The Texas Observer SEPT. 1, 1967

A Journal of Free Voices A Window to The SoUth 25c The Labor Movement's Role Austin state, which is regarded as something al- tain in delicate balance the appropriate most divine and having a welfare of its I have been bothered for many years interests of employees, customers, pub- own not consisting in the welfare of citi- by the lack of understanding of the role lic, and country." Should capital and its zens . . . In the Soviet World human dig- of the labor movement in the American leaders act on more of the teachings of nity counts for nothing." the church, consider labor an important scheme of things. For three years I have We will use this concept as the theme been putting my thoughts on the subject part of the orchestra, be content to in- here. An idealist in labor is no different fluence government rather than domi- down on paper, and this article is the from an idealist in any other democratic result. nate it, and have an open and tolerant movement. If he has been able to stay attitude to civil rights groups, capital The revolutions of rising expectations, in elective office, he is pragmatic. He is could achieve an idealistic role. The al- corporate attitudes, the churches' stance loyal to his cause, willing to sacrifice for ternative is an eventually Marxist society on direct action, wage philosophy in Tex- it, not primarily interested in the mone- controlled by the government establish- as since the farm workers' march, fed- tary value of his services; keeping an ment. eral aid to education, medicare, automa- open mind, he does his best to produce Too often the church is more concerned tion, sex, and citizens' attitudes toward inspiration and vision. Such a pragmatic with financial solvency than with the Ser- the Vietnam war can very quickly out- idealist obviously is not the opposite of mon on the Mount. Chesterton said "The date anything written about such as a a realist; he is the opposite of a mercen- Christian ideal has not been tried and subject as mine, but still, there are some ary, a lazy slob, or a power-hungry Ma- found wanting. It has been found diffi- basic things worth saying, especially here chiavellian. Pragmatic idealists have cult and left untried." What have three in Texas. pulled the labor movement forward to centuries of Christian love done for the The first point to make is Sol Barkan's, where it is now, and if it keeps flourish- Negro? A century and a half for the Mex- in his book about the- decline of the Amer- ing, they will be the reason. ican-American? 1,967 years for the poor? ican labor movement. The labor move- As I see it, in the last 300 years so- But the church today is producing an ment is not monolithic—there are over ciety has been primarily influenced by amazing number of pragmatic idealists 140 national and international unions with five major forces, capital, labor, church, —not 'just pollyanna philosophers — who more than 60,000 locals negotiating with government, and civil rights groups. Each. are speaking for the oppressed, encour- more than 150,000 types of managements aging unions, marching for a minimum —and snap judgments based on the idea wage, helping organize the war against that labor is one force are simply mis- Roy R. Evans poverty. They are proving that idealism takes. is not dead and neither. is God. has an organization that corresponds to Theoretically our government repre- The essayist G. K. Chesterton wrote, its strength; each has its own establish- "To say that a man is an idealist is mere- sents everyone, but too often it 'follows ment, and each resists, reacts to, and is the Marxist ideal, considering the indivi- ly to say that he is a man." But what kind subject to the establishments of the oth- of idealism should we expect of labor? dual of no importance, expendable if he's ers; each is highly pluralistic (conserva- not organized. or if he's too poor and ig- Years ago Bertrand Russell contrasted tive to liberal, independent to servile, the Western with the Russian ideal, writ- norant to vote. cynical to visionary); but working to- For example, no one can honestly ing: . gether, they are like Bertrand Russell's "In the West, we see man's greatness contest the fact that the Texas boards orchestra of the great society, "in which and commissions represent vested inter- in the individual life. A Great Society for the different performers have different us is one which is composed of individu- ests and have very little regard for the parts to play and different instruments average citizens' welfare. Are we unfair als who, as far as is humanly possible, upon which to perform, and in which co- are happy, free, and creative. We do not in calling this Marxist? It fits well into operation results from a conscious com- Orwell's Animal Farm, where all the bene- think that individuals should be alike ... mon purpoe." The Russian Government has a different fits of communism go to the hogs. Many in the establishment of capital Yet we have reason to be optimistic conception of the ends of life. The in- uphold the Western ideal only when it dividual is thought of no importance; he in Texas. Many young idealists are gain- makes them "happy, free, and creative." ing popularity and understanding. Redis- is expendable. What is important is the Jay Gould saying in 1886, in derision of tricting and the abolition of the poll tax The writer is just beginning his fourth the Knights of Labor strike, "I can hire makes the job of the idealists 'less diffi- two-year term as the secretary-treasurer half of the working class to kill the other cult. of the Texas AFL-CIO. He has been in the half," was a man in capital promoting the On the other hand, the government can- organized labor movement for 20 years, Marxist ideal. "Did you ever expect a cor- not do what labor, capital, the church, beginning work in leadership as an or- poration to have a conscience when it has and civil rights groups should do, with- ganizer at Chance-Vought in Fort Worth no soul to be damned and no body to out moving toward the Marxist ideal. in 1948. He served as president of the be kicked?" asked Baron Thurlow _of the Government should promote idealism in Dallas CIO for three terms, was adminis- English Parliament 165 years ago. these groups, but it should not control or trative vice-president, representing the supplant them. United Auto Workers in the Texas CIO M AYBE, THOUGH, things are Many members of the civil rights for six years, and was president of the changing. The New York Stock Exchange groups, independent of the other four Dallas UAW for a number of years. He has published a handbook recommend- major forces, enjoy an enviable position. joined the State AFL-CIO in 1961 as public ing: "While responsible to the sharehold- They act without being responsible to relations director and was elected to his ers to make an honest profit, the board anyone but themselves. But a minister, present position later that year. of directors and the company must main- a politician, a labor leader, or a business-

