ustxtxb_obs_1962_12_27_50_00002-00000_000.pdf

n. aA 4._ Liberals, your turn has come. Not a turn to beg a job from a governor who needs you: a turn at control of your own political party in Texas. Not a turn at hobnobbing with the social upper crust of Texas politics: a turn at writing the Texas Democrats’ platform and naming the Texas delegates for the Democrats’ 1964 presidential convention. Someone said to us the other night: “Now our turn has come to get some of the gravy!” That’s what the new shape of Texas politics meant to this bemused fellow. Gentlemen, let us not neglect the obvious. A man who falls silent about what he believes to get some political job has sold out. Gov.-elect Connally needs must try to getthe liberals’ support ; but they do not need his. In the legislature, still hung over from the muddled one-party era, Connally will be more influential than he is among the voters. The truth is he was the liberals’ second choice last June and the conservatives’ second choice last November. What we need at the moment is not complicated. We, do not need liberals or labor or minorities making deals with Connally before they see what The New Format The extra week between issues is killing me, but just to keep the Observer around is worth it. I am very favorably impressed with your new format. Helen Hill, 2311 W. Main, Apt. 2, Houston 6, Tex. It looked very good. I particularly liked the article on civil defense instruction, and the political piece by Goodwyn. I do have one suggestion : the gray strips above and below the cover picture are somewhat gloomy. Perhaps they might be in color, if cost permitted? Charles Langford, Mt. Enterprise, Tex. Your new format is both good-looking and comfortable. I like being able to read one item straight on through, on successive pages, instead of having to turn back through later pages trying to find it. Tom Miller, 711 W. Sycamore St., Denton, Tex. I read the new Observer last night and like itbut not quite as well as the old form \(perhaps nostalgia enput that picture on the front. . . . Let’s work harder to get Don Yarborough in next time. . . . I’m always sorry when you mention drinking beer and whiskey. Keep it a secret. You should not have put that pint back in Willie’s car. He gave it to you so he would not be tempted to drink while driving. That habit grows, especially for writers. Marion Snuggs, 128 Main Plaza, San Antonio, Tex. Oh jolly! Got my new Observer today and thought it was The Baptist Standard. Carolyn Boyd, 224 Granada* El Paso, Tex. 416 Best wishes. “This is a journal of free voices”I like that. Bro. Ira V. Lott, O.M.I., 285 Oblate Dr., San Antonio, Tex. Hell! Larry Goodwyn’s article jObs. Dec. 13] is a very good one, but still an The Texas Observer Editor and General Manager Ronnie Dugger Partner Mrs. R. D. Randolph Business Manager Sarah Payne Contributing Editors Bill Brammer, Chandler Davidson, Larry Goodwyn, Lyman Jones, Willie Morris, Charles Ramsdell, Roger Shattuck, Bob Sherrill, Dan Strawn, Tom Sutherland, Charles Alan Wright. Art Editor Charles Erickson Subscription representatives: Dallas. Mrs. Cordye Hall, 5835 Ellsworth. TA11205; Fort Worth, Mrs. Jesse Baker, 3212 Greene St., WA-72959; Houston, Mrs. Shirley Jay, 10306 Cliffwood Dr., PA-38682; San Antonio, Mrs. Mae B. Tuggle, 531 Elmhurst, TA-27154; Austin, Mrs. Helen C. Spear. 2615 Pecos, HO-51805. The editor has exclusive control over the editorial policies and contents of the Observer. None of the other people who are associated with the enterprise shares this responsibility with him. Writers are responsible for their own work, but not for anything they have not themselves written, and in publishing them the edi kind of job he does in the legislature. We do not need them seeking patronage that might compromise them for the good fight. All the reform movement needs right now is a tight grip on its own integrity. Let liberals stand quietly for what they believe in, support Connally when he is right, oppose him when he is wrong, and seek, in every city and hamlet, steadfast liberal candidates for every elected office from constable toshould it appear to be wisegovernor in 1964. If Connally wishes to impress the minorities with his liberalism, let him start, say, by integrating the state parks with an executive order. Why must Negroes always wait for a court order? If he wants the support of liberal legislators, let him propose a liberal program, including permanent voter registration and a liberal tax program. But if he wants the integrity of the reform movement in Texas, now is the time to let him know it’s not available. Whenever liberals and labor and the minorities meet with this man, as they will, for example, during the Democratic coalition meeting Jan. 5, let them make the one thought plain to him: No deals. for does not necessarily imply that he agrees with them, because this a journal of free voices. The Observer solicits articles, essays, and creative work of the shorter forms, having to do in various ways with this area. The pay depends; at present it is token. Unsigned articles are the editor’s. The Observer is published by Texas Observer Co., Ltd., biweekly from Austin, Texas. Entered as second-class matter, April 26, 1937, at the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Re-entry applfcation pending. Delivered postage prepaid $5.10 per annum for subscribers living in Texas \(this infor subscribers living elsewhere in the United States. Rates for delivery to foreign countries available on request. Single copies. 25 cents each; special prices for orders of ten or more are available on request. Bulk rates are usually lower if orders ,are placed in advance of an issue’s publication. Advertising rates available on request. Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas Observer, 504 West 24th St., Austin 5, Texas. Telephone, GR 7-0745. THE TEXAS OBSERVER An Independent Fortnightly Vol. 55, No. 2 7c, December 27, 1962