ustxtxb_obs_1955_01_31_50_00002-00000_000.pdf

“I Get a Kick Out of These Western Thrillers!” Let those flatter who fear, it is not an American art. JEFFERSON related War? On the same day last week, the American President said we will go to war if China attacks Formosa, and the China premier said he will attack Formosa. The Congress passed a resolution giving the President the right to use air, naval, and ground forces to engage in whatever operations he thinks might be required to defend Formosa, the Pescadores, or “related positions.” Chou En-Lai declared that his Government is determined to “liberate” Formosa on grounds that it is “an inalienable part of China’s territory.” In the historic Senate debate, in which Sens. Morse, Flanders, Kefauver, and Humphrey led the soul-searching, Sen. Morse said that “on my word of honor,” secret testimony from Secretary Dulles and Admiral Radford would prove that the Eisenhower resolution was meant to authorize in advance “the right of the President to order a strike ‘against the mainland before any act of war had been committed against the United States.” Sen. Morse called this “a predated declaration of war.” Secretary Dulles is reported to have agreed with this terminology. Mr. Eisenhower’s chief military adviser, Admiral Radford, has favored a blockade of Red China \(which would be Communists from taking Quemoy, which is 125 miles from Formosa. Senator Knowland, the GOP leader in the Senate, has advocated actions which, if carried out, would almost surely lead to war. What are these people getting us into? No one denies Formosa is strategically important to the U.S. But is it worth world war? Is it worth commitment of American troops to the mainland of China, there possibly, to be consumed in battle with the Chinese? Is a military dictator with no impulses toward democracy a suitable beneficiary of such_ risks? Mr. Eisenhower, beyond any doubt, intends his move to serve the interests of peace entirely. If China backs down, his dramatic bid to Congress will go down in history as a bold stroke for peace with few parallels. But if China does not back down, war with China seems certain. Russia has a mutual defense pact with China. Either Chou En-Lai is bluffing, or Mr. Eisenhower is inn. _or neither’ one is bluffing and war, perhaps world e atomic war, is merely a question of time, and not much time at that. Neither one looks like he’s bluffing. One helluva poker game, isn’t it? Come ow The shocking evidence of attempts to suppress an independent investigation of the veterans’ land scandal in the House of Representatives supports charges that somebody is trying to hide something from the people. Justice requires that no one jump to conclusions in the matter. For that very reason, further investigation by official bodies not under the control of the Governor, himself partly to blame for the mess, is urgently demanded on behalf of the public’s right to know. Why did Senator Hardeman tell the House committee that it could not have the records of the Senate group’s secret sessions on the abuse of the program ? The House is coequal with the Senate. The crucial information would be contained in the secret hearings. What is the meaning of this arrogant denial of the prerogatives of the House T Why did Senator Hardeman visit the House chamber to tell some members that he thinks they should not investigate the matter ? Why did John Ben Shepperd tell a subcommittee of the House that, as a law enforcement officer, he would discourage a House investigation? It could only mean that he does not trust the House to conduct its investigation properly, or that he fears that a House probe might reveal things he would rather have kept quiet or presented in a different light. Let’s have it out. The people will not stand for anything short of the whole truth. -Trxas *ism= Incorporating The State Observer, combined with the East Texas Democrat January 31, 1955 Entered as second-class matter April 26, 1937, at the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the act of March 8, 1879. MAILING ADDRESS: Drawer F, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas. OFFICE OF PVBLICATION: 504 W. 24th St., Austin, Texas. Phone: 70746. Ronnie Dugger Dell Sackett Editor :.3 Business Maanger Published once a week from Austin, Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $4 per annum. Advertising rates available on request. Extra copies 5c each. Quantity orders available. We w ill 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 dedicated to the whole truth, to human values above all interests, to the rights of man as the foundation of democracy we will take orders from none but our own conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent the truth to serve the interests of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the human spirit. OBSERVATIONS 40 Texas Needs &Pro-Democrat Paper By PAUL HOLCOMB Written for The Texas Observer During the past two weeks I have traveled hundreds of miles and talked to hundreds of people about The Texas Observer. The