man must remain responsible to his es- he is seeking to gain justice and to influ- tancy. Take it from one who knows, some, tablishment if he is going to keep his role ence society, not to control society. For of the unions that pass the most radi- as a leader. This is simply an axiom, but the most part, the civil rights revolution cal resolutions have the worst records of frequently there are problems in efforts in Texas is being led by Western-type backing words with action. Some of the of coalitions because it is not understood. idealists who believe in a great society most militant-sounding unions are also "composed of individuals who, as far as Roy Wilkins of the N.A.A.C.P. said once, the most conservative where human is humanly possible, are happy, free, and "It must be understood that all organized rights are involved, and some unions that creative." bodies have their primary and secondary produce the most beautiful words on the purposes. The primary purpose of the national level do the ugliest things on the local level. N.A.A.C.P. is to combat discrimination NOW WHAT about labor? against Negroes. The primary purpose of The promotion of collective bargaining You can measure labor's idealism by labor organizations is to protect the wag- through unions has been federal, national how well it provides organization and es, hours, and working conditions of its policy since the Wagner Act of 1935. The representation to those who need and members. Civil rights activity for them right of workers to organize and strike want unions. Where is the labor move- is desirable but must be secondary. In- was made legal in Texas in 1889. Why, ment falling down in this? evitably these differences in emphasis then, has the labor movement only or- It is failing to organize millions of will produce tensions in greater or less ganized ten percent of the Texas work- workers in intrastate commerce simply degree." Wilkins could just have accur- force? Why are these available benefits because there is no protection in many ately been speaking of the church, capi- of the great society denied 3.6 million of states, including Texas, of the worker's tal, or government. the four million Texas workers? Is it be- right to join a union. He has a right to The idealism of those in the civil rights cause idealism in labor is dead? Since the join, but there is no protection of this movement today is a powerful force work- work force is not more than 40% organ- right. This is not unlike the right the ing on all the major establishments, and ized in any state, these same questions Negro used to have vote in the Democratic on minor ones, as well. True, there are would apply to some extent in all the primary. "Just let him try it" — that was false prophets gaining eminence in the states. a standard sentiment. Countless em- civil rights movement, ones who do not You quite often hear educated people ployees are fired every year in Texas just believe in the Western ideal, but rather say that idealism is dead in the unions because their employers suspect they are believe individuals are unimportant and because they are too big and powerful. going to sign union cards. Countless oth- expendable. Harry Golden writes that the As Will Rogers said, "Everybody is ig- er union-minded workers are kept off most damaging phrase he has ever heard norant, only on different subjects." Such the payrolls by questionnaires and lie de- is, "They [Catholics or Jews or Negroes self-acclaimed experts really don't under- tector tests to which they must submit or Puerto Ricans] want to take over." stand labor's role. before they can be hired. The pragmatic idealist in the civil rights You cannot measure labor's idealism Unions have been selected by majori- establishment should make it clear that by a union's verbal radicalism or mili- ties of employees in many Texas com- panies and then have been forced to strike to gain most modest demands. Again, in THE TEXAS OBSERVER strike situations the Texas government, 0 Texas Observer Co., Ltd. 1967 establishment supports capital and denies labor—not just in legislation, but also in A Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South the judicial and administrative branches 61st YEAR—ESTABLISHED 1906 of government. Under these conditions, even with the "sometimes" support of the Vol. LIX, No. 17 Sept. 1, 1967 federal government, strikes are not easily won. Incorporating the State Observer and the with the enterprise shares this responsibility East Texas Democrat, which in turn incor- with him. Writers are responsible for their own ported the State Week and Austin Forum- work, but not for anything they have not them- PRESSURES FROM the out- Advocate. selves written, and in publishing them the edi- tor does not necessarily imply that he agrees side are just part of labor's problem. In- We will serve no group or party but will hew ner malfunctions are just as important. hard to the truth as we find it and the right with them, because this is a journal of free as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole voices. Unsigned articles are the editor's. One of the primary reasons labor is not truth, to human values above all interests, to Subscription Representatives: Arlington, more effective is its structure. The na- the rights of man as the foundation of democ- George N. Green, 300 E. South College St., CR 7- 0080; Austin, tional unions, various national councils, racy; we will take orders from none but our Mrs. Helen C. Spear, 2615 Pecos, HO 5-1805; Corpus Christi, Penny Dudley, and competing departments must be most own conscience, and never will we overlook or 1224 1.:,2 Second St., TU 4-1460; Dallas, Mrs. Cor- misrepresent the truth to serve the interests dye Hall. 5835 Ellsworth, TA 1-1205; Denton, confusing to anyone who has not lived of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the Fred Lusk, Box 8134 NTS, 387-3119; Ft. Worth, with the subject for many years. human spirit. Dolores Jacobsen, 3025 Greene Ave. WA 4-9655; The fact that a national union can be Houston, Editor, Greg Olds. Mrs. Shirley Jay, 10306 Cliffwood Dr., affiliated with national AFL-CIO, but its Partner, Mrs, R. D. Randolph, PA 3-8682; Lubbock, Doris Blaisdell, 2515 24th Editor-at-large, Ronnie Dugger. St., Midland, Eva Dennis, 4306 Douglas, OX 4- locals not affiliated with the state federa- Business Manager, Sarah Payne. 2825; Snyder, Enid Turner, 2210 30th St., HI 3- tions or the area councils, is one of the Associate Manager, C. R. Olofson. 9497 or HI 3-6061; San Antonio, Mrs. Mae B. Tuggle, 531 Elmhurst, TA 6-3583; Cambridge, most severe structural weaknesses of the Contributing Editors, Elroy Bode, Winston Mass., Victor Emanuel, Adams House C112. Bode, Bill Brammer, Sue Horn Estes, Larry movement. Only strong, well-financed Goodwyn, Harris Green, Bill Helmer, Dave Hic- The Observer is published by Texas Observer state and local central bodies make sense key, Franklin Jones, Lyman Jones, Larry L. Co., Ltd., biweekly from Austin, Texas. En- if organizing drives are to be won, public King, Georgia Earnest Klipple, Al Melinger, tered as second-class matter April 26, 1937, at Robert L. Montgomery, Willie Morris, James the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act opinion is to be affected, and voter regis- Presley, Charles Ramsdell, John Rogers, Mary of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at tration and get-out-the-vote campaigns are Beth Rogers, Roger Shattuck, Robert Sherrill, Austin, Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $6.00 to succeed. Dan Strawn, Tom Sutherland, Charles Alan a year; two years, $11.00; three years, $15.00. Unfortunately, many sincere unionists Wright. Foreign rates on request. Single copies 25c; Contributing Photographer, Russell Lee. prices for ten or more for students, or bulk honestly believe that the 130 national The Observer publishes articles, essays, and orders, on request. unions can do by themselves, separately, creative work of the shorter forms having to Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas in the states and cities, what they can- do in various ways with this area. The pay Observer, 504 West 24th St., Austin, Texas 78705. not do by themselves on the national depends: at present it is token. Unsolicited Telephone GR 7-0746. manuscripts must be accompanied by return level. The fact that most anti-worker poli- postage. Houston office: 718 Capital National Bank ticians and organized capital would rath- Building, Houston, Texas 77002. Telephone CA The editor has exclusive control over the edi- 8-7956. er deal with a divided labor movement torial policies and contents of the Observer. Change of Address: Please give old and new does not faze some leaders who enjoy None of the other people who are associated address and allow three weeks. personal attention (personal financial gain is seldom their motivation ). Quite and jobs still waiting to be organized in- a sign of a healthy and a democratic often, the union isolationists have done volve large numbers of the minority ra- movement. all the organizing they want to do, any- cial groups. The unions need much more communi- way. cation—listening to the young members, Often I have heard unions say that what the Negro and There is another kind of organizing we need is a good depression, so people Latino members, the wom- problem, too. Take the hotel and motel will feel their backbone with their belly- en in the unions, as Well as talk from the leaders about their visions and plans. industry. Although the workers in this button. "They are just too fat and happy," field have been clamoring for organiza- they say, or "You just can't reach them." When all this is said, I think it is rea- tion, the union with this jurisdiction These are excuses of worn-out, lazy, or sonable to believe, and to conclude, that the labor movement, with its inner limi- simply is not big enough to furnish insincere leaders. Union leaders who be- enough organizers even for just one Tex- lieve a good living corrupts a working tations and with those imposed on it from the outside, has done a remarkable job. as city, much less twenty. man and his family have lost faith in the Western idealism has always motivated idealistic cause of unionism. Unions are also just beginning to grasp the great majority of the labor move- that more care must be taken in the se- Then, too, covering up conflicts be- ment's leaders, and it still does. Idealism lection and training of their organizers. tween union leaders is a mistake. Open is still strong in the unions—look at the Before Texas AFL-CIO started the South controversy is an important way to com- support of the farm workers, the civil Texas program, there were very few Mex- municate with union members. At the rights movement, and war on poverty ican-Americans and very few Negroes on same time that they do not go to meet- programs. Perhaps it was George Meany organizing staffs. Today this is changing, ings and pay only passing attention to who summed it up best recently when he in keeping with a very practical consider- many union publications, their interest said that the AFL-CIO "is not perfect, nor ation stated by Dr. George Sanchez, that in public conflicts among top union lead- are any of us perfect. We are an imper- "Only a Negro can speak for a Negro, only ers, such as the Reuther-Meany dispute, fect body of imperfect men trying our a Mexican-American can speak for a is keen. Where there is no threat to split best to do our duty in a complicated, im- Mexican-American." Many of the plants the federation, such verbal exchanges are perfect, and rather messy world." `This Step Is Where I Get Off' Washington, D. C. supply lines south, when any, new front invade that other country. But with or to the north would create a new rationale without such an action, this hinted con- US Sen. Ralph Yarborough has been for further landings and flanking opera- templation of landings in North Vietnam somewhat dubious about some aspects tions further and further north? Always is a course of near madness, one that I of the US role in Vietnam, but has with- there would be a military argument for must speak out against." held criticism of that role. However, on striking further and further north, having August 16, Yarborough rose on the Senate a larger and larger war, with ever larger floor to warn that, should North Vietnam forces. There will be no end to it, short be invaded by American forces, "this step of complete conquest of everyone who A T THE conclusion of Yar- is where I get off." The Senator's state- looks hostile. borough's remarks, Oregon Senator ment evidently proceeds from concern Wayne Morse, an outspoken foe of the US that such an invasion may be in the offing. "General MacArthur warned us against role in Vietnam, said, "I congratulate the Here is Yarborough's speech, in full: getting involved in a land war in Asia; Senator from Texas on the statement he General Ridgeway warned us against has just made. I wish to say, only for- "Mr. President [of the Senate], it is getting involved in a land war in Asia. deeply disturbing to see an apparent cam- myself and not for him, that I think he If we ever take the step of putting troops is overlooking one thing. Of course, the paign being carried on to soften the Amer- into an Asian nation, invading it, where ican public to accept a major escalation military cannot get the troops into China do we think we can stop? That is a vastly until they first get them into North Viet- and changes in the course of the Vietnam different matter than our presence in conflict. I refer principally to this week's nam. My great 'concern, as I have ex- South Vietnam as the invited guest of the pressed over the years, is that that is the issue of Time magazine, Aug. 18 issue, recognized government, where numerous where the lead picture shows the Inchon goal of certain military people. I express routes to eventual withdrawal are pos- one observation: I do not think that put- landing of 1950 and the caption reads, sible. "Inchon Landing, October 1950: Will His- ting our troops in North Vietnam would tory Repeat?" The attached story reads in "I have not been one who has expressed provide a quick victory but it would be part: criticism of the Administration's conduct a long, hard, drawn-out war which we of the war in Vietnam. Indeed, I think would eventually lose because I think "One logical decision, long urged by his mili- tary advisers, would be a determined thrust by this statement is my first statement in putting them in North Vietnam would land and sea in and above the so-called Demili- the Senate on the subject. But I must guarantee the intervention of China, and tarized Zone that separates the two Vietnams. serve notice that this step is where I get we would become involved in an Ameri- The 'Inchon Thing,' as Pentagon planners call it—referring to Douglas MacArthur's end run off. Any land invasion of North Vietnam can-Chinese war in which we might win into enemy territory during the Korean War— would be in my opinion an utterly inde- all of the military victories and lose the would carry the ground war to North Vietna- fensible step. It would be escalation gone war and keep American boys over there mese soil for the first time. The purpose would be to seal off the DMZ as an operational base mad, by a land invasion of an Asian coun- for years and years to come. for North Vietnamese regular forces above the try. It would not end the war quicker. "As to the problem to which the Sena- 17th Parallel and to crimp the southward flow We would have an immediate quick vic- of Communist troops. The major drawback of tor from Texas alludes, let me say to the any such offensive is that it would still leave tory and a long-range, bigger, longer, more American people, 'You have got the power unplugged the Communists' infiltration routes expensive war. through Laos and Cambodia. to stop it and stop it quickly. You know "In my opinion, anyone who advocates how. Use the ballot box'." "Are we being prepared to read next a land invasion of North Vietnam should Within two hours of his speech Yar- week that landings have been made in be prepared to justify to Congress a form- borough was reassured by a spokesman North Vietnam? Is the only next step al declaration of war, for I think at that from what started as a defense of the of the Johnson administration that no in- time our Constitutional responsibilities vasion of North Vietnam was planned. South Vietnamese government to be the would arise. If the military planners wish The Senator is described as persisting in invasion of its neighbor? to make their cases to Congress, let them his apprehensions, however. "How can it be said that such an op- come forward seeking that declaration of eration would only be aimed at cutting war in the proper fashion, before they SeptemOer 1, 1967 3 His speech drew modest coverage in The Time magazine story is not the war escalators who advocate an it-ix/awn Texas and almost no national play. Mar- sole source of Yarborough's worry in this of Cambodia, North Vietnam, or China:" garet Mayer and Sam Kinch, Jr., writing matter; there have been certain other He said then he thought negotiations in the Dallas Times Herald, reported that rumors heard that have led Yarborough, should be conducted "with honor. If we Yarborough had "checked with President Morse, and others to wonder if an inva- are in retreat, we are not negotiating with Johnson on the likelihood of such a mili- sion is planned. honor." He criticized at that time the tary maneuver. The President told him a handling of the negotiations that con- land invasion was not contemplated. Yar- cluded the Korean War, saying, "We sent borough made his speech anyway." A Yar- THE SENATOR, in the July 8, our emissaries with a white flag back of borough staff member tells the Observer 1966, Observer, wrote that he favored ne- the communist lines to Kaesong and there- that no such assurances came from the gotiations leading to US withdrawal but by indicated to the world that we were administration prior to the Senator's opposed pulling out without negotiations. the ones unilaterally seeking to stop the speech. Yarborough said then, "I oppose those fighting. . . ."

