The Paris News from Paris, Texas • Page 7

Porli Morch 9. Wright Patman The faces of an elder statesman Most people in Northeast Texas will remember Congressman Wright Patman, who died Sunday, as the grandfatherly man with the white hair and teddy-bear-like smile, as he appeared in his later years. The image came into great use during the 1974 campaign against Republican James Farris, when David Sullens, then publisher of the Van Alstyne Leader, made this photographic study of Mr. Patman during a visit to Cooper. The postures are typical of Mr.

Patman's movements in his later years. Photos by David Sullens Patman praised as a gentleman FIRST TO PURSUE WATERGATE Wright Patman, then chairman of the House Banking Committee, tells a Washington press conference in this Oct. 10,1972, photograph that President Richard Nixon was directly responsible for the "most sordid political tactics ever employed by a major political party." He was referring to the Watergate and related political "dirty tricks." He called for an investigation of Watergate unsuccessfully long before the Congress as a whole rallied to the cause. (APWirephoto) By The Associated Press Wright Patman, who spent 48 years away from Texas fighting big banks and special interests in the House of Representatives, has come home to stay. The 82-year-old Democrat, dean of the House, died Sunday in Washington, of pneumonia.

His body was flown home toTexarkana for burial. Patman was hailed by fellow Texas congressmen as "a populist" and "one of the finest Southern gentlemen who ever served in Congress." Democratic Rep. Jim Wright of Fort Worth said Patman "never hesitated to take an unpopular stand if he believed it was right." "Long before today's self- proclaimed consumer advocates were born, Patman was in Congress waging a lonely but effective fight against those who would exploit his fellow citizens of modest means." Wright said Patman "earned himself a place forever in the hearts of plain people who believe, as he did, that you don't have to be wealthy or influential to be entitled to an even break in Gov. Dolph Briscoe called Patman "a fierce advocate of the people" who "fought the special interests, denounced bigotry in any form and became the respected spokesman of workers and farmers throughout the nation." "The last of the old-time populists, a great public servant and a good and beloved man, his passing leaves a void that will never be filled," Briscoe said. said Patman "will take his place as one of the great legislators in Texas along with (former U.S.

House Speaker Sam) and will be marked as great for a different reason. "Mr. Patman was a populist. And you know another word for populist is representative. He believed in representing the views of his people.

And he did so for a record length of time in the The last of the old-time governor soys Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D- who served with Patman in the House in the late 1940s and early 1950s, called Patman, "an institution in Congress, serving his district, his state, and his country for more than 53 years in the tradition of the early day populists." "Congressman Patman was a man of great vigor and integrity and he will be missed," Bentsen added. Rep. Dale Milford of Grand Prairie, a Democrat, U.S. House.

He'll be missed," Milford said in a statement. Rep. Jim Collins of Dallas, a Republican, said he "never agreed with Patman on many votes. We usually saw things differently. But I'll tell you one thing about him.

He was one of the finest Southern gentlemen who ever served in Collins said Patman "was a man who had warmth about him, an inner warmth. And he was sincere in what he believed. I don't think anyone could have ever beaten Wright Patman." One of Patman's longtime Democratic opponents, attorney Sam B. Hall Jr. of Marshall, called for a temporary moratorium in campaigning for his seat.

Hall, one of 12 persons who filed for the seat after Patman announced in January he would not run again, said Patman's career was "long" and "distinguished." He said, "It was marked by his continuing fight for what he believed was best for all the people, not only those of the first congressional district but throughout the country." Briscoe is expected to meet today in Austin with Secretary of State Mark White to discuss a special election to fill the first district seat. The press release announcing Patman's retirement had noted 1976 would be the first year "since 1920 that the name of Wright Patman has not appeared on the ballot in the state of Texas." Patman also said on that occasion, "I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish in the first district of over great odds. Overall, I am convinced that we have built a solid base for the future in this entire area." "But I am proudest of the opportunities I have had to help individuals and families on all kinds of problems through the years. This is the He sent a folksy weekly newsletter to every constituent, and his office handed out home gardening phamphlets on request. The money he earned each year from speeches he spent on thousands of copies of Dale Carnagie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People," which he mailed to A man can be senile at the dean of Congress said tt thing that has given me deep satisfaction and really made my service worthwhile." Patman took credit for nearly $100 million in public projects in Northeast Texas, including huge Lake Wright Patman near Texarkana.

He was instrumental in bringing the state's only steel mill, Lone Star Steel, to Daingerfield in the 1940s, and in the locating of the Red River Army Depot near Texarkana. every high school and college graduate in his district. At the time of his last bid for re-election in 1974, Patman's foes were saying he was too old to run again. He countered, "A man can be senile at 40. Age is something for the people to pass judgment on." He added, "I'd rather die than retire and do nothing.

I want to' go back to finish some.