conversations that I have held with Democrats from every walk of life, confirms the opinion that the major problem which confronts the leadership of the Democratic Party is one of education. This is especially true in Texas where the press and radio are continually and perpetually striving to “propagandize” the public into believing that the Shivercrat Dixiecrat gang, who have usurped the control of the Democratic Party in Texas are in reality “Conservative Democrats.” Calling Allan Shivers and his supporters “conservative” A N YTHING is a rank finis-statement of fact, and simply does not make sense. Allan Shivers and his political cohorts are “RUTHLESS RADICALS.” who descend to vicious and undemocratic extremes whenever and wherever they can gain control. These Shivercrat Dixiecrat leaders do not hesitate to throw out and discredit legally elected delegates to any convention, and illegally remove duly elected State Executive Committeemen and CommitteewomenIF THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR ALLAN SHIVERS. These are matters of factwhich the records will sustain. In every political convention since 1948. Shivers has used “strong arm” methods and “steamroller” tactics to crush everybody who dared to oppose him. At the Mineral Wells convention in 1950, Shivers left a few real Democrats on his State Executive Committee. But in 1952 and 1954, he threw off every man and woman who voted against himif he knew it. The Committeemen and Committeewomen from the 31 State Senatorial Districts are legally and morally bound to represent the Democrats who elected them. But Allan Shivers ruthlessly removes all who voted against him in the Demo cratic Primary, and places his own do his biddingin their place. If this is the action of “a Conservative,” HOW WOULD A RADICAL ACT? In his campaign for Governor last summer, Governor Shivers stooped to the lowest depths of demagoguery. By insinaution, by innuendo and by direct statement, he hurled charges and insinuations against his opponent, and against all who opposed him, which he knew were not true. His statements about Communism in Port Arthur were not trueand Allan Shivers attended High School in Port Arthur and knew personally most of the leaders who were the victims of his slanderous charges. Port Arthur is one of Allan Shivers’s “old home towns,” but he did not hesitate to trample his own people down because they voted against him. If this was the conduct of “a Conservative,” may the Lord protect us from anybody who is “a Radical.” Of course the Governor maintained an air of “sanctimonious martyrdom” in hurling his charges and by posing as a super-duper “Texas Firster.” He had thousands of people fooledand they are still fooled. This is the reason that the people need to be told the facts. The constant barrage of propaganda carried on by the daily press has the average man in a comatose state. Most people do not know the facts, and they don’t know what to do about it, even if they do know the facts. The immediate problem facing the Demorcats is to point out the fact that a Democratic newspaper is needed. This is not difficult, for almost nobody has much confidence in the daily press. The fact that real political leaders are elected in spite of the opposition of “the press” is proof that ;the average citizen does not put much confidence in his newspaper. But by spreading insidious propa ganda day after day the daily press is able to discredit good men and build up the fellows who have charge of the big money bags. The biggest problem confronting the Democrats is to convince the people that there is a possibility of getting “an honest newspaper.” It is sadly true that a great majority of the people do not believe that there is any such thing as an honest newspaper, devoted to truth and sincere public service. The idea that a newspaper would “turn down easy money” for the sake of truth and honest public service is beyond their range of experience and observation. Of course it is true that anybody who thinks that everybody else is dishonestis dishonest himself; yet it must. be admitted that “honest newspapers are scarce.” But we must never doubt that there are honest newspapers. There must be honest men and honest newspapers if democracy and our civilization is to survive. The next problem which confronts Democratic leadership is to convince the people that not only are honest men and honest newspapers a possibility, but that EST NEWSPAPERRIGHT NOW. The Texas Observer is owned and operated by Democrats. It is the concensus of opinion of these Democrats that Ronnie Dugger, who has been chosen to run their paper, is entirely honest and sincere in his desire and determination to conduct a newspaper devoted to truth, democracy, and public service. Those who know him best, believe in him most. It is the duty of every believer in democracy to get behind The Texas Observer and spread the news that Texas actually has a newspapernowdevoted to truth. If the people who want honesty and decency in government will support this paper, the job will be accomplished.