14 A Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South E-4 October 15, 1976 La Raza's community farm plan So I say to you tonight, my fellow Texans, if you want your tax money used to establish a Little Cuba in Texas-to establish a communal farm in Texas-to promote Socialism in Texas-if you want federal funds to finance efforts to destroy the free enterprise system, the capitalistic system that has built this state and this nation of ours, then you want a continuation of power of an admin- istration that makes such grants to the Raza Unida Party. -Dolph Briscoe

By John Muir Crystal City Gov. Dolph Briscoe's charge that La Raza Unida is trying "to establish a Little Cuba in Texas" has once again heaved the minor- ity party into a major controversy. The object of the governor's ire is a $1.5 million federal grant made to the Zavala County Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit corporation with close ties to the Raza-dominated government in Zavala County and its county seat, Crystal City. The legal ground for the governor's objection is that the Ford administration failed to allow his office to review and comment (Continued on Page 3) Tad Hershorn A Dallas tussle over preservation By a Dallas correspondent Dallas There's a battle going on in Dallas that is proving a point: it's a lot easier to say you're a good guy than to be a good guy, especially if your bank account, prestige, and ego are challenged in the pro- cess. At its simplest, the fight is one between an energetic, determined The Historic Preservation League (HPL), struggling tenaciously to save a trio of historic downtown buildings from apparently waste- Sanger ful demolition, and an equally determined Dallas County Commu- nity College District (DCCCD), whose chairman of the board and Complex chancellor can envision no possible way of expanding their El (Continued on Page 11) IMPRESSIONS OF GUSTAVE—First Ameri- through Oct. 23 and Oct. 27-30. Theater One, can museum retrospective of paintings, pastels, Trinity University, San Antonio. and drawings by Gustave Caillebotte, who was ICE CAPADES—Did you know they now do active in French Impressionist movement; Oct. kung-fu on ice skates? Ice Capades are up-to-date 21 through Jan. 2, Museum of Fine Arts, Hous- and still sparkly; through Oct. 24, Convention ton. Center, Dallas. LOCKS & TREASURERS—Exhibition of price- OCTOBER 21 less Persian rugs, with accompanying exhibition CHICAGO BLACKS—Three members of world of Persian locks (the better to safeguard our trea- renowned Negro Ensemble Company join Alley sures, dear); through Nov. 7, Art Museum, Uni- Theatre production of Phillip Hayes Dean's "Sty versity of Texas, Austin. of the Blind Pig," story of black family on TEXAS SHORTS—Continued screenings of Chicago's South Side; through Nov. 28, Alley short films by Texans: Wynne's and Butt's Theatre, Houston. "Fast-Talking Guy," Oct 23; Roy Fridge's FREE AIR—Faculty Woodwind Quintet perform "Concert Tonight" about kinestatic sculpture, Oct. 26; hypnotic animation in Daniel Jircik's for free; 8:15 p.m., Roxy Grove Hall, Baylor "Film About: Orange Parachute," Oct. 31; University, Waco. Media Center, Rice University, Houston. RUSSIAN PIANIST—Lazar Berman, heralded pianist, plays on tour; Municipal Auditorium, OCTOBER 15 Austin. OPERA OPENING—Houston Grand Opera opens its season with glittering cast headed by OCTOBER 22 Greek baritone Kostas Paskalis in title role of CZHILISPIEL—Old Bohemian art of chili- Verdi's "Rigoletto," alongside American sop- cooking originated with the Czechs, promoters of rano Benita Valente and British tenor John Czhilispiel insist, and you might go taste and de- Brecknock; through Oct. 18 and Oct. 22, Jones cide for yourself, along with bluegrass music, Hall, Houston. polka and whatnot; through Oct. 24, Flatonia. © Michael Arth, 1976 STRING CLINIC—Gathering of the catgut set, POLITICAL COMIC—Godfrey Cambridge is a with Chamber Ensembles performance, 6:30 funny man who plays his politics serious, with p.m.; concert by violinist Robert Murray, 8:15 time out for plays like "Room Service," with p.m.; continuing Oct. 23 with Baylor Symphony Fortnight student supporting cast; through Oct. 24, Mary Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Sternberg, 4 Moody Northen Theatre, St. Edward's Univer- p.m.; free to public, Roxy Grove Hall, Baylor sity, Austin. University, Waco. By Suzanne Shelton - EQUUS" TOUR—Broadway play continues its DEAD DANCER—The plot of this one is Texas tour with Houston performance; 8 p.m., memorable: Jean Anouilh's "Time Remem- OCTOBER GRAB BAG Music Hall, Houston. AMERICAN COLORIST—Maurice Prender- bered," charming comedy about young milliner gast, American counterpart to the Fauves, was who is employed to impersonate dead ballerina to SOFTSELL—Barry Manilow, with his marsh- precursor of 20th century serial painters primar- fulfill prince's fantasy, whew!; through Oct. 17, mallow sound, in concert; 7 and 10:30 p.m., ily concerned with color, as evidenced in this col- University Playhouse, University of Texas, El McFarlin Auditorium, Dallas; also Oct. 23. 7 and lection of paintings, watercolors, and monotypes, Paso. 10:30 p.m., Jones Hall, Houston; and Oct. 27, through Nov. 21; also first major showing of OCTOBER 17 Municipal Auditorium, Austin. Willem de Kooning's lithograph cycle plus eight SINGING SWEETHEARTS—Kris Kristoffer- sculptures and five recent paintings, on display son and Rita Coolidge warble, courtesy Pace OCTOBER 23 through Nov. 28; Michener Galleries, Harry Concerts; Municipal Auditorium, Austin. PRIMA DONNA—Leontyne Price is one of the Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin. best, a soprano of passion and opulence, whose OCTOBER 18 voice is one of our national treasures; 8:30 p.m., FAMILY PHOTOS—From the collection of CHAMBER MUSIC—From New York comes Laurie Auditorium, Trinity University, San An- Gordon Hendricks come 40 photographs taken Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, in tonio. by painter Thomas Eakins, documenting his fam- concert; 8:15 p.m., Union Lyceum, North Texas ily between 1880 and 1890, plus Dean Brown's State University, Denton. "Photographs of the American Wilderness"; OCTOBER 24 through Nov. 28, Amon Carter Museum of West- ARMADILLO UPTOWN—Armadillo Produc- NIGHT MUSIC—Broadway touring play, "A ern Art, Fort Worth. tions imports Gino Vanelli, who specializes in Little Night Music," visits Houston; Music Hall, high-class electronic rocka-and-rolla, to the big Houston. WOMEN'S WEAVING—Functional-decorative stage uptown; Municipal Auditorium, Austin. weaving show by Austinite Ann Matlock, former OCTOBER 25 Dobie-Paisano fellow, Rebecca Munro of Austin, OCTOBER 19 LOOSENING THE LARYNX—For free, go Houstonian Alicia Duplan, and Shelby Harman CHECK OUT CZECH—Your chance to hear hear Opera Workshop Scene Recital; 8:15 p.m., of Stony; through Oct. 29, Kerbey Lane Gal- Czech Nonet, who visits Baylor as part of Distin- Roxy Grove Hall, Baylor University, Waco. leries, Austin. guished Artist Series; 8:15 p.m., Roxy Grove Hall, Baylor University, Waco. OCTOBER 26 PRISON POW-WOW—This is the 45th Texas FOLKLORICO—Ballet Folklorico is always a FIESTY FLAMENCO—National Festival Ballet Prison Rodeo, and they're always worth a holler favorite, especially if it's the Amalia Hernandez of Spain dashes into Houston, with flamenco, and a whoop, with superstar lineup: Freddy Fen- troupe of Mexico City; Municipal Auditorium. classic regional dances, Manuel de Falla's der, Oct. 17; Tanya Tucker, Oct. 24; Tom T. Austin; also Oct. 28-31, Jones Hall, Houston. Hall, Oct. 31; and lots of cow-roping and bronc- "Three-Cornered Hat" with original sets and cos- riding and whatall on Sunday afternoons in Oc- tumes by Picasso, and more; 8:30 p.m., Music BARITONE ONSTAGE—Jack Coldiron lets us tober; The Walls, Huntsville. Hall, Houston. hear his baritone splendors, for free; 8:15 p.m., Roxy Grove Hall, Baylor University, Waco. LITERARY FLICKS—Film series dealing with OCTOBER 20 life and work of major literary figures continues VLADIMIR VIARDO—Society of Performing with: "Gertrude Stein: When This You See, Re- Arts books young Soviet pianist Vladimir Viardo, OCTOBER 28 ANOTHER FREEBIE—Baylor is really dishing member Me," Oct. 21; "The Mysterious Mr. winner of 1973 Van Cliburn competition; 8:30 (T.S.) Eliot," Nov. 11; Laguna Gloria Art p.m., Jones Hall, Houston. out the free music this season, continuing with percussionist Michael Rosen, in concert (but it's Museum, Austin. GROUPIES' STATION—"Stage Door" is en- free only if you're a bona fide Baylor bear, shrined in this play by George S. Kaufman and otherwise small charge for public); 8:15 p.m., 2 The Texas Observer Edna Ferber, directed by Mary Ann Colias; Roxy Grove Hall, Baylor University, Waco. families in terms of health and food and all Community farm . • • that, but also in terms of the general condition—of apathy and social pathology, if you want to call it that. (Continued from Page 1) the same risk as the, vegetable crops," Salas continued. "We're planning a complete Manpower on the grant. Atty. Gen. John Hill has filed Development Program within the farm it- suit to block distribution of the funds. But "The operation of the farm is going to be self, from the actual planting, the hoeing, the controversy really doesn't concern pro- the base for all the other operations. We the thinning, and the utilization of whatever cedure, but rather politics and economics. have money to invest in import-export with herbicides and insecticides are necessary, La Raza Unida, a third party that some- Mexico and for commercial to the harvesting, processing, packaging, times deprives Democrats of crucial votes development—but, out of the money we marketing, and quality control necessary to during important elections, has enjoyed have, we're putting more than half into the deliver our produce to the hospitals or chain good relations with the last two Republican farm. So you can get an idea really where stores or wherever we sell it. It's a whole administrations. Last year Zavala County our priorities are: employing people and integrated operation, and we see establish- got $10 million in federal grants. having them participate in their own labor. ment of some kind of job program so that Yes, the problem is part politics. Why "We think we can employ immediately, there can be mobility, so that people are not else would the Democratic governor wait so by this next spring, fifty fulltime employees relegated to working in the fields the rest of long to raise his objections to the Zavala in all aspects of the agricultural coopera- their lives," Salas said. grant? The development corporation re- tive. We think there will be a need for two "Another thing about working in the ceived $200,000 in grants during the past hundred more on a seasonal basis, and fields is a thing that goes on amongst us—I year from one source, the Community Serv- when I say seasonal I mean six to eight don't know if it's just chicanos or if it's all ices Administration, to plan the $1.5 mil- months. Those people are going to get a poor folk—that working in the fields is in- lion project. Briscoe could have criticized guaranteed income, whether there are crops herently wrong. You know, like parents these grants earlier, but how much more ef- or there aren't crops. There's no other way saying to their kids, 'I'm doing this so you fective it was to accuse the Republican to do it. We have to say to these fifty won't have to.' The only reason we see it as Party of financing a Little Cuba right before families that we will provide a living wage being demeaning is because we've been op- the presidential election. for them 52 weeks a year, whether we're pressed and they haven't paid us and we've lived in horrible conditions for terrible Briscoe also has economic reasons to be planting in the summertime or whether it's too hot to plant. wages. Part of the development of the concerned about what's happening in cooperative farm has to be involved with Zavala County. The governor is from "Initially, what we plan to do is develop a system of wages, fringe benefits, and par- putting dignity back into the work of raising Uvalde County, directly north of Zavala. food." He has at least 330,000 acres of ranchland in ticipation by the members in directing the Uvalde, Zavala, and surrounding counties. operation of the farm. We accept as a given The export-import function of the EDC In addition, he is the major stockholder in fact that no one . will get less than the has less immediate importance than the the largest financial institution in the area, minimum wage, and more at the beginning. farm, but it is tantalizing nonetheless. Salas First State Bank of Uvalde. As the reigning We're already contemplating $2.50 an hour described this aspect: "Just very briefly, rancher/banker in the area, Briscoe is as a base pay for everyone," he said. what we want to do is integrate some of the naturally upset to discover a model of col- "We're also talking about having hot lective farming right under his nose. meals in the fields, about day-care centers, someplace where the children can be with Texas newspapers have given significant play to Briscoe's remarks. The following the families—the little children, I don't conversation with Jesus Salas, executive di- mean the school children. They go to rector of the Zavala County Economic De- school. And we're talking about sanitary facilities. velopment Corporation (EDC), is designed to give Observer readers an idea of what La "We're also talking about a fringe-benefit Raza is trying to accomplish in this long- package. We have a planning consultant neglected South Texas county. right now setting up life insurance, good health-hospitalization coverage, and an Salas is a college-educated chicano in his employer-employee investment plan where, thirties. He grew up in South Texas and in depending on the vote of the membership, Wisconsin, where his migrant family fol- we'll set up a financial mechanism, a lowed the crops. He wants to use the $1.5 scholarship fund, a housing development million, in part, to buy 1,000 acres for a program, or whatever the membership cooperative farm that will be owned by a wants." subsidiary of the development corporation. Salas explained that the EDC presently "We're going to farm at least half those consists of about 200 members (some indi- acres in vegetable crops for the market," he vidual, some family) who joined voluntar- explained. "And about half of those are ily. They attend meetings, elect a board of going to be in labor-intensive crops like directors, and pay $10 a year dues. About cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and broccoli. 80 percent of them fall under federal pov- The other half will be in vegetables that erty guidelines, most of them migrant work- don't require so much labor in the field but ers or unemployed. The membership as a which can provide jobs in the processing whole will select the workers for the farm plant we'll have. and other EDC projects. Tad Hershorn "The other 500 acres will be put in a good According to Salas the main problem in rotation system so we can reduce our fer- Zavala County is unemployment, which fruits and vegetables already coming in tilizer costs. We've identified grain crops often goes as high as 30 to 40 percent of the from Mexico into our own production so we can sell, even though we won't get as adult population during the summer that we have a more diversified product for much money as with the market vegetables. months. "We think a lot of other things go the market. Our studies show that diversifi- These grain crops will also help stabilize the with not being employed," he said. "Not cation of this sort is our best way to farming operations because they don't have just the lack of money, what it does to October 15, 1976 3 minimize our risk. If we can integrate some grandma's, where I eat, if you don't get mechanism, will never be able to get the of these crops from Mexico, it will also there at noon you don't eat." We made ar- public improvement projects that are neces- mean we replace some of the existing in- rangements to meet after lunch for further sary toally provide the services." termediaries and middlemen. Rather than conversation and a tour of Cristal. Salas broke off as we approached the new have a private investor be the middleman, county clinic. "Let me tell you the story what we're offering some Mexican growers As we got into the car for our tour, Salas about this street," he said. "The county is for the EDC to be the broker. We can launched into a rambling exposition of the clinic was built in our most humble bring produce directly from Mexico in bulk, problems of rural counties, the role of the neighborhood—you can see the housing maybe even ungraded. We'll do the grading, EDC in Zavala, federal money, and how to here—but the reason it was built here is this selecting, and packaging right here. We'll provide services for people. "Counties have is mainly where our health needs are. But take care of the marketing aspect and ship it never developed a mechanism for social also, by doing this, we got about ten blocks out under our own label. services," he said. "There never was any- of sewers, of lights, and of paved streets "That's the aspect relating to agricultural thing like that there until Raza Unida took because we were able to impress upon 0E0 farming. But there are other things we're over. There never was a Manpower Pro- and HEW that we needed not only this ac- interested in. We're looking at a very fine gram, there never was such a thing as ambu- cess but another access for the emergency quality plastic basket made in Mexico for lance service for people in the rural part of vehicles. But, anyway, it's operational now packaging our cherry tomatoes, our straw- the county, there never was such a thing as and it's beautiful, just beautiful." berries, all of our smaller vegetables. We've county health services until La Raza Unida As we drove away Salas pointed to the done a feasibility study on the price and took over. outdoor toilets which still remain in much of quality, and we think we've found the best "In other words, all the things we take for one in Mexico. the neighborhood. "As I told you, there are granted, that exist in some of our larger neighborhoods in town which didn't have "We also hope to export products to urban counties, just basic services for sanitary water until Raza Unida came in. Mexico. Everyone knows about Mexico's people do not exist—are not a part of trade deficit with the United States. That's county government—in rural areas. Espe- "The sheriff's department, in conjunction because of its need for manufactured goods. cially in rural areas in South Texas, but I with the county, provides ambulance serv- We're attempting, mostly through the In- imagine it's the same thing all over the ice for the people from around the farms, you know, and it's on call 24 hours." stituto Mexico Comercial Exterior, the one country," Salas said. that put on the trade fair in San Antonio "Part of it is that rural counties like our- "The Mexicans that came here after the recently, to identify different needs that selves don't have the planning mechanism, war settled in this neighborhood and rein- forced our own culture—just take a right Mexico has for manufactured goods. We'll don't even have a planner in the whole god- placita—but do the feasibility studies and the marketing damned county. We cannot compete with and go around what we call the they also brought with them the sense of program and try to get their goods for them. Dallas or Cook County, or Milwaukee We don't even need to have that large a County, or Orange County. They have en- values and orientation which the anglos had attempted to remove. And the societies volume. I mean, when you're talking about gineers and architects, they already have they brought, the Miguel Hidalgo Society, $500 million worth of trade, [between the water and sewer development programs, U.S. and Mexico], if we could get just a they have their housing programs all set up. the fraternal societies, the masons, the so- couple of percentage points we'd be very As soon as the [federal] money is available cial groups . . . even though it was a very humble community, there was a very strong happy." they just dust their proposals off, rewrite placita is where tra- At this point Salas abruptly broke off the them a little, and they're in. Somebody like organization. So this conversation, glanced at his watch, and ourselves, and I'm sure the majority of rural ditionally we have all of our independence made a phone call. Then he got out of his America doesn't have the monies or the tax days and our patriotic days." chair, stretched, and said, "Over at my base to develop an effective planning Later, driving out of an even older

