ustxtxb_obs_1973_12_14_50_00009-00000_000.pdf

no connection, direct or indirect, with gas, oil, coal or utility industries.” The Texas AFL-CIO, on the other hand, praised Gov. Dolph Briscoe for announcing an energy program that contained much the same material as the President’s, calling Briscoe’s offering “a concrete step in the direction of recovery from the current crisis.” President Harry Hubbard and Secretary-Treasurer Sherman Fricks said Briscoe placed the emphasis on “the preservation of jobs for Texans,” where it belongs. In one of its two references to the energy industry, the statement expressed pleasure that Briscoe “called on industry particularly the oil companies to come to the aid of their country. They have made record profits in the last year and they certainly should be willing to pump much of that money back into new exploration and drilling.” Hubbard and Fricks recommend creation of a State Energy Commission because “our state’s future depends on a comprehensive policy” and “won’t have it under the present structure because state agencies have been more interested in maintaining corporation profits than in assuring that Texans have adequate supplies of gas and oil.” The statement also suggests immediate action on creation of a superport and construction of “a Texas-based supertanker fleet.” Laurel to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times for constructive action in the face of the gas shortage: the Caller-Times is offering to place classified ads free for folks who want to set up car pools. So long Sanguine Good News! Project Sanguine, the Navy’s pet boondoggle \(Obs., April George Mahon and his House appropriations committee have recommended that Sanguine be terminated. You may recall that when the Navy first announced its intention of gracing Llano, Burnet and Mason Counties with this F-111 of the communications world, those people’s heroes Lloyd Bentsen, John Tower and 0. C. Fisher were all in favor. The only people against it were the people. They by-gum got together: long-haired ecology freaks and ranchers with dung on their boots joined in teach-ins and protests. The vox populi was heard all right, heard booing John Tower when he appeared to plug the project at a meeting in the area. Tower about-faced right quick, as did Bentsen. Congratulations to the people of the Hill Country and special credit should go to a gutsy, crusading country newspaper, The Highlander, published by Bill Anderson. Historical footnote: while poking around in the dim, dark past of Leon Jaworski, the Observer had occasion to speak to Bill Moyers, LBJ’s one-time press secretary, now a television newsman. Moyers got to recollecting that LBJ had, on a number of unpublicized occasions, stood down the Texas Establishment on questions of how the anti-poverty programs and monies were to be administered. “I remember one time,” said Moyers, “when the President and John Connally just about came to blows. Connally threatened everything if he didn’t get final veto power over the anti-poverty money going into Texas. He didn’t get it.” Senator Bentsen is blocking the reappointment of U.S. Attorney Anthony J. P. Farris of Houston. Farris, a Republican, is credited with the bad judgment of advocating immunity for Frank Sharp during the late, great Sharpstown scandal. Former Atty. Gen. Richard Kleindienst said recently that Farris assured him that Sharp had written a guarantee describing the testimony he would give in return for immunity. There was no such guarantee and Sharp proved to be a slippery character on the witness stand. The scandal has never been a favorite among Texas Democratic office holders, many of whom thought it politicially inspired. And Sharp’s immunity was an especially sore point. GOP Sen. John Tower okayed Farris’ reappointment months ago, but Bentsen says he contemplates an indefinite blockage of Senate action on the matter. is a member of the House Judiciary Committee which recently sent the nomination of Gerald Ford to the floor with a favorable recommendation. Before the vote was taken, Brooks observed, “If he becomes President, I think he’ll be a vast improvement over the one we’ve got. I kinda like Gerry Ford. I’d like to promote him. I don’t think vice president is high enough. I’d like to see him President.” As part of his continuing Operation Candor, President Richard Nixon had dinner with eight Democratic members of the Texas congressional delegation. The affair, one of a series of meetings Nixon has held with congressmen, was attended San asked to remain unnamed, told Margaret Mayer’ of the Dallas Times Herald the evening had featured “sunshine and orange juice questions.” Fisher, on the other hand, was just delighted with Nixon’s “openness, candor and desire to answer questions.” U.S. Rep. Dale Milford \(D-Grand Martin Frost’s political plans \(see Obs., run for Milford’s seat and emphasize the incumbent’s failure to oppose President Nixon. Just about then, Milford was December 14, 1973 9 Bidding the Navy goodbye.