale, 17-1; analyst of this poll has concluded that CORPUS CHRISTI: Bruce Reagan, 5-7; Tony Don Yarborough could defeat Lt. Gov. Bonilla, 11-7; DeWitt Hale, 13-5; James Klager, 6-11; Travis Peeler, 13-5; Preston Smith, who has a 45% favorable FUN TO READ! Culp Krueger, El Campo, 5-6; William (Bill) rating and is known by 64%. Patman, Ganado, 6-6; Walter Richter, Gonzales, (resigned,) 5-6; Otha Birkner, Van Vleck, 7-11; V Smith, hoping to slide quietly past Feb. The IDLER is a lively, individual- Dick Cory, Victoria, 5-13; Lloyd Guffey, El 7 without an opponent, still answered a istic liberal monthly that entertains Campo, 11-7; Gus Mutscher, Brenham, 3-11; few questions put to him by the Jackson- as it informs. Warm humor and cold J. T. Newman, Cuero, 3-15; John Traeger, Seguin, 2-14; Leroy Wieting, Portland, 7-9; ville Daily Progress: On the defeat of a facts mixed into a pleasant, personal Bill Rapp, Raymondville, 8-8; Abraham 39-member Senate, Smith said, "I don't and personable journalistic pot. Hazbn, Laredo, 8-4; Amando Canales, San think the people knew what they were vot- Diego, 8-7; Wayne Connally, Floresville, 2-11; Send $3.00 today for a year's sub- Paul Haring, Goliad, 14-2; Honore Ligarde, 7- ing on," as 55 rural counties voted against 10; Jim Bates, Edinburg, 5-6; A. C. Atwood, scription. Money back if not satisfied. Edinburg, 1-16; Raul Longoria, Pharr, 10-7; the proposition. On four-year terms for Felix McDonold, Edinburg, 3-12; Gregory Mon- statewide officials, he favored it, but Discover THE IDLER and you will toya, Elsa, 11-4; J. Menton Murray, Harlingen, thought the number of terms should be have made a new friend. 5-9; Maurice Pipkin, Brownsville, 5-11. limited. On the war on poverty, "There is a lot of the poverty program that I've never West Texas particularly subscribed to." THE IDLER EL PASO: John E. Blaine, 4-13; Maud V Rep. Bill Hollowell, Grand Saline, will Isaacks (retiring,) 11-4; Dudley R. Mann, Jr., hold a press conference Jan. 28 at 125 Fifth St., N.E. 5-9; Raul Muniz, 10-4; Ralph Scoggins, 3-12; which he might announce for governor or Washington 2, D.C. David Ratliff, Stamford, 1-10; Roy Arledge, Stamford, 16-2; Raleigh Brown, Abilene, 1-17; for some other office. To the Dallas News Temple Dickson, Sweetwater, 5-13; Grant Jones, Hollowell said he is conservative "except 'Please send me a one year's subscrip- Abilene, 3-13; Renal Rosson, Snyder, 5-12; Dorsey Hardeman, San Angelo, 2-9; Pete Snel- in affairs affecting the indigent elderly tion to THE IDLER. Enclosed is $3.00. son, Midland, 4-7; Frank Cahoon, Midland, 7-11; people." Forrest Harding, San Angelo, 3-12; Gene Hendryx, Alpine, 5-13; D. C. Howard, Uvalde, V Stanley Woods, the anti-majors inde- Name 4-14; Ace Pickens, Odessa, 5-13; Richard Slack, pendent oilman in Houston, is talking Pecos, 5-11; Roger Thurmond, Del Rio, 4-14; about opposing Connally. Thrice-married, Address H. J. Doc Blanchard, Lubbock, 0-11; Jesse T. George, Brownfield, 7-11; Delwin Jones, Lub- Bible-packing Grandmother Johnnie Mae bock, 3-14; Bill Parsley, Lubbock, 5-13; R. G. Hackworthe of Brenham isn't just talking, Zip Randy Pendleton, Andrews, 4-14; Reed Quil- liam, Lubbock, 8-9; Jack Hightower, Vernon, she's filed and paid her $1,000 filing fee. lishment . . . put pressure on Jim to stay "intervention in behalf of Wright would though that job's salary was raised when out of the race. Jim could have financed a sever his last ties with the Connally camp, he was in the legislature, because his term Senate campaign and he had the ability while failing to win over the liberals," the expires election day this year, not swear- to win, but it appears that the Connally President is limited to being a spectator. ing-in day, Jan. 1, 1967. The state Consti- crowd wants to have an unopposed ticket V Roy Evans of labor suggested that if tution s p e cif i e s that representatives' in the Democratic primary." Evans said he Sen. Franklin Spears, San Antonio, is terms end on election day, but is silent on thinks, faced with a Tower-Carr choice, knocked out of the attorney general's race, when senators' terms end. Calhoun argues most union men would scratch both. he might run for the U.S. Senate. Spears this was an oversight. V Albert Pena, Bexar county commis- said he isn't interested in the U.S. Senate V Mike Quinn of the Washington bureau sioner and PASO leader, said Hank race (but of course he might have to main- of the Dallas News says information Brown, the state labor president, should tain this position as long