John Henry Faulk O Ronnie Dugger O Molly Ivins O C Handler Davidson O

THE TEXAS BSERVERL A Journal of Free Voices December 30, 1977 500

john henry faulk o ronnie dugger o molly ivins o c handler davidson o jim h ightower o ralph yarborou gh o Jan Jarboe on maur y maverick 0 ben sargen t o mary alice davis 0 year's end Vol. 69,

Austin Well, here's no. 25. Eleven months and 24 issues ago, we promised "a new start for an old magazine" and began The Texas inveighing in particular against the ugly (though often unno- ticed) shape of things on the corporate horizon. Not this time, OBSERVER though. We've chosen to downplay the storms, sorrows and ©The Texas Observer Publishing Co., 1977. seductions of the world for this issue, and to avert our gaze ever Ronnie Dugger, Publisher so slightly from the doings of the corporate right wing of Texas. At year's end, for the rash hell of it, we've asked several of the Vol. 69, No. 25 December 30, 1977 magazine's contributors to carry on as they see fit. Incorporating the State Observer and the East Texas Demo- Publisher Dugger, happily domiciled in his native San crat, which in turn incorporated the Austin Forum-Advocate. Antonio after an absence of some years, pretty much approves EDITOR Jim Hightower of what he sees and feels in the state's second largest city. The MANAGING EDITOR Lawrence Walsh first in his series of letters from San Antonio begins on page 4. ASSOCIATE EDITOR Laura Richardson Ben Sargent and Mary Alice Davis pay a '77 tribute to the EDITOR AT LARGE Ronnie Dugger nick and rack of human folly (Texas branch) on pages 6 and 7. "Rhyming out the old year" may do some violence to Mother ASSISTANT EDITORS: Colin Hunter, Linda Rocawich, Goose, but it's suitable for framing. Susan Reid STAFF ASSISTANTS: Vicki Vaughan, Margaret Watson, Bob Sin- Molly Ivins, back in the Observer for the second time since dermann, Kathy Tally, Debi Pomeroy, Teresa Acosta, Eric Hartman, leaving Austin in search of a wider audience as a New York Tim Mahoney, Cathy Stevens, Debbie Wormser, Margot Beutler, Times reporter, writes from Denver to explain "Why Leah Miller, Connie Larson Coloradans hate Texans." See page 8. CONTRIBUTORS: Kaye Northcott, Jo Clifton, Dave McNeely, Don Gardner, Warren Burnett, Rod Davis, Steve Russell, Paul Sweeney, Ralph Yarborough thinks 1977 was "the year of the women" Marshall Breger, Jack Hopper, Stanley Walker, Joe Frantz, Ray and says as much in his piece on page 13, but he takes the Reece, Laura Eisenhour, Dan Hubig, Ben Sargent, Berke Breathed, trouble to remind us that feminism didn't start the day before Eje Wray, Luther Sperberg, Roy Hamric, Thomas D. Bleich, Mark Stinson, Ave Bonar, Jeff Danziger, Lois Rankin, Maury Maverick Jr., yesterday, not even in Texas. Bruce Cory, John Henry Faulk, Chandler Davidson, Molly Ivins, Jeane Dixon turned down our end-of-the-year invitation to Ralph Yarborough write for us, but John Henry Faulk took up the slack. A tran- A journal of free voices script of a recent chat with certain heavenly bodies (conducted We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the from his back porch) takes the form of a letter from truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are dedicated Madisonville and appears on page 15. to the whole truth, to human values above all interests, to the In "The cover girl state" (page 18), Chandler Davidson has rights of humankind as the foundation of democracy; we will himself a little sport with the image of Texas served up recently take orders from none but our own conscience, and ne,r,er will by four mass-circulation magazines, most notably Newsweek in . we overlook or misrepresent the truth to serve the interests of its Dec. 12 number. the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the human spirit. Finally, on page 20, we have the results of Hightower's The editor has exclusive control over the editorial policies sequestration with several of the book-length accounts of the and contents of the Observer. None of the other people who president-making politics of 1976. His split ballot takes up our are associated with the enterprise shares this responsibility Books column. with him. Writers are responsible for their own work, but not for anything they have not themselves written, and in publishing them the editor does not necessarily imply that he Looking back agrees with them because this is a journal of free voices. After a year of Observer life, with all the expectations, triumphs, flops and near misses that we've had, a bit of stock- taking would seem to be in order. Neither Hightower nor I is BUSINESS STAFF: Cliff Olofson, Alice Embree, Ricky Cruz well-suited for the job, however. Besides, regular readers won't Published by Texas Observer Publishing Co., biweekly except for a three-week inter- want or need an in-house critique of our work. Indeed, many val between issues twice a year, in January and July; 25 issues per ysar. Second-class have already written to let us know what they think of the tack postage paid at Austin, Texas. Publication no. 541300. we've taken. Some claim the Observer is the swellest thing Single copy (current or back issue) 50V prepaid. One year, $12; two years, $22; three years, $30. Foreign, except APO/FPO, $1 additional per year. Airmail, bulk orders, and theie ever was. Others, apparently allergic to the kind of eco- group rates on request. nomic analysis we favor, have written to say that the Observer Microfilmed by Microfilming Corporation of America, 21 Harristown Road, Glen bores them spitless. The greatest number, however, tell us they Rqck, N.J. 07452. just plain like what we're up to, and that's enough to keep us at Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas,Observer it. In our Jan. 20 issue, the first of the new year, publisher 600 West 7th Street Ronnie Dugger will assess the gains and losses made by his Austin, Texas 78701 journal of free voices in 1977. Included will be a sobering report on the publication's financial condition. 04100. '":1' 512-477-0746 Whatever our successes, they are attributable to the energies no. 25

and talents of a remarkable collection of of people who have wandered through these offices, some to leave a journalistic gem or two and move on, others to stay on, laboring spiritedly at an array of sometimes thankless tasks. It's a high- wire act we're putting on here at 7th and Nueces. The few of us who are Observer full-timers are so frightfully in debt to the writers, artists, researchers, typists and envelope-stuffers who are the magazine's salvation that we've resorted to bread-and-circuses gestures to keep our many underpaid colleagues happy, on hand, and hard at work. (The careful reader will note that beer was served at the recent bash that spawned the staff photo we proudly reproduce on this page.) When our ship comes in—when the Observer is on an independent financial footing and able to leave off with fundraising—we'll try to do right by the men and women who have, in more than a few cases, made extraordinary personal sacrifices to remain on the staff. Onward Come January, Texans will have an important and interesting political year ahead of them, and the Observer will be out doing what it has always done best—parsing the prose and probity of would-be governors, senators and jerk- water caesars. We will, of course, also continue our focus on Texas' economic powers. Thanks to the generous support of the Field Foundation and the Fund for Investigative Journalism, we'll soon publish issue-length reports by John Davidson and Ray Reece on, respectively, the economic prospects of Happy New Year from the Observer. farmworkers in Hidalgo County (and Texas property tax system and the qual- New York on Larry L. King's play- their need for collective bargaining ity of health care in the state. Readers of wright debut—Xing's musical, "The rights) and the rush by the major oil volume 70 will be treated to many more Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" corporations to dominate the solar personal essays and the fruits of a opened off-off-Broadway this fall, and energy field and sell us a monopolized deliberate effort on the part of the editors Fain took in the show for us. Walker sun. We expect that by late spring, our to celebrate what's right about Texas. recalls—as only he could—the Chicken own Investigators Reporters Fund will In some important respects, our next Ranch, the LaGrange bordello that was have bankrolled ambitious studies of the issue will come close to being the sort of King's inspiration for "Whorehouse," magazine we think Texas needs and the now ignominiously removed to Dallas one we want to produce every two where it is in business as singles-bar- Vacationing weeks. Our cover subject will be Federal cum-restaurant. District Judge William Wayne Justice All right, then. We wanted to let our The Observer is on Vacation. and the nine-year fight he's fought for the readers know where we've been of late, Editors and staff are taking their Bill of Rights from his Tyler courtroom. where we propose to go, and something semiannual one-week break. The In the back of the book, we'll run related about just who "we" are. Regards from next issue will appear Jan. 20. features by Nathan Fain and James all here. Stanley Walker. Fain will report from —L.W. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 3 L__11 L_ JL 1-1 1 1

Returning after a long absence to live in San Antonio, where I was raised, I have found intact here much that I remember from my youth, but also more to cherish than I cherished before. Here the tracks of history, the tastes, sounds and sights of biculturalism, and the public works of the New Deal make for a Con- tinental city that can satisfy the mind, the body and the soul. There is an ease here uncommon in American cities. Although the siesta is not a general custom, the relaxedness of Mexican lifeways is. When attorney Philip Hardberger told a Wall Street Journal reporter that "We're not a get- up-and-go city," he meant that San An- tonians don't fret if somebody's a little Ronnie Dugger late. Superboosters provoke horse- laughs.

The politics are split hazily between rce rich and poor, as in most other places, but here they are also divided (and a bit mme Co

more clearly) between the brown and the f o pink called white. Mexican-Americans r and blacks, together composing a major- be ity, in justice control a city council that Cham overall seems to be more occupied with io the daily welfare of ordinary citizens n than are the official governing bodies of to An other Texas cities. Braced from time to n time by the idealistic COPS (Com- Sa munities Organized for Public Service), La Villita, near the business district, was saved by the New Deal. the council has authorized some progress in the poorer sections of the city. A readily after Southwestern Bell or Coas- banks across from our house on Wash- banker friend in a position to know tells tal States Gas. The Light, which has ington Street; I knew about the Alamo; I me that there is, to be sure, a committee erred in responding to Murdoch's chal- knew about San Fernando Cathedral be- that hands down the word on what the lenge by trying to match the News's de- cause sometimes we went to church moneyed interests have decided, eager praved interest in technicolor criminali- there. to rule in the manner of the Dallas elite. ty, nevertheless has one of the Our parents would take us on camping One can reasonably hope, however, that state's most promising reporters, Jan trips to the lakes and rivers within easy San Antonio will never fall as snugly Jarboe. Although he is not one to linger driving distance of the city. In those days under the control of the local business under silver linings, attorney Maury you just asked a farmer if you could oligarchy as Dallas has. Maverick Jr., who is the conscience of camp on his land. He'd say sure, and Like most large American cities, San the city as much as any one person can you'd drive to the water's edge and set Antonio is smeared, in the mind's eye, be, believes that since the Australian up camp. At home, I'd take my cane pole with the panderings of daily press press tycoon's takeover of the Express and go across the street to dig up worms screamers, but behind these blood- and News, the two papers have been and fish down between the bankside thirsty facades the dailies have some more independent of the local business reeds. The excitement of the cork good qualities. The morning Express, leaders, with whom, after all, Murdoch disappearing in the stream! I never while packaged in accordance with the need have little truck. caught anything but perch, yet some- Murdoch chain's penchant for yellow, is When I grew up here" between 1934 times, straggling home at dark after fish- the most informative paper in the city on and 1947, I did not know San Antonio ing in the tailrace below the Pioneer serious matters. In the afternoon News, was the oldest municipality in Texas, the Flour Mills, my string of fish, slung over (sister paper to the Express), one is provincial and territorial capital of Texas my shoulder, dragged behind me on the treated to ice-box murders and the cries until 1824, a city that has paid allegiance sidewalk. of strangled women, but the News also to nine governments, but I knew about When; I was 13, I got on as a copyboy has Paul Thompson, once a clever the San Antonio River, which flowed at the Express. After months of racing up right-wing columnist who now takes out murky green between the Johnson-grass and down the stairwell between the sec-

