ustxtxb_obs_1971_07_16_50_00005-00000_000.pdf

form of immediate jobs for Indians during the 1969-70 fiscal year alone and will be a source of employment for their people hereafter. In 1966 many Tiguas faced dispossession of their small homes because they could not pay taxes on them. This was brought to the attention of the Texas Legislature through the efforts of their tribal attorney, Tom Diamond, the El Paso legislative delegation and many other interested people. The Tiguas were recognized as a Texas Indian tribe by the 60th Legislature and placed under the Trusteeships Administration of the Texas Commission for Indian Affairs. At the same time a small appropriation of $35,000 was made to the commission with which to employ a superintendent and institute state programs for their assistance. THE STATUTES charge the Commission for Indian Affairs with the responsibility for developing the human and economic resources of the Tigua Indian Community as well as trusteeship over any physical assets that may be acquired for them. The Legislature doubled the first appropriation for the commission’s operation during the 1970-71 biennum and also appropriated $80,000 for land and property, acquisition and development. Included in the operational programs are educational and medical assistance as well as programs for housing and economic development. Just over three acres at Ysleta Mission and a one-half acre site within the Barrio de los Indios were acquired. The Ysleta Mission property was an ancient adobe building of considerable size and is being restored to its original dimensions and appearance. It will house a small museum and arts and crafts sales area. A larger meeting hall for the Pueblo Junta and a large kitchen have been completed. Approximately 1,500 persons attended the dedication of the building June 12. The next day four times that many people gathered at a field mass for the Tigua’s Fiesta de San Antonio. \(San the Tigua’s custom, they fed everyone who came to the fiesta. In addition to these acquisitions they will receive a land grant at Hueco Tanks to be used as land for tourist facility and other concession operation at that point. The Horizon Properties Corp. has donated a 20-acre archeological site lying between the Sabinas and Hueco Mountains near Hueco Tanks. This is where Pueblo Indians lived as late as 1200 A.D. This also will be developed as a tourist attraction for tribal revenue and jobs for Indians. Charles C. Gaither, president of the Citizens State Bank of Ysleta, and his family gave 2.47 acres of land and many useful buildings lying just across Old Pueblo Road from the Ysleta Mission property. This gift is valued at $120,000 and includes a modern office building, a house, storage warehouse and another large U-shaped building that will be converted into an arts and crafts production center. Formerly the property was headquarters for Western Gas Co. which sold to Southern Union Gas Co. Mr. Gaither acquired it from Southern Union for this purpose. The history of the Southwest is intimately tied up with the story of the Sources in both Washington and Austin are now reconfirming the “top down” theory of the latest Texas political developments and suggesting a new political wrinkle in the SEC case bargaining. In the July 2 issue of the Observer, we reported the theory that John Connally’s allegedly sudden decision to become part of Nixon’s cabinet was actually a long-planned move worked out among Nixon, Lyndon Johnson and Connally. Barnes’ decision to go for governor rather than senator is reportedly part of the same plan. The plan is supposed to keep Tower and Barnes from having any serious opposition, help the Tory Democrats keep control of the state party, make it easier for Nixon to carry Texas and keep open the possibility that Connally will be on the Republican ticket in ’72. A heavy plan. Washington so_urces now suggest that the same plan is at work in the SEC case. When it was first announced that Frank Sharp had turned state’s evidence, the most commonly reported theory, held by Preston Smith among others, was that it was part of Republican plot, most likely fomented by Will Wilson, to let Sharp off in exchange for nailing the Democratic politicians involved. Now it seems that something more subtle may be involved. When the Houston grand jury investigating the Sharp case was reported to be considering violations of federal bribery statutes, some Democratic politicians in Austin went into cold sweats. But there are Washington sources who now say they would be very surprised indeed if any Democratic pols were indicted. Instead, they expect some low-level banking examiners to be indicted for accepting bribes from Sharp. It is further believed that Preston Smith is being no, not threatened, no not pressured but having it, uh, well, suggested to him that if he doesn’t run for re-election, he really needn’t worry about this Sharp mess. Meanwhile, Smith’s people and the governor himself are in a terrible twit. cultures that clashed herethe Indians, Spanish, Mexicans and Anglos that struggled to dominate the land. The beauty of the Southwest lies in the joining of these cultures, and hopefully more and more people are learning that cultures can exist side by side. It would be a loss for all of us if the Indians were submerged in the great society, and the Tiguas are a challenge to Texas’ ability to incorporate different types of people. 0 Political Intelligence Smith’s staffers are completely convinced that the gov is not guilty of any wrongdoing whatever. They suggest he is the victim of appearances, circumstances and possibly his own stupidity and/or misplaced faith in others not so honest. But what to do? If he runs, will he get hit with an indictment? Even if he can prove he did no wrong, wouldn’t an indictment finish him politically? Will Ben Barnes drag Smith’s name through the mud in the campaign even if he doesn’t_ get indicted? If he doesn’t run, won’t the people simply assume that he was forced to leave office because he’s under such a cloud? How can he prove he’s innocent and prove to himself that the people believe he’s innocent if he doesn’t run again? Truly a depressing fix. The ultimate conspiracy theory has it that the Texas Democrats, in exchange for not being bothered over the Sharp mess, are supposed to not do’ much to help the Democratic nominee in ’72, thus helping Nixon carry Texas, which is what the Republicans have wanted all along. Better to carry Texas for Nixon than to nail Democratic hides to the door, the Republicans are supposed to be thinking. The Gonzalez changes Cong. Henry Gonzalez has been making some remarkable charges lately. Gonzalez suggested in the Congressional Record that the deal made with Frank Sharp was actually made to protect Asst. Atty. Gen. Will Wilson. Gonzalez accused the Justice Department of trying to conceal the fact that Wilson, while a member of the Texas Banking Commission in 1960, voted to charter the July 16, 1971 5 The plot curdles