The Texas Observer MARCH 4, 1966

A Journal of Free Voices A Window to The South 25c The Other War Two reports from the front, p. 7 The Free Vote The way Connally got his way, p. 2 The Writer's Mind From the journal of Elroy Bode: 111, p. 15 A Climate of Certainty i The Free Vote: Halting 'Chaos' Austin hopes to add would bring the figure closer cleanly by the statehouse forces of Con- Getting the vote is now a matter of fill- to the 3,000,000 who were qualified to vote nally in the legislature's special session, ing in blanks on a simple form, in some in 1964, the presidential year. The regis- just over. "The county assessor can be co- cases a postage-due card, which then is trants labor seeks out are most likely to in- operative in having deputies, or not," Evans mailed to the county tax assessor-collector, clude many persons who never have voted said, adding that if each of the 254 assessor- or handed to him or his deputy. It is free, before, because, to them, the $1.50 or $1.75 collectors in the state chose to order voters and, although certain old barriers between was a matter of the family's meal, or to register on a form valid only in that the citizen and the vote have been retained having enough for a pair of shoes, or the assessor's county, a statewide registration in the election code (and, apparently, cer- car payment, or the rent, or some Saturday effort, such as labor's, would be an even tain subtle new ones added), this card night beer. For the poor, November is a tougher battle. could, in the next two weeks, multiplied by long way from January. In the special' session the fight supposed- 50,000 (as Gov. John Connally's Secretary "We've contacted most of our people and ly was to be between Connally's forces, of State predicts) or by 1,000,000 (as the told them to make appointments with the seeking a provisional act to prevent "chaos" Texas AFL-CIO is hoping), bring a new tax assessor-collector in their county," Roy and to match the existing registration pro- political force into being before the party Evans, state secretary-treasurer of the visions of the Texas Election Code as close- primaries are held in May. At this writing, AFL-CIO, said last week. "We set the goal ly as possible, and those few who stood up more or less 4,000,000 Texans are eligible at one quarter of the number not registered. for the system of permanent voter registra- to vote, but unregistered in this year's elec- One million is a lot of people, but four tion with automatic re-registration by tions because they did not pay the $1.50 or million is a whole lot more." voting—the system used in 44 of the 50 the $1.75 for the Texas poll tax which the Evans said that the 50,000 new voters states, including some in the deepest South, three-judge federal court declared uncon- Crawford Martin, the Secretary of State, and endorsed by such groups as the League stitutional last month. Approximately predicted would register could be found in of Women Voters and the AFL-CIO. But 2,000,000 paid the tax this year (and have Harris County alone, although Harris, as soon as the administration's true in- automatically been retained as eligible Bexar, and Nueces were three counties tentions became public, the moderate-liber- voters), and the 1,000,000 whom labor where labor's forces appeared to be en- al contingent saw that the argument was countering early problems in planning their not over permanent versus annual registra- THE COVER photograph was taken in registration drives. The problem in each of tion, but over an annual registration sys- El Paso by Bill Bridges of Texas, and now those instances is of the county assessor- tem as open as the old poll tax laws per- Los Angeles. collector, whose role in registration was in- mitted, or one (the administration's) which 2 The Texas Observer creased under the act sold so swiftly and sought to prevent the registration in blocs or singly of many whom the current ad- ministration and its predecessors never THE TEXAS OBSERVER have had to answer to—the poor, the © Texas Observer Co., Ltd. 1966 Negroes, the Latin-Americans. A Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South Here are the major provisions of the ad- 60th YEAR — ESTABLISHED 1906 ministration bill: 7cVlaP March 4, 1966 Vol. 58, No. 3 Free Registration Incorporating the State Observer and the voices. East Texas Democrat, which in turn incor- The Observer publishes articles, essays, and In accordance with the federal district ported the State Week and Austin Forum- creative work of the shorter forms having to Advocate. do in various ways with this area. The pay court ruling and unless and until it is over- We will serve no group or party but will hew depends; at present it is token. Unsolicited turned by the Supreme Court of the United hard to the truth as we find it and the right manuscripts must be accompanied by return States, the right to vote in Texas carries as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole postage. no fee or tax. The state will carry the cost truth, to human values above all interests, to The Observer is published by Texas Observer the rights of man as the foundation of democ- Co., Ltd., biweekly from Austin, Texas. En- of registering the voters by paying the racy; we will take orders from none but our tered as second-class matter April 26, 1937, at county 25c for each voter signed up. The own conscience, and never will we overlook or the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act October-January registration period was misrepresent the truth to serve the interests of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at retained. of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the Austin, Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $6.00 human spirit. a year; two years, $11.00; three years, $15.00. Editor and General Manager, Ronnie Dugger. Foreign rates on request. Single copies 25c; The Registrar Farther, Mrs. R. D. Randolph. prices for ten or more for students, or bulk Associate Editor, Larry Lee. orders, on request. This is the county tax assessor-collector Business Manager, Sarah Payne. Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas who always has done the job, but who now Contributing Editors, Elroy Bode, Bill Bram- Observer, 504 West 24th St., Austin 5, Texas mer, Larry Goodwyn, Harris Green, Franklin Telephone GR 7-0746. is designated "registrar" in a new, separate Jones, Lyman Jones, Larry L. King, Georgia Change of Address: Please give old and new section of the election code. The new law Earnest Klipple, Al Melinger, Robert L. Mont- address and allow three weeks. notes that he can act through a deputy or gomery, Willie Morris, James Presley, Charles Subscription Representatives: Austin, Mrs. deputies. Ramsdell, Roger Shattuck, Robert Sherrill, Helen C. Spear, 2615 Pecos, HO 5-1805; Dallas, Dan Strawn, Tom Sutherland, Charles Alan Mrs. Cordye Hall, 5835 Ellsworth, TA 1-1205; Wright. Denton, Fred Lusk, Box 8134 NTS; Fort Worth, The Deputies Staff Artist, Charles Erickson. Dolores Jacobsen, 3025 Greene Ave., WA 4-9655; Contributing Photographer, Russell Lee. Houston, Mrs. Shirley Jay, 10306 Clifford Dr., The assessor-collector may have as many The editor has exclusive control over the edi- PA 3-8682; Huntsville, Jessie L. Murphree, Box deputies as he "deems necessary" and must torial policies and contents of the Observer. 2284 SHS; Lubbock, Doris Blaisdell, 2515 24th None of the other people who are associated St.; Midland, Eva Dennis, 4306 Douglas, OX 4- designate "places customarily open to the with the enterprise shares this responsibility 2825; Odessa, Enid Turner, 1706 Glenwood, EM public" for them to work. In every city, with him. Writers are responsible for their own 6-2269; Rio Grande Valley, Mrs. Jack Butler, except a county seat, with 10,000 or more work, but not for anything they have not them- 601 Houston, McAllen, MU 6-5675; San Antonio, persons, the assessor-collector must name selves written, and in publishing them the edi- .Mrs. Mae B. Tuggle, 531 Elmhurst, TA. 6-3583; tor does not necessarily imply that he agrees Cambridge, Mass., Victor Emanuel, 33 Aberdeen at least one deputy to work in the month with them, because this is a journal of free Ave., Apt. 3A. of January, taking the applications at "a fixed place customarily open to the public." English and who find themselves unable four or five votes for the permanent- It is the assessor-collector who selects the to fill out those forms. In one of the tell- registration alternative. One-third of the places and the deputies' office hours, and tale nuances of the new act, the administra- legislature's members were lame ducks no minimum office hours are provided in tion has forbidden the wife, husband, when they returned to Austin last month, the new act (nor were they in the old father, mother, son, or daughter to extend many doomed by the reapportionment bills code). The old act required the assessor- that aid unless that relative is a resident written last year. Thus, this, the last rural- collector to publish for four weeks the loca- of the same county as the applicant and dominated legislature, became the chance tion of those deputies, but the new one re- already has a registration certificate. for the country members to take their last quires him only to post in his office the pokes at the cities, as well as Connally's names, locations, and office hours of the Challenge of Registration last sure opportunity to obtain an annual deputies. Deputies who register voters out- This is new to Texas election law. The registration system. This city-country split side the stated place and time face fines up provision allows the registrar to challenge was especially apparent in the House, where to $500 for each voter illegally registered; an applicant, but does not require him to even more severe restrictions were written the exception to this brand-new provision, furnish in writing the reason for the chal- into the registration act. which eliminates altogether the idea of lenge. If it was a deputy who refused the So it was that on Valentine's Day, Con- roving voter registration deputies, is that applicant, the applicant can appeal to the nally greeted the legislature and urged the assessor may (but need not) send a registrar, who has a week to think it over them to pass the registration law to prevent deputy to local hospitals, rest homes, or before ruling. If the registrar appeals, the "chaos," a word repeated again and again other institutions where voters "because Of applicant has 30 days to seek relief from as the session went on. Annual registration age, illness or infirmity" could not appear the district court. Any registered voter can he called "the most logical means of pre- to register in person or sign up by mail. file, by affidavit, a challenge against the venting fraud and guaranteeing purity of registration of any other registered voter, the ballot box." Fondren of Taylor filed How to Register that challenge to be argued in hearing be- the Connally bill in the House and Sen. Grady Hazlewood of Amarillo filed an fore the registrar with recourse to district There are two ways, by mail or by in- identical measure in the upper chamber. person appearance. If an applicant seeks to court by either party. The challenged voter, already registered, may continue to vote On that Monday, Sens. Franklin Spears of apply by mail, he must do so "on a font San Antonio and Don Kennard of Fort prescribed by the registrar." The old law until a final decision cancelling his regis- tration is handed down. Worth and Rep. Travis Peeler of Corpus required the applicant only to furnish the Christi were readying their permanent Justice Hugo Black's action last week registrar with the information necessary to registration bill based upon model statutes in denying the state's request for a stay fill in the blanks on the form. In House de- drawn by the League of Women Voters and bate on the bill, Rep. Gene Fondren, floor order withholding execution of contempt proceedings against the defendants in the upon the recommendations of a 1963 fed- manager and sponsor of the Connally meas- eral commission on voting procedures. ure, sought to restrict mail registration to poll tax suit means that the "temporary" Briefly, the permanent registration bill forms supplied by the registrar, and, even section of the new registration act will go included these provisions: now, some question remains as to whether into effect by proclamation of the governor, a form printed by groups interested in seek- and that the persons who register during Free registration, required just once, ing registrants will meet the assessor's the provisional period which began Thurs- with re-registration accomplished auto- "prescription." This section of the act day, March 3, will be able to vote in any matically by the act of voting at least once allows each assessor to go his separate way election held this year, unless and until the a year. in prescribing an application form. U.S. Supreme Court rules in the state's Open registration, allowing voters to cast favor on the appeal, reversing the lower ballots in any election held 30 days after Information on the Form court and upholding the poll tax as con- they signed up. stitutional. A signature checking system requiring The old code required standard informa- election judges at each polling place to THE WEEK BEFORE the spe- tion on name, age, address, precinct, oc- identify the voter by looking at the signa- cial session began, Speaker Ben Barnes cupation, and race. Ostensibly as a liberal ture on the voting card and the signature gesture, the race notation was removed in and Lt. Gov. Preston Smith canvassed mem- on the ballot. the new act; actually, in an alternative in- bers of their respective houses and reported terpretation, it may have been proving firm support for the administration meas- Automatic removal or voters declared rather too useful to organizations which ure, even before it was finally written. insane, convicted of a felony, dead, moved scanned the poll lists for members of Barnes said that he was sure of 100 votes from the precinct, or who did not vote in minority groups. The new act allows coun- for the Connally bill and Smith was pre- the preceding calendar year. ties which use data processing cards to dicting (accurately, it turned out) only March 4, 1966 leave off a registrant's occupation. The new act requires an applicant who has lived in his county or city less than six months to state the