4 DECEMBER 30, 1977 and and third floors of the Express build- the top of his head, Nichols added his work at Villita Pottery, upstairs in a ing, sometimes on down to the first floor Savannah. house on Villita Street. According to the to stop the presses from disseminating first-class magazine San Antonio (or some awful blooper, I became a sports La Villita, the little Mexican village SA), the San Antonio Symphony hovers writer. When I was 14 and he 15, Larry that was saved and restored by the New around the bottom of the top 30 sym- Goodwyn and I worked together on the Deal's National Youth Administration, is phony orchestras in the United States. sports staff and shot pool in a basement a labyrinth of craft shops and plazas, de- For his part, Express-News classical joint across the street from the paper. I lightful to drift in. The acreage on which music critic David Anthony Richelieu will not speak now for Duke University's HemisFair was conducted in 1968, while seems to believe the orchestra would be distinguished historian who has just writ- still harboring a few active establish- headquartered more suitably in Dime ten the definitive new book on American ments and the Institute of Texan Cul- Box. On this topic I cannot yet speak populism, but down in the pool hall I oc- tures, is pretty much a wasteland and with much authority. For a time I relied casionally placed bets, usually unwisely, ought to be turned back to middle- and on an FM radio station for my classical on nags. I grew on up, then, walking to low-income housing. With 46 percent of music, but it's disappeared from the air. school, downtown to work and church, San Antonio's Mexican-American For several weeks beforehand, the lady on the winding, cowpath streets of the teenagers unemployed, the city could who was evidently in charge enunciated city. I was well on my way to wealth, run its own New Deal. I am prepared to clearly, again and again, the same re- too, for while the Express had started me believe, if shown, that urban renewal corded message, the gist of which was at $12 a week, they raised my pay fre- funds have made life better for poor and "San Antonians, from whom we ex- quently, in $2 increments, until after middle-income San Antonians, but all I pected adequate support, you are rat- three years I was receiving the munifi- am sure of is that Mexican-Americans finks." Since then, silence. have a superb new civic center, El Mer- cent sum of $26. When I decided to go Enough problems off to college, the management at once cado. Many a night there's music, food offered to raise me to $60. I believe this and dancing in the open there. Built I shall write later about the city's so- may have been the moment when certain around the farmers' market and Mi cial problems. There should be much to unfortunate and dangerous ideas about Tierra (the old Mexican restaurant), El report. As of 1970, 160,000 San Anto- social justice began to lodge themselves Mercado, adjacent to the West Side, is nians lived below the poverty line, about in my mind. the chicanos' Alamo Plaza, their rival one out of six of the people in the met- civic center. A full-scale Mexican ropolitan area. It's estimated that 50,000 River walk market like those in border towns illegal aliens live here. The loan sharks has been opened, but unfortunately most have reoccupied their old haunts on of the merchandise is the same junk that At first, when I walked these same Navarro Street. According to the Na- fills the border markets; members of the tional Institute on Drug Abuse, San An- streets upon my return this year, the fa- West Side aristocracy, who take their af- miliar buildings all seemed smaller, but tonio has 6,100 heroin addicts and the ternoon libations at Karam's Cafe in El seventh highest per capita rate of heroin then I realized it was I who was taller. I Mercado, should see to it that the quality have come now to the opinion that San addiction among 24 of the nation's of the imports from Mexico is improved. largest metropolitan areas: 657 heroin Antonio has the best downtown in Amer- Nevertheless, El Mercado is genuine ica for walking, better than the Quarter addicts per 100,000 people. Since the mil- civic enhancement, a place of public itary, tourism, and farming and ranching in New Orleans, better than San celebration that Mexican-Americans can Francisco, better than Manhattan. The are the main sources of business, there is feel is their own, a place where Anglos not much air pollution, but National _ River Walk, two and a half miles of are welcome, but as visitors. sidewalks along the river banks, is one of Geographic goes a bit far in calling the the urban wonders of the world. Bridges, I cannot yet tell you much first-hand, San Antonio River "a lovely green rib- foliage, bends, waterfalls, the open-air in the first of these occasional letters bon of water." The effluent coming into theater—all these were attractive when I from San Antonio, about the cultural life. the river from three of the city's sewage was growing up. But now, in the last ten The civic museum, the Witte, has good treatment plants endangers the fish in the years, much has been added—cafes, and substantial exhibits (including the 40-mile stretch between Floresville and bars, places to dance, open-air tables most luminous and transfixing Dufy I've Falls City. The city council has for all along the river and on balconies over- ever seen), and a 30-minute slide show intents and purposes halted new con- looking it. For ten days in April there is on San Antonio that is a model of bal- struction on the aquifer that is the city's the big river celebration, but I have ance and social sophistication. I found main source of water, and city sewerage found since returning that whenever I am the people at the McNay Art Institute a charges are being increased steeply to tired and out of sorts, I can go to the little stand-offish and even suspicious, underwrite the city's effort to bring itself river, find a fiesta there, and be re- but that may be because they've been into compliance with federal water qual- charged. This past spring while at lunch robbed of art treasures twice recently. ity standards. with University of Virginia architect For two hours I walked slowly past the There are enough problems. For the Fred Nichols in Charlottesville, where I paintings and what-not offered for sale at time being, though, I shall content myself was then teaching, I advanced the prop- the last River Art Show, and I must say it with the observation, calculated to elicit osition that the San Antonio River Walk was as if nearly all the participating ar- from the local chamber of commerce a is one of the four or five best designs of tists had fastened their imaginations into plaque or at least a note of appreciation, space for human use and appreciation in a master network of mirrors focused that San Antonio is a good place to visit the United States. The others, I thought, forever on bluebonnets and Hill Country and a good place to live. If this conclu- might be the Jefferson Memorial, the rivers. Yet I discovered, at "Art Jam- sion doesn't seem to fit in with the tone Lawn at the University of Virginia, and boree" on the grounds of the McNay, the of most Observer articles, blame it on the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. Off pottery of Walt Glass, who usually sells holiday season. ❑

THE TEXAS OBSERVER ming out Ike old year

Rhymes by Mary Alice Davis Illustrations by Ben Sargent

There was a crooked man who walked a crooked mile

He made a crooked sixpence in a slightly crooked style . He spent his crooked sixpence buying banks to hold And while this may seem crooked, it's turning into gold.

A duller a dollar Bob Krueger's a scholar What makes him run so hard? He used to quote Shakespeare But now Texaco's his bard.

Patacake, patacake Briscoe man Appoint all your friends As fast as you can. Fat cats, bureaucrats And turkeys talkin' jive But the best one of all • e' g),D Was the one who wasn't alive. .?.

6 DECEMBER 30, 1977 Peter, Peter pepper eater A&M made peppers sweeter. Jalapefios that ain't too hot, Aggie research, thanks a lot.

Mary, Mary quite contrary How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells We farmers are striking, you know..

Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard But found not even a bone. Since the meek PUC Bowed to AT&T, She's spent all her cash on her phone. Poor Mother Hubbard closed up her cupboard And said, "Ain't monopoly hell? Consumers lose out To corporate clout— Ma Hubbard's-been screwed by Ma Bell."

Coal slurry hot! Coal slurry cold! Coal slurry in the pipe, A new black gold. Some votes were bought, Some votes were sold, Looks like the railroads Have lost their hold.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do. The Lege gave them broth but not any bread, And voted the money for highways instead.

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 7 Why Coloradans hate Texans

