;" J /, ; ; B32;-816-lm BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 1916: No. 53 SEPTEMBER 20 1916 Platforms of Political Parties in Texas Edited by ERNEST WILLIAM WINKLER Reference Librarian and Curator of Texas Books University of Texas Library Published by the University six times a month and entered as second-class mail matter at the postofflce at AUSTIN, TEXAS The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free gov- ernment. Sam Houston. Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy. . . . It is the only dictator that freemen acknowl- edge and the only security that free- men desire. Mirabeau B. Lamar. PREFACE "We believe that a platform pledge is a covenant with the people, and, therefore, we declare it to be the highest duty of every Democratic nominee to earnestly support and to urge the fulfillment of each promise set forth herein." (Democratic State platform, 1902.) This expression defines the ideal before the makers of party platforms. The problems confronting the State government are enumerated from term to term. A col- lection of the platforms presents the ambitions and also the failures of the party issuing them. They chart the course that the several parties of this State have run. This collection of platforms of the political parties of Texas aims at completeness. It is the first attempt to collect them. Newspaper files have been drawn upon almost exclusively for the data presented. The files of newspapers prior to 1880, available for this work, were very incomplete. The conventions of the minor parties are given only brief space in the daily papers; their proceedings are correspondingly more difficult to locate. In some instances, they have, perhaps, been passed over without any notice at all. The lists of candidates are usually those nominated by the conventions ; many changes occur between the date of the convention and the election, but it has been impossible to follow them up. The same is true of the personnel of the State executive committees. Great care has been used to have all names correct, but the opportunities for error are so great that doubtless many escaped correction. The demands of several organizations, not strictly political parties, have been included, for the side-lights they throw upon the contemporary platforms. Here, too, there is much room for difference of opinion. The histories of these organizations as well as of the parties have yet to be written, so far as Texas is concerned. When this has been done some of the documents here included may appear out of perspective, while others may have been omitted. The work was done mostly during the writer's spare hours, -Preface covering a period of four years. This circumstance, and the scattered location of the sources, will account for some of the defects of organization. ERNEST WILLIAM WINKLER. Austin, Texas, August, 1916. CONTENTS Beginnings of Political Party Organization in Texas . 11-41 Platforms of Political Parties in Texas: 1846 April 27 Austin Democrat 43-44 1848 February 21 Austin Democrat 44-49 1852 January 8 Austin Democrat 49-51 " April 20 Tyler "Whig 51-54 1853 June 15 Washington Democrat 54-56 1854 January 9 Austin Democrat 56-58 " May 15 San Antonio German 58-61 1855 April 21 Huntsville Democrat 61-63 " June 11 Washington Know-Nothing 63 " June 16 Austin Democrat 63-Ci 1856 January 15 Austin Democrat 64-68 January 21 Austin Know-Nothing 68-71 1857 May 4 Waco Democrat 71-74 May 12 Huntsville Independent 74 1858 January 8 Austin Democrat 75-77 1859 May 2 Houston Democrat 77-80 " June 3 Independencelndependent 80 1860 April 2 Galveston Democrat 80-85 April 21 San Jacinto Independent 85-88 1861 January 28 Austin Secession 88-93 " May 27 Dallas Democrat 94 1866 February 7 Austin Constitutional 94 99 March 31 Austin Eadical Union 95-97 " April 2 Austin Conservative Union 98-99 1867 July 4 Houston Republican 99-102 1868 January 20 Houston Conservative Recon- structionist 102-104 99 January 20 Houston Conservative 104-107 " June 1 Austin Reconstruction 107-108 " July 7 Bryan Democrat 108-112 August 12 Austin Republican 112-115 August 14 Austin Radical Republican 115-116 1869 May 10 Galveston Morgan Hamilton 117-119 " June 7 Houston Radical Republican 119-121 September 29 Brenham Democratic Editors 122-123 1871 January 23 Austin Democrat 124-128 99 September 22 Austin Taxpayers 128-140 1872 May 14 Houston Republican 140-143 Contents 1872 June 17 Corsicana Democrat 143-147 October 17 Austin "Straight-Out" Dem- ocrats 147-148 1873 July 3 Brenham Colored 148-151 " August 7 Austin German 151-154 August 19 Dallas Republican 154-157 September 3 Austin Democrat 157-163 1875 September 6 Austin Constitutional 163-173 1876 January 5 Galveston Democrat 173-176 January 12 Galveston Republican 176-179 January 8 Bryan State Grange 179-180 1878 March 12 Austin Greenback 180-181 99 July 17 Austin Democrat 181-186 August 7 . Waco Greenback 187-190 " October 1 Dallas Republican 190-193 1880 January 13 Austin State Grange 193-194 " March 24 Austin Republican 195-197 " April 20 Galveston Democrat 197-198 " June 23 Austin Greenback 198-201 99 August 10 Dallas Democrat 201-206 1882 June 29 Fort Worth Greenback 206-208 July 18 Galveston Democrat 208-211 August 8 Belton State Grange 211-212 " August 23 Austin Republican 212-214 99 August 31 Corsicana Greenback 214-215 1884 April 29 Fort Worth Republican 215-217 June 11 Fort Worth Democrat 217-220 August 19 Houston Democrat 220-223 " . August 26 Waco Greenback 223-229 " September 2 Houston Republican 229-231 September 8 Fort Worth Prohibition 231 September 23 Dallas "Straight-Out" Re- publican 232-234 *1886 August 3 Cleburne Farmers' Alliance 234-237 August 10 Galveston Democrat 237-242 August 25 Waco Republican 242-244 September 7 Dallas Prohibition 244-246 September 15 Fort Worth Antimonopoly 246-247 1887 March 15 Waco State-wide Prohibi- tion 247-249 " May 4 Dallas Anti-Prohibition 249-251 1888 April 24 Fort Worth Republican 251-254 " April 25 Waco Prohibition 254-256 " May 15 Waco Farmers, etc. 256-257 " May 22 Fort Worth Democrat 257-259 Contents 1888 Julv 2 Fort Worth " July 5 Fort Worth " July 10 Fort Worth August 14 Dallas August 21 Dallas September 20 Fort Worth 1889 July 3 Dallas *" July 8 Dallas 1890 April 8 Dallas " April 12 Dallas " May 13 Fort Worth August 12 San Antonio September 3 San Antonio 1891 August 17 Dallas 1892 February 2 Fort Worth February 10 Dallas " March 8 Austin April 12 Dallas " April 26 Waco " May 30 Houston " June 7 Lampasas June 23 Dallas " August 16 Houston August 16 Houston September 14 Fort Worth 1894 March 19 Dallas " June 20 Waco " June 28 Waco August 6 Dallas " August 14 Dallas August 28 Dallas " September 24 Fort Worth 1895 May 9 Waco August 6 Fort Worth 1896 March 24 Austin " March 26 Austin " April 20 Houston Xoiipartisan 260-262 Union Labor 262-263 Deep Water 263-265 Democrat 265-268 Farmers' Alliance 268-271 Republican 272-273 Eight-Hour Day 273-275 Freight Rate 275-279 Road 280 Farmers' 281-284 Prohibition 284-286 Democrat 286-290 Republican 290-292 Populist 293-297 Populist 297-299 " Jeffersonian Demo- crats 300-301 Republican 301-302 "Reform" Republi- can 302-305 Prohibition 305-308 German 308-309 Democrat 310-313 Populist 314-316 "Hogg" Democrat 316-322 "Clark" Democrat 322-326 "Regular" Republi- can 326-330 Democratic Har- mony 330-331 Populist 332-334 Prohibition 335-336 "Reform" Republi- can 336-338 Democrat 338-344 "Regular" Republi- can 345-347 Labor 348-349 "Gold" Democrat 350-353 "Silver" Democrat 353-357 "Regular" Republi- can 357-358 "MrKinley" Repub- lican 359-360 "Reform" Republi- can 360-361 Contents 1896 April 21 Dallas "Gold" Democrat 362-366 " June 23 Austin ' ' Gold ' ' Democrat 366-370 " June 23 Austin Democrat 370-376 " July 3 Waco Labor 376-377 " July 29 Dallas Prohibition 378-379 August 5 Galveston Populist 379-384 August 18 Fort Worth Democrat 384-389 " August 25 Waco "Gold" Democrat 389-391 " September 9 Fort Worth "Regular" Republi- can 392-393 " September 9 Fort Worth "Reform" Republi- can 393-394 1897 July 30 Waco Democrat 394-396 1898 July 27 Austin Populist 396-400 August 2 Galveston Democrat 400-405 August 16 Fort Worth Republican 405-409 " August 22 Dallas Prohibition 409-410 1900 March 6 Waco Republican 411-412 March 7 Waco "Ferguson-Burns" Republican 412-414 " May 4 Fort Worth Populist 414-415 " June 20 Austin Democrat 415-417 " July 4 Dallas Social Democrat 418-420 " July 22 San Antonio Socialist Labor 420-423 July 24 Waco Populist 423-426 August 8 Waco Democrat 427-432 September 14 Dallas Prohibition 432-433 September 18 San Antonio Republican 433-438 99 September 18 San Antonio Republican 438-441 1902 July 4 Dallas Socialist 442-444 " July 4 Dallas Prohibition 444-446 " July 15 Galveston Democrat 446-452 August 12 Fort Worth Populist 453-454 " September 10 Fort Worth Republican 454-458 1904 March 22 Dallas x Republican 458-460 March 22 Dallas "Black and Tan" Re- publican 460-461 " June 9 Dallas Populist 461 " June 21 San Antonio Democrat 461-465 August 2 Houston Democrat 466-470 August 6 Grand Saline Socialist 470-472 August 10 Fort Worth Populist 472-474 " August 23 Fort Worth - Republican 474-478 " August 23 Waco Prohibition 478-481 1906 August 14 Terrell Prohibition 481-483 " August 14 Dallas Socialist 483-485 Contents 9 1906 August 14 El Paso Republican 486-488 " August 14 Houston "Reorganised" Re- publican 488-491 " August 14 Dallas Democrat 492-497 1908 May 15 Fort Worth Republican 497-500 99 May 26 Dallas Prohibition 500-502 May 26 Fort Worth Democrat 503-510 August 11 Dallas Independence 510-511 August 11 Fort Worth Populist 511-512 August 11 Dallas Prohibition 512-513 August 11 Waco Socialist 513-514 August 11 Dallas Republican 514-519 August 11 San Antonio Democrat 520-526 1910 August 9 Corpus Ch'sti Socialist 527-530 August 9 Houston Socialist Labor 530 August 9 Dallas Prohibition 530-532 August 9 Galveston Democrat 533-537 " August 9 Dallas Republican 538-542 December 8 Fort Worth State-wide Prohibi- tion 543-546 1911 April 3 Houston Anti-Prohibition 547-550 November 4 Waco Renters' 551-552 1912 May 28 Dallas Prohibition 552-553 May 28 Fort Worth "Roosevelt" Republi- can 553-555 " May 28 Fort Worth "Taft" Republican 556 May 28 Houston Democrat 557-563 August 13 Waco Socialist 564-567 August 13 Dallas Prohibition 568-570 August 13 Dallas Progressive 570-573 August 13 Dallas Republican 573-576 August 13 San Antonio Democrat 576-588 1914 August 11 Houston Socialist Labor 588-589 August 11 Yoakum Socialist 590-596 August 11 San Antonio Progressive 597-601 August 11 Waco Republican 601-606 " August 11 El Paso Democrat 606-614 1916 May 23 Waco Progressive 614-616 May 23 Fort Worth Republican 616-617 May 23 San Antonio Democrat 618-623 June 28 Austin German 623-625 August 8 Temple Socialist 625-628 August 8 Dallas Prohibition 628-631 August 8 San Antonio Republican 631-633 " August 8 Houston Democrat 634-643 10 Contents Appendix Election Statistics : 1. Vote for governor, 1846-1916 644-648 2. Vote for president, 1848-1916 648-650 3. Poll tax payments, 1908-1916 651 4. Vote for governor in Democratic primary, 1906- 1916 651-652 5. Vote on State-wide prohibition.... 652 6. Vote on submission 652 Indexes : 1. Index to names 653-686 2. Subject index 687-700 BEGINNINGS OF POLITICAL PARTY ORGANIZATION IN TEXAS Conditions in the Republic of Texas Whether or not political parties existed in the Republic of Texas largely depends upon the reader's conception of the term political party. The brief period of ten years was too short to bring about an alignment of the voters in definite groupings, with clear statements of principles, and the machinery of com- mittees and convention characteristic of political parties in the United States at that time. Nevertheless the administrations of President Houston and of President Lamar were of such a char- acter that supporters of the one became opponents of the other. The fact that President Houston both preceded and followed President Lamar made the contrast all the more striking. Hous- ton 's second term not only emphasized the fact that the policies of the first would be resumed, but in a number of instances set aside without sufficient cause measures of Lamar 's administra- tion. ' ' It was during this administration that there developed in their fullest intensity the personal issues that divided men into Houston and anti-Houston parties, and the influence of which runs through all the politics of Texas from that time even to the breaking out of the civil war in 1861. "* The division in sentiment found expression in the newspapers, and here and there at local political meetings. The Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston), a paper that opposed the admin- istration, as early as February 28, said: We have noticed with some solicitude the unremitted efforts that have been made by a certain clique of politicians during the last three or four months to establish the Martin Van Buren caucus system in this country with the view of directing its magical influence upon the next presidential electon. . . . Hitherto the people of Texas have been accustomed to act from their own spontaneous impulses in the selection of candidates for the presidency; but it appears that a certain set of wire- 1 Wooten, 'A Complete History of Texas, 279. 12 ,7 ' : v t Be$innincfs o.f Political Party pullers do not consider them sufficiently intelligent, or honest, to act for themselves, and on this account a few leaders are ap- pointed in different sections who take their cue from the Seat of Government and at proper times and places call public meet- ings. The resolutions to be adopted are all drafted beforehand, and by previous arrangement the necessary officers are nom- inated as soon as the meeting is opened. The packed committee is sent out, resolutions previously drafted are brought in, and on motion of some one of the "collar men," they are adopted promptly Such we learn has already been the course of proceedings in several counties. 2 The Red-Lander (San Augustine), a paper that supported the administration, stated that "there are two parties in the Repub- lic of Texas : the economical peace party, and the Western ' Con- quest and Glory' party." "The principal or distinguishing features which clearly define and identify the existence of two political parties in Texas have been well understood since the administration of President Lamar." 3 In an article of July 13th this paper asserted that Anson Jones's claims are advocated by the party which sup- ports the policy and principles of the present administration, and which he stands in some considerable degree pledged to carry out on account of his being one of the constitutional advisers of President Houston. General Burleson is the other candidate, who has identified himself with the Lamar and Burnet party in their continual opposition to every leading measure of the present administration ,by his votes which he has given while he was senator from Bastrop county and since while he has been presiding over that body as vice-president. The friends of Gen- eral Burleson cannot disguise the fact that he is in strong al- liance with the latter party and that this is the party which put him in nomination for the presidency and which is sustaining him in the canvass. They also cannot deny the fact that ever since the organization of the government there has been a strong party opposition to General Houston's measures, notwithstand- ing they say that the lines of party distinction have not been drawn in Texas. Every citizen who is familiar with the political conditon of the country from its organization to the present time will sustain us in the assertion that there have been two distinct 'Telegraph, February 28, 1844. *Red-Lander, June 8, 1844. Organization in Texas 13 parties which have their political tenets and creeds as clearly defined as the present Whig and Democratic parties in the United States. . . . The party which supports General Burleson have even carried their political clamors so far that they have created a strong national prejudice in the West against the East, and every measure almost of a general character (such, for in- stance, as the census bill of the last congress) which was pro- posed by the Eastern members of congress has been voted down by this Western faction. 4 The Telegraph, on the other hand, met such statements by declaring that "the 'Lamar faction' is a political fiction, at the head of which General Burleson has been placed by his enemies, not by his friends. ' ' 5 Again They know the unpopularity of General Lamar with many ; they have, therefore, ingenuously collected together the most unpop- ular among those who had any connection with General Lamar 's administration; they have christened them the Lamar Party; and with all imaginable candor and kind feelings towards Gen- eral Burleson, they attach him to that party, and then most patriotically implore the people to save the country from the im- pending ruin which threatens us if General Burleson is elected. . . . They are driven to the desperate alternative of charg- ing him with the faults of others ... by forcing him into an imaginary connection with a supposed party ... a party that has never before been heard of in the country, and has now for the first time received a local habitation and a name for the express purpose of defeating General Burleson 's elec- tion. 6 The Telegraph also denied that the Houston supporters acted upon any defined platform: Our remarks upon the non-existence of any well-defined public policy in this country, or the organization of parties upon clearly established principles, appears to be called in question. The Indian policy of the present government is perhaps well deffined. But we can see no fixed purpose or settled views in the other measures of the present Executive, except to undo all that was done by his predecessor and establish his own power. . . . ^Red-Lander, July 13, 1844. 'Telegraph, September 4, 1844. Telegraph, July 10, 1844. 14 Beginnings of Political Party Can the supporters of Houston be accurately denned by calling them the Whig party or the Tory party the federal party or the Democratic party the Conservative party or the Radical party? Indeed, can they be otherwise denned than by calling them the Houston Party f ... To this personal allegiance we are now opposed. . . . When parties can only be desig- nated by the names of the leaders, it is manifest enough that measures are rather an accidental than an essential party dis- tinction. 7 Speaking of General Burleson, the Telegraph said, "the truth is that independence is one of the prominent features of Gen- eral Burleson 's character. He has never been associated, di- rectly or indirectly, with any party, or faction, or coalition in the country. ' ' 8 He was nominated at a public meeting at Colum- bus, September 25, 1843. 9 In a letter to the editor of the Democrat (Houston) he denied that he looked to the opponents of Houston for support; he claimed many supporters and ad- mirers among the friends of Houston and of Lamar, and sought his election directly and exclusively from the people. 10 Dr. Jones was nominated at public meetings at San Augustine and at Independence in November, 1843. He says, "My nom- ination and election to the Presidency was the spontaneous act of the people of Texas . . . Party had nothing to do with it, unless those who wished to see the great measures of peace, independence and annexation, and an economical administration of the government, measures with which I was fully identified, carried out, might be called a party." 1 After the election, and when annexation was practically a certainty, the Telegraph presented a few remarks upon the sub- ject of electioneering, and took occasion to remark The party spirit in the United States is tame and mild com- pared to the bitter, malignant, demoniac zeal which is displayed in many instances by the partizans of some of our candidates. They will resort to lies, to misrepresentations, to low, mean, 'Telegraph, July 10, 1844. 'Ibid., July 10, 1844. 'Ibid., December 20, 1843. IUd., July 24, 1844. Mones, Memoranda and Official Correspondence, 267. Organization in Texas 15 groveling tricks that the most bigoted Whigs or Democrats of our motherland would spurn as disgraceful and degrading to their party. With the Whigs and Democrats of the United States, even in their most heated contests, there is an esprit de corps that restrains them from resorting to practices that would jeopardize the reputation of their party. But in the personal contests here there are no restraints of this kind. Each par- tizan fights his own way. . . . We shall rejoice when a new order of things is introduced, and our elections shall be con- ducted under new auspices. When the community is divided into two parties like the Whigs and Democrats of the United States. 2 The Influence of Annexation The subject of annexation was not a party issue in Texas as it was in the United States, for it was favored by all, with few exceptions 3 The fact that it was a party question in the United States, however, had an influence in determining the party align- ment of the people of Texas after annexation. "We are all Democrats in Texas," wrote Guy M. Bryan in January, 1845, "since the glorious victory of that party, who fearlessly espoused our cause and nailed the 'Lone Star' to the topmast of their noble ship." 4 The results of Democratic assistance are also re- flected in following extracts from contemporary newspapers: The period for the election of the officers of the State Govern- ment under the new constitution is near at hand, but we hear no note of preparation nor do we witness any indications that a severe political struggle is to mark the crisis. A sudden calm pervades our political sea, and as our bark of state slowly and steadily approaches the new haven that opens before her all eyes seem to be directed from the helm and bent with intense interest upon the shore When the anchor shall have been cast and the bark moored by the strand, two parties will gather there to meet us, one to welcome us to the home of freedom, the other to taunt and jeer us as an unwelcome visitor. With which of these parties will Texians unite? We cannot remain neutral, 2 Telegraph, June 4, 1845." 3 La Grange Intelligencer, May 23, 1846. 4 Guy M. Bryan to Mrs. Mary Holley, January 7, 1845. A. L. S. in possession of the writer. 16 Beginnings of Political Party for this would be to deprive ourselves of all political advantages and render us objects of suspicion and distrust to each party. 5 We notice from the proceedings of a public meeting, published in the News, that attempts have recently been made to organize a Democratic party in Galveston. Similar attempts have been made in other counties. "We consider the attempts somewhat premature j but we apprehend that little injury will result from them. We have been amused with the direful predictions of the Red-Lander respecting the organization of parties in Texas. He states that before the first day of January next the people of Texas will be drilled and marshalled out into two distinct parties, Whigs and Democrats, and predicts that "there will be such an excitement between brothers and neighbors that in all probability the Bowie knife and shot gun will be the prin- cipal arguments" to settle controversies. ... It will be as impossible to prevent the formation of political parties similar to the great parties of the United States, after annexation is con- summated, as to prevent oil from separating from water. The elements of political discord are incorporated in all the commu- nities of Texas, and whenever the government of the Union shall have been extended over this country these elements will sepa- rate and form new combinations. . . . Since the result is inevitable, let all good men unite in their efforts to regulate the organization of parties so that the interests and happiness of the people shall not be endangered. . . . The great question of annexation has necessarily thrown us with the Democratic party of the Union, for it has been mainly through the unwearied ef- forts of that party that this measure has been effected. . . ." The people should be exceedingly careful to make judicious selections in choosing their representatives to the first state leg- islature. The trusts to be confided are of great moment: . . . Another duty of paramount importance, devolving upon the leg- islature, is the election of senators to the United States Congress. Every candidate who is now before the people for a seat in the state legislature should be made to define his position distinctly. The people should have an eye not only to his professions here but to his political course before emigrating to Texas. All who claim to be good Democrats are not so. A number of them have been proselyted since the late presidential election in the United States, and the consequent ascendancy of Democratic principles in this country. . . . It is too late in the day for the citizens of Texas to talk about belonging to no party; they have been taken into the Union by 'Telegraph, October 1, 1845. 