as he was a can- is being sought about presidential press run. Brown said he's made no decision. "I didate for attorney general in any case). secretary Bill Moyers' running for governor have said I may someday take a fling at Roy Evans said Don Yarborough, too, of Texas in 1968. Quinn's story intimates politics," he allowed, but "If some other might run for the U.S. Senate. that Moyers might run for the Senate this good person should announce I would not V By the time this Observer is delivered, time but for Carr's candidacy, the crossing consider it." He would "as soon have Sen. Sens. Spears and Galloway Calhoun, of which would run counter to Connally's John Tower as a Democrat who votes like Jr., of Tyler will have had their hearings wishes. Last week Moyers denied plans to Tower. At least Tower is honest. I am sick on their lawsuits to force State Democratic quit as press secretary. and tired of politicians who say they are Chairman Will Davis to accept their filing poor Land Cmsr. Jerry Sadler and Agricul- Democrats and then go to Washington and fees as candidates for attorney general. ture Cmsr. John White announced for gut the President's program," Brown add- In light of a constitutional provision against new terms. So did Jesse James. ed. Evans said the chances of Brown run- a legislator running for an office that was V Rep. Paul Haring's repeated assaults ning are "very remote," although he'd be created or expanded during the legislator's on Railroad Cmsr. Byron Tunnell's ac- a good candidate and senator. term of office, the question is whether the ceptance of a gift Cadillac are receiving V National columnists Evans and Novak two senators' terms end election day or what cannot be described other than as said the President is grieving over the swearing-in day. If the latter, they might terrific play in local papers, considering U.S. Senate situation in Texas, but since be held ineligible. . . . The Fourth Court the severe underdog Haring is. Tunnell's of Civil Appeals ruled that Rep. Glenn _ well-oiled backers doubtless have perceived 12 The Texas Observer Kothmann can run for district clerk, even this fact and will get to work soon.'Haring's charges have been so harsh, some papers have hesitated to run them in full. go0 Tunnell will give a luncheon address, and Gov. Connally will give the prin- cipal evening address, in Midland March 15 at what the San Angelo Standard-Times AMERICAN INCOME calls "an Appreciation Day" for major oil companies. ("Appreciation Day Slated for Big Oil Companies," the paper's headline said.) Tom Sealy, statewide co-chairman LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY of the committee that lobbied through the Texas retail sales tax, is chairman of the Midland citizens' committee planning the event. Honored guests will include board OF INDIANA chairman and presidents of major oil com- panies and other top officials of the in- dustry. . . . Tunnell spoke before the West Texas chamber of commerce in El Paso last week about the situation in the oil in- Underwriters of the American Income Labor dustry. Pool to Get Free Ride? Disability Policy V Cong.-at-large Joe Pool has announced for Congress from the western district of Dallas, and prospective liberal opposi- tion to him has evaporated. Asst. U.S. Atty. Barefoot Sanders reportedly has de- cided against running, and ex-city council- Executive Offices: woman Elizabeth Blessing has announced she will not run. The likelihood of any other Democrat of moderate or liberal kind filing against Pool is not considered strong, indicating a showdown among conserva- P.O.Box 208 tives in November as between Pool and Re- publican Jim Collins, an insurance man... . Pool told the Dallas Jaycees he will intro- duce a bill to make it a criminal offense Waco, Texas to lie down in front of troop trains, burn draft cards, or send blood to the Viet Cong. V Over on the eastern side of Dallas Bernard Rapoport, President Cong. Earle Cabell has announced for another term; actress Greer Garson de- clined the GOP's offer to try booking her for a two-year run in the U.S. House. . . . Cong. Graham Purcell, Wichita Falls, whose new district runs into Dallas, apparently will not be opposed by telephone lawyer Ed Gossett. fro In Houston, Cong. Albert Thomas, Jim Wright of the eastern district, is reported in and out of the hospital, his illness very serious; he missed many crucial votes in the 1965 Congress. He may or `THINK ABOUT IT' may not run again ; reports are numer- ous that Mrs. Thomas may become