ustxtxb_obs_1962_04_14_50_00003-00000_000.pdf

HOUSTON POLITICS Don’t Vote Republican “IT STINKS” TRIAL Intruder Acquitted HOUSTON A Houston jury, deciding that a meeting in a church was political and not religious, found Jesse Woods not guilty in the “It stinks” mitted he said “it stinks” of the meeting he crashed earlier in the year. Woods’ attorney, Alvin Rosenthal, argued: “Were the speakers at the meeting selling folks on the salvation of their souls or were they telling everybody there that the various Presidents did miserable jobs? “There is nothing sacrosanct about this building when it is used for something political. “Jesse Woods is fighting for democracy in action. Nobody is going to put the muzzle on him when it comes to politics. He was and is an ardent supporter of those Presidents.” The Rev. 0. Van Moreau was the first witness this week. “Every sermon I preach,’ he said, “has a little politics in it because every nation that does not recognize Jesus is anti-Christ.” Woods, an electrical shop owner and chairman of the Northshore Area Democratic Club, said he grumbled out loud during the meeting at the church because the speaker, one-time Birch Society member Dick Kerr, was critical of Democratic presidents Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy. A mistrial was declared when the jury was unable to agree on a verdict. Rosenthal succeeded in his attempts to show that the church meeting in question was political rather than religious and that Woods, therefore, had the right to speak out. “Communism is anti-Christ and that is my job; to preach Jesus and against anti-Christ,” Moreau said at the new trial. “Inside the my Lord and he cursed one of the men. He disturbed my peace.” The Houston Press reported this exchange: “Did you hear Mr. Kerr say that President Kennedy or his family had dangerous socialistic connections?” Rosenthal asked. “I don’t remember the exact words,” Moreau said, “but it was to that effect . . . He started out the lecture with an account of Nicodemus from the Bible.” Rosenthal: “Did he say anything about Dean Acheson also?” Moreau: “Dean Acheson is not in the Bible.” Rosenthal: “Do you know much about communism?” Moreau: “In the church we are learning more about it.” Rosenthal: “If I said that you and your wife are active politically in this community, then I’d be 100 percent wrong?” Moreau: “Up to that time, we had no interest politically at all.” Rosenthal: “I submit that you are not telling the truth, that you were carrying the literature in your car, that you had attended the National Indignation Convention . . . You have said that if the members liked what was being said, they could say, ‘Amen.’ If they disagreed with what was said, could they boo?” Moreau: “No, Mr. Kerr was preaching.” Rosenthal: “If he was criticizing the presidents, was he preaching?” Moreau: “I’d have you refer back to the Bible when the prophets criticized the kings.” The jury took ten minutes. cut that this was the first time the stadium had been integrated. Trustees Quizzed In a questionnaire sent out prior to the school board election by the Fort Worth Press, the ScrippsHoward tabloid here, all four trustees who were newly elected Saturday clearly stated they would do nothing to oppose the school desegregation order. All took conservative stands on federal school aid and one sympathized with J. Evetts Haley’s Texans for America in the textbook controversy. Rev. J. R. Leatherbury, a 53year-old Episcopal rector, is the first minister ever elected to the school board. He declared himself Hotels Act HOUSTON Houston’s largest hotels quietly integrated their room and restaurant facilities April 1, hotel officials said this week. The local press and radio had agreed not to publicize the change unless there were incidents. “The action was taken by all ccnvention hotels in the city and each one has accepted at least one Negro since the action was taken,” a spokesman said. Motels were not integrated. Organized labor, among several groups, has said that it will not hold conventions in segregated hotels. only to Democrats but to Republicans as well. Harris County Republican ; Chairman James Bertron refuseS to make a guess. But some Republican party leaders, and Democratic leaders as well, predict a GOP vote of from 30,000 to 40,000. Other Republicans and Democrats are predicting that 10,000 Republican votes will be surprising. Several Favors There are several factors that make a mystery out of potential Republican strength. First, when Harris County Clerk R. E. Turrentine ordered Republicans to hold primaries in all precincts, did he cast a veil over the primaries or did he spur more Republicans to turn out? When Turrentine issued his edict, the Republicans reversed the usual stand of a political party and pleaded popular poverty. So Bertron cried: “There aren’t enough Republicans to hold primaries in all precincts.” Which leads one to the second factor: Are the Republicans really trying to get out a big vote? Do they want to waste time, effort, money now; or are they waiting for November? Third, the incentives for a big Republican primary vote are few. In most races Republicans are running without serious opposition, and are seemingly not interested in getting out the primary vot There is a spirited campaign here, however, for the Republican county chairman’s job. The congressman-at-large primary may also bring out the GOP vote. Finally, there is a bitter fight being waged in the Republican Party between old-line Republicans and the johnny-come-latelys ‘from the ranks of conservative Democrats. The old-line Republicans, allied with moderates, don’t want their party to fall under the control of right-wing extremists who are exiles from the Demo in favor of peaceful school desegregation “if the courts so ruled.” He does not agree with the aims cf the Haleyites and he opposes the federal lunch program, but he sees nothing wrong in getting federal surplus equipment for a new technical high school. Bill Crawford, former TCU football star and president of a chemical company, said “integration would seem to be the only thing to do.” He declined to express an opinion on the textbook wars, but says he is “generally” opposed to federal aid to education. Mrs. Ronald Smith, who has been very active in the County Committee for Decent Literature and Pictures and who expresses pride in “the job it has done in getting some books off the newsstands,” ousted an incumbent who had at times stated he favored federal aid “as long as local control is maintained.” Mrs. Smith said she is “definitely” for school integration since the courts have so ordered. She is “strongly against” federal aid and she likes the work of Haley’s Texans. The re-elected member, Dr. James Walker, an engineer before he went to medical school, says he will not defy the court order. He would not ban textbooks “merely because of terminology regarding ‘democracy’ and republic.” He is against federal aid and believes the P-TA or local charities should provide free lunches for needly children. cratic Party. There is another factor that may work against a liberal sweep. Edwin Walker, it is predicted, will get about 10,000 votes in Harris County. Other than being a fairly accurate gauge of the farright here, his candidacy will not have an appreciable effect on the outcome of the gubernatorial race. But those who come to the Democratic polling places to pull a lever for Walker might remain long enough to pull the levers in the legislative races. This could hurt the liberal cause. Liberals’ Hopes One astute Houston politician sees disinterest as perhaps the worst handicap the liberal candidates will face. Candidates corning through Houston complain about the “fantastic apathy.” The hopeful side for the liberals is more hopeful than in past years, however. Liberal candidateseven those who, after going into office shied away from liberal associations have united to stir the interest of labor, Negroes, intellectuals. And they have united, for the most part, under the banner of Don Yarborough. In addition, the ultra-conservative Democrats are nagging at conservative opponents and incurnt ents and splitting their votes. Liberals, in contrast, have with\(‘ r. ,wn from races when unity was threatened. Rep. Bob Eckhardt refus..ed to take on Rep. Criss Cole for the Senate and George McWilliams decided not to go against William Philpot for the legislature. While divided in some areas, Negroes, who have purchased a record number of poll taxes, will generally support the liberal candidates in all races. Here, put briefly, is the way a cross-section of informed observers size up the various races in Harris County: Governor: Yarborough will lead Daniel. Some say Yarborough will get in the neighborhood of 70,0000 votes. Connally, endorsed this week by the Houston Post, should finish third. Lieutenant Govern^r: Because of his legislative fight for the University of Houston, Bob Baker will lead, in spite of endorsements for Jarrard Secrest. Attorney General: Waggoner Carr leading, with Reavley fol lowing closely. Close