'Telegraph, October 22, 1845. Organization, in Texas 17 the efforts of the Democrats; they have formed and ratified a constitution eminently Democratic in its principles. Can they now without being derelict in duty to themselves . . . send any but Democrats to represent them in the councils of the mighty confederacy into whose bosom they have been admit- ted. . . . 7 The elections in November, 1845, for state officers and mem- bers of the first legislature passed quietly. The political char- acter of the legislature was as follows": Loco Foco, one; Demo- crats, fifty-five; Tyler man, two; Whig, four; Polk man, one; Anti-tariff, one; Tariff man, one; Republicans, four; Nulli'fier, one; Texan, one; undefined, fourteen total 86. 8 Efforts to Organize tJic Democratic Party, 1846-1855 First attempt to hold a State convention. The publishers of the Texas National Register in January, 1846, changed the title of their paper to Texas Democrat: they were elected public printers April 13th, and the next issue of their paper contained a call for the organization of the Democratic party. We have already called the attention of the citizens of the State to this subject. Our suggestions have, so far, been dis- regarded. Not an effort has been made even to promulgate the true doctrines of the party. . . . The citizens of the Lone Star State, isolated in their position, not liable to be excited by the political questions of the United States, have almost lost sight of the lines of demarcation between the two great parties. . . . Let the lines be fairly and fully drawn at once, and the Democrats will be saved the danger of having their ranks thinned by desertion, from the defection of men of great personal popularity, or any other cause. . . . The Whigs have been studious in deprecating party distinc- tions and party organization, representing the people of Texas as a band of political brothers. . . . The mere mention of party horrifies them; they speak of an attempt to set up the landmarks in this State, which exist in every other in the Union, as a vile endeavor to sow dissension. . . . The bare mention of two facts ought to convince us how much sincerity there is in these Whig asseverations: in the face of them, they had the 'Texas National Register, November 15, 1845. 'Texas Democrat, May 20, 1846. 18 Beginnings of Political Party effrontery to push forward one of their old haranguers :is a candidate for Congress. 1 . . . Nor is this all, the Whigs of Harrison county have formed a Whig club, and will march to the polls as a phalanx. . . . 2 A public meeting of the members of the legislature and citi- zens from different parts of the State was held at the Capitol, April 27, for the purpose of appointing a Democratic central committee, and adopting measures to secure an organization of the Democratic party throughout the State. The resolutions adopted declared, "That we adhere to the principles of the Dem- ocratic party of the United States as now practiced, and that we will advocate and sustain those principles." The necessary committees were appointed and the first Monday in November suggested for the meeting of the State convention at Wash- ington. 3 The plan met both support and opposition. A correspondent of the La Grange Intellingencer said, "I have seen with pleasure a move of the Democrats of Austin and other places, manifesting a willingness to meet the crisis which annexation has brought about." 4 Another warned the public: "Pause before you al- low political aspirants to inveigle you into their snares. Party lines once drawn, the Democratic party once completely drilled and exercised, and you cease to be freemen." 5 The breaking out of the Mexican War withdrew attention to other subjects, but the course of the Whigs in relation to the war guaranteed the integrity of the Democratic ranks in Texas. Second attempt to hold a State convention. As the entry of Texas into the Union gave the impulse for the first attempt to hold a State convention, so the presidential election of 1848 was the occasion for a second attempt. A preliminary meeting, com- posed of citizens and members of the legislature, was held Jan- 1 William B. Ochiltree is the candidate referred to. Texas Democrat, March 18, 1846. z Texas Democrat, April 15, 1846. 3 Texas Democrat, May 6, 1846. *La Grang^ Intelligencer, May 23, 1846. *Ibid., June 6, 1846. Organization, in Texas 19 uary 10, 1848, at which it was decided to call a State convention to meet at Austin on the third Monday in February to select delegates to the Democratic National convention and to nominate presidential electors. A committee was appointed, composed of J. Pinckney Henderson, James Bourland, A. S. Cunningham, E. M. Pease, H. Stuart, Jesse Grimes, M. A. Dooley, H. J. Jewett, E. Clark, and J. A. Greer, to prepare an address to the Democracy of Texas in regard to the need for holding a State convention. In the address they said : We do not deem it necessary to address you any labored argu- ments to show the propriety of such a convention being held. We shall only refer to the position of the two great parties that now divide the people of the United States upon some questions of deep interest to us as a State, and suggest the course that we think the people of Texas should pursue. The Whig party, on the one hand, through its great leader, has sent forth its manifesto to the world, declaring in effect that the occupation of a portion of our State lying beween the Nueces and the Rio Grande by the troops of the Union was a just cause on the part of Mexico for the present war, and also declaring in favor of a withdrawal of our troops from the scenes of their triumph and against any acquisition of territory as an indemnity for the expenses of the war. The Democratic party, on the other hand, have declared the immediate cause of the war to have been the invasion of our soil and the murder of our citizens thereon by the Mexican army, and they now insist on its vigorous prosecution until Mexico shall consent to make an honorable peace and suitable indemnity for former spoliations, and the expenses of the war that they have forced upon us by their repeated acts of aggression. Under these circumstances it becomes the people of Texas, who are more im- mediately interested in the great questions involved in the issue of the war than the people of any other State, to strengthen the arms of its supporters. Texas has other strong ties to bind her to 1 the Democratic party: It was the party that annexed us to the Union. It is the party that we are indebted to for the repeal of the obnoxious protective tariff of 1842, and the establishment of the revenue tariff of 1846. And it is to this party that we must look for a just settlement of our boundaries and for the extension and preservation of our institutions upon the principles established by the constitution. These considerations should induce every citizen of Texas to rally in support of its principles. It is only 20 Beginnings of Political Party by means of the proposed National convention that a free inter- change of opinion can be had between the different sections of our country upon those questions of vital interest that now agi- tate the public mind, and it is only through such a convention that we can expect to harmonize sectional interests and unite upon candidates that will carry out our cherished principles. It is hoped, therefore, that every county of the State will hold its meeting and appoint its delegates to the proposed State con- vention. Where no delegates are appointed by the people, it is proposed that such counties shall be represented by the Democratic members of the legislature therefrom. 8 The State convention met at Austin, February 21. Thirty- five counties were represented. Delegates to the National con- vention were selected, presidential electors were nominated, and a long, rambling platform was adopted, which proclaimed "afresh the great principles of freedom and truth upon which not only your party but our government and the rights which it guarantees to the citizen are founded." President Folk's course relative ,to the War with Mexico was approved, and its vigorous prosecution, and the demanding of suitable indemnity when concluded, insisted upon. Its position upon the slavery question was defined by adhering to the doctrine of noninterfer- ence. A State committee was created to look after the affairg of the party until the holding of the next State convention. L. D. Evans, Senators Houston and Busk, and Congressmen Pillsbury and Kaufman represented Texas' at the Democratic National convention at Baltimore. The results of this conven- tion, of special interest to Texas, were reported by Kaufman as follows: Texas voted in that body for Cass, and for Quitman of Mis- sissippi for Vice-President, except on the last ballot for Vice- President, the vote of Texas was divided between Quitman and Butler. The following is one of the resolutions passed unani- mously by this great convention: Resolved, that the war with Mexico, provoked on her part by years of insult and injury, was commenced by her army crossing the Rio Grande, attacking the American troops, and invading our sister State of Texas; and upon all the principles of patriotism and law of nations, it is a just and necessary "Texas Democrat, January 12, 1848. Organization in Texas 21 war on our part, in which every American citizen should have showed himself on the side of his country, and neither morally nor physically, by word or deed, have given 'aid and comfort to the enemy.' Thus you see the whole Democracy of the Nation are identi- fied with Texas in sustaining her boundary to the Rio Grande, for the above resolution, as well as all the others, was adopted unanimously by the convention. General Cass and General Butler are both strongly opposed to the Wilmot Proviso, and the resolution of the convention in regard to the slavery ques- tion is highly satisfactory to the South. ... I was on the Committee from Texas that reported the resolutions to the con- vention. Now, let the people of Texas wait for the nomination of the men and declaration of principles by the Whig convention, to meet in a few days in Philadelphia, and decide between them. If they declare what they have always maintained in Congress, that the Nueces is the western boundary of Texas, and shrink from avowing their principles on the slavery and other ques- tions, I have but little doubt the people of Texas will reject the Whigs nearly unanimously, and assist in triumphantly elect- ing the Democratic nominees. . . . 7 The Whigs of Texas sent no delegates to the Whig National convention ; their vote was cast by the delegates from Louisiana. Both parties had candidates for presidential electors in the field, and this afforded the first opportunity for a test of their strength. The Democratic electors received 10,668 votes; the Whig electors received 4,509 votes. 8 The Whig vote was' large when the personal unpopularity of General Taylor in Texas is considered. 9 'Nacogdoches Times, June 17, 1848. The Whig National convention of 1848 did not adopt a platform. 8 Texas Democrat, December 9, 1848. "Prospectus of The Journal, (Galveston,) about December, 1849: "The [Democratic] party was professedly and claimed to be exclu- sively friendly to Texas, but when annexation, which had been made the stepping stone to power, was accomplished, the emptiness of these pro- fessions, which the people of Texas were not slow to perceive, became apparent and manifest. The result was that at the first test hereafter one-third of the voters cf the State stood in the Whig ranks, and this, too, let it be remembered by those who know the influence of the press, at a time when some fifteen or twenty Democratic papers were pro- mulgating their opinions, denouncing their opponents as enemies of Texas, and but two, and they but little known, were professedly Whig." 22 Beginnings of Political Party Further attempts to "hold a State convention. The need of organizing the Democratic party for the purpose of ensuring its supremacy in State affairs did not become imperative until 1855. While the Whig party showed considerable strength at the election in 1848, it was not regarded as dangerous, besides it was now known where and what numbers it controlled. It might nevertheless develop into a dangerous rival; for this rea- son certain Democratic leaders urged organization of their party. Democratic candidates for governor alone contended for elec- tion in 1847. The 'same proved to be the case in 1849. Early in the canvass there was some talk of a convention. We observe a call in some of the Democratic papers for a con- vention at Washington on the Brazos to nominate candidates for the support of the Democratic party of Texas at the coming elections. Whenever the notice of such an organization is given early enough to allow of the people in their primary meetings, send- ing delegates to county conventions, who shall fairly elect del- egates to a State convention, such as is proposed, we will recog- nize and support such a proceeding, but for ourselves, we will not adopt any proceedings, the result of a partial representa- tion and probably expressive more of the desires of politicians than the mass of the Democratic voters. 1 A month later the same paper noted that "the convention called at Washington on the Brazos seems likely to pro\e a fail- ure, finding little support."' The presidential and State elections were held on different dates prior to the Civil War; the former being held in Novem- ber, the latter in August. From 1845 to 1863, the governor, lieutenant-governor, and after 1850 the commissioner of the general land office were elected biennially in the odd years; from 1850 to 1864, the attorney-general, comptroller, and treas- urer were elected biennially on the even years. This arrange- ment was very unsatisfactory for the purpose of holding party conventions. Annual conventions were attempted, and for sev- eral years were very disappointing affairs. *Nacogdoches Times, March 31, 1849. *IUd., April 28, 1849. Organization in Texas 23 All efforts to hold a nominating" convention in 1851 failed for similar reasons. The editor of the State Gazette, discussing the desirability of political party organization in this State, said : We have been inclined to favor the calling of a convention of the Democratic party of the State, in due season and at some central and convenient point, for the purpose of nominating can- didates for the principal State offices at the next August elec- tion. We are at the same time fully aware of the objections usually urged against this mode of selecting candidates for pop- ular suffrage and are willing to admit that abstractly considered they have some force. But the same objections, in some degree at least, would apply to our system of government in which the people speak, not directly, but through their representatives. So in a convention of the representatives of the Democratic party, appointed and instructed by the members of the party resident in the several counties and acting in their primary as- semblies, those of our citizens professing the same principles would be able to speak their wishes in advance as to the persons most deserving of their -favor, and unite in recommending such to public support. It is only in this mode that the elements of dissension and the antagonisms of petty factions, founded alone upon sectional or personal attachments, can be made to give way to .the general principles which characterize a great political organization. Party lines have been clearly drawn in all the other States of the Confederacy, and the adherents of the different creeds act upon the principles they profess without respect to persons or particular locality. Such will inevitably be the case in Texas, and we can see no good reason why it should not be so now. It would be substituting principles for personal attachments, as one of the indispensable qualifications for office; and surely if this were done it would be hard to discover any injury that could possibly flow from it. ... But notwithstanding this is the conclusion at which we have arrived in reference to the course it would be most desirable to adopt, and which will no doubt be sooner or later adopted for the political organization of our State, we are convinced the time has not yet come when it will be done. In the next can- vass, at least, we shall probably have several candidates for each of the higher offices within the gift of the people, all of them professing a becoming devotion to the tenets of the good old Democratic creed. 3 3 State Gazette, December 14, 1850. The Journal (Galveston), issue of 24 Beginnings of Political Party The Convention of 1852: (1) Calling the Convention, The people of Texas generally, and the Democrats in particular, had reasons for dissatisfaction- with the Taylor-Fillmore admin- istration. The course of the President in opposing the claims of Texas in New Mexico, and the growing differences upon the slavery question increased public interest in National affairs. As the time approached for choosing delegates to the National conventions, suggestions appeared in the newspapers that a State convention be held for this purpose. The State Gazette of Sep- tember 13, 1851, printed a symposium of press opinion on this subject. ^ There are issues at present pending between the North and South that render it highly important that men of sound National politics should be selected as the standard bearers of the Democratic party. This consideration, together with the fact that the name of a distinguished son of Texas will prob- ably be before the convention, should ensure the appointment of good men and true on the part of Texas to see that her inter- ests and the interests of the South are properly cared for. These delegates could not be appointed so easily by any other means as by a State convention. I, therefore, suggest that a Democratic State convention be held in the city of Austin on the third Monday in January next. The reader will readily see that a more convenient place and time scarcely could be fixed on ; at that time the State legislature, Grand Lodge, and other public bodies will be in session at Austin, drawing a large crowd to that city, so that almost every county can be represented without the expense and trouble of sending delegates specially for that purpose. 9 December 24, 1850, commented on the above as follows: "It is not for the Whigs, who are in the minority, to take the initiative in such a proceeding, even were they so disposed; but there are none of them who fear to meet such action on the part of the Democracy. The best and most patriotic men of the country have determined to lay aside party organization until the present agitation on the slavery question is at rest. In other States the terms, Whig and Democrat, have almost been forgotten in the absorbing question of union or disunion. The Whigs of Texas are for the Union, and, therefore, from the highest motives that can prompt men in their political views, desire no strict organization until that Union is safe from the agitation which at present threatens it." P g State Gazette, September 13, 1851. A communication from "Simon Pure," Linwood, Cherokee County, September 2. Organization in Texas 25 The editor endorsed these views, adding that a diversity of opinion existed within the party which it was desirable for a convention to correct. The Washington Ranger recalled the fact that the Whigs had supported a candidate for governor during the last campaign, and that the Galveston Journal, the organ of that party, was now urging the party to organize. 1 The Red-Land Herald proposed that the convention be held on the first Monday in January. 2 The San Antonio Ledger concurred in the above suggestions so far as Federal politics are concerned. But we do not think that the people of Texas desire party organization to be carried into the nomination of State and county officers as yet. It is generally considered that at least three-fourths of the citizens of Texas are Democratic and that our executive and legislative departments will remain in the hands of the Democratic party for years to come without a strict party organization, or a resort to party caucuses. If this opinion is correct, we believe that it would be better for the present to be confined strictly to Fed- eral politics ; and we believe that this is the opinion of the great mass of the people. 3 During the first week of the legislative session, a call was issued for a meeting of the Democratic members of the legis- lature and the Democratic citizen^ of the State generally. 4 The meeting was held at the Capitol on November 10th, and a resolution was adopted recommending to the several counties to send delegates to a State convention to be held at Austin ' ' on the 8th day of January next for the purpose of appointing delegates to the National convention for the nomination of can- didates for President and Vice-President, and to nominate elec- tors for this State." 5 "Quoted by State Gazette, September 13, 1851. 'Quoted by State Gazette, September 13, 1851. 3 Quoted in State Gazette, September 13, 1851. *State Gazette, November 8, 1851. 'State Gazette, November 15, 1851. This is the first mention of Jan- uary 8th, the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, in connection with political party affairs in Texas. It became popular in the interval between 1852 and 1861, when it was selected as the day on which to choose the delegates to the Secession Convention. 26 Beginnings of Political Party (2) Proceedings of the Convention. The convention was in session at Austin January 8th and 9th. A call of the roll of counties showed that only twenty-one had delegates present. A resolution, therefore, was adopted inviting the Democratic sen- ators and representatives to serve their counties, if such coun- ties had no delegates present. The platform adopted embraced four resolutions : 1. The principles of the National Democratic platform of 1848 were reasserted; 2. The compromise acts of 1850 were accepted as " a final adjustment of the dangerous and vexed questions they embrace"; 3. The principles of the Vir- ginia and Kentucky resolutions were accepted, and opposition expressed to consolidation, secession, and disunion; 4. Sam Houston was recommended to the National party as a candidate for the presidency. Lemuel D. Evans, Guy M. Bryan, George W. Smythe and Robert S. Neighbors were nominated presi- dential electors; thirty delegates were appointed to the Balti- more convention ; and a State central committee of twelve mem- bers was selected. 6 (3) Criticism of the Convention. The State Gazette, whose publishers were the state printers, assured its readers that "the Democracy of the State was fully represented in this body, and its resolves and deliberations were characterized by great harmony and the manifestation of a zeal the sure harbinger of success. 7 And in its very next issue it made the statement that, ''From all parts of the State, from which tidings have reached us, a response comes up of the most cordial and enthusiastic approval of the proceedings of the late state convention." 8 On the other hand, the Colorado Tribune (Matagorda) stated: It is to be regretted that the first effort made in this State to organize the Democratic party has proved to be a total failure. This was doubtless occasioned by the bungling attempts of the Houston faction to secure the nomination of their particular favorite for the presidency. 9 If they were successful in this, "State Gazette, January 10 and 17, 1852i 'State Gazette, January 17 ? 1852. 8 Ibid., January 24, 1852. 9 "We perceive that Sam Houston has received the nomination of that body for the next presidency. A resolution has also been passed in the House of a similar nature. Well! if we mistake not, it has been a hard pill for some of our honorable friends to swallow. But 'principles' Organization in Texas 27 they were unsuccessful in the most essential point in obtaining the sanction of their proceedings by the Democracy of Texas. Indeed, if we are correctly informed, the convention, from begin- ning to end, was a self-constituted affair, acting on the respon- sibility of a few individuals. In some instances, even thorough- going Whigs were appointed to represent certain districts in the State . . . and in many instances delegates were appointed without their sanction. A number of the latter have subse- quently declined the honor of serving under this self-constituted cabal. 