Plunk Your Magic Twanger, Tommy by Joe Wayne Taylor the City Interested in the Entertainment By' Their Big Buick and Chevrolet Business

013A Journal of Free Voices S ERVER 250 A Window to the South July 2Z 1973 Plunk your magic twanger, Tommy By Joe Wayne Taylor the city interested in the entertainment by' their big Buick and Chevrolet business. Arlington now owns a major dealerships. For years, they've enjoyed "There is a bond issue on your league baseball park and the world's running the city, and their forays into immediate horizon. It may seem monu- largest inland sea-life oceanarium. what they call "community service" have provided both civic and financial benefits. mental in size. It may seem frightening. The ball park houses the biggest losers When it comes time to buy a new car, But not meeting our responsibilities in professional baseball. The fish, park would be even more frightening. We 'may Arlington residents may well remember features Newtka the Killer Whale and a that the Vandergriffs donated land for the be thinking big but I'm convinced that it bunch of rollerskating penguins. And the would be folly to think anything but new hospital, the First Methodist citizens of Arlington are $40 million in sanctuary ("Vandergriff Chapel"), the big." — Tom Vandergriff, 1951 debt for these municipal splendors. Arlington new uniforms and instruments for the Washington Post columnist Shirley To understand how Arlington has been high school band, the FFA and drivers' ed Povich was wrong when she wrote that transformed from a lazy, oak-shaded vehicles and the electric basketball Arlington was some "jerk town with the fanning town into a debt-ridden imitation scoreboards ("Vandergriff Enterprises" single boast it is equidistant, between of Southern California, one must know painted strategically thereon). Dallas and Fort Worth." Some really something of Mayor Vanderg,riff. He is to "The actual work I do selling cars," bizarre things have been going on here Arlington what Richard Daley is to Vandergriff once admitted, "wouldn't lately. Tom Vandergriff, 46, millionaire Chicago. begin to pay my salary. Only the other car dealer's son, mayor and a sort of one Vandergriff and his father, Hooker, day a young farmer came in to buy a man Chamber of Commerce, has gotten have built a little kingdom here, financed truck and told us he came here because he wanted a chance to pay us back for what we had done for him while he was in school. We do a lot of work for the youth and although it is a long range proposition, it pays off." Hooker Vandergriff moved his family from Carrollton, Tex., to Arlington in 1937. Sensing that the area would grow, he invested in well-situated land and soon became rich. Most people in Arlington place his wealth at about $10 million. Tom (Tommy or TJV, as the papers call him now) went through the Arlington schools and then to the University of Southern California for a degree in speech. The younger Vandergriff couldn't find a job in California as a radio announcer; so he came home, (Continued on Page 3)

Joe Wayne Taylor is a graduate of UT at Arlington. He worked for the student paper there and spent a summer at the Austin American-Statesman. After a stint at a Texaco station and a few weeks mowing lawns, Taylor was hired by the Dallas Times-Herald, where he works even now. Rumor has it that he's about to go to work for a Texas politician in Washington. FACULTY CONCERT — Leave this world of Watergate and inflation and enter the world of The Chopin and Haydn, with Frank Speller on the harpsichord, in faculty concert; 8 p.m., Recital Hall, Music Building, University of Texas, Austin. AUGUST 3 HEEEEERE'S — Johnny Carson, as though the coming tube image weren't enough, cardboarding and banalizing, with Phyllis McGuire in tow; 8 p.m., Jones Hall, Houston.

AUGUST 6 fortnight CIVIC CHORUS — If the cicadas don't drown them out, the spunky Austin Civic Chorus will sing under the stars in free (bring your own By Suzanne Shelton blanket) concert; Zilker Hillside Theatre, Zilker Park, Austin. JULY GRAB BAG CINEMADNESS — Alley Theatre's Fifth AUGUST 7 Summer 'Film Festival continues with "Comedy ENEMY NO. ONE — Straight from the and the Cinema;" Buster Keaton's 1927 "The Watergate Enemies' List, the deadly, conniving General," July 31-Aug. 1; "The Private Life of and crooked Carol Channing as "Lorelei" with Henry VII" with Charles Laughton, Aug. 2-3; and Dallas Summer Musicals cast; through Aug. 12, W. C. Fields' best comedy "The Bank Dick," Music Hall, Dallas. Aug. 4-5; also week of "Music and the Cinema;" the classic "The Jazz Singer" with Al Jolson, FROM ORLEANS — The Preservation Hall Aug. 7-8; Melina Mercouri in "Never on Sunday," Jazz Band, down our way from New Orleans, join Aug. 9-10; and Bogart and Bergman in the forces with Robert Shaw, the barrelhouse legendary "Casablanca," Aug. 7-12; Alley pianist-blues singer who owns a favorite barbecue Theatre, Houston. through July, Marjorie Kauffman Graphics, spot and is 64 years young; 8 p.m., Municipal Galleria, Houston. Auditorium, Austin. INSIDE MAX'S MIND — Step into the imagination of Max Ernst with "Inside the JULY 27 LET IT RAIN — This one's billed as "a Sight," exhibition of the surrealist's paintings, COWARD TWICE OVER — "Twice Over romantic comedy with insight into the human collages, drawings and sculptures; through Sept. Lightly" is title of two evenings of Noel Coward's heart," but it's a pulse-pumper playing on that 3, Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas. songs and sketches, running on alternate nights; old Western vein, with a cowboy who claims he first revue contains "Family Album," "Fumed can make rain so as to make it with a purty gal; SIMON COLLECTION — "Selections From Oak" and Musical Revue, while second show starring Peter Breck who's Nick in tubeland's the Norton Simon Foundation" include works by features "Red Peppers" and "Ways and Means" "Big Valley;" through Aug. 19, Mary Moody varied artists, from Braque to the 17th century plus entirely different Musical Revue; through Northen Theatre, St. Edward's University, Spaniard Francisco de Zurbaran; through Mid-August, Theatre Three arena theatre, Dallas. Austin. December, Museum of Fine Arts, Austin. AUGUST 1 AUGUST 8 ASTROART — Nancy Graves exhibits PICKIN' WITH GLEN — The Arkansas kid (via FACULTY SING — Arturo Sergi, tenor, and lithographs based on geologic maps of lunar Hollywood) Glen Campbell, and his backup boys Jess Walter, baritone, join Nancy Garrett, pianist, orbiter and Apollo landing sites (if we can barter perform old hits and a few newer misses; through in faculty' concert; Music Bldg. Recital Hall, astronaut breakfast cereal, why not astroart?); Aug. 4, Houston Music Theatre, Houston. University of Texas, Austin.

EDITOR Kaye Northcott BUSINESS STAFF CO-EDITOR Molly Ivins Ernest G THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR John Ferguson _ . Boardman Jr. EDITOR AT LARGE Ronnie Dugger Joe Espinosa Jr. C. R. Olofson David Sharpe TEXAS Contributing Editors: Winston Bode, Bill Brammer, Gary Cartwright, Sue Horn Estes, Joe Frantz, Larry Goodwyn, Bill Hamilton, Bill Helmer, Dave Hickey, Franklin Jones, The Observer is published by Texas OBSERVER Lyman Jones, Larry L. King, Georgia Earnest Klipple, Observer Publishing Co., biweekly from Larry Lee, Al Melinger, Robert L. Montgomery, Willie Austin, Texas. Entered as second-class Morris, Bill Porterfield, James Presley, Charles Ramsdell, matter April 26, 1937, at the Post © The Texas Observer Publishing Co. 1973 Buck Ramsey, John Rogers, Mary Beth Rogers, Roger Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act Ronnie Dugger, Publisher Shattuck, Edwin Shrake, Dan Strawn, John P. Sullivan, of March 3, 1879. Second class postage A window to the South Tom Sutherland. paid at Austin, Texas. Single copy, 25c. One year,, $7.00; two years, $13.00; A journal of free voices We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are three years. $18.00; plus, for Texas dedicated to the whole truth, to human values above all addresses, 5% sales tax. Foreign, except interests, to the rights of man as the foundation of APO/FPO, 50c additional per year. Vol. LXV, No. 14 July 27, 1973 democracy; we will take orders from none but our own Airmail, bulk orders, and group rates conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent the on request. Microfilmed by Incorporating the State Observer and truth to serve the interests of the powerful or cater to the Microfilming Corporation of America, the East Texas Democrat, which in turn ignoble in the human spirit. 21 Harristown Road, Glen Rock, N.J. incorporated the Austin Forum- 07452. Advocate. The editor has exclusive control over the editorial policies and contents of the Observer. None of the other Change of Address: Please give old people who are associated with the enterprise shares this and new address, including zip codes, Editorial and Business Offices: The responsibility with her. Writers are responsible for their and allow two weeks. Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th St., Austin, own work, but not for anything they have not themselves Texas 78701. Telephone 477-0746. written, and in publishing them the editor does not Postmaster: Send form 3579 to necessarily imply that she agrees with them, because this is Texas Observer, 600 W. 7th St., Austin, 70430PV.1 a journal of free voices. Texas 78701. Once Vandergriff winged his way to it doesn't require voter approval. The Plunk... California to convince the directors of certificates usually are re-funded into something called the Junior Rose Bowl general revenue bonds -at lower interest (Continued from Page 1) that if the Rebels from Arlington State rates. disappointed, to work for his dad. Since (then a junior college, now a UT branch Some Arlington residents are then Vandergriff has been handling the with 14,000 students) were chosen for contemplating a lawsuit to test the p.a. mike at high school football games, the football match, he would promise constitutionality of the certificates. The calling the plays in a slick baritone often that "thousands of young students waving city charter states that "no bonds for any likened to Walter Cronkite's. Rebel flags would converge" and "the purpose shall be issued and sold until they TJV took over the Arlington Chamber South would surely rise again" have first been authorized by a majority of Commerce at the age of 23. Somebody somewhere over Southern California. But vote of the duly qualified resident talked him into running for mayor when back in Texas that day, ASC got stomped property tax paying voters of the he was 25 and he's now serving his 12th by Tarlton State and the mayor returned city . . . " Vandergriff says the voters term. The first thing Vandergriff did after home, disappointed again. knew that quick money would be needed he was elected was to remove an old if the stadium were to be enlarged and water well from the center of town. The that knowledge of his plans was well had been the meeting place for many F FOOTBALL weren't the widespread. In discussing the mayor's of Arlington's more colorful inhabitants, I plans, however, local papers, failed to but some of the newer townsfolk had answer to Vandergriff's expansionary dreams, there was always baseball. In mention anything about spending more complained that the well was unsightly money. and that it blocked traffic. 