CENSUS COMMITTEE

On 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 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 governContinued 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 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

Texas History

by Bartee Haile

George as his page. Twelve years later, Archie engineered the youth’s election as Duval County judge, and the son ruled the roost in the absence of the father who remained in Austin another decade.

The Parrs instituted a spoils system and cynically enriched themselves at taxpayers’ expense. To avoid a public trial that would have exposed the source of their vast wealth, George pleaded guilty in 1934 to income tax evasion.

After violating the conditions of his probation, he served nine and a half months for the crime. But a full pardon from President Harry Truman wiped the slate clean in 1946 and enabled him again to hold public office.

The proud papa lived long enough to see his offspring add the counties of Jim Wells and Nueces to the family empire. After Archie’s death in 1942, George took complete control of the finely tuned political machine.

Although Parr had in the past backed Coke Stevenson, he opposed the ex-governor’s bid for the 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 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 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 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. 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 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.” 1948 Democratic senatothat the decisive votes had rial nomination. George been cast in alphabetical snapped his fingers and order and several by civDuval, ic-minded Nueces and residents Jim Wells When three of the local counties obediently Mexicans tried cemetery. With a bestowed to exercise their tip of his 10,547 votes on Conright to vote Stetson to the Duke gressman in 1911 at the of Duval, Lyndon B. Johnson to county seat “Landslide Lyndon” a token 368 of San Diego, went merfor Steven son. they were rily off to Washington

Nevershot to death. and took a theless, the official A Spanishgiant step down the count five speaking road to days after the election politician named the White House. showed Archie Parr But even Stevenson ahead by stood up for George Parr could not 113 votes the powerless save Texas out of nearly a million outcasts, a for Adlai Stevenson statewide. gutsy move that four years Forty-eight hours earned their later in the presidenafter this undying respect tial contest announce ment, a and blind loyalty. of 1952. Dwight “corrected” Eisenhower return from Box 13 in Jim soundly beat the DemoWells County pushed LBJ crat by better than 133,000 over the top. votes.

Astonishingly popuParr had a simple explalar with the last-minute nation for the one-sided electorate in Parr Country, outcomes of his suspiJohnson was the choice cious plebiscites. “The on 202 of the 203 tardy people of Duval County ballots. Before the tabgo along with me because ulations and voting list they are my friends and mysteriously vanished, are satisfied with the govinvestigators discovered ernment they are getting.”

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

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Census Committee

Montage: Voting for ESD 9?

New Hospital: Baylor, Scott & White

130011, Spring, TX 77393.