ustxtxb_obs_1968_04_12_50_00004-00000_000.pdf

Senators Queried About State Races in an April 4 press release, “this narcotics scandal has come out in Houston, in the Valley at a college campus there, and now in Austin. WE NEED ACTION NOW. Those who push and sell narcotics must be given longer sentences, and there must be NO PROBATION for these monsters who thrive on the misery of Texas boys and girls. Beer on the campusnarcotics on the next streetsurely the parents of Texas deserve better from their leaders at state-supported schools.” Carr is opposed to legalization of race track betting and liquor by the drink. The former attorney general wants economy in government. He told members of the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce, “We pay welfare and unemployment money to people to do nothing. I’m going to put these people to work in the Highway Department, state parks and state hospitals. Carr says he will increase state tax expenditures in three areaslaw enforceinent, schools and the state hospital system for the blind, orphans and mentally retarded. Carr has joined Locke, Smith and Hill in supporting Connally as Texas favorite son candidate for the presidency. In a recent press release, he warned his supporters, “Ralph Yarborough is determined to become the Democratic Party ‘boss’ in Texas. He will attempt to destroy anyone who stands in his wayboth liberal and conservative. I want to make a prediction,” Carr said. “Don Yarborough cannot possibly win the governor’s race. If it should begin to appear that he has a real chanceRalph will sabotage his campaign. Ralph Yarborough will not permit anyone to become governor who might challenge him for leadership of the liberal wing of the party. He will destroy Don Yarborough if Don becomes a threat to his leadership.” Preston Smith Lieutenant Governor Preston Smith runs Carr a close second for being the most conservative Democratic candidate in the race. In Houston, Smith’s red, white and blue billboards urge passersby to “Continue Conservative Government.” Although outwardly bland, the 55-year-old native of Lubbock has displayed a certain feisty nature. Jon Ford of the San Antonio Express-News recently described Smith as an “early bird, orthodox, tortoise-style campaigner . . . the guy the conservative-moderate hare pack must overtake.” Ford added, “Outwardly easy-going, he seethes inside, and when his opponents are mentioned, he has been known occasionally to explode offstage: ‘Those !’ There’s not a one of them that would have had the guts to get in if John Connally had run again.” Smith started campaigning last September, long before many candidates had considered making the race. He emphasizes his long experience in state government, six years as a representative, six as a senator and six as lieutenant governor. It was on experience that the 4 The Texas Observer Houston Chronicle keyed its endorsement of Smith for governor. The Chronicle also pointed out that he favors increasing the state sales tax rather than legislating a state income tax, opposes a minimum wage, opposes annual sessions of the legislature and “has pledged himself to work for an additional medical school for Houston.” “There are other good men in the race,” the Chronicle concluded. “Eugene Locke of Dallas .. . is an attractive candidate, able and dynamic. However, the Chronicle believes that Smith’s long experience in state government and his proven record will come closest to satisfying the needs of Texans.” Smith’s stand on medical schools has come under attack by another veteran conservative, State Senator Grady Hazlewood of Amarillo. In an interview with the Amarillo Sunday News-Globe March 3, Smith said the state “probably needs at least three more medical schools in the planning stage.” Concerning the legislative scrimmaging last session, over the location of new medical schools in Texas, Smith told the Amarillo paper, “I’m not lieutenant governor of Lubbock, I am lieutenant governor of Texas . . .” Hazlewood pounced on the statement in a much publicized letter to the Globe News: “The truth is that Smith indicated to Sen. Barbara Jordan of Houston this past session that the latter city would never get a medical school unless Texas Tech also got one. Yet at your panel discussion Smith made the statement: ‘I am lieutenant governor of all the people not just Lubbock’. That was the ulti Austin Faced with a plethora of ‘ candidates, most state senators are finding it com fortable to remain publically neutral con cerning the governor’s race. While most senators contacted by the Observer voiced unequivocal support for Ben Barnes as lieutenant governor, many declined to name a favorite for governor. Fifteen of Texas’ 31 senators are up for reelection and some, including Dorsey Hardeman of San Angelo, say the only race they are running is their own. Joe Christie of El Paso, up for reelection, said, “I’m meeting every plane that comes in here, but I’m not going to support anybody before the primary.” Oscar Mauzy of Dallas believes he can be “more effective” by waiting until the runoff before supporting a gubernatorial candidate. Liberals who are keeping quiet about the governor’s race include Mauzy, Barbara Jordan of Houston, Chet Brooks of mate of misstatements. There were two or three bills creating medical schools last session, all of which were blocked by the lieutenant governor because the legislature would not create one at Texas Tech at the same time.” Few other state politicians have found cause to publically attack Smith since he announced for the governorship. Smith, instead, has been on the offensive, warning the public against “Madison Avenue types” trying to sell gubernatorial candidates like soft drinks and soap. “I just don’t believe the people of Texas will submit to brainwashing by emptying jingles from the mass media,” he has said. The lieutenant governor, like Dolph Briscoe, has mainly relied on personal appeals to voters through speeches and receptions throughout the state. A member of his campaign staff said, however, that he will make greater use of short television spots during the last three weeks of the campaign. And Others Three other persons will be on the Democratic ballot for governor, Pat O’Daniel, son of former governor “Poppy” O’Daniel, the Rev. Johnnie Mae Hackworth, a prophetess from Brenham, and Alfonso Veloz,. a Houston bank employee who campaigns on weekends. Three Republicans, Paul Eggers of Wichita Falls, Wallace Sisk of Houston and John Trice of Dallas, will be on the Republican ballot. K.N. veston, and Bill Patman of Ganado. Charles Wilson of Lufkin and Jack Strong of Longview are supporting John Hill. Joe Bernal of San Antonio and D. Roy Harrington of Port Arthur both are ,in the Don Yarborough camp. Bernal is Yarborough’s campaign manager in Bexar county. Don Kennard of Fort Worth is voting for Dolph Briscoe and Jim Bates of Edinburg, for Preston Smith. Other senators who are publically committed include Ralph Hall of Rockwall, who is Hill’s campaign manager, and Wayne Connally, who, like his kinfolk, is supporting Eugene Locke. J. P. Word of Meridian and Murray Watson of Waco are in the Preston Smith camp. As for the lieutenant governor’s race, a solitary senator, Roy Harrington, told the Observer he has endorsed Don Gladden. On record for Barnes are A. M. Aikin Jr. of Paris, Bates, Brooks, Criss Cole of Houston, Kennard William Moore of Bryan, Patman, Schwartz, Strong, Watson, Wilson, and Word. K.N.