his Fort Worth Senate seat has been telling his financial successor in Congress. Rep. Bob Eck- Cong. Jim Wright's decision not to run backers that he is raising a political cam- hardt, who will seek Thomas' seat if a for the U.S. Senate on grounds that he had paign fund of $1,300,000." (The only an- vacancy develops, would not be de- not been able to raise enough money—he nounced candidate, Waggoner Carr, said he terred by Mrs. Thomas' candidacy. Cty. said more than half a milion dollars would wasn't.) ". . . the practice . . . has grown Cmsr. V. V. Ramsey, another possible be required for the race--suggests a re- to be a thoroughly cynical thing .. . candidate if a vacancy developed, has reading of his December telecast in which "Think about it: a million dollars!" said he would not run against Mrs. he explained the framework of his problem. Wright continued. "That money hasn't been Thomas. "It takes a truly enormous amount of coming at the rate of $10 apiece from each toof Republican George Bush has announced money to run for senator in Texas," he said, of 100,000 average Texans . . . It doesn't for Congress from the west side of and this puts a premium "not so much on even characteristically come in denomina- Harris County; he might have to fight for understanding or ability as on money. It tions of $100 from each of 10,000 Texans. the GOP nomination with Ross Baker, once can just almost be said that high elective The great bulk of a typical successful state- a legislative candidate. For the Democratic office is up for sale . to the highest bidder wide campaign fund is made up of individ- nomination in this district, three contend- in the larger and more populous states of ual donations from $1,000 to $10,000—from ers appear: Frank Briscoe, who has re- our union .. . a very limited number of people. That's signed as district attorney and is the Tory "Just one first class letter to every fam- the truth of the matter .. . Democrats' choice; David VanOrsdale, a ily in Texas would cost—in production and "Across this broad land of ours, candi- senior budget accountant for Jefferson postage—approximately $300,000 . . . One dates for high elective office are discover- Chemical and a conservative Democrat ing that the first thing they must do is .. . whose platform includes "a gold moratori- to talk privately with certain people about um law"; and John Wildenthal, former city why their election would best serve the attorney whose support of Sen. Ralph Yar- narrow economy interests of those particu- borough in past campaigns has interested lar people . . . [T]he base of the real power liberal Democrats. structure which pays the piper and calls frof Briscoe was honoree at a $10 dinner the tune is entirely too narrow for a really attended by 760 persons. He was given healthy democracy . . . I will never be your a new station wagon ; the man making the senator if it means soliciting or accepting presentation said this vehicle was being campaign donations from the vested inter- ests or pressure groups which expect there- given to Briscoe by "2,000 or so friends." by to purchase a prior claim upon the sena- loor From different sources the Observer tor for preferential services." received reports of "a deal" between Wright asked 25,000 people to send him Sen. Chick Kazen, Laredo, and Gov. John $10. On Jan. 8, he said he would not run Connally. Kazen would run for Congress in for the Senate. Response had been good, he the new South Texas district; Rep. Wayne said, but not good enough. Slightly fewer Connally, Floresville, would not run for than 7,000 people had responded, contribut- this job, but would run for a State \Senate ing or pledging $48,828.50 (slightly less seat. In return for deferring to Kazen, than $7 per person). Half the money came Wayne would get the support of the Old from his home area, north and central Tex- Party in Laredo for the Senate. Kazen has as, he said; he heard nothing from 87 coun- announced for Congress; Wayne Connally ties. To run, to get enough of a hearing, for the State Senate. (Rep. Honore Ligarde, he said, he would have to beg the public Laredo, a possible for the same State Sen- for money in successive telecasts or "meet ate seat, is president of a newly-chartered privately with affluent individuals and or- bank and has therefore announced for re- ganized groups," and he would not do election to the House.) Ted Butler, former either; he would not run, and he was re- Karnes County judge, a moderate liberal, of the great big billboards—just one