EDITOR Kaye Northcott BUSINESS STAFF THE CO-EDITOR Jim Hightower Joe Espinosa Jr. EDITOR-AT-LARGE Ronnie Dugger C. R. Olofson

TEXAS Published by Texas Observer Contributing Editors: Steve Barthelme, Bill Brammer, Publishing Co., biweekly except for a Gary Cartwright, Joe Frantz, Larry Goodwyn, Bill Hamilton, three week interval between issues twice OBSERVER Bill Helmer, Dave Hickey, Molly Ivins, Franklin Jones, a year, in July and January; 25 issues per Lyman Jones, Larry L. King, Georgia Earnest Klipple, Larry year. Entered as second-class matter ©The Texas Observer Publishing Co., 1976 Lee, Dave McNeely, Al Me linger, Robert L. Montgomery, April 26, 1937, at the Post Office at Aus- Willie Morris, Bill Porterfield, James Presley, Buck Ramsey, tin, Texas, under the Act of March 3, Ronnie Dugger, Publisher John Rogers, Mary Beth Rogers, Roger Shattuck, Edwin 1879. Second class postage paid at Aus- Shrake, Dan Strawn, John P. Sullivan, Tom Sutherland. A window to the South tin, Texas. Single copy (current or back We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the issue), 530 prepaid. One year. $10; two A journal of free voices truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are dedicated years, $18; three years, $25. (These rates to the whole truth, to human values above all interests, to the include 5 percent sales tax). Foreign, ex- Vol. LXVIII, No 20 Oct. 15, 1976 rights of humankind as the foundation of democracy; we will cept APO/FPO, $1 additional per year. take orders from none but our own conscience, and never will Airmail, bulk orders, and group rates on Incorporating the State Ob- we overlook or misrepresent the truth to serve the interests of request. Microfilmed by Microfilming server and the East Texas Demo- the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the human spirit. Corporation of America, 21 Harristown crat, which in turn incorporated The editor has exclusive control over the editorial policies Road, Glen Rock, N.J. 07452. the Austin Forum-Advocate. and contents of the Observer. None of the other people who Change of Address: Please give old are associated with the enterprise shares this responsibility and new addresses, including zip codes, Editorial and Business Offices: with her. Writers are responsible for their own work, but not and allow two weeks. for anything they have not themselves written, and in The Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th, Postmaster: Send form 3579 to publishing them the editor does not necessarily imply that she Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th, Austin, Tex. Austin, Tex. 78701. Telephone agrees with them because this is a journal of free voices. (512) 477-0746. 78701. 7.41347;76 neighborhood, we approached the biggest building in Crystal City, an ancient ice plant next to the railroad tracks which run through the middle of town. "This is the biggest ice plant in all of Texas," said Salas. Wright in leadership race "When Jose Angel [Gutierrez, Zavala County judge] talks about colonialism that's exactly what it was. The railroad was brought in and the ice plant was brought in and the workers were brought in to exploit Texas may rise again the land. They never considered us as per- manent residents of this community. That's Austin why the town grew as it grew, into the dif- offering no better odds than 9 .to 5 to win. ferent neighborhoods, because they always It used to seem that Texans held about But his campaign took off fast, and he talks considered us as seasonal, they only needed every position of political power in today of having about 80 pledges. He has us for the agricultural crops. That's the way Washington—from the presidency to the also lowered the odds to 7 to 5. the whole attitude of the anglo community head of the House subcommittee on park- Wright has the support of everyone in the was created. The school system was de- ing. Of course, it's not the same now, and Texas delegation with the exception of veloped to defend that particular kind of the old political hands will tell you it all Eckhardt and Brooks, who have been system." began to crumble the day Sam Rayburn committed to Burton for some time. In addi- As we drove down the tracks, talk turned slipped away from us, leaving the House tion, a majority of the lllinois delegation, all to the governor's attempt to block the grant. speakership in the hands of a. Bostonian. four West Virginia members, about half of "I think it's just the first step," said Salas. But, shoot, things aren't half as bad as the New Jersey delegation, several Dixie- "I think we're going to be politically haras- these worrywarts would have you believ- crats, and a smattering of sunbelters are re- sed. I think he's gonna attempt everything ing. Texas is making a comeback. There's ported to side with Wright. he can do, both on a state level in relation to people like Mahon and Teague, who've There is some talk that Tip O'Neill (a the kind of check-off procedures we have to been up there forever, but there's also charter member of the stop-Burton move- do with him, to the COG [Council of Gov- Brooks, Wright, de la Garza, Young, ment) engineered the Wright candidacy on ernments], to the attorney general's or- Roberts, Gonzalez, and even Bob Eck- the basis that he would be a surer shot than ganized crime division. It has a permanent hardt, each of whom either has a piece of Bolling to bring Burton down and on the office there, on top of the bank," he said, power or is within reach of it. basis that Wright would be a team player if pointing. "Christ, we must be the only town In fact, one of our own has built up he comes home a winner. There is meaner our size that has a permanent office of the enough kick to make a bona fide race for talk that Wright is the candidate of some of attorney general." majority leader of the House. It doesn't the bigger lobbies, particularly the highway, There was a silence as we turned back seem so long ago that Jim Wright was a billboard, and contractor interests. In his toward the EDC offices. Salas seemed to be fresh face from Fort Worth, carrying some own behalf, Wright says he belongs to no thinking of the obstacles ahead of him. liberal credentials to Congress and being one. He is touting himself to his Democratic "How we put this all together, and how talked about for the U.S. Senate. But here peers as being a good party man and an many of these things we can do in the first he is in his 22nd year of House seniority even-handed moderate who can be a bridge year, we are just starting to find out. I don't already, running for the top Democratic to the conservative southerners and mid- know exactly how many things we can do. post. westerners. To the surprise of many, Wright has a The fact that we have an 80 percent enroll- Analysts don't know what to make of the ment of poor people in the EDC I think chance. The acknowledged frontrunner is leadership race. Some pundits think that helps us to be more correct about whatever Californian Phillip Burton, who is the tough, smart, liberal chair of the House Burton is too liberal for labor, that Wright is assessments we have for creating the kind too conservative for labor, and that Bolling of jobs we need, and giving the work, not as Democratic caucus. Burton has been run- ning for majority leader for two years. He is too reformist for labor. Bolling thinks an ethic in itself, but really giving it the kind Wright is in the race to help Burton. Rep. of meaning that is necessary for life. Man claims to have pledges of support from 130 Morris Udall, a Burton supporter, thinks it controlling his production—how he sees of his Democratic peers, which would put will come down to Burton and Wright, with himself and his own labor. I think it is very, him just a skip, hop, and wobble from the Burton pulling it off because he can get the very important." 144 votes needed to win. But Burton has enemies, not the least of which are most of moderate swing vote. Rep. Joe Waggoner, the big business lobbies and the heir- considered a savvy head counter in the House, picks either Bolling or Wright to Personal Service — Quality Insurance apparent to the House speakership, Rep. Tip O'Neill of Massachusetts. Predictably, win. McFall says he has more votes than ALICE ANDERSON AGENCY then, there is an "anybody but Burton" Wright. INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE movement, and the leadership post is a long A rugby scrummage makes more sense 808A E. 46th, Austin, Texas way from locked up. than this. Truth is that no one knows who's 459-6577 The first to contend with Burton was ahead, much less who might win when the Richard Bolling of Missouri, an expert on actual vote is taken next January. Right congressional rules and long-time House re- now, the contenders are campaigning hard, form advocate. He's been in the majority but they are getting slight attention from 4'1k leader race for over a year and claims to be colleagues who are distracted by their own running second and gaining. Then came re-election campaigns. ALAN POGUE another Californian, John McFall, who is described as being of "the Tiger Teague After Nov. 2, the race will come into Photographer of school of slap-on-the-back politics." sharper focus. For the moment, it's enough • political events & pseudo events, of McFall started slow and slacked off. At this to say that Wright is no worse than a close third, and he just might find himself on top • people in their natural surroundings point, when McFall analyzes his position in the race, he does not use numbers. of the heap. J.H. Rag office 478-0452 Austin In August, Wright put himself and Texas forward. He did so with a touch of realism, October 15, 1976 5 Eckhardt runs for all he's worth

I remember pacing up and down the sidewalk outside the hall with Mrs. Randolph just a day or two before the election, with the crowd inside getting restless. Finally Bob came driving up in a red jeep. We said, "Where've you been?" And he said, "Out riding horses." —Billie Carr, reminiscing about one of the 1960s Bob Eckhardt congressional cam- paigns.