1 State Rights Democrats in the convention were overawed by the demonstrations of sentiment against them, and abandoned the field without a struggle. Even the nomination of Gen. Sam Houston, who is denominated as a " patriot, chieftain, and states- man, eminently worthy to be the standard bearer of the party in the approaching canvass for the presidency," was either en- dorsed by them or silently acquiesced in. Not a State Rights Democrat in the whole convention had spirit enough to contend for a modification of the resolutions, or sufficient manliness to vote against the nomination of General Houston. 2 The Western Texian (San Antonio) voiced dissatisfaction on another ground The platform adopted in relation to National affairs is suffi- ciently ample and covers all the grounds of dispute between the two great parties, but the question is asked: Why was the con- vention silent in regard to State policy? It is claimed that if we are to have a party organization in Texas, it should be for some avowed object other than keeping in power those claiming to be Democrats. If the Democratic party is to be the dominant party, the distinctive principles and measures of Democracy should mark and control the policy of the State. As matters now stand, a man may profess to be a National Democrat and yet favor the adoption of Whig policy in the government of State affairs. Banking, internal improvement, education, disburse- ment of the public revenue, and the erection of various public benevolent institutions are all questions of vital importance, in and not 'men' is the cry, so there is no use in the minority struggling against a forlorn hope. It is a mistaken prediction if 'Samiwell's' most arduous advocates don't find in him ere long a few more princi- ples than they bargained for." Colorado Tribune, January 26, 1852. Colorado Tribune, March 15, 1852. "Texas Republican quoted by Colorado Tribune, March 15, 1852. 28 Beginnings of Political Party regard to which, there is a great diversity of opinion. Yet all these were passed over in silence by the convention, which as- sembled partly for the purpose of effecting a State organiza- tion of the Democratic party, and so far as the Democracy is concerned it is not known whether it is in favor or opposed to any or all of these measures. As it was the first attempt at an organization, the convention has failed in the discharge of its duty, in not making some declaration of principle in re^ gard to State policy. We do not say this in a spirit of fault- finding, but from sore disappointment. We profess to be a Democrat, not because Democracy is in the ascendant, but from principle. 3 Whig Convention. The Whig party held two conventions in 1852; one at Tyler, on April 16th, and one at Houston, on May 7th. Concerning this party the State Gazette said, The Whig party of Texas may now, we presume, be considered as organized and ready for action. That this party is in the minority in Texas, we have no doubt, but the minority is not so small in numbers or weak in personal influence as the statements heretofore made upon the subject would lead one to believe. The late conventions at Houston and Tyler disclose the Whigery of a good many gentlemen of talent and great personal worth, who have hitherto remained silent in politics or were supposed to be Democrats. In their nominations, the party were enabled to pass over nearly all their former chiefs, and yet present an electoral ticket and list of delegates to the National convention, composed of able and intelligent politicians. Their electoral ticket complete is as follows : John B. Ashe, C. C. Mills, J. W. Throckmorton, and James Keily. Both conventions adopted resolutions approving the adminis- tration of Mr. Fillmore; in favor of internal improvements by the federal government; and the Tyler convention also passed resolutions in favor of amending the State constitution so as to permit the chartering of banks. This shows that Texas Whigery is no counterfeit, but that it is indeed and in fact ''the same old coon," alive and ready to fight vigorously for its ancient creed. 4 The presidential campaign of 1852 did not create a great deal "Quoted by State G-azctte, January 31, 18J>2. 'State Gazette, May 8 and 22, 1852. It is a matter of regret that com- plete files of the Galveston Journal, and other Whig papers in the State, are not preserved in the libraries of this State. Organization in Texas 29 of interest in this State. The Texas delegation to the Whig National convention held out till the last for Fillmore. 5 The nomination of General Scott caused two of the Whig electors to decline to serve, 6 and the Victoria Advocate, one of the Whig journals, refused to support him. The latter gave as its reason the following: "We thoroughly understand the temper and wishes of the abolitionists of the North, to whom General Scott owes his nomination. The same power which could procure his nomination could control his administration, and then where would we be?" 7 The result was a very light vote for both parties. 8 The Convention of 1853: (1) Calling the Convention. The fact that there were at least four Democratic candidates for governor, and the prospect of an extra session of the leg- islature during the winter, formed the occasion for the Demo- cratic press to urge holding a State nominating convention. "We must either select one candidate to be supported by the entire party and make victory certain, or we will have three or four Democrats in the field with almost an equal certainty of defeat." 9 To eliminate ambitious candidates, however, a State convention of the entire party would be necessary. On Novem- ber 1st, the governor issued his proclamation convening the legislature on January 10th. Austin, therefore, appeared to be the logical place for the convention, and January 8th, or some time during the extra session, the proper time for its meeting. 1 Opposition was not absent; the Telegraph said, Some of our contemporaries in eastern Texas are opposed to the convention, as they think that the territory, of the State is so vast that the counties cannot all be represented. The only 6 Letter of John B. Ashe to the Whig State central committee, in State Gazette, October 16, 1852. 6 The places of John B. Ashe and James Reily were filled by B. F. Caruthers and J. E. Kirby. The Journal (Galveston,) September 17, 1852. 7 Quoted by State Gazette, July 24, 1852. 'The Journal (Galveston,) December 10, 1852. 9 State Gazette, November 6, 1852. ., November 20, 1852. 30 Beginnings of Political Party means of obviating this difficulty, we think, will be for county meetings to be held in all sections of the State and resolutions adopted authorizing the representatives of the several counties to meet at Austin and select candidates for these offices. We are opposed to the selection of candidates by the representatives, unless primary meetings have been held authorizing them to act as delegates to the State convention. 2 The Democratic State central committee had, on August 28, issued a call to the county committees, requesting them to or- ganize. Chairman W. D. Miller now canvassed the State central committee in regard to the most convenient time for the conven- tion to meet. 3 On December 6th, he issued a call for the con- vention to meet at Austin on February 22, 1853. These proceedings naturally were followed with much in? terest by the Whigs. A correspondent of the Galveston Journal, under date of December 6th, wrote : The Democratic papers in this State are already beginning to urge upon their party the necessity of a State convention, and so far as we are concerned it would be better for us if they would organize in this way, for then they would be driven to the necessity of promulgating their odious doctrines. The masses would then see what they had been doing and what they would have to do to carry out loco foco doctrines. These doctrines, when fully investigated, would satisfy the hard-fisted yeomanry of our country that they have been fighting on the wrong side of the question. As for the Whig party, let it remain as it is; let us not at- tempt an organization by calling a State or district conven- tion, but when it is in our power to elect a Whig let us elect one who will show by his honesty and zeal that there is some- thing more than a mere name attached to his party. . . . 4 Sarcastic comments on the proposed convention were indulged in. The Huntsville Item said, It is generally supposed that the legislature, at its extra ses- sion, will save the people the trouble of making a governor, by constituting itself a State Democratic convention and naming 2 Quoted by the State (gazette, December 4, 1852. *State Gazette, November 20, 1852. *The Journal (Galveston), January 7, 1853. Organization in Texas 31 all our State officers, members of congress, etc. Well, we are fast approaching the South Carolina system. . . . 5 The Journal said, A Democratic friend suggests that the reason why the Dem- ocracy have generally appointed members of the legislature delegates to the State convention is that their mileage and per diem will be paid out of the Treasury. Of course, the delegates will draw the money as members of the legislature. It now ap- pears to be the settled policy of the Democracy of this State- to defray the expenses of their party conventions out of the public Treasury. 6 As the Democracy must harmonize, will the convention at Austin nominate a State Rights man for governor and a Com- promise man for lieutenant-governor, or a Compromise man for governor and a State Rights man for lieutenant-governor ? They should have a prominent State Rights man on their ticket ; and with their usual tact keep an eye to the foreign vote, even though they may be compelled to go out of the legislature to get one of their nominees. 7 (2) Failure of the Convention to meet. After having been carefully constructed, the plans for the convention suddenly collapsed. The failure is recited by the State Gazette, which was an ardent supporter of the convention, in the following excerpts : The legislature having adopted a resolution to adjourn sine die on Monday next, the 7th instant, we fear very much that the holding of the Democratic State convention will be defeated. Most of the Democratic members are delegates from their re- spective counties to the convention, and as it was expected the session would last until the 22nd, it is likely delegates will not come up in sufficient numbers to justify organization and action by the delegates who will be here. 8 The convention which was to have assembled here on last Tuesday proved an entire failure, there being in attendance delegates from only one county. 9 'Quoted by The Journal (Galveston,) December 24, 1852. The Journal (Galveston,) January 28, 1853. Ubid., February 4, 1853. *State Gazette, February 5, 1853. 9 IMd., February 26, 1853. 32 Beginnings of Political Party It is hardly necessary for us to give in detail the causes which led to this result. Suffice it, a combination of circumstances, conceived in sectional prejudice and in personal aggrandize- ment, demagogueism, and a disposition to create a breach in the Democratic ranks all contributed liberally to the result. [Vol- ney E.] Howard men, with a few exceptions, were afraid to go into a convention, lest another candidate might be brought for- ward for Congress. [P. H.] Bell men declined through fear -of Howard. The coast men were afraid that their candidate, E. M. Pease, would be left out. Northern men feared the same re- sult for [M. T.] Johnson. Eastern men feared lest the con- servative course of G. W. Smyth in relation to internal improve- ments might secure his defeat. [J. W.] Henderson and [Asa M.] Lewis men knew that there was no hope for them before the convention and so men from almost every portion of the State exerted themselves to defeat the meeting of the convention. . . . The Galveston News says that the people did not desire a convention. ... It is a rather strained conclusion. . . . If not, why did the people of the different counties hold primary meetings and appoint delegates? 1 Almost every county in the State had appointed delegates to the convention, and if the legislature had not adjourned so soon, these dele- gates, notwithstanding their aversion to it, would have been compelled to have met the issue. It is our firm convic- tion that that convention caused the legislature to adjourn at least two weeks earlier than it would have done otherwise. Most of the delegates were composed of members of the legisla- ture, and they preferred leaving the business of the session half 'finished rather than risk the defeat before the convention of a favorite aspirant. . . . When the time has passed that a convention of the Democracy can be called together, and not till then, will they [the Whigs] openly declare their candidate and it will then require much more than ordinary energy to defeat them. ... In view of the danger which threatens *A correspondent of the Galveston Journal comes to the defense of the News with the following: "If these 'primary meetings' were all as numerously attended as one I wot of in a certain county, the asser- tion of the News still prevails. In one of the western counties, where the electors number 500, a 'primary meeting' was called for the same purpose and attended by the overwhelming number of nine and they nominated delegates too. A 'primary meeting' was held in the same county last winter, when seven of the people met and sent delegates to Austin to nominate Sam Houston to the Presidency! " The Journal, March 25, 1853. Organization in Texas 33 us, we strongly urge upon the committee the necessity of calling another convention at some other point. In conclusion, we would state that the delegates who assembled here on the 22nd, on consultation, requested the present com- mittee to act until the assembling of the next State convention, and if an emergency should arise, which in their opinion would create the necessity of a convention of the party that they would call a convention at Washington on the 1st of June. . . . We urge upon the party to prepare for any emergency, and never for a moment abandon the idea of a convention until success is placed beyond the pale of probability. 2 The Marshall Republican, on the other hand, attributed the failure of the convention to popular mistrust. It said, Indeed, there seems to be a prevailing prejudice against con- ventions a general distrust as to their management a con- viction that they are organized by demagogues and party trick- ery, and that selfish ends are consulted rather than an expres- sion of public opinion. There is much reason in this prevailing sentiment. It has arisen from the history of past conventions in the State, and a sense of public injustice connected with their organization and action. 3 (3) Call for Another Convention. Apparently not satisfied that the delegates to the February convention had represented the will of the people, the Chairman of the Democratic State central committee, on April 4, issued following call: The Democatic State central committee, having in view what appears to be the will of the Democratic party throughout the State, and desirous of promoting its harmony and the concen- tration of its vote upon those most likely to be the choice of the whole party in the State, respectfully and earnestly recom- mend that the Democratic citizens of the several counties meet in their primary assemblages and appoint delegates to represent them in a State convention to convene at Washington on the Brazos, the 15th of June next. 4 'State Gazette, March 5, 1853. Cf. IUd., March 26, 1853, for a repeti- tion of the causes that prevented the convention. 'Quoted by State Gazette, March 26, 1853. 4 State Gazette, April 16, 1853. 34 Beginnings of Political Party The call met very little favorable response. The Harrison Flag said, If such a convention were practicable, we might favor it ; but, late as it is, the busy season having begun, the public mind having dropped all idea of such an assembly and fixed no doubt on the person to be supported, we think it would avoid *' confusion worse confounded" to lay aside all thoughts on the subject. 5 The South-Western American said, We consider it doubtful whether delegates will attend the convention at Washington in June. Should there be a meagre attendance at the convention not a majority of the counties in the State present by delegates we shall not feel bouncj to stand by any nomination made. 6 When the convention assembled at Washington, only seven counties were represented. Consequently no nominations were made. However, to preserve the organization of the Democratic party, already commenced, the resolutions of the convention that met at Austin, January 8, 1852, were reaffirmed, the next State convention was called to meet at Austin, January 8, 1854, and & State central committee was appointed. 7 The prospect of six Democratic candidates in the field to divide the vote between them was too tempting for the Whigs to resist. About July 1st, William B. Ochiltree was announced as their candidate. He had been placed in the race by the Whig papers in December preceding, but at that time declined on the ground that there was no reasonable hope for success. Now, he outlined his views on public questions and made au active canvass. The Democrats clearly saw the danger. M. T. Johnson and J. W. Henderson withdrew from the race in favor of E. M. Pease, and thereby "prevented Judge Ochiltree from occupying the gubernatorial chair. ' ' 8 'Quoted by Galveston Journal, May 20, 1853. 'Ibid., May 20, 1853. 'State Gazette, June 25, 1853. *State Times quoted by Texas Monument, January 25, 1854. The vote for the different candidates for governor was as follows: Pease 13,091, Ochiltree 9,178, Wood 5,983, Evans 4,677, Chambers 2,449, and Dancy 315. Organization in Texas 35 The Conventions of 1854 and 1855. Chairman Miller issued his call, September 20, for a State convention to meet at Austin on January 9, 1854. The legislature was in session when the convention met, and members of that body were invited to serve the unrepresented counties as delegates. However, it was con- cluded that, since another State convention would meet prior to the election of governor and lieutenant-governor in 1855, it was inadvisable to define questions of State policy. The last National Democratic platform was endorsed and published, and another State committee was appointed to prepare for the con- vention in 1855. The editor of the Texas Monument correctly observed, when he wrote that "the attempt to organize the Democracy of Texas at the present looks very much like an at- tempt to organize a large army in time of peace." 9 Discussion of the proposed convention of 1855 was indulged in more generally by the newspapers than previous conventions received. Much of it was friendly and aimed to promote its success. "The practical utility of conventions cannot be de- nied," said the Cherokee Sentinel. "They beget success, and without them we can expect no certain and definite results. Let the Democracy in both county and State then do their duty. Let us have a convention to nominate candidates for both State and congressional offices." 10 "We are glad," said the editor of the State Gazette, * ' to see that the public sentiment of the Dem- ocratic party is gradually settling down in favor of the im- portance of a State convention." The Texas Republican (Marshall) said, Like the editor of the [Tyler] Telegraph, we are favorable to the convention, and are disposed to abide its action, provided that anything like a fair and full expression of the Democratic sentiment of the State is elicited. We are well aware that it is difficult, in a State like ours, where the party is so largely in thp ascendant, and where the inconvenience and expense of travel is so great, to get people to abandon their business to attend to conventions. . . . We want the convention held, not alone to nominate candidates 'Texas Monument, December 21, 1853. "The Cherokee Sentinel quoted by State Gazette, October 7, 1854. 36 Beginnings of Political Party for State offices and by that means prevent confusion in the Democratic ranks, but we desire its convocation for other and higher purposes. There is a fragment of the party in this State, and we regard it as but a fragment, composed of men in prominent positions, who have repudiated the old land marks of the party. These indorse without qualification the Federal idea that the General government has the right to create internal improvements in the States. With them, the Pacific railroad bill of General Rusk and the appropriation to the Collins line of steamers are favorite measures. We want to see these errors repudiated, and the Democracy organized upon the platform of the late Democratic National convention. 1 But despite these favorable comments, the wide publicity given to the call of the convention, and the selection of a season better suited for travel than that at which former conventions were held, only twelve counties had delegates in attendance at Huntsville on April 21, 1855. The convention, therefore, con- tented itself with the reaffirmation of the National platform, rcommended the re-election of Governor Pease and Lieutenant- Governor Dickson, and appointed January 9, 1856, as the date for holding the next State convention. This apathy of the people of Texas toward things political, also shows itself very markedly in the vote polled at the several State elections from 1846 to 1853. With the increase of interest in politics in 1855, a large increase in the vote cast at the State elections is noted. Year Total white Year Total vote population for governor 1845 9,578 1846 102,961 1847 14,757 1849 21,696 1850 154,034 1851 28,309 1853 35,693 1855 45,412 1857 61,230 1860 421,411 1859 63,788 *Texas Republican, February 24, 1855. Organization in Texas 37 TJie Party Organized, 1856-1861 The Campaign of 1855. The one element requisite to erys- talize Democratic thought and action an aggressive opposition of considerable strength was quite unexpectedly introduced shortly after the adjournment of the convention of 1855. During the latter part of 1854 brief notices of the organization of Know-Nothing councils appeared in the newspapers from timy to time. General Houston was in high favor with this organi- zation. The aims and purposes of the order were shrouded in mystery. Its political activity was carefully concealed. But in March, 1855, a Know-Nothing was elected mayor of Galveston over the Democratic nominee. On June 11, 1855, the Grand Council met at Washington on the Brazos, and secretly nom- inated candidates for State and congressional offices. Lieuten- ant-Governor Dickson was their nominee for governor. When the Democrats learned what had happened there was surprise and chagrin. Many Democrats had unsuspectingly joined the Know-Nothing councils, and most of the Democratic newspapers carried Dickson ? s name at the head of their columns. A meeting of Democrats, the "Bomb-shell" convention, was held at Austin, June 16, which declared war on the Know- Nothings. Fortunately the Democrats were never before in a better position to enter such a contest. Governor Pease had made an excellent record during his first term, and in John Marshall, editor of the State Gazette, the party had a leader and spokesman, whose name will always be linked with the early history of the party in this State. Marshall was an experienced newspaper man before coming to Texas, in July 1854. The Southern Argus (Columbus, Miss.), characterized him as follows: "He is a good tactician; a man of great sagacity, forethought, and judgment, possessing in short all the qualifications which ought to be possessed by the man who controls the organ of a great State party. We congratulate the Democracy of Texas in securing the services of Colonel Marshall." 2 A recent biog- rapher writes of him "When Colonel Marshall commenced his career at Austin, he did not climb by slow degrees the ladder ^Southern 'Argus quoted by State Gazette, September 16, 1854. 