in one turning the $48,828.50 to those who sent and now a U.S. attorney out of the San of our big Texas cities—with no more than it. Antonio office, has been giving serious a touched-up picture and a slick slogan— At the recent Texas Republican Execu- thought to running for Congress against costs $550 a month . . . [T]his broadcast tive Committee meeting in Austin, Albert Kazen. A San Antonio Democrat, van lines Fay, member of the national GOP commit- operator Randolph Sherwood, who tried tonight is costing me a little over $10,000— and it's being carried on just 18 of our tee for Texas, said Tower's re-election cam- to unseat Cty. Cmsr. Albert Pena but state's 50 stations. Maybe one-tenth of the paign would entail "vast sums of money." didn't make the runoff, has also filed for people of Texas are listening. In a closed-door session, Jon Ford reported the new South Texas congressional seat, "But do you know what the most expen- in the San Antonio Express, the GOP lead- proclaiming, "I'm prepared to spend a fan- sive thing in television is? It's that little ers budgeted over $600,000 for it. tastic amount of money. Kazen will earn 20-second commercial spot that sneaks up every vote he gets." Pena has been urged to In his state of the union address, the on you before you have a chance to turn President said he would submit legislation run, too. Labor leans toward Kazen as of it off . . . If I were to undertake to buy this now. "to revise the present unrealistic restric- same amount of time that we've been talk- tions on contributions," (a phrase he did goof Announcing in full-page ads that he'll ing tonight [half an hour—Ed.] . . . but oppose Cong. John Dowdy, Athens, not amplify,) to bring committees within buy it instead in 20-second spots; instead the law and levy severe penalties for fail- (who has announced for re-election,) State of costing me $10,000, it would cost me ap- ure to report contributions, and to give tax Sen. Martin Dies, Jr., Lufkin, referred four proximately $400,000 for the same total incentives to stimulate small contributions. times to his father's service in the Con- amount of time. Think of that the next Wright in effect said—good. ❑ gress; said, "My [legal] practice consists time you see a quicky political spot .. . (Continued on Next Page) "One announced candidate for this U.S. January 21, 1966 13 of representing the rank and file of our Harris may oppose Houston in the GOP is running again from Corpus Christi. people, and I am not on anyone's payroll"; primary. A retired Shell Chemical plant vor Rep. Terry Townsend of Brady, who argued that after 14 nears in Congress, manager, Glenn Purcell, also Republican, had a 14-2 "wrong" voting record on Dowdy isn't owed anything by the people, is seeking a Senate seat in Dallas. Oscar labor's chart last session and who sponsored since "No one deserves any credit for doing Mauzy, attorney in Mullinax, Wells, Morris, the trucking industry's most-desired (and his duty"; and said, "As your congressman, and Mauzy, announced as expected against obtained) legislation authorizing an in- I shall devote myself to the solution of na- Rep. David Ivy, conservative, for another crease of the length of trucks on Texas tional problems such as inflation, deficit Dallas Senate seat. highways from 50 to 65 feet and the use financing, unbalanced budgets, depreciating Ex-Rep. Clyde Miller may jump into of double-bottom three-unit truck and currency, unemployment and lack of job op- the Senate primary between Barbara trailer combinations, has been hired by portunities for all of our people willing and Jordan, Negro, and Rep. Charles Whitfield the Texas Motor Transportation Assn. as able to work, and an end to continuing wars in the 4O9 Negro Senate district in Hous- a lobbyist. He will not resign the legisla- which decimate our youth and exhaust our ton. Rep. Don Garrison is running for the ture; his legislative pay ($400 a month) natural resources." Senate from another Houston district runs out Jan. 1, 1967, at which time he is Dies told the Dallas News he guesses he's (Rep. W. C. Miller is expected to oppose scheduled to replace James Taylor,. the "an independent moderate." Archer Fullin- him.) chief honcho for the truckers lobby in Aus- gim of the Kountze News, who is usually g/ Labor's efforts to cajole ex-Rep. Mal- tin now. for liberals, announced he's against Dies colm McGregor, El Paso, who lost a Dallas News quoted Taylor at a luncheon even if this means being for ultraconserva- congressional bid, to run for