By Molly Ivins Texans are not, in fact, like other Americans. For one thing, we are obnox- Denver ious to be around when we are having Maybe Gracie has the best explanation fun. We talk loud, laugh loud, get drunk, for it. Grace Lichtenstein was my pre- and tang our beer bottles on tables, we decessor out here as Rocky Mountain whoopee and hoorah and are generally a bureau chief for The New York Times pain in the hrnmm-hmmm. We yell when (the reason we got to be bureau chiefs is we are having a good time. We do not on account of there ain't no one else in yell when we get mad. We tend to get the bureau). Gracie hails from Brooklyn real quiet just before we stomp someone and didn't care for the West worth a or shoot someone. Foreigners consider pitcher of warm Shiner. She is convinced this peculiar. there is no civilization without bialys, a Since Texans mostly come to Colo- bialy being a sort of a Brooklyn tortilla. rado to have fun or buy the place, they Since she was unencumbered by enthu- aren't looked on with much favor. They siasm, ol' Gracie had some pretty fair in- are widely held to be a bunch of no-class sights. yahoos with more money than taste. Gracie holds that Texans are the Jews They also throw beer cans out of their of the West. Meaning that they are per- car windows: since many Coloradans are ceived as loud, vulgar, richer than most serious environmentalists, this is consid- folks, and consequently widely resented. ered the apotheosis of tackiness. There is no doubt that Coloradans do I am naturally doing my best to dis- love to hate Texans. For one thing, we guise my origins here. 01' Gracie left me are buying up their state at an appalling . a four-wheel drive vehicle, which one rate. Vail, one of the two biggest and needs to be a Coloradan just as one best ski resorts in Colorado, is now needs a pickup to be a Texan. I figure I myself feel that we should be given owned by Texans and is referred to here that if I get me some Earth shoes, new points for our enthusiasm. All good Tex- as "the Dallas Alps." Coloradans seem jeans, a lumberjack shirt, a down vest, ans get excited when they see a really big to feel there is something a trifle kitschy and a bumpersticker for my four-wheel hill, like a freeway overpass: our delight about Vail's imitation-Swiss decor. This that reads "Texans Are Tacky," no one in Colorado mountains is touching. is only because they are unfamiliar with will know me froth a native. "Sumbitch," we breathe reverently, Dallas shopping centers and so do not I myself favor ecology and think that upon sighting the Rockies. "Scenery is know the true definition of tacky. flushing only once a day is fine, but I for goyim," ol' Gracie once said. At least Another frequent complaint involves hold that no toilet paper is extremist. Texans retain a capacity for awe in the the way we drive. Ron Wolf, a Colorado Being a tolerant sort, I've never minded face of something as awesome as the reporter and reliable source, assures me healthy people. Someone wants to quit Colorado mountains. that Texans do 80 on the flats and no smoking, give up beer and booze, and eat Being a chauvinistic Texan (if that's more than 15 m.p.h. on mountain passes. only vegetables and jog, I believe he or not redundant), I am left mildly depressed "Whenever you find a car holding up a she should be commended. But it's right not so much by the Coloradans' distaste long line of traffic on a pass, you're safe disconcerting to have people drop to the for Texans, but by what our zest for Col- to bet it's got Texas plates," says Wolf. floor and do 25 pushups whenever orado says about us. there's a lull in the conversation. Col- As we all know, before the energy oradans are very healthy. We have crudded up our own natural crisis, the Good Lord intended for peo- I believe, finally, that the anti-Texan beauty in the making of money—go look ple to drive 80 on the flats, but I was prejudice here comes down to, as preju- at the Golden Triangle if you don't be- profoundly shocked to hear that Texans dice so frequently does, numbers. As a lieve. do 15 on mountain passes. Do you have light sprinkling, we Texans are not hard The classic Colorado bumpersticker any idea how far you can fall off those to take. If we but seldom constituted reads, "If God had meant for Texans to damn things? Ten, in my opinion, is the more than two to five percent of any ski, He would have given them moun- maximum safe speed and I personally grouping outside our borders, I think tains." To which the Texas sticker re- prefer seven. we'd doubtlessly retain our reputation plies, "He meant for us to ski; He gave There is a currently fashionable intel- for being odd but quaint. But we infest us money." My point is that money can't lectual thesis which holds that the coun- Colorado. It is impossible to drive In- buy us what we've ruined through our try is becoming more and more alike terstate 25, the main north-south high- greed. Our hunger for natural beauty is, I from one end to the other. It's supposed way, in either summer or Winter, without think, affecting in its earnestness. But we to be an endless strip of Howard noticing the high proportion of cars with wouldn't need to come to Colorado for it Johnsons on interstate highways, where Texas plates on the road—going 80 if we'd save the Big Thicket and the Gulf we all read the same magazines and learn m.p.h. with beer cans periodically emit- Coast and the Hill Country and the Rio how to talk from Uncle Walter Cronkite ted from within. In Colorado, we are not Grande Canyons and the High Prairie. ❑ (a Texan, be it noted). I believe that's a a curiosity, we are an invasion. I have Molly Ivins was posted to Denver this bunch of bull. The astonishing thing long maintained that Texans are not easy fall after Times stints in Manhattan and about this country is how different it is to love: we are, like anchovies, an ac- Albany. She is, of course, a former co- from one corner to another. quired taste. editor of the Observer. 8 , DECEMBER 30, 1977 Kalmanovitz got into the brewer's when he took over Falstaff, he made One more for the road trade in 1950 through a land deal that assurances that he wanted the men to brought him ownership of Maier stay on, then dumped them unceremoni- Pearl may still be "the beer that's • Brewing Corp. In the mid-'60s, he ously. The Securities and Exchange brewed right here," as the radio bought heavily into General Brewing Commission also doesn't like the way he jingle has it, but company ownership is Co., finally winning control of the moved in, formally charging last spring moving far away from the heart of Tex- company in 1971 and merging it with that he violated several securities laws in as. Southdown, Inc., the Houston Maier. His brands include Lucky Lager, his takeover. Kalmanovitz merely claims cement-oil-sugar-and-candy con- Regal, Fisher, Brew 102, such private- that he is doing what is best for the glomerate that owns Pearl, is about to label beer as Brown Derby (sold by company and the shareholders. So what deal away the beer firm and its can- Safeway) and, now, Pearl. GBC is a if it means a few technical violations of manufacturing subsidiary to General private company—Kalmanovitz owns 99 SEC rules. Sue me, is his attitude. Brewing Co. of San Francisco. The sale, percent of the stock—and the firm is not expected to be completed Jan. 4, leaves subject to many of the ownership Kalmanovitz has simply dumbfounded tiny Spoetzl Brewery, maker of Shiner, disclosure requirements that the federal his peers in the beer industry, a tidy cor- as the last independent Texas beer firm government has applied to publicly held porate world where small brewers are in Texas. corporations. The upshot is that not supposed to follow the leaders quietly. Pearl president Lee Birdsong would much is known about General Brewing. In the first place, Kalmanovitz doesn't not disclose terms of the sale, but he did believe in advertising, and he chopped confirm that Pabst Brewing Co. had also Falstaff's national promotion budget been interested in buying the San shortly after taking the reins. He thinks Antonio company. In 1976, Pearl the way to compete is to cut costs and reported plant assets of $38 million, sales lower beer prices. He also refuses to join of $62 million, and a profit of half a mil- state and national brewers' associations, lion dollars. But the profit was not good and he drove industry leaders com- enough for Pearl's conglomerate parent. pletely up the wall in the early '70s by Birdsong said that Southdown's return- supporting Oregon's ban on no-deposit, on-investment is far better in its oil and no-return bottles. Oh—he's also given to cement businesses, and that the South- suing big brewers that he thinks engage down board was not optimistic about the in anticompetitive practices, such as prospects of reversing the decline in paying kickbacks to supermarkets in Pearl's share of the Texas beer market exchange for prominent shelf space. (now at about 5 percent). The conglomerate started to look for a way What does all this bode for Pearl? out. Birdsong will say only that when the No one knows what to expect as a re- Little more was known about GBC deal is consummated, he will sult of the sale, least of all Birdsong and Kalmanovitz ("I shy away from publicity confer with the new owners about his other Pearl executives. To begin with, and I don't play golf, so I'm a mystery future. Of course, corporate this is no ordinary corporate merger, man," he told The Wall Street Journal) headquarters now shift to San Francisco, with one faceless entity impersonally until 1975, when he suddenly burst on though Birdsolg says he expects that consuming another and business going the national beer scene with the pur- Pearl managers will continue to operate on as usual. No, indeed, Pearl has been chase of a 52 percent interest in Falstaff, out of San Antonio as a GBC subsidiary. picked up by a blunt, crusty, honest-to- the country's 11th largest brewer. He No discussions have been held about God tycoon of the old school who doesn't was not exactly a silent-partner type; he marketing changes in Texas, but he like anyone getting in his way. Paul named himself chairman of the board of expects that all the current brands Kalmanovitz, a 72-year-old self-made directors and president, cut the size of (Pearl, Pearl Light, Country Club, Texas man who immigrated to California from the board, fired many top managers, and Pride and Jax) will still be brewed and Eastern Europe in 1926 and made a moved the company's headquarters from sold here. Birdsong says the merger will fortune in West Coast real estate, is St. Louis to San Francisco. Several of have no effect on Pearl's pending federal perfectly cast as a beer-barrel maverick the dismissed executives have filed suit antitrust suit against Anheuser-Busch, in an age of corporate cool and against "Mr. Paul," as Kalmanovitz is which the Texas brew has accused of advertising slick. called in the Bay Area, charging that predatory pricing (Obs., Oct. 21).

next December in Memphis, with 1,491 officials told the Observer that rules for Won't you come? delegates in attendance, all chosen under selecting delegates will be drawn up at The national Democratic Party procedures to be established by the 50 the Jan. 21 meeting of the State Demo- • oozed so much harmony at the individual state parties. The Texas con- cratic Executive Committee. 1976 presidential convention in New tingent is to be 70 strong: 48 of our dele- York City that it has decided to get the gates will be elected in the state's 24 The Memphis conference will have a bunch together again for a 1978 meeting. congressional districts (two from each) town-hall format: President Carter, Vice Next year's event is billed as a chance and 12 on an at-large basis. A group of President Mondale, cabinet officers, for the Carter administration, the Con- ten ex-officio delegates will include the congressional leaders and party officials gress and the party to mix it up and dis- governor and nine Texas members of the will answer questions and discuss issues cuss policy midway between presidential Democratic National Committee. The directly with the delegates. No one is elections. delegation must be composed of equal clear yet on what is to come of all this The midterm conference will be held numbers of men and women. State party interaction.

THE TEXAS OBSERVER Treating us dirty Not-so-super market has made good on threats to fire workers The Texas League of Conservation who involved themselves in union activi- • • The AFL-CIO has called a nationa 1 ties, and the National Labor Relations Voters says it has sorted out the boycott against Winn-Dixie Stores good and bad legislators, based on an Board has found the chain guilty of 26 Inc., which has a history of anti-labo r other labor law violations. analysis of 14 votes last session. Three practices much in the tradition of J.P senators and eight representatives had Stevens, Farah and Coors. When Winn-Dixie took over New not a single smudge on their record: Sen- Mexico's Foodway stores in 1976, the Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. local management and its clerks had a ators Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), Oscar the supermarket chain may not yet be a union contract and a long history of good Mauzy (D-Dallas), and Carlos Truan household name in Texas, but it has a (D-Corpus Christi); Representatives large and growing presence here, an d Gonzalo Barrientos (D-Austin), John elsewhere it is mighty big busines Bryant (D-Dallas), Smith Gilley (D- indeed—with 1976 sales totaling $4 Greenville), Arnold Gonzales (D-Corpus billion, Winn-Dixie ranks as the fifth Christi), Frank Madla (D-San Antonio), largest chain in the country, boasting Chris Miller (D-Fort Worth), Ben Reyes 1,151 stores, plus food processing and (D-Houston), and Sarah Weddington distribution facilities "across the (D-Austin). Sunbelt." The company moved into the Southwest in 1976, establishing a regional headquarters in Fort Worth. Its Consumer votes Texas subsidiaries include the Foodway chain, which operates in El Paso and relations. But when the contract expired Ralph Nader's national mem- other areas of West Texas and New this year, the new owners from Florida Mexico bership organization, Public Citi- (Obs., Nov. 18), 126 Buddie's refused to renew. A strike called by the zen, has issued its ratings of congression- stores in North Central and East Texas, retail clerks union—the first in New al voting performance this past year, and the Kimbells chain of 135 Mexico since 1952—is now in its eighth after analyzing votes on 80 consumer- supermarkets established in greater Fort week in four of the state's largest cities, oriented issues. Of the 26 Texans sent to Worth. Right now, only a handful of even though the NLRB investigated the Washington, only Reps. Bob Eckhardt, Winn-Dixie's Texas stores bear the par- situation, found no grounds for Jim Mattox and Barbara Jordan—in PC's ent chain's name, but a company recalcitrance by Winn-Dixie, and view—voted most of the time for spokesman told the Observer that his ordered the firm to sign with the union. consumer interests. They received, firm would gradually hoist its signs over The chain is fighting the ruling, appar- respectively, PC approval for 75 percent, all its Texas outlets. ently in hopes of stalling long enough to 70 percent and 53 percent of their votes. Of much greater concern to the break the strike and the union. "The law Low marks in the House were recorded AFL-CIO than name changes are says people have the right to a union," by Reps. Omar Burleson, Bob Poage and Winn-Dixie's labor relations, which are says a retail clerks official, "but this Tiger Teague, all three of whom are none too friendly. The company, em- company says they don't. That's retiring at the end of this congressional ploying 51,000 men and women, has basically the situation." And so, the term. In the Senate, Lloyd Bentsen never signed a union contract and has AFL-CIO's call for a national boycott. stood with consumers 23 percent of the come down hard on all employee efforts time. John Tower had a. 5 percent to affiliate with the Retail Clerks approval rating. International Association. Winn-Dixie Playing with polls

• Self-serving tidbits from "secret" political polls keep leaking our way Selma Wells from the campaign staffs of people running for this or that office this year. A highly-respected, progressive • . . , Here's the latest: Sen. John Tower's voice the state's corrections sys- staff is claiming that a recent sampling of tem was stilled in October with the death voter sentiment shows their man to be of 58-year-old Selma Wells. Appointed well up on both Bob Krueger and Joe by Governor Briscoe in 1975 to the Christie, the current Democratic pretend- Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, ers to the seat of Texas' senior U.S. Mrs. Wells was the first black and first senator. For whatever it's worth, the woman to serve on the three-member panel. Tower people also say the poll's results suggest that Christie—and not the New Her concern and involvement with the Braunfels Bard—will be their Demo- rehabilitation of ex-offenders ran long cratic opponent. The Tower pollsters and deep. In 1966, she and J.D. "Sonny" tossed Ralph Yarborough's name into Wells, her late husband, founded the the pot, too, and they were "surprised" New Directions Club, Inc., one of the to find the former senator pulling 29 per- state's first halfway houses for ex- cent of the vote. But as RWY will tell convicts. The program started out mod- chain of communal houses which has you, the first 30 percent is just sitting out estly in her Houston home, but by the helped over 2,700 men and women get there to be picked up; it's the other 21 time of her death, it had grown into a back on their feet. percent that's so hard to get.

