ustxtxb_obs_1964_05_29_50_00010-00000_000.pdf

#044~144##* Political Intelligence The Democratic Convention speaks of the “Yarborough-New Frontier line.” He defends Dallas against Yarborough’s remark that it’s a “citadel of reaction,” and, with Cox, he attacks Yarborough on the civil rights bill. Yarborough’s recent vote for the jury trial amendment Gov. Connally’s forces claim 1,873 votes at the state Democratic convention June 16, with 1,418 needed to control. Sen. Yarborough’s forces claim national Democrats have 849 votes, Connally’s forces 704, and Johnson-oriented delegations 385. Gov . Connally claims overriding control of the convention. Spokesmen for the Yarborough side say President Johnson can enforce unity on behalf of his candidacy and his program if he wishes because he has controlling influence with delegations more responsive to his wishes than to Connally’s. It is becoming clear that Connally’s people are considering seating the conservative delegation from Bexar County, where liberal Democrats claim a clear majority. \(Connally’s spokesmen have conceded Harnally’s state chairman, told the San Antonio Express he is informed just 100 votes separate \(the sides in Bexar, and he doesn’t like to see “friends kicked around.” Yarborough representatives have been assuming that Harris and Bexar delegations loyal to the national Democrats will be seated, and some of them have said there may be a bolt to Atlantic City if both are not. Chuck Caldwell, an aide to Yarborough, has been carefully checking over delegations and has concluded the convention is open, and anything can happen. Mrs. Murray Chud, Dallas Democratic leader who participated in the walkout there, contends that her side had a majority of the Dallas votes on the issue they were walking out aboutwhether to go on with convention business without settlement of contested delegations. Stories in Dallas dailies have broached the subject of replacing Texas Democratic National Committeeman Byron Skelton of Temple with Gen. Carl Phinney, Dallas friend of the President and lobbyist for bus interests, or National Committeewoman Mrs. H. H. Weinert of Seguin with Mrs. Troy Post, new state committeewoman from Dallas County. Pool-Baker Cong.-at-large Joe Pool told the Hous ton Chronicle’s Saul Friedman that he opposes medicare, all federal aid to educa tion, public accommodations and fair em 10 The Texas Observer comported with Bush’s position on that aspect of the bill. At this writing, Cox would need a big boost or two, and some luck, to win June 6. Bush’s money may make a difference in the last weeks when there will be a premium on getting out one’s own voters. [1] ployment sections of the civil rights bill, and the anti-poverty program. In a Dallas context, he said, “I am proud that I represent Texans who want a congresman-atlarge who votes like an American.” By implication, anyway, Bill Elkins of Greenville threw his support to Pool by telling Bob Baker he should give up to avoid the expense of a statewide runoff. Baker, Pool’s runoff opponent, has been hammering at him for posing as a Democrat and voting like a Republican; hitch-hiking on Johnson’s bandwagon while emasculating his, programs. Baker points out that in the Dan Smoot report for 1963, Pool rated farther to the political right than any other U.S. Democrat, with a percentage exceeded only by three other Republicans. Bob Looney of Austin threw his runoff support to Baker. Baker also announced his supporters include Sens. Cole, Bates, Harrington, Kazen, Kennard, and Schwartz and former Sens. Nokes, Willis, Secrest, and Fuller. vor One Senate nomination \(Cook vs. Snel be settled by runoffs in the Democratic primary June 6, as well as the White-McGregor and the de la Garza-Rodriguez congressional runoffs. Keeton-Fonville Reporters located Ernest Keeton in El Paso, where he has taken a job driving a cab. The Negro who said on statewide TV April 25 that he saw Billy Sol Estes give Ralph Yarborough $50,000, but then recanted on that story to the FBI, told reporters in El Paso that he had told the FBI the truth. Keeton was also quoted that he had never seen McLendon before the April 25 broadcast. James Fonville, the second “witness” to the so-called transaction, had said Keeton and Keeton’s mother had been threatened after Keeton repudiated his original charge. Keeton told the AP neither he nor his mother had been threatened; and his mother told the AP she had not been threatened. Reporter Bo Byers of the Houston Chronicle was told by Keeton that a Roy Lassiter of Raymondville talked to Keeton about Keeton’s statement on TV against Yarborough. Byers also quoted Fonville that Fonville met with Lassiter and Keeton in Abilene. Byers quoted Keeton that Estes did not ask Keeton to make the original statement. After Byers questioned Fonville and Midland Police Chief Harold Wallace, Wallace fired Fonville for injecting himself into politics and continuing to discuss the case on and off duty in and out of uniform, Wallace said. Fonville was quoted by Byers that he refused to give the FBI a sworn statement when he concluded the FBI was working for Yarborough. Byers reported he saw Estes and Lassiter together in El Paso after Keeton’s working there had become known. The movements of Estes and Lassiter while they were in the area became a subject of dispute. A spokesman for the U.S. Justice Dept. said the FBI became involved in the matter because of the federal law against contributions of more than $5,000 from one Source any one year. Herbert Miller of the Justice Dept. told reporters in Fort Worth the department will release a report on the episode before the November election, and that the FBI would have investigated, even without the request to do so from Sen. Yarborough. This, in gist, summarizes developments in this matter since the Observer’s report last issue, “An Astonishing Month.” Other Matters Mrs. H. H. Weinert told the State Dem ocratic Executive Commitee in Austin May 11 that keeping Johnson in the White House will cost $15 million, and that she got this from “someone who should know.” She had visited at the White House recently before this. . . . Texas will have 120 delegates, 97 alternates, and some observers at the national convention in Atlantic City, Frank Erwin, state chairman, announced. . . . Hank Brown, state labor president, has accepted appointment by Johnson on the 12-member national labor-management panel that advises the President and the U.S. Dept. of Labor. . . . Cong. Jake Pickle, Austin, has announced his support of the war on poverty bill. frO Gov. Connally may turn sharply right, the Observer has heard. In speeches since his renomination he has urged the zipping up of the state medical care program for the aged \(a program used to reNovember and has repeated his boast that Texas has “one of the lowest state and local per capita tax burdens in the nation, the lowest of any of the major industrial states.” . . . State agency budget hearings are scheduled May 26-Sept. 11 in Austin. I/ Peter O’Donnell, state GOP chairman, notes the GOP primary turnout was 23.7% higher than two years ago. Dallas had the greatest major-county increase, 37.5%. Midland-Odessa showed a 107% in crease. . . . Liberal precinct analysts are puzzling why ,so many voters voted for Gordon McLendon and Don Yarborough; or for Ralph Yarborough and Joe Pool. It doesn’t make sense, they say. . . . Ed Bur ris, the Texas Manufacturers’ Assn., lob