ustxtxb_obs_1958_06_13_50_00002-00000_000.pdf

Bartlett Appears Exclusively in the Texas Observer POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE Let those /killer who fair, it is not an American art. EFFERSON Pu Ibc Secaore What’s Good for Braniff Airlines Is Good for Braniff Airlines In 1955 the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Parks Serv;ce urged that “highest priority” be given to the public acquisition of the 98 miles of Padre Island between the developments at its tips. The land, owned by but a few people, could be bought for $3.5 million, providing “an opportunity for beach recreation of a type unmatched by any other area along the Atlantic or Gulf Coasts.” The government report sang on : “Its great size and remote character, the attractiveness of its climate for summer and winter use, the excellent fishing and boating opportunities, the safe beach and infinite expanses for hiking and beachcombing . . . the endless sweep of broad beach, grass-topped dunes, and windswept sand formations .. . These admirable recreation qualities of Padre Island commend it for preservation as a public use area” Gov. Daniel’s state committee decided Monday that the loyal Democrats and DOT are right in insisting on legislation to keep members of one party out of the primaries of another. Reluctantly they endorsed such legislation. For this we cornmend them. Here finally is a substantial common ground between the two groups. We also are glad that Daniel backed down. on his precinct abolition plan. The way he wants it done now, he would have precinct conventions meet to talk on ..11ettry Because of the mid-May Belden Poll showing Gonzalez with six percent, the senator’s principal difficulty now is defeatism among his backers. The issue that is put to us is not whether he can win but that he should win. Here is an eloquent, an erudite, an honest, a genuine, and a passionate man, standing for the state’s highest office with good humor and a good program. Some causes are so good they cannot be lost. Monday night at La Villita the senator’s timing was badly off, nor had he realized that he would have to curb his circumlocution and indefiniteness if he was to get said specific things he needed to say in his alloted time ; but he spoke his own words, not some huckster’s, and he spoke sincerely. What is put to us is not the question can a real and valuable person become a good television actor on short notice, but the fact that here is a real and valuable person, a thinking man. In such a time it is not fit to be bothered with statistical probabilities. We have in hand a case to test the wisdom of the people : their verdict will be a judgment on themselves. Published by Texas Observer Co., Ltd. JUNE 13, 1958 Ronnie Dugger Editor and General Manager Sarah Payne, Office Manager Dean Johnston, Circulation-Advertising EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICE: 504 West 24th St., Austin, Texas. Phone GReenwood 7-0746. and raise the question “whether most of the Padre Island area that remains undeveloped might be preserved as a public seashore.” Since 1955 the report has mouldered and the subdividers and exploiters have crept farther and farther down the sand. The state parks board is prohibited by law from spending money to acquire park sites. With such timidity about taxes and the likelihood of a deficit the legislature is not likely to be overtaken by a fit of public zeal. Texas has but the one national park, Big Bend ; yet we are the largest of the states. Cannot our Texans in Washington persuade the Congress to make Padre Island our second national natural shrine? Gentlemen, before it becomes too late, and honky tonks and shacks and litter make the matter moot, let us the people have this for the long quiet future. things over, but they would have no authority of any kind : the delegates to county conventions would be elected in the primaries and thus would have all the authority. Daniel showed willingness to accept .good criticism, even though it must have been a bitter pill for the former Eisenhower backer to swallow. On the other hand the state committee made only sham motions to appear to be guaranteeing majority rule for the September, 1958, convention. None of the important rules was changed. The committee refused to assert the principle that the convention “should be required” to follow state law that district caucus selections to the state cornmittee must be honored. Instead, the Daniel group’s position “urges” that the law be obeyed but also “recommends” that the caucuses choose state committee members who orbit arou4d Daniel. The committee refused to establish a system of impartial arbitration of delegation contests as DOT has suggested, saying this would be “too complicated.” We thought chairman Jim Lindsey’s gavel was coercive and undemocratic throughout the meeting. By the logical nicety that he merely “recommends” statecommittee members be friendly to him Daniel avoids the clear implication that he is ready to steal the convention to keep the committee friendly. But Democrats have no guarantees