ustxtxb_obs_1964_07_10_50_00016-00000_000.pdf

And Henry OR Maury In your list of potential opponents for John Tower [Editorial, June 26], you overlooked the obvious. Henry B. Gonzalez. And Maury Maverick. But not both again, please.James Presley, Box 2025, Texarkana, Tex. A Swing Towards Doomsday I wish the Observer would speak out more often on matters of war and peace. The reason I mention it is that it seems our gomernment has taken a swing toward doomsday in Southeast Asia.Peter A. Mood, 1532 Holly, Dallas. The Whole Cumbersome System Your article on the Houston Democratic convention was the most informative that I have seen, but what is needed is a basic look at the whole cumbersome convention system, not an explanation of why [the liberals] didn’t have the votes to seat the Bexar County delegation.Jerry D. Franzee, 3418 Shelby, Waco, Tex. An Editorial Perversion Since you probably are among the first to denounce “slanted” or “editorialized” news from “establishment” newspapers, criticism validly levelled against the Observer. I refer to the issue of June 12, page 9, third column, about a supposed decision of our Texas judges “to scuttle . . . the much-ballyhooed program for an appointive judiciary” in favor of a campaign for higher judicial salaries. The “slant” or “editorial” perversion here is the suggestion that Texas judges 16 The Texas Observer have been primaryas well as self-seeking advocates of the proposed changes in our judicial selection and tenure system. Personally, I wish they were, because I regard our existing system as an antiquated, politically oriented, campaignmoney-ridden process, masking under the holy name of democracy through popular election. But actually neither you nor anyone else knows how even 25 percent of our judges stand on the question. Certainly they have never undertaken a “ballyhoo” or even less demagogic advocacy of it. It is thus rather “extreme” journalism comparable, shall we say, to what is charged nowadays against certain alleged “rightist” Texas newspapers?to assert that the judges are so responsible for the movement in question as to be able to “scuttle” it at their pleasure, or that they have presumed to make a decision to “scuttle” it. On the other hand, you do know that the movement is, and long has been, backed by a substantial number of ordinary, if fairly well informed, citizens and lawyers like myself, with no axe to grind and no obligation to any particular political, economic, or ideological group. You could have said this and known it to be true. Instead you chose to say something which you know you do not know to be true. It is true that the judges are vigorously seeking a salary raise. But, so far as I know, and so far as you know, there has never been a decision by anybodyleast of all, the judgesas to just when legislative action would be sought on the subject of judicial reform. It will be sought \(and deeply interested in it, want to “put it over” before everybody has a chance to understand it. Maybe it’s also proper “non-establishment” journalism to report the honest efforts of people like me \(and your erstwhile “ballyhoo”; but I doubt if you would approve the word if it came from an “establishment” newspaper, and you would be right in disapproving it. You evidently class yourself as a liberal. I don’t know just how I should be classed; but, as witness my last year’s kick-in-thepants by a certain eleven Texas senators, I have probably suffered more in the name of liberalism than you have. I always thought liberalism was to speak the truth and let the chips fall Where they might. Why can’t we all do just that in discussing important matters like our judicial system? W. St. John Garwood, lawyer, P. 0. Box 14, Austin 61, Texas. Freudian Typo Though we’re sure it was a typo, please correct the attendance figure for the Re publican state convention June 16 from the 1,000 that appeared in the June 26 Observer. Crowd estimates ranged from 11,250 to 12,300. It was the first time Dallas Memorial Auditorium was packed for a political functionand that includes 1960 campaign appearances by Kennedy and Nixon. John Knaggs, public relations director, Republican Party of Texas, 330 Littlefield . Bldg., Austin, Tex. \(Sorrysubconscious wishful thinking, A Case for Statewide Races After surveying the wreckage of the May Democratic primary I am even more firmly convinced that statewide races for all congressional candidates is the solution to our problems in this state. A recent Time magazine \(Goldwater which all eight congressional candidates ran statewide and the Southern-liberal candidate was defeated. Had he been running in a statewide race in which all voters chose just one candidate and not a slate of eight he would have been elected. So would a Negro candidate and a Republican. Under my plan of voting, Henry Gonzalez would be re-elected and Albert Pena would certainly move up to Congress and possibly Albert Fuentes. One Negro and possibly two could be elected. Sarah T. Hughes, were she not a federal judge, could easily be elected. Wright Patman would sail right back in as long as he lived. Don Yarborough is politically deadunder my plan he would be alive and elected. Labor leaders hold office in London’s parliament and the leader of Texas union labor should and could be in the U.S. Congress. On the other side of the aisle Edwin Walker could represent the John Birchers of Texas. Bruce Alger could easily win statewide, but Ed Foreman is another case. John Tower will in all likelihood be defeated in 1966 for senator, but he could come back in 1968 as a congressman. Jack Cox has been an avowed and effective builder of a two-party Texas and has earned his seat in Congress. Allan Shivers would probably not be interested but could easily be elected. Far from undermining the two-party system, my plan would implement it in Texas, in the South, and in any other one-party area. I am in favor of Texas having a Negro congressman and my plan guarantees that Texas would have one or more. . . . As a person recently returned from England and Russia I can assure that the rising tide of Goldwater strikes fear into the heart of every peaceloving and thinking person. At such a time it is appropriate to recall that the difference between a democrat and an anti-democrat is the democrat’s willingness to trust the people even under trying circumstances. Let’s put the issue before the readers and let them decide the merits or demerits of this plan that would elect a Negro. congressman. Tom Caldwell, Box 5321, NTSU, Denton, Tex.