Hays Free Press • October 16, 2019
Page 11
Parrs ran the show in Duval County
O
n Oct. 22, 1952, a leading Lone Star daily newspaper asked the election-eve question, “Can Parr tilt the vote for Adlai?” If the infamous “Duke of Duval” could select a senator, it stood to reason that he just might be able to pick a president, too. The Anglo clique that ran Duval County at the turn of the century relied upon violence to preserve their ruthless regime. The key to maintaining their political monopoly was keeping the massive Mexican majority away from the polls. When three Mexicans tried to exercise their right to vote in 1911 at the county seat of San Diego, they were shot to death. A Spanish-speaking politician named Archie Parr stood up for the powerless outcasts, a gutsy move that earned their undying respect and blind loyalty. Exploiting the old country culture of the Mexicans, Parr assumed the role of “patron” ostensibly taking care of his illiterate followers in return for their bloc vote. This unbeatable combination made the former cowboy the political boss of South Texas, whose word was law in Duval and a number of adjacent counties. Parr moved up to the state senate in 1914 and took along 13-year-old
1948 Democratic senatothat the decisive votes had rial nomination. George been cast in alphabetical Texas snapped his fingers and order and several by civDuval, ic-minded History Nueces and residents by Bartee Haile Jim Wells of the local When three counties cemetery. Mexicans tried obediently With a George as his page. Twelve bestowed to exercise their tip of his years later, Archie engi10,547 votes Stetson to right to vote neered the youth’s election on Conthe Duke as Duval County judge, gressman of Duval, in 1911 at the and the son ruled the Lyndon B. “Landslide county seat roost in the absence of the Johnson to Lyndon” father who remained in a token 368 went merof San Diego, Austin another decade. for Stevenrily off to they were The Parrs instituted a son. Washington spoils system and cyniNeverand took a shot to death. cally enriched themselves theless, giant step A Spanishat taxpayers’ expense. To the official down the avoid a public trial that count five road to speaking would have exposed the days after the White politician named House. source of their vast wealth, the election George pleaded guilty showed But even Archie Parr in 1934 to income tax Stevenson George Parr stood up for evasion. ahead by could not After violating the con113 votes save Texas the powerless ditions of his probation, out of nearfor Adlai outcasts, a he served nine and a half ly a million Stevenson months for the crime. But statewide. gutsy move that four years a full pardon from PresiForty-eight later in the earned their dent Harry Truman wiped hours presidenthe slate clean in 1946 and after this undying respect tial contest enabled him again to hold announceof 1952. and blind loyalty. Dwight public office. ment, a The proud papa lived “corrected” Eisenhower long enough to see his return from Box 13 in Jim soundly beat the Demooffspring add the counties Wells County pushed LBJ crat by better than 133,000 of Jim Wells and Nueces over the top. votes. to the family empire. After Astonishingly popuParr had a simple explaArchie’s death in 1942, lar with the last-minute nation for the one-sided George took complete electorate in Parr Country, outcomes of his suspicontrol of the finely tuned Johnson was the choice cious plebiscites. “The political machine. on 202 of the 203 tardy people of Duval County Although Parr had in ballots. Before the tabgo along with me because the past backed Coke Ste- ulations and voting list they are my friends and venson, he opposed the mysteriously vanished, are satisfied with the govex-governor’s bid for the investigators discovered ernment they are getting.”
Census Committee Continued from pg. 1
posted on social media. “Our biggest goal is to give people an opportunity to participate,” he said by phone Oct. 10 from Galveston, where he was attending a conference. “We have many groups interested, some are already forming. We want to make sure we’re not duplicating efforts and that we’re doing things efficiently.” It’s a bigger task in Hays County than some other places because there are areas of the county that have not always been accurately represented in the Constitutionally-mandated national head count. “Hays County has been identified as an undercounted, hard-to-count area along the corridor and areas to the east of Interstate 35,” he said. “The federal govern-
ment is telling us we have not historically done a good job,” he said, adding that historically, those areas, including Dripping Springs, participated at a rate less than 80 percent. Becerra said he considers that an “opportunity to unite us as best I can to make sure we have everyone counted.” Undercounts result in fewer federal funds because they are allocated on the basis of the number of residents. To help get everyone included, he said municipalities and Texas State are in the process of applying for grants. “It’s important for us to synchronize and be on the same page,” he said. Becerra said the application for a grant from the Hogg Foundation specifically asks if the county
judge has formed a Complete Count Committee. Although he had just posted the notification a day prior, Becerra said he’s already had some meetings and has heard from many people, elected officials and others, who want to be a part of the group. “We have replied to everyone so we can create the first meeting in the very near future.” The point of the census, he said, is to capture a moment in time. “If you freeze time at this moment, where are you? That’s the goal. We want to help create good paths of communication so people can have clear expectations, clear roadmaps and attainable goals so we can all work together for the greater good.” The U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years.