I was at five Catholic churches, two Baptist socials, and a neighborhood reception on Sunday. —Bob Eckhardt, talking with a reporter about this year's re-election campaign, then seven weeks away. Austin Lower says the campaign is built on the For a. change, U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt kind of precinct organizing that always gave (D-Houston) is working as hard to get re- Eckhardt his support. In addition to Jocelyn elected as he works in Congress. Since Gray as central office manager, five part- around the first of August, he has been re- time organizers are working the district, turning home from Washington to campaign plus Democratic headquarters working in every weekend, often stretching the Deer Park, Pasadena, and North Shore. The weekend's work to three and even four campaign has ten phones in a phone bank days. He's hired one of the best campaign now, building to 20 phones in the days be- organizers in Texas—Ann Lower—to fore the election. The office is open seven handle this one. And Billie Carr says Eck- days a week and has been answering the hardt's being real good, showing up for his phone at both early and late hours—signs of scheduled campaign events, getting there a hustling campaign. on time, and generally "being helpful." And Eckhardt himself is hustling more It was not always so. A few politicians than anyone can remember. He's campaign- would rather hold office than run for office. ing 12-13 hours a day and expects to be in Eckhardt is one of those; by all accounts, he the district virtually full-time now that Con- is happiest plying the legislative trade. gress has adjourned. Lower says Eckhardt Then, too, Eckhardt's district fits him as is heavily scheduled for appearances in comfortably as an old shoe: heavily Demo- churches, on college campuses, before city cratic, predominantly working class, and councils, at shopping centers, with senior populist-oriented. So Eckhardt was not al- citizens, and at a host of other events. He ways what the professionals call a "good" even hosted chemical plant managers (who candidate—he stayed in Washington a great had supported his toxic substances control deal, and he didn't campaign all that hard act) for a boat ride aboard the "Texas when he came home. Yet he struck a re- Queen." sponsive chord in his constituency and got elected by whopping margins. In 1974, Is all this necessary? Gearhart says he Eckhardt won 77 percent of the vote in the Eckhardt campaigning S. Valentine has polls showing Eckhardt vulnerable, par- Democratic primary and 72 percent in the ticularly in the northern area of the district publican Ron Paul. It was sort of a good where wealthier people are moving in. general election. government ad starring Nick Gearhart. Then, why all the fuss just two years la- Lower says the district has shifted some, The Eckhardt campaign expects the but not that much, "It is still a solidly Dem- ter? It is because Eckhardt believes he has a Gearhart campaign to focus that wealth on serious challenge on his hands. Even if the ocratic district and solidly working class," them. "Our opponent is not Nick she said. And on the matter of Gearhart's Republicans can't beat him this time, a Gearhart," says Ann Lower, "it's close race would encourage them to mount big television budget, some of Houston's Gearhart's budget." The Republican has political professionals doubt its efficiency in a long-term, major effort to bring him down not bothered to build much of an organiza- in 1978. a congressional race that is not county- Nick Gearhart is the Republican nominee tion in the district, giving credence to the wide, suggesting that Eckhardt's more in the 8th congressional district. He is a widely-held view that his campaign will boil targeted use of media (radio, newspapers, former television broadcaster with some down to a media blitz. direct mail) should prove the better ploy. In name recognition in a district he sees as Lower says they have the bulk of their addition, Gearhart appears to be spending having shifted toward his conservative $75,000 budget in hand, with most of the money haphazardly, buying billboards, as- views. That may not seem like much to contributions coming from individuals at sorted brochures, pushcards, and other sweat, until you realize that Gearhart's about a $20-average clip. Money also has campaign paraphernalia that make money campaign budget is reputed to be in excess come from such unions as Communications for advertising firms, but do not necessarily of $300,000 (at press time, the Gearhart Workers, Steelworkers, United Auto make congressmen out of former television campaign had not returned the Observer's Workers, and Oil, Chemical, and Atomic broadcasters. phone calls). Eckhardt's budget is $75,000. Workers. But, on the other hand, $300,000 will Gearhart has collected so much money in About 40 percent of Eckhardt's budget is cover up a lot of mistakes, and the thought his campaign coffers during the year that he set aside for direct mail, including mailings nags that Gearhart might possibly pull it off. bought television time this spring to urge to 20,000 senior citizens, to union members, Bob Eckhardt likes being in Congress, and people in a neighboring district to vote their and one mailing to every registered voter in his legislative record shows that he's good choice in a special congressional election the district (117,000 households). About at the work. He doesn't intend to let all that between Democrat Bob Gammage and Re- another 25 percent is going to radio spots, go by being caught napping, so he's pitting newspaper ads, and polling, and the rest is his energy against Gearhart's money. 6 The Texas Observer going to organizing. J.H. •

Big bucks back

twit Bentsen IP'7/79 111

Austin Some major special-interest group contributions to Senator Bentsen: Since January, 1975, U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen has received $133,250 in campaign AMOUNT INTEREST GROUP funds from special-interest groups in- Business groups: terested in his re-election to the Senate. $10,000 Truck Operators' Non-Partisan Committee Nearly half of that-$55,625--came from (American Trucking Association) big business, and another $30,425 came 5,000 Automobile & Truck Dealers' Election Action from the health industry. Committee These figures were compiled by Common 4,550 Savings Association Political Elections Commit- Cause from federal reports filed by busi- tee ness, agriculture, and professional interest groups. Bentsen's total ranks him as the na- 3,250 Realtors' Political Action Committee tion's number one Senate recipient of 3,000 Non-Partisan Political Support Committee special-interest group funds. (General Electric) The figures include only contributions 2,750 Securities Industry Campaign Committee made through the political action commit- 2,500 Committee for Action (Associated General Con- tees of the special interests-they do not tractors) include the individual contributions made 2,000 Industries Civic Trust (IC Industries-a con- by corporate executives, association offi- glomerate with holdings ranging from Illinois cials, and so forth. Central Railroad to Dad's Root Beer) Bentsen recently lashed out at his Repub- 2,000 Banking Profession Political Action Committee lican challenger, U.S. Rep. Alan Steelman (American Bankers Association) of Dallas, for accepting $10,000 from the Professional groups: League of Conservation Voters, charging that the national environmental group was $10,000 American Medical Association Political Action pouring thousands of dollars into the state Committee to defeat him. The Common Cause report 10,000 Texas Medical Political Action Committee shows, however, that Bentsen is by far the 6,500 Nursing Home Administrators' Political Action heavier recipient of out-of-state funds. He Committee of Texas has taken $5,000 or more from the political 5,000 Attorneys' Congressional Campaign •Trust committees of such national groups as the (American Trial Lawyers Association) American Trucking Association, the Au- Labor groups: tomobile and Truck Dealers Association, the American Medical Association, Nursing $ 5,000 AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Home Administrators, the Marine En- 5,000 MEBA Political Association (Marine Engineers gineers Beneficial Association, AFL-CIO/ Beneficial Association) COPE, the American Trial Lawyers As- 3,450 United Steelworkers of America Political Action sociation, and American Milk Producers, Committee Inc 3,000 Railway Clerks' Political League Steelman received $18,167 from interest 2,500 UAW V-CAP (United Auto Workers) groups, including $1,000 from Houston Oil 2,000 Transportation Political Education League and Minerals' Good Government Fund, (United Transportation Union) $2,367 from the LTV Active Citizenship Campaign Fund, $1,200 from the Sedco Agricultural groups: Political Action Committee (the fund of the $ 5,000 Thorough Agricultural Political Education Dallas firm, Sedco, Inc.), $1,000 from the (American Milk Producers Association, Inc.) Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Political 2,850 Agriculture and Dairy Educational Political Action Committee, and the $10,000 con- Trust (Mid-America Dairy, Inc.) tribution from the League of Conservation Voters' Campaign Fund. J.H. October 15, 1976 7 Political Intelligence

The attorney general's office shay The report continued, "It is apparent to The Balcones• Children's Psychiatric • never get out of South Texas. First this jury that these federal departments Hospital has been plagued with administra- John Hill sent a task force to work in Duval should have made inquiry into the allega- tive and labor problems since it opened two County, a fertile field for investigation, if tions of widespread fraud in the spending of years ago. Some members of the child- ever there was one. After retiring a couple large amounts of federal money in Zavala caring staff at Balcones took the unprece- of grand juries that wouldn't say shoo to a County." dented step last year of forming a union and goose, the task force managed to blast loose then filing a grievance action concerning an avalanche of indictments. Child care child treatment conditions with the National Then they moved over into Jim Wells The State of Louisiana will soon be Labor Relations Board. In a precedent- • County to clean up a few odds and ends. removing its wards from three private setting decision, the NLRB ruled that con- Early in September, all five members of the child-care institutions in Texas. In July, a ditions-of treatment of the institution's pa- Jim Wells County Commissioners Court U.S. district judge in New Orleans ordered tients were legitimate union grievances. and the county auditor were indicted for al- Louisiana to withdraw all its children— What remains to be seen is whether leged misapplication of public funds and for approximately 700—warehoused in Texas Louisiana institutions can do better by their knowingly approving bills for work done on institutions. Under an agreement reached children. Judge Rubin has ordered the private property. Sept. 22, the first removals will be from Louisiana Health and Human Resources Now the attorney general is sending two Dyer Vocational Training Center in Leona, Administration to pay for an individual veterans of the Duval County probe into Gertrude Thomas Home in Houston, and evaluation of each child returned from the Starr County on the Mexican border to help Balcones Children's Psychiatric Hospital three Texas institutions and then to provide local officials investigate narcotics traffick- outside of Austin. appropriate care within the state. ing and "possible official corruption." Starr The Dyer Vocational Training Center was Dan R. Eddy Jr. of Dallas, who has has lately come to resemble a free trade criticized by Federal Judge Alvin Rubin for • been a member of the Texas Good area for arms, narcotics, and hired killers. excessive use of psychotropic drugs to con- Neighbor Commission for eight years, suf- In the latest bloody episode, three Rio trol children. The Gertrude Thomas Home fered a well-nigh terminal case of foot-in- Grande City men were murdered gangland was described by one of the expert witnes- mouth disease recently when he was ques- style and their bound bodies were found ses in the Louisiana case as "a place tioned about the propriety of a trip he made locked in automobile trunks in a neighbor- [where] children are sent to die." The home to Tampico