1968, he organized the Bi-County Sports Committee to attract a team. Arlington, A couple of the Arlington banks having been told how "great a baseball bought part of the bonds but one bank, team would be for industry and the owned by ,Paul Yarborough, wouldn't A RLINGTON grew rapidly economy," okayed $800,000 in bonds. touch them. Yarborough, a young native during the fifties, as did all the suburbs Some land along the Dallas-Fbrt Worth who converted his modest life savings into surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth. Turnpike (another project TJV helped a multi-million dollar trailer company, Vandergriff kept promising his people a plan) was bought for a stadium. The city insists there is nothing in the law requiring cities to pay back certificates of great city and he kept getting reelected sold the land to Tarrant County, which indebtedness. City Finance Director Keith and reelected. One day, a story goes, he built a stadium; then the city bought it Reed has said the city could default but heard General Motors wanted to put a back again. Unfortunately, no clubs seemed interested in moving to Arlington; that its credit rating would be ruined in factory in Arlington, but one of the the process. owners of the prospective factory site so Vandergriff decided the stadium would didn't want to sell. The mayor reportedly have to be enlarged. Yarborough decided to run for the city went to his father and persuaded him to Enter Seven Seas, the profits of which council against one of Vandergriff's give the hesitant owner another, expensive were to defray the costs of enlarging the candidates and that turned out to be the piece of land in Arlington as an incentive stadium. Six Flags Over Texas, which the mayor's most serious challenge to date. to sell. The landowner, took the bait and Highway Department says is the state's Yarborough lost by only 28 votes. "What has happened to my people?" Vandergriff now GM employs 4,500 workers in most popular tourist attraction, is Arlington turning out 55 cars an hour. situated right down the road from Seven was heard to say. Political insiders insist Hundreds of smaller industries Seas. It's managers agreed to operate the that the mayor is still shaken from the followed General Motors to oceanarium, paying the city $700,000 unprecedented challenge. Vandergriffland. Great Southwest, which yearly and keeping the remainder of the would later open Six Flags, built a profits. 7,000-acre industrial park, adding to the Arlington passed another bond VANDERGRIFF and his city boom-town flavor. With the new industry proposition, this time for $10 million — council have set up a private corporation, came civic awards for the mayor. In 1952, $7.5 million for the park and $2.5 million Arlington Park Corp., to run Arlington's the Texas Jaycees named him one of the for stadium improvements. Then came. entertainment combine. The city finance Five Outstanding Men of the Year (Billy trouble. Penn Central, the owner of Six director, a county commissioner, the Sol Estes was one of his fellow honorees). Flags, started having financial problems Seven Seas general manager and a couple Vandergriff also received the Fort Worth and decided not to take on Seven Seas of other Vandergriff cronies are on the Citizen of the Year Award which seemed after all. The city had a couple of offers board. The advantage of a private powerful strange to Vandergriff's to sell, but the council decided to hang corporation is that it doesn't have to neighbors, who know for a fact that the onto the park. One of Vandergriff's advertise for bids ("Would you advertise honorable mayor lives in Arlington proper friends, a former city employee with no for a killer whale?" one board member in what many describe as an expanded experience in operating a tourist jokes). Nor does the corporation have to version of a Der Wienerschnitzel hot dog attraction, was named general manager. A open its books to reporters. stand. Fort Worth businessmen explained city councilman said at the time that When Vandergriff went seeking out the they felt obligated to do something for Vandergriff "just didn't want to admit Washington Senators, he borrowed Vandergriff since he planned and defeat and sell. He just couldn't do that another $7.5 million, mainly from the executed the Tarrant County Convention to himself or the residents." Republic National Bank in Dallas. The Center in downtown Fort Worth. About this time, Vandergriff money technically was listed as payment By the mid-60's, Arlington had almost discovered he might be able to lure the for the radio and television rights to the 60,000 inhabitants. The mayor saw that it Washington Senators to Arlington if the baseball games for ten years. The city was time to go on the road and pump for stadium could be enlarged still further. He produces the radio and T.V. programs and progress. "My most important job, as went to the Legislature to obtain passage pays 10 radio outlets (plus one television mayor," Vandergriff has oft repeated, "is of a local bill which said, "any city with a station) to run the programs. For to sell this city to industry." He executed sealife park . . . could issue certificates of instance, the network pays KRLD radio a series of flamboyant trips, one of which indebtedness for the purpose of obtaining in Dallas $225 per game. The city's was a chartered 747 flight to the Gulf, funds for operating." Some $22 million in profits are supposed to come from complete with the state press and an certificates of indebtedness were issued advertising. Last season those profits in-flight call to Gov. Preston Smith, a for stadium expansion. The prime benefit close buddy. of this type of short-term financing is that July 27, 19 73 3 4000.100.....**asnor,

The Texas Observer weren't much, because major advertising Spurlock voiced disapproval of the budgets already had been committed local bill. Ms. Miller said that since she when salesmen went out looking for wasn't an Arlington resident, she had to clients. The network lost more than rely on constituent mail, which she said #rilutz' $500,000. The unsold time from the . ran 20 to one against the bill. "Most network was used to advertise Seven Seas. people said they felt they were being left Since 1866 Vandergriff says this is why Seven Seas out of the city's affairs," she said, "and The Place in Austin showed a profit of $60,000 last year. they didn't want to pay for someone else's mistakes." The Rangers' first season got off to a GOOD FOOD rousing start. Opening night some 30,000 people showed up to hear Vanessa GOOD BEER Vandergriff, the mayor's daughter, sing OE THORNTON of the Fort 1607 San Jacinto the National Anthem at home plate, J accompanied by the Arlington High Wo' rth Star - Telegram quotes Vandergriff 477-4171 School Band in center field. Fire works as estimating the interest on the entire went off. The fans got drunk on Pearl package, if held to maturity, will run beer. Hizhonnor presented all the players more than $80 million. According to 1811 811111•1111111111111111111•0 • 1108111 INO1111111111. with white cowboy hats and then threw Thornton, Vandergriff says the city did out the first ball. Slugger Frank Howard scrape up enough money to pay the first PAIN *FUTURA hit a homerun over the centerfield fence year's bond retirement schedule but that UNION COUNCIL the refinancing would put them in the TRADES LABEL PRESS and it looked like everything was going to AUSTIN 01 clear without trouble. Under this set up, t TEXAS turn out just grand. But the Rangers had what' you might call a poor season, payments per year would amount to $3 winning 45 and losing 100. million. Ask for the Union Label on your Vandergriff is commonly believed to printing. It doesn't cost you more, Improvements have been promised for have ambitions for higher political office, but it shows that you care more! both the Rangers and the network. but, for the time being, he is working at Ranger owner Bob Short has hired a new shoring up Arlington's finances. He manager, the man who made champions reportedly is planning to clear the FUTIIIIRA PRESS .., out of the young New York Mets. "The ticky-tacky. along Highway 80, the old illp Phone 512/442-7838 Mets were a joke once too," Vandergriff Dallas-Fort Worth highway which goes 1714 SOUTH CONGRESS 1 points out. The network has signed major through Arlington, and line it with palm P.O. BOX 3485 AUSTIN, TEXAS sponsors like Schlitz, State Farm and Gulf trees, night clubs and dinner theatres. and Vandergriff hopes to break even this Also in the works is a religious exhibition, year. The Way, a non-profit park with proceeds going to charity. Tourists will be ushered The ball club pays the city $1 a year through a "multimedia experience with for rental of the stadium while the city Christ, complete with sights, sounds and CLASSIFIED keeps 100 percent of the parking money even smells of the time." One will war, BOOKPLATES. Free catalog. Many beautiful and 75 percent of the ticket revenue. with Him across the desert sands and elf- designs. Special designing too. Address: (Judge Roy Hofheinz pays Harris County become anxious in the Storm. (Inform BOOKPLATES, P.O. Box 28-1, Yellow Springs, $750,000 annually for rental on the sources indicate that yes, indeed, Jug: Ohio'45387. Astrodome and keeps everything else.) will have b.o.) The Way, at least at ti- point, is not to be financed by city fun' MARJORIE A. DELAFIELD TYPING Attendance revenue reached $600,000 There are two predominant theories SERVICE: Theses, dissertations, manuscripts, last year, but the City of Arlington still Arlington about Vandergriff. One reports, etc. I.B.M. Selectric II typewriters, can't pay its bills. The debt is $40 million contingent of residents feels that the mu ltilithing, mimeographing, addressing — $10 million for the original bond issue, envelopes. Public Notary. 25 years experience. major has been the victim of some bad $22 million in certificates of indebtedness luck. They think that he's already pulled Call 442-7008, Austin. and $7.5 million for the cold cash to the the city out of the doldrums and that it's Rangers. The city has been authorized by only a matter of time before he becomes WE SELL THE BEST SOUND. Yamaha pianos, the Legislature to assume the obligation guitars; Moeck-Kung-Aulus recorders; har- governor. "I'm just scared to death on behalf of the corporation. This will monicas, kalimbas and other exotic instruments. Tommy's going to leave," says City Amster Music, 1624 Lavaca, Austin. 478-7331. enable Arlington to spread the debt out over 40 years, instead of over 20 years, Councilman Wick Alexander. Then there's the other view of "ON BEING CONCERNED: The Vanguard Years which is the maximum time allowed under private ownership. A new city Vandergriff, best expressed by a liberal of Carl and Laura Brannin" by M. A. de Ford, Arlington woman who smokes Camel $2.10, postage paid. Dallas Civil Liberties Union, "Entertainment Division" will run the 1503 Montclair Ave., Arlington, Texas 76015. operation. "It's like refinancing a car," cigarettes and tells this story in the Vandergriff says. "You spread your Arlington Steak House: "You know those. IMPEACH NIXON bumperstickers in bold black payments out longer but you end up nice little women who stand at the A&P and hand out samples of sausage? They & white. Four for $1. Send to Derek Howard, paying more interest." 503 E. 46th, Austin 78751. don't give you much, you know, just little Fort Worth Reps. Chris Miller and Joe bits on a toothpick. But that little piece is E. ROSEWOOD APTS. Impeccable, one bdrm. always the best thing you've ever tasted upper, unfurnished, central air, adults over 50 and you go back to the'meat case and buy only, $91-$120. 733-1176 San Antonio. seven pounds ,of the stuff because you think you just have to have it. That's "NIXON BUGS ME" — "Impeach With Honor" IDA PRESS what's been happening here for the past — "Free the Watergate 500" — Buttons, any combination: 1/75q, 2/$1, 3/$1.25, 6/$2, 25/$5 901 W 24th St Austin 20 years with the Vandergriffs and us. — Postpaid! Send cash, check or M.O. to: Multi copy service. They've been handing out the toothpicks Slogknza, Dept. TO, Box 809, Chapel Hill, N.C. Call 477-3641 and we've been stuck with the seven 27524. IMPEACH NIXON NOW!! pounds of crap." Hot checks and a hung jury

