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The one great rule of composition is to speak the truth. THOREAU The . ,,,..c, `S. –lk. sk. 04′.* 13\( o \(3 02= Ne e 4a. _.veral Weekly Newspaper rver 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. Vol. 51 _r.:XAS, DECEMBER 18, 1959 14c per copy No. 37 Target: the Schools THE JOHNSONS’ TV INTERESTS ABILENE SWEETWATER AUSTIN Two p r i vat e business groups are financing salaries and bonuses for public school teachers in return for the intensified teaching of “Americanism” in the first six grades of Abilene, Sweetwater,’ and possibly other Texas public schools. The Americanism taught in schools associated with these two business groups has been found by the Observer consistently to turn on the same eight “foundations.” One of these, “Government as Protector, Not as Provider,” can be construed as hostility toward governmental social services. “Profit motive” is emphasized, but the principles do not acknowledge labor’s claim to the right of collective bargaining. Private ownership of property is emphasized, but there is nothing in the principles which encompasses the complex “mixed economy” of free enterprise, government regulation, and government ownership in the United States. One of the two business groups, the Texas Bureau for Economic Understanding, has given $10,000 to the Abilene public schools and TBEU Pushes 8 ‘Foundations’ AUSTIN The privately-financed Texas Bureau for Economic Understanding is promulgating the same eight “foundations” of Americanism which are being taught in the public schools which have received its grants. According to the Beeville BeePicayune in January, 1959, Bob Lawrence, executive director of the Bureau, spoke to the Kiwanis Club with Archie Roberts, superintendent of Beeville public schools, introducing him. The Beeville paper reported that Lawrence said: “We are in the middle of a war and we are losing. Do the communists want Beeville? They not only want it, they expect to have it by 1973, and they will do it if we fail to educate our children properly and teach them the principles laid down by the founders of our country.” Lawrence then listed eight of the “foundations of freedom” which he said are “so rarely examined that many good Americans do not comprehend why they are essential to the survival of liberty and the unequalled system originated by the first Architects of our nation.” The principles Lawrence listed were “Trust in God as we understand Him; Importance of the Individual; Freedom of the Individual; The Profit Motive; Private Ownership of Property; Dignity of Work; Competition; Government as Protector, not Provider.” These are the same principles the Observer has been given by school personnel in charge of the T.B.E.U.-financed “Americanism” programs in the Abilene and Sweetwater public schools. an identical sum to the Sweetwater public schools for the development of Americanism programs. The money is being used in Abilene to pay one full-time teacher her regular salary plus $300, supplement the salaries of 12 teachers $250 a year, and supplement the salary of a thirteenth teacher $125 a year. In Sweetwater even the principal of the school selected for “pilot work” receives a bonus of $150 a year, along with each of the 14 teachers in the school. In Sweetwater, too, the business group’s money is being used to pay the full salary of a teacher who has been hired to supervise the Americanism emphasis. The trustees of the Bureau for Economic Understanding are eight bank executives, six utility cornpany executives, three oil and gas executives, nine other prominent businessmen, and attorneys, investment specialists, and R. H. director of the Bureau. Thomas B. Ramey, former chairman of the State Board of Education and now a Tyler attorney, is one of these trustees. Others include Ted Dealey, publisher of the Dallas News; Raymond Dillard, former assistant to Gov. Shivers; Ed Gossett, general attorney for Southwestern Bell; Stone Wells, lobbyist for Tennes DALLAS Merry Christmas from Neiman-Marcusgood grief, he’s loose! “Talk about ‘rare’ gifts!” exclaims the 1959 Christmas catalogue from the Dallas store. “N-M’s 1959 Christmas gift coup is a prize Black Angus steer served on the hoof, right at your steak-loving friend’s front door Christmas morning. Rolling right along with the real live steer comes our deluxe mahogany and silver 21 Club Roast Beef Cart. The steer and cart, a real taste-ofTexas gift \(gift wrapped as Chicago, Ill.” The figures, “1,925.00,” refer, presumably, to dollars and cents, though one cannot be sure, as there are no dollar signs in the catalogue. Neither is it explained why Neiman’s has to send off to the Yankees for steers. “For tenderfoot friends” who might fear the steer taking a fancy to the Christmas tree decorations, Neiman’s offers, this Christmas, 300 pounds of “steaks, roasts, ground meat, etc.,” for “2,230.00.” After this introduction the catalogue proceeds in a relatively pedestrian manner. Gift 3 A-A, for instance, is “neckand diamonds 100,000.00 incl. tax.” If this is too steep, 3 H-D is a “French beaded bag, black or white 135.00.” Over in the stationery shop some gifts start coming for less than $5oops, 5.00. For instance, 8 A-E is see Gas Transmission Co. and a member of the Houston school board; H. B. Zachry, president of the San Antonio construction firm; and E. B. Germany, president of Lone Star Steel Co. There are no labor leaders, teachers or farm spokesmen on the T.B.E.U. board of trustees. The second group helps finance a program of free dinners for teachers and summer school scholarships in Americanism for public school teachers at Abilene Christian College. Its name is the Texas Educational Assn. of Fort Worth. It is not to be confused with the Texas Education Agency of the state government, although Commissioner of Education J. W. Edgar endorses the Abilene schools’ ‘Americanism program. Lawrence says T.B.E.U. is disbursing its $70,000 budget to schools in sums ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. T.E.A. of Fort Worth and T.B.E.U. have given Abilene Christian College $10,000 to finance dinners featuring rightwing speakers to which teachers from many counties are invited for a free meal. In addition, T.E.A. of Fort Worth is dividing, with the Coe Foundation of New York, costs of A.C.C. summer scholarships for 100 teachers every year. The teachers get college credit for attending Abilene Christian ” ‘Merry Christmas’ cylinder of fireside matches. Imported from the Orient to kindle yule logs and yuletide spirit. ‘Merry Christmas’ on sides of container. 11″ matches. 1.95.” Topping off the Neiman Christmas is not another coup, but a jeep and other equipment for roughing it. This offering is illustrated with a picture of a tuxedoed man and his chincilla’d damsel embracing softly on the beach beside the jeep, which is complete with a. pink-and-white topping and appointments. The text accompanying their return to the outdoors reads: “BEACH PARTY A LA N-M 151,580.70 AUSTIN and WASHINGTON An inquiry apparently is now pending before the Federal Communications Commission about giving Austin another television station. The LBJ Company of Austin owns or has an interest in four TV and three radio stations in Texas. One of these is KTBC-TV, the only TV station in the state capital, which has a population of 197,000 persons. Senator Lyndon Johnson owns no stock in LBJ Co. Controlling interest is held by his wife, and other stock is owned by his two daughters, Lucy Baines and Lynda Bird; by his brother Sam Houston Johnson, who is on his Senate payroll for $15,635.36 a year; by Walter Jenkins, his administrative assistant; by Mary Margaret Wiley, his secretary in the Office of the Senate Majority Leader; and by others. Although Johnson owns no stock he sits in on management conferences, takes an explicit interest in the affairs of the company, and discusses company decisions with a collective “we.” It is said to be well known on Madison Avenue that KTBC-TV is “the Johnson station.” The station has the three “63 A-B The world’s most grand concept of an all-out beach party gift starts with a delightful ‘Jeep’ Surrey with the fringe on top. The top, cushions, and side curtains are of a rugged, washable material. Surrey in three color combinations: rose and coral white; jade tint and white 1,848.00 F.O.B. Dallas. Delivery elsewhere slight difference due to transportation, state and local taxes, if any. “Add for a dash of luxury: Empress chincilla coat, 25,000.00. Cabachon emerald and diamond drops, 50,000.00. Pearshaped diamond necklace, 72, major networks for Austin NBC, CBS, and ABC. There is widespread, vocal, but unpublished hostility among local townfolk about the one-station situation. The subject comes up spontaneously in coffee shops and barbershops; at civic club lunches and evening parties. Senator Johnson is regarded, in the folk talk, as responsible for the situation. Cartoonist Al Capp, visiting the University of Texas this fall, complained about the one-station situation in his public speech, much to the enjoyment of the college crowd. It is understood by the Observer that E. J. Lund, a wealthy local businessmen who is the principal bankroller of a new Austin radio station, KASE, and a local weekly, “Austin Reporter,” has an application pending for a second TV channel and station. Lund, who has only recently obtained approval for his radio station, will not confirm or deny this report. However, in an Observer interview, Lund said that he is now on the air with KASE, and “the. TV problem is tied up with that, which we are.” The Observer is apprised that a non-Austin firm conducted an 000.00. 18K gold woven purse, diamond clasp, 1,200.00. Scaasi evening dress, 350.00. Vicuna fur rug, 295.00. “Season with: Hibachi grill, 17.50. Coffee pot, 55.00. Ellis silver champagne bucket, 75.00. Baccarat champagne glasses, 40.00. Transistor radio, 69.96. Philco transistor “TV, 255.25. Picnic case, 175.00. Food basket for a gourmet, 200.00. “Prices include tax. Fur products labeled to show country of origin of imported furs.” The Observer man who received the catalogue has made plans to shop for his Christmas gifts at Neiman’s, but he is waiting until after Dec. 25 to take advantage of the specials. wwwwwwwwwetwofftwormespook Christmas Shopping at Neiman’s A Picture from Neiman’s Catalogue: ‘Beach Party … 151,580.70’