} Political Intelligence Texas and the White House frf The configurations of Texas politics former Atty. Gen. Waggoner Carr con- [Aug. 18] few labor leaders are rushing to next year depend on decisions now fronted the marchers last year. Planning get on the Ben Barnes bandwagon. One being made under pressures from the for the repeat march has been going on reason is that Barnes has great obliga- White House. for more than a month; the planners in ; tions to Labor's enemies, to whom he The President is understood not to cluded representatives of the Starr county owes his political and financial fortunes. want a major contest along liberal-con- labor movement. But last weekend they . .. It's true Labor could do worse, but servative lines for the Democratic nomi- pulled out. It is a distinct possibility that we might also do much better. . . ." nation for governor. In practical effect, White House pressure, via the Texas AFL- V Frank Duggan, former research staff- this would seem to mean that he either CIO, was sufficient to keep the farm er for the Texas AFL-CIO, is now help- wants John Connally to be .renominated workers' union out of the 1967 march. ing Barnes, mostly in writing speeches. or Ben Barnes to be nominated without The repeat march thereby lost some of V Don Yarborough plans to return to a serious challenge from the liberals and its significance and the embarrassment to Texas from France on Sept. 20. From labor. the President's chief Texas ally, Connally, what we hear he is in a mood to run V Barnes met at length with Vice Presi- was lessened. Gilbert Padilla, head of the for office. dent Hubert Humphrey in the Hotel Starr union, says the reason for the pull- V A confidential poll taken by Louis and Texas during the recent labor Conven- out was the participation this year of Associates, Dallas, for Texas AFL-CIO tion. One- may presume they discussed Reies Tijerina, the leader of a New Mex- COPE as of January this year shows that such matters as these. Barnes' evident ico movement that has involved some Connally was still very strong but that intention to run for lieutenant governor violence. Padilla says "the farmworkers Smith could menace him from the right may proceed in some part from his un- will not march or take part in any acti- if Don Yarborough were running. Two publicized conference with Humphrey. vity with Reies Tijerina or any other in- out of five of all the voters chose. Con- The implication of Barnes' decision is dividual who does not share the union's nally for governor, as against one out of obviously that Connally will seek renomi- purposes in its commitment to non-violent seven who chose Don Yarborough, one nation. pursuits of its end." Groups that will par- out of ten who chose Smith, and one out It was rumored in Barnes' home dis- ticipate are PASO, LULAC, and the GI of eleven who chose Ben Barnes. trict two weekends ago that he would Forum. The march will conclude Monday, Franklin Spears was chosen by only make his formal announcement for the Sept. 4, moving from St. Edward's Uni- one out of 17; evidently his campaign for lieutenant governor's race, but he did versity in south Austin to the Capitol. attorney general did not impress him on not. Barnes is virtually certain to run for where Sen. Ralph Yarborough is sched- the public's mind at all. Contrarily, Don the second spot, having demonstrated uled to speak at noon. Yarborough -held his basic approval (by this by his conference with Lt. Gov. Pres- V If the Republicans' gubernatorial more than a third of the voters) and ton Smith, a meeting at which Smith as- nominee turns out, after all, not to be disapproval (by more than a fifth) with- sured Barnes that he, Smith, will run Jim Collins, (who, in the opinion of some, out basic change from a 1964 poll, even for governor next year. Smith is holding may prefer to run for Congress, ) then it though he did not run in 1966. President off his formal announcement pending may be Will Wilson, the former attorney Johnson dropped from 90% approval in Connally's return to this country, early general; but the GOP has verbally de- 1964 to 70% among Texans in January, in September. Barnes may be delaying clared its intention of running all-out 1967. his announcement until that time; also, against Connally or whoever the Demo- Among Democratic voters only, Con- Barnes doesn't want to get boxed into cratic nominee for governor is. nally outpulled Don Yarborough, 3-1, in running for the second spot when there At several public meetings around the a field of five, while in this same field, is still the slight possibility that Connally state, Roy Evans, the secretary-treasurer Don Yarborough outranked Smith 3-2, will not seek reelection. In that case of the Texas AFL-CIO, has been declaring Barnes 2-1, and Spears 3-1. ' Barnes would try to succeed Connally, that labor is now divided in Texas be- V A poll conducted by the Laredo Times' vying with Smith and some liberal for tween those who do, and those who do reflected a general sentiment against the top job. not, want to rock the boat in 1968. He, Gov. Connally seeking a fourth term. One manifestation of the pressures Evans is saying, wants to rock it. He has Most of those polled, the paper reports, on labor as regards 1968 may be the been telling labor meetings that he 'has "did not base their anti-fourth term opin- abrupt withdrawal of the Valley farm no intention of standing still for ten or ions on Gov. Connally's performance in workers from participation in a scaled- twelve years of Ben Barnes—that Barnes office." down repeat of last year's La Marcha. The came to Austin a poor boy and is now V Sen. Ralph Yarborough is reported four-day march was scheduled to begin worth a lot of money, and that obviously under unusually heavy pressure to Friday at New Braunfels, perhaps at the his loyalties are not with labor. run for governor next year, but is not ex- site where Gov. Connally, Barnes, and V Evans, writing in the current issue of pected to yield. The pressure from the the Texas AFL-CIO News, said, "Con- Senator's backers is traceable to the anti- 4 The Texas Observer trary to reports in the Texas Observer, cipated vulnerability of Connally on the fourth term issue and the belief that the Harlingen, a restaurant-hotel supply dis- V Sen. Bruce Reagan, Corpus Christi, governor has made many enemies in his tributor; Henry Sanchez, San Benito, who has announced he'll try for a sixth six years in office. was defeated last year by Rep. Menton term next year. He seems certain to be Murray, Harlingen; and John M. Scanlan, opposed. There is some talk that Connally, if Brownsville,, a lawyer. reelected next year, might thereafter V The six constitutional amendments to resign in favor of Barnes, should Barnes Seven candidates have announced for be considered Nov. 11 would permit be elected lieutenant governor. the election to succeed Kohler—his counties to pay medical bills of peace of- widow; Frederick Cuny, a teacher; George ficers injured in the line of duty; allow J. Polk, a real estate broker; Huey Steph- counties of over 500,000 to put tax money Not Coming Back ens, a marine engineer; Bryan Benton, a into one fund rather than four separate realtor; R. M. (Bob)) Kennedy, an inde- funds; create a state park development Several members of the 60th legisla- pendent contractor; and Tom Sullivan, a fund, financed by issuance of $75 million ture have announced that they'll not lawyer who says he'll run as a Republi- in general obligation bonds; authorize the seek reelection; some will serve during can. issuance of $200 million more in veterans the special session later this year or in land bonds; permit state officials (not elected) and employees to hold concur- 1968, others will not. Planning to' serve Session in 1968 rent positions with the state or federal in the special session, but not seeking re- government if of benefit to the state, re- election are Reps. David G. Haines, Bryan Republicans have hopes of capturing quired by law, and not salaried; and per- (who has taken a community relations Kohler's seat. The district and that mit cities located within hospital districts job with Armco Steel in Houston); J. M. of GOP Cong. George Bush are the same. to tax and spend to provide mental health (Red) Simpson, Amarillo ,( resigning for It is considered significant that the elec- and mental retardation services. personal reasons); and Gene Fondren, tion was called (by Lt. Gov. Smith) for Taylor, who has come to feel that politics the same day that voters will consider Civil Liberties , six proposed constitutional amendments. costs him more than it's worth. The basic After almost two years of inactivity reason for Fondren's withdrawal is his The selection of Kohler's successor thus losing out in obtaining pledges of .sup- will occur on a day when more voters the Fort Worth chapter of the Texas port for the House Speakership to. suc- would be expected to turn out than might Civil Liberties Union is being reorganized. ceed Ben Barnes. Gus Mutscher, Bren- be the case should the legislative race Dr. Ralph W. Estes, assistant professor ham, has a distinct edge (reportedly, of accounting at the University of Texas about 100 to 45 ) over Fondren in 'pledges be the only matter on the ballot. The at Arlington, is the new temporary chair- from present House members. lower the turnout the better a Republi- man. can's chances would be, it is reasoned. Warren Zimmerman, an Amarillo at- TCLU's sixth chapter has been formed torney, who opposed Simpson in 1966, has V The Nov. 11 election date to replace at El Paso, chaired by Melvin P. announced he'll seek election to Simp- Kohler, Duggan, and Pipkin may be Straus, a professor of political science son's position. The Observer has heard an indication that the special session at UT-El Paso. of no prospective successors to Haines won't be held until 1968. Connally had and Fondren to date. V The TCLU suit attacking the state loy- earlier said that Kohler's successor would alty oats, required of students and be qualified to serve in the special ses- 1,40 Resigned and not planning to parti- staff members at state-supported colleges, sion. Presumably the same applies to the is being pursued before a special three- cipate in the special session are Reps. other two races. Should a runoff be neces- Otha Birkner, Bay City (who has become judge federal court in Dallas. A Harvard- sary, as is likely, to replace any of the trained Yale professor has refused to sign a county commissioner); Lee Duggan, three Representatives, it can be held no Houston (now a Harris county criminal the oath as a prerequisite to accepting sooner than 22 days later, Dec. 3, or so. It a position on the UT-Austin faculty. Two court judge); and Maurice Pipkin, seems doubtful that a special session Brownsville, who has become the $18,600- of the four plaintiffs in the. TCLU suit would be held between then and Christ- have left the state. Everett Gilmore, who a-year executive director of the recent- mas. ly-created State Judicial Qualifications refused to sign the oath at Dallas' El Cmsn. The commission was proposed by The two periods mentioned as possi- Centro Jr. College last year, is now in the legislature and established after pass- bilities for a 1968 special session are in Colorado. Cameron Cunningham, who was age of a constitutional amendment in January before the filing deadline, giving until recently a UT law student, has 1965. It will see to the removal or retire- the governor an additional hammer with moved to Arizona. ment of judges deemed unqualified. which to work his will; or after the pri- V TCLU is looking for an executive di- maries, perhaps in June or July. Gov. Connally or Lt. Gov. Smith, act- rectory to replace Elizabeth Burba, ing in the governor's absence from the V Robert Cogswell, a pre-law student at who resigned earlier this summer. state, have called elections on Nov. 11 the University of._ Texas at Austin, to replace three Representatives, Duggan, plans to run for one of Travis county's V It has' lately been learned by the Ob- Pipkin, and Dr. Ira Kohler. Kohler died four legislative places in 1968. server that W. Cleon Skousen was the in May. featured speaker last spring at a program V The Republicans will challenge strong- at Lampasas High School. Skousen is the Four are in the race to date to suc- ly to take the Senate seat left by the ceed Duggan—Charles H. Sherman, Jr., death last week of George Parkhouse. police chief of Salt Lake City and is a a lawyer who has run for the legislature John K. Paden has announced his candi- noted right wing and John Birch Society twice before; Ray Lemmon, an insurance- dacy as a Republican. There is talk of speaker. His speech is reported to have man; Glenn Purcell, a former petrochemi- other Republicans filing for the race, cal plant manager who ran for the legis- been similar 'to one delivered by JBS meaning an interesting primary next year. founder Robert Welch in Dallas two weeks lature in 1964 as a Republican; and Jo There is no word on what DemOcrat will Ed Winfree, Jr., a lawyer, who made an be named to Parkhouse's seat during the before; i.e., the nation is in the hands of unsuccessful legislative race in 1949. special session. John Field, a conservative traitors who are working to hand it over Four have entered the race to succeed House member from Dallas, is almost sure to the communists. The speech was heard Pipkin—James L. Rentfro, Brownsville, to try to succeed Parkhouse during the by 700 persons or so. a teacher who ran against Pipkin in 1962, 1968 elections. Joe Goldman is another losing a close race; T. F. ( Ted) Slagle, possible entrant in the Demo primary. September 1, 1967 V The Marine Corps has found that no a year was defeated by the Congress this V Among the politically interesting re- disciplinary action is indicated in the summer, 74-14, with both Texas senators cipients of $50,000 or more in federal melee at Houston involving several dozen voting against the limitation and Yar- Marine Reservists and a lesser number of farm payments in Texas in 1966 were borough speaking against it. Lloyd