by County Attorney Betty Dehoney, By Dave McNeely Bobby's wife. State law requires the Hillsboro county attorney be a party to such a suit. The State Bar of Texas put its ability to McGregor stopped the illegal check regulate conduct of lawyers on the line collection process, however, and attempted here earlier this month, and came away a to make good on the amounts he had loser. collected as court costs for cases that had The case involved Frank B. McGregor, a never been filed. former legislator and current district He first tried to pay that money into the attorney for Hill County. The State Bar county treasury, because Judge Latham said McGregor had carried out a hot-check indicated that it probably belonged to the collection method that involved assessment county. But Latham advised the, county of illegal financial penalties. But a Hill treasurer to refuse McGregor's check. County jury refused to find McGregor So McGregor, saying he acted on advice guilty of the operation — even though he of a former district attorney, -filed false admitted having used it for a period from charges of "creating a nuisance" — a 1969 through early 1971. non-existent charge — against the 11 The droning trial took 11 days before hot-check violators in a justice of the peace the jury came back and said it was court. He plead them guilty and paid their hopelessly . deadlocked. According to alleged fines and court costs into the people on the jury, the vote was 7-5 in county coffers that way. favor of letting McGregor off. As a result, McGregor might not have run into any visiting Dist. Judge, J. F. Clawson of further problems if he had decided just to assessment of a financial penalty, was a Belton had no choice but to declare a return to the private practice of law and civil practice he carried on on the side. (In mistrial. forget public office. But he felt his smaller Texas counties, district and county integrity had been impugned, and so he State Bar chief counsel Davis Grant said attorneys are allowed to carry on a private after the trial that he plans to try decided to seek office again in 1972. practice, because it is assumed that the McGregor again before another jury. He filed first against Betty Dehoney for wages for their public duties aren't enough county attorney. She decided not to run. to sustain them.) He was hard-pressed, O UNDERSTAND what went on At the last minute, McGregor switched and T however, to explain why he was using the ran against Bobby Dehoney for district in the trial, some background is necessary. district attorney's stationery to dun the McGregor, after serving several terms in attorney. In a heated, mud-slinging hot-check violators for the financial campaign, McGregor won a narrow victory. the Legislature from Waco, ran a losing penalties, and why he was threatening race for the state Senate in 1962. About And the State Bar of Texas made a prosecution if the violators didn't pay the strong effort to get him removed from the five years later, he moved to Hillsboro, penalties. where his mother's family had short of a bar, which would automatically disqualify The second problem was that McGregor him as a district attorney. jillion well-known, well-respected folks put the money from the hot check through the years. restitutions and penalties into a trust In 1968, McGregor says, friends account, in which he kept funds from AR COUNSEL Grant says the persuaded him to run against then-District several other ventures. He also spent B Attorney Tom Beard. McGregor beat him efforts to disbar McGregor began before money out of the account for such matters McGregor sought and won re-election, and about two to one. One of his major as his daughter's wedding reception. campaign pledges was to help local would have continued regardless of The State Bar's canons of ethics prohibit whether McGregor won re-election. merchants collect on their hot checks. commingling of public and private funds. McGregor, upon taking office in 1969, McGregor's backers, however, believe McGregor, again leaning on the contention the bar's efforts are some sort of political set out to do so, which everyone that collection of the penalties was a civil applauded. The only problem was the vendetta against McGregor. McGregor had matter, said the funds didn't belong to the indeed been involved in some political method he chose. public. McGregor sent out letters on his district problems in Hill County, carrying on an It also developed that McGregor's office apparent tradition. One man, who served attorney's stationery to people who had had collected fines and court costs from with McGregor in the Legislature and passed hot checks, giving them five days to some hot-check violators, despite the fact contact his office to make arrangements described him as "clabberheaded," said he that cases had never been filed against seemed to have gotten 'more so since for restitution and payment of a penalty them. leaving that body. There were complaints charge. If they didn't do so, he would be in Hill County — especially from Dist. forced to file criminal charges against FINALLY, it came to Hillsboro Judge Steve Latham, who was the them, he warned. Dist. Judge Steven Latham's attention just Criminal prosecution for a hot check complainant in McGregor's disbarment trial exactly what McGregor was doing, in early charge in Texas allows assessment of a fine — that McGregor often appeared for January of 1971. Latham started an and court costs, by a court, plus criminal trials ill-prepared, that sometimes investigation into McGregor's office restitution. The law makes no mention of he didn't appear and had to be fetched. collecting a financial penalty for cases that operations - then, and a suit to declare There also were intimations that McGregor unfit to hold office was filed a are never filed. McGregor spent more time pursuing his McGregor later maintained that his few weeks later. personal business interests than he did efforts to collect on the checks, and McGregor resigned instead. But when carrying out the state's business. Gov. Preston Smith appointed Bobby Indications were that McGregor would Dehoney to replace him, McGregor tried to have accepted a reprimand from the bar The writer works for The Dallas Morning no avail to recall his resignation. News. McGregor's removal suit had been brought July 27, 1973 5 association for his activities, since he could not very well deny the well-documented check-collection practices. But Grant afkaland alive & well reportedly would not settle for a mere reprimand. (A reprimand is the lightest punishment that could have come from the case. Others would have been suspension for a specified period, or disbarment. A at DPS disbarred lawyer can seek reinstatement after five years.) Austin shall park their cars, clean their desks and Grant's decision to go for all the There is a fine line between the kind of relate to one another. "Our purpose is not marbles, even before a hometown jury (as bureaucracy that is merely a bother and social." bar association rules require), carried with the kind that becomes a threat to civil Crosby apparently considers the use of it the necessity that he be able to prove evil liberties, choking freedom in red tape and legs antithetical to good work. "Employees intent on McGregor's part in order to gain petty regulations. The Texas Department must be at their desks ready to begin work a conviction. That intent was simply not of Public Safety seems to be on the wrong each morning at 7:45 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. proven, though it may have been there. side of the line in its policies on employees whichever time is applicable. Employees And so McGregor is still a lawyer, and going to school. must also be at their desks at the end of still the Hill County DA. And the State Bar In January, 1973, a young woman each recess and at the end of the lunch of Texas is faced with the problem of what named Dee Stacha, a student at the period. Five minutes prior to quitting time to do about keeping its ability to police University of Texas at Austin, decided to is allowed to give the employees an itself intact. get a full-time job to support herself, but opportunity to complete the jobs they are to continue her education in night school. doing and to put their work in order that She applied for and was hired for a clerical they may be ready to leave at 4:45 p.m. or job in the Statistical Services division of 5:00 p.m. Employees will stay at their

