Evening star., 1939-12-03
ODaniek Surprise Governor
Might Run Again and Win, Despite Failure of Program
HoumdC {. Marshall

| dUIlllllloUidUlUll llCdl ~ oFCAS tAAo
| fact stands out with regard to the
astonishing w. Lee ODaniel, Texas
Hill Billy" Governor:
| He has accomplished virtually nothing
| $50 far as legislation is concerned he
told the people in his amazing campaign
| last summer that he would accomplish,
but he still has big following among
the masses of voters and is generally
conceded to be foremost contender for
the next governorship if he decides to
| stand for second term.
His critics say his program was dema-
gogic and that the Legislature wisely
blocked it, His friends answer that he
was right in his campaign charges that
professional politicians" controlled the
State government, and that those poll
ticians have not allowed him to insti-
tute reforms.
Sticking up like lone mesquite tree
on Texas prairie, the fact remains, in
any case that Gov O'Daniel, flour sales
man and radio master of ceremonies
extraordinary, is just about where he
started-insofar as overhauling Texas
governmental habits, which he promised
to do, is concerned.
Pension Failure Stands Out.
Outstanding is his failure to provide
$50 month pensions for all Texans over
IS years of age. This was his campaign
promise reiterated, between spasms Of
mountain music" from one end of the
Unions largest State to the other.
Not only are the old folks still denied
$50 month. but recently, for lack of
funds, the average pension of about $14,
paid to approximately 122,O0o persons,
was slashed s6 to the smallest amount
paid since Texas began State assistance
to the aged.
Critics further contend, when speaking
of the Governors campaign pledges and
administration:
In his first message to the Legislature,
the day after he was inaugurated on
January IT, he abandoned his pledge of
universal pensions, recommending con-
tinuing on the basis of need.
Although in his campaign he had said
he could pay $50 pensions to all over 65
without levying new taxes, in that first
message he also recommended a tax on
commercial transactions which he esti-
mated would yield s45 100000 and others
estimated might produce s2OO,OOO,O0O.
Again Blocked.
When the transactions tax plan failed
even to get out of legislative committee,
he threw his support to proposed con-
stitutional amendment providing COM
bination retail sales-natural resource
taxes, and waged an intensive campaign
in its behalf The proposal was defeated
in the House of Representatives after a
furious fight
The other day the Governor declared
it looked as if $35. .OO0, 900 to 100000 900
year would be needed to pay costs of
social security in Texas, including old
age assistance, teachers retirement, aid
to dependent children and aid to needy
ollnd, and he renewed his advocacy of
sales-natural resource taxes, calling the
former, however, CONSUMERS" tax.
Other campaign promises were to in
dustrlallze the State, drive professional
politicians" from the State Capital
effect vast economies in government
and abolish the State poll tax.
Critics assert the Governors efforts
to industrialize Texas have consisted
mainly in publishing two by three foot
brochure on Texas industrial possibilities
and occasional public reference to the
subject
Cite Political Appointments.
Ihey raise question as to what a
professional politician may be, and state
that O.Daniel has appointed several men
who long have been very active in politics
and Endorsed for reelection to the State
Railroad Commission a man who had
held Office for 80 years.
After he became Governor, O'Daniel
never spoke publicly again of the poll
tax, which, incidentally, is qualification
for voting in Texas, and tax ODaniel
had not paid when he ran. Because he
had not paid it, he was unable to vote
for himself
Regarding economies, the Governor
whacked approximately $4.5O00OO from
biennial appropriations totaling $77,OOO,-
900, but State treasury deficit, engen-
dered before his administration, is con-
tinuing to grow, now amounting to about
$2O000,0 900.
The Governor is not to blame for
everything that has happened, his
friends insist, and he himself so tells
the people in radio broadcasts from the
Governors mansion on Sundays
In substance, their contentious are
that his recommendations have not been
followed, that the Legislature has been
deadlocked by self seeking minority,
that Federal pension restrictions have in
terfered with ODaniel's plans and
wishes, and that as aforesaid, the pro
fessional politicians" have been tough.
Claim Appointments Good.
They contend Government has been
improved by number of good appoint
ments to State offices, that the appro-
priation cuts were the promised econ
omies, that the Governor has clarified
the issue on Government financial assist
ance to citizens by coming out for the
principle of tax with broad base to sup
port social security, and that he has
paved the way for considerable accom-
plishment in his second term, If any.
More in detail with reference to the
old-age pension situation, ODaniel
A>L l.: