ustxtxb_obs_1969_08_01_50_00024-00000_000.pdf

been known.” This also would be the case in Texas. The coastal estuaries of the gulf will be destroyed, affecting food for fish and fish food, recreation, sport and commercial fishing. All this for a plan to take care of only 50 years of projected needs, a mere second in recorded time. And, the question persists: will it do the job for which it is designed? The foreword of the plan states: “There is not a water resource plan of this magnitude or complexity in existence in the world today or even in the planning stage.” And yet we voters are supposed to cast an intelligent vote given the notice of a few weeks, with only a pittance of analysis of its portent and none of its consequences, by the “pros” headed by our governor, who, it seems to me, should have the responsibility of seeing that voters are supplied with information on both sides of the question. Miss Hazel C. Green, Box 136, Wimberley, Tex. 78676. Vote No on No. 2 Can an 83-acre farmer with a $10 bill defeat Amendment No. 2 sponsored by an organization as large as Water, Inc., which has thousands of dollars from cement interests behind them? Maybe not but I aim to try. There is nothing in this bill but higher taxes for most of us. The ditch from the Mississippi would take more cement per foot than an interstate highway. The dimensions show this … Once the tax payer is hooked for the first installment he will find himself paying over and over like on a car which is a lemon. Never before have so many been asked to rob themselves for so few. It is almost certain ” to and E?kgq 24 \(t \\-31 server \(I lS7 VJe 0-073 1-3c -t >4 1–“ICI CD r -A.1 OOP 0 I-1 1.J td Mississippi will fight the plan to the Supreme Court, and if the legal battles were won how long would it take to build compared, for instance, to that same interstate highway? Where will we be in 20 years and how hard will those dollars be to get then? All you need to contribute is a NO vote on Amendment No. 2. Gordon S. Clark, Rt. 2, Eastland, Tex. 76448. Nature Conservancy Congratulations to you and Ronnie Dugger for his excellent article, [Obs. July 18], “Saving Our Open Space.” Your readers would be pleased to know that in Texas we have recently made progress in the preservation of natural areas by a private foundation, the Nature Conservancy of Texas, Inc. This organization purchased Ezell’s Cave, in San Marcos, and thereby saved the Texas Blind Salamander, a glamorous endangered species. 0. C. Sheffield, of Tyler, donated 75 acres northeast of Tyler State Park, containing a relict hanging sphagnum bog. International Paper Company has leased to us Woodland Cathedral, eight miles east of Carthage, a closed-canopy hardwood riverbottom forest of 175 acres. Rep. Ben Atwell and Sen. A. M. Aikin successfully sponsored passage of a bill in the Legislature this spring which exempts the Nature Conservancy from ad valorem taxes. Contributions to the Nature Conservancy are exempt from federal income and inheritance taxes. We need many more contributions of scenic and ecological areas by enlightened landowners. Edward C. Fritz, chairman, New Areas committee, The Nature Conservancy, 909 Reliance Life Bldg., Dallas, Tex. 75201. Respect for Old Glory San Antonio has gone bananas with the U.S. flag. Decals of Old Glory adorn car windows. Cheap, gold-fringed jobs with handy plastic clips fly from auto antennas. Ads with a Birchy ring ballyhoo the flags and decry “this age of minority protestors.” I wonder what will happen when this fad for public masturbation is over? Will the little flags, sun-faded, car-washed, and wind-shredded, be accorded due respect and destroyed in a manner prescribed by law? Will the peeling, heat-bubbled window decals be ceremoniously squeegeed? Where now are the drooling fanatics of last year’s community outcry for a pound of Dick Gregory’s flesh, after the comedian gave a black man’s opinion on flags? I want to be around to see if they leave their air-conditioned cars to retrieve a flag that falls from its chromium staff to the gutter. Bertie Mae Metreon, Box 16001, San Antonio, Tex. 78216. A Meeting I see by the newspapers that the insurance commission is going to meet to decide whether or not to raise the insurance rates. I can imagine a meeting somewhat like this: Chairman: “Gentlemen, we are meeting today to decide whether or not insurance rates should be raised. Is anybody here who is not an officer, a director, or a large stockholder of an insurance company? One of the commissioners: “Of course not. We are very particular about that.” Chairman: “If we raise the rates, of course, our companies will benefit.” One of the commissioners: “Strike that from the minutes.” Chairman: “Are we all in favor of raising the rates? All in favor say aye.” One of the commissioners: “We ought to have a motion first.” Chairman: “Oh bosh!” I have to get out of here quickly, let’s don’t bother with these minutia. All in favor say aye. Unanimously carried. I didn’t have any doubts about that. Meeting adjourned. Let’s all go home and enjoy ourselves.” Percy Selden, 991 Houston Club Bldg., Houston, Tex., 77002. Tower and the Observer The Observer’s modesty is often a source of amazement. In 1961 the Observer actively encouraged Texas “liberals” to vote for John Tower. Should not the Observer pat itself on the back editorially now that Senator Towe is effectively represtnting the Observer by his leadership in the scuttling of Dr. Knowles? At this writing, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the junior senator from Texas will also assist in such “worthwhile” endeavors as killing LBJ’s voting rights legislation and LBJ’s desegregation guidelines. I look forward to the Observer publicly taking its rightful share of credit for such contributions by Senator Tower to the causes for which the Observer E. Ernest Goldstein, 52 Avenue Des Champs Elysees, Paris, France. A Correction I thank Barbara Nelson for the nice things she said about me in her review of On Being Concerned [Obs., July 4]; but I am embarrassed by her calling me editor of The Humanist. I was once an assistant editor but now am only a humble member of the publishing advisory committee. However, my husband, Maynard Shipley, was one of the signers of the original Humanist Manifesto in 1933. Miriam Allen deFord, Ambassador Hotel, San Francisco, Calif. 94102.