ustxtxb_obs_1959_11_13_50_00003-00000_000.pdf

Scout, Soldier and Hero of San Jacinto . In 1821 people did not usually come to the untamed Texas Territory for their health. But one man did just that Erastus Smith, from New York by way of Natchez. He wandered over the wild frontier country, learned its topography, made friends with Anglos, Mexicans and Indians. He grew strong and well, but never regained his hearing. When Texans began their fight for independence from Mexico, “Deaf” Smith scout and soldier took his place with Fannin, Bowie, Travis, Milam, Sam Houston and the other champions of freedom. His best known service to his chosen country was the destruction of Vince’s Bridge, just before the battle of San Jacinto. Bridging Vince’s Bayou, then in flood, it offered the only means of communication between the Texan and Mexican armies and the remainder of Texas. When Deaf Smith destroyed it, on the morning of April 21, 1836, he effec tively isolated the Mexicans from reinforcements and prevented an orderly retreat. The fact that it also isolated the Texans was of no importance to Smith. He and his people would win. They were fighting for liberty and the right to live as they chose. Today Texans still demand and get their right to choose the way they want to live. In this vigorous and freedom-minded homeland “Beer Belongs” and this is why the United States Brewers Foundation works constantly, in conjunction with brewers, wholesalers and retailers, to assure the sale of beer and ale under pleasant, orderly conditions. Believing that strict law enforcement serves the best interest of Texans, the Foundation stresses close cooperation with the Armed Forces, law enforcement and governing officials in its continuing Self-Regulation program. Texas Division, United States Brewers Foundation, 206 VFW Building, Austin, Texas 1111,11Mlia TEXAS CHAMPIONS OF FREEDOM li ERASTUS “Dux” SMITH ‘I j Gonzalez Supports A Special Session A A Evaluates Texans AUSTIN Sen. Henry Gonzalez, Gov. Price Daniel’s opponent for re-election in 1958, favors a called special session on higher teachers’ pay and believes Daniel’s revenue program would be an acceptable way to pay for it. Speaking of the Governor, who called a special session on segregation legislation in 1957, the San Antonio senator told the Observer during an Austin visit: “He’s called ’em for less worthy purposes. He called one for segregation bills, he should call one for teachers. I can’t think of a worthier cause. “I have confidence the Governor will outline a feasible program for financing the raise. I have that confidence in him. Our leader!” said the Senator, laughing about the situation. What new taxes did he, Gonzalez, favor? “I’m a spender myself-I’m not a taxer. That’s what they say about me, I might as well accept it,” he said in good humor. The Russians, according to a Christian Science Monitor report the senator quoted, have a “passion for education,” and “it behooves us to at least provide the minimum,” he said. “The onus of the burden has been left up to the Governor. In all fairness to him-remember, I opposed him-he has shown an acute sensitivity to the average citizen and has very bravely fought against the unjust demand for a general retail sales tax. If he calls a session, he will formulate a program I think we’re mostly familiar with-and with which I agree.” Gonzalez, who may be opposed in the 1960 campaigns by Rep. R. L. Strickland of. San Antonio, condemned as “hypocritical” tax programs advanced by Reps. Strick / Thruston B. Morton, U.S. sen ator from Kentucky and chairman of the Republican National Committee, said during a Texas swing that Richard Nixon is the odds-on favorite of Republican leaders. He must remain neutral himself, Morton said; either Nixon or Nelson. Rockefeller could win. In Houston he urged precinct organization by Texas Republicans. Political Intelligence ./ A “marine disaster” \(so rated eight lives-seven crewmen and one fireman-and caused $6 million in damage, in addition to threatening at any time to become “another Texas City.” The SS Amoco Virginia exploded and burned at loading docks in the Houston ship channel. A 500-man disaster force fought the flames to keep them from spreading to oil tanks nearby. / Speculation mounts why Sen. Johnson risks “overspeaking” his presidential campaign in Texas with such an early buildup. Possible answer: his acceptance of out-of-state invitations announced this week. He could be figuring he had to do some Texas fence-building before starting forays into other states. But the risk he takes-that the rallies having been held, enthusiasm will decline-is obvious. ./ Bob Hollingsworth concludes in the Dallas Times -Herald land and Fratcs Seeligson, San Antonio. He said these programs would “grind the faces of the poor” but that the sponsors “tied them in as programs On behalf of education.” “Of course,” he said, “it’s unfortunate, but these people have power. The legislative budget board was hand-picked by Lt. Gov. Ramsey and Speaker Waggoner Carr-both men so bigoted, so narrow minded, and of such small vision, their appointees reflect one hundred percent their own general retrogressive thinking. This has resulted in a paucity of guidance and leadership in our state. Here are men who have yet to formulate even a recommendation of a fiscal program for the state. “These men are so little that petty personalities rule their decisions to the detriment of the best interests of the state,” he added. Ramsey’s recent appointments to interim legislative committees included assignments for all of the senators except Sens. Gonzalez and Andy Rogers, Childress. Some senators identified with Ramsey’s leadership were given important multiple assignments. Gonzalez stated that he was visiting Austin to initiate legislative drafting on a bill to establish the state’s responsibility to care for totally handicapped children. He said that the state now has no facilities to care for such children and that even in the case of retarded children, there ig a long waiting list for state care. He said that four or five cases “in a row” have come to his attention in San Antonio in which families too poor to obtain special care for totally handicapped children have not been able “to do anything” for their normal children because of the expense and strain of caring for the handicapped. on the basis of interviews with Southerners that Johnson is “the Democratic South’s first choice” for