last May. State Rep. Bill Hol- ing county. houses profoundly retarded children, many lowell of Grand Saline wondered if it was Meanwhile, an a.g.'s task force con- of whom are admitted from hospital nurs- more of a "family trip" than an agency trip. - tinues to work in Zavala County. In eries only a few days after birth. "A family trip? To that dirty place?" re- June, a Zavala grand jury returned 11 theft sponded Eddy. "If I would never get to and official misconduct indictments against Mexico again, it wouldn't bother me. I two former school superintendents and a don't like the food or the climate." local contractor. And in late September, four individuals (still unnamed at press The commission is a state agency dedi- time) were indicted for theft and conspiracy cated to promoting better understanding be- to commit theft in regard to federal housing tween Texas and Mexico. development funds. An outgoing grand jury which handed Business as usual down the indictments concluded in a report, By a vote of 41 to 35, the U.S. Senate "From our investigations so far we feel the • has upheld President Ford's veto of a federal Department of Housing and Urban $100 million project to develop an au- Development in San Antonio and the De- tomobile engine that would get good partment of Health, Education, and Welfare gasoline mileage and not pollute the air. In in Dallas have been negligent in overseeing vetoing the bill, Ford stated that he thought the spending of funds disbursed by them in the private auto industry was best equipped Zavala County. In some cases, we believe, to develop a clean, efficient engine. they have been specifically advised that cer- tain forms and reports submitted to obtain The Houk of Representatives had voted funds from them were not true. Apparently to override Ford's veto, with all of the they did nothing except to disburse the Texas delegation except de la Garza, Hall, funds." Paul, Collins, Archer, and Steelman (who was absent) voting in support of the project. 8 The Texas Observer But the vote in the Senate was ten short of Bob Wieland Texas Business reported that 18 of 32 the two-thirds majority needed to override. have gained. In any event, the report is cer- • Senator Tower voted against the project, tain to dampen Senate enthusiasm for reap- top corporate executives surveyed at and Senator Bentsen was absent pointing Schnabel. a recent meeting of the International Trade Conference of the Southwest said they feel Remember Chuck Robb, who married corporate payoffs abroad are a necessary • Lyndon Johnson's daughter Lynda in Dinner gravy part of doing business in overseas markets. the White House back in 1967? The Robbs have a big house in Washington's fashiona- According to records filed in the sec- The Dallas Morning News apparently ble McLean suburb now, and Chuck is mov- retary of state's office, the major • thought the misdemeanor charge of ing into position for a run at Virginia's beneficiary of the Robert Strauss fundrais- marijuana possession against Robert Med- lieutenant governorship next year. Rich and ing dinner this summer (Obs., July 16) was rano was big-time stuff. It certainly was no good looking at 37, Robb finds himself Neal Spelce Associates, the Austin p.r. firm ordinary chicano bust. Medrano, 33, serves much in demand at Virginia Democratic that was hired to stage the flamboyant af- as the first Mexican-American on the Dallas functions, where he reportedly sparkles. fair. Spelce received $109,367 for planning, school board, and he belongs to a politically potent westside family. Robb works with the well-connected coordination, publicity, and production Washington law firm of Williams, Connolly, functions. That's 43 percent of the dinner's The News gave prominent display to the and Califano, though he is spending most of $253,000 gross. Net proceeds for the Texas arrest, which occurred after police officers his time these days traveling Virginia to Democratic Party were about $37,000, a far searched a parked car in which Medrano campaign for various Democratic candi- cry from the $200,000 profit originally pre- was sitting with two other men. A bag of dates. He gained a bit of visibility this sum- dicted by Demo honchos. weed and several partially smoked joints were found in the car, and all three men mer when former Johnson crony and cur- Walter Wendlandt, the Republican rent Demo Party chief Bob Strauss ap- • were arrested. Medrano said he was un- candidate for railroad commissioner, aware that there was marijuana in the car. pointed Robb to serve as deputy counsel tells the Observer that although he and parliamentarian to the Democratic plat- notarized a 1968 land deal involving RR Then, six days after the bust, the News form committee. Commissioner Jim Langdon, railroad lob- devoted approximately two-thirds of the byist Walter Caven, and others (Obs., Oct. front page of an inside section of the Sunday 1), he was not aware of what he signed until paper to reactions to the incident—two Not so right he looked up the instrument in county deed stories and five pictures. "Medrano pro- New York Times reporter Seymour records earlier this year. (Wendlandt is claims no crime committed," said the top • Hersh was distinctly unimpressed criticizing Langdon for the transaction.) headline. Down below, a smaller story was entitled, "Medrano's neighbors embar- with Leon Jaworski's Watergate memoirs, "While employed by the commission I As special rassed by arrest." It was fairly elaborate The Right and the Power. probably notarized thirty instruments for coverage for a misdemeanor, certainly more Watergate prosecutor, Jaworski was the Commissioners Langdon and Ramsey," column inches of type than are usually de- man who decided not to prosecute Richard Wendlandt said. "Any notary will tell you Nixon. Hersh concluded in a piece for The voted, say, to a public official arrested on the notarization is to the signature only, and drunk driving charges. New York Times Book Review: "I'm not notaries do not ordinarily read the instru- trying to suggest that Mr. Jaworski is any- ments and I did not." Time magazine has cited The Dallas • as one of the five best thing but a decent, honest man following his erred in its last issue by Times-Herald The Observer "Dixie Dailies" in a special issue entitled instincts, but it's a little staggering for a identifying Langdon as the retiring railroad non-lawyer to realize anew—as this book so commissioner. Ben Ramsey is retiring, not "The South Today." clearly tells us—how deeply arbitrary per- Langdon. sonal biases and personal beliefs cut across October 15, 1976 the administration of justice in this nation. To put it more directly—there is a double standard, especially for presidents facing prosecution who are allowed to pick their CLASSIFIED prosecutor." Classified advertising is 20¢ per word. Discounts JOIN COMMON CAUSE. Only one person can Texas GOP Sen. John Tower and his for multiple insertions within a 12-month period: make democracy work again ... YOU. $15 ($7 • wife, the former Joza Lou Burlington, 25 times, 50 percent; 12 times, 25 percent; 6 times, for students). Common Cause/Texas, 711 San are splitting the blanket after 23 years of 10 percent. Antonio St., Austin, Texas 78701. marriage. JOIN THE ACLU. Membership $15. Texas Civil BOOK-HUNTING? No obligation search for When last seen, state Senate secre- Liberties Union, 600 West 7th, Austin, Texas rare or out-of-print books. Ruth and John Mc- 78701. Cully. ARJAY Books. (512) 263-2957. Rt. 8, Box • tary Charles Schnabel was walking 173, Austin, Texas 78703. out of a Travis County court with a pro- NEW ORLEANS ON $8 A YEAR. The Weekly bated sentence on a misdemeanor and a Courier, 1232 Decatur, 70116. UNDER OLD MANAGEMENT: Jim Walls, $2,000 fine, feeling relieved that five felony Carl Shropshire, Props. THE PIER, Lake Aus- charges involving abuse of official office THE NEW YORK TIMES Sunday edition deli- tin. 263-5108. had been dropped. Then, Lt. Gov. Bill vered to your home in the Dallas area. Call 239- BOOKPLATES. Free catalog. Many beautiful Hobby (who opposes Schnabel's reap- 5325 for rates and information. designs. Special designing too. Address: pointment to his $37,500-a-year post) re- BOOKPLATES, P.O. Box 28-1, Yellow leased an attorney general's report on the NEED SOMETHING from Germany? Jim & Springs, Ohio 45387. operation of Schnabel's office, alleging that Hanni International, 1600 Northwood, Austin most of the dismissed charges against 78703. 474-2582. PLAYING THE RECORDER IS EASY. Free Schnabel are true. catalog, best recorders, recorder music. Begin- Included are charges that Schnabel had GUITAR PICKERS. Buy your guitar strings ner's Pearwood Soprano Book, $11.95. Amster private printing done in the state print shop from us and save 20%. Mail orders accepted. Music, 1624 Lavaca, Austin. and that he used Senate employees to work Amster Music, 1624 Lavaca, Austin. on his ranch. Schnabel continues to deny FOR RENT. Two-bedroom, two-bath house these charges, but the attorney general's of- LIBERTY LUNCH. 405 W 2nd. Austin. Eclectic near west UT-Austin campus. Available fice now is examining the report to deter- fare. Jazz Theatre. November I. All modern conveniences. Excel- mine whether to file a civil suit to recover BOOKS PRINTED from manuscript. Biography lent condition. Furnished. $400, bank reference any monetary benefits that Schnabel might Press, Rt. 1-745, Aransas Pass, Texas 78336. required. 512/477-5654, Austin, Texas. • Frank Erwin, former UT regents ing up steam. Creekmore Fath, an Austin chairman and a political ally of John Mirex, a highly-toxic and controversial in- attorney and respected veteran of progres- secticide (see Obs., Aug. 20). White cited Connally, found his way into the Ford-for- sive political battles in the state, is working President camp. Jimmy Carter's reported new federal studies in states where Mirex as "senior consultant" to the Carter effort; has been applied over large areas, finding comments about Lyndon Johnson being a former State Sen. Don Kennard, now with liar and a cheat were just too much for him, that 21 percent of the human population the LBJ School of Public Affairs, is heading have Mirex residues in their tissue. In areas Erwin said, so he hopped aboard President up "Conservationists for Carter"; Ronnie Ford's recent Mississippi riverboat ride and of heavy and repeated aerial application, as Luna has taken leave from the attorney much as 44 percent of the population had Publicly embraced the Republican's cam- general's office to serve as a field desk paign. Mirex residues. White only banned aerial coordinator; and Austin attorney David application of Mirex, saying the department Volduc is coordinating the Carter speakers • Jimmy Carter's Texas campaign has would shift to ground application in areas picked up staff and claims to be pick- bureau. that contain infestations of fire ants, the in- Press secretary Al Reinert says the Texas sect Mirex is designed to combat. 10 The Texas Observer Carter forces are "going on the offensive" Only four of the 26 Texans in Con- in October, taking to the road with such sur- • ANDERSON.