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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 1973)
Page 2 College Station, Texas Friday, November 9, 1973 THE BATTALION George Parr Struggles On for Political High Marks By RICK BROWN A minor milestone in Texas history occurred this week. George Parr, the famous “Duke of Duval County,” came one step closer to the end of his reign as unchallenged ruler of Duval Coun ty, Texas. The Parr family has had a stranglehold on that area since 1911 when Archer Parr, Sr. took the side of the Mexican citizens in a gun battle on election day. Three Mexicans died. Parr and the Mexicans won. The Parr fam ily has not lost the support of the Mexican-Americans since. Duval County is one of those places where dead people vote and somehow candidates friendly to Parr always win, including the Parrs themselves when they are inclined to run. George Parr has been both county sheriff and a member of the Duval County School Board. Archer, his nephew, is county judge. Octavio Saenz, one of George’s lieutenants, so to speak, is mayor of Benevides, one of the largest towns in the coun ty. Diego Saenz, Octavio’s broth er and another Parr man, is one of the county officials in charge of administering county projects. And one more member of the Duval dynasty is Atlee Parr, George’s brother. Atlee prefers quietly getting rich on his ranch to the public life of the rest of the Duval family, but never hesi tates to throw his weight behind the family causes if and when it is needed. All of which is not to say the Parr control has been bad for Duval county. One observer in terviewed noted that Parr . . probably does a better job for the citizens than they could have done for themselves.” Another former resident of Duval County remark ed that “They have some of the finest schools around, especially for that part of Texas.” Those schools may prove to be Parr’s undoing. Parr and two of his pawns, Brian Taylor and Eunis Powell, School Superintendents of San Diego and Freer, respectively, ini tiated a massive rebuilding pro gram for Duval County schools and libraries in the late sixties. After the customary bidding an architect and contractor were se lected. The federal government, which has been after Parr since the ’30’s thinks Parr may have received kickbacks in the contract awarding process. He has been indicted for income tax evasion. His nephew Archer and Octavio Saenz have both been charged with perjury in the testimonies given so far. George’s trial date is set for Jan. 28. George Parr is no stranger to indictments or trials. In fact he is no stranger to prison having spent 9 months in a fed. reform atory in 1936. (Truman gave him a full pardon a few years later.) One of Parr’s toughest fights to maintain his “Dukedom” oc curred in the late forties. Texas Gov. Allan Shivers declared war on Parr, sending the Texas Rang ers in to bring him out. Parr hired armed guards to protect him. When the Rangers arrived they were arrested by Duval County officials and charged with attempted murder. (They had a brief struggle with Parr before the county officials ar rived.) Most locals supported Parr, as they always have. Some however, made the mistake of opposing the “Duke.” W. H. Ma son, a radio commentator, openly opposed Parr on the air. Shortly afterwards he was shot dead on the street by the deputy sheriff in Jim Wells County. During Parr’s fight with Shriver many observers predicted the end of the Parr dynasty. How ever one man said, “This is mes- quite country. You know how hard it is to kill a mesquite tree; you can chop it, you can burn it, but the roots go way down deep and it’ll keep coming up again.” Gov. Shriver is gone and forgotten by all but the historians. The Parr dynasty lives on. One story (unsubstantiated) told to me by a man well ac quainted with Duval County poli tics links former President John son to Parr. It seems when John son was running for U.S. Senator against Coke Stevenson the race was pretty close. Things were looking dim and Johnson called up Parr. Parr assured him plenty of votes. Sure enough Johnson carried the county with a land slide and was elected senator. What is substantiated and docu mented is that when election offi cials looked into the returns from Duval County all they found wen ashes. The ballots were burned the day after the election. Later when Parr was fighting a tough legal battle with federal prosecu tors it was alleged that in return for the election favor, LBJ i his pull to help George out of the fire. Parr is now 72 years old. Once again he is fighting the govern ment. Whether or not he once again triumphs he has left his mark permanently engraved upon the corridors of Texas political history. 