10 DECEMBER 30, 1977 MEN ir WOMEN .h1% " NI\ 1111111111r1L- -1116641111111k Viva Dolph 1111111/111. JIM 111111111iL11111 From our believe-it-or-not depart- 11111111 MAI 11111411. ment comes word that Dolph and 111110" SLOE 1111111/ 111111111W Janey Briscoe are co-winners of this VW' IMP year's El Sol award, given annually to honor exemplary Mexican-Americans for outstanding public service. Previous WORK OVERSEAS!! winners have included former White Australia - 'Europe - Japan - The South Pacific - Africa House aide Carlos Conde, GI Forum Far East - South America - Central America - Middle East founder Dr. Hector Garcia of Corpus $800.00 to $4000.00 Per Month - Tax Benefits Christi, and former Arizona governor Raul Castro. And, now, El Patron and U.S. Government, Private Corporations and Organizations. La Patrona themselves, the first gringos Construction - Engineering - Sales - Transportation - Teaching - Oil Refining - to be so honOred. Medical - Accounting - Manufacturing - Secretarial - Aircraft, etc., etc. is a chicano periodical pub- El Sol If you like travel, excitement and adventure, then overseas employment is for you. To allow lished in Houston by Rev. James L. anyone the opportunity to explore overseas employment we have published a complete set of Novarro, pastor of St. Paul's Baptist , Guides. Our Overseas Employment Guides contain the following church there and national chaplain of Overseas Employment information .. . LULAC, one of the oldest Mexican- List of CURRENT OVERSEAS JOB OPPORTUNITIES with a special section on overseas American organizations in the country. • construction projects, executive positions and teaching opportunities. Announcing this year's winners at an How, Where and Whom to apply for the job of your choice OVERSEAS! Austin press conference, Novarro said • FIRMS and ORGANIZATIONS employing all types of Personnel in nearly every part of the that the Briscoes were chosen as "a • symbol of family life in Texas." That left Free World. • Firms and organizations engaged in OVERSEAS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, MAN- the press corps speechless for a moment. UFACTURING, MINING, OIL REFINING. SECRETARIAL, AIRCRAFT. ENGINEERING, Well, added Novarro, the award was also going to the Briscoes in recognition of SALES, SERVICES, TEACHING, ETC! • COMPANIES and GOVERNMENT AGENCIES employing personnel in nearly every occu- the governor's appointment of pation, from the semi-skilled laborer to the College trained professional. Mexican-Americans to state jobs. • How and Where to apply for OVERSEAS GOVERNMENT JOBS! Aha! With Briscoe locked in a serious • Employment on U.S. Government ships "MERCHANT MARINES"! struggle with John Hill for next year's • Directory of U.S. Businesses operating in AUSTRALIA that employ Americans. Democratic gubernatorial nomination, • List of U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTORS with operations OVERSEAS THAT EMPLOY this looks to be a bit of press gimmickry Americans! designed to dress up the incumbent for • Information about TEMPORARY and SUMMER JOBS OVERSEAS! Mexican-American voters. Novarro says • You will also be told How to write your resume or application letter! How to plan your job nothing could be further from the truth; hunting compaign! How to conduct yourself in a job interview! Plus many professional tips quite on the contrary, the Briscoes were that may mean the difference between landing the job of your choice or missing out. chosen for the award long before it was MAIL OUR ORDER FORM TODAY!!! known the governor would run for re- The Job You Want OVERSEAS May Be Waiting For You Right Now!! election. Possibly, but Briscoe's re- election plans have been a poorly kept , secret ever since he held that gargantuan ORDER FORM fund-raising bash for big business sup- Overseas Employment Guides 1727 SCOTT ROAD, SUITE C porters on a Uvalde ranch last De- BURBANK, CA 91504 cember. Then, too, Novarro didn't call the news confererke promoting the I am enclosing $10.00 cash, check or money order. Please send me your complete set of award—the press advisory was put out OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT GUIDES immediately. by the Good Neighbor Commission of Texas, a state agency headed by one of NAME Briscoe's Mexican-American appoin- tees, Eddie Aurispa. The release only ADDRESS cost the taxpayers a couple of bucks to 7IP put out, explained Aurispa, and besides, CITY STATE it is "in line with our responsibilities for Or charge this order on your BankAmericard or Master Charge promoting understanding between His- BankAmericard Account No . panic peoples and the citizens of the state." Expiration Date Master Charge Account No. This issue's Political Intelligence was Expiration Date gathered and written with the help of 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE Vicki Vaughan, Debi Pomeroy and If your are dissatisfied with our Overseas Employment Guides, for any reason, simply return our Guides to us Teresa Acosta. within 30 days and your $10.00 will be refunded to you immediately. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 11 A Public Service Message from the American Income Life Insurance Co.—Executive Offices, Waco, Texas—Bernard Rapoport, Chairman of the Board

MALDEF's How-To-Do-It Book:

Political Access

Crucial to having the needs of a com- fice. But in many cases, majority run-off changes in the electoral process which munity met is the political power of the provisions prevent minorities from ever would work to their detriment, a proce- vote. The Voting Rights Act, extended to assuming office. For example, in a race dure for preclearance of such alterations parts of the Southwest in 1975, seeks to for the office of mayor, a Mexican Amer- has been written into the Voting Rights eliminate unreasonable barriers to the ican candidate may have received 40 Act. Proposed changes must be submit- vote for minorities who have been histor- percent of the vote cast while two Anglo ted to the Justice Department for ap- ically disenfranchised. The most impor- candidates split the Anglo vote. Although proval. At the end of a 60-day waiting tant segments of this legislation for Mexi- the Mexican American candidate re- period a letter either approving or object- can Americans require bilingual elections ceived more votes, another election must ing to the changes is issued. Critical is and subject proposed changes in elec- be held between the two front runners. If the fact that this determination can be in- tion laws to federal scrutiny to make sure there is racially polarized voting and Mex- fluenced by written comments from pri- they don't have a discriminatory purpose ican Americans constitute a minority of vate citizens, community organizations, or effect. labor unions, or any other group of con- But these and all the other provisions cerned individuals, and if the Justice De- of the Voting Rights Act are meaningless partment is convinced that discrimination unless the people it was meant to benefit will result from a procedural change, they put them to good use. In many cases, will issue an objection letter preventing application of the anti-discrimination pro- its adoption. visions of the Act is only assured when MALDEF's Voting Rights Handbook citizens file letters of complaint with the gives detailed instructions on how to as- 'Justice Department, or request the ser- sess and document the discriminatory vices of the examiners and observers the potential of a proposed change in the government is willing to provide to en- electoral process, as well as a complete sure fair elections. outline of the timetables involved and With a view towards encouraging this how to get the right information to the process, the Mexican American Legal right people, at the right time. Defense and Educational Fund has pub- the voting-age population, then a Mexi- The Handbook is available free of lished A Voting Rights Handbook for can American candidate will lose in the charge from any of our Southwestern of- Chicanos in both Spanish and English. run-off election. fices. Hopefully, Mexican Americans will The Handbook seeks to inform the Mexi- Another example: In at-large elections make good use of it as a self-help tool to can American community of the provi- there are no districts and everyone in the insuring access for our communities. sions of the Voting Rights Act and the political unit votes for all the candidates. ways in which a community can assure At-large election systems tend to work itself of the benefits and protections of against minorities and in many com- MALDEF the Act. Changes in procedures for regis- munities, Chicanos are the numerical tration, redistricting, time and manner of minority. With such a system, all of the 501 Petroleum Commerce Building voting, plus other aspects of the voting officials elected could reside on the same 201 N. St. Mary's Street process can critically affect the political block in an Anglo neighborhood. If ra- San Antonio, Texas 78205 strength of minority communities. MAL- cially polarized voting exists, then Ensiosed is my contrbudon of $ DEF's Voting Rights Handbook docu- Chicanos will probably never be able to ments how such changes can affect Mex- elect a representative. In effect the Anglo Name ican American communities. population has a veto power over the In a discussion of majority run-off pro- selection of the Mexican American can- Address visions, the Handbook points out that didate and in this manner the barrio City they are ostensibly designed to prevent a areas can be denied representation. State ZIP candidate who receives less than a In order to assure minority com- Max@ checks payable to MALDEF. Contributions majority of the votes from assuming of- munities of an opportunity to challenge •are tax deductible.

MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND Other women, other years remembered

and tigers of today's forum. Even the slave girl named Kian at Fort Bolivar on By Ralph W. Yarborough President's wife Rosalynn and the wives Galveston Island in the late summer of has a feature of ,former presidents—Lady Bird 1820, with a garrison of 25 men to guard The 1978 World Almanac them. He promised to return in three titled "1977: The Year That Women Johnson and Betty Ford—give a demure assent when some of those firebrands weeks, but never did—he was murdered Lost"; Supreme Court decisions ; the garrison de- adversely affecting the women's sound the tocsin. 'in Mexico. Meanwhile movement are the story's subject and the For the first time in history, there are serted. Jane Long bore her child at the fort that bitter winter; her only excuse for its headline. two women in the Cabinet at the same time, and the name of a black woman companions• were her young daughter I dissent: 1977 was the year of the and Kian. ascendancy of American women in the from Texas—the treasurer of the United public forum. The decisions against States—will appear on our currency. The cannibal Karankawas came in a women by the cloistered gentlemen on Texans have long boasted of having one flotilla of canoes, hideous in their war the Supreme Court likely will go the way of the first woman governors, Miriam A. paint. Jane Long and Kian pointed the of the anti-New Deal decisions of their "Ma" Ferguson, first elected in 1924 and cannon—left behind by the deserting predecessors. then, in 1932, elected to a second term garrison, too heavy to carry away—and after two intervening defeats. While the high court's decisions are fired at the attackers. The Indians temporary setbacks, never in the history Other Texas women, less well known, scattered and retreated. During lulls in of this nation have the women been more also figure in the state's heritage. Let us the siege, Kian, dressed in a discarded in charge of public debate. Male remember a few of them here: soldier's uniform, fished and looked for oysters; back in the fort, she and her politicians, fearful of television's effect, Jane Long and a black slave girl: are like mewling kittens before the tube. mistress fired the cannon at intervals. But not your Bella Abzugs, Phyllis The cannibal Karankawas defeated For nearly two years Jane Long lived at . Schlaflys, Barbara Jordans, Anita Dr. James Long left his 23-year-old Bolivar with Kian and her children:, Bryants and some others similarly bold. pregnant wife Jane with their six-year- living on fish, oysters and birds, patiently They are among the leaders, the lions old daughter and a 12-year-old black waiting for Dr. Long. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 13