& COMPANY gress rated above 50 percent on the rogate speakers as Gov. Dolph Briscoe, Lt. pro-consumer scale of the Consumer Fed- COFFEE Gov. William Hobby, Atty. Gen. John Hill, TEA SPICES eration of America (CFA). The ranking is and Secretary of State Mark White. Briscoe based on 1976 congressional votes analyzed TWO JEFFERSON SQUARE alone is scheduled in October for about a AUSTIN, TEXAS 78731 by CFA, the largest consumer organization dozen Carter speeches, an uncharacteristi- in the nation. Rep. Bob Eckhardt, who has 512 453-1533 cally fast pace for the governor. Apparent- Send me your list. been endorsed for re-election by CFA, re- ly, Briscoe is spurred not only by his feeling ceived an 81 percent approval rating, as did that Carter must carry Texas against Ford, Name his Houston colleague Rep. Barbara Jor- but also by a strong conviction that dan. Rep. Henry Gonzalez (D-San Antonio) Street current-Governor Briscoe must carry Texas and Rep. Jim Wright (D-Fort Worth) both against former-Governor Connally. City Zip received 54 percent ratings. • According to the first of a series of CFA named five "consumer zeros" in the weekly polls conducted by the San Texas delegation: Sen. John Tower (R), Antonio Express, Democratic nominee Rep. Omar Burleson (D-Anson), Rep. Dale MARTIN ELFANT Jimmy Carter leads President Gerald Ford Milford (D-Grand Prairie), Rep. Jim Collins among Bexar County registered voters by a (R-Dallas), and Rep. Bill Archer (R- SUN LIFE OF CANADA margin of 44 percent to 31 percent, with 25 Houston). percent undecided. The poll was taken dur- The two candidates in this year's U.S. LIFE ing the last week of September. HEALTH Senate race barely scratched with CFA, In the same poll, the registered voters of with Democrat Lloyd Bentsen getting a 7 DENTAL Bexar County chose Democratic Senatorial percent rating and Republican Alan Steel- 600 JEFFERSON incumbent Lloyd Bentsen over Republican man getting a 9 percent rating. SUITE 430 challenger Alan Steelman by 42 percent to HOUSTON, TEXAS 20 percent, with the remainder undecided. (713) 659-1212 • Agriculture Secretary John White has Call PICK, banned aerial application in Texas of Before You Pack FOR HOUSTON You Are Invited To An Evening At The Theatre With Enjoy real money-saving value, and relax at the JOHN HENRY FAULK ALBERT p CIS at the performance of "Born Yesterday", Center Stage, 320 E. 6th Si. Austin MOTOR INN Thursday October 14, 1976 8 PM 3301 Southwest Freeway Sponsored by Common Cause. at Buffalo Speedway Each old member is asked to bring a good prospect • Heliport and Airport Bus for a new member and to renew his or her membership. Terminal near by • Color TV in every room "Born Yesterday"* and Common Cause's program and • John Henry Faulk's talk after the performance are all Restaurant & Lounge variations on the same theme: • Heated Pool • Family Plan • Free Parking Government Must Be Honest and Open. • Meeting and Convention Tickets are available for $4.50 (the regular price) at . Facilities for up to 375 Common Cause, 711 San Antonio, Austin 78701, 474-2374. ALL AT MODERATE RATES A sellout is likely, so get your tickets NOW. *,, . . . a production that glows with intelligence, compassion, RESERVATIONS: and a great amount of charm.," Paul Beutel, The Statesman. CALL TOLL FREE "BORN YESTERDAY" / JOHN HENRY FAULK / COMMON CAUSE 800-621-4404 in Illinois: 800-972-7200

October 15, 1976 11 . .. BROWSE TILL

• ' • 10 :00 P.M. MONDAY A\V-7'ft,„4. ,w.'"-k • •••••• •.• thou Architects' plan for El Centro campus FRIDAY (Sat. 9:00-6:00) Now In Our Preservation tussle .. 13th Year of 'service to Austin age, in 1966, by conducting an award- (Continued from Page 1) GARNER ANO SMITH—I winning restoration of one of the four old Centro campus except to shear those build- buildings occupying El Centro's property. STORE ings from the face of the earth. This structure, which the college calls its A During the past year and a half, this battle Building (originally constructed in 1910), BO 1 has engaged thousands of hours of people's then began serving a dual function as El • Austin, Taxes 76705 time and hundreds of thousands of dollars in Centro College and administrative head- 2116 Guadalupe legal fees. It has sent genteel Dallas blue quarters for the college system. The remain- 477-9725 bloods into fits of Yahoo-rage and frustra- ing three Sanger buildings were tion. It has severed friendships and business "mothballed." associations, pitted architects and other Ironically, it was also in 1966 that a come" professionals one against another, mittee of Dallas architects, under the aus- threatened people's jobs, unmasked hypoc- pices of the local chapter of the American risies, and embroiled a half-dozen state and Institute of Architects [AIA], identified the local bureaus. The struggle has now Sanger Brothers' complex as one of the nine reached the State Supreme Court, where most significant architectural sites in Dal- the combatants will soon undertake their las. Among those architects was a member next confrontation. The outcome of this of the Oglesby firm. SUNDAY case may well have a bearing on the fate of In 1972, having completed two or three of endangered historic structures all over their suburban campuses and sitting on $85 BRUNCH, Texas. million in bonds recently provided by Dallas The story dates back to 1966, when a voters, Mr. Thornton and Dr. Priest de- newly constituted DCCCD commenced op- cided it was time to expand El Centro, pos- OR erations at the present site of El Centro Col- sibly sprucing up the joint as well. The Og- lege in downtown Dallas—a two-block rec- lesby Group were instructed to attend to the WEEKDAY tangle bounded by Main, Elm, Market, matter. They produced a design for a wholly and Lamar Streets. Four vintage buildings new edifice. The design spelled doom for all known for decades as the Sanger Brothers' the historic structures in the Sanger com- LUNCH. complex are situated on the campus. plex except Building A. The three buildings The college district was headed then as are to be replaced with a mini-park and Champagne and Eggs Benedict now by R. L. Thornton Jr., old-line overstreet extension designed to house a overlooking the river, Sunday morning! banker/booster and chairman of the dis- cafeteria and "learning resources center" trict's board of trustees, and Dr. Bill J. (library). Or salads, soups, chili, sandwiches, Priest, chancellor. They hired a Dallas ar- When it became clear to the public, early tacos or daily specials for lunch six chitectural firm called the Oglesby Group to in 1973, that the older buildings were days a week. Purely filling food and draw up both a short-term and long-term scheduled for demolition, several preser- drink. Come on up.11:30 AM-3..00 PM plan to accommodate not only El Centro vationists visited Dr. Priest to discuss the every day. All major credit cards. 516 but the administrative offices for the entire possibility of incorporating the structures Riverwalk, San Antonio, Texas. college system (which from the outset pro- into El Centro's plans for expansion. Dr. jected a network of six new suburban Priest said it was too late. Much as he him- the campuses, in addition to El Centro). self, being an historian, would love to have The Oglesby Group, among whose prin- those old buildings around, they were, ac- greenhouse cipals are Enslie (Bud) Oglesby and Robert cording to his architects, beyond salvation. Halford, had in those days a good-guy They were structurally unsound. Their image as advocates of historic preservation elevators were falling. And, alas, the build- (Oglesby himself, until recently, sat on the ing code of the City of Dallas forbade the advisory board of the activist Historic Pres- use of such buildings for educational pur- a fresh food restaurant ervation League). They enhanced their im- poses. Time passed. Construction proceeded on voluminous evidence from both sides, phase two of the college expansion, de- voted unanimously to deny the college a signed to encompass a variety of new permit to level the buildings. &dime, facilities, including laboratories, training Amidst howls of outrage and claims that kitchens (for student chefs), mock hospital they had been double-crossed by the HPL, Datioad wards, fine arts theaters, lecture halls, Dr. Priest and Mr. Thornton appealed the gymnasium, and exercise rooms. Since this committee's decision to a federal district construction was designed for the lot across court in Austin. There, in March, 1976, a the street from the Sanger complex, demoli- Judge Herman Jones ruled, not that the An- Ford fl.o tion of the older buildings was delayed until tiquities Committee had erred in its judg- 1975. ment on the evidence of the buildings' his- Meanwhile, in 1974, an architectural his- toric and architectural merit, but that the torian named Blake Alexander, from the Antiquities Code's standard of "historical University of Texas at Austin, conducted a value" is too vague, hence unconstitutional. survey of historic structures for the Dallas Austin Furse, the lawyer for the attorney Historic Landmarks Committee. Of the general's office who was handling the case Sanger buildings he wrote: "They represent for the state,. then appealed Judge Jones' the best examples of Richardsonian ruling to the Texas Supreme Court, where Romanesque architecture in Dallas. They the matter now rests. (At a public hearing form a significant historical progression later, Judge Jones remarked that had he from the Richardsonian of the older build- been forced to rule on "substantial evi- ings (all constructed during Dallas' big dence" alone, his decision would have fa- RTE4, commercial boom of the 1880s) to the Sul- vored the Antiquities Committee.) cp. livanesque of the later Sangers' Building The issues that emerged in the course of (Building A)—in effect, a comparative view this odyssey are so many and so varied that of the two stages of the Chicago School." only a few can be capsuled here. One, of One of the buildings, the Security Mortg- course, is the actual historic value of the age and Trust, with its high arched windows buildings themselves. Are they really worth and intricate detail, was given a "three-star the fuss? Blake Alexander thinks so, as rating," which indicates national promi- does Eugene George, another architectural nence. (It was partly due to Alexander's as- historian from UT-Austin. So does James sessment that the buildings were later added Grieves, a restoration architect from Balti- to the National Register of Historic more who testified on behalf of the Historic Places—a factor in the plot which we are Preservation League. Likewise the Texas about to thicken.) Historical Commission, the Antiquities Additional contacts by the Historic Pres- Committee, and the National Register of LD.4• Press, 9°1 ervation League with Dr. Priest and Mr. Historic Places. Thornton evoked further claims that studies The Oglesby_Group, on the other hand, by their architects had proven the buildings claim not to cherish the buildings histori- completely unsalvageable. In March, 1975, cally, at least not enough to warrant the Dr. Priest turned down an invitation by the bother of integrating them into the plans for HPL to fly him to New York to view the El Centro. (It's difficult not to observe, restoration-in-progress of Cooper Union, a however, that the Oglesby Group, at a time project involving difficulties similar to those when many Dallas architects are hungry for connected with the Sanger buildings. Then, work, have on their drawing boards a proj- on April 1, 1975, the day the board of trus- ect worth about $11 million. In any case, tees of DCCCD was to let a demolition con- Bud Oglesby has resigned his position with tract, representatives of the HPL won a the HPL.) ten-day stay of execution while they poked 1.0- . Press, 901 ' around for funds to perform a preservation- Another central issue has been the struc- feasibility study. tural integrity of the buildings: would it be At technically possible to save and restore The League was unable to procure the them? The college says no. At first it based funds. The study was not made. But during its claim on a "study" submitted by its ar- those ten days, quite unbeknownst to the chitects, plus the "fact" that the buildings klq, Pee* HPL, all three of the structures in question failed to meet the standards of the city were canonized on the National Register of building code. It was later revealed that we print with the union Historic Places—and that's when the sticky (1) no in-depth feasibility study had ever stuff really hit the blades. What it meant been attempted and (2) the city code was label 15 was that the buildings were now protected changed in 1971 to accommodate such SIrsy A by the Texas Antiquities Code. The code buildings for certain educational purposes. states that no public funds may be applied Furthermore, an independent examination Also: Multi-copy service to the destruction of publicly owned historic of the buildings by a committee of the Dal- Lecture notes landmarks without the explicit approval of las Chapter of AIA, chaired by architect the Texas Antiquities Committee. John Skelton, produced the conclusion that Collegiate Advertising This committee, chaired by Dr. Fred the structures were indeed salvageable by ordinary restoration methods. This judg- 901 W. 24th St., Austin Windorf, a professor at Southern Methodist University, issued a letter blocking demoli- ment was echoed by James Grieves. 477-3641 tion of the buildings until a hearing could be Well, okay, what about costs? In the new arranged. The hearing took place on May construction which the college wants so Call Today! 19, 1975, at El Centro College. The An- passionately to execute, the total volume of tiquities Committee, upon consideration of space to be added is 34,000 square feet.