Montage: Voting for ESD 9? Continued from pg. 8
Paramedics rushed over in the fire truck as the meeting ended. No one had called 9-1-1. On Facebook Live, the firemen saw a citizen ask for sugar when he felt the symptoms of low blood sugar. Earlier this month, Baltimore Orioles gobbled sugary grape jelly and orange vesicles from orange halves offered in Mountain City by Patricia Porterfield, Laura Craig and me. (Laura and Patricia sent word to me.) Laura Craig snapped a photo of a green anole
poised at an orange half as small insects partook in the oriole’s leftovers. Laura and Patricia both attended FUN annual October Bunco at my house. Traditions! If this report played sound, you’d hear “Monster Mash” and other fun, corny monster songs. Always we have a mixture of peanuts and candy corn - the mixture tastes like a PayDay candy bar. The candy corn and ghosts nightshirt I purchased more than 40 years ago made its annual
appearance. And others joined in with dressing for the occasion. What a splendid group of friends. We ended with a photo of our Halloween socks around the Texas star in our wood floor. We start with holding hands around the pool table for the blessing. In between are lots of laughter and conversation. This is a segment of real life in Mountain City. What’s up in Mountain City? Please send tidbits. Ptom5678@gmail.com. Thanks. Love to you, PTom
New Hospital: Baylor, Scott & White Continued from pg. 5
hensive model of co-locating the hospital and clinics on one campus means patients can receive greater care coordination, as hospital and clinic caregivers can work together through a single electronic medical record to prevent unnecessary medical tests, reduce wait times and improve the patient experience. “We are excited to open our first hospital in Hays County today, increasing the community’s access to our comprehensive model of quality care,” said Jay Fox, president, Baylor
Scott & White Health – Austin/Round Rock Region. “Today’s opening is the culmination of years of collaborative work with the Buda community, and we believe our medical center reflects the community’s health needs while celebrating the history and culture of Hays County.” The full-service hospital provides 24/7 emergency care and comprehensive inpatient care, including diagnostic services, intensive care, surgical services and more. The clinics offer primary care and
specialty care services such as pediatrics, cardiology, chiropractic care, endocrinology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, podiatry, general surgery and pulmonology. “Our focus is on keeping people healthy through wellness and preventative care,” said Robin Watson, MD, chief medical officer, Baylor Scott & White Health - Austin/Round Rock Region. “Bringing a multitude of services to Buda in one location gives patients more access to convenient and coordinated care.”
As much as Parr enjoyed masquerading as a benevolent dictator, his reign was sometimes cruel and bloody. In Jim Wells County, an Alice radio personality lost his life in a courageous campaign against corruption. After W.H. Mason accused lawman Sam Smithwick, a cog in the Parr machine, of operating a wide-open brothel, two burly deputies beat him senseless. When Mason kept up the attack, Smithwick gunned him down in broad daylight in July 1949. To the murderer’s amazement, his trial ended in conviction and a life sentence. Angered by the betrayal, Smithwick wrote Coke Stevenson from prison to say he was ready to reveal the sordid truth about Box 13 and the stolen election. Before he could spill the beans, Smithwick was found
dead in his cell, the victim of a supposed suicide. The Duke himself did not get off entirely scot-free. Although a 1957 conviction for mail fraud was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court, Parr once more ran afoul of the Internal Revenue Service and was found guilty a second time of short-changing Uncle Sam. Facing ten years behind bars, 74-year-old George Parr chose to take his own life rather than die in prison. On April Fool’s Day 1975, he drove out to his ranch, parked in a secluded spot and killed himself. Bob Wills, Dan Blocker, Joan Crawford, Roger Miller and 40 more are all in “Texas Entertainers: Lone Stars in Profile.” Order your signed copy today by mailing a check for $26.30 to Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393.
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