Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 5, 1986 Page: 4 of 16
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Page 4-Palacios Beacon, June S, 1986
This Week in Texas History,
Governor cracks down on dock strike
BY BARTEE HAILE
June 2, 1920, Gov. William P.
Hobby huddled behind dosed
doors with worried Galveston
business leaders. Striking dock-
workers had shut down the Texas
port tighter than a drum, and the
desperate delegation begged the
governor to step in before the
Island economy went belly up.
Six years earlier, Will Hobby
was elected lieutenant governor
at the politically tender age of 36.
When controversial James E.
Ferguson w«„ removed from
office in September 1917, the
Beaumont newspaperman be-
came the youngest governor in
Lone Star history.
Though never strong state-
wide, in Galveston after the First
World War organized labor pack-
ed a potent punch. The decisive
union vote produced a bumper
crop of city officials who were
expected to return the favor.
In March 1920 the Interna-
tional Longshoremen's Associa-
tion struck for higher wages and
quickly paralyzed Atlantic and
Gulf Coast shipping, The 1,600
members of the Galveston ILA
local, employees of Morgan and
Mallory Lines, joined the walkout
and brought the busy harbor to
its knees.
When nonunion laborers show-
ed up in May to move the
mountain of accumulated freight,
pitched battles were waged on
the picket line. Luckless “scabs”
caught it coming and going.
Beaten in broad daylight by the
strikers, pro-union police then
arrested them for vagrancy.
Racial tensions shortened the
fuse on the dangerous dockside
powder keg. The ILA majority
was black while most of the
strikebreakers were white. After
the opening round of violence,
vigilante groups formed on both
sides.
A mob attack on the Houston
interurban, a trolley line connect-
ing Galveston with the mainland,
brought in the Texas Rangers.
Citing the climate of chaos in the
city, the famed lawmen request-
ed reinforcements.
After the June 2 emergency
meeting. Gov. Hobby took the
bull by the horns and gave
Galveston authorities 72 hours to
put their own house in order or
face martial law. The legislature
backed up the ultimatum with a
$100,000 appropriation to cover
the cost of a possible occupation.
The mayor of Galveston called
the governor's bluff. In a terse
telegram, he laid his rebellious
cards on the table and challenged
Hobby to make good his threat.
Bright and early Monday, June
7, 1920, the governor declared
Galveston to be under an imme-
diate state of martial law. Within
hours over 500 citizen troops,
most World War 1 combat
veterans, patrolled the streets,
and by the middle of the week a
thousand National Guardsmen
were camped on the beach.
City commissioners protested
the action as "the biggest
outrage ever perpetuated on a
peaceful city,” but most resi-
dents welcomed the return of law
and order. THE GALVESTON
NEWS, which praised the inter-
vention, extended a tongue-in-
cheek invitation to upstate Tex-
ans to come and enjoy not only
"the finest surf bathing in the
world, but also the nicest martial
law on earth.”
nc, Hobby cracked down hard.
The alveston chief of police and
his entire force were suspended,
rnd the beefed up Guard assum-
ed all law enforcement duties.
Criticism of the occupation was
not confined to Galveston city
hall. Assailed as unwanted in-
vaders, the military authorities
were a daily target of the
HOUSTON PRESS. Brigadier
General Jacob F. Wolters, the
Guard commander.was sarcasti-
cally nicknamed “King Jake”
and “General Disappointment.”
Under the watchful eye of the
National Guard, the idle docks
came to life. Waiting ships were
loaded, and the crisis seemed to
pass.
In early July the Guard contin-
gent was cut in half, and the end
of military rule was imminent.
However, strike inspired may-
hem flared again, and as usuai
the police looked the other way.
Angered by the brazen defia-
A thin-skinned National Guard
officer ordered the arrest of THE
PRESS editor, G. V. Sanders.
The result was a bizarre episode
straight out of a slapstick com-
edy.