exact date that he took up `Registrars by the Carloads' residence. Stanley C. Woods, the reform Demo- the legislators know we want a per- Helping an Applicant crat candidate for governor, installed manent registration bill to let all the himself on the south steps of the people vote. No one except the registrar or his deputy Capitol building to speak out against or the applicant's husband, wife, father, the administration's annual voter "The real fraud is that they're not mother, son, or daughter may help some- registration bill. It was a bright, warm going to let anyone vote under this one who is blind, disabled,- illiterate, or who day, but the crowd was sparse: a hand- bill. It will disenfrancise so many speaks a language other than English to ful of Negroes and a few women with people, the federal government will fill out the application for voting. Not even "Woods" ribbons pinned to their have registrars in here by the carloads. his lawyer. The penalty for doing so is dresses. I am shocked that the governor would $500. The old code contained no such re- "We're fifth in population in the na- recommend this Mississippi type of striction• against helping a person who is tion, but if this bill passes, we'll be registration." unable to fill out the forms, and, although 50th in voter registration," Woods The House had recessed about five the new act says that such help is per- charged. Connally, he said, "has minutes before Woods appeared. Sev- missible from the registrar or his deputy, brought his hatchet men up here to eral of the lawmakers paused on the pass a bill that is worse than the poll it in no case requires such help to be ex- steps on their way to the hotels and tax. I say the only thing we need to do tended, even in the case of Spanish-speak- clubs for lunch, but none of them is to come up here to Austin and let ing Texans faced with forms printed in stayed for the whole talk. Effectively dead before they were mul- bill. We are faced with an emergency— tilithed and distributed, the permanent getting a bill we can pass with a two-thirds registration bills received the coup de grace 32 Pledges vote. and passing it now. You substitute on the second day of the session, when the something else and I guarantee you'll be in affairs committees of both chambers met to Apparently counting on a big-city, a tailspin and get into chaos you won't get ponder the annual and permanent plans. liberal-moderate upsurge next year, out of in 30 days." When the committees began their work, Rep. George (Skeet) Richardson, the "Do you think two-thirds of the legisla- Fort Worth photographer, announced the administration bill was written so that ture would be willing to let the people his candidacy for speaker in 1967 and the newly registered could vote only after decide?" asked Spears. ". . . If 44 states reported 32 pledges. have the permanent system, I think the the U.S. Supreme Court's final ruling up- One of his hometown newspapers, holding the district court's decision, or the Star-Telegram, reported in a story people of Texas ought to have a chance to after approval by the people next Novem- by Austin staffer Harley Pershing that decide." ber of the constitutional amendment re- Richardson "said he would be drawing The permanent registration bill was moving the poll tax and substituting a sys- `financial support from AFL-CIO' tabled, 14-7. tem of annual registration. This matter was that, when asked if he were on a brought up early in the Senate hearing, union retainer, replied, "Well, I THE HOUSE state affairs com- where Mrs. Mary Wall of the attorney gen- wouldn't call it that exactly." Three mittee, which was hearing the Fondren eral's office, an authoritative lady capable days later, the newspaper ran a local and Peeler bills at the same time, is pre- of quoting long sections of election law story in which Richardson protested sided over by Rep. Dick Cory of Victoria, from memory, sat by to aid Hazlewood in Pershing's reportage. He denied ac- a key Connally lieutenant. An interesting explaining the measure. cepting a retainer from anyone, as moment in that session came when Hank Sen. Criss Cole of Houston asked where well as that he had taken financial Brown, state AFL-CIO president, strayed the state would be if the stay were not support from any group. from his mimeographed statement to say granted (as it was not). "This bill would "I would like the support of labor that labor spends more money getting poll not quite take care of the situation as and business both in the race, but I am taxes paid in areas supporting labor's po- worded," she said. "There are ways to cure an independent candidate with no sition than it spends on candidates it backs. the deficiency, but this bill just doesn't strings attached," he said. Rep. Terry Townsend of Brady appeared happen to be drafted to do that." In fact, Richardson, unopposed in his bid for appalled. "Did you say labor is spending the bill had been drafted with the assump- a fourth term in the House, was right, more money in getting poll taxes paid in tion that the state did not have to obey the 14-3, in labor's estimation, on key areas which you feel support labor's po- ruling of a federal court until the ruling votes last session. sition?" Brown said it was so, and Town- was upheld by the highest court. Cole send remarked that labor seemed more in- asked if the change should not be made they would prefer to have," he said. When terested in getting its kind of people to promptly, and Mrs. Wall said ("with all Spears got to the part about the signature vote instead of just getting people in gen- due deference") that she would talk about check, Parkhouse suggested that it smacked eral to vote. "All kinds of groups are in the facts, not her opinion as to how the bill of a literacy test. "Of course not," said act," replied Brown, who pointed out that should be written. Spears. And the San Antonio senator added Jaycees rarely seek out, in their voter Then the panel turned to four amend- that although the initial registration would drives, potential applicants who would be ments, offered by conservative stalwarts. cost about a quarter, just as the administra- liable to disagree with the Jaycees' philoso- The first moved up the "emergency regis- tion bill, as amended, would for each voter phy. tration period" to a date seven days after year after year, Spears noted that his plan W. N. Blanton Jr. of Houston, a member the bill's effective date, rather than mid- would cost a little less than three cents of the Harris County Democratic Executive March, as written. No. 2, offered by Sen. per year per voter to keep the voter rolls Committee, told a Negro dialect joke and Tom Creighton of Mineral Wells, struck purged. then testified on behalf of annual registra- the word "race" from the application form. Then the witnesses. Roy Porter, who tion, calling permanent registration "hasty The third provided the 25c state-to-county spoke for World War I veterans, sought and ill-considered." payment (Sen. George Parkhouse of Dallas permanent registration, at the least for grumbled), and the fourth added the hospit- Cory duly sent both plans to a subcom- those over 65 and, of course, for World War mittee headed by Rep. Roger Thurmond al visits provision. Sen. Martin Dies of I veterans. Lufkin asked about provisions for registra- of Del Rio and having as its other members tion deputies, and Mrs. Wall said the bill The president of the Texas League of Reps. Raleigh Brown of Abilene and Randy tracked the old law (which, at that point, Women Voters, Mrs. Maurice Brown, once Pendleton of Andrews, all three staunch was the case). again delivered her organization's mimeo- Connally conservatives. graphed statement of support for perman- It was in this subcommittee, or through ent registration, pointing out that a special it, that the administration measure was SPEARS BROUGHT UP the session, theoretically free of side issues, reworked in a manner which made it clear permanent-registration substitute, which, really was a fine place for the lawmakers that its supporters stood against heavy by this point, had been written as a "com- to give long consideration to the permanent voter registration. Whether these changes promise" measure keyed to the constitu- registration bill and its safeguards. were planned by the administration is not tional amendment election in November. If Evans of the AFL-CIO told the commit- known. What the subcommittee offered was the constitutional amendment were to gain tee that his organization's stand had been a rewritten bill which was sent to the floor approval in November, annual registration made clear over the years. "There are some (as written in the original Hazlewood- over feeble liberal protest on the panel. who would like to see a citizen own $100,- Again, whether by chance or design, the Fondren bill) would go into effect; if it 000 worth of property before he can vote. House remained ahead of the Senate in failed, the permanent plan would go into What is so appalling about this state is the floor debate on the substitute on the Mon- use. The 1966 "emergency" provisions low amount of participation in the election day following. Fondren was standing be- were, said Spears, "practically identical" process." (Texas was 44th in voter partici- hind the .subcommittee and committee to the Hazlewood bill, except that Spears pation in the 1960 election.) changes, in most cases, and, through Cory already had written in the earlier special and personal employees of Gov. Connally, registration period and had provided for Moving to table the Spears substitute, what was happening in the House was re- the possibility that the stay would be Hazlewood said, "We are meeting down layed to the administration floor managers denied. here under an emergency call. Needless to in the Senate, where changes accordingly "What you have here is a package which say, this Senate Bill 1 is not a perfect bill, were made as debate in that chamber pro- we can send to the people eight months not by a long shot. We came up with the gressed. Thus the Senate bill was made to from now so they can decide which system best that could be had that most of the members could agree on. Around 100 mem- match this curiously altered House version 4 The Texas Observer bers of the House have signed the Fondren (the administration edge in the Senate had become clear by Monday), and it was pos- asked. He cocked his head and offered thing perfect enough to keep a crook from sible to offer the Senate version to the scandalized expression. being a crook." Eckhardt closed on the bill, House for final passage, crossing, and con- "Yes," Johnson said. "I give my word citing, variously, President Johnson and currence. as a member of the Texas House of Rep- the Houston dailies in its support and urg- Some of the Cory committee's changes resentatives that this has happened. All ing, "Let the people decide." The House remain in the act as law; others were de- you have to do is change one word in the decided, approving 106-42 the Fondren mo- feated. Among the provisions which had not substitute." Then, with Fondren's permis- tion to table. In swift order the House then been in the bill until Thurmond and his sion, the word "provided" was changed to voted adoption of the administration bill partners gave it back were: "prescribed" and, in a second voice vote (117-23), suspension of the rules (125-21 —The section forbidding the use of rov- immediately following, the mail registra- with applause), and immediately third ing deputies to sign up voters. The old elec- tion restrictions were lifted with adoption reading and final passage (123-23). tion code did not outlaw them, but the ad- of Fondren's own amendment. Here is a list of the representatives who ministration bill as altered in subcommittee The second major amendment was the voted against tabling Rep. Travis Peeler's did so, and this section reached law. most important, from the standpoint of permanent voter registration system, of- —A section. defeated, which would have the 1966 campaign, because in it the admin- fered in that chamber in floor debate as a restricted mail registration to those who istration conceded the validity of the feder- complete substitute for the Connally plan: swore in writing that they were unable to al district court's order should Justice Alaniz, Bob Bass, Tom- -Bass, Beckham, reach the registrar's office and sign up in Black deny, as he now has, a stay of exe- Bernal, Berry, Brooks, Caldwell, Cherry, person. cution of that order. Eckhardt, Green, Hale, Haring, Harris, —The provision restricting the immedi- In a session with Atty. Gen. Waggoner Harrison, Haynes, Miss Isaacks, Jamison, ate relatives who may act as an applicant's Carr, Rep. Bob Eckhardt of Houston had Johnson of Bexar, Johnson of Harris, Kirk- agent to those who live in the same county argued that refusal to follow the lower patrick, Kothmann, Lack, Lee, Lewis, as the applicant and already hold a. regis- federal court's order immediately could Longoria, McIlhany, Markgraf, J. E. Miller, tration certificate. This is in the law now. result in invalidation of elections held until Montoya, Muniz, Parker, Peeler, Richard- son, Roberts, Smith, Stroud, Vale, Weldon, —The section providing for the state's the Supreme Court's ruling, whereas to Whitfield, and Wilson. payment of 25c per voter to the counties. follow the order would indicate a good- Reps. Howard Green of Fort Worth and faith effort on the part of the state and Jake Johnson of San Antonio, both mem- thus protect against risking bonds voted I N THE upper chamber, where bers of Cory's committee, protested the upon during the period until the high the forces of moderation had more of an roving deputy and registration-by-mail court's decision. The administration amend- effect, if nothing close to a victory, Hazle- alterations. Johnson said that the fixed ment provided for an attorney general's wood himself opened debate on the bill deputy provision meant that "What we're interpretation of the stay order, to be fol- before handing it to Tom Creighton of going to create here will be a king in each lowed by a gubernatorial proclamation that Mineral Wells for floor management. of Texas' 254 counties. There will be a the provisionally registered voters were Hazlewood's remarks indicated the maxi- deputy registrar at the country club, I can eligible to cast ballots. Eckhardt quibbled mum depth and thrust of the administra- assure you of that, but we