38 Beginnings of Political Party that led to his enviable position, but seemingly almost at a single bound he reached the head and front of the Democratic party and held that place until the war of 1861 commenced. It was his prerogative almost from the beginning to ride upon the whirlwind and direct the storm of political commotion, to sit in the high place of power, or rather influence, and mould the destiny of Texas Democracy. His paper was the organ, the monitor, of that party until the war began, when he laid down his pen and took up his sword. " ! The editor of the Texas State Times (Austin), a Know-Noth- ing newspaper, gives following picture of the campaign : Never, perhaps, in the history of Texas has the political char- acter of the people presented such an aspect as it does at this moment. Hitherto a campaign could hardly be said to wear anything of a political color, and in many instances the pre- dilection of those who offered themselves for office were not in- vestigated, and men were chosen in consideration of services ren- dered in the dark and troublesome times, when side by side Democrats and Whigs struggled for the rights of many regard- less of antecedents, against a wily, treacherous, and cruel despot. The times are sadly changed. A tide of new men, and with them new measures have been constantly rolling into Texas, and much of the primitive patriotism of the country is sup- planted by a set of politicians who know but little, and care but little, about the hardships of the men of former days, except so far as an allusion to their deeds can enhance their own base designs. . . . It is a matter worthy of observation that a large majority of those who attempt to mould and lead public opinion in Texas at the present time are those who have sat down to the banquet after all the dangers and toil of preparing it was over. . . . Other questions have been foisted upon the people by trading politicians; 'new issues have been sprung for the purpose of engendering a party spirit, by those who cannot live out of the atmosphere of discord. But the true men of the country, those whose devotion to the land of their adoption has been sealed with their best blood, are not participants in the state of an- archy attempted, and hence the approaching election is pre- ceded by scenes never before enacted in this State. The strife for office pervades every class of our citizens, and so closely ap- 3 W. S. Oldham, in Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XX, 134. Organization in Texas 39 pear party lines to be drawn that we verily believe if a candidate should offer himself for precinct constable, he would be ques- tioned as to what policy he would pursue in the event of his election. Cliques and clans have sprung into existence, and become so numerous that everything wears the aspect of 'con- fusion worse confounded.' It was not so in the olden times r and consequently the present state of affairs must be the result of the rank demagogueism of political hucksters. Texas is only an abridged map of the state of politics through- out the Union. 4 The campaign of 1855 drew taut political party lines as in- dicated by the Times. But the editor did not indicate that the course of Know-Nothing press and speakers in denouncing the Germans and Mexicans, because they were foreign born, and in charging them with abolitionist tendencies, because they owned few slaves, drove these elements of our population into the ranks, of the Democratic part} T , accomplishing within a few months what would otherwise have been the work of years. The Know- Nothings captured a good many local offices, a number of places in the legislature, and the congressman in the Eastern District. The Democrats were thoroughly aroused; for instance, those of McLennan County adopted the following resolution, voicing the sentiments of many of their .compatriots similarly situated : Resolved, that the apparent ascendancy of the Know-Nothing party in this county, as evinced in the returns of the last elec- tion, was owing to want of organization on, the part of the Democratic party, and a thorough and complete secret organiza- tion of the opposition ; that the Democratic party of this county are now thoroughly organized, "wide awake," and duly "sober"; that they will continue this organization and in future act in concert with the Democracy throughout the State; and we do hereby pledge ourselves that for the future McLennan County will speak her true sentiments. 5 Both parties celebrated their victories with elaborately planned barbecues at Austin during the early part of the session of the legislature. The Democrats held theirs on the 2nd and 3rd 'Texas State Times, June 30, 1855. *State Gazette, October 27, 1855. 40 Beginnings of Political Party of November, and on that occasion adopted the following reso- lution-: Resolved, by the Democracy of Texas, in, mass meeting as- sembled, that we recommend to the Democrats of each county to thoroughly organize the party in their midst, and prepare for the first note of battle for the presidency in 1856, and that no county of the State suffer itself to be unrepresented in the next State convention, which we propose shall be held in the City of Austin on the 16th day of January next. 6 The Know-Nothings had their celebration on November 23rd and 24th. Sam Houston was the principal speaker on that oc- casion. On the day of his inauguration Governor Pease was escorted to the Capitol by a German band. In his inaugural address he took occasion "for saying a few words upon political subjects, since our late election for State officers is the "first that has been decided by our citizens upon political issues alone. " His ref- erence to the "heresies of this new political party " caused some of the members to quit the hall and produced quite a sensation. The Conventions of 1856-1858. During the session of the leg- islature in January, 1856, both the Democrats and Know-Noth- ings held their State conventions at Austin. Both parties nom- inated full tickets for State 7 officers and presidential electors, and appointed delegates to the National conventions. The Know- Nothing party did not hold another State convention in Texas. Fifty-four counties had delegates present at the Democratic State convention ; by allowing members of the legislature to rep- resent counties without delegates, the number of represented counties was increased to ninety-one, leaving only eight unrep- resented. The position of the party was clearly stated. John Marshall was elected chairman of the State central committee, a position to which he was annually reelected until the outbreak of the war. "We can now date the thorough organization of the Democratic party of the State of Texas," wrote the editor 'State Gazette, November 17, 1855. T The attorney-general, comptroller, and treasurer constituted the State ticket in 1856. Organization in Texas 41 of the State Gazette. "The convention held on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of January, [1856,] was one of the largest ever held in Texas, and will compare for numbers, respectability, and talent with any convention we have ever attended in our sister States." 8 In 1857, the State convention met at Waco, May 4, and for the first time nominated candidates for governor and lieutenant- governor. The two-thirds rule was adopted for making nomina- tions, and adhered to for nearly fifty years. The election of Runnels over Houston, after another very exciting campaign, demonstrated the excellence of the party's organization. This victory so impressed the public that the statement is frequently met that the first regular Democratic State convention met at Waco in 1857. There is, however, no reason why it should take precedence over the convention of 1856. The convention of 1858 again met at Austin. A motion to admit members of the legis- lature was rejected. This convention took a new departure, in- dicative both of the growth and tendency of the organization; it nominated candidates for judicial offices, thereby subjecting them to the party test, or as the proponents expressed it, insur- ing their "political adherence to the truths of Democratic equal- ity and justice." The convention of 1859 met at Houston. The convention of 1860 met at Galveston. Each of these conventions nominated candidates for State offices and adopted a platform. The platforms adhered closely to the principles contained in the National platform of 1856, and chiefly concerned themselves with an elaboration of the questions involved in the contest over slavery. The leaders of the Texan Democracy were stanch supporters of the State Rights wing of the party. *State Gazette, January 19, 1856. PLATFORMS OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN TEXAS DEMOCRATIC MEETING, 1846 AUSTIN, April 27 A public meeting of the Democratic members of the legislature and citizens from different parts of the State was held at the Capitol in the City of Austin, April 27, 1846, in pursuance 'of previous notice, for the purpose of appointing a Central Com- mittee, and adopting measures to secure the organization of the Democratic party throughout the State. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, "William L. Cazneau, of Travis; permanent, John T. Mills, of Red River. Secretary, E. M. Pease, of Brazoria. 1 Committee on Resolutions: John G. Chalmers, of Travis; Thomas J. Chambers, of Liberty ; R. M. Williamson, of Washing- ton; Hiram G. Runnels, of Brazoria; William H. Bourland, of Lamar; Volney E. Howard, of Bexar; H. J. Jewett, of Robert- son ; J. A. Greer, of San Augustine ; John Brown, of Nacogdoches ; L. D. Evans, of Red River; and F. C. McClarty, of Rusk. RESOLUTIONS 2 Resolved, [1] That we adhere to the principles of the Democratic party of the United States as now practiced, and that we will advocate and sustain those principles. [2] That this meeting recommend to the friends of Democracy in Texas to hold meetings in the various counties for the purpose of electing delegates to meet in convention on the first Monday in Novem- ber, at Washington, 3 to adopt such measures as may be necessary to carry out the principles Of the Democratic party. lr The place of residence here indicated signifies the county. -The proceedings of this meeting are taken from the Texas Democrat (Austin,) May 6, 1846. 3 The outbreak of the war with Mexico prevented the holding of a convention at Washington in November, 1846. 44 Platforms of Political [3] That the chairman appoint some person for each county to act as corresponding secretary for such county with the Central Com- mittee to he appointed at this meeting. [4] That the Central Committee, at a suitable time, prepare an address to the people of Texas and have the same published in such newspapers as are willing to publish it. Central Committee: Hiram G. Runnels, R. M. Williamson, William H. Bourland, Daniel C. Dickson, John S. Ford, Moses Johnson, James Webb, John W. Haines, John G. Chalmers, Thomas J. Chambers and Thomas H. Duval. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1848 AUSTIN, February 21 and 22 Pursuant to a resolution adopted at a Democratic meeting, held in the City of Austin, January 10, 1848, the State convention convened in the Hall of Representatives, Monday, February 21, 1848. The object of the convention having been explained, it was voted to invite all persons present, claiming to .be Demo- crats, to participate in the deliberations. A call of the roll of counties showed that thirty-five were represented by delegates. Officers: President, George T. Wood. Vice-Presidents, John A. Greer, Samuel Bogart, James W. Henderson and E. M. Pease. Secretaries, James M. Swisher, John D. Pitts and Francis L. Hatch. Delegates to the National Convention: E. M. Pease, J. L. Allen, L. D. Evans, James Davis, John A. Greer, T. J. Chambers, P. Cuney, and the senators and representatives in Congress from Texas. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. B. Miller and Travis G. Broocks; Eastern congressional district, W. C. Young; Western congressional district, M. A. Dooley. Committee on Resolutions: Pease, Stuart, Dooley, Grimes, Henderson, DeMorse, Evans, Fields, Williams, and Hendricks. RESOLUTIONS 1 WHEBEAS, By the spirit and essence of our government all power lf The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston,) March 2, 1848. Parties in Texas 45 emanates from the people, in whom it is inherent, they are the sov- ereign authority in the land; it is their right and duty to determine the principles and policy by which they desire to be governed, and public officers are but the agents and servants charged with the execu- tion of the popular will; WHEREAS, general intelligence, free discussion, and enlightened public opinion on all great public questions should form the basis and rule of action in our National policy, and our republican system of govern- ment presupposes the investigation and determination by the people of the organic character of all important questions affecting the interests and welfare of the great mass of the community; WHEREAS, it has been, and should continue to be the custom of our citizens to avow and discuss with frankness, independence, and mod- eration the principles and policy which they desire to prevail in the counsels of the Nation and in the administration of its affairs; WHEREAS, "truth has nothing to fear from investigation" but, in common with enlightened freedom and the just appreciation and vin- dication of human rights, owes its greatest triumphs to the opposition and assaults to which it has been subjected; WHEREAS, it is a time-honored custom for the freemen of the Union to meet together in their primary assemblies and in the State and National conventions to "reason together," for council, for conciliation, and for harmony and efficiency of action, in order that the public will may have proper direction and force; and WHEREAS, principles and men constitute the rule of action with the true Democracy of the Union in all popular elections; they as indi- viduals believing it to be their right and duty not only to know and understand the principles and policy professed by the party with which they cast their votes, but also that the men selected by them to fill important public offices will honestly and earnestly exert themselves to promote the success of the measures which they believe to be best calculated to promote the general good, to preserve the rights and advance the prosperity and happiness of the people; therefore, Resolved, 1. That we hail with pleasure, and will endeavor to imitate the examples of the true Democracy of the older States in assembling together in State conventions "to commune together as brethren" and exchange fresh vows of fidelity to our cause and to our glorious Constitution, and proclaim afresh the great principles of freedom and truth upon which not only our party but our government and the rights which it guarantees to the citizens are founded. 2. That "fidelity to the Union" is fidelity to the Constitution, that that instrument secures to the citizens of our wide-spread Republic in every quarter and with every variety of interest equality of rights and privileges, protection in their persons and property, freedom of opinion and of speech, and the right to a full participation in all the benefits and favors of the government. 3. That the principles and the opinions of the Democratic party 46 Platforms of Political are such as actuated the patriots of the American revolution in their struggle for freedom, for equal rights, and for equal laws; that they contemplate clear and definite limits to all the powers of government, and the derivation of all authority from the people for whose use and benefit laws are designed and government instituted; a literal and close construction of the Constitution, and the confinement of the powers of the General Government strictly within the narrow limits of its pro- visions; the entire independence and sovereignty of the States in all matters not delegated to the National Government hy the Constitution, and the right of the States to adopt such laws and policy for the regulation of their own affairs as they may deem just and expedient and as are not prohibited by the Federal Constitution, without hindrance or interference on the part of either the General Government or of the other States. 4. That these principles deny the right to tax the people without their own consent or to tax them unequally; that they look to freedom of conscience, freedom of speech and of suffrage, equal and general laws, a strict construction of all acts delegating power, and strict ac- countability in all public agents, economy in expenditures for public objects, and the confinement of the revenues to the wants of govern- ment, administered upon principles of republican simplicity and economy. 5. That the Constitution and Union of the States should be pre- served at all hazards, that to them we owe the preservation of our rights and liberties from internal as well as external dangers, and that we hail in the declaration of our Democratic brethren of the North, that they cherish with their devotion to the Union an "equal regard for the sovereignty and independence of the several States in all matters not expressly ceded by them to the General Government," the evidence of that unabated attachment to our country which has thus far preserved it triumphantly from the assaults of its enemies, both at home and abroad. 6. That in the language of our political brethren of the Old Bay State, who (amid a degenerate and perverse generation) have remained faithful to the principles and truths for which their fathers bled, "whenever we find in our midst any political party, under any pre- tense whatever, threatening to transgress the limits of our Constitu- tion or to trample that Constitution under foot, straining the powers of the Federal government beyond their legitimate bounds, disregard- ing the value of the Union, we should be faithless to duty, false to the principles and memory of our fathers, traitors to our country and posterity, did we not discountenance that party and resist its opera- tions." 7. That we approve of the present .tariff of the United States, it having been established for the purpose of revenue and adjusted so as to place the burthens of government upon the property of the country, taxing rich and poor in proportion to their ability to pay and Parties in Texas 47 levying heavy duties only on luxuries, incidentally fostering American industry and enterprise without the sacrifice of one department of labor for the benefit of another. 8. That the existing tariff, more nearly than any other previously established by the American Government, harmonizes with our ideas of the true principles of the science of national wealth, freedom and equality of commercial enterprise, and the absence of monopolies and bounties whereby certain interests are fostered and fattened at the expense of others "the rich made richer and the poor made poorer." 9. That we fully approve the financial policy of the Democratic party and the present administration which has lead to the overthrow of a monstrous money power and restored to the country its constitu- tional currency, the use of precious metals, which are not liable to those fluctuations in value, and those sudden and ruinous contractions and expansions in circulation which characterizes bank issues and give to those who control them power over the property and labor of the industrious citizen. 10. That James K. Polk has exhibited intelligence, sagacity, and decision of character, becoming the President of the great American Union, and the zeal, fidelity, industry, and prudence displayed by him in the discharge of his arduous duties, while (in addition to the great labors and high responsibilities usually devolving upon the presidential office) the care and burden of directing the movements of our armies, engaged in a foreign war, and providing for their support have rested upon him, are worthy of the approbation and applause of the whole country and will secure to him a high place in history, along with the illustrous names of others who have preceded him in the presidential chair. 11. That the heroic exertion and unsurpassed success of our officers and soldiers in Mexico have shed fresh lustre upon the arms of our country and worthily won the praise and gratitude of our Nation, and that we believe that it would be unjust disparagement of the un- parallelled achievements of all to designate any as more worthy of praise than their fellows, and in carrying out the spirit of this opinion we trust that there will be, in all public assemblages, proper demon- stration of grateful appreciation of the services rendered and that on the part of the government honorable advancement and distinction in the line of their profession will be just reward of extraordinary services, disproving the old maxim that "republics are ungrateful." 12. That the declaration of war made by Congress after the attack on the American troops in Texas, by the forces under General Arista, was rendered necessary and proper by every consideration of patriotism and National self-respect, and that to have withheld that declaration would have made our country liable to imputations the most injurious to its honor and to the respect which it should ever maintain in the eyes of the world. 13. That being involved in the war it became proper and necessary 48 Platforms of Political to prosecute it with energy and vigor, in order not only to inculcate a wholesome respect for the rights and the power of our Nation but as the only probable means of securing the re-establishment of an honor- able peace with a nation that had shown a disposition to respect no law and no rights save those vindicated by force and compulsion. 14. That it is the right and duty of the United States to continue to occupy the territory of Mexico and to impose upon that country the burthens of the war until just and reasonable overtures for peace are made from the aggressor, with satisfactory assurances of respect for our rights in the future and suitable indemnity for past injuries and wrongs. 15. That "the doctrifce of no territory" is the doctrine of no in- demnity, and if sanctioned would be a public acknowledgement that our country is wrong and that war declared by Congress was unjust and should be abandoned, an admission unfounded in fact and degrading to our National character. 16. That in this State there is no diversity of opinion among any considerable number of the people as to the justice and propriety of the war with Mexico, that in this respect the people of Texas are united and, feeling properly the wrongs done our citizens by Mexico and the propriety of defending the integrity of territory which belongs es- pecially to Texas, they approve almost en masse the action of the administration in the present contest and know in this issue no party but their country. 17. That on the question of domestic slavery we abide by the com- promise of the Federal Constitution, that no State has any right to interfere with the domestic institutions of a sister State and that all interference on this subject by Congress or individuals is unfortunate for the peace of the Union and still more unfortunate for the happiness of the slave. 18. That we do not doubt the determination of the present adminis- tration and of the Democratic party to respect and maintain the true boundaries of Texas. The map compiled under the direction of the Secretary of State of the United States and used in the negotiations and legislation on the subject of annexation embraces the full limits claimed by us, and the resolutions of Congress under which annexation was effected contemplated the existence of a sufficient quantity of our present territory north of the Missouri Compromise line for the forma- tion of one or more additional States, to the erection of which [the consent of] Texas is made necessary by the same resolutions. 19. That on the subject of internal improvements by the Federal Government, we fully approve of the doctrines and sentiments con- tained in the veto message of President Polk on the River and Harbor bill. 20. That the Democratic party of Texas will recognize no erratic movements in behalf of individuals, but that clinging to our principles Parties in Texas 49 as the primary object of party organization we will unanimously sus- tain as the exponent and representative of those principles the person, upon whom the choice of the Democratic National convention may concentrate. Additional Resolutions [21] That a committee of fourteen gentlemen be appointed to con- stitute a State Committee for the State of Texas, the members com- prising which shall be equally taken from each congressional district, but the chairman thereof and at least one other member comprising which shall reside at the seat of government The power and duties of said committee shall be those which usually belong to such com- mittees, to wit: to call meetings upon extraordinary occasions, to fill vacancies which may occur in any representative bodies of the party which require prompt action, to correspond at home and abroad on subjects involving general and particular interest, and generally to represent and take care of the interests of the party. Said committee to continue in existence until the holding of the next Democratic State convention. 2 [22] That we will as Texans support for the presidency and vice- presidency of the United States such individuals of the Democratic party as will maintain the Federal compromise on the subject of slavery and maintain the establishment of our boundary line as defined by the laws of the late Republic of Texas. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1852 AUSTIN, January 8 and 9 The Democratic members of the legislature met on November 10, 1851, and adopted a resolution recommending to the De- mocracy of the several counties to elect delegates to a State convention to be held at Austin on January 8, 1852, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the National Democratic convention .and to nominate presidential electors. The con- vention assembled on the date appointed. A call of the roll of the counties showed that only twenty-two were represented by delegates. Thereupon it was voted that the Democratic senators and representatives of such counties as were not represented by delegates be invited to represent them. Officers: President, Samuel Bogart. Vice-Presidents, 1. B. 2 The names of the gentlemen appointed on the State committee provided for in this resolution have not been found. 50 Platforms of Political Bigelow, John 0. Meusebach and James Davis. Secretaries, F. L. Hatch, F. J. Parker and John D. McLeod. Delegates to the National Convention: Thomas J. Rusk; Mat. Ward, of Cass; William C. Pollock, of Nacogdoches; E. E. Lott, of Smith; B. E. Edwards, of Bexar; Ed Clark, of Harrison; H. M. Lawson, of Rusk; E.- Mabray, of Bastrop; Volney E. Howard, of Bexar ; Charles DeMorse, of Red River ; J. W. Scott, of Harris; Z. W. Eddy, of Jasper; M. A. Dooley, of Comal; L. P. Camp, of Upshur; Samuel Bogart, of Collin; R. Scurry; L. C. Clopton, of Smith; E. M. Pease, of Brazoria; Chas. B. Stewart, of Montgomery; Ashbel Smith, of Harris; Thomas H. Duggan, of Guadalupe ; A^ J. Hamilton, of Travis ; R. A. Irion, of Nacog- doches; A. J. Hood, of Cherokee. Presidential Electors: State at large, Lemuel D. Evans, of Harrison, and Guy M. Bryan, of Brazoria ; Eastern congressional district, George W. Smyth, of Jasper; Western congressional district, Robert S. Neighbors, of Bexar. Committee on Resolutions: James W. Henderson, A. J. Ham- ilton, Lucius C. Clopton, Asa M. Lewis, Henry M. Lawson, I. A. Paschal and William F. Evans. RESOLUTIONS 1 WHEREAS, the distinctive feature in the political creed of the great Democratic party of the United States is a confiding trust in the in- telligence, the patriotism, and the discriminating justice of the Ameri- can people; and WHEREAS, the time has arrived when it behooves the Democracy of the State of Texas to organize and by united action to rally to the support of those great principles which lie at the foundation of a gov- ernment springing from and upheld by popular will; therefore Resolved, 1. That the Democratic party of the State of Texas, com- ing together in a spirit of concord and devotion to the doctrines and faith of a free representative government, do now avow and reassert, before the American people, the following declaration of principles avowed by the National Democratic convention of 1848: [Here follow resolutions 4-12 of the National Democratic platform of 1848 as printed in McKee, National Conventions and Platforms of All Political Parties.'] 2. That the measures passed by the last Congress of the United States, commonly known as "the Compromise Acts," are regarded by Proceedings of tJ> Democratic State Convention, assembled at Austin, Jan. 8, 1852. Printed at the office of the South Western American, 1852. Parties in Texas 51 the Democracy of Texas as a final adjustment of the dangerous and vexed questions they embrace. 3. That the principles contained in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798 are fully recognized by this convention as pre- senting a true exposition of the constitutional rights of the States and of the General Government under the Federal compact, and that they are equally opposed to consolidation, secession, and disunion. 4. That the Democracy of Texas do present to the favorable con- sideration of the great Democratic party of the United States General Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto, as a patriot, chieftain, and statesman eminently worthy to be the standard bearer of the party in the approaching canvass for the Presidency; and while we would hail his nomination with proud satisfaction we pledge our warm and hearty support to the nominee of the Democratic National convention. Central Committee: Washington D. Miller, of Travis, chair- man; 0. Evans, of Bexar; Z. Williams Eddy, of Jasper; Peter W. Gray, of Harris; A. H. Evans, of San Augustine; James C Wilson, of Matagorda; John H. Eeagan, of Anderson; S. H. Morgan, of Red River; H. L. Grinsted, of Cameron; F. J. Parker, of Cameron ; Joel L. Ankrim, of El Paso ; Sam Bogart, of Collin ; Joseph Barker, of Bowie. WHIG CONVENTIONS, 1852 No State convention was held by the Whig party in 1852 ; in- stead conventions were held in each congressional district. That for the Eastern district met at Tyler April 20th, and that for the Western district met at Houston May 6th. The conventions assembled in response to calls issued by county conventions. By resolution of the Tyler convention, all Whigs present were invited to take seats in the convention as members and partici- pate in the duties of the same. Its proceedings follow. Officers: President, C. C. Mills, of Harrison. Vice-President, Judge Daniels, of Cherokee. Secretaries, J. R. Armstrong, of Rusk, and Thos. Lewelling, of Smith. Delegates to the National Convention: Eastern district: W. B. Ochiltree, of Nacogdoches; B. H. Epperson, of Red River; Samuel A. Roberts, of Fannin; John Speak, of Cass; A. J. Fowler, of Anderson ; T. P. Collins, of Houston ; Charles Stewart, of San Augustine ; Norris Austin, of Sabine ; T. J. Crawford, of Jasper; Joseph Herrington, of Angelina; S. G. Swan, of Rusk; 52 Platforms of Political H. M. Cozart, of Shelby ; William B. Davis, of Cherokee ; S. L. Earle, of Smith; R. J. Lindsey, of Bowie. Western district : J. B. Ashe, of Galveston ; James Reily, of Harris ; Albert Ball, of Galveston ; Lewis A. Bryan, of Cameron ; John Dickenson, of Harris. Presidential Electors: State at large, B. F. Caruthers, of Travis, and C. C. Mills, of Harrison ; Eastern congressional dis- trict, J. W. Throckmorton, of Collin ; Western congressional dis- trict, J. E. Kirby, of Austin. Committee on Resolutions: W. B. Ochiltree, of Nacogdoches. chairman; Trimble, of Red River; T. T. Gammage, of Harrison; J. C. Robertson, of Smith; S. G. Swan, of Rusk; C. C. Mills, of Harrison. RESOLUTIONS 1 WHEREAS, We, the Whigs of Eastern Texas, believe that it is right and proper that we should be represented in the National convention of the Whig party, proposed to be held in June next; and WHEREAS, We further believe that it is right and proper that this convention should give such indications of its views on certain great questions which will in all probability engage the attention of the National Whig convention as will serve as a guide to our representa- tives therein; therefore, Resolved, [1] That upon the maintenance of the great cardinal prin- ciples of the Whig party depends the prosperity and permanency of our government. [2] That the rapid and immense growth of our country, the diversity of soil, climate, and products, the various conflicting interests, which naturally exist in a country so extensive, demand from the people a strong adherence to the construction of the Constitution promulgated by the early administrations, that the Congress of the United States has the right to make appropriations for the construction of works of internal improvement, as upon the drawing together of the various parts by facilities of intercourse and an exchange of the products of labor depend the preservation of these United States. [3] That present appearances indicate that the Old World is upon the eve of a great political revolution and, however much we may sym- pathize with the oppressed, we believe that the Whig party without exception does recognize the great principle of nonintervention, as promulgated by the immortal Washington, and as explained by his 1 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Star State Patriot (Marshall,) May 8, 1852. Parties in Texas 53 great disciple Henry Clay in his admirable address to Governor Kossuth. [4] That we have an abiding confidence in the honesty, integrity, and sterling love of country of the great wings of the Whig party throughout the United States; we have, therefore, no fears in pledging ourselves to the support of the nominee of the Whig National con- vention, believing that that convention will be too honest to select as a candidate for the Presidency an abolitionist, and too prudent to nomi- nate an interventionist. [5] That we recognize the Compromise Measures as an emanation from Whig policy and to the Whig party must the people look to see them sustained. [6] That our delegates in the National convention be instructed to exercise their own free and untrammeled choice in voting for a can- didate for the Presidency in said convention, provided that in no in- stance shall they cast a vote for any man who they believe will con- sent to any repeal or modification of the present Fugitive Slave Law. [7] That this convention will proceed to appoint delegates to repre- sent the State in the Whig National convention, and also an elector for the State at large, and one elector for the First or Eastern con- gressional district, leaving it to our brethren of the West to fill out the electoral ticket, and to appoint such number of delegates to the National convention as they shall think proper, hereby pledging ourselves cor- dially to support their nominations. [8] That any delegate appointed by this convention to attend the session of the National convention shall have the right to appoint a proxy in writing to cast his vote, provided said proxy shall be a citizen of the State of Texas. Additional Resolutions [9] WHEREAS, in the opinion of this convention the organic laws of our State impose serious barriers to the substantial interests and growing prosperity of our people, and that the agricultural and com- mercial interests of the whole State loudly call for an alteration in the constitution; therefore, be it Resolved, That the citizens of Texas be, and they are hereby requested by this convention to act in their sovereign capacity, and instruct their representatives in the next legislature to take the necessary steps to have the constitution so altered as to afford banking facilities to the people, which we deem to be of such vital importance to the future growth and prosperity of our State. [10] That in the opinion of this convention judicious works of internal improvements are of primary importance in developing the resources of a large portion of our State, now so isolated as to be comparatively valueless and which in point of climate and productive- ness of soil is unsurpassed by any portion of the United States, and 54 Platforms of Political that our legislature in promoting these great objects should at this time direct the means and energies of the State mainly to the con- struction of a great central train of railroad, running from East to West through the whole State, so as ultimately to form a link in a road running across the continent of America connecting the Atlantic and Pacific waters. Central Committee: W. B. Ochiltree, B. H. Epperson, T. T. Gammage, Dr. Roberts, Josiah Stafford. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1853 WASHINGTON, June 15 The chairman of the central committee on December 5, 1852, issued a call for a State convention to meet at Austin, February 22, 1853, for the purpose of nominating candidates for governor and lieutenant-governor. The adjournment of the legislature prior to that date prevented holding the convention. On April 4, Chairman Miller issued a call for a convention at Washington- on-the-Brazos, June 15, 1853. Only seven counties had delegates at Washington on the day for the convention. Officers: Chairman, A. M. M. Upshaw; Secretary, J. W. Hampton. Committee on Resolutions: David Y. Portis, of Austin; Ben- jamin B. Goodrich, of Grimes ; Josiah Grant, of Burleson ; M. E. Abby, of Galveston ; W. D. Thompson, of Milam ; Daniel Landes, of Washington, and J. W. Hampton, of Travis. RESOLUTIONS 1 WHEREAS, the inclemency of the season and the adjournment of the legislature at an earlier day than that set apart for the meeting of this convention, on the 22nd day of February last, prevented a general attendance of the delegates appointed by the people thereto; therefore, Resolved, 1. That this convention will not make nominations for the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor, as contemplated by the call of the Democratic State central committee. 2. That this convention will confine itself to such action as may appear to be necessary for the preservation of the organization, already commenced, of the Democratic party of the State. lr The proceedings of this- convention are taken from the Texas State Gazette (Austin,) June 25, 1853. Parlies in Texas 55 3. That we assert and reaffirm the doctrines and principles expressed in the resolutions adopted by the Democratic State convention which assembled in the City of Austin on the 8th day of January, 1852, to wit: [Here follow the resolutions adopted by the convention held in Austin on January 8, 1852.] 4. That the Democratic State convention for the year 1854 be holden at the City of Austin, on Monday the 8th day of January next. 5. That the Democratic State convention be hereafter holden alter- nately in the Eastern and Western, divisions of the State respectively; the time and place for the said convention to be holden in the Eastern division to be fixed by the next convention at Austin. 6. As a thorough organization of the Democracy throughout the State is by this convention deemed highly important, be it resolved, That the chairman of the State central committee hereby appointed be requested to designate one Democrat in each county in the State to call a meeting of the Democracy in his county for the purpose of organization and the appointment of a county central committee to act in concert with the State central committee. 7. That the following gentlemen constitute the Democratic State central committee for the year ending on the 8th January, 1854, to wit: [The names appear at the end of these resolutions.] 8. That an adequate collection be v now taken up to defray the ex- penses of publishing in pamphlet form, and distributing throughout the State the proceedings of the present convention. 9. That the Democratic editors throughout the State be respectfully requested to give publicity to the proceedings of this convention in their respective papers. Additional Resolution [10] That the thanks of the convention are hereby tendered, in the name of our constituents, to the Hon. Washington D. Miller for the able and efficient manner in which he has discharged the important duties of his office the past two years, and in requesting him to continue in that responsible post we feel well satisfied that the Democracy of Texas have in him a sentinel on the watch towers who will ever prove a true and reliable guardian of their cherished principles. Central Committee: "Washington D. Miller, of Travis, chair- man; J. W. Hampton, of Travis; W. S. Oldhajn,, of Travis; Stephen Crosby, of Travis; Thomas H. Duval, of Travis; John S. Ford, of Travis ; James B. Shaw, of Travis ; James M. Swisher, of Travis; Onesimus Evans, of Bexar; J. 0. Meusebach, of Bexar; J. C. Wilson, of Matagorda; Z. W. Eddy, of Jasper; S. H. Morgan, of Red River; William C. Young, of Grayson; Joel 56 . Platforms of Political L. Ankrim, of El Paso ; Rufus Doane, of El Paso ; I. B. Bigelo w, of Cameron; James H. Durst, of Nueces; Hamilton P. Bee, of Webb; Sam Bogart, of Collin; M. D. K. Taylor, of Cass; A. W. Berry, of Collin ; W. G. W. Jowers, of Anderson ; J. W. Hander- son, of Harris; F. H. Merriman, of Galveston; T. J. Chambers, of Liberty; Alexander W. Sneed, of Milam; S. Boyd, of Lime- stone; W. F. Henderson, of Navarro; M. A. Dooley, of Comal; James Shaw, of Burleson ; S. W. Sims, of Bastrop ; W. C. Henry, of Rusk; E. M. Pease, of Brazoria; Jesse Grimes, of Grimes; T. H. Duggan, of Guadalupe ; J. M. Clough, of Harrison ; Claiborne Kyle, of Hays; Clark L. Owen, of Jackson; G. B. Erath, of McLennan ; James Davis, of Polk ; William H. Parson, of Smith ; N. B. Charlton, of Tyler; Sam D. Hay, of Walker; H. Yoakum, of Walker; J. B. Robertson, of Washington; W. R. Scurry, of Washington; A. M. M. Upshaw, of Washington; George Quinan, of Wharton; Micajah Goodwin, of Navarro ; N. Amory, of Nacogdoches; H. R. Runnels, of Bowie, and D. Y. Portis, of Austin. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1854 AUSTIN, January 9-11 Chairman Miller issued a call on September 20, 1853, for the State convention to meet at Austin, January 9, 1854. It was voted that all Democrats present from counties that had not appointed delegates be invited to enroll their names as delegates. The legislature being in session, the Democratic senators and representatives were admitted by this resolution. Sixty-two counties were represented. Officers: President pro tempore, David C. Dickson, of Grimes; permanent, J. A. Greer, of San Augustine. Vice-Presidents, Sam Bogart, of Collin; W. S. Oldham, of Travis; and J. C. Wilson of Matagorda. Secretaries pro tempore, J. W. Hampton, of Travis; permanent, E. R. Peck, of Travis; J. C. Lawhon, of Newton ; and S. G. Nowlan, of Bexar. Committee on Resolutions: William R. Scurry, of Travis; N. B. Charlton, of Tyler; J. W. Sims, of Red River; I. L. Hill, of Fayette; J. H. Speight, of Sabine ; J. K. Holland, of Shelby, and E. R. Hord, of Starr. Parties in Texas 57 RESOLUTIONS 1 The committee on resolutions would make the following report: That inasmuch as it is contemplated that another convention will assemble in 1855, prior to any general election for State officers, they deem it premature to adopt any resolutions declaratory of the principles and policy of the Democratic party of this State upon questions of domestic State policy, as that duty will devolve more properly upon that convention. The cardinal principles of the Democratic party of the Union, as understood and practiced by them from the days of Jefferson to the present hour, have conduced more than all things else combined to the progress, prosperity, and renown of the American confederacy. Those principles were reasserted by the late Democratic convention at Baltimore, and upon his cordial endorsement of that platform was Franklin Pierc-e elected President of the United States by an unex- ampled majority of the people. The committee believe that those principles cannot be too often reaffirmed, or our fealty to them too often renewed. They, therefore, report the following resolutions and re- commend their adoption: [Here follows the complete National Demo- cratic platform of 1852.] Resolved, [1] That the administration of the Federal government upon the principles contained in the foregoing resolutions is the only safeguard against encroachment by the general government upon the sovereignty of the States, and the political liberties of the people, and that the President has thus far administered the same in strict accord- ance therewith. [2] That we recognize in Franklin Pierce a pure and able statesman of the Jeffersonian school, whose patriotism and political integrity, while in the Congress of the United States, fully warranted the Democracy of the Union in selecting him to preside over the councils of the Nation, and whose ability as a statesman and fidelity to the Constitution as manifested in his inaugural address, his annual message of December 8th, and his official conduct as chief magistrate, commend him to the American people as a true patriot into whose hands they may commit their political rights with the utmost confidence that he will watch over and protect them with a vigilance, zeal and fidelity commensurate with the sacredness of the trust reposed in him. [3] That the action of the administration in the case of Martin Koszta is a realization of the hope awakened by the noble declaration of the inaugural address in relation to the protection of American citizens abroad, and the principles enunciated in the letter of Secretary Marcy meet with the cordial approbation of the Texas Democracy. ir The proceedings of thia( convention are taken from the Texas State Gazette (Austin,) January 17, 1854. 58 Platforms of Political Central Committee: John S. Ford, of Travis; D. M. Stapp, of Victoria; Guy M. Bryan, of Brazoria; A. M. M. Upshaw, of Washington; E. A. Palmer, of Harris; C. G. Keenan, of Walker; B. E. Edwards, of Bexar; Thomas M. Hardeman, of Caldwell; H. P. Bee, of Webb ; Rufus Doane, of El Paso ; George E. Burney, of McLennan; W. H. Stewart, of Gonzales; S. H. Morgan, of Red River ; Samuel Bogart, of Collin ; John R. Burk, of Newton ; Nat Burford, of Dallas; Jeremiah M. Clough, of Harrison; M. D. Ector, of Rusk; M. M. Potter, of Galveston; J. E. Cravens, of Anderson; J. P. Henderson, of San Augustine; N. B. Charl- ton, of Tyler; William Fields, of Liberty; William C. Young, of Grayson ; John Long, of Houston ; A. J. Hood, of Cherokee. GERMAN MASS MEETING, 1854 SAN ANTONIO, May 15 The second Saengerfest was held at San Antonio in May, 1854. For the same time the Freie Vereine of Sisterdale and San An- tonio called a mass meeting of the Germans of West Texas for the purpose of expressing their political principles. The meeting was attended by about two hundred. It was a windfall for the Know-Nothings, then just beginning to organize in this State. Officers: Chairman, H. Guenther, of New Braunfels. Vice- Presidents, Fr. Oswald, of San Antonio, and Wm. Keidel, of Fredericksburg. Secretaries, Jul. Schlickum, of Fredericksburg : A. Siemering, of Sisterdale; Dr. Hertzberg, of San Antonio; L. Schuetze, of Coletto. DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES 1 Indem wir von der Ueberzeugung ausgehen, dass das Volk der Ver- einigten Staaten weder die Freiheit geniesst, welche ihm die Verfassung verspricht, noch die Stellung einnimmt, welche ihm seine Macht und Ausdehnung gemass, dem Auslande gegeniiber, zukommt, und indem wir erkannt haben, dass die bestehenden Parteien weder den Willen noch die Kraft haben, die politischen, socialen und religiosen Verhalt- nisse der Vereinigten Staaten den Wunschen einer grossen Zahl ameri- kanischer Burger entsprechend zu verbessern, haben wir uns unter 1P The proceedings of this mass meeting are taken from the San Antonio Zeitung, May 20 and 27, 1854. Parties in Texas 59 Aufstellung einer Reihe von Grundsatzen dahin vereinigt, dass wir von den sich voraussichtlich neu bildenden Parteien mit derjenigen Hand in Hand gehen werden, welche uns die meisten Garantien zur Ver- wirklichung unserer Forderungen bietet. Hiermit verwahren wir uns zugleich ausdriicklich gegen jeden Vor- wurf, als sei es unsere Absicht, eine "deutsche Partei" zu bilden, und erklaren, dass unsere Vereinigung als Deutsche lediglich einen sprach- lichen Grund hat. A. Politische Reform 1. Die Verfassung der Vereinigten Staaten ist die beste der jetzt bestehenden. Sie ist jedoch, wie alles Bestehende, einer weiteren Entwickeluug fahig und bediirftig. Wir fordern daher: a. Directs Wahl der Prasidenten und Senatoren durch das Volk. b. Wahl der Richter, der Post-, Steuer- und aller Administrativ- Beamten, mit Ausnahme der Kabinets-Mitglieder und Gesandten, durch das Volk; c. Absetzbarkeit der Beamten, nicht aus Partei-Riicksichten, sondern nur wegen Unfahigkeit oHer Pflichtverletzung, nach Gesetz und Recht; d. Wahlbarkeit ohne Riicksicht auf den Wohnort des zu Wahlenden; e. Recht der Wahler, die Abgeordneten, deren Wirksamkeit sie nicht befriedigt, durch Majoritats-Beschluss zuriick zu rufen. 2. Um den Vereinigten Staaten eine wiirdige Stellung dem Auslande gegeniiber zu geben und ihren Einfluss auf die Entwickelung der Freiheit geltend zu machen, fordern wir: a. Anerkennung und Aufrechterhaltung republikanischer Staaten durch thatige Hiilfe; b. Ausreichenden Schutz amerikanischer Staatsbiirger im Auslande; c. Aufrechterhaltung der Monroe-Doctrin ; d. Aufhebung aller Auslieferungs-Vertrage. 3. Die Streitmacht zur See und zu Lande 1st ein Institut zum Schutze des Landes und seiner Burger und erheischt desshalb Aner- kennung und Einrichtung derselben als eines volksthumlichen Staats- korpers. Desshalb fordern wir: a. Nur Burger und Staats-Angehorige, welche ihre Declaration seit mindestens einem Jahre abgegeben haben, diirfen Soldat sein; b. Abschaffung jeder Korperstrafe: c. Der Soldat soil in Friedenszeiten wie ein Burger gerichtet werden; d. Aufhebung der Kadetten-Erziehungs-Anstalten; e. Einrichtung von Bildungs-Anstalten fiir gediente Soldaten zu Offizieren und Staatsbildung fiir Offiziere in Theorie und Praxis. B. Sociale Reform 1. Die Gesetzgebung und Gerechtigkeitspflege haben zum Zweck, die Rechte des Burgers den Anforderungen des Zeitgeistes gemass 60 Platforms of Political welter zu entwickeln und zu schiitzen. Die Strafe soil nicht welter gehen, als solcher Schutz erheischt. Darum fordern wir: a. Allgemein giiltig-e Criminal- und Civil-Gesetze, welche durch Ein- fachheit und Bestimmtheit jedem Burger verstandlich sind und die Aushulfe der Advokaten entbehrlich machen; b. Gegeniiberstellung des Klagers dem Beklagten und somit Ab- schaffung der Grand-Jury; c. Abschaffung der Schuldhaft; d. Ein bestimmtes zum Lebensunterhalt nothwendiges Besitzthum soil dem gerichtlichen Verkaufe nicht unterworfen sein; e. Gleichstellung der Arbeit mit dem Capital in alien darauf beziiglichen Gesetzen; f. Abschaffung der Todesstrafe; g. Weitere Gesetze zur Beforderung und zum bessern Schutze der Einwanderer; h. Aufhebung aller Temperenz-Gesetze. 