ustxtxb_obs_1968_08_23_50_00008-00000_000.pdf

Photo by Frank Armstrong At San Antonio, Connally, Humphrey, Clark, Mrs. Humphrey, Gonzalez and Barnes. On the Stump in Texas Houston, Corpus Christi San Antonio Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy came to Texas on the same hot August day, and Democrats divided like particles attracted to oppositely charged electrical poles. The contrapuntal appearances of the leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination provided an interesting contrast in campaign styles. And it forced Texas’ liberal and moderate leaders to choose between Humphrey’s exuberant affirmation of Great Society policies and McCarthy’s quiet call for drastic changes in party leaders and priorities. Senator McCarthy stepped off a chartered jet at Houston’s Hobby Airport Aug. 9 into a 100-degree noon heat. He was greeted by a small but significant group of partisans including Sen. Ralph Yarborough, Fagan Dickson, an Austinite who abandoned his “Bring Lyndon 8 The Texas Observer Home” campaign for the U.S. Congress after the president decided to come home and Don Yarborough, defeated candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. The senator went from the airport to a fund-raising luncheon and then to a press conference in the Rice Hotel. At the conference, Senator Yarborough first stepped to the microphone and asked that the television cameras be turned on. The cameramen complied, and Yarborough announced in one breath, “Considering the nominees of the Republican party, the American party and the Democratic party, I believe Eugene McCarthy is the best man now available for president of the United States, and I hereby endorse Eugene McCarthy!” The endorsement left reporters gasping in surprise. Only two other senators, Wayne Morse of Oregon and Steven M. Young of Ohio, had announced their support at that time. McCarthy campaign workers had learned of the senator’s decision two days before, but it had been a well-kept secret. The day before he endorsed McCarthy, Yarborough told the Houston Chronicle that his appearance with the Minnesota senator should not be interpreted as an endorsement. “I was invited by Sen. McCarthy to be with him. I received no similar invitation from the vice-president. And this should not be construed as fishing for one, either,” he said. Bill Hamilton, Yarborough’s press secretary in Washington, told the Observer that the senator received an invitation from Humphrey, but that it came after his plans for Aug. 9 and 10 were solidified. \(Yarborough was not the only person to receive his invitation late. Gov . John Connally reportedly was angered when he learned of Humphrey’s intended visit to Texas from a third party. He overlooked the slight, however, and cordially met the vice-president at HemisFair in San AnYARBOROUGH told the Observer his decision to endorse McCarthy involved no basic change in his position.