won't have one on the floor about a fuzzy phrase, but the tion selling efforts: at the Centano supermarket." Rep. Chet victory was there, and it was clarified in "This bill is an Brooks of Pasadena stated that the mail an on-the-record exchange the following emergency bill, and registration amendment required notariza- day between Eckhardt and Fondren. that's the only reason tion of the mail applications by the dis- Monday's afternoon House session was we're here, just to abled, amounting to a $2 or $5 notary fee get us out of the instead of the $1.75 poll tax. devoted to one sure amendment (removal of the "race" blank) and a host of lost dilemma the federal causes. Rep. John Alaniz of San Antonio court put us in," Hazlewood said. Then, THUS BY MONDAY the city failed in an effort to restore roving depu- ties. Another amendment from Alaniz shouting, he s a i d, legislators and the traditional liberal-mod- "There's no one who erates had made their intended opposition would have required a registrar who re-. fuses an applicant to reduce the reason for contends that this is so clear that Fondren was ready with a perfect bill. An a- multilithed amendments, two of them the refusal to writing. "Certainly no tax mendment has been major ones. assessor-collector elected by the people is Sen. Hazlewood prepared to take care The first removed the restriction on going to arbitrarily refuse an application," of any situation that exists, no matter what registration by mail, but said that such Fondren said, and the amendment died. it is, in the event this order is not stayed." registration, although open to all, would Rep. Alonzo Jamison of Denton moved to That morning, Xerographs had been circu- have to be made on forms "provided" by restore the traditional system of roving lated of a wire from the Bexar County tax the registrar. deputies by using the language in the old assessor-collector, Charles D. Davis, who Rep. Charles Wilson of Lufkin, took the code; his amendment was tabled (69-40) reported that 98,500 of his county's 130,- back mike and said, "The question is on Cory's motion. Rep. Renal Rosson of 000 voter registrants last year had applied whether it must be the form provided' by Snyder proposed an amendment forbidding by mail, and 85,000 of this year's 120,000. the tax assessor or identical to the form. anyone from signing the form with an X- Davis wrote that elimination of mail Can I have it reproduced in the newspaper mark, and 38 members voted for it (in an registration, as proposed in the House com- . . . have it printed?" unrecorded division vote). Howard Green mittee substitute, "would be catastrophic." of Fort Worth moved to require deputies in Hazlewood was incensed about that wire, "I think you would probably be in viola- all precincts; tabled. as well as an ad which had run in the tion of the code unless you did it with the Dallas Morning News the day before, criti- express permission of the tax assessor-col- "I know most of you have your minds made up," said Travis Peeler of Corpus cizing the governor's plan and plumping lector. The tax assessor-collector is an for the permanent system. Still shouting, elected public official," Fondren replied. Christi as he opened on his permanent registration system, offered as a complete Hazlewood said, "The only time we had "You know," Fondren told him, "you substitute. As he began talking, so did the wide voter participation in my county was could go into court and force him to carry other House members, to one another, and in the beer election," arguing that the this out." Barnes gaveled them into silence. Peeler people were unlikely to register, however Then Johnson of San Antonio asked for a explained, briefly, his measure's rules on it was handled. Speaking to the elimination pause in debate to work out an alteration signature validation and automatic purg- of roving deputies, Hazlewood said, "I'll in that line about "providing" forms. ing, for the administration's official argu- tell you one thing they can send them "Are you suggesting that there are in- ment against permanent registration was (deputies) to Lake Austin, or down here cidents where the tax assessor-collector that it opens the door to vote fraud. to beer joints. We're just not going to come has held off people from voting?" Fondren Fondren said, "You just can't write any- March 4, 1966 5 from the forms in data-processing counties and another, proposed and sold by Sen. Jim For Schwartz, a Belated Honor Bates of Edinburg, (who otherwise backed the administration policy,) amending the Sen. A. R. (Babe) Schwartz of conference, Schwartz said he would bill to prevent criminal prosecution of Galireston finally got his day as gov- like to see the governor push enact- those, other than registrars or their depu- ernor, this time after his second elec- ment of a system of permanent voter ties, who aid the ill, illiterate, or those who tion as president pro tern of the Sen- registration, and that he agreed with do not speak English in filling out their ate. In the regular session last year, Connally that approval by the voters registration forms. colleagues had passed the liberal sena- in November of the amendment out- tor by because of his stand against lawing the poll tax would make annual secrecy in certain Senate operations, registration difficult to remove from N THE HOUSE the next morn- such as confirmation of gubernatorial the law, because such a system would ing, Fondren spoke against the Bates nominees. Sen. Walter Richter had got then be spelled out in the constitution amendment, saying, "I do fear the langu- the honor instead. Schwartz was, in- of the state. age will likely prevent a loophole whereby stead, named pro tern for the interim Schwartz observed later that his day the old 'agency' practice might be re- period, and his reelection in the spe- as governor had been pleasant al- actuated by the unscrupulous. If we cial session ensured him the day in though, he noted, "They locked up all weighed every possibility, we might never office while Connally and Lt. Gov. the pardon files." get a bill written." Preston Smith were "out of the state." The Senate chose Galloway Calhoun Jake Johnson of Bexar argued that The only gift he accepted was a pen of Tyler, a candidate for attorney gen- Fondren's substitute for the Bates amend- set with the inscription "from his eral now, to serve as president pro tempore until the next session. ment would prevent many Latin-Americans friend, John Connally." In his news from getting the vote. The Bates amend- ment had read : "Provided, however, that down here and pick up an entirely different and went to the podium, where he took a an 'agent' may not be defined as a person political philosophy from another group." seat by Smith and began talking to him; who renders aid to (1) an applicant who He waved the newspaper advertisement Creighton joined them. The House had fin- is physically unable to complete such an which carried a union bug, and asked, ished. application or (2) an applicant who re- "Why put this in the paper, except to Hazlewood asked Spears if he didn't quires assistance in completing such ap- confuse the people? 'Say no,' it says. 'Need- think the in-person registration would dis- plication by reason of his inability to read less bureaucracy.' What are they trying to courage voting. No, said Spears, because a and write the English language." Johnson stir up here? Are the tax assessor-collec- person registered only once, provided he told Fondren, from the back mike, "If you tors bureaucrats? 'Citizenship participa- kept exercising the vote: "We ought to ever run statewide, I'm going to teach you tion' and all that stuff in there! I'm just have two things uppermost in our minds. a little about South Texas politics." Rep. going to say that such ads have no place One, to encourage voter registration and, Dudley Mann of El Paso, the criminal code in here. How much longer do they want [to two, to protect against fraud. Your bill sponsor, told the story of his Mexican register] ? They can go to the night club. does neither. If [permanent registration] commuter maid, who was signed to vote in They can go to the country club. They can is good enough for 40 states, why isn't it the United States by her employment agen- go to the lake. If they can't go down to good enough for us?" cy. "She was just as proud as she could register, they're just not interested in good "We've got a ,bill here better than any be," said Mann, who later told reporters government." of them," Hazlewood said, acidly remind- that he had not taken the incident to the After adopting the 25c state payment ing Spears that he, Spears, had pushed for grand jury because "you can't bring to counties and the amendment (offered by the proposed poll tax repeal amendment, criminal charges against a corporation." Parkhouse) eliminating the race designa- which includes an annual registration By vote of 101-44, the House accepted tion from the application form, the Senate system. Fondren's replacement of the Bates para- voted 14-13 to table Kennard's' amendment The annual system in the amendment graph. The Fondren substitute also in- which would have restored roving deputies. cluded a section allowing, but not requir- Then Spears spoke for the permanent was there, Spears told the Amarillo sena- tor, because conservative factions in the ing, the registrar and his deputy to assist regiitration system, offered as a complete the illiterate, the ill, the Spanish-speaking. substitute. He said, "I maintain it takes Senate would have killed the amendment no longer to do the right thing than it without it. It was the most emotional Washington's birthday was dark and does to do the wrong thing. There is not, in moment in the Senate debate; Spears sleety, and the lawmakers were impatient the Hazlewood bill, provision to handle shouted, "Thank God for the federal courts, to go home. Almost every member was on registration between now and the general who will do the job for us when we turn the floor of the House that afternoon, ready election. All this bill does is to' let the our backs on our responsibility. You know to push the button and give the green people decide whether they want annual I never could have gotten that before the board to the Connally administration's bill. or permanent registration. If they're so people without that annual registration." They strolled in little clumps across the sure"—he shouted now—"that the people Hazlewood then moved to table the sub- gold carpet, discussing the chance that Con- of Texas want annual registration, why stitute, and the senators agreed with him, nally would, as he had been hinting, open don't we let them vote on it? 22-8. Then Spears proposed an amendment up the session. Key administration allies, such as Sen. Dorsey Hardeman of San An- "I have watched with some amazement to offer annual registration with re- gelo, had been saying openly that work was and disgust the amount of grease. put on registration by voting in an eletion year• progressing in the Governor's office on a the rails this afternoon to get the bill and by written request in an off-year. The vote was, again, 22-8 in favor of tabling. junior college appropriations bill, and Con- through. Why is it we must pass the an- nally, in a San Antonio appearance, had nual system in this special session?" After rejecting a Kennard amendment to come close to saying he would declare the Then Kennard took over to point out that style the bill "temporary" and to name an session open. 44 states use permanent registration. "Why interim committee to prepare its replace- must we adopt this stand-offish attitude ment, the Senate swiftly gave final passage In his flat drawl, Barnes recognized "Mr. like we don't belong to the union? I know to the Hazlewood bill. The final vote was Haring to speak against final passage of for a fact that a lot of you were committed 24-6; the senators who voted against it the bill." Paul Haring, the representative to this annual registration plan before you were Spears, Kennard, D. Roy Harrington from Goliad, walked to the microphone ac- came to the floor of this Senate, but giving of Port Arthur, Andy Rogers of Childress, companied by mocking applause and de- the people a choice is no abrogation of that Jack Strong of Longview, and Bill Patman risive shouts. "The jawbone of an ass!" agreement." of Ganado. bellowed someone, remembering the joke As it left the Senate, the bill was dif- from last session, delivered after Haring Spears resumed, closing on the bill, and had quoted Christ in a speech against the as he spoke, Barnes entered the chamber ferent from the House version in just two respects. It contained an amendment allow- bank interest bill which Connally finally 6 The Texas Observer ing the deletion of the "occupation" blank vetoed. Haring's pink face turned scarlet. He adjusted his spectacles and began read- lectively, is of such nature that I would most eight months," he said. The three ing, in a quavering voice: have called a special session to deal with judges (Circuit Judges John Brown of "Under the guise of attempting to re- any of the problems discussed with me." Houston and Homer Thornberry of Austin strict politics during the session, an atmos- He added, "Part of your duty is to be with and U.S. Dist. Judge Adrian Spears of phere of fear has been created—a fear of the electorate. You will have more time to San Antonio) denied the government mo- exercising the right and duty of introduc- do this with the end of the special session tion to rule the voter registration cutoff in ing beneficial legislation. Fear has been now." March unconstitutional, but the judges did created to stifle opposition . . . to prevent The bill, he said, was "honest, fair, reas- agree to retain jurisdiction and to de- the public from hearing some unpleasant onable." It was "based on the premise that termine later if the 15-day period is to be truths." the people of Texas are intelligent enough considered adequate. Thus some chance re- Several members of the press put down to determine their own actions without mains of even more voters being signed their ball-point pens. Haring continued: being pushed, cajoled or herded . . . a bill up before the November election. "It is shameful that a member of the which, in my judgment, will be one of the As the counties prepared for the pro- House of Representatives should first have best in the nation . . ." visional period, a problem appeared which to defend his right