ustxtxb_obs_1970_05_29_50_00021-00000_000.pdf

Since 1866 The Place in Austin GOOD FOOD GOOD BEER 1607 San Jacinto GR 7-4171 MAD DOG MASKED BALL * wear your most fantastic costumes * capering on the grass * music * swimming * famous mystery guests * begins 2 p.m., Saturday, May 23 *free beer, BYOB *$2.00 donation for the Citizens’ Lobby *location: 808 Westlake Drive ATHENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL Leo Nitch, Director NEW NORTHWEST LOCATION 7500 Woodrow Phone 454-4239 The Observer is free Austin Because of a misinterpretation of Greg Olds’ resignation in some news stories and a few letters an interpretation that, if correct, which it is not, would clearly be unfair and damaging to the Observer I should add an amplification to what I said last issue in response to Greg’s statement. If his theme was that I opposed the leftward movement of the paper under him, it was wrong. Greg wrote in his statement, “If the Observer is to continue in the forefront of Texas and American reform it must devote considerable attention to the radical left movement, not embracing it wholly and indiscriminately, but gleaning from it what is good, sound, humane, and valid.” I wholeheartedly agree with that. There was no policy dispute between Greg and me over this proposition. The Observer should search out, report, and learn about and from what is happening on the radical left. I was glad, personally and as publisher, whenever the Observer did this, and I hope and believe that the proposition here quoted from Greg will continue to be the case at the Observer, which itself has been, is, and will be the best evidence bearing on the question. Let me also quote from what I have written in response to a thoughtful inquiry in a letter I have received. To this correspondent I wrote, “I agree with you, and do my own work in light of the view, that most of the impetus and analysis of our society that can lead to needed new forms comes from radicals and mavericks. You read the _Observer, so you know my work and you know the Observer of which I am publisher. Think on it, and I hope you will see that this view is mine, and it is one that has had and I hope will continue to have free sway in the Observer.” The Observer, in my opinion, is the freest and most reliable journal of reform, ideas, and controversy in this region, and if it stopped being that I’m damned if I would care to go on being associated with it. The repressive watch We are now deep in a period of repression worse than the Joe McCarthy period. Tollings of the bell: “Richard Nixon endorsed yesterday legislative proposals that would authorize some forms of wiretapping and modify Supreme Court decisions that broadened the rights of suspects.”New York Times, May 9, 1968. The U.S. Senate adopted a provision to “authorize court-supervised use of wiretapping and electronic surveillance by Observations Federal, state, and local law,” and “Southern conservatives reported that President Johnson had passed the word that he was willing to accept the broad wiretapping authority.”New York Times, May 24, 1968. Roy Butler, chairman of the Austin school board, justified threatening student Johnny Lindell with suspension unless he got a haircut in these words: “While the boy might not personally disrupt, the length of his hair draws ire and provokes other students. … Boys with long hair cause disruption. That was the basis of our decision.” Austin Statesman, Feb. 21, 1970. Gov. Ronald Reagan of California, warning against “appeasement” of campus militants, told an audience of growers: “If it’s to be a bloodbath, let it be now.”Los Angeles Times, April 8, 1970. “When peace comes through appeasement and capitulation that sellout is intellectual treason.” Vice President Agnew, quoted in Time, May 11, 1970. In a period of two weeks, six students, four at Kent State and two at Jackson State, were shot dead by National Guardsmen or police, and six blacks in a ghetto in Augusta, Ga., were shot dead in the back. “Three tables full of guns, knives, drugs, a laundry bag of girlie pictures and other objects taken from Kent State University dormitory rooms after the campus was closed May 4 were displayed Friday. Portage County Prosecutor Ronald B, Kane . said the search involved the 3,316 rooms in all 31 dormitories. … Kane said no search warrants were used because the campus is state property.” Austin American, May 16, 1970. Fine foundation Friends of the Texas Bill of Rights Foundation of Houston rightly pointed out that in recent remarks advocating the establishment of local town halls for free and open debate, I should have mentioned the work of that foundation. It has done more in the last few years to make controversy acceptable in Houston than anything else. \(Pacifica radio there is now coming on strong in the same cause, Foundation has given the microphone in Houston to a range of speakers from William Buckley to Robert Kennedy, Edward Teller to William 0. Douglas. As a town hall should, the foundation’s directors range in ideology from left to right and their top officers are alternated according to viewpoint. R.D. May 29, 1970 21 MARTIN ELFANT Sun Life of Canada 1001 Century Building Houston, Texas CA 4-0686