Given a remaining construction budget of consciously. The old brick buildings, in October 15, 1976 13 $3.4 million, this means a cost to the tax- addition to their obvious historic value, are payer of $100 per square foot. (The figure symbols, really, of something else, as is the THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST distributed by the college district varies new slab of windowless concrete bearing ORGANIZING COMMITTEE from $57 to $63, leaving a discrepancy down upon them. which has not been clearly explained.) You'd have to visit the site to know what OF TEXAS As regards the old buildings, Mr. I mean. The newer building is monumental, Presents its National Chair, America's Thornton and Dr. Priest, supported by their a thing of straight lines and angles, of math- most notable Democratic Socialist ematics, technology, of power, efficiency, architects and their general contractor, MICHAEL HARRINGTON Robert E. McKee, have claimed that resto- control—a source of pride, no doubt, for the ration would cost between $6 million and men behind the building of it, who identify Speaking at Texas A&M University $11 million. What they have in mind here is with it, who expect to propel Dallas into the Thursday; October 21, 8 p.m. restoration of the entire 140,000 square feet jetstream of the 21st century, who expect to Room 601, Rudder Tower grow richer and more powerful from that enclosed by the buildings. This would mean College Station a cost per square foot of up to $82. (James propulsion. For more information, contact: Grieves found the college district's figures a Then you bump into the older buildings. Austin DSOC Dallas DSOC Houston DSOC little hard to swallow: he recently restored a They are messy. They don't exactly match. 209 West 20th 4924 N. Hall P.O. Box 7296 much older building in Delaware for $43.40 They have windows that open and funky Austin 78705 Dallas 75235 Houston 77008 777-4470 per square foot and another in Baltimore for decorations, raw wooden floors, and old 478-2095 522-6107 $30 per square foot.) clanky lifts whose cables are exposed. They Mr. Thornton and Dr. Priest have not do not suggest power. They do not suggest warmed at all to a suggestion by the HPL supersonic propulsion. They suggest La Fonda de la Noche that they restore only 34,000 square feet of steamy summer days and lemonade and Southwestern Cuisine the interior of the Sanger buildings, woven straw fans powered only by the Liberal Food—Conservative Prices "mothballing" the rest for future expan- human hand. They are definitely in the way sion, or using it for storage, or leasing it out, of progress. 2405 Nueces at a 474-7562 or whatever. (In response to that suggestion concerning expansion, the DCCCD has stated that there won't be a future expan- Good books in every field sion of El Centro. Once it reaches a full- JENKINS PUBLISHING CO. time equivalent enrollment of 4,000 stu- The Pemberton Press dents, it will accept no more—despite the fact that El Centro is the only campus in the John H. Jenkins, Publisher college district which is easily accessible to cP Box 2085 Austin 78768 minority students who must travel by bus I F YOU ARE an occasional reader and rather than by car.) would like to receive the Texas Observer There are still other curiosities in the col- regularly — or if you are a subscriber and lege district's fight for its patch of grass and would like to have a free sample copy or a its cigar-box link. One is that during the one year gift subscription sent to a friend — here's the order form: meeting of the board of trustees, back in :$C , 1966, when the Oglesby Group were SEND THE OBSERVER TO— awarded their contract, it was specified that the three older buildings in the Sanger com- plex would be destroyed. Another is that for name all its claims not to need that 140,000 square street feet in the historic structures, the district felt obliged in 1974 to purchase a new ad- city state zip EARTH SHOE STORE ministration building, across Elm Street, for 474-1895 1610 Lavaca something like a million dollars. Austin, Texas 78701 ❑ this subscription is for myself ❑ gift subscription; send card in my name 1=1 sample copy only; you may use my name HALF • • • • ri II 11 4:4 The question now is why? Why have Mr. ❑ $10.00 enclosed for a one year sub Thornton and Dr. Priest fought such a bitter RECORDS M. A.G AZ IN E ❑ bill me for $10.00 and costly battle to destroy three of Dallas' (deduct 48d sales tax for out-of-state subs) five remaining downtown buildings con- • • •% • ' . structed prior to 1900? And why, apart from I, . • .4„ possible financial considerations, have so MY NAME & ADDRESS (if not shown above) many decent, intelligent people tucked their STeitts tails in obeisant support of such a scheme? On the other side, what has inspired the ATOM: 15•14 LA.V.ACA. titantic efforts of the HPL and its support- WACO: 25111 4 COLUME:1/g ers, virtually none of whom has received a dime in remuneration and most of whom DAUM: 4536 iticlatiNTY AVk have encountered some degree of risk to 105 Z.Ltt jobs, friendships, reputations? s219 w..ovERS 14. Part of the answer, in my opinion, is that gOBSERVER 205 S. ZANG the battle has long since transcended the issue of this or that particular building to a E— 600 WEST 7TH, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 BIG a ax a./ t PRIM. level of principle—perhaps experienced un-

14 The Texas. Observer . .a subtle change forward' Austin Students of Southern politics may wish to look at a new book, The Transformation of. Southern Politics, subtitled Social Change Observations and Political Consequences Since 1945, by Walter DeVries, a professor at Duke, and Jack Bass, a journalist (Basic Books, 1976, example, as to Texas, that in 1975 blacks $15.95). This is a review of the themes of, made up 11 percent of the voting age popu- recent political change in the South, "the lation, but had only 150 elected officials, or emergence of southern blacks into the 0.7 percent of the total; that the number of mainstream of political participation and the farms in Texas declined 35.6 percent from development of the Republican Party and 331,567 in 1950 to 213, 550 in 1969; and that its challenge to a one-party political sys- the number of farm workers dropped 56.4 T tem." There are journalistic summaries on percent, from 445,939 in 1950 to 194,635 in the political situation in each southern state, 1970. "Home of Texas Traditional Music" summaries that, judging from the one on Down-Home Food Texas, are not deep, but are creditable. Happy Birthday There are also tables giving basic political 217 So. Lamar Austin, Texas statistics for the region. Carl Brannin was 88 years old on Sept. On Texas, the authors take their theme 22. Somehow Dallas has realized that he from V. 0. Key's 1948 insight that eco- should be thanked now, while he's still alive nomic cleavages dominate the state's poli- and strong. Qf tics, giving the terms liberal and conserva- "Certainly," Bill Porterfield wrote, "Carl BOOKS tive real meaning. They open their chapter, is a bona fide Texan. As a kid he delivered 503 5 WEST 17TH 476.0116 "Texas: Still the Politics of Economics," The Dallas Morning News on horseback. Mist in, Texts 71701 with a quote from Ralph Yarborough, He was an Aggie who played in the band. "Texas is the happy hunting ground of He's an oilman, drawing some royalty off predatory wealth." But DeVries and Bass, an old family peanut farm." saying that "there has been no liberal gov- Darwin Payne, an associate professor of ernor since the 1930s, and the conservatives journalism at SMU, wrote a long sketch have dominated Texas politics since World about Carl for The Dallas Times Herald, War II," and seeing that "no state has more and the people of Dallas learned that they people who fall below the federal govern- have had a remarkable humanist among ment's poverty guidelines" and that "only them. Nevada makes less tax effort than Texas," At Texas A&M Brannin played in the make the common mistake of concluding band, all right, but he also joined a student Bob and Sara Roebuck that Texas is a conservative state. As action that resulted in the departure of the sociologist Chandler Davidson specifically college president. A friend of Lincoln Stef- demonstrated in his recent book review in fens and Roger Baldwin, he was a conscien- Anchor National the Observer (June 18), to the contrary tious objector in World War I; worked to Texas is a state of vigorous but inconclusive save Sacco and Vanzetti; organized a sit-in Financial Services ideological struggle, the conservatives re- of 600 unemployed persons in Dallas in taining the governing power, but often just 1933; ran for governor of Texas as a 1524 E. Anderson Lane, Austin barely. socialist in 1936; helped form the Dallas I pass along to Observer readers from this NAACP in 1940; walked the picket lines in (512) 836-8230 book a remark I made to the authors, on the early 1960s to desegregate public ac- change in Texas since the mid-1950s: • bonds • stocks • insurance commodations in Dallas. He has written • mutual funds • optional retirement program "There has been subtle acceptance of the countless letters to editors, making sense progressive environment, the change of against the tides of conservatism. milieu, the cultural change. There has been He voted for Wilson, LaFollette, Norman a subtle change forward. I wouldn't say Thomas, and William Z. Foster, for presi- IN STOCK leftward. There has been a subtle modera- dent; since 1940 he has voted for the Demo- CARTER READY tion of the harsh themes of the right. For cratic presidential nominees. In 1948 his $QNDALE , TO SHIP example, twenty years ago, federal aid to heart was with Henry Wallace, but he education was unthinkable; now it is ac- thought Truman needed his vote to beat Bumperstrips * Posters cepted. Sympathy for the poor was un- Dewey. This year he will vote for Carter "if Brochures * Lapel Badges thinkable, thought of as communist, and he needs my vote," for someone like * Window Stickers now it is acceptable. Blacks have been inte- McCarthy otherwise. Call for Price List grated in most ostensible aspects; that was Brannin•ceased being a socialist shortly unthinkable twenty years ago. Generally, after his 1936 campaign, but he favors pub- the state has moved with the country lic ownership of utilities and of other private IFIJTIORA somewhat toward civility. But fundamen- industry in some cases. "When there's no tally, it has not changed; fundamentally, it competition," he told Payne, "the govern- 512 / 442-7836 Box 3485 is still governed by the principle of corpo- ment should have the power to come in and 1714 S. Congress Austin, Tx 78764 rate interest." take over and pay the value of the stock. I From the authors' tables, one notes, for think there's a case for public ownership when any industry has ceased to be compet- supposed to improve the chance for struc- October 15, 1976 15 itive." tural change? Nonsense; it will just plunge Nowadays, apart from planning to put us further into inanition and reaction. John Henry Faulk's Fear on Trial, when it There is no virtue in not voting. Helping comes out in paperback, into the state's li- elect Ford is too high a price to pay for