The Angel of Goliad: had fallen, the Runaway Scrape was on. rawhide chains, and with a long whip Santa Anna defied Sam Houston's retreating army overtook drove her oxen away. Sam Houston and fleeing colonists at Groce's Plantation on his men were left to drag the cannon After Fannin's surrender at Goliad on the Brazos. Pamela Mann and her family March 20, 1836, Santa Anna ordered the themselves on the road to San Jacinto— were there; she loaned Houston a pair of and victory—a week later. execution of the surrendered Texan oxen to pull his cannon, the "Twin forces. His generals wanted none of it, Sisters," on the condition that the but were afraid to disobey. It was left to Women in Aggieland: soldiers take the Nacogdoches road— The board of directors defied the wife of a Mexican officer, Alvarez making a full retreat—and not follow Francisca, the Angel of Goliad, to Texas . ,A&M, now a growing Harrisburg road toward Santa Anna's coeducational institution, was until persuade a Mexican officer to help hide army. Four miles out, Houston's army all they could. She managed to save recently a bastion of male supremacy. about 20 of the 400 men from the took the Harrisburg road. Mrs. Mann, As late as the 1930s, the A&M board of massacre on March 27, 1836. No advised, caught up with them. Armed directors successfully defeated a lawsuit Mexican officer dared to defy Santa with a brace of pistols and a long knife, brought by women seeking admission. Anna; Alvarez Francisca did. she demanded her oxen, and called The plaintiffs might have won had they Houston a liar. Houston said he couldn't known a closely held Aggie secret: that Pamela Mann: move the cannon without the oxen, but women had previOusly enrolled and fin- Sam Houston defied she said, "Damn your cannon, I want my ished the degree work at A&M. It was mid-April of 1836. The Alamo oxen." She jumped off her horse, cut the The first woman to attend the school was Ethel Hutson, daughter of a history 7 professor; she registered in 1895 as a Good books in every field lecture student (no credit), but dropped JENKINS PUBLISHING CO. out after a year or so. Her twin sisters, The Pemberton Press Sophie and Mary, registered in civil engineering in 1899. They served in the John H. Jenkins, Publisher corps, tailored and wore their own gray Box 2085 6 Austin 78768 cadet uniforms, took part in all military activities except drilling, and finished their civil engineering courses in 1903 with certificates from the dean of the engineering school attesting to their GINNY'S COPYING SERVICE. faithful and successful completion of "all proper courses" required for the degrees they sought. However, higher academic officials refused to confer degrees on the Hutson sisters. Other women registered in the intervening years, but Evelyn Crawford, now Mrs. Lonnie Locke of Bryan, was the first woman to win a degree. She took a BA in 1925, but didn't attend graduation. A woman Mason: The Grand Lodge defied In the late 1860s or early 1870s—the record isn't clear on the year—a Masonic- Lodge in Montgomery County initiated a woman despite all the laws, rules, the code of rituals, and other_ near-total powers the Grand Lodge held over affiliate lodges. The petition presented by Masons on her behalf recited that the woman's husband, a Mason, had been killed in battle for his country. There were small children left orphans, but no male relative to take the soldier's place and continue the Masonic tradition in the family. The woman was initiated. How was it all brought off? The lodge minutes are silent. So this generation of Texas women, bold of speech and action, is not the first to harbor precedent-setters. But the activists are no longer remarkable excep- tions; they are a groundswell. That's why I say 1977 is the Year of the Wom- en. 0

Ralph W. Yarborough, who repre- sented Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1957 to 1971, practices law in Austin. 14 DECEMBER 30,1977 I L_

4=1.111•1111111.11111111111111. 411■11MI!■■ I was hoping to give you a real look at '78, getting frantic. Look! He's suddenly was ever indicted and tried on a felony what 1978 holds for Texas in this letter. in a frenzy. Joining the Sierra Club. Join- charge. He reminds them that it didn't Sad to say, I'm afraid I can't. I trusted ing the Audubon Society. Joining take a jury but five hours to find him some star friends to tell me, as stars are Friends of the Earth. Joining Friends of innocent. They are reminding him that supposed to do, and all I got for my trou- Wildlife Club. Watch him go!" the foreman of the jury said they didn't ble was a raft of gossip and rumor. About I was dumbfounded. find him innocent. They only found that as much first class information on 1978 "You sure you're looking at the right he was not guilty beyond a reasonable as you could get from a member of the candidate, Deneb? One I'm thinking doubt. Texas Legislature. about hates environmentalists worsern "Now he's getting mad. Like in front Here's what happened: the other he hates Democrats. He wouldn't be of the mirror. Now he's in a huff. I see night, one of those crisp, cloudless Madi- joining any outfits like those." him going home. He's making a decision. son County nights, I went out behind my "He's not interested in the environ- He's deciding to do what he does best, barn, where I could talk to these three ment," Deneb kept peering. "He's just run cattle auctions." star friends of mine in private. interested in one aspect of conservation: "That is sort of sad, Vega," I said. "Deneb," I said to the first one I spied, the endangered species list. He realized "Can you see what kind of cattle he's "Look over yonder in 1978, and tell me he's on it!" auctioning off?" what you see happening about April in Nothing bores me more than a first- "Different breeds," Vega replied, "but the race for the Democratic nomination rate star, lowering himself to small planet only beef. No dairy cattle." for governor. humor, and I told Deneb so. Then I I must say, I was a little disappointed "I see nothing but lots of people yawn- turned to Vega. with Vega, so I didn't ask him about any- ing," he replied. thing else. I spotted Altair, who has "What about the candidates?" always shot pretty straight with me. "Can't see any. Wait. Yes, I can. I can John Henry Faulk "Altair, if you don't mind, take a gan- see them now. Pretty fuzzy, though. der at 1978 and tell me if you can see There's four of them. Three men and a anything remarkable coming up." woman. Now hold on! There's something quaint! The woman and one of the "See anything big coming up for Texas "Well, let's see. Yes! I see something men are running for re-election. Plan to in 1978, Vega?" I asked. that you Texans might call remarkable. share the governor's office again. I'll be "Nothing very big," he allowed, gaz- It doesn't seem important to me. I see damned! Never saw that before." ing toward the new year, "but I see Dallas being moved out to the west side of Fort Worth." "Better get your future-gazer over- something sort of sad." "The hell you say!" I gasped. "What hauled, Deneb!" I commented. "That "Well, go ahead and describe it," I in the world are they moving Dallas lady's not a candidate. She's just a de- said nervously. for?" voted wife helping her husband get re- "I see a man. My stars, what a elected governor." handsome dude! He's positively gor- "Strip mining. I see the Texas Utilities "You might be right," he shrugged, geous! Why, I believe he's the handsomest System—that big holding company, you know? It's found lignite coal all under "but she seems to know a lot of things man in the world. He believes so, too. Dallas County. I see them getting ready about the governor's office that the man Hey, he's looking in a mirror. He's talk- don't." ing to the mirror. Yessir! And I can hear to strip mine the whole county. 'Mirror, "Good heavens! What are the people "Like what?" what he's saying! He's chanting, mirror, on the wall, Who'd make the best- of Dallas doing about it?" "Like where it's located. She knows est president of all?' The mirror's em- "Oh, some of them are up in arms," it's in Austin." barrassed. It won't answer. The man Altair wagged his head, amused. "I see "Well, where the hell does he think it's keeps chanting the question. The mirror Ned Fritz and the environmentalists rais- located?" I wanted to know. Deneb won't answer. The man's getting madder ing hell. I see The Dallas Morning News smirked, "Some place called Uvalde." and madder. He is sticking his tongue carrying daily editorials defending the "Dammit, Deneb, you're just playing out at the mirror. He's in a huff. strip mining, scorching the environmen- around. Cut it out and get serious," I "Now the man is traveling through talists for wanting to stop growth and said. "If you think that governor's race is 1978, and into '79. Traveling and talking. progress. It's a real battle. But hold on. so silly, forget it. Don't be making snide Traveling and talking. Opposition to the strip mining is dying remarks about our politics. We'll go on "What's he talking about, Vega? Still down now. The strip mining folk have to the United States Senate race. What asking the same question?" quieted the opponents with an important do you see in that one?" announcement. I see the opponents ap- "No. He's not asking anymore. He's Deneb put on a big show of peering plauding the announcement. Now all stating it as a fact now. Everywhere! Texas is applauding the announcement." and squinting. He's reminding people of his qualifi- "Democratic side's like it always is; cations. Unique qualifications, I must "Can you .hear the announcement, Al- too gummed up in a family fight to tell say. Now he's reminding them that he's tair?" I asked anxiously. heads or tails about. But I can see the the only candidate who has been Texas "Just a moment. Ah, now I hear it," he candidate that's running for re-election governor three terms. They remember. was straining. "The strip miners have real clear. It's September, and he's chug- Now he's reminding them that he's the promised that the Dallas-Fort Worth ging along the road to Election Day in only candidate to hold a series of cabinet Airport will be the first area of the that same old beat-up car of his. Looks posts. They remember. Hold on! county to be strip mined." from' here like an Edsel." Something's changing. Now I see the I thanked Altair. But not very warmly. "Is he leading the field?" I asked. people reminding him. He's forgotten. I walked back to the house, wondering "Can't tell from here. Just a minute. They are reminding him that he's the whether my star friends were prophets There he is in the middle of September only candidate for the presidency who or lobbyists. ❑

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 15 A Maury Maverick sampler:

Eight Texas tales

Johnson's seat. Ahead of him were John head is hung low, it means he has earned By Jan Jarboe Tower, Dollar Bill Blakely, Rep. Jim a fee and is depressed about it. Don't San Antonio Wright and Texas Attorney General Will disturb him. It would have been good to know Wilson. Behind were Rep. Henry Gon- This fall, a local radio station named Maury Maverick Jr. when he was young zalez, Bing Crosby's brand new father- him the worst dressed lawyer in San An- and clumsy and drunk a lot. Good to in-law, and 64 others. Maury distin- tonio. Determined Maverick should have know him when he could wipe away the guished himself—and drove his cam- the best, one young and admiring col- tears from his cheeks and leave a clean paign manager almost out of his mind— league bought him a pin-striped, vested spot instead of getting his handkerchief by calling for UN membership for suit. Maverick put it on and went to stuck in one of the lines which cut so mainland China. court, and the judge stopped the pro- severely down his face. He never liked the scrubbing that goes ceedings to tell him how nice he looked. As it is, there is a reliance on his on in the political process; he didn't like Maverick blushed with pleasure. story-telling ability. He is good at telling what he lost in the wash and what came He isn't what you'd call a happy man, stories, in the same way some people are off in the rubbing. but at 56, and after a lot of struggling, he good at whittling wood and others good His reputation has been made as a tire- has a good grip on things. at rearing children. He likes the telling less civil liberties lawyer. Back in the Maury Jr. once wrote, "I have held my and he likes watching the reactions of his 1950s, his courtroom work made it pos- sanity together, such as I have, through listeners. sible for Sporty Harvey, a black my wife [Julia], Irish wolfhound, silent He carries the burden of being the son heavyweight boxer, to fight a white man Quakers, young people, and genuine of a great man, the late Maury Maverick in a Texas ring. He won a case before the left-wing Jews who are getting as rare as Sr., a New Deal evangelist in Congress U.S. Supreme Court in 1964 and in so whooping cranes these days. and later a reform mayor of San Antonio. doing knocked out a portion of the He neglected to include story-telling. Once, over coffee in one of the city's McCarran Act, which required com- Herewith, a Maury Maverick sampler: new, natural food restaurants, Maury munists to register with the federal gov- Maverick Jr. said sadly, "I don't mean ernment. He tried hundreds of war resis- The "shackles treatment" this in an unkind or unloving way, really ter cases throughout the Vietnam "My great grandfather, Samuel Augus- I don't; but I never drew a free breath years—more than any other attorney in tus Maverick, the man from whom the and never thought of myself as my own the country. word 'maverick' came, was captured by man until five years after my father A Hollywood lawyer Maury Maverick Mexican soldiers in San Antonio. From died." That was in 1954, when Maury Jr. is not. If you saw him on the streets of there he was marched to Perote, about was 33. San Antonio in his checkered pants and halfway between Mexico City and Vera Still, the son is proud to be a Maverick string ties, you would mistake him for a Cruz. A political prisoner for several and sometimes rests on the fact that his Kiwani down on his luck or, at the very months in the winter of 1841-42, family has contributed three words to the least, a thrift store shoe salesman. If his Maverick was given his shackles when English language. A distant relative was released. Today they belong to the Uni- Col. Charles Lynch, who gave his name versity of Texas. to an unfortunate form of punishment. "When I was a little boy, my father on The noun "maverick" is the legacy of weekends would occasionally have his Maury Jr.'s grandfather Samuel share of bootleg whiskey and now and Maverick, who got rich by rounding up then give me the 'shackles treatment.' unbranded cattle in Texas and claiming He would hold up Sam Maverick's them as his own, as "mavericks." And chains and then addressing me, ask, Maury Sr., while chairman of the gov- `Does the gentleman yield for an ob- ernment's Smaller War Plants servation on liberty?' I would reply, 'I Corporation in 1942, ridiculed the federal yield to the gentleman.' Then he would bureaucracy's penchant for give me his long oration about liberty. "gobbledygook." The coinage has `Fight for liberty,' he would thunder as survived him. he waved those shackles. Maury Jr. has done time as a politi- "I loved my father and deeply respect cian. He served six years in the Texas his memory as a man of rare courage, but Legislature in the 1950s and was a being around him sometimes was like member of the Gas House Gang (Obs., drinking Tabasco sauce for a milkshake. Nov. 18). In 1961, he managed a There was often a crisis and he always 125,000-vote, fifth-place finish in the topped me, even in death. Only hours Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate before he crossed the great divide, my in the special election held to fill Lyndon father told me from his hospital bed, 16 DECEMBER 30, 1977

4.Noisaar.itc4101$0sc.:radA*0:00,=x,tovietimiuliaiArmiiiikiwrialit‘meo.4.A...i6k `Maury Jr.. you didn't turn out to be theless, I always liked him. One time Joe anywhere nearly as big a horse's ass as had a bill to stop the Mexican black fly Elliott Roosevelt.' I was weeping, but from coming across the Rio Grande, an then, suddenly, we both broke out laugh- effort to help the fruit growers of the Val- ing as he lay there dying." ley. Kilgore asked for an appropriation of $100,000, but a House amendment The bottom of the barrel came up from the floor, which was adopted, lowering the appropriation to "The Joe McCarthy era in Texas poli- $50,000 and mandatingjhat only the tics remains the low point of my life. female Mexican black fly be stopped. It "We hit the bottom of the barrel in the was the only time I ever saw Joe speech- Texas House of Representatives the day less." a bill was passed and sent to the Senate removing all books from public libraries Like William Blake adversely reflecting on American and "Banished with honor by the ironies of Texas history, the family, or religion. fate to California is one Fred Schmidt, an "The stunning moment came when the old CIO boy, once the Adlai Stevenson Texas State Teachers Association, in ex- of Texas organized labor. A heart-attack change for a pay increase, handed out a victim, living on a modest pension, Fred press release endorsing the bill. has become a sculptor. Teachers, mind you! "As a kind of memory thing, I have an "I voted against the bill and then, affinity for the long-gone CIO 'radicals.' while walking to my apartment, vomited First, there was Walter Reuther who got until flecks of blood came up. It is the my father to help organize the au- nearest inkling I ever had to what it must tomobile workers. Then there was Jeff have been like to be a Jew in Nazi Ger- Hickman, the Austin CIO lobbyist, who many." used to talk with me about restructuring our country in a way where there would Tiger Jim be less competitiveness, less greed, and Relax, and take a break "Blind Jim Sewell, the state represen- more generosity. tative from Corsicana, old Tiger Jim, "But most of all I remember Fred for lunch or dinner, touched my heart like no one else. Schmidt who inherited a love of liberty and watch the river. `Maaaaverick,' he would say, 'just look so common among the early German go by. The at that sunset. God isn't it pretty!' He put immigrants to Texas. Like present-day drinks are you so completely at ease you forgot he craft union business agents, he could talk was totally sightless. wages and hours, but unlike too many of ample, and "Jim would memorize his surround- them, he had a general reform spirit and the cheesecake ings and often walk along without help, drive. Fred, like William Blake, could is our own. We show-boating every inch of the way. One see 'a world in a grain of sand . . . and time we legislators went to the Driskill Heaven in a wild flower. . . I bet he still have sandwiches to Hotel, had too much lobbyist whiskey to can." seafood, from 11:30 drink, and couldn't find our way to the until 11:30 every day of One for conservatives elevator. 'Gentlemen,' Sewell an- the week; open till nounced, 'I will take you to your cab.' "This is a story for conservatives. Will And he did, the blind leading the blind. they ever understand the moral of it? midnight in the Metro "A few years ago, a wealthy Texas Center, San Antonio, John Nance Garner businessman asked me to be a pallbearer Texas. "One time long ago, Willie Kressman, for his father, an immigrant Marxist Jew the mayor of the American sector of-Ber- from czarist Russia. After the services lin, came to San Antonio with a request were over, the coffin was lowered. I from the State Department that I intro- walked with my friend to the edge of the duce him around. A call to rancher grave. He looked down at the coffin and Dolph Briscoe resulted in a trip to said, 'Goodbye, papa, Franklin Uvalde, and a visit to ex-Vice President Roosevelt messed up your revolution, John Nance Garner who was sorting out didn't he?' " pecans when we entered his room. The movie pass "That night, Dolph and Janey had Uvalde's finest out for a formal dinner. "When I was elected to the Texas `And what did you see at Mr. Garner's?' House of Representatives in 1949, D. F. Janey asked in the grand manner. Well,' Strickland, lobbyist for a theater chain, Willie began, `vhen ye first saw the Vice sent me a movie pass. I returned it to President dare he vuz at the dinner table him, explaining I thought it improper for playing vid his nuts.' " me to accept. He replied saying he was sorry I felt that way because only one Joe Kilgore speechless other legislator had ever done that, 'and he was a Baptist preacher who later went "Joe Kilgore, now a posh Austin insane.' I asked for my movie pass back lawyer, was one of the most able legis- and used it." lators I ever knew. A poor boy, he went ❑ from being a liberal in his youth to con- Jan Jarboe is a reporter for the San servative as he became wealthy. Never- Antonio Light.

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 17

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Also available: commemorative issues of Breakthrough, the women's newspaper which provided daily coverage of the National The cover girl state Women's Conference, November 18-20, 1977. 104 pages — $3.00, plus 70c postage. Newsweek. in a cover story on Texas -{ By Chandler Davidson (Dec. 12), attempts a rehabilitation of the ANnERSON & COMPANY Houston state, after our long night of national in- COFFEE famy. I appreciate the spirit behind the TEA SPICES In a fit of Yuletide goodwill, the effort (at least I think I do), but a re- TWO JEFFERSON SQUARE editors asked me the day, after the dead- line for this issue to review several rehabilitation courtesy of Newsweek car- . AUSTIN, TEXAS 78731 ries with it liabilities of the same order as 512 453-1533 cent articles on Texas. Fortunately, such was the quality of the literature overall a character reference from Richard Nix- Send me your list. that I was able to read it in about 30 min- on, and on reflection I think I will kindly Name utes. Writing the review took somewhat decline the offer. longer, and here it is. If you read it in- For starters, the cover photo is of the Street stead of buying the "works" reviewed, . Kilgore Rangerettes, a bit of anachronis- City Zip you will save yourself about $5. tic stereotyping that should serve as an

18 DECEMBER 30, 1977 early warning about the keenness of as a "Texas souvenir issue." Tucked Newsweek's insight. It's downhill from tightly in between ads for Downy Fabric • there. I offer this extract as evidence: Softener and Stayfree Maxi-pads are • several nonfiction pieces on Texas, a few • "The most visible and dramatic sign of • Texas' sprint to greatness has been the fictional ones as well, and what looks to • sheer growth of the place, the prosperity be about 5,000 recipes. • and sense of well-being that sweep over Most of the nonfiction is what you • it like the wind." would expect from a middle-brow wom- • e . Indeed. en's \uplift magazine: reminiscences of • Christmases past from Lady Bird's Union printing with com- • Among the "less visible" signs of this petitive prices. Support the • "sprint" (less visible, that is, than the memory chest, a cutesy story by Pru- •o, "sense of well-being," which to someone dence Macintosh, a Dallas matron, about movement, help us build her boys (189th Young Mother's Story in • like me, hampererd with the eyesight of the ideal. Come to I.D.A. for • middle age, might seem hardly visible at a series written by Redbook readers), your printing needs. •o and so forth. • all) are: • • "the spectacular explosion of oil and Here is Liz Carpenter, who coordi- • nated the issue: "Weather changes. But 901 W. 24th St., Austin • natural gas prices"; • Christmas is fixed in time and person, CIAMR • racial integration ("Texas integrated 477-3641 a=am 15 • and Texans were made for Christmas." • peacefully in the mid-sixties--an almost •e, overnight goodbye to segregated buses, The fiction is generally superior to the theaters, drinking fountains, universities nonfiction. William Goyen's short story and some, if not all, job discrimina- is excellent. tion");* As a Texan born and bred, I was sur- • Preston Smith's legacy, the DRIVE prised to discover my ignorance of many FRIENDLY road signs; of the traditional Texas foods touted in Sne (6-0 the recipe section: lentil and bean sprout • Houston, "the ultimate boom town"; salad with cucumber mousse, pink and • 14aS 4?)0 • Willie Nelson, etc.; tSte lemon tisane, champurrado (the tra- & ce -191s./2- • the Luckenbach renaissance. ditional Aztec beverage, as you know), ost Sprinting along toward greatness at and green chile quiche. tidy scp , Ca- this rate, Texas will overtake New York Either I grew up on the wrong side of City as a cultural capital by 1980 and the tracks—the one where quiches and Paris by 1984. And by then, Rasa Unida mousses were not served, as a rule, on a (yes, that is the way Newzweek spells it), daily basis—or somebody, maybe Liz which is depicted as a political force to Carpenter, is pulling several million be reckoned with, will have put its man ladies' legs. Bob and Sara Roebuck in the White House. ("Chicano political After plowing through Redbook, I consciousness has doomed the old polit- opened the December National Lam- ical order.") poon's "Texas Supplement" with high Anchor National Vintage Newsweek blather, hyperbole, hopes. While the stock-in-trade of the sloppy reporting and bad writing, in Lampoon's writers is pre-oedipal humor Financial Services other words. premised on the belief that the mere One remarkable sentence tells us that mention of doo-doo and pee-pee is good 1524 E. Anderson Lane, Austin "a new wave of Texas playwrights . . . for a laugh, they nonetheless come has vaulted from obscurity to raves in through on occasion with some wicked (512) 836-8230 New York." I hereby confer on cover and well-placed satire. story writer Nicholas Proffitt my • bonds • stocks • insurance Not this time. The supplement is very • mutual funds Triple-M Award (messiest mixed unfunny. An attempted spoof on outlaw • optional retirement program metaphor) for December. 1 have already music and cosmic cowboys comes about sent a raincoat to The New York Times as close to humor as anything they try. 1 drama critic to protect him from waves But in satire above all, an inch is as good HALF of vaulting Texas playwrights. as a mile. Curiously, Lampoon fails to The London Economist, in its article realize that outlaw musicians and cosmic PRJCE "The Third State" (May 14) is less in- cowboys intend to be funny, in a peculiar RECORDS MAGAZINE terested in rehabilitation than descrip- Texas way, and their self-mockery defies tion. It contains a pithy account of Texas the magazine's clumsy thrusts. social continuity and change, with em- Well, there you have it. Aside from the phasis on change. Written from a con- IN DALLAS: articles in The Economist, which you 4528 McKINNEY AVE. servative viewpoint and rather too ready can't get anyhow at this late date, your to offer conventional interpretations of five-spot would be better spent on the state's political culture and econom- Everclear for your eggnog, which, as my RICHARDSON: 508 LOCKWOOD (WEST OF POST OFFICE) ics, it is nonetheless an example of the father-in-law explains, scrambles the kind of informative, literate and compre- eggs. He's from a dry county in Texas hensive survey that is beyond the likes of FARMERS BRANCH SHOPPING CTR., and ought to know. SW CORNER, VALLEY VIEW Newsweek. Happy New Year. ❑ The December Redbook is advertised IN WACO: 25TH & COLUMBUS Chandler Davidson, a former as- IN AUSTIN: * The idiocy of this statement hardly merits sociate editor of the Observer, is a 1514 LAVACA comment for anyone involved in the ongoing member of the sociology faculty at Rice 6103 BURNET RD. 30-year struggle for integration. University in Houston.