to speak before he can may have a bearing on the judges' decision even oppose legislation. . . ." on the early cut-off. The letter of instruc- A chorus of coughing. A great shaking SO, on Thursday, Feb. 24, Con- tions from Martin to the county officials of heads. Conversations were resumed. nally signed the annual registration system forbids, specifically, the registration of "This bill should be defeated because it into law, predicting that the U.S. Supreme persons who could have received poll tax is an effort to retain political power by Court would, indeed, uphold the district exemptions this year, by virtue of being making it as difficult as constitutionally court's order. Carr then sought, and won over 60 years old who live in towns of possible for citizens to vote. There are from that district court, a 30-day stay 10,000 or more population, but who did not. public officials in office today who know which began last Saturday and will allow "It doesn't make sense," said Reed Stew- that they may very well be removed if new local elections, such as bond elections, to art, the Tarrant County assessor-collector. additional voters come to the polls.. . ." be held during that period without danger Statehouse expert Stuart Long uncovered There was more applause, Haring sat of invalidation. Carr said that there was two other interesting provisions of the bill down, and fhe House then approved the no problem about the March 26 special elec- after the legislators had gone home. For Senate bill, as amended, by a vote of 123- tion to fill the seat of the late U.S. Rep. one thing, the counties won't get the pay- 22. The Senate agreed to the changes and, Albert Thomas, since Texas already had ment of 25 cents per voter in this year's at 3 o'clock, Connally returned to the a system allowing free registration for provisional registration period (a move House chamber to address a joint session. voting in federal elections. which might make them less than anxious As the governor and his party entered Stephen Pollak, a lawyer for the U.S. to appoint full staffs of deputies and seek the door of the house chamber, Rep. Gene Justice Department's civil rights division, wide registration), and the poll tax may be Hendryx of Alpine shouted "Ten-HUT!" indicated to the federal court the govern- gone as a prerequisite for voting, but it is and there was loud laughter from the rep- ment's dissatisfaction with the annual reg- not gone from Texas law. Rep. Forrest resentatives, all of whom were standing istration bill as signed into law—specifical- Harding's tax lien committee will study for the governor's entrance. ly, the section dealing with provisional the possibility that a tax lien can be created Connally drew loud applause by telling registration this month. "A brief survey by the act •of voting, even if payment of the lawmakers that they could go home of the laws of 50 states suggests that Texas the tax is not a prerequisite for casting a without bothering with other matters: cannot justify the March 18 cutoff this ballot. "None of the problems, individually or col- year which precedes key elections by al- Larry Lee THE OTHER WAR 'I Don't Want to Quit Now' S. L. Clark Houston there was no one at home who could help teers and could find other facilities nearby him.. The next week Mr. Gutierrez had Guillermo Gutierrez, age 37, nine years in in which to hold class. this country, spoke out. "Teacher, " he said, come to the class at the school. "This the first chance I have to learn," I didn't tell the class that this was some- "if you come to teach us anyway . . . " Mr. Gutierrez said. "I just don't want to thing I should have been doing long ago he faltered in the still unfamiliar language. quit now." The other students were listening to him and would continue to do regardless. I said When Mr. Gutierrez had first entered the that Father Anthony at Saint Patrick's carefully, which they don't always do be- class, he had been quiet but attentive. He cause he talks a good deal and asks a lot Chapel next door to the school had offered did not understand my English very well, us a corner of his none-too-large meeting of questions the others know the answers but in Spanish told me that he had gone to. He went on, "For myself, I can't pay room. We would have to share the room to school for five years in Cordoba, Vera- with other groups and would have to you much . . . But maybe we all could . . ." cruz, Mexico. He had never learned Eng- he looked around, "You know, the whole change our meeting nights, but our class lish because all his friends and relatives would be able to go on. Many others were class . . . " Several of the others nodded and everyone where he worked spoke at him. not so lucky. Spanish. He didn't need English until one This was Monday night, January 31. Two I shook my head. night when his oldest son, who is now in They knew that the government had days before, on Saturday afternoon, I had the fifth grade, had complained because he received a form letter from James S. Gup- been paying me to teach them, and had did not understand his homework and been paying for the use of the classroom ton, director of vocational and adult edu- cation for the Houston Independent School two nights a week in the elementary school, The writer is a literacy teacher and vol- District. Its one important line read, ". . . had bought their books and binders. They unteer tutor for high school English and all Adult Basic Education classes must be had just learned in addition that there science in Houston. A graduate from Texas suspended on February 4, 1966. At that would be no more government money for Woman's University in biology, with grad- these things and that the classes were be- time all available funds for this prbgram uate work at the University of Houston in will be expended." ing stopped all over Houston unless the English, she works as a lab technician for teachers were able to continue as volun- the City of Houston health department. March 4, 1966 -1; Four days later the Houston Post, in the braver friends or relatives had favorably man ". . . very disappointed . . ." said an first press report on the situation, ex- reported their experiences in the classes. "unidentified laborer." School board mem- plained the lack of money in this way: When the classes first began in Houston, bers were interviewed. ". . . what you can When the Office of Economic Opportunity I enrolled in the training course-required expect when you get federal aid . . ." said cut the amount to be spent nationally for for teachers in the program. Afterwards I majority member, Mrs. H. W. Cullen, "Sad, basic education from $19 million to $16 taught a class held in an elementary school isn't it?" mused Superintendent of Schools million, Texas' share dropped from $3.5 in a neighborhood just north of downtown John W. McFarland. School board presi- million to $2.5 million.* Local allocations Houston, populated mostly by Mexican- dent, Robert Y. Eckels said, "If the people within Texas were cut 15% across the Americans and Negroes. The class I worked of Houston continue to exhibit the inter- board, and Houston, which had intended with consisted of adults who could read, est they are now showing, I am sure the asking for more money, had to accept, in- write, and handle arithmetic at the level federal government will take action." The stead, a reduced allocation of $188,000. It of a first, second, or third-grade child. Houston Chronicle began a fund for the was figured that after the first week of Many of them had little or no knowledge program with a donation of $1,000 which February, Houston would have spent ex- of spoken English. Very few were under was matched by one from Foley's Depart- actly this amount. 20; most were between 30 and 40, a few ment Store. At present this fund amounts Mrs. Charles E. White, minority (liberal) were past 50. They were 25 people in all, to something in excess of $2,500. member of the Houston school board, re- with five sets of husbands and wives at- Mrs. Howard Barnstone, minority school quested information as to how the $188,000 tending together. I had taught not quite board member, protested the fact that the had been spent in the short time since the program had been suspended without board beginning of the program in October, 1965. `How would action. She attempted several times, with She was told that between October and the help of fellow board members Mrs. December over $71,000 had gone for sal- bake Charles White and Asberry Butler, to call aries of teachers and administrators and a meeting of the school board in order to over $15,000 - had gone for equipment. This seek some local solution. No meetings oc- came to about $86,000, leaving over $100,- a cake . . . curred. 000 to be acounted for in the one month When my class met for the last time in of January, 1966, and the first week of learn the school, there were more people present February. No explanation of this puzzle than had been in many weeks. "I came to was offered. anything? find out what we're going to do," one man told me. His wife shyly mentioned that THE CLASSES had been begun one month•on my own when the letter came they had decided we could meet in their in October by the Houston Independent announcing the end of the classes. living room. I thanked them and explained School District under the direction of the My first reaction was bitterly angry and about the chapel and the Father's generos- Texas Education Agency with 90% of the resentful. I had read of money in the fed- ity. money provided by the O.E.O. The expect- eral budget being shifted from the O.E.O. Mr. Gutierrez had brought an old copy ed enrollment had been between 500 and because of -the Vietnam war, but I had not of a magazine in which he had made an 1,000 persons. By the end of January, 5,270 imagined that this would mean existing exciting discovery. The magazine included of the estimated 80,000 functional illiter- programs would simply be cut off. How an article about the New York power fail- ates in Harris County were enrolled in could all of these broken promises be justi- ure last fall, and to his amazement and some 320 classes scattered across the city fied? All of this interest a n d hope be pride he could read the headline, "Black in schools, churches, civic centers, union throw away like crumpled paper? To a Night in the Big City." The class had halls. They were all persons 14 or older half-dozen elected and appointed officials learned all of those words. I addressed savage letters full of phrases whose schooling had ended before the That night we studied inches, feet, yards, eighth grade. like ". . . put your money where your mouth is . . ." and ". .. surrender in the and miles, multiplying them, dividing them, That question, "What if I couldn't read?" wrong war . . ." and comparing them-to the units of metric is a frightening orie. How would I look up measure which are used in Mexico. Later phone numbers? How would I tell which With all of that out of the way I began we read from a little book called My Coun- gasoline is cheapest? How would I read to look for a place for the class to meet. try. It's a favorite book because it tells the city mapf How would I make a cake One friend directed me to Father Anthony, about the flag, the president, the capital, from a package? How would I learn any- a kind and generous man, whose mission- voting and taxes, the Senate and the House. thing? The people who came to the classes like chapel stands next door to the school. The students were to be allowed to keep had overcome the embarrassment of pub- Another put me in touch with Rev. Calvin their books. licly acknowledging a fact many of them Koomey, a Presbyterian minister working had learned through a lifetime to hide and with Protestant Charities of Houston at a to be ashamed of : They could not read or housing project in the same area, who of- ON FRIDAY came the announce- write in a society where everything comes fered his assistance in finding a room. The ment that the Houston Endowment Fund, with its written directions for use, where class members voted to go to the chapel a local organization responsible for many names, addresses, and dates of birth must because it was closer. At this time, many generous gifts to this city in the name of be written onto application forms at every other teachers were trying to locate rooms the late Jesse Jones, had given $54,000 for turn. In some cases it had taken a lot of and numerous individuals and organiza- the continuation of this program through encouragement and assurance that they tions all over Houston offered . them. It the spring semester. The school board at could learn, that they weren't after all seemed that the literacy program might be last agreed to meet to accept the money. either too dumb or too old. Many persons, kept alive for perhaps a fourth of the That afternoon the teachers were notified too shy at first, ventured out only after students on a volunteer basis. that classes would continue as usual the The newspaper stories were interesting. next week. The teachers in turn called *Senator Ralph Yarborough charged on Feb. their students, or, if they had no tele- 14 that Congress had approved $30 million for Various teachers were interviewed who the U.S. program to aid adult illiteracy, but said that they could not quit, that their phones, went to their homes to inform that Sargent Shriver had allocated only the $16 classes would go on. "This is something them. ■ million. On Feb. 26 the O.E.O. announced in Washing- that I feel I have an obligation to do," said Back in the school classroom on the ton that it has increased the money available one. "Of all the things I've ever done this next Monday night, Mrs. Saenz, a young `or the illiteracy program in Texas by $1.3 mil- woman who has recently qualified for citi- lion, about 50%. Sen. Yarborough's office said was the only one that seemed right to me," there is a "good possibility" the Houston pro- and "We're going to continue regardless, zenship, asked that the class be given more gram will get a major share of the new funds. even if we have to meet in someone's homework because, she said, there wasn't —Ed. home." Students were interviewed. "Why much time left for them to come and learn. 