The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 10, Ed. 1, Friday, November 14, 1975 Page: 2 of 8
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The question of a local option liquor rate began in September
when the Abilene Committee on Taxation and Trade (ACTT)
initiated a petition calling for a rate on local option liquor in the
incorporated city limits of Abilene. On Oct. 30 Taylor County
Clerk Mrs. Chester Hutcheson validated 9196 signatures on the
petition which was 62 more than the number required to bring
the issue to a vote.
However six days after the petition had been validated by Mrs.
Hutcheson she declared the petition invalid based on the legal
advice of Criminal District Attorney Ed Paynter. Paynter had
found the petition contained a technical legal flaw which made
the petition a wothless document.
The problem this petition denial causes ACC is that uninformed
people will blame ACC for using questionable political tactics to
defeat the petition. This is caused by the prevailing belief in
Abilene that the three colleges somehow control city government.
Actually Paynter said the legal flaw of the petition was in its
wording which calls for an election in the incorporated city limits
of Abilene. According to case law (Greggs vs. Faulks 1961 and
Ellis vs. Hanks 1972) the Texas Constitution does not provide the
method nor the machinery for the holding of an option liquor
election in an incorporated city which is geographically located in
two separated counties. Abilene is located in Taylor and Jones
Counties.
Therefore the petition was declared invalid not because of
political pressure from ACC but rather because of faulty legal
research by ACTT and the county. ACTT has announced a new
petition drive this time seeking for an election in Justice Precinct
One of Taylor County. Justice Precinct One includes roughly the
northeastern quadrant of Taylor County: Abilene (except for that
portion in Jones County) Hamby Potosi Tye Dyess Air Force
Base Caps and Wyh'e.
Before our readers get the wrong impression the Optimist again
states it is strongly opposed to local liquor option in Abilene.
However in an effort to be objective we think it naturally
unsettling when a legal majority of citizens wish to call an Issue to
a vote their right of vote is denied on the basis of a legal
shortcoming in the antiquated Texas Constitution.
Unfortunately most of the criticism of the first petition's
failing will not be aimed at the Texas Constitution. Rather the
criticism will be aimed at Abflcne's strongest political force which
a the city's colleges causing more damage to the already tarnished
reputation of the so-called "Buckd on the Bible Belt."
ksS AflBt B
DOCKET:
last of a two-part series
ACC politics
D
By MARK CUNNINGHAM
At best estimation and after
nearly four years observance of
students that come to ACC
there continues to be two
well-defined camps among our
student body: those not so
social and those who are.
Personally this writer is
neither for nor against dubs
though none of my dreams
would be shattered if they were
to suddenly disappear. But
there are others who frequently
become aroused over some
operations more or less social in
appearance.
After presenting some of the
less than favorable aspects of
"Who's Who" I fdt a respond-
To insure promptness' is still
purpose of old English custom
In the 18th century coins
were dropped in boxes that sat
on the coffeehouse tables of
Samud Johnson's "London" so
as "to insure promptness"
according to a San Antonio
broadcast on tipping.
From that saying the coins
came to be called "tips" and the
practice is still here today.
The same San Antonio broad-
cast reported that most citizens
tip an average of 10-15 per cent
of the total bill.
A series of interviews con-
ducted with 20 ACC students
revealed that they left that
percentage. Most of the students
said they left tips because
waitresses received low pay and
they want to reward good
service as well as keep the
custom.
Lucy Slight a summer grad-
uate in special education said
"Before I graduated from ACC I
worked as a waitress. I found it
was fun to see how well I could
please a customer. The tip was a
kind of feedback for me."
Not everyone favors that
reward for promptness. Labor
unions and other anti-tipping
groups have nude unsuccessful
efforts to eliminate the custom;
only airline companies have
accomplished it so far.
baity to meet with the students
on the Student Life Committee
in an attempt to restore some
semblance of respectability to
what they did. Those attending
the meeting were Sandy Davis
Dave Garrett Lynn Groves
Karen Kee and John Vaughn.
Those absent: Fred J. Allen
Candy HaUford and Marsha
Jennings.
In most any group situation
there are certain physical
obstades to overcome. To begin
with decisions made within a
group are anti-democratic. There
could be no overall interest for
the group if they are to remain
truly objective participants. And
of course the rules of this
institution mold the groups'
actions and color their decisions.
Being that individuals are
never wholly absorbed in any
one group there were over-
lapping group affiliations.
Translated that means there was
conflict of interest.
In talking with members of
the committee I fed there was a
sincere desire to select the
candidates most deserving of the
honors. Judgments were based
on a personal knowledge of
those under consideration and
their involvement and commitment.
"It's what's inside that
counts" said Karen Kee. It must
also be mentioned that "with
commitment comes responsi-
bility" said Sandy Davis.
If you find yourself in one of
these gry areas you have two
choices. One you do it anyway.
And two you do nothing at all.
Surely the students in this
situation were stuck "between a
rock and a hard place." Still we
must trust those on the commit-
tee to have done their beat in
judgement with honesty and
sincerity.
Students having done their
best it seems the p(ocess is
shoddy. The problem is it still
looks bad. The process relies
upon a coincidence of being
active sociable and involved.
Optfesr
ACC Station Bex t283
AWlene. Texas 7)1
(9151-877-1911. xt. 527 ft 439
E1110' RlckHsgar
Managing Editor Brent StuUrnan
Features Editor A. C. Hester
Sport. Editor !.'. Ray Donley
Business Manager Brent Magers
Production Manager Alice Strother
Photographer ... ....David DIBard
Faculty Adviser f.xt .'...pe.CkrlMsrIer
Editorial appearing In the Optimist are the vltwa of the
Optimkt ud do not necessarily reflect the official poHcy of the
ACC administration. Signed column represent the personal views
of the author.
The Optlrakt b published weekly except vacations final
exams and summer sections by the students of Abilene Christian
College Subscription rates: $2 a semester or $4 a year. Second
dass postage is paid at Abilene Tex.
The Optimkt Is affiliated with the Avrt.ti rvitt.. rv.
(Mia muomi fcuucauonsi Advertising Service.
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 10, Ed. 1, Friday, November 14, 1975, newspaper, November 14, 1975; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91870/m1/2/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.