THE TEXAS OBSERVER

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4-irf yf k. • „ ,eks40. ?tozert 1 frAo.:Ptikr-r„\ti_igAl • k s • 1 h • • /a . 4, By Jim Hightower v.e:7■4174,0 "afr Austin KW( t:ft /;"V -., • -..X0V,t-IIP6)•- There are two inevitabilities arising from a presidential race: (1) someone will win it, and (2) a library shelf-full of books will be published about it, each volume purporting to tell the inside - trA story(ies). The last quadrennial heave of 44(3 national democracy proves the point— Jimmy Carter outraced 11 major Demo- cratic candidates and the Republican 11. ,6,, incumbent, and more than two dozen 44'64.'4 books have made it into print to tell the t?-kags; !fps tale. Some of them were on the stands 0- 0044 ::11426- MARATHON: The Pursuit of the Presidency, 1972-1976 by Jules Witcover tid Viking Press, 1977. $14.95 AMERICAN JOURNAL: The Events of 1976 414 BARTON SPRINGS AT SOUTH 1ST by Elizabeth Drew kitif; AUSTIN, TEXAS Random House, 1977. $12.95 512/476-4838 ft,*-4.;‘,1 CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT: Viety4AP.-{VI42-`,"41 The Managers Look at '76 4iriaZOWie4SVMISP by Jonathan Moore and Janet Fraser i*' Nr a_17.01"; t ilitiZiilt. 170t1P-A10;pjegafr. Harvard University Press, 1977. $12.95 til' ll . _ 1411 111._avItinflir2M`ea, well before the Georgian was nominated, and the last (we pray) has only just rolled off the presses, 14 months after the 1976 fmale. It is as good a starting point as any. Campaign for President: The Managers Printers — Stationers — Mailers — Typesetters Look at '76 is an edited transcript of a three-day seminar held at Harvard Uni- High Speed Web Offset Publication Press — versity early this year and attended by various top campaign staffers who had come to rehash in some detail the strat- Counseling — Designing egies and tactics of the long struggle. As national coordinator of Fred Harris's Copy Writing — Editing presidential bid, I was invited to take part in the Harvard gathering and was Trade — Computer Sales and Services told in advance that our spoken wisdom would be transcribed and published. An — Complete Computer Data Processing Services identical seminar of 1972 campaign managers had resulted in a similar book by the Harvard Press, so I knew what to expect. I declined the honor, first because I was busy at a new task in Texas, and IL _si It1=111 Aviv- . second because there simply is nothing quite so dull and impractical as a bunch of campaign managers telling how it happened or—in all but one case—how it did not happen. It's the same reason I FUTURE.. don't play bridge. The game may be fun and a challenge, but I recall from my 512/442-7836 1714 South Congress college days the endless prattling from P.O. Box 3485 Austin, Texas 78764 the bridge regulars in the far corner of the student union (did they ever go to class?) about the previous hand: "If Roger just hadn't led with diamonds, I

DECEMBER 30, 1977 could have played my three spades after the spring of 1974; it was obvious as five Secret Service agents, only to be Mary threw down those sevens, which early as the summer of 1973 that Fred greeted inside the hall by an audience of would have let Chi Chi pick up the fifth Harris was running for it; and by one supporter, three national reporters, trick and. . . ." November of 1974, Walter Mondale had and four Harris staffers who had come If you have an academic or historical spent a year on the presidential trail and over to check out the Texan's lines. interest in Scoop Jackson's decision to already withdrawn from contention, It's humbling stuff. But, Mondale skip active campaigning in the New saying, "Basically, I found I did not have notwithstanding, presidential candidates Hampshire preferential primary, then the overwhelming desire to be president, almost by defmition have leather-bound this volume could be for you (though at which is essential for the kind of egos able to absorb such blows and keep $12.95 I'd wait for the paperback), but if campaign that is required." pumping. The slights and the drudgery of you really want to know what 1976 the long race are occupational hazards politics was about, The Managers Look The campaign trail, as Mondale that don't keep people from seeking the at '76 isn't going to satisfy. And if you're learned and as Witcover shows, is not job. "I used to pick cotton for a living," interested in running for president in always a friendly or even exciting place. Harris would tell reporters who asked 1980, stay as wide of this book as you I'm not talking of the final days of the him how he stood up to the grind, "and possibly can get. Nothing in politics fails primary season, or of the weeks leading this is a lot easier than that." up to the nominating conventions and so miserably as an attempt to apply the Far more important than endurance is tactics of an earlier campaign to a general election, when there is money to be spent, massive media attention, the amount of cash on hand. More than coming one. Besides, no matter what the anything else, a lack of money can pre- experts and high-priced consultants organizational support, Secret Service assistance, and the scent of victory in the vent a presidential candidate's views claim, there's not much to learn in presi- from getting a fair hearing, especially if dential politics anyway, beyond a few air. I'm talking of a time much further basic skills (how to poll, how to use radio back, back when you are stumping the he or she is a progressive. The hunt for spots, how to schedule a candidate, and provinces in search of a campaign base, dollars should rate at least a full chapter the like) and certain broad strategic just trying to get people to listen to what in any important work on presidential truths (start campaigning early, put most you have to say, suffering large and small campaigning, but it gets very short shrift of your effort in New Hampshire, don't slights at every turn. in the books of '76. Money is the govern- get caught in bed with a dead woman or a ing factor in campaigns, and its absence "I'm Fred Harris," my man affably or availability affects every tactical live man, etc.). One need not go to greeted a regional labor officer who had Harvard to learn any of this. decision. Federal matching funds were arrived late for a western Massachusetts available to qualified candidates In fact, one doesn't learn to run for union session in 1975. "Pleased to meet beginning Jan. 1, 1976, but the raising president at all. It is possible to devise you," the labor leader said pleasantly, and spending of money in 1975 was the strategies, consult advisers, and "what brings you to our area, Fred?" key to success in Iowa, Oklahoma, New generally gear up for the challenge, but "I'm running for president," Harris Hampshire and other states with early no candidate really can know what lies assured him. "Oh, of what loCal?" the primaries. And as Carter showed, ahead, much less be fully prepared. fellow asked innocently. "Of the United success in March and April was the key While running for president seems to be States," Harris had to tell him. There to nomination in July. a natural impulse for a politician (witness was the early 1976 scene. in Lawton, The rich liberals who had funded the growing fields of contenders), it is Okla., where the Texan-who-would-be- McCarthy and McGovern in 1968 and not a natural act. "It is a grueling, debilitating and often dehumanizing ordeal that exacts an extravagant price not only for winning but also for the mere running and losing," writes Jules Witcover in Marathon, the best book available on the 1976 election. Witcover knows what he is. talking about, having traipsed the countryside as a newspaper reporter covering presidential pretenders in each of the past five national elections. If. your interests go beyond simple campaign minutiae (and Witcover crams in more details and tidbits in his 656 pages than any of the other election-year authors) and you'd president, Lloyd Bentsen, was holding a 1972 generally withheld their support like the feel of a presidential race—the campaign rally. Bentsen, described by from Udall; Harris and Birch Bayh when madness of the chase—this is the book to Witcover as a candidate "straight out of it could have made a real difference. Yet read. He takes it from the start, appro- Central Casting," put a lot of emphasis you'll search Witcover's 28-page index in priately subtitling his work "The Pursuit on the image of his campaign, attaching vain for the names of the wealthy of the Presidency, 1972-1976." Jimmy as much presidential pomp to it as he Southern California liberals who Carter began planning his campaign im- could, apparently hoping that people demanded (and got) command perform- mediately after the 1972 Democratic would mistake him for the real thing. On ances from the progressives in the convention, even before McGovern this day in Lawton, Bentsen swept up to spring and summer of 1975. These disappeared in the election returns; Mo the rally in his limousine, accompanied candidates did their songs and dances, Udall was aggressively campaigning by by a sizable entourage and preceded by but they received little or none of the