the new Senate at which Townsend's appointment was an- tive Dowdy because Dies has never done seat from El Paso had met with failure as nounced, "He has been pretty close to our anything for Hardin County, in which of our last report. industry ever since he came to the legisla- Kountze is. goof Senators Watson, Herring, Ratliff, and ture. He was a member of both the high- Crump have announced for re-election. ways and roads committee and the motor Legislative Developments . . . Rep. Joe Bernal, running for a San An- traffic committee and became chairman of both committees." I/ Ex-Rep. Horace Houston, a Republican, tonio Senate seat, had a $10 appreciation Townsend and Rep. Jim Nugent, Kerr- announced for the State Senate in the dinner. ville, were put in the same district by the district represented by tory Democrat g/ Curtis M. Graves, a savings and loan Barnes redistricting team. In his statement George Parkhouse in Dallas. Ex-Rep. Eke company official and Negro, is running or the House of Representatives from in the San Angelo Standard-Times that 14 The Texas Observer Houston's eighth congressional district. In Nugent will continue to represent the area's Dallas, Frank Clarke, the Negro football interests, Townsend said, "The opportunity player advanced by tory•Democrats as their to work with the Texas Motor Transporta- PROFESSORS Negro candidate, said he didn't know who tion Assn. is such that I could not, in good advanced him; he might run or might not. conscience, turn it down." Groups of students of ten or more The organization of Negro precinct chair- may subscribe to the Observer for $2 men in Dallas sharply rebuked the Demo- Caldwell Joins Labor each for the entire spring semester, cratic Party for the fact that they, the 1, Apologizing to the reporters from big provided we may deliver the papers Negro chairmen, had not even been asked dailies for the quality of the Federal to you in one packet. who would be good Negro candidates. "If Building coffee ("We don't want to feder- Send in your orders. we are qualified to turn out the votes for alize you. We ordered some from a hotel."), (Adv.) the party we should be capable of deciding the senior senator said no, he wouldn't run on our choice of candidates," they said in a against Connally, knew of no Democrat statement. They indicated they favor at- who would and, in any case, would not torney Louis A. Bedford, a Negro, running leave Washington this year to campaign for for office. anyone. What about his own plans for go/ Dave Allred, son of the late Gov. James 1968? "I don't worry about three years #ripit z ' Allred, is running for the legislature off," Ralph Yarborough told the cameras. Since 1866 from Wichita County. He's a reporter, 32. "Texas may break out of the shell . . ." He . . . Rep. Howard Green, Fort Worth, is talked about the Republicans on the State The Place in Austin running for county judge. Ex-Rep. Don Democratic Executive Committee and sug- Gladden will seek Green's seat. . . . Charles gested that a Democratic Democratic GOOD FOOD Scoggins, ex-representative and Republican, Executive Committee is an achievable hope if precinct-level politicking starts now. His GOOD BEER prepared statement was a catalogue of E U R O P E grievances against the governor, ranging An unregimented trip stressing individual from Connally's poverty vetoes to his 1607 San Jacinto freedom. Low cost yet covers all the usual GR 7-4171 plus places other tours miss. Unless the record in education. "A presidential com- standard tour is a "must" for you, discover mission has recommended 14 years of free this unique tour before you go to Europe. education—through the junior college level. EUROPE SUMMER TOURS Why, last year we had a governor's -com- 255 Sequoia, Dept. J—Pasadena, California mission here recommending that we double the tuition." The senator said education Largest Manufacturer MEETINGS of Political Printing MARTIN ELFANT THE THURSDAY CLUB of Dallas meets each Sun Life of Canada Thursday noon for lunch (cafeteria style) at in Texas the Downtown YMCA, 605 No. Ervay St., Dallas. Good discussion. You're welcome. In- 1001 Century Building formal, no dues. FUTURA PRESS INC The TRAVIS COUNTY LIBERAL DEMO- Houston, Texas CRATS meet at Scholz' Garten at 8 p.m. on the first Thursday. You're invited. Hickory 2-8682 -a- Hickory 2-2426 ITEMS for this feature cost, for the first entry, 1714 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE CA 4-0686 7c a word, and for each subsequent entry, 5c a word. We must receive them