The evening of Aug. 30, 1920,
three plainclothes Guardsmen
appeared miles out of their
jurisdiction at the front steps of
the Houston Country Club. Ans-
wering an anonymous sum-
mons, the unsuspecting Sanders
was sudenly seized by the trio.
Several Houston notables, in-
cluding the mayor and city
attorney, responded to the edi-
tor’s screams. By the time the
Guardsmen produced a warrant
for his arrest on charges of
“circulating incendiary articles,”
fast thinking Sanders slipped
free and sprinted for home across
the golf course.
The embarrassed governor pu-
blicly repudiated the overzealous
Guardsmen, who were punished
for their clumsy conspiracy to
muzzle the free press.
After four months of martial
law, Hobby and the penitent city
fathers finally came to terms.
Relinquishing control of the
Island to the Rangers, the
Guardsmen climbed aboard a
couple of chartered trains and
waved goodbye to the hundreds
of grateful Galvestonians who
showed up to see them off.
HURRICANE
[Continued From Page One]
up to the council to make changes
in the city budget for the next
year “to rectify these things.”
He agreed for the need of a
cleanup, but commented that it
would take money to accomplish
it and said it would be up to the
council to allocate an amount in
the budget.
Sardelich stressed that each
councilman should prepare a list
of objectives and priorities before
they go into a budget work
session at which time a con-
solidated list of top priorities
could be established and imple-
mented into the budget.
RAILROAD PROPERTY
Confusion over what property
they own and where easements
lay is hampering cleanup of
railroad property on the west side
of town Lamar told the council.
He said a railroad official in
Dallas was to compile a list of
their property and furnish it to
the city, but has yet to do so.
“It’s a jungle out there,” said
councilman Herby Gonzales of
the conditions on sections of the
railroad spur which runs east and
COUNCIL
strides in learning how to pred <ct
and prepare for hurricanes since
the Great Galv.ston Hurricane
swept across the island in 1900
and killed more than 6,000
people, said Manthe, “but the
most sophisticated weather tra-
cking technology and the most
comprehensive warning system
may well be negated without the
readiness of the public to re-
spond to a hurricane’s inevi-
tability with advance planning
and preparation.”
To help inform coastal resi-
dents of precautions to take
during hurricane season, TCPIA
and the Insurance Information
Institute (I.I.I.) are distributing
free of charge a fact file entitled,
“Taking Precautions Against
Hurricanes," as well as an
inventory checklist. The fact file
outlines steps to save lives and
property before, during and after
a hurricane and the checklist is
an important aid in helping you
[Continued From Page One]
obtain insurance settlements and
/or tax deductions for losses.
To obtain a copy of the fact file
and inventory checklist, write to:
Insurance Information Institute,
100 N. Interregional, Suite 3200,
Austin, TX 78701.
TCPIA was established by the
Texas Legislature in 1971 to
provide windstorm and hail cov-
erage for property owners who
cannot otherwise obtain it in the
high risk, 14-county area along
the Texas coast.
It is the largest and most
efficient "wind pool” in the U.S.
with just under $4.12 billion of
insurance in force, protecting
some 78,000 insured risks in the
coastal area. About 66 percent of
the risks are located in Galveston
and Brazoria counties, with Gal-
veston alone accounting for 57.5
percent of the exposure.
POLICE
[Continued From Page One]
bond on charges of indecency a demolition derby.
west. He said that the railroad
has cleaned up part of the north-
south section, but has let the
east-west portion go. He added
that a mower hired by the
railroad had also apparently
mowed the wrong section of land.
Gaybourn was amazed that
the railroad did not know what
land they owned or where their
right-of-ways were located. He
said it was the railroad’s re-
sponsibility to “know what they
own” and not the city’s re-
sponsibility.
“If they have surveyors, they
can determine their own proper-
ty. If the railroad doesn’t know
what they own, let’s send them a
bigger tax bill, they won’t know
the difference,” Clayboum quip-
ped. He added that if there was
oil coming from the property, the
railroad would quickly figure out
if they owned it.
Lamar said the city would
verify the property lines and send
a legal description of the proper-
to to the railroad and inform
them to clean up the property.
OTHER ACTION
-Sardelich said he did not
favor placing the caboose, which
is being given to the city, on the
Main Street side of City Park. He
recommended having it placed
on the south side. Lamar said he
would arrange a meeting with the
Palacios Area Historical Associa-
tion, the council and the Cham-
ber of Commerce to discuss
placement plans and how the
caboose would be used.
-Haskell Simons invited the
council and the public to attend
an Appreciation Supper and
dance Friday night being given
by the 100 Club of Matagorda
County. The dance will be held in
the Eagles Hall in Bay City.
Simons explained that the 100
Club was formed to assist
families of law enforcement
officers killed in the line of duty.
In addition, the 100 Club has
raised funds to purchase life-
saving equipment and other
supplies for the county’s 100 law
officers.
-the council approved 13 am-
endments to the existing ordin-
-approved the use of South
Bay Park and Pavilion by the
Chamber of Commerce for the
Family Fun 5th on July 5.
-approved one water service
connection and one sewer conn-
ection outside the city limits.
-tabled action on a traffic
control sign at First and South
Bay Blvd. pending a traffic
survey by the police dept.
-appointed Ronny Callahan to
replace Robert Lee on the city’s
Appeals and Adjustments Com-
mittee and Planning Commiss-
ion.
SES^lcEHTEHlJS
1836'1986
ances.
with a child by exposure-a third
degree felony-and also display
of harmful material to a minor-a
Class A misdemeanor.
Mary Ella McCrory was being
held under $10,000 on the charge
of indecency with a child by
exposure.
According to Gullett, the inci-
dent with the juvenile occurred
Friday. The girl, Gullett said,
had informed her mother of the
incident and the mother, in turn,
notified police and filed a com-
plaint.
CAR THEFTS
Two vehicles which had been
reported stolen May 21 were
found heavily damaged just
three-quarters of a mile apart
near Tres Palacios River the next
day.
Kayla Losoya of 1313 4th,
reported to police that a 1981
Datsun, valued at $2,500, had
been taken from the apartment
parking lot some time during the
night of May 20-21.
Bettye Wells, 1508 Renee, told
police her daughter’s car, a 1983
Datsun, was taken from in front
of her house the same night. The
Datsun was valued at $8,000.
Pet. 3 Commissioner Sonny
Brhlik reported seeing a car
matching the description of the
Wells’ on Old River Road near
Tres Palacios. Investigator Em-
mett Greene found the vehicle at
the location and also discovered
Losoya’s car about 3/4 miles
away on Ellis Road.
According to Greene, both
vehicles were heavily damaged
and “looked like they had been in
Approximately $1,110 worth of
items were listed as missing from
the Wells’ vehicle after it was
recovered. Among the items
were a 35 mmm Canon camera,
250 cassette tapes, purse with
credit card and driver’s license,
sunglasses, a wallet and rac-
quetball racquet.
No arrests have been made in
the thefts.
Police also received reports of
two criminal mischief incidents.
Rafeal Carrales of Kingsville
toid police he was driving west on
Main around 5:35 p.m. May 24
when two men on a motorcycle
threw a rock, breaking the wind-
shield of his 1981 Cadillac.
Police also received a report of
a shotgun blast which shattered a
plate glass window at the Sham-
rock station, 1500 1st, sometime
after 10 p.m. May 25.
Terrie Morrison, 217 Main,
reported that $20 was taken from
her purse after she left it in her
car while shopping May 22.
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20 YEARS AGO-1966
287 Palacios students were
enrolled in the summer programs
offered by the PISD.
Estell Chambless and Winfred
Johnson were to be installed
Worthy Matron-Worthy Patron
of the local O. E. S. Chapter
Friday night.
25 YEARS AGO-1961
Voters in the Palacios Inde-
pendent School District approved
a $1 million bond issue Saturday,
and at the same time adopted
Senate Bill 116 increasing the
district maintenance tax rate.
E. H. Thornton, former chair-
man of the Texas Highway
Commission, will be principl
speaker when the Port Lavaca
Causewav is dedicated July 1.
William Douglas, Carroll Rog-
ers, Louis Sanchez and Vernon
From the Palacios Beacon Early Files
Bowers, Jr. were graduates from
Wharton County Junior College
Thursday night.
Herbert Henry was one of 17
University of Texas students to
receive an Air Force ROTC
Academic Achievement Award.
Mrs. L. K. Jecker and Mrs.
John Musselman left Tuesday on
a 75-day tour of Europe.
The next step toward organiz-
ing a local hospital auxiliary, the
election of officers and approval
of by-laws, will be taken at a
meeting Friday afternoon gt
Weimer Hall.
30 YEARS AGO-1956
The city council Monday night
agreed to advertise for bids fot
black-lopping approximately 11
miles of city streets.
Hunt’s Food Market had mov-
ed to its new quarters at the
corner of 8th and Main.
Thomas F. Anderson had been
named Works Manager of the
Aluminum Company of Ameri-
ca's Point Comfort Smelting
Plant.
Charles H. Simpson, who had
decided to study for the Metho-
dist ministry, was moving to
Dallas where he would attend a
seminary.
Lannie Gillett, a senior, was
awarded an Alcoa Working scho-
larship.
40 YEARS AGO-1946
The city council reported that
all papers had been approved
and signed in Washington on the
city’s lease of the Palacios
Airport from the government.
The water rate was declared
insufficient to cover operating
costs of the city’s water facilities.
An added 20 cents per 1,000
gallons over the minimum usage
of 3,000 gallons per month was
approved by the council.
With 58,000 pounds of pine-
apple being processed Wednes-
day, a new industry for Palacios
was born. Weyrich and Walters,
with facilities at the Colter
Corporation, bagan peeling, di-
cing and freezing an expected
700,000 pound yield of frozen
pineapple.
45 Years ago-1941
Memorial Day ceremonies we-
re postponed until Sunday as the
runway was too wet for Judge
Hofheinz to land his plane.
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Clayboum
and Mr. and Mrs. A. N.
Sandusky announced the arrival
of sons and Mr. and Mrs. Roy
Allen, a daughter.
Carl Ehlers was elated over the
prize he won in a Fisher Body
Corporation contest.
50 YEARS AGO-1936
"Buddy”, 10-month old son of
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Luther,,
was severly burned with boiling
hot coffee.
Officers of the local O. E. S.
Chapter installed were Mrs.
Emma Foster, Worthy Matron;
C. W. Nester, Worthy Patron;
Mrs. Eleanor Louderback, asso-
ciate matron and Ralph Newsom
associate patron.
55 YEARS AGO-1931
T. W. Morton leased the
Magnolia Service Station at the
corner of Third and Main.
70 YEARS AGO-1916
Donald and Hugh Ruthven and
L. W. Moore, Palacios boys,
were members of the class to
graduate form the Texas Dental
College in Houston.
Laurence Miller and Ralphy
Williams took over the Queen
Theatre from Mr. and Mrs. Sam
Williams.
75 YEARS AGO-1911
Mill Louise Pybus returned
from Winston-Salem, N. C. whe-
re she attended college and Miss
Lucy Massenburg from Valpari-
so, Ind. where she attended a
medical college.
Rev. M. M. Wolf delivered the
address to the graduating class
of the Palacios High School.
F. C, Hensel reported the
contract for the sewer system had
been let and worts on construction
was to begin July 1.
i i
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West, Nicholas M. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 5, 1986, newspaper, June 5, 1986; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth724852/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University&rotate=270: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Palacios Library.