ustxtxb_obs_1969_11_07_50_00010-00000_000.pdf

We care where our product is served. Beer served in pleasant and wholesome surroundings is the aim of the United States Brewers Association. And we are always striving to do something about it. The USBA is represented by field men around the country. They meet with proprietors of establishments where beer is sold. They work in every way possible to promote a set of high standards wherever beer is served. This USBA effort means even more enjoyable places for America’s great beverage of moderation. UNITED STATES BREWERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 905 International Life Bldg., Austin, Texas 78701 Briscoe, who won some liberal support in his 1968 race, said recently that “I’m a conservative Democrat and I intend to remain one.” Briscoe evidently is giving those who wish him to make a 1970 campaign a fair hearing. One sign of this is that he recently hosted some members of the Capitol press corps at his 160,000-acre ranch at Catarina \(between San Antonio the Austin press accepted Briscoe’s invitation to spend the weekend fishing, hunting, loafing, and, no doubt, talking some about Texas politics. Governor Smith, who has been brushing up his press relations of late, plans a party of his own for ‘ the Capitol press in mid-November at a Hill Country ranch. Smith, when attending the Southern governors’ conference in Virginia a few weeks back, flew several members of the Capitol press and some of their wives 10 The Texas Observer to the conference on a National Guard plane. Smith had the largest press delegation at the conference of any of the Southern governors. GOP Hopeful The Republicans are perking up as regards the governor’s race now, given Smith’s low estate. Usually the state GOP puts all, or nearly all, its eggs into one race each political year, and 1970 was expected to be devoted entirely to unseating Senator Yarborough. But the Republicans now are wondering if they might beat Smith. It’s still the best guess that neither Barnes nor Briscoe nor any other Democrat of much note will challenge Smith in the Democratic primary. Barnes is most likely to run for reelection as lieutenant governor rather than risk a party-dividing challenge of Smith, who still is popular with the state’s most conservative Democrats. Briscoe, it appears, will probably resist advice to get into a statewide race in 1970; that he needs two years more in which to become better known statewide and in which to build a campaign organization. No other Democrats loom, at this point, as potential Smith challengers. That would leave it to the Republicans to see if Smith could become the state’s first one-term governor since before World War II. Eggers Best Bet The Republicans’ best bet for 1970 would be Paul Eggers, who ran a surprisingly strong race against Smith last year despite having only lukewarm organizational and financial support from the state Republicans. Last year was the year to carry Texas for Richard Nixon in the state GOP’s book to the virtual exclusion of other races. Eggers, now chief counsel in the Treasury Department, definitely is interested in running next year; he lately has been sounding like he’ll get into the race whether or not he has the Texas GOP hierarchy’s invitation or approval. He’s an independent man, is a “modern” Republican, an attractive candidate. Texas Republican leaders, having no better bet for 1970, might do well to “resign” themselves to helping Eggers out. He just might become Texas’ first Republican governor in this century. There is some talk that perhaps the state GOP is to abandon its one-shot tactics next year and concentrate on a variety of races trying to defeat Senator Yarborough \(almost assuredly Houston trying to beat Smith and perhaps Land Cmsr. Jerry Sadler, and seeking to elect more Republicans to the Legislature. GOP people speak of having as many as 25 to 35 House members in 1971 \(making gains in and perhaps two more senators. Conflicting Figures The figures continue to fly. First it had been heard here that the liberals’ voter registration effort would cost $300,000 just for the services of Matt Reese and Associates, the Washington political consultant. Leaders of the state campaign told the Observer that that figure was absurd, that the entire campaign would cost nowhere near that. And the Observer hears on good authority that Reese was asking something like $70,000 but that he evidently won’t be hired for the liberals’ registration campaign. But Jon Ford reports out of Austin in the San Antonio Express-News that AFL-CIO spokesmen “confirm their voter registration campaign may be priced out at up to $500,000.” Anyway, the campaign headquarters is open and running in Austin as a first step in the campaign to reelect Senator Yarborough.