one week before P. 0. BOX 3485 • AUSTIN, TEXAS the date of the issue in which they are to be I published. would be on his mind again this year- sion; Connally just named the 15 studyers specifically, the Cold War GI Bill, which Observer to Cost $6 this month. The panel includes a higher he predicted will pass. Other concerns: proportion of educator types than his high- Guadalupe Mountain National Park and the Austin er education study committee did. Big Thicket preserve. The senator produced The Observer subscription price is 100 Atty. Gen. Carr is relieved of an a letter to Federal Communications Com- increased from $5 to $6 a year, effec- unpleasant political burden : State mission chairman William Henry, pledging tive Jan. 21. Banking Cmsr. J. M. Falkner tells the aid in securing funds for the commission's Mrs. R. D. Randolph of Houston and Observer he has withdrawn his request investigation of AT&T long-distance rates. Ronnie Dugger, partners in Texas Ob- for a decision on whether state banks The note mentioned a 1963 session of the server, Ltd., which publishes the Ob- can constitutionally charge the highest Senate Commerce Committee in which server, said the increase was designed legal interest rate permitted any Texas Yarborough needled Newton Minow for to stem the Observer's small but per- lender. Falkner says if any Texas "passive exercise of the FCC regulatory sistent annual losses since the paper's bank tries it, he, Falkner, will just duty over AT&T." The last general ex- income began approximating its costs take it to court. Asked if Carr had amination of the company's rates was in in 1962, and to make possible the ex- wanted the request for the opinion 1938, the senator said. The reporters with- pansion of the editorial staff this withdrawn, Falkner chuckled and said, held the Vietnam questions until the coffee month. They express the hope that all "I really didn't dig into that." came and did not write down the answers. the Observer's subscribers will stay por Texas Farmers Union has chartered In an hour, the cameras and people were with it at $6 a year. three new chapters in Hill, Williamson, gone and Yarborough was ready to drive and Travis counties. . . . PASO state chair- back to Washington. man Albert Fuentes, Jr., reports the form- i•or Responding in Washington to the sistant and has assigned him to Washing- ing of a new PASO chapter in the gover- President's state of the union ad- ton (at $14,400); thus the Senate doesn't nor's home town, Floresville. . . . The dress, Yarborough was quoted by the have to approve him. Gibbens, thus ap- Edinburg Daily Review says it would sup- Corpus Caller-Times Washington bur- pointed, is a political appointee, and not port Carr over Tower. . . . Frank Duggan, eau, "I am glad that he will not stop vested with the ostensible authority of a Texas AFL-CIO's new research director, educating the youth of America in spokesman for the state designated by the resigned as secretary of St. John's College order to kill the youth of Asia." In governor and approved by the Senate. Alumni Assn. in protest of the New York the San Antonio Express, the "he" in Labor says Gibbens, in 1965, cast 15 City college's dismissal of 31 professors. this quote was "we." . . . Belden's "wrong" votes, 1 (one) "right" vote. 1,/ Travis County Liberal Democrats Texas Poll says 61% of Texans polled I, "The governor of Texas and the senior gathered at Scholz' on the eve of the think the Administration is doing the U.S. senator from Texas personally State Republican Executive Committee right thing in Vietnam, 18% think it's detest one another and will likely go to meeting to hear a talk from "a highly not doing right, 21% have no opin- their graves doing so"-these words were placed Texas Republican Party official ion.... Cong. 0. C. Fisher, San Angelo, penned by Jim Lehrer, Dallas Times- from Dallas." The notice said "meeting off put into the Congressional Record his Herald political writer. A bitter fight over the record." Former State Rep. Dick Mor- infuriated criticism of the three New Dallas Democratic chairmen expresses the gan had nothing surprising to say-a plea Lefters who went to Hanoi, calling distance, personal and political, between for Republican-liberal unity in reelecting them mentally sick, advocating their the two men. Loyalist Mike McKool is Tower, thus reinforcing the goal of a two- prosecution for their crime. running; he is a known Yarborough back- party system. . . Frank E. Cannon, ob- goor As though to strengthen him for his er. Connally man Bill Clark, the incum- jecting to "progressive regression" among forthcoming contest with Harris Coun- bent chairman, won't run, but is backing Houston Republicans, has filed for Harris ty Democratic Chairman Bill Kilgarlin, the Connally man Joe Rich. "We want to file a County GOP chairman against Jim Mayor, Texas delegation elected Cong. Bob Casey candidate [for precinct chairman] in every probably signaling a new round in the of Houston's south district delegation one of the county's 251 precincts who is right-vs.