6 The Texas Observer the DPS state headquarters. She told her desks, seated, until 4:45 p.m. or 5:00 immediate supervisor at the time that she p.m." planned to attend night school but nothing was said about the fact. Nor was there Well, there's a whole lot more in that MARTIN ELFANT anything in the memo issued to all new vein. "Running or loitering in the halls will employees of Statistical Services not be tolerated." (If you're trying to get SUN LIFE OF CANADA concerning going to school. And that, my to the john, you got to take it at a LIFE friends, is a significant exception because measured walk, see?) But nowhere in the that memo covers almost every other whole schmear is there anything relating to HEALTH conceivable area of an employee's life. an employee going to school outside DENTAL It is apparent that the manager of the working hours. From February through 600 JEFFERSON DPS' Statistical Services division, R. G. May of this year, Stacha took her night SUITE 430 Crosby, has never heard of the "Up - the school courses, did not loiter or run in the Organization," freedom-promotes-efficien- halls and got along fine. One June 5, she HOUSTON, TEXAS took an hour off from work to register for 224-0686 summer school. The next Monday a supervisor, Tiny Moore, asked for some details about Stacha's courses and told her to put the details into a letter to Crosby. Stacha did so, but later in the week the Bound Volumes of letter was returned to her by Moore with the request that she re-write with certain the Observer re-wordings and corrections. The re-worded letter had Stacha asking Crosby for permission to take English 305. Stacha had Bound volumes of the 1972 issues of been reluctant to raise any questions about the Texas Observer are now ready. In the whole procedure because her father maroon washable binding — the same also works for the DPS. She was afraid that as in recent years — the price is $12. if she objected to the procedure, her Also available at $12 each year are father's job would be jeopardized. But volumes for the years 1963 through when faced with having to ask Crosby's 1971. cy school of thought. It is a memo that permission to take subversive ol' English can only be considered chilling, if not 305, she started to ask questions. Delores A very limited supply of bound terrifying by anyone who has ever worked Grote, her supervisor, showed her a copy volumes of the Observer for the years in a loose, open, friendly environment. of the department's rules on school 1958 through 1962 — formerly out of- Crosby covers hair styles, dress styles, use attendance (it turns out there are such stock — have been compiled and are of rest rooms, loitering, gossiping, rules). Stacha refused to write the letter offered at $50 per .year. These are the grumbling, cleanliness, vocabulary and and was sent in to see Crosby. According : years when the Observer was weekly demeanor. And attitude. He's very big on to her, Crosby did almost all of the talking, and in a tabloid format. attitude. He states, "An employee's trying to convince her of the sense of the Texas residents please add the 5% sales personal life, conduct and habits are of policy. She proved lamentably unable to tax to your remittance. Volumes will concern to the Department." "Idle gossip perceive the manifest advantages in this be sent postpaid. and grumbling among employees can only system, at which point Crosby became be harmful." (No one seems to have rather short with her and informed her that THE TEXAS OBSERVER explained to him that bitching is a a decision would be made on whether she 600 W 7 AUSTIN 78701 prerogative of employees guaranteed by could be retained. He made it. She was custom of time immemorial.) The memo fired on June 19. includes instructions on how employees The Texas Civil Liberties Union, which is now interested in the case, has gone can go to school on department time and employee would be refused permission to through the state statutes relating to even get his tuition paid by the take courses, as long as they didn't conduct and activities of state employees department. Section 16.23 states, interfere with the employee's work hours and is thus far unable to come up with "Employees who contemplate attending or efficiency. anything that would justify the practice of school must request and receive prior Obviously no DPS employee could requiring employees to ask permission to approval from the Chief of their respective expect to take courses that interferred with take school courses. division or section. Requests should be his or her working hours without getting submitted through proper supervisory fired (thou shalt be at thy desk, seated). Section 16.21 of the DPS Personnel channels." Individuals capabilities to handle outside Manual says, "In order to enhance the work, also obviously, varies greatly. Some capabilities of Department employees, Bill Carter, public information officer people can't handle three hours of classes, participation in education and training for the DPS, explains that the school must less nine, while there are probably programs is encouraged and will be attendance guidelines were originally some super-humans who could take 15 approved if the school attendance (a) is not written with field officers (patrolmen) in hours, work full-time and do a good job at incompatible with the work of the mind. "We wouldn't want our men taking both. If outside classes are interfering with Department, (b) does not interfere with so much school work that they became an employee's efficiency, the employee can the employee's working hours or inefficient in the field," he said. "And for either cut back on the class hours or take efficiency, (c) the course load does not the rest, I really think it was a matter of the chance of getting fired. In either case, exceed nine semester hours, and (d) all needing to know where they were at night why should the employee have to request expenses incurred in connection with the in case we needed to reach them." He permission to take courses? Is there any school attendance are the personal could find no explanation for the meaning reason why R. G. Crosby should be in a obligation of the employee." of "(a) is not incompatible with the position to refuse Dee Stacha permission to Section 16.22 concerns the Department's work." He could think of no take English 305? He did, after all, like her circumstances under which an employee conceivable circumstances under which an "attitude." M.I. Wichita Falls D.A. disbarred

The State Bar of Texas is having a HMO. The Department of Health, • little trouble ousting some of its bum Education and Welfare is submerging the members (see story this issue) but they did Political HMO program in a new Bureau of manage to off one district attorney last Community Health Services. month. D.A. Jimmie R. Phagan of Wichita Intelligence The feds' deemphasis of the HMO Falls was disbarred from the practice of approach to health care comes just as law after a trial in. late May. District Judge Texas officials are getting interested in Charles Murphy of Fort Worth wrote, "I ranking of Texas corporations. Shell Oil, in HMOs (Obs., April 27). In June, the State agree with the jury verdict. There was its first full year of operations in Texas, Board of Insurance held a one-day hearing ample evidence to support their answers headed the "top 100" list with on establishing HMOs. Board Chairman Joe and I find no legal justification for the $4,849,836,000 in revenues and $260 Christie explained, "HMOs bring together a defendant's fraudulent conduct." million in profits. Five other corporations comprehensive range of medical services Phagan says he will appeal and the trial had incomes of $1 billion or more and facilities to a single organization at a court judgment will not become final until (revenues and profits in parentheses): LTV fixed contract fee which is paid in advance ruled on by the higher courts. The jury ($3.466 billion; $8.8 million), Tenneco by subscribers. To my way of thinking, this found Phagan guilty on five of the 11 ( $3.323 billion; $203 million), Halliburton is insurance to stay healthy." charges originally brought against him. It ($1.422 billion, $66 million), Southland seems that one Les Hanvey had transferred Corp. ($1.228 billion; $20.3 million) and his interest in the Throckmorton County El Paso Natural Gas ($1.097 billion; $63.9 oil concern to Phagan, apparently in order million). Rounding out the top 10 were Civic spirit to avoid claim on it by his wife, who was Texas Instruments, Dresser Industries, Pennzoil United, and Texas Eastern. On spec: whither PDJ? Rumors divorcing him. After the divorce, Phagan • about the future of Mr. Ree-form the refused to give back the interest and There was a notable lack of upward speaker have been rampant for some time allegedly threatened to use his power as mobility among the most gargantuan of now. No one ever really expected Price D.A. to have Hanvey imprisoned if he the corporate giants. Shell's move to Texas persisted in trying to get it back. The jury Daniel, Jr., to go back to Liberty and rest dropped each of last year's big 15 one on his laurels, but there didn't appear to be acquitted Phagan on the threat count. This notch, and TI swapped places with Dresser, is the story that the Wichita Falls Times many roads open to him, what with a but otherwise the very top of the pecking reform governor, a reform lieutenant and Record News refused to print after the order remained the same. Oil and gas is District 13 Grievance Committee of the governor and a reform attorney general all apparently still a good way to make sitting in office. But unless John Hill moves State Bar brought charges against Phagan money: seven of the top ten relied mostly months ago. (See Obs., Nov. 17, 1972.) up to challenge the governor next year, on petroleum for their revenues. Overall, thus conveniently leaving the A.G.'s office According to the Wichita Falls Alternative, said Texas Parade, "1972 was the best year James Barnett, the executive vice-president open, it looks like PDJ has selected his that Texas-based corporations ever had," weak link and the honor goes to Lt. Gov. of the papers, said, "The Times and Record and 1973 should be even better. News simply does not want to cover this Bill Hobby. If Daniel isn't going to run The Washington Post reports that the against Hobby next year, then Daniel's story." Sufficient explanation. • Texas Parade magazine (which boasts director of the government's Health staffers are spending all that energy trying • that all its articles on highways are Maintenance Organization program has to see that Hobby's mistakes are exposed endorsed by the Good Roads Association, resigned, charging that the Nixon the highway lobby) has printed its annual administration plans to "all but eliminate" July 27, 1973 7 The Four More Years Survival Kit

Resignation? Impeachment'? Maybe. But The scorecard will tell you where you he may stick it out until January 20, 1977. stand. That's why you must have—you owe it to the wife and kids—the Four More Years Where are all these tools and • how do Survival Kit. Here's what's in it: you ge.t them? They're in The Washington Monthly, a magazine The New York Times A roadmap. A floodlight. A Who's Who. A calls \"an indispensable ombudsman." I. F. skeleton key. A magilifying glass. A crystal Stone says it is "outstanding" and "doesn't ball. An early-warning system. A scorecard.. go in for half-assed hysterics." John Chancellor says that the people he knows The roadmap will show you how to get "spend a little more time than usual with around in Washington, state capitals, and this one." city halls all over America. The floodlight will illuminate those Use the coupon below to receive, with traditionally shadowy seats of government. no cost or obligation, your complimentary The Who's Who will tell you about the copy of The Washington Monthly. If you important unknowns. like it we will enter your name for a The skeleton key will tell you how to six-month subscription—making seven open the right doors. copies in all for only S5. If you don't find The magnifying glass will give you a it of value, simply write "cancel" across the close look at how things—good and bad— bill, return it within one month and that's get done, how the machinery works. that. In either case the complimentary The .crystal ball will give you an idea of copy is yours to keep. (If you send your what's possible. money now we'll add an extra month to The early-warning system will keep you your subscription for saving us from being surprised—and unprepared. bookkeeping costs.)