8 The Texas Observer did they rip us up again?" asked one wog One man in the class told me that his boss had agreed that he could have both Mon- tures as stubborn shoulder-shruggers. A bility lies as much or more with individual day and Wednesday nights off until June local solution was found, and though it is, persons here who have education and so he could come twice a week instead of at best, only a stop-gap, the school board talents and money they can share as it the one night he had been attending. There does with the O.E.O. in Washington. We is more esprit de corps in the class now, majority can take no credit for it at all. became involved mightily with the hopes and, though I would have said it was im- They refused to look for it. and disappointments of others, riot in the possible before, there is now more eager- Perhaps the most important thing sense of I-give-to-you, but learning to- ness to learn and learn quickly. June is learned in Houston was this: that once the gether, understanding together. The people not far off and verbs have many forms. classes were begun, once hundreds of people in the classes really care about their teach- During this week of decisions for and were directly involved in helping their ers and what they are teaching, and the against literacy, of deaths and rebirths and fellow citizens, in contributing to their teachers really care about the students and revisions, there was a very interesting set community as a whole with their own what they are learning. This part of the of facts which remained unknown outside talents and knowledge, they were unwilling world becomes a little better daily. It has of the adminigtrative offices of the school to give it up. I am only one of thousands been a lesson worth the learning in Hous- district. These f acts concern the letter of people who realized that this responsi- ton. which was received by Dr. McFarland from the T.E.A. announcing that the federal funds were being cut. I have been reliably informed that this letter was received on January 18. At the regular school board A Kind of Progress meeting on January 24, no mention was made of this communication or of the im- pending end of the literacy program. After Greg Olds the letter to the teachers, received on Janu- Kingsville lieved the clothing given had exceeded that ary 29, made the situation known, the needed by the county's impoverished. Mrs. Many Texans who typically have a stiff- majority members of the board would not Riebel for 15 years had led welfare efforts necked attitude toward welfare and wel- meet, although the three liberal members, in the county. She had at times been criti- fare recipients would nonetheless be inter- as required by the by-laws, had called pub- cized, as often is the case for the usually licly for a meeting. A quorum, four mem- ested in the approach of at least one South underpaid and overworked welfare depart- bers, was unobtainable. Texas county toward providing for the ment personnel. She says she did not ask This letter to Dr. McFarland on Janu- poor. A recent flareup in Kleberg County, for an unmarked truck, but concedes she ary 18 contained six different suggestions whose capital is Kingsville, has provided had requested that the donation be kept as to what might be done to continue the some illuminating insights into what might confidential "because I was afraid that it classes on the reduced abount of money. be called generally the. South Texas philos- would be misinterpreted, just as it has These suggestions included combining as ophy. been." many small classes as possible, reducing Kleberg County is the home of many Latin Americans, and while many of them Major James A. Anderson, head of the the number of administrative supervisors, Salvation Army in Corpus Christi, said no reducing the supplies and teaching aids in Kingsville are relatively well off be- cause of Humble and Celanese plants and usable items were included in the clothing available to the classes, shortening the his organization picked up in Kingsville. class meetings from three hours per night other businesses there, others in the city and county are very poor and work on He said it consisted of unusable odds and to perhaps one and a half hours and put- ends; they were sold as rags by the Salva- ting more emphasis on home study. None the farms if the season is right and the weather is good. tion Army. "The only thing she did was of these suggestions was tried. If only the g i v e us the leftovers from a clothing The history of the Latin in South Texas last suggestion had been put into effect, drive," Anderson said. "To us they weren't about $3,900 a week could have been saved has been one of exploitation and misery. worth coming over for." from teachers' salaries alone, not to men- There are signs those days are ending— more gradually than among Negroes in At first Anderson told reporter Deswy- tion reduced costs for janitors, utilities, and sen that Mrs. Riebel had asked for an un- rentals. By combining these suggestions the country today, but signs there are. The Negro revolution has had its effects even marked truck "so that local people would with the willingness of many teacher-vol- not know the clothing was being sent out unteers and the interested coordination of in the remotest parts of South Texas, de- veloping Latin-Americans' awareness of of town." Ten days later he denied to an- the H.I.S.D., the program might have been other reporter that the request had been proudly extended. Instead, it had been al- the meaning of their own circumstances. The consciences of many Anglos have been for an unmarked truck. He still conceded, lowed to plunge full speed ahead toward however, that Mrs. Riebel had asked for its death. stirred in varying degrees; Latins them- selves are slowly coming to see that a bet- the matter to be kept confidential. The people of Houston learned that there ter life awaits those who actively seek it. Many Kleberg County people nonetheless are over 5000 fellow citizens who cannot But resistance to change persists. seemed to feel the clothing should- have read and write and who want to learn how been kept in the county. "We believe we to. If you don't know any of these people, were collecting used clothing for the desti- if all your friends are passingly literate, IN THE CASE of Kleberg Coun- tute of this county," one minister who discuss best-sellers and read the Wall ty and its welfare assistance program, the helped with the drive said. "There are Street Journal, then classes like these are sparks of concern were first struck from plenty of people here who could use it." somewhere else, but when you understand the typewriter of a Corpus Christi Caller- that there are 5,270 men and women, here, Times reporter, Ed Deswysen, a Republi- Mrs. Riebel, on returning from a brief now, who went to class last night, perhaps can, who uncovered a remarkable incident. holiday to learn of Deswysen's story, said in your own son's elementary school, and Deswysen learned in December that the that a good deal of clothing still was on will be there again tomorrow, learning to social worker for Kleberg County had hand, but that none of the welfare recip- read and write, then they seem more real. placed a phone call in confidence to the ients wanted it. "I'm just like a doctor," Many of us learned anew how quickly Salvation Army in Corpus Christi, asking she added. "He cannot go around asking changed are the bents of nations, how that an unmarked truck be sent to Kings- people if they are sick and need a pill. If people need something and come to us, we vlunerable are this country's dreams. A ville to pick up some clothing, some of help, if they are eligible. But we cannot go specific lesson we Houstonians had to face which had been collected for the needy in out and seek people in need, they must again was the obstinacy of the people who a Christmas season drive by Texas A&I came to us first. It's been a terrific prob- run this city's school system. The superin- College students, sponsored by campus lem, and too few people take any interest tendent and the majority board members church organizations. all redrew on fresh paper their own carica- Mrs. Gayle Riebel, the social worker, be- March 4, 1966 9 in it until something like this comes about." clothing neatly sorted by type and size. gram. However, I can't say for sure." She added, "I'm on the board of the More clothing, Deswysen found, was stored But Dr. Wayne Johnson, a consultant in Salvation Army, and I thought that if in the welfare office in the basement of the recently organized Kleberg County com- I sent the items to the Corpus Christi Sal- the courthouse. munity action committee, can't understand vation Army, they could be repaired and • A family was deemed ineligible for why the county court doesn't participate cleaned and put to good use. I didn't send welfare aid if even one member earned an in the surplus commodities program. He anything that I thought was usable here income of any amount. Mrs. Riebel says notes that only $824.22 was spent on food in its existing state." Some believed that there were exceptions. "Sometimes the. for welfare recipients in 1965. Even that the Kleberg County Salvation Army could rule was broken if there was a large fami- amount was an unnecessary burden on have put the clothing in good repair • for ly and the wage earner was unable to pro- local taxpayers, Johnson contends, when its use locally. Mrs. Riebel found that the vide sufficient clothing. But if we gave the food could have been received free from episode was not appreciated by several clothing to everyone who requested it, the U.S. county officials and civic and church lead- Brown counters, "What is the differ- ers. A stillborn ence between the county furnishing the Still, Mrs. Riebel contended "there is an food itself and getting it shipped in from abundance of usable clothing for distribu- the outside? The federal tax money that tion to local needy families throughout the child . pays for those commodities comes from year." She reported to the county commis- somewhere." sioners court that in one week nine Kle- the father berg County families with a total of 40 • Food allotments provided $5 of gro- children were given 150 blouses, 125 sweat- ceries for each family, regardless of its ers, 337 adult dresses, 15 housecoats and dug the grave size. But in January the policy was altered; robes, 100 skirts, 75 girls' dresses, 75 allotments now are based on the number shirts, 30 men's pants, 25 coats and jackets, of persons in a family. 100 pairs of socks, 12 pair of shoes, 20 pair himself. of pajamas, 45 pieces of kitchenware, one whether they have an income or not, we THE PROBLEMS of Kleberg davenport, two mattresses, eight blankets, would be giving clothing to people without County's poor are causing widening con- and one innerspring. any actual need, and the needy would be cern. After Mrs. Riebel was fired and be- The day before this bonanza was lavish- more sadly neglected than they may seem fore a successor was hired, on Jan. 31, a ed on nine needy families, Mrs. Riebel had now." group of 70 impoverished farm workers been quietly asked to resign by the county A minister who helped sponsor the A&I from the county's rural areas converged on commissioners. She had refused. A day or clothing drive says, "I know of several the courthouse. The workers were not em- so later members of the County Welfare families with a wage-earner making some- ployed at that time of the year and came Association, appointed by the commission- thing like 50 cents an hour who could have seeking food to get them by until their ers court, recommended no action against used what we collected." He adds that the work season resumes. They and their fami- Mrs. Riebel, but the commissioners were policy of denying aid to families without lies were interviewed by Elvira Cavazos, unmoved. Commissioner Rex Wright's mo- any income seems to keep help from those the only employee at the welfare office tion that Mrs. Riebel be fired was seconded in need who are genuinely trying to help after the firing. Secretaries from other and passed unanimously. themselves by working at any available courthouse offices helped out interviewing Miss Edith Cousins, president of the job. "The people they discriminate against the applicants, some of whom carried ba- welfare association, stung by the commis- are those who are trying to help them- bies in their arms. sioners' ignoring her board's recommenda- selves," he said. County Judge Brown complained that tion, said "You have shown a complete • A year ago burial costs of a stillborn political opponents were making an issue disregard for the opinion of the board. baby were saved by a needy family by of the march on the courthouse. "We don't What do you want of a board?" Commis- having the father dig the grave himself at want a hullabaloo out of this," he said. sioner Wright responded that "Other than the local cemetery. "There's no sense in making a political yourself, the board hasn't been interested • Only in the last few years has the football out of it." in county welfare. I can show you members county government had any part in wel- An official of the county anti-poverty of the board who haven't been to a meet- fare. The County Welfare Association was organization, Valdemar Perez, said he ing in a year." organized 15 years ago as a private organ- urged the families to come to the court- Luis Fuentes, Jr., of Kingsville, a spec- ization and hired Mrs. Riebel as its social house in a group to make their presence tator at the meeting, rose to ask why there worker while it was still non-governmen- . felt. "These people have come here so were no Latin-Americans on the board. tal. A few years ago the county commis- many times and were rejected that they "The largest number of welfare recipients sioners court absorbed the group, including came to me for help," Perez, a grocer, said. are Latin-Americans," Fuentes said, "yet Mrs. Riebel, into the government. An of- "I found every one of them was in bad there are no Latins on the board. The fice of the State Department of Public shape." board needs a Latin-American in order to Welfare distributes financial aid to dis- Perez said his action had nothing to do know the needs of these people," he told abled workers and dependent children. with the war on poverty program. "These the commissioners. Presiding Judge Bolar • The budget provided by the county people don't need a year-round rehabilita- A. Brown said he thought Fuentes' sug- commissioners for welfare is $15,392 for tion program at this point," he said. "This gestion a good one and that it had never this year, compared to $79,900 budgeted is an emergency situation