-conservative fight in that ring.... chairman. . . . Cong. Walter Rogers, Pam- known to be a supporter of the governor The Texas Constitution Party rallies pa, becomes No. 2 Democrat on interestate as opposed to Sen. Yarborough," Rich told Jan. 29 in Austin. . . . Dallas has an and foreign commerce. . . . Labor says the Lehrer. Connally, in Dallas to rally his election on fluoridation Jan. 29. To support Texans voted in agreement with the John- side for the coming convention fight, said fluoridation, voters will have to vote son Administration as follows: Gonzalez he's never felt people had to be against against the proposed ordinance, which 92%, Beckworth 83, Brooks 85, Burleson Yarborough to be for Connally. would illegalize fluoridation. 49, Cabell 57, Casey 53, de la Garza 71, Dowdy 36, Fisher 39, Mahon 72, Patman Belden says Connally is approved in January 21, 1966 15 69, Pickle 81, Poage 64, Pool 42, Purcell Texas, 73-12%, compared to Johnson's 63, Roberts 53, Rogers 43, Teague 46, approval in Texas of 67-25%. Belden says Thomas 38, Thompson 64, White 64, Wright Johnson's Great Society ideas have the ap- 76, Young 74. proval of Texas voters, 48-41%, with the Democrats approving, 68-20%. SUBSCRIBE Charles (Chuck) Caldwell, the savvy Yarborough staff assistant, has left fror The governor, if re-elected, will ask the senator to become U.S. labor's area the legislature for between $25 and OR RENEW $50 million for the purchase of new state director of COPE Area 2, covering Ohio, THE TEXAS OBSERVER Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West parks land, his office has announced. Parks Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Co- might thus be the governor's emphasis in 504 West 24th Street lumbia. A key worker in Yarborough's 1958 the 1967 legislature. The public school Austin 5, Texas and 1964 campaigns, Caldwell took leave study won't be ready for action that ses- to direct the campaign against the four- Enclosed is $6.00 for a one-year year term for governors in 1965 and was subscription to the Observer for: given much of the credit for that proposal's Texas Society rejection. Name to Abolish Connally's Man Gibbens Address vr Rep. Wayne Gibbens, Breckenridge, is Capital Punishment City, State not Texas' man in Washington, but P.O. Box 8134, Austin, Texas 78712 Governor Connally's. The legislature passed Li] This is a renewal. a law authorizing a Texas man up there, but Senate approval was required. Con- memberships, $2 up Ej This is a new subscription. nally made Gibbens an administrative as- Is the government of Texas becoming the private preserve of the big corpora- tions? That's the way it looks right now. The big money candidates for U.S senator, governor, and lieutenant governor—name- have questioned the strength of my prin- ly, Waggoner Carr, John Connally, and This Sub-Society ciples. I have questioned whether I could Preston Smith—have no opposition as of We do not publish anonymous letters, but remain silent and still maintain a semblance now in the Democratic primary. Jim we make an exception for this one, which of integrity, yet I remain silent. Wright, the Fort Worth congressman, arrived air mail postmarked "APO Army raised $50,000 to oppose Carr in one tele- & Air Force Postal Service."—Ed. None of your arguments has resolved vision broadcast, but decided that wasn't these questions in my mind for I am an enough and bugged out. The friend of the In your several editorials on Vietnam in enlisted man in the United States Army. I public who has announced for attorney the November 26th issue, you challenged have allowed myself the luxury of speaking general has been tied up by the refusal of all who have misgivings on American out in private, but even this is a dangerous Connally's state Democratic chairman to foreign policy in Vietnam to stand and be practice in this sub-society which tolerates let him file. If Sen. Franklin Spears, San heard; to confront the misguided patriot- no dissent. To speak