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out of sheer civic spirit. They're a In case you hadn't heard, we are all ago for corrupt labor practices. The • civic-spirited bunch, of course. supposed to be boycotting non-union Teamsters are the biggest, richest union in The Democratic Planning Group grapes again. In Coachella Calif., right the world, according to The New York • (DPG), which calls itself "an where the United Farmworkers had made Times. They have 2.2 million members and information/communications center for some of their greatest gains, the growers ties to both the Nixon administration and- progressive Democrats," recently charged took the opportunity offered by the the American Farm Bureau Federation that Texas Democrats discourage minority expiration of the three-year UFW contracts (certified bad guys). participation. to sign sweetheart contracts with the Teamsters. The Teamsters are now An undercover agent who got too far The group's July 2 report states: • —The Texas Democratic Party's 12 harvesting the grapes, the Farmworkers are into his role as a good ol' counter- operating committees has nary a black or back out on picket lines and everybody cultural boy: Ronald Nicholson, who set chicano chairperson or vice-chairperson. who cares is avoiding even raisins. George up the marijuana-possession arrests of 16 —The three major committees — Meany, about whom there are a lot of UT-Austin students in May, has himself (finance, legal and rules) have a total of 37 nasty things to be said, is at least standing been arrested as a deserter from the Navy. members. Not one member is black or four-square behind the Farmworkers, to Nicholson was in the courthouse to testify Mexican American. the tune of $1.6 million in strike support, in a trial arising from his' work "under- —Of the 153 members on all 12 even though there are some recent signs of ground" in Jester Center, a high-rise committees, only six are black and only weaseling in the form of meetings with dormitory, when Travis County Sheriff eight are Mexican American. (There are Teamsters officials. Meany kicked the Raymond Frank made the bust. The tip two youth members and 74 women.) Teamsters out of the AFL-CIO a few years apparently came from defense attorneys. —The voter registration and canvass committees each have one Mexican American, no blacks. The DPG concludes that the Democratic Party can't afford to abandon its controversial membership reforms while Old Friends "exceptions the size of Texas" still exist. The group's address is Suite 1007, 1025 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. By Max Woodfin talking may have speeded his death, no one 20005. knows. Galveston The first old man with whom I made Free press friends at the nursing home fit my notion SIXTY-THREE percent of Watchdogs get free Alpo. The Texas of a typical geriatrics patient. John's face • America's 20 million elderly live at home Press Association (weekly was covered with liver spots, his eyes had the appearance of a permanent hangover, or with family. Thirty percent livesalone or newspapers) convened in Houston toward with non-family. Seven percent, or 1.5 the end of June and, as Greg Olds pointed he was connected to a urine bag suspended million Americans, live the way John did, it looked in at least from his wheelchair, he spent all day in out in The Highlander, in homes for the aging. one respect very much like the Legislature. front of a TV and he smelled bad. I had no The life is painful, costly and lonely. On the agenda were a reception hosted by idea he was aware of the TV or much else There are four principals: the aged, the the Licensed Beverage Distributors (liquor until I stopped to watch part of a World, family of the aged, the nursing home, and lobby), a luncheon hosted by Exxon, an Series game with him. Despite a tongue society, government or public attitude. It "attitude adjustment" period, four hours, thickened by six strokes he told me the seems that society wants to put the and dinner hosted by the U.S. Brewers birthplace of every batter. He knew every problem in a closet; the nursing home Assn. (beer lobby), an early breakfast put World Series batting record, or did a good either gives or is blamed for poor care, on by the Southwestern Insurance job fooling me. inhumane conditions and high costs; the Information Service (insurance lobby) and Months later, the staff physical therapist family pays the high costs; the aged suffer a past presidents' breakfast hosted by the asked me to help balance John while he for ..the mistakes of all. At least one of Texas Telephone Assn. (phone lobby). re-learned to walk. The first few days John these conditions is unarguably true: the old U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt, D-Houston, didn't take many steps. Then we started • talking and arguing about designated folks suffer. is co-sponsoring (with Charles It can't be denied that John's family Rangel, D-N.Y.) a bill to limit the use of hitters and the greatest ball players ever. John started walking farther and farther. paid high costs for good care. Many pay grand juries to "investigate" political Before he died several weeks later, he was higher costs for poor care. Nursing homes dissenters. Eckhardt cited the "growing flirting with female residents and telling supply a service that is demanded. For concern . . . that the grand jury has ceased nursing adies that his urine bag and - those demanding good, sensitive care, it is to serve its traditional role as a guardian of catheter were holding back his activity. available. The catch, as Ralph Nader found, individual rights" and the ability of is that such care is usually in sectarian prosecutors to use the panels' John wasn't exceptional. His story has homes, either very expensive or rarely and extraordinary powers to harass opponents no lingering drama. He was a retired printer luckily endowed. Because of new health of the government.. Among the provisions who loved baseball. His family didn't and safety standards, the converted Sunday of the legislation are: neglect him, nor did he have poor care. But school buildings with space heaters and —authorization for witness' counsel to before I argued with him about baseball, daily hotdogs will be phased out of be present during testimony . for the before the therapist worked with him, he existence before long. This is not to say purpose of advising the witness; was sliding into a wait for death. He had that many nursing homes are not a part of —provision for quashing of subpoena if been put in a foreign environment, and was the problem, but we may be reaching a the court determines that the venue of the losing his personality. The walking and point when attitudes in and out of the proceedings imposes a substantial hardship homes are more of a problem than the on witnesses or their families; Woodfin, a former Newsroom reporter physical surroundings. —reduction of penalties for a refusal to Take Beth. She taught high school testify after a grant of immunity, from 18 at KERA-TV in Dallas, is serving out a to six months, and prohibition of repeated term as a conscientious objector in a citations for such refusal. Galveston nursing home. July 27, 1973 English for 55 years. Her mind is still active life" or to "youth oriented culture." To of Americans believe a patient should be — she seems to want to read anything and some Americans reaching retirement age, allowed to die rather than extending his everything. She's approaching 100, giggles young people and their mechanizations life. On the other hand, 53 percent oppose a lot and is in good general health. She is relieve unwanted responsibility. Some "putting a patient out of his misery." Even quite simply a delightful old girl, with no older Americans want to find a community so, the figures indicate an increasing family to take care of her even if they of their age group, want to live a life apart knowledge of the problems of aging. could. She spends her days being wheeled from children (though not so far as to around by a younger woman (74) who calls exclude contact), and want to have certain Beth "the boy." services provided. For those who can John and Beth (different names for afford an independent retirement and who GING AND geriatrics care seem actual cases) exemplify the incongruity of make the choice without pressure from A restricting skilled and learned people to to have become more visible as a public children, retirement communities can be issue in the past few years. Physical and small double rooms in rather sterile great. They may also be a part of seeming occupational therapy programs are a part buildings. Each has outlived modern planned obsolescence, merely a more of more homes. A program called "reality standards of material usefulness. Each is refined segregation of the aged. orientation" has become popular in getting probably the best care available. geriatrics centers and in geriatric education There must be a better way, but what? There is a further catch. The know-how that can provide a retirement nirvana for courses. Oversimplified, it means giving I've read cases and stories of bizarre straight, even if painful, answers and scenes in homes for the aging. The many also prolongs life until nursing care is a must. As more of our elderly are in statements to elderly patients, rather than impression given is of residents constantly baby talk. I'm convinced it is impossible to escaping, of nurses constantly mistreating retirement communities of one sort or another, the more they are aware of the imagine the number of times one human residents, of management cutting costs in can ask the same question in one day until all the wrong places. I'm sure that happens. possibilities of last days attached to various machines. The fear of death has been it is witnessed on the inside of a nursing It may happen in every nursing home. But home. You might expect it to be "What it isn't day to day life. Day to day life is complicated by a fear of living unnecessarily. The reactions are varied. time is it?" or "When is Danny coming?" waiting for the next meal, hoping it will be but the very difficult questions about something good. It's waiting for a visit that Some grasp various brands of fundamentalist religion. Some induce a sort death and religion and the home are the may be in five minutes, or may never ones that come up again and again. come. It's listening to low and constant of dream world that is excused as senility. cries of loneliness, either from yourself or Others enter a depression that is beyond Another step toward .progress in Texas someone next door. youthful imagination. I've spent hours with has been the licensing procedure. A few Day to day life can be downright funny. one man who wants to die, just to get out years ago obtaining a nursing home One lady suffers a depression syndrome. of his room. He grew up in an orphanage, administrator's license meant no more than During the days or weeks of depression I moved to a Catholic home in his young proving you had taken care of a few old compliment her, urge her to get out of her adult years, and finally to a nursing home. people for a period of time. Now formal, room or even out of bed. When she does He almost convinced me. I'm sure a writer accredited courses are required, and come out of the low spell, I seem to spend is the worst person in the world to talk nursing homes are required to have licensed half of my day picking up her cigarette someone out of a death desire. Answering administrators. Those are positive points butts and popcorn, turning on lights she questions didn't do much good, so I started which are barely beginning to gain on the turns off and retrieving items from her asking, with complete ignorance of any negative ones. Few nursing schools provide pack-rat stashes. psychological harm. We went through courses dealing specifically with geriatrics. Escapes happen, but usually because religion, love, comic 'books and drugs in The President's domestic cutbacks threaten once independent people haven't "learned" quick easy lessons. He's still alive, smiles not only construction of newer and more how to behave under restrictions. This occasionally and likes the hell out of me. I suitably designed homes, but also problem could be solved if homes were suppose that's a better state. maintenance of present operating funds. built with plenty of open and attractive There seem to be plenty of laws and grounds, but that brings up supply and Some situations are sad in the worst ways. One man lingered from a brain programs and commissions for the aged. demand. The demand is in the cities, and It's just that the laws haven't changed as we all know what happens to open spaces. hemorrhage for seven months. He could hear, occasionally see, but that was it. quickly as the nursing home industry. Every day without fail, his wife would That's a familiar gripe about any law, but prop and strap him into his wheelchair and see what happens to your heart after a few FRANZ BOAS, Margaret Mead or start pushing him. She pushed him all over hours in a nursing home. No one can the case studies of any other the nursing home, all over the adjoining "help" until the elderly in large numbers anthropologist provide background for retirement home to the great horror of tire of "being felt sorry for" and make considering care of the aging. Many other most of its residents. One day I spotted her some noise for their own cause. cultures — large, small, so-called pushing him along the Galveston seawall. And she talked to him. constantly. It was With little doubt, the biggest problem is "primitive" cultures — cherish their aged the public attitude that subjects the elderly citizens. The old man who spent his the most complete case of devotion I've seen and in all honesty it grated my nerves to isolation in their last years. We must physically productive years at hard labor is realize that a crucial part of the nature of granted physical comforts so his wisdom daily. When he died, she was prepared and probably exhausted. man is his manner of approaching death. may be used. Children are expected, in We must re-learn that the last days of life fact, socially required to care for those Euthanasia, "good death," seems a may be the most noble rather than the who have earned the plateau of age. It most shameful. must be asked if present-day isolation of workable solution in such cases. The best ❑ the aged is an honest attempt to find a definition and defense of euthanasia that I happy solution or if it is evasion of the have found is in a "living will" created by problem. the Euthanasia Education Council. It reads in part . . . "if there is no reasonable It is a clich6 to attribute the American expectation of my recovery . . . I request attitude toward aging to "the fast pace of that I be allowed to die and not be kept alive by artificial . . . or heroic measure." A 10 The Texas Observer recent Harris Survey found that 62 percent Thanks to a gratifying response to the library subscription drive announced a couple issues ago, the Observer now can be found in the reading rooms of an Communities additional 109 libraries in Texas. All told, nearly 400 libraries subscribe to the Observer, including 45 in colleges and universities in other states. However the 298 Texas cities listed below which have not been crossed out are still without in Need! the Observer in their county or public library.