caused by loss been made before. in neighboring Jim Wells County, which of jobs in bad weather." He added that has a similar population. many of the families had been without in- re- THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION that • Kleberg County doesn't subscribe to come for six weeks. "Many had been ensued from Deswysen's stories brought out the federal food program in which surplus fused help simply because there was one a fund of information on welfare policies commodities are distributed to needy fami- person in the family who had any amount in Kleberg County. Among the points lies. Only last November did the county of income." raised: commissioners begin looking into the pro- Another man who became concerned as a gram. Judge Brown, head of the county result of Deswysen's stories was M. P. • Clothing is collected on a twice-a-week government, says, "I have always said that Maldonado, a former Corpus Christi city basis for welfare families by the county our finances are good enough that we don't councilman who operates a food manufac- government. But evidently a bottleneck in need to ask for outside help. If there are turing concern in that city. The day after distribution existed. A warehouse, original- any people who are hungry and eligible for the farm workers' march on the court- ly built as a records storage annex to the assistance, we are glad to give it to them house, Maldonado shipped a truckload of courthouse, became dominated by racks of . . . It looks to me right now that we will tortillas, tamales, and sausages to. Kings- 10 The Texas Observer institute the {federal commodities] pro- ville. He said he had read another Deswy- sen story about "these hungry people," improving the lot of the poor who abound pears to be sympathetic to the problems of adding "this was my home town. I was hereabouts. Ten years ago it's possible that the poor. Ten years ago 70 farm workers, reared here and went to school here. I a story such as that of Mrs. Riebel's phone humble people, would not have had the know that there are a lot of people here call to Corpus Christi wouldn't have made courage to march on a courthouse, and if who need help." Orphaned during the De- the frdnt page of the newspapers—if in- they had, the sheriff probably would have pression, Maldonado recalled his early days deed it would have been printed at all. It been summoned to disperse them. Instead of hardship in Kleberg County. "I know most certainly would not have caused her courthouse personnel were called in to help what it means when you are hungry. I dismissal, nor the improvement in food al- with the interviews. know what it feels like when you need a lotments that came about in January, nor Small steps, to be sure. But they do offer piece of bread or a tamale." the hiring of a Latin-American who ap- a prospect. Judge Brown suspected that someone had put Maldonado up to making his do- nation for political reasons. Arriving at the courthouse, Brown said, "All I came down ...... _...... "_, Political Intelligence here for was to find out what was behind this. Was this done on your awn motion, or did someone put you up to it?" Maldonado denied the suggestion, saying, "I didn't want to cause any political turmoil. I came Big Show here with a sincere heart." A Really goof The attention which national political more than any other person, for the pass- A SUCCESSOR to Mrs. Riebel columnists are giving to the U.S. Sen- age of this measure. He deserves full credit has begun work at $420 a month. He is Ed ate race and the continuing embarrassment for the Senate having enacted this impor- Lopez, a Kingsville service station owner, of the President and labor is indicated in tant measure . . . " . . . Addressing such who had done volunteer work for the coun- the Houston Chronicle headline for a Les- groups as the Republican Policy Commit- ty's needy while working with the Lions lie Carpenter .column: "Texas' Senate race tee, students at San Antonio's McAllister Club and the Knights of Columbus. Among builds into big national show." Carpenter College, insurance agents meeting in that his first acts in office was a call for cloth- described Atty. Gen. Waggoner Carr's pri- city, and the Toastmasters Club in Victoria, ing. He said cold weather items particular- mary opposition for the Democratic nomi- Tower called for a stronger American fight ly were desperately needed. Mrs. Riebel's nation (Houston PR man John Willoughby) in South Vietnam . . . Seventeen Texas earlier position that a sufficient supply was as "insignificant" and said Democrats fear television stations carried a half-hour film- on hand to the contrary notwithstanding. that the intention of Texas Observer edi- ed report of Tower's trip to Vietnam last Lopez says he plans to consult with tor Ronnie Dugger to seek a spot on the year; an "educational" committee bought members of the commissioners court to get November ballot as an independent will the air time . . . Tower had harsh words for a proposed administration cut in aid a few changes approved. "I know there are help Sen. John Tower, Rowland Evans to school districts in so-called federalbr im- a lot of people in the county who need and Robert Novak, New York Herald Tri- pacted areas. He said the cuts will cost 240 help," he says, "and I know that many bune columnists, wrote that a survey the Republicans bought showed Tower leading Texas school districts almost $14 million. with small monthly incomes, not now eligi- "There are places savings can be made," ble, should be entitled to some help." Good Carr at the end of January and opined that Dugger's entry increased Tower's chances he said. "But we should not cut corners judgment and compassion -will have to be on our children's education." used in determining some cases, he went of reelection. The Austin Statesman carried on. "I know we must have rules, but I the column, editing it to read that Dugger's Yarborough Blasts Budget Cuts candidacy would help Tower "impercepti- also know there must be exceptions to 1, Now that his seven-year campaign for bly," and blue-penciling out the paragraph these rules in the case of extreme hard- the Cold War GI Bill has succeeded, to about the survey. ships." what legislation will Sen. Ralph Yarbor- Lopez moved to Kingsville in 1941, work- 1/ Indicating labor's puzzlement over the ough turn his attention? He has decided ing in a supermarket and hardware store Tower-or-Carr question, the Dallas to give intensive work to his bill to com- before opening his service station in 1953. Morning News reported that Tower's in- pensate the innocent victims of crime for He attended Texas A&I and now attends vitation to address the AFL-CIO's Com- injuries or property loss. He was one of the night classes at Del Mar Technical Insti- mittee on Political Education this weekend co-sponsors of Rhode Island Democrat John tute in Corpus Christi. The conservative, began: "Dear Mr. Carr." Pastore's resolution to end nuclear pro- semi-weekly Kingsville paper commented go/ Stuart Long reports that as attorney liferation. He has been aligned with Sen. on his appointment: " He is a successful general, Carr, with the Highway De- Russell Long, D.-La., on behalf of legisla- businessman and will have the judg- partment, still is looking into the possibility tion to preserve public property rights in ment to know who needs welfare and who of price rigging by asphalt supplierS. inventions made possible by. federal re- doesn't. He probably understands as much g/ Jon Ford of the San Antonio Express search money. He voted for cloture to cut about the actual needs of the Latin-Ameri- reported that Carr's all-but-certain vic- off debate over taking up legislation to re- can population as any man in Kleberg tory in the May primary has led to a cam- peal 14-B of the Taft-Hartley Act. He is County, and it appears that a number of paign spending cutback in the attorney pushing bills for national parks at Guada- the welfare cases will be from Latin-Ameri- general's camp. Ford said Carr will save lupe Mountain, the Big Thicket, and can low-income laborers. Being a business- the money for the general election . . . His Amistad Dam near Del Rio. man, Lopez can be counted on not to aid opponent in the primary, Willoughby, con- Yarborough is now well known as the those who simply refuse to work. On the tinues to campaign on foreign policy, prais- veterans' friend in the Senate. He has been other hand, he will be understanding of ing Acheson, Rusk, and Kennedy as his given a silver cup inscribed "Man of the the problems of the justly deserving." models. "Communists have enough to do Year" in veterans affairs by the National . in their own back yard to keep them busy Assn. of State Directors of Veterans' Af- for the next three or four generations," fairs, and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D.-Mass., IT'S DIFFICULT to fully assess Willoughby said recently. "If we could commended him for having "started the the value of reporting such as Deswysen's, just convince them (the communists) to fight" for the GI Bill many years ago and but it does seem apparent that the disclos- take care of what they have right now .. . said actually Yarborough "has been the ure of indifference to human suffering of- both ideologies might flourish for the next man of the years for veterans." The Texas 100 years." ten brings about at least some minor im- DAV gave Yarborough their distinguished provements. Incumbent Tower stood up in the service award last month. Sen. Robert Ken- Many South Texans are pleased to point Senate to praise Yarborough for his nedy, D.-N.Y., commended Yarborough's out what they regard as progress in race work on the cold war GI bill: "The relations of the region and in concern for senior Senator from Texas is responsible, March 4, 1966 . 11 perseverance on the GI Bill; Yarborough authorized subsidized loan guarantee budget cut of almost one billion dollars, paid the Kennedy brothers "special tribute" program . . . As a result, NDEA stu- including "severe curtailments" in agri- for their help on the bill. dent loan expenditures will decline by cultural conservation, milk and school Yarborough recently has shown a $149 million. . . . This program is lunch programs, rural electric and phone determination not to let pass without being turned from a student-aid pro- programs, and farm education and re- protest sharp cute in Great Society gram into a bank subsidy program. . . . search. Naman said the worldwide war spending because of the high costs of Under NDEA all the financial arrange- against hunger needs to become "something the war in Vietnam. He has charged ments were handled by people whose more than hollow pronouncements." Sargent Shriver with cutting back a first and foremost concern was the V Cong. Henry Gonzalez, San Antonio, Congress-approved $30 - million pro- education of the students, not the asked President Johnson to veto the gram to fight adult illiteracy to $16 making of a few dollars." bill Congress passed, despite Cong. Wright million (for one result, see another • "The budget calls for a $900 mil- Patman's opposition, forgiving certain past story this issue). ion cut in agriculture programs. . . . bank mergers. Johnson signed the bill. . . . We need more production, not less." Earlier he rose to say that among Four hundred Patman admirers attended a other things, the Administration is • "The [Agriculture] Department dinner in his honor in Mount Pleasant; he planning to turn the National Defense also proposes to cut funds for REA by was presented a portrait of himself ; Frank- Education Act scholarships "into a $462 million. At the present time there lin Jones, Sr., of Marshall reviewed Pat- bank subsidy program." He read off a is a great backlog of loan applications man's many fights against monopoly and string of deficiencies he saw in the at the REA. . . . This is not time to big financial interests. . . . Gonzalez said President's program. He suggested to weaken our rural domestic economy." all the Boeing 727 airplanes should be his colleagues "searching examina- • "Finally, spending for many new grounded, and the FAA began stirring tion" of Johnson's budget and told Great Society programs is well below about more actively on this subject. In them that Congress could "fullfill its what Congress has already authorized. recent crashes of 727's, 264 persons have own responsibility by differing in some The Higher Education Act authorized died. . . . Cong. Earle Cabell, Dallas, details." Among his complaints: over $500 million and only $381.4 mil- sounding more conservative this election lion is requested. A total of $660 mil- year, condemned the "truth in packaging" • "The proposal to shift many gov- lion is authorized for the new public bill as hostile to free enterprise, opposed ernment programs from government works and economic development pro- diversion of $200 million from road build- grants and loans to private financing. gram, yet only $327.4 million is asked ing to highway beautification, and called ... Any saving in government expendi- for. . . ." the Senate Vietnam hearings a "witch- tures would be purely illusory. On the Yarborough finished this way: "I hunt" and a disservice to the nation. . . . contrary, government costs of using don't believe that the poor should pay Cong. Jim Wright, Fort Worth, has a sec- private financing would in the long for the war in Vietnam. I will fight for ond book, on "The Coming Water Famine," run be greater than under the present adequate appropriations for all these pending for publication. arrangement, since the government programs which help the disadvant- would have to pay interest on the aged in our society to help them- Eckhardt's Situation loans." selves." V With the death of Cong. Albert Thom- • "Legislation will be proposed to as, Houston, the governor has called a shift the National Defense Education V Texas Farmers Union President Jay special election March 26 to fill Thomas' Act student loan program to the newly Naman, speaking to the Oklahoma unexpired term this year. This special elec- Farmers Union convention, charged that tion has two candidates, Mrs. Thomas, who 12 The Texas Observer U.S. agriculture is being punished with a said she would like to round out her late husband's 30 years of service, and Louis Leman, 27, of Crosby, a mechanical engi- neer, who is urging everyone to vote for Mrs. Thomas and says he regards his op- PLO FLEE! Frr_5J_r es fir F IF ponent as Rep. Bob Eckhardt of Houston.