an braries, Brannin lives a quiet life. The news- illusion of moral superiority. Hundreds of paper before breakfast, then after breakfast millions of citizens are so turned off by poli- biography, history, short stories, magazines tics, they won't vote. The Hart study pre- Fine Food • Draught Beer Outdoor Patio like Nation, Progressive, Texas Monthly, dicts more than half the citizens who could Texas Observer, Newsweek=trips to the li- vote will not. Those, then, like Shana Alex- brary to read other periodicals—books ander on "Sixty Minutes" and my two strewn about his room. Most of his time is correspondents, who imply both candidates watch subsequent issues for . . . spent at his home in Dallas in the small back are so boring, neither is worth thinking room that serves as his living room, office, about, indulge a tone of superiority at the BILLIE CARR REPORTS and bedroom. cost of encouraging people not to vote. The result of encouraging contempt for Carter is Paid Pol. Adv. by Billie Carr Expense Fund Bronson Harvard, a member of The Dal- 2418 Travis, Houston, Texas. las Times Herald editorial board, suggests to help elect the most reactionary President that Brannin, Sarah T. Hughes, and Erik Jonsson would be worthy nominees as "Dallas' greatest citizens." Payne told Por- terfield, "Carl's compassionate human in- stincts, . . . which he has never lacked the courage to follow, have been years ahead of How They Have Voted Means time . . . . He's been the ever-present social conscience of this community—walking the picket line, organizing the poor, advocating More Than What They Promise • compassion instead of hate, calling for ra- cial tolerance, making speeches, writing let- ters and on and on." When Sept. 22 came I remembered it was On key environmental issues, the League of Conservation Vot- Carl's birthday and phoned him. There ers scores the votes of each member of the House and Senate wasn't any good reason for the call, all I had to say to him was "Thank you." But that, it on a non-partisan basis. From 1973 to the present, the average seems to me, was what there was to say. scores compiled were:

On Jimmy Carter Cong. Alan Steelman 70 A good friend of mine, responding to my, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen 27 remark here that I hope progressive people will work to elect Carter, says that the dif- ferences between Carter and Ford, and be- tween the two major parties, are "too slight Scores are the percentages of pro-conservation votes out of the to provide a significant choice," and he asks: "Are structural defects corrected total number of votes checked. within the system? . . . Do things have to get worse before they get better? Why not vote for McCarthy? Why stop playing the We urge you to vote game?" Another correspondent, who is en- gaged in many good works, believes that, for Alan Steelman for U.S. Senate. on behalf of our worthier work, "we must come to ignore (as much as possible) the whole governmental apparatus." Since small reforms won by various elections This ad is authorized by Steelman for Senate Committee and "never change the underlying system," he has been paid for by these Conservationists for Steelman: asks, "why legitimize the charade?" These are the plausible sounds of chaos. They are predicated on two errors. It takes Allene Bachman, Beaumont no time to vote—maybe an hour. Nor does Judy Clark, Edna voting detract from trying to cause struc- Charles F. Crabtree, Fort Worth tural change outside the system. If my friend who asks, "Why not stop Sarah Jane Dodds, El Paso playing the game," were causing there to be Edward C. Fritz, Dallas another real game to play, he'd make sense. John Galley, Kerrville But the net effect of his position is to dis- courage people from voting, while he is Polly Miller, Salado doing nothing extra to cause structural James F. White, Dallas change. Don't vote for Carter—and help elect Ford? Vote for McCarthy—and help elect Ford? Don't vote at all, denying Car- State Campaign Headquarters, 3618 Noble Ave., Dallas, Texas 75204 ter your vote—and help elect Ford? This is Mr. Hightower seems to say that any members of the boards of Federal Reserve banks who are affiliated with large banks or other corporations are devoid of a sense of responsibility to the economic well-being of the general public. My experience and ob- servations indicate that nothing could be further from the truth. All of these individu- Postmaster: If undeliverable, send Form 3579 to The Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th, Austin, Tex. 78701 als with whom I have had contact are con- since Hoover—the president who justified solar energy, workmen's compensation for cerned with hOping to create a vibrant eco- Watergate until the end, who pardoned farm workers, increasing the inheritance tax nomic environment in which inflation will Nixon while refusing to pardon draft resis- to $200,000, diversion of highway funds to be minimized, employment will rise, and all ters against the Vietnam war, who vetoed mass transportation, proportional minority people can prosper. public works bills and other pro-people representation in the Democratic Party, op- In his discussion of the composition of legislation Congress passed. OK, if that's position to the repressive Senate Bill 1, and the boards, Mr. Hightower fails to recog- what you want to do, do it. But know what other propositions. nize that the Federal Reserve Act, as you're doing. Consider the feelings of just one of the enacted by the Congress, specifies that the This is 1976. Perhaps in, say 1979, there Democrats who labored on these serious chairman and deputy chairman of each head will be a nuclear war. Perhaps, in, say, issues—Mrs. Haynes. She was raised office board be selected from the class C 1986, guerrillas associated with this and among John Birchers. in Amarillo. In 1967 (public) directors. This requirement limits other countries will begin destroying the she received her college degree in zoology the Board of Governors' selection of class C American society and democracy along and chemistry from UT at Austin and went directors since these individuals must have with it. So, in 1976, are we supposed to say, to work teaching science in the middle proven executive abilities. Given the con- "Oh, I can't be bothered—let Ford win it, school and high school levels in public and straints of the law under which the Federal to hell with it." That's not moral superior- non-public schools. At present she is teach- Reserve banks operate, the bank and ity, it's catastrophism. It's not the will for ing kids at Fannin elementary in northeast branch boards in this eleventh (Dallas) dis- structural reform—it's the will for disaster. El Paso. She recently completed an MA in trict do have broadly based representation science education at UT-El Paso and next of the economic activities and population of year begins work on a PhD, proably in the Southwest region. This, even Mr. High- Ignoring resolutions education, at New Mexico State Univer- tower felt obliged to recognize, albeit grudg- sity. She writes: "I throw pots, read exten- ingly and in a distinctly backhanded man- The contempt of the Texas Democratic sively, garden, play tennis, travel, and ner. Party for the policy opinions of its leading spend time with my family—Chris, my hus- Mr. Hightower also neglects to mention grassroots representatives continued at the band, who is a lawyer, and Amy, my daugh- that the Federal Reserve System has en- recent state convention. Chairman Calvin ter, who is a hard-working third grader in a dorsed proposed legislation that would in- Guest turned aside an attempt to have the non-public school. As a family, we fly kites, crease the number of public directors on re- resolutions considered early, and at the collect antiques and good art as we can af- serve bank boards. dying end of the convention, they were re- ford them, and communicate on many I firmly believe that any objective viewer ferred, en bloc, without approval or disap- levels." She was elected by her caucus in El would be persuaded that the boards of the proval, to the State Democratic Executive Paso to run for the resolutions committee in Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and its Committee. This is what they call in the June, and this happened again for the Sep- branches do encompass, a broad range of Legislature "deep-sixing." Texas Demo- tember convention. What has she to show relevant knowledge and talent pertinent to crats, in convention, no longer express for her serious work on issues as a Demo- the purpose of the Federal Reserve System themselves on serious issues; all they con- crat? Nothing, and Calvin Guest. and the economy of the Southwest. We will sider is their rules and who gets what office. The reported new liberal-and-moderate continue, of course, to strive to ensure that This is the fault not only of those who put majority on the S.D.E.C. should test its we have broad representation of both eco- the gags in the Democrats' mouths, but also wings by giving an order to Guest and the nomic areas and population, a task that will of the Democrats who let themselves be state party's staffers to see to it that, in become easier as experience and expertise gagged. 1978, the state convention considers reso- in economics, finance, and management be- I have a letter in hand from a member of lutions early in the afternoon and formally come more widespread among the popula- the June state convention's resolutions votes, yea or nay, on each one that has been tion. committee, Mrs. Mary R. Haynes, indig- properly advanced from the resolutions Ernest T. Baughman, president, Federal nant that the painstaking work of all the committee for action by the conven- Reserve Bank of Dallas. precinct and county resolutions committees tion. R.D. and of the thirty-odd members of the state convention resolutions committee were "bagged by Mr. Calvin Guest when he closed the convention without the report Onward from the resolutions committee." She pointed out that in June almost a third of the Dialogue I Tonight I was watching the CBS na- resolutions committee filed a minority re- tional news, and they had a lengthy segment port criticizing the S.D.E.C. for "ab- on the dangers of Mirex. As usual the T. sentmindedly" leaving the resolutions Observer was ahead of most folks. Con- passed by the county conventions in Aus- Fed head responds gratulations on the selection of Jim High- tin. Fondly, she reviews the resolutions tower. Also, do you think the Times can which passed in June only to be squelched In the spirit of your editorial stance as a think of some way to alert Molly's fans to by Guest. These did not include gay rights journal of free voices, please permit me to her articles? You know, a little note in the or sanctions on Rhodesia (as the Observer make several comments in response to margin so I won't have to plod through the along with others wrongly reported), but did "Just home folks on Federal Reserve sea of gray. include a party purity law, development of boards," written by Jim Hightower and Onward through the smog. published in the Sept. 17 issue of your Bruce Selcraig, 875 16th St., Boulder, 16 The Texas Observer magazine. Colo.