Abernathy Bowie Corpus Christi: fottoos. Groves Jacksonville McCreless Brady Greenwood Fairfield Luling Oakwell Alias& Breckenridge Parkdale Falfurrias Hale Center y-ton - Madisonville Pan American Allen Brenham Corrigan Farmers Branch Hallettsville J efferson Mansfield Setr Pedro Park Alpine Bridgeport Corsicana Floresville Haltom City *_.1o1soson City Marathon West fall

Altol Briggs :CaLulla- Floydada Hamilton Junction Marble Falls ,..San -Benito Alvin Brownfield Crane Fort Stockton 1444”frfr-- Karnes City Marfa San Juan Burkburnett Crockett Fort Worth: Harlingen Katy Marlin San Saba Andrews Burleson Crosby East Branch Haskell Kesideli a Marshall Sanderson Angleton Burnet Crosby ton North Branch Hearne Kenedy Mason Stager Anson Gaisrert- Crowell Northeast Branch Hempstead Kermit Mathis Santa Anna Anton Cameron Crystal City Richland Hills Henderson Kilgore McCamey Schulenburg Aransas Pass Canadian Flortviegiota • - McLean Seadvift- Archer City Canton Daingerfield South Branch Hereford Kingsland Memphis Seagoville -4-rfirogirore .Cooyert- Dalhart Southeast Branch Kingsville Seagraves -111Maa- Carrizo Springs Dayton Southwest Branch Highland Park .Kir.byville ‘M-esquite Seminole ..../tioohn-gregrah Carrollton De Leon West Branch Highlands Kountze Mexia -Sestrareter "Ott•Tiileerteel Caaileoge- Decatur White Settlement Hillsboro Kyle Miami -S4sabaadik_.. -f3044kPiftearrett• Castroville Frahklin •-ifrtchruCk La Feria Midlothian Shiner Aspermont „Carlas-Rift- Denison Freeport Hondo La Grange Mineola Siecr-a. Wailes Center Denver City -Fruer- Honey Grove , La Verttla-- Mineral Wells Silsbee Azle Centerville Desoto Friendswood Houston: Lake Worth Mission Silverton Ballinger Channelview •Devine, Friona Fairbanks La Marque Mor-ton Sinton Balmorhea Childress Diboll -Fri4414- Garden Villas La Porte Mt. Enterprise SiodOeriltrwrt Bandera Cisco Dickinson Galena Park South Houston Lamesa Mt. Pleasant Smithvilie edaie Clarendon Dimmitt -Erartancl- Spriag-iimach Mii4nsterr Snyder Beaumont: Clarksville Donna Garwood Turner Memorial Lancaster Muleshoe Spnerm- fit). Cyteette Duttitts ► ,GatesuiLle iiiimatiLkti:veasity Laredo— Munday Sour Lake Tyrrell Caorruiroise Duncanville George West Woodforest Lewisville Nacogdoches Spearman Central Park Cleburne Eagle Lake Giddings Humble Liberty Navasota Stamford aloe ferd- Cleveland Eastland Xv•elpiter- Huntington Litt-1444446 Nederland Stattrerr Beeville Clifton Eden Gladewater HUITITsettlt • Livingston 111W-fIro4ufels Stephenville Bellaire Clute Glen-.Rest Hurst Llano Nixon 40444-ittreity Bellville Coleman El Campo Goldwaite Hutchins Looltiverpir- Odem Stinnett Belton Colorado City El Paso: Goliad Lockney Olney Stockdale Bertram Jr lattalros Armijo Gonzales Ida Lou Longview: Orange Grove Stratford Big Bend Comanche Burges Granbury Ingleside Nicholson Overton Surtdtrwrt Big Lake _Comfort- - Clardy Fox Grand Prairie -1,4irwa.42-ark G. W. Carver T7terrra Say Paducah Bishop Commerce MegomietWilerk Cogig14-Seiiaib. Iraan 6reig$444' STAMM" fikevietr .-Gerwew-- Eldorado Grapevine Italy Lorenzo Palacios Sweetwater Bonham Cooper Electra Casottoe- Jacinto City Los Fresnos Palestine Taft Borger Cooperas Cove his Groveton ,I•a•akokippe -L•omise - Pampa Tahoka Panhandle Taylor Paris Teague Most librarians are pleased to discover the Observer, and the demand for it by Pearsall Terrell library-users leads to repeated renewals with library funds. But they need someone to get Pecos Texarkana Pep- Texas City them started for a year or 'two. Perry ton Three Rivers Petersimirg- Tilden If you find in the list a city which is a sentimental favorite or is of special concern we Pettit Tioga Pharr Tom} hope you will want to provide a source where the community can find a valuable -P+mel and Trinity supplement to the views too commonly expressed in the local press by getting that library Awing Tulia Pierre- Turkey on the Observer habit. One year, $7.35; two years, $13.65; three years, $18.90. Pleasanton UtIttlie Point Comfort Van Alstyne Port Isabel Van Horn Send the Observer for the period indicated to the library in the city listed below: Port Neches Anflierrr Portland Waco: Peal- Edrt CITY: [ ] 1 year [ ] 2 years [ ] 3 years Rtainont R. B. Hoover Quanah Waelder Quemado Waxahachie If this library has been already selected- Rails Weatherford [ ] Send it to my second or third choice: -140/1"grt Weimer- Rankin Willington [ ] Return my check and I'll decide what to do. Robstown Weslaco [ ] Go ahead and pick out another library. Aooktiale West Columbia Rockport Wharton Rocksprings Wheeler My name: Rockwall Iffitttel5ver Rosebud Whitesboro Rosston Whitewright Street: Round Rock 40i•mer -litorrge Wink Rusk Winnsboro .City, State: Saginaw Wig:Ws San Antonio: Wolfe City You may use my name in announcing the gift subscription. [ ] check enclosed [ ] bill me Main Annex Aile•edril le Carver Wylie Landa Center Yoakum THE TEXAS , OBSERVER 600 WEST 7TH AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Las Palmas -Teitleeemon- - Music in the Hill Country

Being a look backwards at 'Tricky Sam,' Buddy, Pete Rugolo, Wingy Manone and the whole gang there on Gilmer Street By Elroy Bode " I heard on the record player against my Houston Street during a family trip to San own capacity to value and understand. Antonio. I guess there wasn't a music store I remember coming into the bedroom in Kerrville then because Kress' El Paso that year, in the soft light of late May (pronounced "Kressies" by everyone in our When I hear songs of the early 1940's -- afternoon, and watching Buddy put on his family) was where I first saw records neatly "Sleepy Lagoon," "Why Don't You Do maroon dinner jacket and white silk tie. He arranged in sections, with tabs on top of Right?" "A String of Pearls" — I think first was going out of town to play a dance, and the section dividers, and racks of record of my brother and then of all the oak trees. as I stood there in the bedroom doorway I albums along the wall — each album around our house, of the fading afternoon could visualize the elegantly dressed containing three 78's in their brown sun on spring and summer days, of the couples shuffling about in some cavernous envelopes. pleasing smell of incinerator smoke that gymnasium; the intent, knowing bandsmen I think I bought a Harry Horlick record drifted into our front yard from the school bending over music stands; the corsages next — blue-label Victor — and followed it grounds a block away. My brother — and wafting perfume; the night and music with my first album: Gene Autry singing Buddy, I always called him back then — and , loud talk and bursts of laughter. "Blueberry Hill" and "El Rancho Grande." was a senior in high school in 1942 and I Buddy, playing a Saturday night dance job: I bought records mainly because I would was in the sixth grade. As an older brother it seemed to me that he was part of an hear a tune over the radio and I would be he was almost beyond reality, somehow — incredible romance. . . . impressed with the idea of having a record almost larger than life — and thus he I followed him outside and stood on the of it right there, in our own living room at seemed to belong to those lambent hill front porch, watching him stride off home. It was a pretty big thing for me, country afternoons more than I belonged toward the school band hall. As he grew buying those first half-dozen or so records, to myself. The afternoon sounds and smells smaller on the football practice field, I because along with the Ellery Queen that floated in with him from school were went out to the front gate so I could , see pocketbook mystery collection they were like emanations of mystery and glamour him better in the fading light. The band the most significant properties of my and youthful dreams. leader's station wagon was already parked almost-adolescence. He was a drummer in the high school beside the hall — SWINGMASTERS spread But of course Gene Autry and the Merry band at that time, and when I would come across the ' side in maroon -letters. And Macs were not the only records in our home after playing at a friend's house,1 while Buddy and the other dinner-jacketed house while I was growing up. Buddy had would hear those fast tattoos in the living young men began to load instruments into begun bringing home records by Benny room when I ran up the front sidewalk — the station wagon, Joe Ottinger walked Goodman and Artie Shaw — playing them the rolls and flams and paradiddles that back and forth along the sidewalk, his by the hour in the front room while he Buddy practiced dutifully on his rubber tenor sax lifted skyward. The late sun practiced on his rubber pad ("Limehouse pad. (There is a picture which still hangs on caught its gleaming bell and the wavy Blues," "Sing Sing Sing," "Back Bay the bedroom wall at our folks' home on ridges of Joe's orange-red hair as his Shuffle"). Since I was learning to play the Gilmer Street, one of Buddy in his high smooth phrases of "Intermission Riff" trombone I guess I would have inevitably school band uniform. It is a color came across the school grounds toward our ended up buying some Tommy Dorsey and photograph and in it he is standing with yard. Glenn Miller records on my own, but one white shoe resting jauntily against the without Buddy around I doubt that I side of our rock fishpond, drumsticks in would have entered the Big Band world so hand, his Adam's apple bulging in his deeply and so young. If indeed I was the slender neck -and that early trademark WHAT SHAPES US, if not music? only sixth grader in Kerrville, Tex., who smile.