to a toss-up. Congressman-at-large : Woodrow Bean to lead. His race is misunderstood, his name is familiar, and he has solid liberal and Negro endorsement. House Races Legislature, Pos. 1: Paul Floyd, although identified with the conservative cause, has much .Negro and liberal backing, and unless there is a general sweep to liberals, Owen Stidham has an uphill fight. Pos. 2: The exact opposite is the case with Eckhardt. Although conservative Russell Cummings has strong and active support and apparently much money, he Published by Texas Observer Co., Ltd. Entered as second-class matter: April 26, 1937, at the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act of March 3, 1879. APRIL 14, 1962 Willie Morris Editor and ,General Manager Jay Milner, Associate Editor Sarah Payne, Office / Manager Ronnie Dugger, Contributing Editor has an uphill battle. But Eckhardt has no easy job. In other positions where a conservative incumbent is running against a liberal, with no other candidate splitting the conservative ticket, the liberal needs a respectable GOP vote and a big turnout to win. This is true in races pitting Henry Grover against Clyde Miller, Don Garrison against Charles Cook, and W. H. Miller against Bill Shead. In position 7 liberal Tom Bass is a good bet against the split of conservative Beck Smith and ultra-conseivative Walter Keith. In position 8 Rep. Charles Whitfield has a known name and reputation to win against unknown Wilson McPhail, no matter which way the broom sweeps. In newly created position 9, Lee Duggan, Jr., a conservative who has not been identified with conservative organizations in the past, has a known political name, although he is not related to District Judge E. B. Duggan. He is favored to win over liberal Bill McGehee no matter which way the sweep. In position 10 UT graduate Barbara Jordan, a Negro candidate who will help get out a strong Negro vote, has a good chance to 1 ecome the Democratic Party nominee against conservative Willis Whatley. In position 11, John R. Harrison, the liberal, was endorsed by Negroes after a long fight. Charles 0. Melder has much support from liberals and Negroes, and this may help conservative Herbert E. Shutt. In position 12 liberal Chet Brooks has an excellent chance for the nomination. Conservatives are split three ways by dentist Ira Kohler, insuranceman A. J. Gordan, and ultra-conservative Jerry McAfee. But Kohler is a former city councilman and is wellknown. In the race for Congress from the 22nd District, incumbent Bob Casey is being challenged by Claude Hooton, a close friend of Ted Kennedy. Hooton is running a strong and busy campaign, but press support and Casey’s name may prove too much. Those observers who look for a liberal sweep in the Democratic primaries next month do not rejoice in their prediction. For they also predict that next November Harris County may send some Republicans to the legislature. SAUL FRIEDMAN PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISER THE TEXAS OBSERVER Page 3 April 14, 1962 told the Observer this week: “Everywhere you look in Texas, the big cities have gone along with the CourtHouston, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Austin, El Paso. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t.” As in other sizeable Texas cities in the last 15 years, the Negro vote is an element which bolsters the prediction of peaceful desegregation. Approximately 15,000 Negroes are said to be registered. Many Fort Worth citizens will proudly tell visitors their city has a long history of good race relations. During a campaign for city council positions not long ago, however, one local Negro leader explained: “That’s because the Negroes have never asked for anything.” Only four weeks ago Texas Baptists held a historic conference on race isues in Fort Worth, in which prominent laymen and ministers berated racial prejudices as unChristian and insupportable scripturally. The city’s somewhat blase attitude was exemplified last fall when two professional. football teams played an exhibition game in the municipal stadium. A visitor, noting several Negro spectators in the stands, asked his companion when the stadium was desegregated. The friend, a Fort Worth native, looked around with only mild surprise and replied, “Damned if I know. I never thought about it before.” It turned FT. WORTH DESEGREGATION THE TEXAS OBSERVER 7,4690=1.t. Published once a week from Austin, Texas. Delivered postage prepaid $5.10 per annum. Advertising rates available on request. Extra copies 15c each.