2. Die Sklaverei ist ein Uebel, dessen endliche Beseitigung den Grundsatzen der Demokratie gemass, nothwendig ist; da sie aber nur einzelne Staaten betrifft, so 1 forderen wir: Dass die Bundes-Regierung sich aller Einmischung in Sachen der Sklaverei enthallt, dass aber, wenn ein einzelner Staat die Beseitigung dieses Uebels,. beschliessen wird, alsdann zur Ausfiihrung des Beschlusses die Bundeshiilfe in Anspruch genommen werden kann. 3. Grund und Boden soil kein Gegenstand der Spekulation sein, son- dern als Mittel zur Verwerthung der Arbeitskraft betrachtet werden; deshalb fordern wir: a. Dass nicht bloss jedem Burger, sondern auch jedem Staats- Angehorigen auf Verlangen ein angemessenes Stuck offentlichen Landes zur selbsteigenen Benutzung unentgeltlich iibergeben werde; b. Aufhebung jeder Verausserung von Staatslandern an Andere als wirkliche Ansiedler. 4. Die Steuern haben keinen andern Zweck, als die Kosten der Regierung zu bestreiten, sind also lediglich nach der Hohe dieser Kosten zu bestimmen und miissen den Vermogensverhaltnissen gemass moglichst gleich vertheilt werden; darum fordern wir: a. Directe Besteuerung; b. Einkommensteuer in d-er Weise, dass das grossere Einkommen verhaltnissmassig hoher besteuert wird; c. Progressive Erbschaftssteuer; d. Hohere Besteuerung des uncultivirten Landes, um den Land- wucher zu beschranken; e. Mb'glichste Handelsfreiheit. 5. Banken konnen nur den Zweck haben, Unbemitt-elten Schutz gegen die Macht des Kapitals zu gewahren und den Handel zu unter- stiitzen; darum fordern wir: a. Aufhebung der Banken in ihrer jetzigen Einrichtung; b. Einrichtung von Creditinstituten auf sicherer Grundlage. Parties in Texas 61 6. Innere Verbesserungen (Internal Improvements), insofern solche von allgemeinem Nutzen sind, miissen zwar der Bundesregierung iiberlassen bleiben, doch fordern wir: a. Ausfiihrung derselben durch Privatindustrie und offentliche Con- currenz derselben, um den bisherigen Unterschleifen vorzubeugen; b. Oeffentliche Ueberwachung und Garantie der Contrakte mit den Arbeitern. 7. Der Staat hat die Pflicht, fur die Erziehung der Jugend zu repub- likanischen Staatsbiirgern Sorge zu tragen, und alle hemmenden Ein- flusse auf die Erziehung so viel als moglich zu beseitigen; darum fordern wir: a. Freie Schulen lediglich aus Staatsmitteln; b. Ganzlichen Ausschluss des Religionsunterrichts und der Re- ligionsbiicher aus den Schulen; c. Kein Lehrer darf Geistlicher sein; d. Kein Kind darf dem Unterricht der Freischule entzogen werden, wenn nicht der Nachweis gefiihrt wird, dass ein geniigender Unter- richtsersatz auf andere Weise gesichert gewahrt wird; e. Einrichtung von Universitaten, wo jeder dem Unterrichte unent- geltlich beiwohnen kann; f. Staatspriifung fiir Lehrer, Aerzte und Apotheker. C. Religiose Reform Die Religion ist rein Privatsache. Die Vereinigten Staaten sind politische Staaten und haben kein Recht sich in Religions-Angelegen- heiten zu mischen, weder hemmend noch bevorzugend; desshalb fordern wir: a. Abschaffung des religiosen Eides; b. Aufhebung der Sonntagsgesetze und Bettage (Thanksgiving days) ; c. Congress- und Representantenversammlungen sollen nicht durch Gebete eroffnet werden. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1855 HUNTSVILDE, April 21 The short space that intervened between the call for and the time of meeting of previous conventions was assigned as a prin- cipal cause of the small attendance of delegates. The call for the convention of 1855 was, therefore, issued in January. Never- theless, when the convention met, only twelve counties were represented. 62 Platforms of Political Officers: President pro tempore, Dr. C. G. Keenan; perma- nent, James Davis, of Polk. Secretary pro tempore, Jos. Smith- er; permanent, Wm. D. Schoolfield. RESOLUTIONS 1 W. P. H. Douglass, of Guadalupe, offered the following pre- amble and resolutions, which were adopted : WHEREAS, a convention of the Democratic party of the State of Texas convened at Austin, on the 9th of January, 1854, and the said conven- tion, comprising delegates from sixty-two counties of the State, was fully prepared and did express the known sentiments and views of said Democratic party; and WHEREAS, it is proposed and approved that another State convention should be holden at Huntsville, on the 21st day of April, 1855, for the purpose of nominating suitable candidates for governor, lieutenant- governor, and such other officers as it may deem advisable, and that in obedience to the call of the convention a portion of the Democracy of the State are now assembled, that it appears that the several counties of the State have not sufficiently responded to the call; therefore, Resolved, [1] That this convention decline making any nominations, but respectfully suggest the reelection of the present incumbents, E. M. Pease and D. C. Dickson. [2] That we freely reaffirm, as sound Democratic doctrine, the reso- lutions of the Democratic National convention at Baltimore in 1852, and cordially and fully indorsed by the State convention of Jan- uary, 1854. [3] That in the language of the resolutions of the convention, the administration of the Federal government, upon the principles contained in the said Baltimore Convention, is the only safeguard against en- croachment by the general government upon the sovereignty of the States and the political liberties of the people, and the President has thus far administered the same in strict accordance therewith. [4] That we have heard with feelings of patriotic joy, that in the present attitude of affairs in Cuba, the menaces and dastardly attacks of the Spanish flag upon our merchant vessels, are to be retaliated with the shot of our cannon, and that we heartily sustain the President In" sending our Home Squadron to the shores of Cuba to repel in this de- cided and emphatic manner the wrongs that we have so long endured from a foe whose weakness has always been a shield to protect its treachery and cowardice from just retribution. [5] That for the better reorganization of the Democratic party we still insist that the wisest and best course of the Democracy is to lr These proceedings are taken from the State Gazette (Austin,) May 5, 1855. Parties in Texas 63 assemble at suitable intervals and by a convention of the members of the party, from all parts of the State, to interchange their views in regard to the policy of the State and Federal government, and to maintain pure and intact the cardinal principles of the Democratic creed; that we, therefore, recommend that when this convention ad- journs, it adjourns to meet again at Austin on the 9th of January, 1856, and that in the meantime every good Democrat in the State seek to secure such attendance as will enable the party to fully represent all parts of the State. MEETING OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAN PARTY, 1855 WASHINGTON, June 11 At the regular meeting of the Grand Council of the American party at Washington, June 11, 1855, the following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, [1] That it shall be the duty of the Grand Secretary to inform all Subordinate Councils throughout the State of the nominations here made for all offices, and that it shall be the duty of each such Subordinate Council to appoint a committee of vigilance of five members whose object it shall be to advance the principles of our order generally and especially to secure the election of our entire ticket here made. [2] That each such Council shall appoint an elector for its county to defend our principles when necessary and advance the names and represent the interests of our candidates. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, David C. Dickson, of Grimes; Lieutenant- Governor, W. G. W. Jowers, of Anderson; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Stephen Crosby; Representative in congress in the Eastern district, L. D. Evans, of Harrison ; Representative in congress in the Western district, JohnHancock, of Travis. "BOMB SHELL" DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, 1855 AUSTIN, June 16 The editor of the State Gfazette, the principal Democratic paper in the State, attended the Huntsville convention. At once he 64 Platforms of Political placed the names of Pease and Dickson in his paper. He soon learned of the action taken by the Grand Council of the American party at Washington. Dickson 's name was dropped, and a meet- ing of Democrats was called for the afternoon of June 16th. This meeting denounced all secret political factions, declared the Know-Nothing party an enemy of the government, pledged its support to E. M. Pease for governor and P. H. Bell for Con- gress, but described Dickson as "the candidate of another party for governor." It resulted in giving immediately broad pub- licity to the secret conclave at Washington ; it drew a sharp issue between the two parties; and it caused a stampede among un- suspecting Democrats who had joined the Know-Nothings. On June 30th, the name of H. R. Eunnels was published as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant-governor. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1856 AUSTIN, January 15-18 At a barbecue held at Austin in November, 1855, to celebrate the Democratic victory over the Know-Nothings, a resolution was adopted which recommended to the Democrats of each county to organize thoroughly the party in their midst and to prepare for the presidential campaign of 1856. Each county was urged to send delegates to the State convention that would meet in Austin on January 16, 1856. The first call of the roll of counties showed fifty-four represented by delegates appointed in primary meetings. A resolution was then adopted allowing all regular members of the party from the unrepresented counties to repre- sent them. In consequence ninety-one out of ninety-nine counties in the State had regular or proxy delegates. The large number of delegates, over 200, made it necessary to fix a basis for repre- sentation, which was done by allowing each county one vote and as many more votes as it had representatives in the legislature. L. Sherwood, a delegate from Galveston, was denied a seat in the convention because he was not considered sound on the slavery question. Officers: President, Matthias Ward, of Cass. Vice-Presi- dents, John T. Mills, of Lamar; A. G. Weir, of Travis; William Parties in Texas 65 S. Taylor, of Cherokee ; J. M. Devine, of Bexar ; Geo. W. Hill, of Navarro; J. W. Dancy, of Fayette; and J. P. Shelbourn, of Austin. Secretaries, F. R. Lubbock. of Harris ; Thomas J. John- son, of Cherokee; and Reuben E. Clements, of Bexar. Delegates to the National Convention: Eastern congressional district : Matt Ward, of Cass ; Richard B. Hubbard, of Smith ; W. C. Pollock, of Nacogdoches ; Sumter R. G. Mills, of Lamar. Western congressional district : W. S. Oldham, of Travis ; H. P. Bee, of Webb ; Jacob Waelder, of Bexar ; Guy M. Bryan, of Brazoria. Presidential Electors: State at large, Frank W. Bowden, of Rusk, and William R. Scurry, of Victoria ; Eastern congressional district, A. J. Hood, of Cherokee ; Western congressional district, A^ J. jiamilton, of Travis. Nominees for State Office: Attorney-General, James Willie, of Washington ; Comptroller, James B. Shaw, of Travis ; Treasurer, James H. Raymond, of Travis. Committee on Resolutions: J. H. Parsons, of Rusk; Thomas N. Waul, of Bexar; Ashbel Smith, of Harris; William S. Taylor, of Cherokee ; William R. Scurry, of Victoria ; Clement R. Johns, of Hays; Nat. Terry, of Tarrant ; John T. Mills, of Lamar ; George W. Paschal, of Travis ; H. R. Runnels, of Bowie ; H. P. Bee, of Webb; James M. Burroughs, of Sabine, and M. M. Potter, of Galveston. RESOLUTIONS 1 Resolved, 1. That the Democratic party of the State of Texas heart- ily concur in and unanimously reaffirm the principles of the Democratic party of the Union and the Constitution, as embodied in the following resolutions of the National Democratic convention of 1852, as a true expression of their political faith and opinion, believing them to em- brace the only doctrines which can preserve the integrity of the Union and the equal rights of the States: [Here follow resolutions 4-12, 16 and 17 of the National Democratic platform of 1852.] 2. That the Democracy of Texas are opposed to all secret political societies, whether called Americans, Know-Nothings, or any other de- lusive name; that all experience has shown that political combinations, the members whereof are bound together by oaths, covenants, or Proceedings of the Democratic State Convention of the State of Texas. Held at the City of Austin, Texas, on the 16th, 17th and 18th January, 1856. Printed by Stuart, Burnett and Brown, Galveston, 1856. 5328 66 Platforms of Political pledges are opposed to that freedom of action which is the essence of political liberty; and that public and unrestricted discussion of all matters of public concern is essential to the perpetuity of our free institutions. 3. That the Democracy of Texas are opposed to all proscription on account of place of birth or particular religious creed; that the guar- antees, contained in our State and Federal constitutions, of freedom of religious faith and worship, are one of the chief cornerstones of our republican edifice, and a principal support of our National liberty and prosperity; that any attempt to deny the right of our adopted citizens to a participation in the affairs of the government, to the extent conferred in the Constitution of the United States, is anti- republican, opposed to the principles of the Declaration of Independ- ence, and should be resisted by all who are devoted to the principles of justice and equality which characterize that Constitution, and) which have made our country the asylum for the oppressed of every land, the persecuted of every faith, and the home of civil and re- ligious liberty. 4. The Democracy of the State of Texas regards the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act as a triumph of the Constitution over fanaticism and sectional madness, and would regard its repeal as a violation of the spirit of the Constitution, and an outrage upon the rights of the Southern States of the Union; they insist upon the old Democratic doctrines of States' rights, and a strict construction of the Constitu- tion, as cardinal principles of the Democratic faith; that the principles of nonintervention by the Federal government is a doctrine of the Constitution, alike applicable to States and Territories; and any at- tempt on the part of Congress to prohibit slavery in any territory that may hereafter be organized, or to restore the Missouri Compromise, or to repeal the Fugitive Slave Law, or to refuse to admit any new State that may hereafter apply for admission into the Union on ac- count of slavery being recognized in its constitution, or to impose any restriction on the subject of slavery on any new State so applying, not imposed on the original thirteen States, or to impose any restriction upon the trade and intercourse between the slave States, or to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, would be a violation of this principle, and should be regarded as an attempt to trample on the Constitution and dissolve the Union, and should be resisted at every hazard, and to the last extremity. 5. That the citizens of the Southern States have the indefeasible right to >carry their slaves into any territory belonging to the United States and there to exercise and enjoy all the rights of ownership and property, as freely and as fully as in the State from which they emi- grate; and that any interference with, or obstruction to, the enjoy- ment and exercise of their rights as Southern citizens, by the govern- ment of the United States, or by the inhabitants of such territory, would be a violation of the rights of the Southern States, which they Parties in Texas 67 possess as sovereign States, and coequal members of the American confederacy. 6. That the Democracy of the State of Texas indorse and approve the principles of the administration of Franklin Pierce, as evidenced by his inaugural address, his annual and special messages, and carried into practical effect by the leading measures of his administration. Additional Resolutions [7] That our delegates in the convention of the National Democracy, to be assembled at Cincinnati in June next, be instructed to support no man for the office of President and Vice-President, who may be presented to that convention, who does not approve the nonintervention policy in the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and who does not stand fair and square on the doctrines and principles set forth in the platform and resolutions of our last convention, held at Baltimore in 1852. [8] That a majority of the Austin convention be required to make a nomination; . . . [9] That this convention will support no person as a nominee for any office or place of trust, unless fully satisfied by his acts and declarations, or the assurance of his friends in this convention, that he is fully united with the Democratic party upon all the issues now existing between it and its opponents, and that such nominee will abide the decision of this convention and support all of its nominees with zeal and fervency. [10] That the warmest thanks of the country are due to those Whigs who have, independent of all party issues and party prejudices, united with the Democratic party in taking ground against the fanatical movements of abolitionism and the new-fangled doctrines of Know- Nothingism, and we do most cordially invite them to unite with us in concert of action against the dangerous principles which are now threatening the destruction of the Constitution and the ruin of the country. [11] That Col. M. T. Johnson, for the course pursued by him in the recent canvass for the chief executive of the. State, has entitled him- self to the gratitude and confidence of the Democracy of the State of Texas, and that this convention does hereby tender him their thanks for the self-sacrificing disposition he has manifested for the success of Democratic principles. [12] That we recommend that the next State convention of the Democratic party be held at Waco, on the first Monday in May, 1857, for the purpose of nominating suitable persons for governor and lieutenant-governor, and the transaction of such other business as may be then and there before them. [13] That the Secret Legion of Kansas, an organization of aboli- tionists within the territory of, and fostered, supported, and en- couraged by the abolitionists of the North, and intended to control its 68 Platforms of Political government, is at war with the principles of the Constitution and subversive of free government; and that we cordially sympathize with the citizens of the slave-holding States, in inducing real settlers to become citizens of said territory; and that the citizens of Missouri who have removed into said territory deserve the gratitude and warm support of all the friends of the Union and the Constitution. [14] That this convention do most fully and cordially indorse and approve the votes of Thos. J. Rusk, Geo. W. Smyth and !P. H. Bell upon the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and that we do further most decidedly dis- approve of the vote of Sam Houston upon the act, as not in accordance with the sentiments of the Democracy of Texas. [15] That this convention congratulate the people of Texas most heartily upon the reelection of E. M. Pease as governor of the State of Texas, and that while they differ with him in his views upon certain questions of State policy, they most cordially commend him as a faith- ful and efficient officer. Central Committee: John Marshall, of Travis, chairman; George W. Paschal, of Travis ; Adolphus G. Weir, of Travis ; T. Scott Anderson, of Travis; P. De Cordova, of Travis; Seaborn G. Sneed, of Travis; George W. Qhiltqn, of Smith; Alfred E. Pace, of Fannin; S. H. Morgan, of Red River; John J. Goode, of Dallas ; Thomas Rock, of Tyler ; Stephen Powers, of Cameron ; Oscar Farish, of Galveston; James C. Wilson, of Bexar; J. P. Henderson, of San Augustine; Thomas S. Lubbock, of Harris; H. L. Grinstead, of Cass; J. H. Speight, of McLennan; E. H. Gushing, of Brazoria; Albert N. Mills, of Gjonzales; William Woodward, of Washington ; J. T. Harcourt, of Fayette ; Walter A. Andross, of Comal; A. P. Wiley, of Walker, and J. J. Linn, of Victoria. AMERICAN (KNOW-NOTHING) STATE CONVENTION, 1856 AUSTIN, January 21 and 22 This was the first convention, open to the public, held by the Know-Nothing party in Texas. It met in the Hall of Represen- tatives. Fifty-three counties were represented by delegates. It was voted that where counties had no citizen present to represent them suitable gentlemen present be requested to act for them. Officers: President pro tempore, William E. Jones, of Comal; permanent, John Caldwell, of Bastrop. Yice-Presidents, Nath Parties in Texas 69 Smith, of Harrison, and John S. Story, of Caldwell. Secretaries, J. H. Hutchins, of Travis, and Benj. F. Hill, of Calhoun. Delegates to the National Convention: S. W. Sims, of Bas- trop ; J. W. Waddell, of Galveston ; Ben Epperson, of Ked River ; M. D. Whaley, of Leon; T. A. Harrison, of Harrison; E. R. Peck, of Travis ; alternates, A. J. Fowler, of Anderson ; Gen. McCoy, of Harrison ; S. H. Darden, of Gonzales ; R. Q. Mills, of Navarro ; J. M. McCall, of McLennan. Presidential Electors: State at large, John A. Wilcox, of Bexar, and Robert H. Taylor, of Fannin ; Eastern congressional district, J. W. Flanagan, of Rusk; Western congressional dis- trict, Thomas W. Blake, of Leon. Nominees for State Offices: Attorney-General, William Sted- man, of Harrison; Comptroller, E. Sterling C. Robertson, of Bell ; Treasurer, William A. Tarlton, of Harrison. Committee on Resolutions: W. E. Jones, of Comal; J. W. Flanagan, of Rusk; John Hancock, of Travis; John Sayles, of Washington; T. J. Chambers, of Liberty; Hugh McLeod, of Galveston ; P. W. Kittrell, of Madison ; John S. Ford, of Travis ; W. A. Tarlton, of Harrison ; J. A. 'Wilcox, of Bexar. RESOLUTIONS 1 The American party of the State of Texas, in convention assembled, declare as the cardinal principles of its organization: 1. The elevation to political office, executive, legislative, judicial, and diplomatic, of those only who are native Americans, or who being citizens of the Republic of Texas at the time of its annexation to the United States, made citizens thereof by the act of both governments. 2. The preservation and perpetuation of the Constitution and tne Federal Union as the bulwark of our liberties in war, and a prime source of National greatness and individual happiness, and hence: first, opposition to all attempts to weaken or destroy it; second, opposition to the formation or encouragement of sectional or geograph- ical parties at this time the most threatening adversary to its stability. 3. A strict construction of the Constitution of the United States, and the preservation of all the rights of the States, secured or reserved in the Constitution; inculcating forbearance and a harmonizing spirit in settling apparent or real conflicts of jurisdiction; and repudiating the exercise of doubtful powers by the Federal government. lr rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Texas State Times (Austin,) January 26, 1856. 70 Platforms of Political 4. The extension of the period for the naturalization of foreigners to the term of twenty-one years, to be prospective in its operation, and the repeal by the legislatures of the States, in which they exist, of all laws conferring the right of suffrage on unnaturalized foreigners. 