— a completely radiant, boyish smile What creates the tone of certain years, the knew about Juan Tizol and Wingy Manone of .17 — flashing out his drummer's greeting memories of certain people and places, if and Cootie Williams and "Tricky Sam" to the world.) not the songs that were played as those Nanton, it was simply because there Sometimes there would be- a cluster of years passed, as memories formed? . . . weren't many 11-year-olds in the hill Buddy's friends in the bedroom and they Helen Forrest singing "I Don't Want to country living in a house where jazz was. would be talking their special musician's Walk Without You" in her melting, sweetly lingo about Duke Ellington and Gene nasal voice; Bob Eberly's "That Old Black Krupa and the King Cole Trio. I would Magic;" "Travelin' Light" by Billie I T WAS BUDDY'S college years play tennis ball catch against the outside Holiday, with Skip Layton giving his easy, that probably influenced me the most — bedroom wall until dark or read comic muted wail of a trombone solo that would summers when he was home, at loose ends, books on the front room couch, but I linger in the mind like a thin, haunted playing Sarah Vaughan, Lester Young, would be listening and watching all the humming. Teddy Wilson. while, measuring the wonder of the sounds But to back up a bit. . . . I remember a curious double-experience: The first phonograph record I ever I would be sitting there on our long bought was "The Hutsut Song" by the wooden front porch, playing Monopoly 12 The Texas Observer Merry Macs; I got it in Kress' basement on with kids from our neighborhood. The two boys sat in the green porch swing, moving . trumpet is gliding over all of us like a Parade usually had some good stuff on it: slowly back and forth, bare feet dragging nakedness of sound, an ecstasy, a promise Andy Kirk, Jimmie Lunceford, Joe the faded porch boards, toes dusty and and fulfillment. Turner. . . . calloused and with irregularly broken (I have my arm around her soft, slightly toenails. Their sister sat nearby in a low sweaty back; her breasts are against me. July 27, 1973 13 canvas chair, reading a true-confessions Her clean-smelling hair is in my mouth and magazine and slowly finishing off an apple. eyes but I do not bother to brush it aside. I would go inside the house and put on . The record changes, song follows song: ALAN POGUE Buddy's record of "Warm Valley," by "Kokomo, Indiana," by Dinah Shore; Photographer of Johnny Hodges; and then as I came outside "We'll Be Together Again," by Frankie — hot, hot summer day on Gilmer Street Laine; "Laura," by Woody Herman. . .. We • political events & pseudo events, of with the dust of unpaved streets hanging in move among the other bodies, among high • people in their natural surroundings the air — I would listen to Johnny Hodges' school girls who have reached up their Rag office 478-0452 Austin elegant saxophone and know that the .hands and are clasping their dates at the music was making a curious wedge in the hairlines of their necks. She and I continue long afternoon. The porch swing would to glide through sound, through continue to creak and the neighborhood near-darkness, through after-the-game kids would decide on another game of emotionality.) Monopoly — the 15th, perhaps, in a row. The record would end, there would be a wait as the changer moved the needle arm, and then once again that sound, Johnny NOWADAYS, late at night, when I Hodges, through the window screen, sit in the living room of my house and look THE TEXAS OBSERVER across to the stacks of old 78's in the coming sensuously, dreamily out to us and on microfilm. the trees and the heat and the steady calls corner, I know that all I have to do is get of the rain crows while we began to up, walk a few steps, place a record on the Currently priced at S212 for the com- phonograph, and for two and a half reshuffle Chance and Community Chest. plete backfile (December 1954 The early '40s — the war years — slipped minutes or so I am back again in my home into 'the late '40s and I was finally in high town — not casually, not in part, but through December 1971) and $12 for school and at the mercy of even more completely, for much of the emotion of a 1972 subscription. moods, more songs, more singers, more my life has been preserved in records, and bands. to hear Mel Torme singing "Blue Moon" or Available now, from: (Let's say, for example, it is a Saturday Les Brown playing "I've Got My Love to afternoon in June, 1948. Stan Kenton is on Keep Me Warm" is like having my past Microfilming the record player; I am seated in the come swimming back to me undistorted: shadowy front room. From where I sit I like dream-fish rising from the depths and Corporation of can see the green fern outlined in the east swimming again in impossibly blue waters. window. My mother is a presence in the So sometimes I do that: I go over to the house. stack of worn records and begin sorting America .11.1,1t,ir of THE NEW YORK TIMES (The knot that has been in my stomach through them. I rub one against my leg to 1 F -Lonstown Road tightens. She is out with Chuck in his blue clean off the dust, then put it on the station wagon. I am staring at the opposite phonograph: "Tippin' In," by Erskine Glen Rock N J. 07452 Hawkins. I sit cross-legged on the floor, wall of our living room, but I can see her: 201 447 3000 She is sitting in the middle of the front seat recalling where I first heard the record, and instead of over on her side. Chuck is when: it was around 10:30 at night, in exhibiting his early summer tan, his blond 1943, while I was in bed listening to the sweep of hair, his large white teeth, his Jax Dance Parade on KRLD. The reception junior-in-college camp counselor charm. from Dallas was good, as always, and I was They are there together as they drive along laying awake waiting for Buddy to come in the winding river road through thp tall from a dance job in Bandera. The Dance cypresses. I am there in the house with Stan Kenton, June Christy, Pete Rugolo and my mother. (It is a summer afternoon and I am in Egos pilloried, love with a beautiful girl, and I don't know what to do about it. So I sit. I go on listening to the great 'wild sound of Kai Winding and the trombone section, the trumpet stabs and piercings of Maynard Ir Ferguson, the twisting, wheeling, whining all in monthly installments going for S7.50 a year scream of Bob Cooper's alto. I listen to the available from Post Office Box 52691. Houston 77052, • Stan Kenton band and watch the fern' in where lives the notorious Houston Journalism the window.) Or: (Let's say it is 10:45 after the Friday night football game and She and I are among the dancers in the school gym. Charlie Spivak is playing "Tenderly" on the juke box and there are dim, colored bulbs above the center of the floor. Stags are lined up along the sides and couples are dancing and Charlie Spivak's sweet-soaring REviEw Good Mother Earth News The Observer Bookstore now has a complete stock of The Mother Earth News, including Issue 20 ... Order yours now at our low subscriber discount prices. Issues 1-8, $1.00 each: 9-20 (except #16), $1.10 each: Issue 16, $1.70.