'HURRY, SIR Batt Commentary Vote 6 No’ Tuesday Relieving- students of their duties as senators within student government is many times a hard thing to do for University administrators and official student peers. But, when senators get placed on conduct or scholastic probation some action should be taken, but only when there is a fast and effective means of replacing them. Tuesday the student body will be faced with three amendments to the Student Government Constitution and we urge voters not to approve any of these. The first is a modification of an article concerning dismembership because of scholastic reasons. The added phrase states that senators in scholastic trouble “shall be removed from office immediately.” The second proposal makes provision for removing immediately senators on conduct probation. But the Stu dent Senate has presented no means for a senator’s con stituency to have much input in refilling the position. Now, probationed senators aren’t forced to leave immedi ately and informed continuity is possible. Currently, Student Government President Randy Ross calls for applications for positions and nominates a replace ment to the Senate after the Credentials Committee has reviewed applicants. The Senate then approves or dis approves Ross’ selection. The constituency involved never has a chance to voice approval or disapproval of a Ross nomination because the nomination and approval process is done in one night. No one but the Senate really knows what will happen before it happens. We propose that the Senate draw up a plan that w’ould allow students two weeks to review Ross’ nominations and lodge complaints or approval in person at the following Senate meeting prior to a vote. Everyone, then, has an equal opportunity to participate in selection. The third amendment would allow the Senate to “punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of % present and voting, expel a member.” The proposal does not spell out what punishment will be nor does it define what disorderly conduct could be. Had senators approved the writ of mandamus reso lution which would have allowed Judicial Board review of a senator’s actions, this unrealistic bill would have been unnecessary. The Senate needs to state specifically what limits the amendment will have. As the amendment now stands it is worthless. This will be the last student election until the spring general elections. It would be a mistake for you to pass up this opportunity to show senators how you feel. Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, is the editor or of the writer of the article and are not published in College station. Texas, daily except Saturday, ’ , ! . , . . . Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, Seatember through necessarily those of the University administration or May, and once a week during summer schodttt- the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a . MEMBER University and Community newspaper. The Associated Press, Texas Press Association “LETTERS POLICY Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% . sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: and are subject to being cut to that length or less if The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit Texas 77843. such letters and does not guarantee to publish any '*»«■ '»•'« ^ sign'd and shon, the address S” St of the writer, otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all other mu o • r> -ri- „ .. c* a- m matter herein are also reserved. rtoom 217, services Building, CiOllege station, Texas Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. 77843. r—— — ^ ' S^ T" EDITOR MIKE RICE Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim a i- iv. tt-j;*. a o. Lindsey, chairman ; Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr. Assistant to the Editor Rod Speer H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, J. W. Griffith, L. E. Kruse and Managing Editor Greg Moses b. b. Sears. News Editor T. C. Gallucci Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Sports ^Editor Kevin Coffey Service*. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. Ass t. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie Listen Up— Suicide Victim Was ‘Two Per Center’ Editor: Since when do Aggies honor students who call it quits and kill themselves? It said in the Battal ion that James Scott had poisoned himself. Scott exemplifies that old Aggie determination and persev erance—right? It’s people like him that helped make our state and nation work—right? The world is full of mysteries —the 98 per cent honored a two per center Tuesday night. Yea Army. Taylor Sealy It has been University policy to honor every Aggie who dies while at school here with Silver Taps no matter what the circum stances were surrounding the death—Ed. ★ ★ ★ Editor: This is in further regard to the constitutionality of abortion and the legal considerations of an un born child as a non-person. This is mindful of the Dred Scott decision concerning a black slave who was considered by the Supreme Court as a non-citizen. Indeed one judge held that he was not even a person. To help those girls who are carrying the priceless life of an unborn maby, I would like to give the telephone numbers of Birth right, Inc. in Houston, (713) 529- 7273, in San Antonio, (512) 434- 7288, and Father Charles Mich- alka in College Station, (713) 846- 5717. John R. Harris ’48 ★ ★ ★ Editor: Re: Gregory Sullivan on a U. S. Coup d’ etat (Nov. 6). While it is agreed that political corruption in developing countries pave the path for a military coup d’ etat to eliminate labor involved in impeachment proceedings, it is difficult for one to understand how Mr. Sullivan can compare nations in Africa and South America with the United States. The development of democratic in- CHAPULTEPEC Mexican Restaurant 1313 S. College AGGIE SPECIAL DINNER — only $1.45 After 5 p. m. Includes — 3 enchiladas, refried beans, 1 taco, Spanish rice, 1 chili con queso, tosta- das & cheese dip, iced tea or coffee. Special good Tuesday thru Friday Under Management by: Mr. and Mrs. Cedillo SAINT THOMAS’ EPISCOPAL CHAPEL AND STUDENT CENTER 906 Jersey Street (Southern Boundary of Campus) Telephone: 846-1726 Sunday, 8, 9:30, & 11 a. m. and 7:00 p. m. Tuesday, Canterbury Eucarist and Supper, 6:30 p. m. Thursday, Holy Eucharist and Breakfast, 6:30 a. m. Daily, 5:30 p. m. Evening Prayer The Rev. James Moore, Chaplain. The Rev. Wm. R. Oxley, Rector FRENCH’S WEE AGGIELAND SCHOOL Childcare - Pre-School - Kindergarten OPEN HOUSE November 11 — 2 p. m. to 5 p. m. 1711 Village Drive College Station EVERYONE WELCOME How to Earn $545 per month All During Your Senior Year The Army wants you to finish your education, and they’ll pay you $545 a month to do it. Then after graduation, you would spend two years as an officer on active duty. Interested? Spend the month of July at Ft. McClennan, Alabama just to see if you like the idea. And get $400 while you’re there. Obli gation : none if you don’t like it. Want to know more? Stop by and see Lt. Marilyn Britten, WAC Selection Officer between 9 a. m. and 3 p. m. on Tuesday, November 13 at the Memorial Student Center. If you can’t make it call her collect in Houston, (713-688-1328.) stitutions in these areas is a rela tively new occurence. By comparing the U. S. with the mentioned classes of develop ing countries Mr. Sullivan fails to remember his history, history that reminds us that the U. S. evolved from varying degrees of freedom and democratic govern ment to its present democratic status. The development of Amer ican democracy does not begin with the creation of the Articles of Confederation but can be traced to the rich and colorful heritage of our English forefathers. Such events that marked the road to the freedom of man over govern ment include the Magna Carta and the Glorious Revolution. It is doubtful that nations with a back ground of colonization by despotic kings can claim the same rich heritage in regards to the develop ment of freedom as a government institution. To advocate that conditions in other countries under the auspices of a military dictator enable a student to understand the Ameri can political sysem or its alter natives fails to consider the tradi tion and heritage associated with the American system. While it is true that present political activ ities in the U. S. cannot be viewed with appropriation it is important for Americans to have faith that the system will survive its ordeals in an improved status as it basin the past. E. R. Pearcy ’76 Stever (Continued from page 1) manent reminder of TAMU and Texas. Friday morning at 10, he sat on a discussion panel with OlinE, Teague, chairman of U. S. House of Representatives’ Science and Astronautics Committee; William Anders, commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission; and John P. Newton, chairman of the Texas House’s Interim Committee on the Energy Crisis. eg) mmt HARRY DISHMAN Sales & Service 603 Texas Ave. C.S. across from campus — 846-3316 TEXAS AGGIE DESIGNS IN NEEDLE POINT! Available Now At TEXAS A&M BOOKSTORE And KEYSER’S INC., IN TOWNSHIRE Created by CAT TRACK & SNAIL TRAIL Peniston Cafeteria Special Thanksgiving Candlelight Feast Nov. 15, 1973-4:30 p. m. to 7 p. m. Roast Breast of Trukey Cornbread Dressing Giblet Gravy Chilled Cranberry Sauce Marshmellowed Sweet Potato Souffle English Peas w/Water Chestnuts Choice of Salad (Except Chef Salads) Kutches Harvest Moon Pie Home Made Hot Yeasty Rolls Choice of Beverage *1 90 plus tax