THE TEXAS OBSERVER 21 early money so essential to mounting a would do even more than federal match- February, is labeled (albeit fondly) "a full presidential challenge. Ironically, ing funds to put candidates on relatively kind of lark" by Drew. No one who put these same Californians made a $50,000 equal financial footing. As it, is, the time, thought, energy and money that contribution to Carter in 1975, not be- candidates spend most of their tax Harris did into his campaign—at one cause they liked him, but because they dollars on network air time, which is point, he even mortgaged his house—is feared George Wallace's candidacy and owned by the public in the first place. off on a lark. Another problem with wanted to use Carter to do in the Ala- Better to allocate a minimum amount of Drew's work is that she spent a lot of bama governor in the South. Had they the public's air time to each candidate, 1976 in the company of Washington arranged to make the same contributions leaving the matching money for establishment types like Hubert to Harris, for example, he would have grassroots campaigning. Humphrey, Carl Holman, Fred Dutton been able to put badly needed organizers Aside from Witcover's Marathon, the and Adlai Stevenson. ("This afternoon, I into Iowa and New Hampshire in the '76 crop of campaign books is hardly dropped by to talk with John Gardner, to summer of '75, rather than at Christmas. vintage. There were no gems this time, see what he was thinking about," is a And the matching funds that such con- nothing to rival Hunter Thompson's typical entry.) As experienced as such tributions would have generated in Fear and Loathing on the Campaign people may be, they usually are the last January of '76 would have allowed him Trail or Timothy Crouse's The Boys on to know what's going on in the country to buy more television time in New the Bus, both products of the '72 race. or what someone like Jimmy Carter is Hampshire. As it turned out, a near- (Crouse's book did prompt a curious sort about. empty war chest forced us to cancel of televised follow4ip: a documentary I am left to conclude that the most much of the time already reserved. crew tagged along with Witcover early in perceptive writing about 1976 is not to be The entire Harris budget for the New '76 to cover him covering the found in a book. It was done by Joe Hampshire primary, $70,000, bought campaigns—it was a little disconcerting Klein, a reporter and associate editor of precious little media exposure. While we to be interviewed—as I was—in a Rolling Stone, and published in the were scrambling in the snow for our po- Manchester bar by Witcover, with the magazine's Sept. 25, 1975, March 11 and litical life, NBC television was spending cameras zooming in on his face when he March 25, 1976, issues. In the last two of $100,000 to turn a Manchester motel asked a question and panning to his these, Klein attempted the only suite into an anchor set for election night reporter's notebook while he scrawled innovative coverage of the campaign— coverage and a Barbara Walters "To- my guarded response; Witcover was rather than follow one or more of the day" show broadcast—all this expense getting better TV coverage than Harris. candidates, he settled in two towns and bother for a total of five hours' air (Sioux City, Iowa, and Jacksonville, The only other book worth mentioning Fla., respectively) and let them come to time. Walking through the set while it is Elizabeth Drew's American Journal: was under construction, I realized there him. He reported on local people, their The Events of '76, but only because it issues, and their responses to the is no campaign reform worthy of the was disappointingly shallow. Drew is a name unless it includes a provision for candidates as they came through. It keen observer and a good writer, capable worked, and Klein got to the meat both free television and radio time for all of much better reporting than this, most candidates. of presidential politicking and the public of which appeared in The New Yorker mood. Unfortunately, Rolling Stone Witcover adverts to the possibility of during '76. A major flaw is that she publisher Jann Wenner couldn't under- such a reform in his concluding chapter, doesn't start her journal until Jan. 1, stand what Klein had brought off, and noting that, "The networks certainly 1976; she seems unaware of all that has made him do personality pieces on the would squawk, but they always do when led up to the election year. The Harris candidates instead. It's a shame; had a suggestion comes along to reduce their campaign, for example, which had Klein been able to continue, his locally gigantic profits to merely colossal." But played extraordinarily well in 1975 and based articles could have added up to a the matter deserves more attention than had a pretty good two months in 1976 book that would have made the best Witcover gives it, because free air time before going into a tailspin at the end of campaign reading of 1976. ❑

r : J L i NEW ORLEANS ON $8 A YEAR. The FINANCE YOUR NON-TANGIBLE sale: JOIN COMMON CAUSE. Weekly Courier, 1232 Dec'atur, New Orleans, Only one person La. 70116. contracts through me. Trade school, health can make democracy work again ... YOU. spas with service contracts financed without $15 ($7 for students). Common Cause/Texas, EIGHT LARGE COLORED PRINTS, UT credit check, Write Kenneth Edwards, 711 San Antonio St., Austin, Texas 78701. and Austin. $5.90 ppd. Longhorn Frame, 507 'Economist, 3237 Ewing Ave., Houston, Bee Caves, Austin 78746. Texas 77004. IRISH TIN WHISTLES. Bb,C,D,Eb,F, and G. Any three for 10 postpaid. Amster Music, FREE . WHEELING BICYCLES, 2404 San 1624 Lavaca, Austin 78703. FOREIGN AUTO SERVICE. In Houston. Gabriel, Austin. For . whatever your bitycle Honest, reliable service. VW, Volvo, and needs. . LIBERTY LUNCH. 405 W. 2nd. Austin. Ec- some others. 1805 Laverne, 467-0664. NEED SOMETHLNG from Germany? Jim lectic fare. Jazz Theatre. RECORDER PLAYERS. Looking for re- & Hanni International, 1600 Northwood, corder music? We have largest library in Austin 78703. 474-2582. JOIN. THE ACLU. Membership $20. Tdxas West. Come in or send for catalog. Amster Civil Liberties Union, 600 West 7th, Austin t Recorder Co., 1624 Lavaca, Austin 78703. WIN YOUR NEXT ELECTION. Send for Texas 78701. free catalogue of service and materials avail- BOOK-HUNTING? No obligation search for able from one of America's best-known politi- Classified advertising is 300 per word. Dis- rare or out-of-print books. Ruth and John cal consulting firms. Write Campaign As- counts for multiple insertions within a 12- McCully. AWAY Books. (517.) 263 2957. Rt. sociates, Inc., 516 Petroleum Bldg., Dept. month period: 25 times, 50 percent; 12 times, Iv 8 , Li(,!. 1 73 , A Wel , If: X 2 S 7S10 10-1, Wichita, KS 67202. (800) 835-2234 25 percent; 6 times, 10 percent. . . sei...vccorvammusaillis vammtierststaetwatiffiorwastiareticAerriarxweLvaramir .1•11 22 DECEMBER 30, 1977

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nunciation or strident in its defense, but nent to his emotional orientation, but IRS in hiding always lacking in taste and understand- they are beside the point in architectural If you think the tightened security at ing. Laura got the whole thing in criticism. I have no idea what he may the Internal Revenue Service's regional perspective, and I congratulate the Ob- mean by "pluckish" architecture, but his service center in Austin is ridiculous server for its own perception in keeping meaning, and his ignorance. are quite (Obs., Dec. 2), try getting through to her around. clear in his use of the scurrilous term the Philadelphia regional service center, Joe B. Frantz, 4301 Edgemont, Austin. "Dugout Doug." which handles, among other things, re- One may disagree with some of the turns of U.S. citizens living abroad, general's political views (I do) without aliens, and nonprofit organizations. descending to the ad homitzem and un- The last time I tried (when a nonprofit Irrational emotionalism justifiable use of an epithet connoting client's request for an extension of time cowardice. Everything pertinent in My family subscribes to your MacArthur's long service belies this, for was up and still hadn't been approved), magazine and I read it regularly. I find it there were no phone numbers for the a rational evaluator. One may also de- a very interesting and, on the whole, val- plore the sometimes unavoidability of Philadelphia service center listed with uable publication. This marks an excep- Philadelphia information. The Austin war (I do) without Walker's fatuous tion. treatment of the war which was neces- district director's office had no numbers I am a moderate who avoids being either, nor did the Philadelphia district sary to defeat the horror of Nazi Ger- glued into either label liberalism or label many and the runaway militarism of To- director's office. Finally, an employee at conservatism, though, over the years, I the Austin service center said she'd try jo's Japan, as an aspect of this country's have more often than not agreed with "20th century manic-depressive surge to to get through and ask someone at the liberal positions, especially in a Texas Philadelphia service center to call me. power." Just a little common sense, in- context. But I draw a distinction be- formed by some sense of history, would She called back later to say she couldn't tween rational, responsible liberal argu- reach them either. refute that. ment and irrational leftist emotionalism. Whatever one may think about the The military could take lessons from James Stanley Walker's article on the the IRS when it comes to security. care for "duty, honor, country" which Douglas MacArthur Academy of Free- Walker claims the while he is contradict- Robert Morrison, 1209 Rio Grande, dom at Howard Payne College (Obs., Austin. ing himself, it is clear that the "en- Dec. 2) is egregiously and gratuitously lightenment" to which he gives a higher offensive to me, as an officer who fought priority will not emanate from him. If he IWY in perspective under MacArthur through World War II is any less confused about architectural and who knew him personally. It is also a criticism perhaps he should stick to that Laura Richardson's account of IWY bad piece of writing in that it confuses 'field. (Obs., Dec. 2) is the first balanced one I apples with oranges. Walker's egalitar- have seen in any kind of journal. ian sensitivity" and fear of "effective Howard W. Peak III, 105 Encino Av- Everyone else's is either shrill in its de- anti-communist cadres" may be perti- enue, San Antonio.

1 This calendar is an information service for Observer readers. Notices ArU _J must reach the Observer at least three weeks before the event.

Jan. 6 / Fri. / Austin: The state for Equitable Taxation, a citizens' a.m. in the Houston city health power plant, and Jim Schermbeck Senate's consumer affairs sub- lobby working for tax law reform, department auditorium. 1115 of the Armadillo Coalition, a citi- committee, chaired by Ron holds its annual convention. Reg- North MacGregor, to determine if zens' group opposing construc- Clower (D-Garland), continues istration begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Houston's Garden Oaks Nursing tion of nuclear power plants in the hearings on the operation of the Ramada Inn Gondolier, IH 35 and Home should lose its license. state. At the Austin Friends' state fire marshall's office. At 9 Riverside Drive. The morning Information: R. V. Smith, 1100 meeting house, 3014 Washington a.m., Lieutenant Governor's session includes workshops and West 49 Street, Austin 78756; Square. The public is invited. committee room, state capitol. regional caucuses. The general (512) 458-7488. Information: Ken Carpenter, Information: (512) 475-3090. session convenes at 2 p.m. in the (512) 474-2399. main ballroom of the Gondolier. Jan. 13 / Fri. / Houston: Friends House speaker Billy Clayton de- of State Rep. Lance Lalor host a Jan. 18 / Wed. / Beaumont: The Jan. 10 / Tues. / Houston: U.S. livers the keynote address. fundraiser featuring an exhibit of Texas Water Commission Senate candidate Bob Krueger Information: (512) 477-6152. works by Houston and Austin considers an application from speaks to the Houston Society for artists and music by Ain't Mis- Conservation Services, Inc., to Coating Technology on natural Jan. 12 / Thurs. / Brownfield: behavin'. Belly dancers. jugglers operate an industrial solid waste gas pricing, the federal toxic Bob Krueger addresses the Amer- and mimes also perform. No disposal site and construct a land- substances control act, energy ican Petroleum Institute, South admission charge; cash bar. At 7. fill in Jefferson County. The legislation, and Texas politics. Plains section, at 7:30 p.m. at the p.m., University of St. Thomas public hearing begins at 10 a.m. in From 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., Sonny Brownfield Country Club. His art gallery, 3905 Yoakum. the Lower Neches Valley Au- Look's restaurant, 9810 Main topic, of course, is energy. thority meeting room, 7850 Street. Information: (512) 478- Jan. 15 / Sun. / Austin: Texas Eastex Freeway. Information: 1978. Jan. 12 / Thurs. / Houston: The Mobilization for Survival meets to David Hume, (512) 475-2711. Texas Department of Health hear Ed Wendler. who will talk Jan. 10 / Tues. / Austin: Texans conducts a public hearing at 10 about the South Texas nuclear —Vicki Vaughan

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