M. Bentsen, the Houston insur- Vietnam war opponents ( Obs., Aug. 4 ). Williams entered into the record a list The Marines, though in uniform, were ance executive, $152,352 for farming op- of recipients of more than $50,000 a year erations in Hidalgo County; the W. T. private citizens at the time of the brawl, under federal farm programs, excluding Waggoner trust estate in Vernon, $128,- a corps spokesman in Washington, D.C., price-support loans, by states. This list said. 007; Shary Farms, Inc., of Mission, iden- showed that 42 farming operations in Tex- tified with the interests of former Gov. as received between $100,000 and half a Allan Shivers, $94,889; and Starr Produce Peace and the Left million dollars in federal payments in Farm Account, in Rio Grande City, $54,- fro About 25 persons from Houston, Dal- 1966, and another 202 farming operations 611. las, Austin, Fort Hood, and San An- in Texas received between $50,000 and tonio met in Houston last weekend to $100,000 from the U.S. that year. discuss a proposed Texas organization for Williams said the Democratic adminis- Paso Convenes tration pays lip service to curtailing large liberals and radicals (Obs., Aug. 18, pp. The state convention in Austin of the 3-4 ). A statewide meeting is planned Nov. subsidies to corporate type farmers such as under the soil bank and acreage diver- Political Assn. of Spanish Speaking 3-5 in Austin, the same weekend that Tex- Organizations last month nearly was as Liberal Democrats originally were sion programs, but is silent or opposed to amendments to limit the payments. picketed by the local musicians' union. A scheduled to meet in the capital city. Dr. non-union band had been hired for a William Pepper, the executive director of In addition, he said, the Texas Depart- dance. Probably such politicians as Cong. the National Conference for New Politics, ment of Corrections is classified as a Bob Eckhardt of Houston and Bexar Cty. will be the featured speaker. farmer and received direct cash payments Cmsr. Albert Pena would not have at- V Dr. Benjamin Spock, the pediatrician totaling $288,911 in 1966 for cutting back tended the convention if they had to cross who is mentioned as a potential vice production on a Fort Bend county prison a picket line. The minor crisis was averted presidential candidate in 1968 on a peace farm and another $62,434 on a Walker County farm operation. when convention chairman Mrs. Gus Gon- ticket with Martin Luther King, will speak zales agreed to hire a union band. Efforts in Dallas on Sept. 29 at McFarlin Audi- V Yarborough said payments are care- to locate a suitable band that was avail- torium on the SMU campus. fully tailored to specific commodity able at that late date were unsuccessful, tof More than 500 persons participated in situations. "For diversion of cropland, but the pickets were not posted. a Hiroshima Day parade in Austin. they represent a partial compensation for V Whoever prepared Cong. Henry B. Carl Oglesby, Vietnam Summer Commit- production adjustment that is made in Gonzalez' name badge at the con- tee leader and a founder of the Students the national interest," he said. Urban con- vention must have been trying to tell him for a Democratic Society, spoke. sumers benefit through modest food and something. It read "Henry Baines Gon- V A Texas caucus was planned earlier fiber prices, the senator added. "The pay- zalez." this week in Chicago at the National ments are not something for nothing. Conference for New Politics. Several doz- They are not welfare. They do not repre- V A petition was circulated at the gath- en persons from Texas were planning to sent handouts from the government." ering, which read, "We, the under- attend the conference, which will be ad- National farm policy of adjusting pro- signed, having noted the remark by dressed by Drs. King and Spock. duction and supply can be done, he said, [Ranger] Capt. [A. Y.] Allee which ap- V The matter of admitting the Students either by apportioned acreages and pro- peared in the Dallas Morning News on foil a Democratic Society to the cam- duction limitations or through the present Sunday, July 9, 1967, 'If I had as many pus of the University of Texas at Arling- voluntary programs with incentives. "The enemies as I have friends, I'd retire right ton will be a subject before the UT re- effort," he explained, "is to adjust the na- now,' hereby wish to go on record as be- gents in mid-September. The Arlington tional supply." ing absolute enemies of Capt. Allee. We academic council has voted that SDS "Payments are made to farmers to take are and will continue to be the enemies of should not be allowed on campus. land out of production. It is privately all men and all institutions who would owned or operated land—their land. They deny basic civil liberties to citizens or V TLD will conduct a steering commit- allow themselves to be used to effectuate tee meeting Nov. 4-5 at Midland. have the capital equipment, the know- V The Central Intelligence Agency inter- how, and the inherent right to produce a that denial." Among the signatures on the viewed UT-Austin graduate students commodity on it. They forego the return petition is that of "Henry B. Gonzalez, on the campus during two days in August, from this output in return for payments," 1127 Longworth [Bldg.], Washington." seeking prospective CIA workers. Yarborough said. V Texas ranked second in defense pay- He also argued that since it is the larger rolls in fiscal 1966 and third in fed- farmers who will have to pay the new V Resolutions passed by PASO included eral grants in calendar 1965. minimum wage for farm workers, it is ones urging Connally not to run for a V The University of Texas at Austin, as wrong to turn around and cut these farm- fourth term, castigating the Texas Rang- did Texas A&M a few months before, ers out of the payments program. ers, and urging the registration of one has established a Washington office to million Mexican-American voters next pursue U.S. grants. V Answering, Williams agreed that the year. V Brown and Root, the giant Houston subsidies are not welfare payments. construction firm, is concluding its "The recipients are not welfare patients, either," Williams said. "I agree this is V Main speakers at the gathering were work on military and civil projects in Sen. John Tower; Cong. George Bush; Vietnam and will withdraw from the not a poverty program. . . We cannot justify going into the federal treasury and Vincente T. Ximenes, member of the U.S. country, the Houston Post reports. B&R Equal Employment Opportunity Cmsn.; and three other U.S. firms formed a com- paying this type of a subsidy to expand bine to do the $1.6-billion worth of work. these corporate-type operations." Cris Aldrete, special assistant to Demo- As for the minimum wage, Williams con- cratic National Chairman John Bailey; Dr. Farm Subsidies tended, limiting the payments to $10,000 George Sanchez of the UT-Austin faculty; per farmer per year "has nothing to do State Rep. Lauro Cruz of Houston; the An attempt by Sen. John Williams with the wages they pay. It has to do with (R.-Del.) to limit the federal farm what they collect on the portion of the 1966 liberal gubernatorial candidate, Stan- subsidy payments to $10,000 per individual farm which they are not operating." The ley Woods; and Cong. Gonzalez. Aldrete only work involved, he said, was collecting and Republicans Tower and Bush drew S The Texas Observer the check and cashing it. standing ovations. The Rev. Antonio Gonzales, a Roman club had been planned as one feature of i/ The appointment of former Rep. Tony Catholic priest now of Galveston, one the fair's tower. These plans were dropped Korioth, of Houston, to the Indus- of the two co-leaders of last year's La late last year not long before San Antonio trial Accident Board is hailed by Austin Marcha, also spoke, calling himself "the voters approved underwriting a bond is- labor spokesmen as good news for labor. Martin Luther King of the Mexicans." Gon- sue of $5.5 million to finance construction Others, remembering Korioth's strict lib- zales said he sympathizes with many of of the tower. There had been criticism of eralism as a member of the House, won- the participants in riots in the nation. He including the private club in a facility der why conservative Democrat John Con- also said that Mexican-Americans "are not built by municipally-backed funds. Now, nally appointed him. It will be recalled, bluffing. We didn't bluff with Waggoner plans for the private club have been taken however, that Korioth and Sen. Babe Carr and we will not be bluffing in up once again. Joe Rainey Manion, a fre- Schwartz, Galveston, were the two Texas 1968." quent city council candidate, has threaten- liberal Democrats who took the lead in This remark drew Carr's ire who re- ed to make a citizen's arrest of Mayor the fight for conservative Democrat Wag- sponded in terms critical of Father Gon- W. W. McAllister when the first drink is goner Carr's election to the U.S. Senate zales' condoning of urban violence. sold in the tower, a situation that Manion in 1966, thereby, of course, attracting I/ A straw vote was taken last week- believes constitutes a "collusion to violate friendlier attention from the tory Demo- end at a meeting of the Austin chapter the laws of Texas." crats than they had theretofore. Politics of PASO, which, largely, was a reception poo Conflict of interest has been charged and gossip aside, it is likely that Korioth's to honor Mrs. Fina Gonzales, an Austin in the letting of a HemisFair boat appointment to the board will result in a housewife who was named vice-chair- ride concession contract to -a firm, one of more liberal administration of the work- man of the state PASO at the recent con- whose seven stockholders is a son of men's compensation law in Texas. The vention. For president the vote was: Mayor McAllister. Cty. Cmsr. Albert Pena I.A.B. has been so notoriously low in its Richard Nixon 0, George Romney 4, Lyn- believes unfair bidding practices were awards, semi-automatic appeals to the don Johnson 14, Robert Kennedy 16, and rigged to give the contract to Rio Alegre, courts have come to be a part of the sys- one write-in for Creekmore Fath. For Associates, with which the younger Mc- tem. This has meant a lot of grief and governor: Don Yarborough 23, Preston Allister is associated, holding 10% of the delay for injured workmen and a lot of Smith 3, Franklin Spears 9, John Connally company. Sen. Yarborough says the con- business for claimants' lawyers. What 0, and two write-in votes for Jim Collins. tract violates the spirit of the conflict changes lie ahead remain to be seen, but It must, in candor, be reported that State of interest amendment that he added to it may be interesting. GOP executive director Al Allison, and a federal appropriation bill giving money The Observer is contemplating publi- Mrs. Allison were present, though, given to HemisFair. Pena charges that a friend cation of a full-page questionnaire in the sanctity of the secret ballot, even in of his was turned aside from bidding on a future issue, to sample the opinions of a straw poll, it is not known that it was the concession since a contract had been its readers on certain current topics, such the Allisons who wrote in Collins' name. negotiated with McAllister's firm. The as state politics, Vietnam, and other mat- frof Another change of direction, for younger McAllister says he has "nothing ters. Organizations or individuals who Hemis-Fair, whose leaders change to conceal" in the matter. His father, the might want to suggest questions for in- their minds frequently on various aspects mayor, says "I have no financial interest" clusion in the questionaire are encouraged to make this known to the Observer. of the extravaganza. Originally a private in the project." ❑ Return of the Native Since loading out for New York City awaiting their turn to take-off, but in our time. The risky exhilaration of light, long on Labor Day, 1957, I had spent the some- laggard craft it is Bill Blakley & Co. that withheld, has proved more bearable than thing:less-than-grand total of about three gets all the blame. I hold off raising a the tedium of earth-bound waiting, even weeks in Texas. My mother can supply voice of reason in defense. Bill just might in safety. I returned to Trevor-Roper's you with the exact figure. Unlike some, I run again. Liberals can tap this stored-up article in Encounter on witchcraft. My found it ridiculously easy to resist the hatred. companion 'reads about Vietnam. pull at the heart-strings exerted by the ebb The announcement that cocktails are to Dallas—Why should this, of all cities, and flow of tides on the majestic Peder- have an airport named Love Field, for nales. The rising note of hysteria in fam- be on Braniff sends hoarse cheers welling God's sake? ily letters from Austin and East Texas up about me. proved more compelling. When it modu- San Antonio—My parents came hours Washington, D.C.—A vat of martinis early. They didn't want to be late. I am lated from when-are-you-coming-home to couldn't dampen the hostility of the pas- the keen of aren't-you-ever-coming-home, I re-introduced to The Family Dog, who sengers who come bulling on board at has forgotten me and is traumatized rigid made my reservation. Not that I hadn't al- Dulles International Airport. One of our ways had reservations about returning to at the wail of jets. I confirm my return Texas. I had told G.O. there should be an reservation and learn that some Braniff article in so momentous a visit—but I Harris Green minion has cancelled it, laughing all the added I didn't think there was. He re- while I do not doubt. The drive to Austin is an unbroken sponded as I hoped. The following article stewardesses, dear girls all despite their takes the form of modishly fragmented plunge into the night, with massive, green ghastly Pucci outfits, asks my companion, Highway Department signs looming up, vignettes because that is how the heat "You want t'have dinner with us?" "Break- affects me. Especially after ten years. glowing with reminders of all the funny fast's more like it!" We get shishkabob, little towns with mad dome-heavy court- Newark, N.J.