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:
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longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit Texas 77843.
such letters and does not guarantee to publish any
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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
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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
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Special good Tuesday thru Friday
Under Management by: Mr. and Mrs. Cedillo
SAINT THOMAS’ EPISCOPAL CHAPEL AND
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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
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November 11 — 2 p. m. to 5 p. m.
1711 Village Drive College Station
EVERYONE WELCOME
How to Earn $545 per month
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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
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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
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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