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SPECIAL OFFER — Buy any 5 issues, get 1 ME free (any issue, except #16). THE TEXAS OBSERVER BOOKSTORE 5% Texas sales tax included in quoted prices. Postage paid by the Bookstore. 600 West 7th, Austin, Texas 78701 A diatribe, of sorts Winedale for McGovern, with whatever degree of I had occasion recently to reminisce enthusiasm, are hereby given permission to with Ms. Ima Hogg on the subject of her sign off and go back to muttering at John pa, who used to be governor of this state. I Mitchell on the tube. The rest of you have never knew Jim Hogg and am •too young by to stay for the lecture. And for the first a long stretch to even remember him, but time in my career, such as it is, as a by just about everybody's reckoning, he political writer, my lecture is aimed at my was, with the sole, notable exception of folks, my age group, my friends. An Jimmy Allred, the last class governor this horrible thought: we've gotten so old we state ever had. paean to those few men and women of can't blame it on the grown-ups anymore. The night before he died, Jim Hogg gave honor who grace the ungrateful Zoo with instructions about how he wanted to be their presence. And some other day after buried. "Let my children plant at the head that I'll tackle the more difficult task of of my grave a pecan tree," he said, "and at trying to sort out shades of gray, an FELLOW STUDENT radicals of my feet an old-fashioned walnut tree. And appreciation to those dumb-but-honest ol' the 1960's, neither the state of the state when these trees shall bear, let the pecans boys, a few points for sincerity, credit for nor the state of the nation are our fault. and the walnuts be given out among the the fellows who do the best they can. But They are responsible, whoever they are. plain people so that they may plant them today, today I am measuring them against What concerns me now is our increasing and make Texas a land of trees." The trees Jim Hogg, and, o Lord, they look small. tendency not to do anything about it. To were planted, they bore and the walnuts There used to be (or maybe I just like to do nothing about it. It's been, what, five and pecans therefrom have been widely think so) a feeling that though Texas years now since we started dropping out? distributed and widely planted for years sported its peculiar, indigenous brand of And over those five years I've had the same now. grody politi6, at least the situation was conversation with you dozens? hundreds? Ms. Hogg kindly recommended a good better in Washington. I doubt we ever had of times. It doesn't matter, you kept saying biography of her old man and I departed, very many illusions about D.C. But still, over and over. Politics doesn't matter. At feeling much uplifted by the talk. there was this idea that, messy as the all. It's irrelevant. It's hopeless. It's not However, a delve into the life of Jim Hogg situation up there might be, at least it was real. Dew on the morning grass and the left me feeling oddly depressed, oddly, several cuts above our familiar, tawdry laughter of your two-year-old and fresh since he was a great and good man whose form of crud. But now, now, folks, I look bread without additives and good dope, achievements reflected his stature. I got at Washington and think, at least our crud good friends and good work are real. And depressed because meditating on Jim Hogg has style. when I heard your two-year-olds laugh, I led me into the making the unfortunate Have you ever seen Nixon's cabinet all never felt like arguing very much. But I do comparison between what we had then and lined up for a photo? There is a good old now. Because of creeping tackiness. I think what we have now in terms of state Texas word that fits just right. Tacky. it is impossible to withdraw. Impossible leadership. Tackiest bunch of people I ever looked at. not to have it touch you. Millions of Lord, lord, they're bad enough, those Maybe the country is being taken over by people didn't vote last fall, but you are the guys that Roy Evans has been introducing creeping tackiness. only ones whose apathy I consider one by one at the state labor convention as But this is not an exercise in venom culpable. against the Lege or the Nixon "bright stars in the galaxy of Texas I don't know, perhaps it should be politicians," bad enough taken in their own administration. In fact, one of the few, new forms of national creativity is thinking taught in the schools, better, differently context of good ol' boys, and go-along, than it is now. The idea that we are, each get-along. But when you stack them up up different ways to condemn President Integrity, Mr. Truthful: I would not of us, all of us responsible for this country. next to a guy like Jim Hogg, they start to Responsible for what it did to the blacks look like the sleazy, third-rate geeks they pre-empt your own efforts in that field. But the ever more irrefutable realization and Indians and the browns and Vietnam really are. Who would ever want to write a and now to us. Cheapening our lives. We biography of Dolph Briscoe? (Somebody (formerly a pleasure reserved to us paranoid pointy-heads) that the country is cannot have these shallow, plastic slimes actually did write one about Preston running the country, these men with no Smith: it's awful.) No class, no principle, being run by a bunch of skunk-suckers is guts and no (how old-fashioned) moral no grit. not, finally, particularly constructive. I think the gut question was posed by my fiber without their tackiness creeping into friend Henry Holman, during a mournful our lives. I know for certain we had at least moment at Scholz'. "How did we ever a million arguments about the hopelessness of liberals. But there is one thing I've came across an item the other come to elect that man president?" I Holman inquired. "How did we ever come learned from Texas liberals. They try. And day in a paper from another state try again. And again. And they smile, criticizing a local journalist for having to elect that man president?" because it's so much healthier than crying blasted the entire state legislature. The I was there in Miami when they or throwing up. I've never heard of any critic justly noted that the Lege is nominated him last year, coronated him, other group of folk so eternally prone to composed of individuals, one-third of the joke went. What I couldn't understand once again hoist the banner in a hopeless whom had voted against the measure that was the actual enthusiasm for him. O.K., cause with such joie de vivre. A bunch of had so incensed the journalist. The critic you're conservative and can't stand beer-drinking Sisyphuses. went on to say that such blanket McGovern, I thought, but to be genuinely condemnations of all legislators lead the enthusiastic about Nixon? They never Well, hell, I'm not sure this is making citizenry to disrespect the Lege. I refuse to called him Nixon, of course. They always any sense. I just wanted to say that I don't be responsible for getting Texans to respect called , him The President. But there's think we have any right to quit. You'd be their Legislature. When those lintheads nothing I can do about what They think, amazed at how much Jim Hogg got done. deserve some respect, I'll let you all know. say and do. It's Us I'm worried about. I'm Ms. Ima told me that threats on his life But the critic had a fair point, about worried about a particular segment of Us. individuals. So someday, soon, I'll write a Those of you who went out and worked July 27, 19 73 15 would come in in every morning's mail. He the Watergate, maybe, is the ho-hum the way, has only just begun on our part read them and then tossed them into a attitude of a great many people. I disagree and the part of others who feel our lives wastebasket and went right on fighting the with Mr. Bob Bolin that the majority of must become more important than our monopolies. Back to the barricades. M.I. our people "overwhelmingly support the money in our health care system. President." K atrina Scoggins, Corresponding The idea is not to convict ("to get") Secretary, Health Action Council of Bexar the President, but to learn the truth, and County, 3518 W. Woodlawn Ave., San to face up to the scandal, confess the Antonio, Tex. 78228. stain on our body politic and dedicate Dialogue ourselves to preventing such things in the future, On another matter, Mr. Dugger Kudos I mentioned the splendid "Capital Eye" television program. It may be that the The Observer has done it again. With the Shell hiders lack of tangible support is due to the brief article on San Antonio's new towns the announcements of the address. I've not window to the South has once again shown Watergate reminds me of Lincoln been able to write that fast. why it is one of the best, if not the best Steffens' interview with Republican Sen. Mrs. A. A. Luckenbach, P.O. Box 237, periodical of its kind. My friends here who Boise Penrose of Pennsylvania in the early Odem, Tex. 78370. rave about the dynamic Connally now 1900 muck-raking period. Penrose was the know what the man is all about and why recognized lobbyist for the Pennsylvania thinking Texans are just a little put out Railroad and coal and corporate interests., with hini. I look forward to part two of the His counterpart, Democratic Sen. William Answer to response _ article and many more of the same fine quality. S. Stone of Missouri, took care of the Re: Molly Ivins' response td my first Leon Barish, 206 E. 32nd St., Baltimore, interests of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. letter. Md. 21218. Replying to Steffens' questions about The condition of your body is of no corruption in Congress, Penrose is quoted interest to American journalism, what is, as saying "Of course, Bill and I both suck however, is the probability that the eggs, but Bill hides the shells." National News Council may be the first No more judges Carl Brannin, Ridgedale St., Dallas, Tex. step toward the erosion of the totality of As long as we believe in a wrathful, the first amendment. hating God we will continue to govern The press council concept is very much punitively and will make sure we place on a part of the social responsibility theory Ho-hum attitude elevated benches "judges" who try to play of the press. This theory has as its basis a God but can succeed only in playing the Several issues ago, a reader from concern over the press's ethics rather than Devil. Virginia wrote protesting the concern its total freedom. When fully expanded We desperately need reform. It should (and publicity) concerning "unimportant the council will then say yea or nay to the be entered into only after all legislators incidents in the Nixon administration existence of a particular journal. have read and discussed openly for at least being blown into major scandals" by a I feel certain that in ' your "liberal" a week The Crime of Punishment by liberal press — to increase circulation. conclave in Austin, you are able to see Menninger. It seems to me that the worst aspect of that. Consequently your new position Then, instead of judges (who only knoW would not be unlike urinating in the 16 The Texas Observer how to hate and hurt) we should substitute wind. boards of psychiatrists, psychologists and For those who are unsatisfied with the N. Y. Times, etc., let them read the social workers. Austin-American. Then, for those who have wronged society, we need rehabilitation. No one has Robert M. Bux, 4320 Congress 211, ever been helped by being caged. Dallas, Tex. 75219. Rus Purifoy, 600 N. Dotsy #14, Odessa, Tex. 79763. Thanks Now that the legislative battles are over More kudos in Austin (". . the party's over", 15 June) and we have lost the first round, we want I've been an Observer reader for four to thank both The Observer and Rep. years now and I have always enjoyed the Mickey Leland for their efforts to get the pungent wit, the urbane outlook, the down decent, inexpensive health care services home prose and the healthy cynicism. But which the people of Texas deserve. in your coverage of the recent session of We feel that your excellent article of 27 the state legislature — from "Mr. Speaker April ("Your money or your life") was Daniel" to "Turn out the lights" you very useful in informing many persons and simply outdid yourselves. We know state public officials of beginning solutions to legislatures are like that and there seems to health care problems in Texas. The HMO be a limited amount we can do about it, concept is very new to many people and but if every state had an Observer we although it is not a panacea for all of our would at least know the specifics of 'how problems, it is a start. People must be made they operate — and, not incidentally, be aware of alternatives to the present system amused in the learning. of profit based on illness rather than on Observer, keep up the good work. It health maintenance. helps us keep our chins up. Thank you for your role in the Nicholas Acocella, 449 East 14th Street, informative process. A process which, by New York, New York 10009.