—Someone other than Tex- rice—and turnip greens! I fully expect houses and squatty stores and Humble ans must fly Braniff, but no other breeds someone like Ma Joad, flaunting a Gladi- stations that this expressway is avoiding. are waiting to board the 5:45 for San An- ola flour-sack apron over her Pucci, to I learn that Humble is now "Enco," any- tonio, which leaves at 7:30—on the dot. come swinging down the aisle, demanding way, and see that its stations have moved Dipthongs are twanging with acerbity to know how the hell we liked the eats. out to the expressway, often bringing during the . lengthening delay. "Typ'cly It occurs to me that some mysterious mid- along a motel for company. Then there Bran'ff!," is the most frequent comment. air explosions could be explained by a are the billboards. Something called The whole damn region is swathed in fog passenger's forcing open a window to "Stuckey's" seems to have cornered more and lashed by rain and jets of all airlines throw out an in-flight meal. And I realize are lined up, throbbing with impatience, that I had not been nervous for some September 1, 1967 7 than its share to promise travelers gen- is holding up better than anyone should uine down-home delights ("pecans . . . assured it will be cool with the attic fan. hope, what with the manifold set-backs It is, but at 2 a.m. one aunt ( there • are divinity . . pralines"). It's a chain, my and upheavals that have been visited upon mother tells me. The expressway comes at three about ) gets up and turns it off. Texas liberals of late. For us distant sub- She's cold. I breakfast with The Dallas Austin from the side, depriving me of scribers, an issue of the Observer after Morning News. the more impressive dead-on view: the a primary reads as if it were a newsletter capitol, hunkered at the end of Congress Tyler—Not only are aunts and uncles for wandering Incas put out around the in abundance here but cousins ( one is at Avenue, with the now world-famous Uni- time Pizarro hit Peru; nothing but blood- versity Tower rising beyond. But there Church and must be fetched). , And a shed, chaos, and dismay. Everyone seems grandmother — make that "great-grand- are 'jets of water rising from the Colorado to keep going, regardless. It helps to be River!. My father says they're beautifying air-conditioned. mother"; those cousins are multiplying. I trip over a wicket and learn that the it. The Family Dog goes to the window to I visit a friend, a UT librarian, on duty look. lawn has been staked out for croquet. deep down at the base of The Tower. He Their family chihuahua is whisked out of Austin—Each morning begins with a is assisted by a San Antonio youth (BA fruitless search through The Austin Amer- the range of The Family Dog (a wirehaired in English, '67) who was one of Dwight terrier). Dominoes are brought out but ican for 85% of those items that had made Macdonald's students last year. We get the front page of The New York Times no one wants to discuss Vietnam so I into a continuous discussion (the youth is, cannot demonstrate my refutation of The the day I left. The Amellican does pro- truly, a "part-time helper") about Mac- Alsop Theory (you tip the lead domino vide a column given over to one-para- donald, W. C. Fields, John Simon, Anthony the other way ). My grandmother brings graph summaries of the more vital items Burgess, Billy Don Moyers, and New York carried within, but somehow it never down a pitifully battered cardtable to City, which he said he'd like to live in but handle the overflow of "42" contestants. comes up with more than eight a day, and hate to visit. I put this lad on file for one of those is usually about The Merry Clouds of dust fluffs drift up as each future reference despite the fact that I rickety leg is unfolded. It lists well off Medders Family and its Texas-style bank- realize I wouldn't have been as interesting ruptcy proceedings. • the perpendicular when set up and goes at his age. My use of "Xerox" as a verb concave toward one side on top, I mutter KTBC-TV ("Lyndon's Own") has fresh- visibly pains him. He says it's "masscult ened its newscasts, using film clips from grammar." to my aunt that Grandpa Harris must the TV networks (a situation analogous have commandeered this beauty during Deep East Texas—A personal-appear- the retreat from Gettysburg. The dom- to The American's using the wire serv- ance tour, starring me, is put on the road ices ). I am told, repeatedly, that it wins inoes totter, even when set up on their my first weekend back. Advance public:- sides. "It's okay, Momma," says my uncle, awards but I withhold judgment until I ity has made it a sell-out among my rela- "the table's fine see an example of local but the dominoes .are coverage. One tives. The car is air-conditioned. My broth- old." It holds up throughout the visit. dutifully comes on: Gov. Connally con- er and his wife and The Family Dog come gratulating legislators on some unspeci- Everyone takes turn following my along. We pick up my brother and his three-year-old cousin Kevin about. He fied achievement. Every shot is obscured wife at their apartment, a recent addition by the same opaque-to-hazy blur in the wears a little green-and-white striped jer- to Austin real estate, built along the lines sey and matching green shorts and calf- lower right which I helpfully identify for of a tourist court. "California style," I my family as the result of the camera- length white socks. When some Texan, guess you'd call it. It is pleasant. What's assigned by Central Casting, stops his man's failing to take the most elementary "Texas style," anyway? of precautions, checking the lens. I start pickup out front and gets out to grin and More "Stuckey's" billboards. More little ask directions, Kevin is beside himself. to go on about the symbolism of it all but towns by-passed. Georgetown.. Wills Point. He's seen a cowboy. I can tell the fellow no one is interested. The Family Dog Hearne. Hearne prompts a family remin- leaves the room. nothing 'about Tyler so I lateral the ques- iscence about a meal served at what we've tion to my aunt. She must instruct him I visit The Observer office. Everyone since learned is a cafe notorious through- about several short, unavoidable streets. 8 The Texas Observer out the state. There are more trees in East After laying out an absolutely labyrinthine Texas but the expressway keeps nature route, she asks if he knows the first street at a distance. Athens. Cumby. mentioned. His grin is epic. "I doan know PROFESSORS . . . STUDENTS Sulphur Springs—My aunts actually a thang," he says. We part in the best have rabbits playing in their backyard! of spirits. Group subscriptions to the Texas No one turns on TV. Everyone talks. One The two dogs mix it up before the Observer for the fall semester will aunt wants to know why I never read afternoon is out. A draw. We depart for begin with the September 15th The Reader's Digest. I tell her ( laughter ).. Austin with our champion ensconced di- issue and will be $1.50 per student, It seems like a typically family-style rectly before the car air-conditioner in the if ten or more subscribe and pro- whoop-up until I compliment an aunt on front seat. We succeed in avoiding Hearne. vided we may mail all copies of her cake and learn that she paid "Aunt Not that anyone was hungry. Puss Bateman" or some such local char- each issue to a single address for Austin—Not much news in The Ameri- redistribution. acter to bake it. Never have I recalled can now that the Medders' auction is over. As a bonus we will include, for catering at one of these affairs! My aunts I re-visit some of the haunts of my youth. each student subscribing, the 1964 pack my parents and my brother and sis- The ;wretched old Art Building (read special issue on J. Frank Dobie ter-in-law off to the Paradise Motel and "barracks") at the University has been or, as long as the supply lasts, any give over the guest room to me. I am nothing but a bitter memory for years one of the following: the May 12th 4•••1'1N•••••14•••••••#••••••~•••••••••••••1 now, replaced by the permanent, awe- issue on the University Freedom somely equipped edifice across the way Movement at UT, the June 9-23 on San Jacinto. I enter and find it has issue on race relations in Houston MARTIN ELFANT a museum! I think it's showing some and on the Texas Rangers and La touring exhibition from the Modern Mu- Hdelga, or the August 4th issue on Sun Life of Canada seum but, no, it's the student exhibition, Vietnam. . making full use of the several painting Send your order now, specifying and (for want of a better word) sculpture your bonus selection. You may re- 1001 Century Building styles 'that sprang up since my graduation vise your order as the class rolls ( BS in FA, '56 ). No one lags here. ( Even settle, at which time we will bill Houston, Texas the guard has closed-circuit TV.) I run you. into Dr. Marian Davis, and she offers to • ( adv.) CA 4-0636 guide me (as always ). On the bulletin board I spot a N.Y. Times clipping: "Texas :•••••.••••• •••••+•~ Millionaire Buys Real Painting." Walking downtown, I see how Austin San Antonio—We eat at a Howard Johri- the Israelis are attacking Nasser or polio is pushing upward in its construction, son's.n I guess that qualifies as a "Texist but I contribute, for I oppose both. I like moved by forces as heedless as an earth- style" Meal :now. Braniff has another sur- the sense .of involvement! My neo-roman- quake. The stretch between the campus , prise in store for me: I am told that my tic Czech-Jewish landlady, whose parting and the capitol is now a battleground for excursion flight should never have been advice was, "Come good home now," attention, with vistas spoiled by multi- sold to me. I am allowed on board, any- fills me in on the grisly details of the story apartment houses and suitably way, and sit next to a Dallas-bound couple garbage-collectors' strike ("Don't ask me bureaucratic-looking state office build- who are bitching about the ten-minute how bad it was!"). ings, modeled in design on the filing cab- delay. "Typ'cal!" Do they always fyy inet. Since when has Austin had to build Braniff? "Sure!" We do not discuss poli- I am, I think, utterly removed from upward? The Texas sky is vast and shored tics. There is no need. Down-Home Doings when a picture post- up by clouds. card .of The Alamo arrives from San An- Dallas—I had told my aunts I'd have The State Highway Building, where I tonio, bearing the message: "They died to change planes, at Love Field because for your freedom—and mine." It is signed, spent my afternoons employed as. a "com- Braniff told me so. Then it told me other- missioner's cousin," has been brightened "John Wayne." I suspect a Highway De- wise. I get out, anyway, because my aunts partment associate but I will never ad- by much tourist fodder put on display in ( the Sulphur Springs combine) have the lobby. I find the personnel older but mit it. I'm going to try and sell this pret- planned to Meet me. At Love Field. They ty thing to a Texas millionaire who col- still serviceable. ( The -Good People of look quite summery. I ask about the bun- Texas damn sure got their money's worth lects autographs! nies. Everyone is fine. Aunt Puss' cake out of us, let me tell you!) My presence has been eaten away at last. I wave as September 1, 1967 9 disrupts all office routine. Someone mut- I re-board my jet. We leave 20 minutes ters about "beatnik student life" and I late. I think we are served chicken for AND counter with a reminder that some of the GARNER SMITHH best-groomed men in America run the dinner. B STORE Mafia; they get killed in barbershops. New York. City—Israel attacks Egypt (The reaction to this reminds me I had my first morning back. I cannot walk often been put on in this manner.) I across town for the nice Jewish kids, 2116 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78705 am asked what "people Up North think wielding coin-collection cans, who urge Mail order requests promptly filled about 01' Lyndon." I reply that they try me, "Support Israel?" I do not know if not to think about him. It is just like old 4 times. I return through the capitol and stop at that spot under the dome where a footstep bounds up in echoes to the very top. Always made me think the whole damn splendiferous edifice was hollow. I leave when the clerk at the capitol's Doesn't this make sense? souvenir counter (creeping commercial- ism) gets to staring at me for all that foot-tapping. I was probably scaring the tourists. It is the fear of losing the wage earner's earning power for a year I look up from The American to find the UN on KTBC-TV. You mean some- or longer which presents a threat to every Union family. thing's been going on—in Israel! I return Just as it is impossible to insure an existing fire, it is impossible to to my friend's post in the UT library and insure an existing illness or injury at the time of occurrence! get a Times out of the newspaper collec- tion. Seems there was a rally right in my Insurance must be placed before the catastrophe — before the lockout neighborhood: "Support Israel!" The of "living death." part-time helper from San Antonio of- fers me his copy of New Republic ("just We invite your consideration of the policy contract clauses of the came in the mail"). I seize on it, hungrily, American Income Life Insurance Company, the company with the policy and find it stale—I got it in the mail the with the arbitration clause for Union Labor! week before in New York. "Hell, you know we're behind here," he says. Our credentials? Our employees are organized and represented by My parents and I and The Family Dog Local 277 of The Office and Employees International Union of the AFL-CIO. watch TV my last night in Austin. Put And we like it! forward as entertainment is a 30-minute commercial for the airlines. Bruce Ben- nett stars. The Family Dog leaves the MOM. A Z) NO 4thTERM! AMERICAN INCOME LIFE inAtetanee 1 for 25c; 6 for $1 100 for $10; 1,000 for $65 Executive Offices, P. 0. Box 208, Waco, Texas