5. Liberty of conscience and liberty of the press. The right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience being secured by the Constitution and laws, any attempt to impair or abridge it would strike at the liberties of the people and should be resisted; but this inestimable privilege is never to be used as a pretext for violations of the Constitution or laws, or the practice of principles, creed, or system under the guise of religious belief, destructive of the principles of free republican government, or in conflict with the laws, and hence, opposition to all "higher law" doctrines which look to any power, foreign or domestic, civil, ecclesiastic or otherwise, for rule of civil or political action paramount to the Constitution and laws. 6. Congress possesses no power under the Constitution to legislate upon slavery in the States where it does or may exist, or to refuse the admission of a new State into the Union because its constitution does or does not recognize slavery as part of its social system; nor to legislate upon the subject of slavery in the Territories of the United States; and any interference by Congress with slavery in the District of Columbia would be a violation of the spirit and intention of the compact by which the State of Maryland ceded the district to the United States, and a breach of the National faith; nor should Congress repeal the Fugitive Slave Law. And while we disapprove that principle of the Kansas-Nebraska Act which confers the right of suffrage upon unnaturalized foreigners and that which recognizes the right of the territorial legislature to establish or exclude slavery, we cordially approve the principle of nonintervention by Congress, and are opposed to the repeal of the act, and oppose any further agitation of the subject of slavery in the Halls of Congress. 7. The enactment of laws to prevent the transmission to our shores of felons and paupers from foreign countries. 8. A constant and efficient protection of the frontier against the predatory incursions of the Indians, being an act of justice due to the citizens of the frontier settled thereon and a measure of policy neces- sary to the growth and prosperity of our State, it is the duty of the general government to provide such protection, and in default thereof it is the duty of the State government to provide the same fully, effectually and promptly. 9. We adhere to the National organization of the American party upon the basis of the platform of principles adopted at the Phila- delphia convention in June, 1855, recommending the next National convention to modify the eighth article of said platform by striking out the words "Resistance to the aggressive policy and corrupting tendencies of the Roman Catholic church in our country," for the reason that it has been so much misconstrued as to cast upon us the Parties in Texas 71 imputation of religious intolerance and a desire to abridge the liberty of conscience, which we utterly repudiate. But while we disclaim any intention to abridge or impair or interfere with the right of any citizen of whatever faith or denomination to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, we claim the right, indispensable to the security of free institutions, to resist and oppose, through the ballot box, every principle or policy, whether claimed or exercised as a right appertaining to any church government, or under pretext of any religious belief, hostile to liberty, or liberty of conscience, or liberty of the press, or liberty of suffrage, or to any other essential element of liberty, under the constitution and laws. 10. It is declared that all secrecy, obligations, pass words, and signs are abolished. Additional Resolutions [11] That it is the sense of this convention that the assemblage of the National convention of the American party for the nomination of candidates for President and Vice-President at so early a period as the 22nd of February next is impolitic, and that the Hon. L. D. Evans, our representative in Congress, be requested to represent this State in said convention and vote for an adjournment of the same in June or July next, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded by the secretary of this convention to said representative. [12] That a committee of five be appointed by the chair to consti- tute a State central committee, invested with power to call a con- vention of this party, conduct its correspondence, and invested with all other powers usually pertaining to such committee, and further that said committee have authority to appoint a committee of five in each county in this State to conduct and transact the business per- taining to said party in the counties for which they are respectively appointed. Central Committee: John Hancock, G. W. Davis, W. C. Phillips, Ed. Burleson, and A. W. Moore. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1857 WACO, May 4-6 The convention of 1857 was the largest in point of attendance of any held in this State up to that time. Ninety counties were represented at the first roll call, and almost three hundred dele- gates were present. The basis of representation adopted in 1856 72 Platforms of Political was retained, but the two-thirds rule was applied in the case of nominations. Officers: President pro tempore, M. D. Ector, of Rusk; per- manent, Adolphus G. Weir, of Travis. Vice-Presidents, M. D. Ector, of Rusk; S. Holland, of Panola; Sam Bogart, of Collin; and J. W. Dancy, of Fayette. Secretaries, R. T. Brownrigg, of Travis ; Robert W. Rainey, of Guadalupe ; and Henry D. Patrick, of Leon. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, H. R. Runnels, of Bowie; Lieutenant-Governor, F. R. Lubbock, of Harris; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, Frank M. White, of Jackson. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: Ashbel Smith, of Harris, chairman ; A. J. Hamilton, of Travis ; J. B. Robertson, of Washington; T. N. WsulTof Bexar; W. B. Ochiltree, of Nacog- doches ; Lewis T. Wigf all, of Harrison ; John A. Wharton, of Brazoria ; S. H. Pirkey, of Bowie ; George W. Chilton, of Smith ; William R. Scurry, of Victoria; F. W. Latham, of Cameron; T. A. Dwyer, of Webb ; J. M. Steiner, of Hill ; Forbes Britton, of Nueces; John H. Moffatt, of Tyler; Nat. Terry, of Tarrant; A. B. Burleson, of Lampasas, and C. Upson, of Medina. REPORT OF PLATFORM COMMITTEE 1 Your committee, to which was assigned the duty of preparing the project of a platform of the Democratic party of this State, beg leave to report: The cardinal doctrines of the Democratic party, as recognized every- where throughout the United States, are fully and distinctly set forth in their platform as promulgated by the convention which assembled in Cincinnati on the 5th day of June, 1856. Your committee has reaffirmed the principles embodied in that platform, and have sub- mitted the same as a portion of this report. Believing that thes^ universally admitted principles constitute a platform of political doc- trines long enough, broad enough, strong enough and explicit enough for every Democrat and every good citizen to stand upon, your com- mittee have abstained from introducing any new matters of doubtful authority. They have, therefore, eschewed embodying in their plat- form any opinion on questions of State policy. Your committee be- lieves that on most questions of State policy there may be differences ^Proceedings of the State Convention of the Democratic Party of the State of Texas, which assembled at Waco, Monday, May 4th, 1857. Printed at the State Gazette office, Austin, 1857. Parties in Texas 73 of opinion, without any difference of opinion on the fundamental and immutable principles of the Democratic party; that the decision of questions of policy should be left to the people to be acted on by them through the State legislature, as their judgment and circumstances may determine. Inasmuch as the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, and Mr. Madi- son's report thereon, have been referred to in the Cincinnati platform as of sound doctrine and binding authority on the Democratic party, your committee has appended the said resolutions and the portion of the report pertinent to the matters in question to the platform now submitted. For the more clear and full exposition and declaration of the doctrines held by thei Democratic party in Texas on the subject of slavery and the rights of the Southern States in the Territories, your committee has reported in the platform now submitted the resolution adopted by the Democratic convention at Austin in January, 1856. As the subjects embraced in the other articles of the platform pro- mulgated by the Democratic convention held at Austin in 1856 are fully provided for in the general platform herewith submitted, it has not been deemed by the committee necessary to reiterate them in separate articles. All of which is respectfully submitted. Resolved, [1] That the Democratic party of the State of Texas heartily concur in and unanimously reaffirm the principles of the Democratic party of the Union and the Constitution as embodied in the piatform of the National Democratic convention held in Cincinnati in June, 1856, as a true expression of their political faith and opinion, believing them to embrace the only doctrines which can preserve the integrity of the Union and the equal rights of the States. In pursuance whereof, the Cincinnati platform, the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, and portions of Mr. Madison's report, are hereto appended and made a part of this platform. [Here follow: 1. Resolution 5 of the Texas Democratic platform of 1856; 2. the Na- tional Democratic platform of 1856, except the two resolutions next to the end, as printed in McKee; 3. the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798; 4. the Virginia Resolutions of 1798; and 5. a portion of Mr. Madison's report.] Additional Resolutions [2] That the next Democratic State convention be held at Austin on the 8th day of January, 1858, to nominate candidates for State treasurer, comptroller, and attorney-general. [3] That a committee of three be appointed, of which the Secretary shall be chairman, to superintend the printing of the proceedings of the convention in English and to contract for the same. R. T. Brown- rigg, of Travis, J. Waelder, of Bexar, and R. K. Hartley, of Galveston, were appointed the committee. (By a subsequent resolution the same committee was invested with the superintendence of the publication in German and Spanish.) 74 Platforms of Political [4] That the members of the convention have witnessed with the highest pleasure the unselfish and patriotic course of M. T. Johnson, Geo. W. Smyth and Asa M. Lewis, as manifested by themselves and their respective friends in this canvass and especially during the sitting of the convention, and that in their return home they carry with them the unabated confidence and best wishes of the assembled representatives of the Democracy of Texas. [5] That the thanks of the Democracy of this State are due, and are hereby tendered to the chairman of the State central committee, ap- pointed at the last State convention, for the faithful and efficient manner in which he has discharged the duties devolving upon him. Central Committee: John Marshall, of Travis, chairman; J. M. Steiner, of Travis; R. T. Brownrigg, of Travis ; P. De Cordova, of Travis ; A. W. Terrell, of Travis ; I. N. Dennis, of Wharton ; Asa M. Lewis, of Washington; Sam A. Mavepck, of Bexar; F. B. Sexton, of San Augustine; J. PTjIeaderson, of Harrison; C. G*. Keenan, of Walker; S. H. Morgan, of Red River; George W. Chilton, of Smith; T. M. Harwood, of Gonzales; J. F. Crosby, of El Paso; E. R. Hord, of Starr; John P. Border, of Leon; , of Nueces; C. R. Johns, of Hays; N. B. Charleton, of Tyler; Nat. Terry, of Tarrant; William M. Hardeman, of Bell; Columbus Upson, of Medina; Ashbel Smith, of Harris; and M. D. Ector, of Rusk. INDEPENDENTS, 1857 Under the date of May 12, 1857, the Huntsville Recorder, in an Extra, published following announcement: "Old Sam in the Field! "To-day Gen. Sam Houston came to town and declared himself a candidate for Governor. "His enemies had declared if he ran, the issue would be 'Houston and Anti-Houston,' and upon that issue he appealed to the people. He says he is not the candidate of a party, and if elected he intends to be Governor of the whole people that he has been and ever will be a Jackson Democrat. His object will be to advance and promote the interests of the State, and people, as of old." 1 J This announcement is taken from the Trinity Advocate (Palestine,) May 20, 1857. The Huntsville Recorder is called a Know-Nothing sheet. Parties in Texas 75 Jesse Grimes entered the race as candidate for lieutenant- governor, and Stephen Crosby as candidate for commissioner of the general land office. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1858 AUSTIN, January 8-11 When the State convention of 1858 assembled at Austin, the legislature was in session. Seventy-nine counties had delegates present at the opening of the meeting. A motion, to invite the representatives in the legislature and other reliable Democrats from such counties as had no delegates present to participate in the proceedings, was tabled. The basis of representation and voting of the convention of 1857 was retained, also the two- thirds rule in making nominations. This convention marked a new departure in political procedure in that it made nomina- tions of candidates for judicial offices, thereby subjecting them to the tests of the party, or insuring their "political adherence to the truths of Democratic equality and justice." Officers: President pro tempore, John Marshall, of Travis; permanent, M. D. K. Taylor, of Cass. Vice-Presidents, W. S. Oldham, M. T. Johnson, M. P. Norton, C. B. Sheppard, and John Marshall. Secretaries, R. T. Brownrigg (pro tempore only) ; P. De Cordova; E. Foster Calhoun; W. L. Chalmers; J. H. Torbett, of Johnson; H. H. Haynie; John T. Harcourt, of Fayette; and Levi Pennington, of Williamson. Nominees for State Offices: Attorney-General, M. D. Graham, of Rusk; Comptroller, C. R. Johns, of Hays; Treasurer, C. H. Randolph, of Houston; Chief Justice, Royal T. Wheeler, of Galveston ; Associate Justice, C. W. Buckley, of Fort Bend. RESOLUTIONS 1 On motion of L. T. Wigfall, the following -platform was adopted: Resolved, 1. That the Democratic party of the State of Texas heart- ily concur in and unanimously reaffirm the principles of the Demo- cratic party of the Union and the Constitution as embodied in the ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the State Gazette (Austin,) January 16, 1858. 76 Platforms of Political platform of the National Democratic convention, held in Cincinnati in June, 1856, and the State convention of Texas at Waco, on the 4th of May, 1857, as a true expression of their poltical faith and opinion, believing them to embrace the only doctrines which can preserve the integrity of the Union and the equal rights of the States. 2. That recent events in the United States Senate create in our minds a serious apprehension that the great doctrine of noninterven- tion, as set forth in that platform, is in danger of being repudiated by Congress through the instrumentality of members of the National Democratic party, distinguished alike for their political influence over the public sentiment of the North and their past declarations in favor of said doctrine, and that we now consider it our duty to set forth to the country the course that we shall be compelled to take in that serious and deplorable emergency. 3. That we request the representatives of the people of Texas, in legislature assembled, to provide at the present session for the Execu- tive of the State appointing suitable delegates to a convention of Southern States, which may be hereafter assembled for the purpose of consultation and advice for the general welfare of the institutions of the South. Additional Resolutions [4] That to insure an equal voice to the Democracy of the whole State in future State conventions, we recommend the following basis of representation: (1) That each organized county of the State, which may hold a Democratic primary meeting and appoint delegates, shall be entitled to one vote in the convention for each one hundred votes and one vote for every fraction of votes over fifty and less than one hundred, which such county may have cast at the last preceding election for the Democratic State ticket; Provided, however, that any organized county casting less than one hundred Democratic votes shall be entitled to one vote. (2) That the various counties shall be entitled to delegates or seats in the convention as follows : Counties entitled to one vote shall have one delegate; all other counties to half as many delegates as it may have votes in the convention; Provided, that one delegate be allowed for an odd vote, as for instance, five votes shall be allowed three delegates, eleven votes to six delegates, two votes to one delegate, four votes to two delegates, nine votes to five delegates, etc. (3) That no person shall be allowed to sit as proxy from any county which may have a regular appointed delegate or delegates in attendance on the convention, nor as proxy in any case unless his appointment in writing be signed by one or more of the regularly ap- pointed delegates of the county which he proposes to represent. (4) That no person shall represent any other county than that of Parties in Texas 11 his residence, unless he shall have been regularly appointed by a primary meeting, or constituted a proxy in writing as aforesaid by a regularly appointed delegate or delegates of the county he may propose to represent. [5] That it shall be the duty of the chairman of the State Demo- cratic committee at least four weeks before the assembly of each convention to publish in a Democratic paper in Austin a table si. ow- ing the number of Democratic votes cast by each county at the then last preceding election, the number of votes and of delegates to which each county may be entitled in the convention and giving notice of the time and place at which such convention is to assemble. The average vote for the Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant- governor, and commissioner of the general land office, or for attorney- general, comptroller and treasurer, as the case may be, shall be the basis for estimating the vote of each county. [6] That in the opinion of this convention the thanks of the De- mocracy are due, and we hereby tender them, to Governor E. M. Pease for his faithful and masterly administration of the government. [7] That the next State convention be held at the City of Houston on the first Monday in May, 1859. [8] WHEREAS, Herman Seele proposes to translate, and F. Lind- heimer proposes to publish in German the proceedings of this con vention, therefore, be it resolved, that the secretaries of the conven- tion be requested to furnish these gentlemen with a certified copy of the proceedings. State Committee? John Marshall, chairman, 1. J. W. Dancy; 2. -; 3. A. M. Lewis; 4. S. S. Smith; 5. Henry C. Hicks; 6. P. Hurrah; 7. 0. C. Hartley; 8. Simpson H. Morgan; 9. A. J. Hood; 10. H. B. Nichols; 11. A. C. Hyde; 12. B. McClusky, of Starr; 13. D. M. Prendergast; 14. Somers Kinney; 15. William Smith, of Orange; 16. Nat, Terry; 17. R. T. Posey; 18. C. Upson; 19. William M. Hardeman; 20. J. W. Throckmorton ; E. M. Pease, of Travis; and D. C. Dickson, of Grimes. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1859 HOUSTON, May 2-5 The convention assembled on the day appointed by the last 2 The delegates from each judicial district chose one member of the State Democratic Committee. The numbers preceding the names indicate the district. The Convention elected the Chairman and Messrs. Pease and Dickson. 78 Platforms of Political State convention. Sixty-nine counties were represented on the second day, and the total number of delegates was reported to exceed three hundred. The two-thirds rule was retained. All voting was viva voce " according to good old Democratic usage." Officers: President pro tempore, John Marshall; permanent, A. J. Hood, of Chprokee. Vice-Presidents, A. M. M. Upshaw, of Washington ; R. M. Stell, of Leon ; Edwin Waller, of Austin ; Isaac Parker, of Tar-rant; and A. C. Hyde, of El Paso. Secre- taries, Phineas De Cordova, of Travis; Thomas P. Ochiltree, of Harrison; E. F. Ewing, of Washington; D. M. Short, of Shelby; J. H. Torbett, of Johnson. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, H. R. Runnels, of Bowie; Lieutenant-Governor, F. R. Lubbock, of Harris; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, Frank M. White, of Jackson. Committee on Resolutions and Platform: Geo. W. Chilton, chairman; J. D. Giddings, D. M. Short, E. T. Branch, T. P. Aycock, R. T. Graves, C. N. Stanley, Jas. H. Torbett, John McClarty, E. A. Palmer, C. C. Herbert, J. W. Speight, Fletcher S. Stockdale, Geo. W. White, A. C. Hyde, J. L. Milham. PLATFORM 1 Resolved, [1] That the Democratic party of the State of Texas re- affirm and concur in the principles contained in the platform of the National Democratic convention held at Cincinnati in June, 1856, as a true expression of their political faith and opinion, and herewith re- assert and set forth the principles therein contained, as embracing the only doctrines which can preserve the integrity of the Union and the equal rights of the States; and that we will continue to adhere to and abide by the principles and doctrines of the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798 and 1799, and Mr. Madison's report relative there- to, in the same good faith with which they were affirmed by the Cincinnati Democratic convention and afterwards reaffirmed and pub- lished by the Waco convention in May, 1857, as a part of its proceedings. [2] That the party also reassert and adhere to the principle asserted in the Waco platform. [Here follows resolution 5 of the platform adopted at Waco in 1856.] [3] That the Democracy of Texas recognize in the opinion of th ^Proceedings of the Democratic Convention of the State of Texas, held in the City of Houston, May 2d, 3rd, 4th and 5th, 1859. Published by order of the Convention. Printed at the Telegraph office, Houston, 1859. Parties in Texas 79 Supreme Court of the United States in the Dred Scott Case. a true and just exposition of the constitutional powers and duties of the Federal government in the Territories and the limitations thereupon, and declare that nothing less than the uniform execution of those powers and duties and the continual observance of the limitations thereupon, can do justice to all of the States and preserve their equality. [4] That we deny the possibility of the existence of the power of the legislature of any Territory, whilst the Constitution prevails, by unfriendly legislation or otherwise to defeat the rights of property in slaves, or practically refuse protection thereto, but declare that it is entitled to adequate protection from the general government. [5] That no new State ought to be admitted into the Union until it has been duly ascertained by lawful census that its territory contains the number of inhabitants requisite for one representative upon the Federal basis [of representation]. [6] That the Democracy of Texas are in favor of the acquisition of Cuba, and that we regard its consummation as a measure which self- protection imperatively demands should be procured at the earliest possible time compatible with our National honor. [Here follows the National Democratic platform of 1856, except the two resolutions next to the end, as printed in McKee.] ^Additional Resolutions [7] That it is the treaty duty of the general government to protect our suffering frontier from the continual depredations of Indians, and that whenever the general government fails to do so it is the duty of the State government to extend that protection as speedily as possible, and that we will at all times sustain and uphold our State officers in the legal discharge of this duty. [8] That the President of the United States be requested in behalf of the whole people of Texas to use his best endeavors through the treaty making power, as well as all other powers with which he is invested, to procure an arrangement with the Republic of Mexico by which the citizens of the United States may be enabled to recover their fugitive slaves escaping from the States and getting into the boundary of our sister Republic. [9] That the next State convention of the Democratic party of the State of Texas shall convene in Galveston on the first Monday in April, 1860. State Committee: John Marshall, of Travis, chairman; 1. Judicial District, Gustave Cooke, of Fort Bend ; 2. J. M. Steiner, of Travis; 3. J. B. Robertson, of Washington; 4. W. H. Cleve- land, of Bexar; 5. D. M. Short, of Shelby; 6. R. H. Graham, of 80 Platforms of Political Rusk; 7. A. P. Wiley, of Walker; 8. S. H. Morgan, of Red River; 9. A. T. Rainey, of Anderson; 10. T. M. Harwood, of Gonzales; 11. A. C. Hyde, of El Paso; 12. E. B. Scarborough, of Cameron; 13. Robert Calvert, of Robertson; 14. Michael Seelig- son, of Bee; 15. E. T. Branch, of Liberty; 16. Nat. Terry, of Tarrant; 17. Ed. H. Yontress, of Williamson; 18. Luis Huth, of Medina; 19. J. W. Speight, of McLennan. INDEPENDENTS, 1859 While the opposition did not hold a convention in 1859, an independent ticket was placed in the field and elected. Sam Houston made following terse announcement of his platform : INDEPENDENCE, June 3, 1859. GEORGE W. PASCHAL, Esq. Editor Southern Intelligencer, AUSTIN. DEAB SIB: On yesterday I yielded my own inclinations to the wishes of my friends and concluded, if elected, to serve the people as the Executive of the State. The Constitution and the Union embrace the principles by which I will be governed if elected. They comprehend all the old Jacksonian National Democracy I ever professed or officially practiced. I am thine truly, SAM HOUSTON. 