ric-r r r"sat Cg r tr r ri This is tricky to understand, since Eck- r rrrcrr rre; gcur. Ectrr rrr r r_ rrfr rfr hardt is not running for the unexpired r .rr rrr• 0.011 grilEG r -rir rr -- fr“ irecg grF term; he announced he has no personal TEXAS — SIZE CM' frill ric“ rcG f(rcc ambition to fill it, and defers to Mrs. HOSPITALITY AT Thomas. THE IDEALLY LOCATED The race for the unexpired term is being run in Thomas' old legislative district, which is more conservative than the new HOTEL JEFFERSON-DALLAS district eight from which a congressman will be elected for a regular two-year term Completely redecorated and air conditioned. this year. Eckhardt is a candidate in the Adjoining Garage and FREE PARKING. May 7 primary; he and Larry McKaskle Wonderfully convenient location overlooking have both filed. McKaskle is expected to get a lot of conservative backing, in an Ferris Plaza—near Union Station, main high- attempt to keep Eckhardt out of Congress, way routes and all city-wide transportation. but the new district is a liberal constituency Famous for fine foods. (about 33% of the people in it are Negroes). The election code requires that Meeting rooms facilities for groups of the late Thomas' name remain on the May 7 ballot. If Thomas' name received a ma.- from 10 to 500 persons. jority of the votes, the Democrats' nominee apparently would have to be designated by RAYMOND L. MULLIKIN, Managing Director the Harris County Democratic Executive Committee, in which a lively fight could 312 South Howie, be expected in such an eventuality. If, however, Thomas' name did not receive a DALLAS, TEXAS majority of the votes but one of the live candidates received a majority, the latter DIAL DIRECT (214), Riverside 2-6101 candidate would win; if neither Eckhardt nor McKaskle got a majority, but Thomas' on seating eight precinct chairman chosen name didn't either, then there would be a a year ago, and on booting out a precinct primary runoff. An announced Republican Leveling Off chairman who was for Goldwater. The candidate for the new eighth district seat, Dallas Democratic committee also endorsed Gov. Connally's emphasis on higher E. A. Rose of Baytown, failed to pay his permanent voter registration and sent education is plateauing. The coordinat- filing fee, so whoever wins the Democratic State Senate candidate Oscar Mauzy to ing board's recommendations on the primary for the seat is the nominee. Mrs. mcney to be spent for colleges in the Austin to testify for them on behalf of it. Thomas, not having filed by Feb. 7 for next biennium total $429 million, an in- V In Dallas, by the way, Howard Lydick, the regular seat, could not legally become crease of $159 million but of this in- a leader in the Texas Young Republi- a candidate in the regular primary unless crease, only $39 million (about 9%) is cans, has announced for county GOP her husband's name received a majority of for "improvement" in programs. The chairman against John Leedom. Lydick the votes and the county committee then bulk of the increase is to be caused by says this will be a referendum on his, designated her the party nominee. Whether rising enrollment. Senior college facul- Lydick's positions that the GOP should run this tack will be urged on the voters re- ty salaries are to be increased 5% over full slates of candidates for public office. mains to be seen. Meanwhile Eckhardt is the two years: library spending is to campaigning vigorously—not for the un- be held at status quo. The senior col- V The Woods-Hollowell campaign take- expired term, which Mrs. Thomas will fill, leges' role and scope committee did off on state TV has not been followed and for which she has been endorsed by not include course-by-course specifica- by much publicity-attracting fireworks both Houston dailies, but for the Demo- tions; if the board has a disposition to since then. Filing, Bill Hollowell, candi- cratic nomination in the new district. Eck- strike out specific courses on the basis dates for lieutenant governor, said he'd hardt granted to an inquiring reporter that of Section 11 of the new law, this has been told that some East Texans mean to a Texas congressman had asked him not to not yet become evident. The board's vote for him but also for Gov. Connally, oppose Mrs. Thomas for the unexpired term recommendations for role - and - scope and that if it happened the two of them and had told him Mrs. Thomas was not policy decisions contained no real sur- were elected, Hollowell would be willing interested in the new place .to be filled prises. to work with Connally. Apart from his pre- by the voters of the eighth district. special session press conference. Hollowell Speaking at a meeting of the Harris mittee (under that committee's fair play did not make as much news during the County AFL-CIO Council that endorsed rules) to succeed outgoing chairman Bill session as Sen. Franklin Spears, candidate him and Eckhardt, Bill Kilgarlin, liberal Kilgarlin (running a good-chance race for March 4, 1966 candidate for Congress in Cong. Bob Congress against incumbent Bob Casey), 13 Casey's district, called Casey a Republican and conservative Democrat W. N. Blanton, who voted, according to Congressional 1Jr., is opposing Gibson for the permanent EUR OPE Quarterly, against Johnson programs 82% 'chairmanship in the primary. Charlie Mar- An unregimented trip stressing individual of the time. "He even voted against a bill freedom. Low cost yet covers all the usual tin, a La Porte roofing contractor, has an- plus places other tours miss. Unless the to make it illegal to bomb churches and nounced for chairman in Houston, too. standard tour is a "must" for you, discover schools, then flee across state lines," Kil Liberal-loyalists control the Dallas execu- this unique tour before you go to Europe. garlin said. Kilgarlin figures Casey lost tive committee, because Connally's sup- EUROPE SUMMER TOURS 30,000 conservative votes in redistricting. porters lost a test vote, 93-62, last month 255 Sequoia, Dept. J—Pasadena, California V In San Antonio, Randolph A. Sher- wood, candidate for Congress from the new 23rd district, announced for the war on poverty and Yarborough's expanded GI Bill. Sherwood also said he is for "peace in A CHALLENGE Vietnam as soon as possible, but an honor- able peace," and added, "We must exert every effort to stop this useless killing, the spilling of American blood, and waste of to Observer readers in Texas . . . our youth in this senseless war." V In Dallas and Houston, the Democrats are riven into sharply opposed camps The voter registration period which begins this week offers the individual by county chairmanship contests. In Dallas citizen a change to make a meaningful contribution to democracy. Four mil- loyalist Mike McKool, running as a plain Democrat but of course identified closely lion Texans eligible to vote remain unregistered. The Texas Establishment is with Sen. Ralph Yarborough, is opposed by predicting that only 50,000 to 100,000 will sign up in the next two weeks. Joe Rich, who made an anti-Yarborough statement to the press and is following The Texas AFL-CIO suggests a goal of one million. through with steadily pro-Connally state- ments. In Houston, David Gibson, loyalist, has been designated by the county corn- You can help! Dedicate two hours of the next two weeks to telephoning your friends and relatives, talking to your co-workers, knocking on your neighbors' doors. The registration forms are free and available from your Specialists In county tax assessor-collector or from your nearest AFL-CIO office. You are Political Printing free to hand them to unregistered voters and urge their use. You work and live alongside the unregistered. If each Observer reader spends two hours of the next two weeks on this effort, 100,000 more Texans will have the vote in May. IFFUTURA PRESS INC.

Hickory 2-8682 .41. Hickory 2-2426 We challenge you to help us prove that the vote is now free public 1714 SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE property. —The Texas AFL-CIO P.O. BOX 3485 ■ AUSTIN, TEXAS (Pd. Pol. Adv.) for attorney general, did Senate-side. Hollo- V In State Senate situations, the wrong, 5-2; Rep. Whitfield, Houston, right, well has been confronting his political dif- North Shore liberal Democrats in 5-2; Rep. Charles Wilson, Lufkin, right, ficulty with minority groups because of Houston were reported to have de- 5-2. his support of 1957 segregation bills in the clined to hear Senate candidate Charles Congressional candidates, Rep. Eckhardt, legislature with the point that he did not Whitfield and heard his opponent, Miss right, 5-1; Sen. Martin Dies, Jr., right sign these bills, and that in any event he Barbara Jordan, on grounds that a twice, wrong twice. did not take to statewide TV to denounce screening committee had endorsed the V Forty-nine House incumbents have no the 1964 U.S. civil rights bill as uncon- 'latter, and not the former. However, a primary opponents, and only five of stitutional, as Connally did. Lt. Gov. Pres- spokesman said non-endorsed candi- the 49 have GOP opponents. There are 48 ton Smith. said in a Dallas speech the junior dates were invited to introduce them- House seats without incumbents running. colleges are a good hope for the education selves. . . . Rep. Wayne Connally, Only four twin-incumbents races mater- of. those not in the four-year college sys- John's brother, is to be honored at a ialized, Stuart Long's Austin Report said. tem. barbecue on his 43rd birthday March I The Observer erred saying Rep. Bob 19 in Kenedy. Connally's opponent for V Liberal Democrat Paul Haring, candi- Vale is running for the Senate. Vale the Senate is Erasmo Andrade, San date for the Railroad Commission, has Antonio liberal . . . Sen. Babe Sch- did announce, but withdrew. Futhermore, opened an office in Austin and has a cam- wartz, Galveston, didn't pay his $1,000 we erred saying there's no GOP contender paign assistant, Ed Mesterharm, on the filing fee to run in the lower frag- against the winner of the Democratic pri- road with him. An ex-Marine, Mesterharm ment of Harris County, so 50,000 mary contest against Rep. Joe Bernal and is a graduate student in social work. Cmsr. Houstonians won't get to vote for a David Carter; the GOP candidate is Phil Byron Tunnell said in Houston that more senator, but Schwartz is going in un- Pyndus . . . In San Antonio, by the way, drilling and production can be expected in opposed. a Negro school teacher, Lois White, is run- the oil industry this year and that this ning as a Republican for the legislature, should bring about an increase in offshore V The downtown Dallas business group and Seagal Wheatley, the county GOP activity. Campaigning in Dallas, Haring endorsed the only Negro seeking a chairman, has a Mexican-American special said he went to look at the train depot state House of Representatives seat, attor- assistant, Joe Guerra. before the Railroad Commission "got ney Joe E. Lockridge, completing their 14- V PASO, the Political Assn. of Spanish- around to abolishing all railway service" candidate slate. Ben Lewis, incumbent, is Speaking Organizations, holds conven- in Texas. seeking the same seat Lockridge is, but tion March 11-13 in Dallas and is to invite the downtowners had decided to leave 14 The Texas Observer candidates to speak, according to an an- Lewis out in the cold. Six of the other 14 nouncement . . . United Political organiza- seats are being contested in the primary. tion, (UPO), endorsed Gov. Connally, Atty. Texas Society V The Texas Joint Railway Labor Legis- Gen. Carr, and Judge John Onion in their lative Board has published its evalua- primary races. to Abolish tions of the voting records of the legisla- V Gov. Connally did not, after all, ask tors. Among the politically more interest- the special session to stay on to give Capital Punishment ing scores are these: HemisFair the extra $5.5 million he be- P.O. Box 8134, Austin, Texas 78712 Rep. Paul Hdring, "right," 6-0; Rep. lieves it should get in state money. Re- Hollowell, "wrong," 4-2; Sen. Galloway buking what he regarded as implied pres- Calhoun, attorney general candidate, sure to go for permanent registration in memberships, $2 up wrong, 4-0; Sen. Spears, attorney general return for this $5.5 million for the San An- candidate, right 2-0. tonio project, Rep. Jake Johnson, San An- Senate candidates in the House: Rep. Joe tonio, said, "I'm not swapping HemisFair Bernal, San Antonio, right, 5-1; Rep. Chet for the right to vote." HELP! Brooks, Pasadena, right, 5-2; Rep: Connal- Auditor C. H. Cavness' report on legis- Help restore integrity to the Texas ly, wrong 3-1; Rep. David Ivy, Dallas, lators' contingent expense spending in Railroad Commission. Paul B. Haring's wrong, 4-3; Rep. Dudley Mann, El Paso, the last regular session showed these campaign for Railroad Commissioner wrong, 4-2; Rep. W. H. Miller, Houston, "highs" and "lows": In the Senate, Sen. A. needs money today. wrong, 5-2; Rep. Don Garrison, Houston, M. Aikin, Jr., Paris, $637.56, and Sen. Andy, Send contributions now to: Haring Railroad Subscribe to the Observer Commissioner Subscribe for a Friend Campaign The Observer "is the conscience of the "Despite its shortcomings, the Texas State Campaign Head-quarters political community" in Texas. — An- Observer is needed in Texas. Texans 1606 Lavaca St., Austin, Tex. 78701 drew Kopkind in the New Republic, Nov. would miss its publication . . ."