THE TEXAS OBSERVER BERNARD RAPOPORT 504 W. 24th Austin, Texas., 78705 President A Vitt at faigilth We, the members of Texas Labor, hereby declare that the following ten (10) goals are basic to the welfare, dignity, and pursuit of happiness of all workers of this State. They are the Bill of Rights we seek to accomplish in 1968 and 1969.

I. The right to join a union protected by law in private and public employment.

II. The right to a minimum wage for all workers and pre- vailing wages on all public works construction.

III. The right to have clean air and water.

IV. The right to adequate workmen's compensation, job safety provisions and unemployment compensation. V. The right to free education at all levels for deserving students.

VI. The right to equal employment opportunity and legal rights regardless of sex, color, nationality or religious belief.

VII. The right to purchase insurance and medical care at reasonable rates.

VIII. The right to have a union shop in public or private employment.

IX. The right to fair taxation and equal representation through a free ballot at all levels of government.

X. The right to privacy. Nor Zoitto tabor \

TEXAS AFL-CIO + P. 0. BOX MM + CAPITOL STATION + AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711

(Paid Adv.) in my county. A Communication This same condition exists on the city of San Antonio tax rolls. In 1965-'66 the total personal property tax value of San Antonio ( excluding automobiles, which, though assessed, are not taxed) came to $165 million, which supposedly represents Unfair Assessments 60% of actual value. Commercial and busi- ness real property are as wantonly under- San Antonio assessment based on a total value of $292,- assessed. 800 and it has just been sold for $10.5 Your comments on "The City Sales Tax" I can only conclude that the average million. The values cited are allegedly in the July 21 Observer [page 14] are so 100% market value. The county tax asses- citizen is having his money unfairly very right. In San Antonio and Bexar sor did increase the assessments on the taken from him by local tax assessors county for the two years while I was TV stations for 1967; however, even now, with the imprimatur of approval from the county judge I continually spoke out on they are still inadequate and unjust. The business community and the establish- the issue of non-equal ad valorem assess- county actually taxes on a basis of one- ment, which are really one and the same. ments. It is a fact that, locally, commercial fourth of the values I have cited. But, as was said during the "Dreyfus and business real and personal property Period" in France, "justice does not come are assessed at a much lower rate than The National Bank of Commerce in 1966 from heaven, it must be conquered." homes. In effect, these classifications of had its real estate assessment based property are being subsidized by the local on a total value of $4,912,926.66 even CHARLES W. GRACE, 626 Alamo Na- tax payers. though the construction costs of the build- tional Bldg., San Antonio, Tex. 78205. ing (no land included) exceeded well over September 1, 1967 11 Furthermore, these "special interests" $5 million. Its common stock was assessed are the same ones who "holler" about so at $5.15 per share. Try to buy a share of much money going to Washington. They such stock in San Antonio for $100 per constantly call for more local government. share. Federal tax laws permit a deduction for CLASSIFIED all state and local ad valorem taxes. The In 1966 there were 203 loan companies BOOKPLATES more taxes paid to local government, the listed in San Antonio but the county had FREE CATALOGUE—Many beautiful designs. assessed only 125 for taxation. The total Special designing too. Address BOOKPLATES, less would go to Washington and local Yellow Springs 24, Ohio. government would be more effective. market valuation for 125 companies was $745,840, which means they were taxed "The Idler." Send $1 for four sample back issues These people just are not consistent in of lively, liberal monthly. 413 6th St. NE, Wash- their philosophy. on a value of $186,460. ington, D.C. 20002. Most homeowners are not aware of the The examples I have cited are not ex- If you would like a free Bible course (by mail), ceptions; they represent the total picture send this ad with your name, address and age problem since they never see their tax to Searchlight Bible Correspondence School, assessment or tax statement. They are on business and commercial assessments Box 2525, Denver, Colorado. encpuraged not to assess their property because the assessors don't relish the extra work in taking renditions and be- tel" cause it means extra programming on their data processing. The homeowner does not see his tax statement because he usually pays his taxes monthly to the mortgage company financing the pur- chase of his home. 0 This is not a glamorous or emotional 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 El 0 0 issue that stirs people's souls and there- ❑ ra 0 0 0 CI fore it is most difficult to excite our fel- ❑❑❑ low citizens. They don't care because they don't know. Some way must be found to dramatize the problem. Only then will badly needed reforms be made. Locally, WOAI-TV and radio was sold The WESTBROOK 4lialei in 1965 for over $12 million. Its tax assess- Main and Fourth Streets ment for that year for county and state purposes was based on a total value of $269,200. KONO-TV and radio had an • 300 Restful Rooms • Newly Air-Conditioned • Completely Redecorated FORGIVE MY GRIEF • Family Plan by Penn Jones Jr. Rates - $1150 ' 4 to ti Hardbound, autographed, $2.50 ROY M. FOX, Manager Paperback $2.00 plus 2% state sales tax A Famous Western Hotel located in the Heart of Fort Worth TEXAS OBSERVER BOOKSTORE 504 W. 24th, Austin, Texas F Retrospect: State Employees' Pay