of any kind that the Daniel crowd will not again if necessary repeat the Fort Worth convention theft. We hope Daniel has decided to reform his convention-stealing ways ; we will believe he has until we have evidence to the contrary. In the meantime we think Democrats can celebrate the common ground that has been found and proceed in better spirit into the fray. 10 HOUSTON OFFICE: 1012 Dennis, Mrs. Et. D. Randolph, Dean Johnston. Entered as second-class matter, April 26, 1937, at the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Published once a week from Austin, Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $4 per annum. Advertising rates available on request. Extra copies 10c each. Quantity prices available on orders. Dick West of the Dallas News in a radio speech over WFAA June 1 said William Blakley “is opposed by the massive force of organized labor, shrewdly directed by Walter Reuther,” as well as the ADA, NAACP, w el f are staters, and “Marxists.” West quotes Blakley: “This state, this country, has been good to me. The least I can do is try to save it.” Neil McNeil’s study of Blakley in Washington as U. S. senator 102 days has appeared in the El Paso Herald-Post but not the other two Scripps-Howard papers, the Fort Worth and the Houston Press. McNeil reports Blakley was absent a fourth of the days the Senate met; failed to vote on 30 percent of the issues ; never voted differently from Lyndon Johnson ; spoke up little, except when he asked 56 questions of FTC officials at a committee hearing concerning FTC charges of false advertising by insurance companies, with which FTC has charged his Girardian Insurance Co. Fort Worth Press endorsed George Nokes for lieutenant governor. Lt. Gov. Ramsey, says the Press, “has been dictatorial” for projects he favored, has “contributed” to “the powers of the strong lobbies in Austin,” has not curbed corruption “existing before his eyes.” Nokes, says the Press, promises to finish the cleanup, has supported Price Daniel, and “has the support of many influential business and professional men who are politically conservative.” \( Reports the Observer receives from Nokes associates also indicate Nokes has been receiving considerable conIRep. Tony Korioth, Sherman, is assisting Yarborough state manager Bob Slagle, especially in lining up a brace of speakers for Yarborough. Far from decrying “minority group” support, Sen. Gonzalez’s news releases from San Antonio have stated : “Other strong support for the Bexar County senator will come from labor, liberals, and other minority groups.” Lubbock Morning Avalanche’s “Plainsman” columnist says the Observer “is forever yelling about the use of braceros,” is also “the spokesman for organized labor, which opposes braceros, which in the past has put up money for the ‘Observer.’ ” The Plainsman is ill advised. The Ob server has never opposed braceros in Texas. The Observer is not the spokesman of organized labor or any other group, nor has organized labor or any other group provided any of the capital for the Observer. Dean Johnston, running on a “no sales tax” platform for the legislature from Houston, has created considerable comment by passing out aluminum discs, similar to sales tax tokens used in some states, with his campaign message stamped on them. Nat Terrence’s Houstonian, a usually conservative publication, concedes that Robert C. Eckhardt is running as top candidate in his race for the legislature. An editorial from the Sherman Democrat and Temple Telegram June 4: This newspaper believes that Ralph Yarborough has earned reelection as U. S. Senator from Texas. Many Texans, when Yarborough won last year’s special Senate election, apparently expected him to . go to Washington as some kind of freewheeling maverick or irresponsible voice. So much propaganda has been used against Yarborough in past political campaigns in Texas that such expectations were understandable if not justii fed. Because we had supported him in various campaigns, without agreeing wholly with all his views, this newspaper has been checking carefully on his Senate record from the day he took his seat. The record is excellent. Yarborough has worked hard as a Senator which not all Senators do by any means. He has fought hard and well for the plain people of Texas and the Nation. His work for hardpressed farmers and ranchers, for “little” business, and his vigorous support of the independent oil men in their struggle to avoid being drowned in foreign oil imports, have been particularly outstanding. Further, he has fitted well into the Democratic operation of the Senate, without making of himself a rubber stamp Senator. Yarborough is not a knuckle-under man. He is an honest, able fighter and worker. In fact he appeals to us as exactly the sort of Senator Texas of all stateswants. He has already proved himself a good Senator. He may become a great Senator in the future because in American History all our great legislators have had this fine characteristic in commontheir willingness to fight for the underdog, regardless of the odds. ‘o ffieeting Zip arm Obstruer