—Texas (Pd. Pol. Adv.) 20, 1965. AFL-CIO News, Nov. 15, 1965. The Observer "has a stable of gifted "Although we disagree completely . . . writers and kindred spirits who con- we strongly recommend the Observer as tribute to its pages."—"Copies find their one of the best sources of state political way to the desks of the mighty and even news available." — Official Publication MARTIN ELFANT into the White House."—St. Louis Post- of the Young Republican Clubs of Texas, Dispatch, July 25, 1965. 1965. Sun Life of Canada Send $6 for each year's subscription to Sarah Payne, Business Manager, The Texas Observer, 504 W. 24th St., Austin, Texas. 1001 Century Building NAME NAME Houston, Texas ADDRESS ADDRESS CA 4-0686 CITY STATE CITY STATE ...... Zip Code Zip Code Rogers, Childress, $3,687.84; in the House, Rep. Don Hefton, Sherman, $123.01, and Rep. Will Smith, Beaumont, $946.83. Selections from a Journal-a V "Reveille," a new monthly of dis- down so that others will value them. If sent in Arizona, appeared with Elroy Bode I were Jesus Christ and Abe Lincoln its first issue, announcing it will "at- This is the third of three groups of se- rolled into one—yet could not write—I tempt the most exciting features of lections taken from the journals of Elroy would carry within me a sense of failure because to create memorable things out of the New Republic, Le Canard En- Bode of El Paso. chaine, Punch, and the Texas Observ- my head is the one challenge by which I er." The first issue leaned heavily on Life has gone flabby, and I am flabby feel I must stand or fall. I must be able to slum landlords in Phoenix. too. Where are the dynamics that once look at the world, perceive true things made a thing important, that once gave about it, write them down well—or be a V Frank Duggan, research director of the an event its color and thrill and urgency? Texas AFL-CIO, has resigned as sec- I live on a long, grey plateau, stretching March 4, 1966 15 retary of St. John's College Alumni Assn. out of sight. How did I get here? How in New York City in connection with that did I arrive at such a spongy and weary college's nationally publicized dispute over plain—an old man's dull savannah? Am the academic freedom of its professors. I destined to go on measuring it, semi- #ripitz' serene (as a bright-eyed vegetable might V Kermit Davidson, the Texas AFL-CIO's Since 1866 public relations man in East Texas be semi-serene), semi-alive, semi-myself? and father of a civil rights demonstrator in I keep looking around for chains to shake The Place in Austin Huntsville, filed a complaint alleging he off or adversaries to confront or contin- was struck with a blackjack in Huntsville gents to ally myself with. But all I see is this constant pale vista, this low-pulsed GOOD FOOD one night. A Walker County rancher, E. world of the uninvolved. Vernon Thomas, entered a plea of nolo GOOD BEER contendere and paid a $25 fine. There is only one way in which I can ever be at peace with myself—to be con- V The Austin American Statesman re- 1607 San Jacinto vinced that I have within me a steady fused to run a paid advertisement writ- GR 7-4171 ten by an Austin civil rights group rebuk- source of significant things to say about ing the city council and mayor in a dis- life and have the ability to write them Mil••■•■••••■ pute over a human rights commission in the city. The ad contended that discrimination and segregation are still very much the facts of life in the state capital. AMERICAN INCOME Dugger for Senator

No one should fail to vote in the pri- maries on account of Ronnie Dugger need- LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ing signatures of those who don't on the petitions for his candidacy as an indepen- dent candidate for the Senate. Please don't hurt any of the good candidates in the primaries by failing to vote for them so OF INDIANA you can sign the petition. The petitions won't be circulated until the summer, and we'll take our chances on getting the signa- tures then from those who just neglected to vote. The more people qualify to vote this Underwriters of the American Income Labor year, the better, so get everyone who hasn't paid his poll tax to register to vote free during the 15-day period March 3-18. All who will work on the petitions when the time comes or will do other work, Disability Policy please write or call Dugger for Senator Campaign now, giving name, address, phone number, and kind of work you'll do. Money will be needed, too, especially for TV time. P.O. Box 1492 Austin, Tex. (GL 2-1013) Executive Offices: (Pd. Pol. Adv.)

MEETINGS P.O. Box 208

THE THURSDAY CLUB of Dallas meets each Thursday noon for lunch (cafeteria style) at the Downtown YMCA, 605 No. Ervay St., Waco, Texas Dallas. Good discussion. You're welcome. In- formal, no dues. The TRAVIS COUNTY LIBERAL DEMO- CRATS meet at Scholz' Garten at 8 p.m. on the first Thursday. You're invited. Bernard Rapoport, President ITEMS for this feature cost, for the first entry, 7c a word, and for each subsequent entry, 5c a word. We must receive them one week before the date of the issue in which they are to be . published. failure (each day during past years I it was a strange excitement, a trembling a compromise rather than persist awk- have risen to the world like a blind trout exaltation and passion. It spread through wardly in holding on to his almost-forgot- coming to the surface of a creek; but, me like some weakening Oriental potion ten dreams and desires. Perhaps he has being blind—or unperceptive, or whatever (". . . ah, this eventide once more, when come to feel that his emotions were less —I see no big truths to snap at. I only the country gods are here about me and than trustworthy in the past and believe sense they are there, and desire to have I am one with Buddha . . .") that his accumulated experience has now them. And so each day, unsatisfied as the It is a simple contentment, the only con- purified and stabilized them. He is tempt- trout without his bug, I slide back to the sistently profound moment I have ever ed to turn his back on those almost-dimmed depths. But I will rise again tomorrow, and known. It says, among other things, that passions which, he remembers, led so fre- the next day, and the next . . . ) the world is good and right just as it is. quently to heartaches and blind alleys and it Of course. It has been stupid of me not It makes you lose discrimination and love failures.. to realize it before now. I do have each thing you see, in turn—each touch of # Sometimes I think I am too pleased by friends, and true ones. They just happen to breeze on grass, each small bell sound from life, too satisfied by its daily simplicities. be out of the ordinary. A piece of paper, sheep in the valley, each frozen-necked Say I am out walking on the edge of town a bit of silence, my past—these are friends lizard staring at you from his rock. some sunny morning—I find that all I who sustain me. A lonely group we make You love from the inside of your body. would ever care to say about life is right sometimes, yes, but companions neverthe- You sit there and glow. there before me: the mountains lying in less. the distance in the early morning smokey- I have asked myself many times: why haze ; the fields spread out around me, I treat them courteously, coming into this solitary bliss, these moments that melt their presence with gratitude and respect. plowed and ready for planting; the sound you and spread through you this powerful of tractors running nearby and cars mov- I never browbeat. I do not shake or gouge mixture of melancholy and joy? These them or rattle their bones in a grim effort ing along the highway. If I wrote, I would passing moments—are they something you just want to lift that whole satisfying piece to draw out of them some artful tale or had in your childhood but have lost along episode. I do not try to take advantage of of earth and sky and air and place it down the way? In those long momentous years on paper. So most of the time I have to them for my own pbssible artistic gains. I as a child, did you create some substance try to observe the basic rule of friendship: ask myself : why write? You've already of your soul that cries out now to be heard? got what you want—there it is, right be- to never make excessive demands of those Did you create some Babylon of solitary one would want to have genial concourse fore you. Why not go ahead and enjoy it? happiness which you will never really Why not continue to be delighted in it and with over the years. possess again but which you must keep on Thus, my friends and I simply sit to- stop feeling guilty because you are unable hunting because it seems to be on the very to capture it on paper with the same skill gether like old clubmen gathered together edge of understanding, or God? before a warm fireplace. We find a little that God used to create it? comfort and peace from the quiet, level at- After six in the evening solitary women Much of the time I follow this advice— mosphere, and sometimes, if the mood is occupy the side booths of Shilo's Delica- I walk about finding pleasure and content- right, there is a clearing of the throat, a tessen in San Antonio, slowly giving way ment just in perceiving my surroundings. shifting about in a chair, and the rising to loneliness under the guiding hand of Perhaps I see an old punctured oil can in of a steady voice within the room. draught beer and recorded violin music. a ditch. Fine, I say to myself. It exists, it Many things • in the world have been They sit with their hats on, in neat brown I exist, the two of us are here together; suits, now and then turning their heads to scorned, laughed at, belittled. But no one we have a relationship, and I am pleased has ever yet ridiculed nature. stare across to adjoining tables. Some- by it. We are two things in life side by times, if you are quick, you can catch side—what more can you want? Or per- # I was on a hill this afternoon, before the them staring straight at you, unabashed, haps I see two women talking in a small sun went down. A valley was spread as if staring were a bitter right they had dry cleaning shop. Again, fine; lovely. At before me. And as I watched, the old feel- earned over the years. such a moment I prefer seeing them—and ing for the land rose inside me. As always, To these women the booths at Shilo's listening to them talk—to reading Shakes- 16 The Texas Observer are secure caves they can crawl into with peare. Or I see a sign on another building: dignity at the end of the day. They don't "Ed's Welding." Also fine. I prefer look- have to hope there; they do not have to ing at those black, irregular letters to see- feel too completely lost or lonely. They can ing a play. Or, to be perfectly accurate, simply wait for a while, suspended and I had just as soon see the sign "Ed's Weld- watchful, like pendulums after the springs ing" as read Shakespeare or see a play. run down. Because to me there is no hierarchy of things in life. Everything that exists is a it It is that rare feat of becoming involved phenomenon; everything has its own won- with humanity when a person who is der. Life is a wonder-L–how, then, can any- content with what he has becomes dis- thing in life not help but share part of that content because of what others lack. Such wonder, that mystery? To be sure, it is a person is the only real link between the perhaps a matter of seeing it (like picture satisfied Haves and the dissatisfied Have puzzles: a cow, for example, is camou- Nots. flaged by its surroundings and yoU keep it Even though you are unhappy, or lonely, looking and looking and finally shrug and or feeling unfulfilled, there 'ban exist say, There's no cow there; and then some- within you a saving sense of integrity, a one points to a certain area of the picture sense of fidelity to yourself. Such a unity and sure enough, staring out at you is a within is the small reward for not having cow). compromised too much along the way. Most people don't find the cows in life— For a real compromise of yourself con- the everyday, ordinary phenomenons. And stitutes a death somewhere in the spirit. those who do become a little paralyzed The damage is not always 'immediately from the awesomeness of such simple de- noticed, but it will show sooner or later. lights. For if you have the right eyes, It will begin to rise up in unexpected mo- everything intrigues and captivates. Every- ments, like belched gall in the mouth, and thing is of value simply because it is—it cause your very fiber to feel weakened, as exists in the magic of its own incompre- though it had been left to soak in water hensible being. Bums, babies, trees, filling for a long while. stations, grass—all exist, and thus all are And yet, there are many dire times that worthy of your interest; reflection, and a reasonable person is tempted to choose bewilderment. 0