Austin about 15% from leaving," he said. "It is talked with Connally, I believe." Never- a humanitarian issue. . . . I talked with When the 60th legislature finally passed theless, Herring seemed pleased with the one man with three kids who is earning final results of the state employee its embattled appropriations bill on May 16212 a month. They pay more than that in pay 27, the four-month tug of war between China." raise package. the governor and some legislators ended After some wrangling, the Herring bill with some impressive salary gains for was passed,by the Senate, but the House IN ADDITION to the raises state employes. But there were victories tabled it on Feb. 6 for its ultimate death provided for classified scale employees, and defeats on both sides as $27 million in the House Appropriations Committee. there are increases for "line item jobs" — Almost simultaneously, the House ap- such as agency heads, department chiefs, was set aside for raises that ranged from and their deputies. The twelve major 14 to 34% for some 40,000 workers in proved one of Connally's emergency pro- posals — a $5.5 million appropriation to agency heads ( treasurer, comptroller, the classified scale range. This sum repre- land officer commissioner, etc.) will get sented a compromise between the $30 complete the state's exhibit for the 1968 HemisFair in San Antonio. This subse- increases from $22,600 to $26,000, about million sought by Sen. Charles Herring, 15 1/2 %. The attorney general's salary will Austin, and the $26 million recommended quently was passed by the Senate, well in advance of the general appropriation bill. go from $22,500 to $27,500. Other officials, by Go-v. John Connally. such as the insurance commissioners, will The final appropriation — settled in a Rep. Don Gladden of Fort Worth said get increases of 25%, from $18,000 to 10-man conference committee, of which later, "The House was in such a total $22,500. Gov . Connally got the biggest Herring was a member — provides for an sheepish condition that Gov. Connally boost of all — 60%, from $25,000 to increase of $612 per year, from $2,820 to could walk in and get money for a Mexi- $40,000. $3,432, for the lowest state salary group, can carnival, then when a serious thing like a pay raise comes up he chose not A joint resolution by both chambers a jump of not quite 22%. Connally had to increase the salaries of the lieutenant called for an increase of only about 71/2 %, to say anything in favor of it. . . . [His to $3,024, for this group. For the highest emergency bill] was an act of fiscal ir- governor and speaker of the House failed classification, including engineers and responsibility. Five and a half million dol- to pass. The resolution would have au- chemists, the jump is almost 26% from lars was thrown to the wind without even thorized an election this November on a knowing where it would come from." $12,830 to $16,140. constitutional amendment, jumping these salaries from $4,800 to $18,000. Another THE EMPLOYEE pay raise is- Don Adams amendment, would, if passed in 1968, in- sue was the crucial focus around which al- crease the salaries of legislators from liances and divisions among lawmakers $4,800 to $8,400 annually. were quickly drawn when Sen. Herring The days between Jan. 23 and Feb. 6 ❑ introduced, on Jan. 23, an emergency were, according to Rep. Bill Bass of Ben $5.2 million temporary pay hike from the Wheeler, "one of the most dramatic [pe- unpledged general fund surplus to pad riods] of the session." Ben Barnes and employee pay checks from March to Sep- his backers wanted to turn the Herring 70 Stalielti tember of this year until the general ap- bill down big, and they did. "It sort of propriation bill could go into effect. set the tone for the session," Bass said. The House voted not to consider the bill Rep. Ed Harris, Galveston, believed that by a margin of more than 100 votes. Said eatmicitael the introduction of the bill at the time Bass: "What they [the majority] were was "entirely correct," because about 30% saying was that everything should flow I am Whitey, Charlie, of state employees leave their jobs each from the Governor to the House." Sen. Son of a bitch, year to go to work with industry or with William N. (Bill) Patman of Ganado said, But my little boy the federal government. "We were told "Connally is real sensitive and touchy; he Drowned wired at the wrist. that an early pay raise would have saved wants to be the one to initiate things." I am Hunkey, Offay, Friend of the man, 12 The Texas Observer Herring said in retrospect, late in the But my little girl session, "I really expected [my bill] to Was bombed in Birmingham. pass• both the House and the Senate. I I count these losses had told the Speaker about the bill and Black not white. told him when I would introduce it in I hold my grief SUBSCRIBE the Senate. He said, 'I don't know what Excluded from the fight. my position Will be.' That was before he MAE B. TUGGLE OR RENEW San Antonio THE TEXAS OBSERVER 504 West 24th Street #ripitz' MEETINGS Austin 5, Texas THE THURSDAY CLUB of Dallas meets each Since 1866 Thursday noon for lunch (cafeteria style) at the Downtown YMCA, 605 No. Ervay St., Encloyed is 56.00 for a one-year Dallas. Good discussion. You're welcome. In- subscription to the Observer for: The Place in Austin formal, no dues. The TRAVIS COUNTY LIBERAL DEMO- Name GOOD FOOD CRATS meet at the Spanish Village, 802 Red River, at 8 p.m. on the first Thursday. You're Address GOOD BEER invited. ITEMS for this feature cost, for the first entry, City, State 1607 San Jacinto 7c a word, and for each subsequent entry, 5c a word. W- must receive them one week before OR 7-4171 the date of the issue in which they are to ba

0 published. You and Millions of Americans Together

Can End the Vietnam War NMI NEGOTIATION NOW! A National Citizens' Campaign for New Initiatives to End the War This is America's chance to speak But We've Stopped the Bombing Before and it Didn't Work. Our names can save the lives of Ameri- can soldiers and innocent Vietnamese. Why Should It Work Now? Our names can change history. Previous U.S. bombing halts have not made our willingness to negotiate with all combatants, including the National Liberation Front. We have maintained Right now, in every city in every unacceptable preconditions to negotiations, such as demanding North Viet Nam stop aiding one side while U.S. troops continue fighting it. If the U.S. halts the state, thousands of us are getting the bombing and is willing to negotiate with the National Liberation Front on fair signatures of all Americans who want terms, we can expect response—or know who is responsible for continuing the war. this war ended honorably thr6ugh nego- IF WE STOP BOMBING, WON'T THE OTHER SIDE JUST BUILD UP . tiations, and who are ready to say so. ITS FORCES AND INCREASE THE DANGER TO THE LIVES OF Put your name on President John- son's desk. Sign the statement. Please AMERICAN SOLDIERS? mail by September 21, 1967, as signa- The great danger is continued escalation to a full-scale nuclear war. For the sake of those young men who are now fighting and those who will be called tures on hand soon go to the President upon to fight, we ought to try a new policy. Many more lives are endangered by and Congress. Ask others to sign. prolonged fighting or by escalation to all-out war. • WE SUPPORT THE CALL BY U THANT FOR NEW INITIATIVES TO BRING ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS AMONG ALL PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT, LEADING TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF THE VIETNAM WAR. • WE CALL UPON THE UNITED STATES, THE MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD, TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND END THE BOMBING OF NORTH VIETNAM NOW AND WITHOUT CONDI- TIONS. WE ASK OUR GOVERNMENT TO TAKE FURTHER INITIATIVES LEADING TO A STANDSTILL TRUCE. • WE ASK NORTH VIETNAM AND THE NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT TO RESPOND AFFIRMATIVELY TO ANY NEW UNITED STATES INITIATIVES AND TO JOIN WITH THE U. S. IN A STANDSTILL CEASE-FIRE. • WE ASK SOUTH VIETNAM TO RESPECT AND JOIN IN THESE STEPS. THIS COURSE OF ACTION PRESENTS TO THE UNITED STATES A MORAL ALTERNATIVE TO OUR STATED POLICY OF BRINGING ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS BY FORCE, OR TO THE DEVASTATION OF AN ALL-OUT WAR, AND A MORE REALISTIC ALTERNATIVE THAN UNILATERAL WITHDRAWAL. WE BELIEVE THAT SUCH INITIATIVES NOW CAN BREAK THE IMPASSE AND LEAD TO NEGOTIA- TIONS AND A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT PROVIDING FOR THE REMOVAL OF ALL FOREIGN TROOPS AND FOR GENUINELY DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN WHICH ALL SOUTH VIETNAMESE CAN PAR- TICIPATE FREELY.

SOME SPONSORS OF THE STATEMENT RT. REV. GEORGE W. MARRINER ECCLES DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING VICTOR REUTHER ARTHUR SCHLESINGER, JR. BARRETT Utah Mining and Construc- Southern Christian Leader- Labor Leader, Washington, Author and Historian, New Bishop, Episcopal Diocese York tion, Salt Lake City ship Conference, Atlanta D.C. of Rochester EARL P. STEVENSON JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH Former President and ROBERT S. BILHEIMER PROF. LOUIS POLLAK BISHOP VICTOR J. REED Director, International Af- Chairman, Americans for Chairman of the Board, fairs Programs, Nation. Democratic Action, Cam- Yale Law School, New Diocese of Oklahoma City, Arthur D. Little Co., al Council of Churches bridge Haven Tulsa Boston

HELP END THE WAR PLEASE SIGN CLEARLY SEND A DOLLAR (or more) NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP 1 2 3