out in public would be Antonio, is kept off the ballot by the ism of a hostile majority with pertinent quixotic and foolhardy if not suicidal, for Establishment on the slenderest techni- criticisms. Due to my remote location I it would bring almost certain personal cality, there it will be, for all the world have only very recently read your challenge, sanctions, a court martial, possibly im- to see—Texas government under the lock and thus my reply is somewhat belated. prisonment, and eventual dishonorable dis- and key of big money. The President's Irrespective of your enlightening argu- charge. The experience of ex-Pfc. Winstel state, as they say. The President wouldn't ments on this subject, I am still ambivalent R. Belton substantiates this prospect only help Wright, or he'd have run. Evidently as to what the role of the United States too clearly. Therefore, I return the chal- the President isn't encouraging Cong. should be in Vietnam. Nevertheless, I am lenge to you. How can a soldier, unwilling Jack Brooks, Beaumont, to run, either; ultimately quite opposed to our present though he may be, dissent when he is fore- otherwise would not Brooks run for the handling of this vital dilemma. On the sworn to defend his country and obey his Senate rather than oppose his old friend other hand, all uncertainty disappears in leaders without question? Cong. Clark Thompson of Galveston for regards to our ungrounded intervention in Unfortunately, I find it necessary to re- Congress or take some appointment some- the Dominican Republic. Yet, although I main anonymous until that glorious day where? The conclusion is rapidly approach- oppose our government's policy in one sense when my questionable honor is rewarded ing, ladies and gentlemen, that the Presi- or another in both Vietnam and the Do- by a so-called honorable discharge. dent is letting John Connally have Texas, minican Republic, I do not demonstrate. I A loyal reader and therefore, Waggoner Carr. Nevertheless, citizens, pay your poll tax. If you want a clue, one of the three U.S. judges who is hearing the lawsuit against the Texas poll tax, Adrian Spears, has paid his. If you want to vote in 1966 in A Communication whatever statewide races do materialize, in the vital local races in the redistricted situations, and on the abolition of the poll Dear Sir: plan for state government close to the tax and other constitutional amendments, The December 31 Observer contained people. Republican testimony was you must pay your poll tax. R.D. a timely article about the failure of given before the redistricting commit- Texas Negroes to achieve representa- tee in hearings during the last session, 16 The Texas Observer tion in the legislature and at other and Republican State Representative levels of government in our state, stat- Frank Cahoon of Midland voted for ing that the patronizing Democratic single-member district measures on Party has not given them due consid- three occasions. eration. After the Legislature failed to pass a fair plan, I joined a suit charging But the writer set forth a statement unconstitutionality of the bill due in about the Republican Party which is part to alleged discrimination against contrary to the record: "The really in- credible fact of political life is that the Negroes. At this writing the suit is still before a federal court in Houston. Republican Party is yet to awaken to its opportunities should it offer the In this vital area of representa- Texas Negro a meaningful alterna- tion, we believe we've offered a "mean- tive." ingful alternative" not only to Negroes but to all Texans who want fair rep- In practical political terms, the only resentation. way Negroes can attain fair represen- In other important areas, including tation in the Texas House of Represen- education and personal income, we're tatives is through single-member dis- trying to explain the advantages of a tricts in multi-seat counties. So long strong two-party system. The advan- as county-wide legislative elections tages constitute a "meaningful alter- prevail, Negro prospects are remote. native" for forward-looking state gov- The Texas Republican Party has ernment for all Texas citizens and we consistently supported single member would hope that more Negroes will districts. For instance, early in 1965 join Republican efforts in this cause. the State Republican Executive Com- Peter O'Donnell, Jr., Chairman, State mittee unanimously endorsed single- Republican Executive Committee of member districts as the most equitable Texas.