president. Gov. Daniel’s speech to the Texas Research League, in which he repeated his argument that if the legislature passed a general sales tax, the people would thereupon demand an income tax, provoked the Dallas Morning News into the conclusion: “Gov. Daniel surely must know that if welfare costs continue, a sales tax is inevitable,” and drew this rejoinder from the Fort Worth Star Telegram: “Certainly the people are wise enough about taxes to know that a state corporation income tax ultimately would fall upon them in the form of higher prices.” Meanwhile, Callan Graham-the Texas Good Roads Assn. lobbyist opposed gasoline sales tax increases unless for better highways. ./ Rep. Bo Ramsey, the tax cony servative from Beckville, announced against Comptroller Robert Calvert, who has not said what he will do. . . . Capitol rumors include several that Gov. Daniel may run for the Texas Supreme Court or take a federal judgeship; that he will run for re-election; and that he will run for lieutenant governor. . . . Dave Cheavens wondered in an AP story if ex-Gov. Shivers is “planning a political comeback.” forme Education Act program. On these accounts, Yarborough was recorded two liberal votes and Johnson two conservative ones. Yarborough was present voting “liberal,” while Johnson was absent, ADA reported, when the Senate decided to let expire, in 1959, the 1958 temporary unemployment compensation act. Both Johnson and Yarborough are scored liberal votes by ADA on federal aid for economically depressed areas, the labor “bill of rights” amendment, repealing the tax credit on dividend income, economic aid loans to foreign countries, reducing funds for economic development loans abroad, overriding the first housing veto, and funds for college classrooms in the federal aid to education bill. The most liberal Texas congressman in 1959, ADA’s record Brooks cast the only vote from Texas against the bill to permit states to legislate in any area of concurrent jurisdiction not specifically preempted by Congress. ‘Dems Duck Issues’ Under the headline, “Ike Holds Sway, Dems Duck Issues in First Session,” ADA summed up its reasons for concluding that there is “little to choose” between the records of the two parties, that “Democrats pay lip service to the / Vincent Miller, state teacher’s v president, and three other TSTA big-wigs have sent out a letter dated Oct. 26 to all TSTA members spelling out the teacher’s special session program and asking the teachers to write . the Governor. Organized letter writing campaigns are well under way. The TSTA’s newspaper supporting the special session does not refer to tax sources except in an editorial reprinted from the Beaumont Enterprise, which said, “We believe the people of Texas ARE ready to pay more taxes” for the schools, and another from Texas Outlook saying, “Texans . can still pay more” taxes. Texas Manufacturing Assn’s. “Confidential Newsletter Not for Publication” points out that the 17 Texas votes for Landrum-Griffin in the U.S. House were the second largest bloc of votes from one state for the tough labor bill \(New York delivered tributes a “Check List for Your Candidates” testing political attitudes. needs of the present but are unwilling to move much beyond the lines drawn by their most conservative numbers,” and that the question is, “how long Administration intransigence will continue to be answered by Democratic dri ft.” Quoting ‘Joh n s o n’s January speech, “We have … an obligation to lead … Government … is hardly moving at all … We need to forge new tools of government,” ADA said: “Measured by this or any other comparable yardstick, the first session of the 86th Congress was a failure. New tools were not forthcoming …. Its final record was … devoid of real accomplishment …” Republicans were disciplined on behalf of a balanced budget, lower federal spending for public welfare, and fighting inflation, ADA said. “But the notable success of the Administration was possible only with the complicity of the Democratic leadership in Congress. Early in the session, Messrs. Rayburn and Johnson snuggled into the strait-jacket offered them by the Administration … Instead of accepting the challenge to meet the country’s needs, the leadership ‘made divided government work’ by the simple expedient of surrendering to the President. Among major bills, only housing and public works were cut to fit Presidential vetoes; but in the face of veto threats other bills were compromised before passage or before the issues were. even exposed to public view.” “The liberals” shared the blame for susceptibility “to pleas not to rock the party boat”; the record vindicated Sen. Proxmire’s early fight against Johnson’s leadership, said ADA. “Sen. Johnson’s capacity for .political leadership was by no means as great as his highly vaunted skill as a parliamentary tactician.” Running down the list of issues, ADA zeroed in on Johnson again: “Johnson and Dirksen. comprotwo-year $1.8 billion bill … “Civil rights received a major setback … When Johnson and Dirksen maneuvered a large bipartisan majority to prevent effective action to curb the filibuster. Only 28 senators voted for Sen. Douglas’s amendment enabling a majority of senators to invoke cloture after 15 days of debate …. “M a j or i t y Leader Johnson helped to engineer the defeat of a proposal to repea I the student loyalty oath requirement in the National Defense Education Act.” ADA also noted ruefully that “louse liberals earl y backed away from their demand for rules committee liberalization upon Rayburn’s promise no major legislation would be blocked therein; but that “As the session ended, the Speaker had succeeded only in blasting out the housing bills; and aid-to-education languished in rules along with civil rights , and a Senate -passed bill to aid depressed areas.” ADA said other liberal measures -medical care for the aged. community facilities bill, higher unemployment co m p e n sation, minimum wages of $1.25 an hour, migratory workers’ protections”never saw the light of day …. Once the Democrats gave ground on the budget issue, no sericius effort was made to bring them to the floor.” ADA’s Tabulations Tabulating the division of Texas congressmen on ADA’s selected nine issues on the House side, the House delegation from Texas fell into these configurations in 1959: Admit Hawaii to the Union 16-5. Restrict Authority of TVA to isTexas No, 17-3. Bar direct Treasury financing for public housing, urban renewal