Here is $ .. to help. (Make checks payable to NEGOTIATION NOW!) Send me copies for cir- culation in my community. Return this statement with all contributions to George W. Crawford, Texas Co-ordinator Negotiation Now! Care of: American Friends Service Committee 4717 Crawford St., Houston, Texas 77004 terest, to make their weight felt as they will, in 1968. One can sympathize, one can side with, those who are disgusted with liberals avoiding the Vietnam war issue without opposing a large liberal turnout in 1968. It is better that the boat be rocked Considering 1968 with votes than with rocks. Arguments are being advanced that la- Austin become the lieutenant governor, ready to bor and the liberals should skip voter reg- step up when Connally either returns to Although the importance of Texas poli- istration. In other words, Johnson, who his growing ranch holdings or, during tics as such has been reduced by the fierce has never been able to control the Texas Johnson's second term, accepts a high and violent events of these times, still liberal movement, would be pleased if it there are matters that matter among us post in the federal government. would roll over and play possum next here. However, among a free people no indi- year. The situation contains its own an- vidual's conduct can be predicted on the swer. It is of first importance, in my personal basis of the tendency of his views. He may view, that Texas liberals not give up the still turn out to be a stout-hearted human fight for the governorship. People know being with a will of his own. Preston The Limit that the President is for John Connally, Smith is turning out this way, and his Senator Yarborough has foreseen an his old sidekick and secretary, but the entry into the governor's race assures a expedition in Vietnam he will not stand President's pressure has not stopped ,division among conservatives in the pri- for, the invasion of North Vietnam. Do Texas liberals yet; much less should It mary (if, as assumed, he runs as a Demo- that, he has declared—and he was declar- these days. crat). While Connally is strong with con- ing it, of course, to the President, as well servatives in the absence of an issue about The announcement of Lt. Gov. Preston as to the people—and he is getting off. Johnson, the governor is correctly identi- Smith, an independent conservative from Surely, if the President has been intend- West Texas, that he will run for governor fied, intimately, with Johnson, who has ing such an invasion, this will give him next year no matter what Connally does, called him "my closest friend," whereas serious pause, for if the senior senator Smith is not so identified. Furthermore, coupled with the indication from Speaker from Texas gets off, so will other sena- Ben Barnes, Connally's heir-apparent, that one can deduce that Smith has decided tors, who are still on. already to stand up to the blandishments he will run for lieutenant governor, per- certain to be forthcoming from the White mit us to make out the shape of next House (if they have not already been ex- Fulbright in Honolulu spring's primary, conjecturally. tended). With the conservative vote split Senator Fulbright, on August 8 in Hono- Evidently in part because President the chances of a liberal candidate in .the lulu, delivered another of those speeches Johnson does not want a fight for the Democratic primary immediately improve. he makes which sum up our national sit- governorship in Texas next year, Con- The Republicans have a good chance uation so truthfully, one feels no impulse nally will tun again, hoping, even against to win the governorship in 1968, and they to add anything. Read as a rebuke from the fourth ; term question, that his accept- know it. Should Connally be renominated, the senator from Arkansas to the Presi- ance among the voters, combined with the his strength in November would be inti- dent from Texas, the Honolulu speech is effects of presidential wheedling and pres- mately associated with the President's; a stark; read as a passionate crying out for sure on Texas labor, will deter the liber- fresh Republican contender against Con- the saving of our country, it is , deeply als from fielding anyone. If all goes well nally would have a chance. Should Smith moving. I would quote a few sentences by the one-party state's plan, Barnes will be nominated, he would not be more from it, but that would be rape. I re- formidable for them in November than 14 The Texas Observer commend you write Fulbright's office in Connally. Should a liberal be nominated, Washington and get a copy. And leave it the Republicans would whoop with joy, among your papers for your children. sure they could take him in November. Thus it is clearly to the Texas Republi- cans' self-interest that they hold a presi- The State of Columbia dential preferential primary vote that will Congressman Henry Gonzalez' proposal (1) inform them who among their possi- to give statehood to the. District of Colum- ble contenders in 1968 is most popular bia is a good and a creative idea. Of course with their voters and (2) take conserva- it would be a small state; so is Rhode Is- tives out of the Democratic primary the land. No comparable area is nearly as im- same day, perhaps increasing the chance portant in the history and present life of of a Smith upset and definitely increasing the nation. the chance of a liberal's nomination. Gonzalez' idea has something of com- The immediate practical question is pensatory justice about it, too. The whether the liberals should concentrate Congress has always dealt with residents on a voter registration drive, beginning of the district as step-citizens. The better- in October. They should. Only those who off people, generally, have moved into have given off believing in democracy can the environs in neighboring states. As a oppose seeking out the poor and the apa- state—the state of Columbia?—the dis- thetic and signing them up to take an in- trict would have two senators who could get full citizenship for their constituents. ATHENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL Introducing the legislation, Gonzalez Open House 3 to 8 September 3 & 4 said: Red River at 41st— "It is an embarrassing and degrading Opposite Hancock Center COGSWELL paradox that the nation which claims to FOR THE PEOPLE', be democracy's ardent and most able de- Membership fender has as its capital a captive district Association Montessori Internationale BUMPER STICKERS FREE governed by absentee Landlords. It is my American Montessori Society GR . 7 - 7 0 7 0 contention that regulation without parti- National Society for cipation is as equal a tyranny as taxa- Programmed Instruction Box 7191, Austin, Texas 78712 tion without representation. GL 4 - 4239 or AT 2 - 1719 "And, so today I am introducing an amendment to the Constitution .which ance is necessary for the fiscal health those with assets of $250 million or more. would provide statehood for the District of the industry, citing a study by the Li- The smaller companies, Joelsoh added, of Columbia. . . . brary of Congress which held that two- can't afford to take the risks inherent in "The District of Columbia is not the thirds of the depletion allowance claimed drilling dangerous projects in the first lone wilderness it was when the Consti- by incoming-earning corporations goes to place. R.D. tutional Convention provided for a seat for the federal government. When the delegates to that convention gave their few hours of debate to what form of In My Opinion government should exist in the national capital, there were less than 8,000 people living in what is now the District of Co- lumbia. Today, more than 800,000 dis- enfranchised Americans are citizens of Piquant Reading this District. It is a major population cen- ter of the United States, with unique eco- ;Austin the Texas Catholic Herald at Houston and nomic and social probleMs of its own. It is Galveston. There are others that are larger in population than eleven states, If the journalistic diet in your area is worthwhile. Ask one of your Catholic including the two most recent ones. One too bland for your, taste, may I suggest friends about the paper in your region. third of the members of the US Senate two possible condiments that may titillate The underground press is a function, represent areas which are smaller. your intellectual tastebuds. I 'speak of roughly speaking, of the New Left. There - "I fully realize• that the legislation I the Catholic press and the underground are two such papers in Texas -at present am introducing will face formidable op- press. and another planned. The existing publi- position in both the Senate and the House, Catholic newspapers, mostly weeklies cations are The Rag, born last fall in for there are those among us who would • in Texas, are typically devoted in some Austin, but now moved to Houston; and keep the nation's capital a despotic duchy considerable • measure to local social Notes from the Underground, published of their own rule forever. But, I am cer- issues, matters that, again typically, are at Dallas. A Fort Worth underground tain that one day statehood for Columbia ignored or skimmed over by the metro- paper is, I'm told, being organized. Un- will be enacted: there is no other way to politan dailies of our state. The best Cath- derground papers have a slant all their bring self-determination to the citizens olic paper I've seen is the Alamo Messen- of this District. . . . For my part I am ger in San Antonio. Another good one is September 1, 1967 15 proud to introduce today the original statehood for Colurnbia legislation." The Oil Loophole The President has proposed an increase in everyone's and every company's•ncome tax of 10%. There was never a better time for Johnson to have proposed repeal or reduction of the 27.5% oil depletion al- lowance, but he did not. Congressman Joelson, Democrat of New Jersey, intro- duced a repealer August 16; Senator Prox- mire proposed a reduction to 15%. Joelson, noting the oil loophole deprives the government of up to $1.5 billion a year in tax resources, stated also that "taxa- tion figures from 1965 showed that 20 major oil companies paid corporate taxes at a rate of 6.3%, while most American businesses paid the usual federal corpo- rate rate of 48%. In addition, the 20 larg- est oil companies together paid taxes totaling less than 23% of the largest firm's income for that one year." Joelson rejected the idea that the allow-

Sarah Payne, Business Manager America the Beautiful ... Texas Observer Is Everybody's Job 504 W. 24th Street, It's the job of every family that spreads a picnic on a Austin, Texas 78705 roadside table. Send a copy of the Observer to: It's the job of every boatman who cruises the lakes and waterways. Every driver, every walker, every flier. Name That's why our Association throws its whole- hearted support each year into the Keep America Address Beautiful campaign. City, State Lovely country we have here. Let's keep it that way. Suggested by: UNITED STATES BREWERS ASSOCIATION, •INC. 905 International Life Bldg., Austin, Texas 78701 Name own and they characteristically revel in and all that? nues," as the proposed appropriations their unacceptability to the establishment statute is worded, Americans whose con- of whatever locale they serve. There are Shall We Pay? sciences are troubled by our nation's role now more than 30 such papers in the in that war must decide whether to pay nation, many of them quite readable and If Congress does enact the 10% in- that tax. Indeed, some citizens are balk- surprisingly quite literate. come tax surcharge for "so long as the ing at paying their federal income taxes The Rag editor, Thorne Dreyer, took usual expenditures associated with our now, before any surcharge, because of his paper to Houston this summer, plan- efforts in Vietnam require higher reve- Vietnam. G.O. ning to train a staff to begin a Houston •'NW ~0~•~#####~#••••• #41~~~440iNhted~~4NP ••••••••• 4NP1P4~~4P4410~~•~1 paper, Dreyer to return this fall. But, per- • haps because things are getting tense in Austin for the young radicals, Dreyer has chosen, so I hear, to remain in Houston, Dialogue where he is from. The Rag office, quar- tered in an Austin house in no worse repair than many others here, has this 4INININPNIPIP~~,e44144 • #41M11••••••••••#~ #0414~114.11 ,41••■•••• •••~11~#~4~44, summer been condemned. The place The War on Poverty quirements of the executive branch of our doubled as a dormitory for itinerant radi- government? I read with interest Sue Horn Estes' cals of varied persuasions and was a con- Finally, I would like to say that the article on the War on Poverty program genial and casual community asset. The penultimate paragraph of Mrs. Estes' arti- in Fort Worth in your August 18 issue. condemnation, combined with the death cle strikes me as falling far below the I would like to say that in my opinion the of George Vizard (Obs., Aug. 4), and oth- usual objective and fair-minded reporting poverty program is, for the most part, carried in the pages of the Texas Observer. er recent occurrences the young radicals irrelevant to the deep-seated problems of To report on the authority of an unnamed consider related, are discouraging many Negroes penned up in urban ghettos. source that unnamed "radical liberals" of this sort of youngsters from return- Surely we can assume that Detroit had a are out to undermine a given program ing to Austin this fall. For a subscription poverty program going; Newark, too; and "for fear of losing what power they have" to the Rag, write 1001 Bomar, apt. 1, Milwaukee; also New Haven. is to indulge in smearing of a particularly Houston. The Dallas paper's address is It ought to be clear by now that sev- despicable kind. It does, however, serve Box 536, Dallas. eral millions of dollars spent haphazardly one purpose: It prepares in advance both here and there over the country are about an excuse and an explanation to offer the The National Guard as likely to solve the problem of the ap- poor of our city when, this time next year, proximately 18% of unemployed male Texas has nearly 20,000 Air and Army they find themselves as deep in poverty Negroes as spitting into a roaring fire is National Guardsmen; of these, about 150 as ever. likely to put out the blaze. are Negroes. And the Guard is being Reuben D. Jenkins, 4209 Weber, Fort So I hope I can be excused for feeling charged to train itself to control riots in Worth, Tex. cynical when a Fort Worth Negro leader, our cities, riots which may very well find brandishing the promise of $205,421 in them under orders to enter Negro neigh- Integrated in 1960 poverty funds, is quoted in the Fort borhoods. Wouldn't a few more dark faces Worth Star-Telegram as telling a neigh- A friend of mine in my hometown, under the helmets make restoration of borhood meeting, "We're no longer here Stamford, went to Boys' State in 1960 and law and order a simpler task? to 'waste the people's time and give a lot brought back a picture in which he was of empty promises. We're here to whip standing in a group of 30 or 40 Boys' Other Foot, Shoewise poverty." It's perhaps unfortunate that Staters. There was one Negro in the a reporter was on hand to preserve these group, so I know Boys' State was inte- Oh, friends, don't you just know that grated at least as early as 1960. [The ref- some of these farmers who last year re- words, because, if ever an empty promise was made, the promise to lick poverty erence is to a Political Intelligence item ceived from $50,000 to $2,807,633 in sub- in the May 26 Observer in which it was sidies from the federal government in- in a city the size of this one with a mere $200,000 is as hollow as a sounding drum. speculated that a Negro boy would, in clude many of the same people who bel- 1967, be the first of his race at Boys' low about welfare and federal spending This is not to say that I think the Connally forces are allowing federal State.] and encrouchment (as I heard it put in As to Ronnie Dugger's Observations dead earnest one day) on states' rights money to be spent foolishly. On the con- trary, $200,000 here, $200,000 there, (Aug. 18) on marijuana and LSD, I think 16 The Texas Observer throughout the state, should serve both it is important to distinguish between the to quiet leaders of dissident political ele- relative dangers of different drugs. I ments and bind them hand and foot to the would be more inclined to believe doctors Connally regime during the election just and research scientists concerning drug around the corner in '68. Once an organ- dangers than to believe moral crusaders ization receives $200,000 to get going, then who have a drum to beat. These same cru- its staff acquires a vested interest in keep- saders on the one hand tell our young ing on and it looks forward to next year's people drugs will ruin their lives and on funds, and the funds for a year after that. the other hand cry for harsher prison sen- And those responsible for its existence tences to make sure these kids' lives are begin to watch their steps very closely ruined. when it comes to supporting an opponent John Clay, 404-B West 15th, Austin, Tex. to the man whose hand is on the purse- strings, namely John Connally. Thanks On top of this, the nature of the hir- As a result of the article "Housewives ing done in these programs can so easily for Huelga" I Obs., July 21], one reader degenerate into an end-run around the contributed $500 to help the families on hard-won system of federal and state civil strike in Rio Grande City. As we push on service examinations. Another adminis- with our drive to raise money for this, it tration in power and might not we lib- is indeed encouraging to know the Texas erals be cursing ourselves for having ac- Observer and its readers are behind us. ceded so thoughtlessly to any number of —Sue Randall ( for the Friends of the "liberal" programs where vast sums are Valley Farm Workers), 2604 Bridle Path, paid out subject only to the political re- Austin, Tex.