ustxtxb_obs_1980_03_28_50_00022-00000_000.pdf

Dialogue / continued from page 24 I think I’m surprised you didn’t hire Bill Collier instead. You share a level of decency with him, apparently. The Observer may be a “journal of free voices,” but hardly of fair voices. Bob Bullock Comptroller of Public Accounts Mr. Bullock’s reaction to Janie Paleschic’s story is his own business. It is not his business to tell the Observer who should be used as writers or what they should write. By Bullock’s choice, he refused interviews with Ms. Paleschic. In the interview with Eric Hartman, Bullock would not talk about the Paleschic story. He talked about many other things, such as Gov. Clements, John Connally, etc., but nothing we felt had a bearing on the story at hand. We make no apologies on any account. Ed. Don’t leave Texas I dislike Ronnie Dugger’s dream of de-regionalizing The Texas Observer. You do one thing superbly. Why stretch it out? Are you content to leave the legislature to an occasional notice in the “Bum Steer Awards” of the Texas Monthly? Certainly the dailies will not provide your coverage and insight. The Observer already makes a national contribution by having an extensive knowledge of local issues and politicos. The Observer is more often the ultimate source now, for example, of Connally-as-we-knew-him-in-Texas information than any other journal. How would the “National” Texas Observer differ from Nation, Dissent, or Progressive? I hope this is not just a case of Dugger hungering after more appearances on Firing Line. I have great respect for his efforts, but I would hate to see them misdirected. Steve Salinger Kansas City, Mo. The Erwin touch, again Frank Erwin has suggested that West Texas State University at Canyon and Sul Ross State University at Alpine be closed. His proposal is based on the fact that the cost per student hour of instruction in these two institutions is higher than at any other state institution of higher learning. Frank Erwin is a powerful man politically. He knows how to maneuver among wealthy Texas friends. He has done some good things. For example, he rebuilt the Stadium at Austin. This was a good deed but not necessarily a great deed. The benefit in the lives of young Texans through the years will not be particularly impressive because of the new Stadium. Personally., I am for it. Frank Erwin is not an intellectual. When he gets to dabbling in intellectual matters he reels around like a blind dog in a meat house he does not know where to begin. We have a project of improving the minds and lives of our young people in West Texas. No man is greater than his mind. Let’s face it: a lot of young people emerge from our high schools with intellectual and emotional immaturity that often masks their potential for real good in the world. There are no better places for such young people to wake up in life than at West Texas State or Sul Ross. Here the student is likely to get more personal attention from PhD grade professors than at your bigger institutions, and these young people need personal attention to help them with their specific problems. I am a graduate of West Texas State and also the University of Texas, and for 15 years I served as College Physician at Sul Ross. It would be all right with me if Frank Erwin would leave our West Texas institutions of higher learning alone. He has frightful power despite his thimble brain. W. E. Lockhart, Jr., M.D. Alpine Source of ammunition “Seven Times Seventy” thank-you’s for your Silver Jubilee issue. At my present age of 62, the next 25 years \(or any And I no longer subscribe to The Texas Observer for reasons you may still have in your cancellation files. But I will keep your “25th” to re-read, ponder and as a source of ammunition to use against “the The very best to all of you, and may the predictions and plans for “the next 25” bear fruit. God knows, this beknighted state needs them all. John Rohde Irving Congratulations Congratulations on your 25th anniversary issue [Obs., Dec. 29, 1979]. After scanning many and reading some of the contributions, I found it to be a bold, unequivocal assessment and statement of all that the Observer believes in and all that has made the Observer an important medium for thinking Texans. My best wishes for continued success in stating and defending the liberal position in Texas for the next 25 years. Lawrence M. Martin, Publisher Texas Business Dallas Hours of pleasure Not since I started taking The Progressive have I enjoyed a periodical, if you will, as much as The Texas Observer. I have experienced untold hours of pleasure reading your comprehensive and thorough articles. I am concerned about the future of this nation as well as the future of this state. In my attempts to find progressive reading material I can honestly say that more than any other publication, The Texas Observer provides me with the greatest satisfaction. I attribute this to your coverage of Texas politics, the intricacies of our state government, and state and local consumer issues as well. It is my sincere hope that you will continue to provide the substance in future issues that have made individuals like myself more than just avid readers. For in reality, we’re all students of society who need to be aware of the social and economic implications of day to day life. It is my opinion that I find no other suitable stimulation to compare with The Texas Observer. Joseph Portugal Dallas Legislature as waste-land If the Legislature were responsible there would be no wastes anywhere in Texas. Maybe now Texans will see the advantages of voting. Minority rule results in abuse of the majority. Rus Purefoy Baylor’s PR for Playboy The recent Baylor-Playboy-Lariat controversy [Obs., March 14] a shameful example of administrative bungling. 22 MARCH 28, 1980