1 DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1860 GALVESTON, April 2-5 On the date appointed the State convention assembled at Gal- veston. Eighty-seven counties were represented. The rail- roads were given a vote of thanks for free passes. At the open- ing of the convention, Major Marshall reviewed the extraordi- nary political condition of the country and impressed upon his audience that never before did the preservation of the Union and' the protection of the rights and liberties of the South de- pend so much upon the Democratic party. W. W. Leland, a delegate from Karnes county, was rejected because he had been a Black Republican before coming to Texas. 1 Houston's letter is taken from the Harrison Flag (Marshall,) June 17, 1859. Parties in Texas 81 Officers: President pro tempore, John Marshall; permanent, F. B. Sexton. Vice-Presidents, W. B. P. Gaines, Guy M. Bryan, R. T. Brownrigg, John D. Pitts, W. W. Woodward, and E. T. Branch. Secretaries, Thomas P. Ochiltree, Alf. Davis, J. C. Hepperla and J. A. Quintaro. Delegates to ihe, National Convention: Eastern congressional district: H. R. Runnels, E. Greer, F. F. Foscue, and R. B. Hubbard. Western congressional district: F. R. Lubbock, Josiah F. Crosby, Guy M. Bryan, and F. S. Stockdale. Presidential Electors: State at large, M. D. Graham, of Rusk, and T. N. Waul, of Gonzales; Eastern congressional dis- trict, A. T. Rainey, of Anderson ; Western congressional district, John A. Wharton, of Brazoria. Nominees for State Offices: Attorney-General, George M. Flournoy, of Travis; Comptroller, Clement R. Johns, of Hays; Treasurer, Cyrus H. Randolph, of Houston. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1. Judicial District, John F. Harcourt, of Colorado; 2. T. H. Duggan, of Guadalupe; 3. A. S. Broaddus, of Burleson; 4. Charles Ganahl, of Kerr; 5. W. A. Leonard, of Jasper; 6. B. F. Williams, of Upshur; 7. R, M. Powell, of Montgomery; 8. L. C. DeLisle, of Fannin; 9. F. F. Foscue, of Cherokee; 10. F. S. Stockdale, of Calhoun, chair- man ; 11. Josiah F. Crosby, of El Paso ; 13. John W. Durant, of Leon; 14. W. W. Dunlap, of Goliad; 15. E. S. Pitts, of Tyler; 16. Richard Ward, of Tarrant; 17. M. V. B. Sparks, of Lampasas; 19. W. H. Parsons, of McLennan, and 20. J. R. Worrall, of Jack. PLATFORM 1 Resolved, 1. That the Democratic party of the State of Texas re- affirm and concur in the principles contained in the platform of the National Democratic convention, held at Cincinnati in June, 1856, as a true exposition of their political faith and opinion, and herewith re- assert and set forth the principles therein contained as embracing the only doctrines which can preserve the integrity of the Union and the equal rights of the States, and most unequivocally deny the Squatter Sovereignty interpretation given to that platform; and that we will ^Proceedings of the Democratic State Convention of Texas, held in the City of Galveston on the 2nd day of April, 1860. Printed at the "News" Book and Job Establishment, Galveston, 1860. 6328 82 Platforms of Political continue to adhere to and abide by the principles and doctrines of the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798 and 1799 and Mr. Madison's report relative thereto. 2. That in order to give greater emphasis to these principles, as applicable to present political issues and exigencies, we further and specifically declare, First, That Texas, as an independent and sovereign State, joined the confederacy of the United States, thereby entering into a compact with each and all the States, the terms and conditions whereof are embraced in the Constitution of the United States, one of them being, in effect, that the State of Texas, being a member of the confederacy, should exercise through the government of the United States certain powers which belong to her as a sovereignty, and which she had exer- cised through her own government. That in becoming a member of the confederacy, Texas parted with no portion of her sovereignty but merely changed the agent through whom she should exercise some of the powers appertaining to it. That should these powers be used at any time to her injury or wrong, or should the government to which they are confided usurp powers not delegated to it by her, or should that government fail to exercise the powers which are delegated in good faith for the maintenance of her rights and the rights of her people, or should the compact she has entered into with the other States, through the bad faith of any of them, fail to accomplish the objects for which it was formed, in any of these cases, of the ex- istence of which she alone can judge for herself, the State of Texas possesses the full right as a sovereign State to annual the compact, to revoke the powers, she has delegated to the government of the United States, to withdraw from the confederacy, and resume her place among the powers of the earth as a sovereign and independent nation. Second, That it is the right of every citizen to take his property ,of every kind, including slaves, into the common territory belonging equally to all of the States of the confederacy, and to have it protected there under the Federal Constitution. Neither Congress, nor a Terri- torial legislature, nor any human power has any authority, either directly or indirectly, to impair those sacred rights, and they, having been affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States in the Dred Scott Case, we declare that it is the duty of the Federal government, the common agent of all the States, to establish such government and to enact such laws for the Territories, and to change the same from time to time, as may be necessary to insure the protection and pre- servation of those rights, and to prevent any infringement of the same. The affirmation of this principle of the duty of Congress to simply protect the rights of property is in no wise in conflict with the heretofore established and still recognized principles of the Democratic party, that Congress does not possess the power to legislate slavery into the Territories or exclude it therefrom. Third, That while we declare our unabated attachment to the Con- Parties in Texas 83 stitution and Union of these States, our own self-respect demands of us as a party to affirm that this Union can only be held sacred so long as it secures domestic tranquility and all the guarantees of the Constitu- tion are preserved inviolate. That we regard with great aversion the unnatural efforts of a sectional party at the North to carry on an "irrepressible conflict" against the institution of slavery, and whenever that party shall succeed in electing a President upon their platform, we deem it to be the duty of the people of the State of Texas to hold themselves in readiness to cooperate with our sister States of the South in convention to take into consideration such measures as may be necessary for our protection, or to secure out of the confederacy that protection of their rights which they can no longer hope for in it. Fourth, That this government was founded for the benefit of the white race, that political power was placed exclusively in the hands of men of Caucasian origin, that experience has taught these self- evident truths, that the enforced equality of the African and European tends not to the elevation of the negro but to the degradation of the white man, and that the present relation of the blacks and whites in the South constitutes the only true, natural, and harmonious relation- ship in which the otherwise antagonistic races can live together and achieve mutual happiness and destiny. That we view with undis- guised aversion and with a determined resolution to resist the designs openly proclaimed by the leaders of sectionalism in the North, "to abolish these distinctions of races, peaceably, if we can; forcibly, if we must." We regard any effort by the Black Republican party to disturb the happily existing subordinate condition of the negro race in the South as violative of the organic act guaranteeing the supremacy of the white race, and any political action which proposes to invest negroes with equal social and political equality with the white race as an infraction of those wise and wholesome distinctions of nature which all experience teaches were established to insure the prosperity and happiness of each race. Frontier Protection [3] The following resolutions from the special committee on frontier protection were ordered to be engrossed as a part of the platform: Resolved, (1) That the Democratic party of Texas, looking to the actual Indian war on our frontier, to the ruthless murder of men, women, and children, and the enormous destruction and robbery of property, stand pledged to sustain the most efficient and active warfare against the savage enemy; that they approve of the appropriation of over four hundred thousand dollars by the late legislature for frontier protection, and demand of the Governor of the State that it shall be expended in an active, efficient offensive war with the Indians, and not frittered away in temporizing expedients, or in buying treaties by 84 Platforms of Political means of presents, annuities, or any other mode of consummating a treaty with treacherous savages. (2) That the term "friendly" loses all its meaning when applied to the Indians within the territory of Texas, and that any force raised for the protection of our frontier should be directed to pursue' all Indians to their destruction, within our territory, and if their depredations are persisted in to pursue and chastise them even beyond our limits wherever found. (3) That it is the duty of the Federal government, by solemn stipu- lation, to afford sufficient protection to the lives and property of the citizens of this State, but that in the absence of efficient protection by the general government the citizens of this State stand fully justified by the emergency of existing danger in adopting such measures as will secure their self-preservation. (4) That the policy of contracting the settlement of the frontier is contrary to the spirit of the American people, the history of our country, and injurious to the best interests of Texas. Additional Resolutions [4] That while we decline to indorse the course of the present Federal administration with reference to our frontier and some other questions of National policy, we deem it proper at the same time to declare that the policy of the administration, in the main, and es- pecially the sentiments expressed by President Buchanan in his late annual message with reference to the question which most vitally concerns the South, meets with our approbation and endorsement. [5] That in the death of General Mirabeau B. Lamar Texas has lost one of her beloved, distinguished, and patriotic sons and statesmen, ever generous, chivalrous, and true. [6] A resolution was adopted instructing the delegates to the Charleston convention to insist upon the adoption of the two-thirds rule. Dallas was chosen as the place and the second Monday in April, 1861, as the date for the meeting of the next State convention. Democratic Committee: John Marshall, of Travis, chairman; 1. District, P. P. Williams, of Colorado; 2. Wm. Byrd, of Travis; 3. A. M. Lewis, of Washington ; 4. Jacob Waelder, of Bexar ; 5. John A. Hall, of Sabine; 6. J. M. Clough, of Harrison; 7. A. P. Wiley, of Walker; 8. B. C. Bagby, of Fannin; 9. Matt. Dale, of Anderson; 10. Thos. M. Harwood, of Gonzales; 11. A. C. Hyde, of El Paso; 12. Ed. Scarborough, of Cameron; 13. W. D. Wood, of Leon; 14. W. W. Dunlap, of Goliad; 15. E. B. Pickett, of Liberty ; 16. Nat Terry, of Tarrant ; 17. Thos. Moore, of Burnet ; Parties in Texas 85 18. Francis Richbuzer, of Medina; 19. James Harrison, of Mc- Lennan; 20. J. A. Hall, of Jackson. SAN JACINTO BATTLE GROUND ASSEMBLY, 1860 April 21 In pursuance of a call, issued April 9th, for a meeting of the friends of General Sam Houston, favorable to his election to the Presidency of the United States, a large assembly of ladies and gentlemen convened on the Battle Ground of San Jacinto on the 21st of April. Colonel Isaac L. Hill, of Fayette county, one of the surviving heroes of the Battle of San Jacinto, was called to the chair. He announced that the purpose of the meeting was not only to commemorate the ever glorious anniversary, but also to tender to the people of the United States as a candidate for the chief magistracy the name of the distinguished hero who had led our forces to victory on that ground. Officers: President, Isaac L. Hill, of Fayette. Viee-Presi- dents, James Morgan, Andrew Daly, Michael McCormic*, Sam Paschal*, Ellis Benson*, Thomas Martin t, 6. W. Jones*, William McFarland*, C. 0. Kelly*, H. G. Pannellt, Fenton M. Gibsont, and Jesse White t, of Harris county, Andrew Montgomery*, J. J. Greenwood of Grimes, M. C. Rodgers of Walker, John M. Brown of Washington, Hambleton Ledbetter of Fayette, Stephen Southwick and William Dunbar of Galveston, G. H. Lovet of Freestone, W. S. Taylor* of Montgomery, T. H. Mundine of Burleson, A. C. Hydet of El Paso. Secretaries, Andrew Daly and John Brashear. Committee on Resolutions: D. D. Atchison, of Galveston, chairman; A. M. Gentry, H. H. Allen, A. McGowan, A. N. Jor- dan, John H. Manley, Stephen Southwick, J. C. Smith, Andrew Daly, D. J. Baldwin. ""The vice-presidents whose names are marked with a star were in the Battle of San Jacinto ; those marked with a dagger were officers or soldiers in the Revolution of 1836, or under the Republic." 86 Platforms of Political REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE 1 Assembled as we are on the Battle Ground of San Jacinto, a spot consecrated by the blood and valor of those who periled their every- thing in their country's cause, we deem this occasion and the place as well fitted to utter a few words to our fellow-citizens upon the great questions which lay at the foundation of our National prosperity and happiness. We have fallen upon evil times. Political jobbers have maneuvered and squabbled, when they should have labored for the public good; they have invented new questions to distract the public mind; they have arrayed one section of our common country against another; they have sown discord where confidence and good will would have prevailed but for their wicked efforts, until the glorious fabric of good government which has secured an unexampled prosperity to our people has been greatly endangered if not well nigh demolished. We are tired of being bartered off, and "compromised" by party conventions and cliques, and think it high time that the voters of the United States of America should for once, at least, take the matter of choosing their Chief Magistrate into their own hands without consult- ing sectional or partisan leaders from any quarter. The time has now arrived when all conservative men of whatever section who love their country should unite on a common platform of reciprocal justice for the preservation of the Constitution and the perpetuity of the Union; therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That the present attitude of the two leading parties of the United States, standing upon opposite geographical divisions and respectively seeking success by appeals to sectional prejudices, creates an imminent necessity for the people of all the States to rally around some presidential candidate of National character, whose public services have been devoted to the best interests of the whole country and whose name shall inspire confidence in the hearts of all Union loving patriots; under whose banners they can form from every portion of our beloved Union, forgetting sectional and partisan rancor and coming up shoulder to shoulder to sustain and perpetuate our liberties as did the patriots of old to establish them. 2. That we recommend to the conservative people of the Nation our distinguished fellow-citizen General Sam Houston as the Peoples' candidate for the Presidency, assured that his devotion to the Consti- tution and the Union, his illustrious life, and great public services give a better guarantee for the wisdom and patriotism of his adminis- tration than any platform that parties can construct. The people know him to be a true and safe man who loves his country and rejoices in the advancement of every part of it; one of the few left of the old proceedings of the San Jacinto Battle Ground Assembly are taken from the Harrison Flag (Marshall,) May 11, 1860, which copied them from the Houston Republic. Parties in Texas 8? school of patriots and statesmen who would exert all of his power to arrest the growth of the spirit of disunion and check the increasing tide of extravagance and corruption now so rapidly undermining the principle upon which our government was founded. Under such an administration tranquility and confidence must be restored at home, respect commanded abroad, while political freedom, social happiness, and material prosperity, the fruits of peace and order, will be assured to our distracted neighbor Mexico, under a judicious American pro- tectorate, alike demanded as a measure of salvation to a rapidly decaying government, ready to lapse into barbarism, or fall a prey to European despotism, and for the preservation of our political and commercial interests on this continent. 3. That we call upon all conservative men, of all parties and in all sections of our Union, whether assembled in conventions or otherwise, to weigh well the present condition of the country and to unite with us in crushing out every species of fanaticism, in an earnest and sincere effort to recall the Nation to a sense of impending dangers in- voke their assistance by falling in line with us under the Constitution and the Union. 4. That we recommend to our fellow-citizens the following electors for the State at large to be voted for in November next: Hon. Geo. W. Smyth, of Jasper; Col. M. T. Johnson, of Tarrant; Col. Sam Bogart, of Collin, elector for the Eastern, and Hon. Jesse Grimes, of Grimes county, elector for the Western congressional district. 5. That we recommend to our friends throughout the State the selection of efficient electors for each Judicial District who will take the field and canvass from the stump their respective districts. Committee of Correspondence: John H. Manley, A. M. Gen- try, H. H. Allen, D. J. Baldwin, Stephen Southwick, Jesse White, E. F. Williams, A. N. Jordan, A. Daly, John W. Harris. HOUSTON'S ACCEPTANCE The National Constitutional Union convention met at Balti- more, May 9, 1860. Sam Houston and John Bell were the lead- ing candidates for the nomination. On the first ballot Hous- ton received fifty-seven and Bell sixty-eight votes ; on the second and final ballot Houston received sixty-eight and Bell one hun- dred and thirty-eight votes. In view of these facts the follow- ing letter of acceptance is all the more remarkable. 88 Platforms of Political AUSTIN, TEXAS, May 24, I860. 1 MESSRS. D. D. ATCIIISON AND J. W. HARRIS, GENTLEMEN: In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, I will say that I have responded to the people at San Jacinto, and consented to let my name go before the country as the People's candidate for President. In yielding to the call of my fellow-citizens of Texas, in June last, to become a candidate for Governor, I said: "The Constitution and the Union embrace the principles by which I will be governed if elected. They comprehend all the old Jackson National Democracy I ever pro- fessed or officially practiced." These have ev-er guided my action. I have no new principles to annouce. Thine truly, SAM HOUSTON. CONSTITUTIONAL UNION ELECTORS. 1860 The Constitutional Union men in Texas were placed in an awkward predicament by the persistence of Sam Houston as a candidate for the Presidency after the nomination of John Bell. Houston had been their first choice, but his course clearly meant the loss of Texas to their cause. Meetings were held at Marshall and at Austin at which Bell was indorsed, and the following candidates for presidential electors were nominated. On August 18, 1860, General Houston addressed a letter to "my friends in the United States" in which he announced his withdrawal from the candidacy for the Presidency. Presidential Electors: State at large, William Stedman, of Rusk, and Geo. W. Paschal, of Travis; Eastern congressional district, Ben H. Epperson, of Eed Eiver ; Western congressional district, John R. Robson, of SECESSION CONVENTION, 1861 AUSTIN, January 28 The results of the presidential election of 1860 caused a wide- spread demand in Texas for a convention of the people to con- sider the grave issue confronting them. Numerous petitions were addressed to Governor Houston asking him to convene the 1( This letter is copied from the Harrison Flag, June 8, 1860. Parties in Texas 89 legislature preliminary to a convention. He refused to do so. Early in December an address to the people of Texas was pre- pared at Austin and signed by prominent citizens from different parts of the State. It recommended the election on January 8, 1861, of delegates to a State convention to assemble at Austin on January 28th. On December 17, Governor Houston issued a proclamation calling the legislature to meet on January 21st. The legislature and the convention met on the days appointed, and the former promptly gave its approval and assent to the latter. On February 1 the convention adopted the Ordinance of Secession by a vote of one hundred and fifty-two to six, and a committee was appointed to prepare an address to the people of Texas setting ,forth the causes of secession. The convention remained in session one month and transacted much important business. Officers: President, 0. M. Roberts, of Smith; Secretary, R. T. Brownrigg, of Travis. Committee on Address: John Henry Brown, George M. Flour- noy, Jno. A. Wilcox, M. D. Graham, and A. P. Wiley. ADDRESS A declaration of the causes which impel the State of Texas to secede from the Federal Union. The government of the United States, by certain joint resolutions, bearing date the 1st day of March, in the year A. D. 1845, proposed to the Republic of Texas, then a free, sovereign and independent nation, the annexation of the latter to the former, as one of the coequal States thereof. The people of Texas, by deputies in convention assembled, on the fourth day of July of the same year, assented to and accepted said proposals and formed a constitution for the proposed State, upon which on the 29th day of December in the same year, said State was formally admitted into the Confederated Union. Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated States to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. She was received into the confed- eracy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the Federal Constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. She was received as a commonwealth holding, main- taining, and protecting the institution known as negro slavery the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits a rela- 90 Platforms of Political tion that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time. Her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slaveholding States of the Confederacy. Those ties have been strengthened by association. But what has been the course of the government of the United States, and of the people and authorities of the nonslaveholding States, since our connection with them? The controlling majority of the Federal government, under various pretences and disguises, has so administered the same as to exclude the citizens of the Southern) States, unless under odious and unconsti- tutional restrictions, from all the immense territory owned in com- mon by all the States on the Pacific Ocean, for the avowed purpose of acquiring sufficient power in the common government to use it as a means of destroying the institutions of Texas and her sister slave- holding States. '"$' By disloyalty of the Northern States and their citizens and the imbecility of the Federal government, infamous combinations of in- cendiaries and outlaws have been permitted in those States and the common Territory of Kansas to trample upon the Federal laws, to war upon the lives and property of Southern citizens in that Territory, and finally, by violence and mob law, to usurp the possession of the' same as exclusively the property of the Northern States. The Federal government, while but partially under the control of these our unnatural and sectional enemies, has for years almost en- tirely failed to protect the lives and property of the people of Texas against the Indian savages on our border, and more recently against the murderous forays of banditti from the neighboring territory of Mexico; and when our State government has expended large amounts for such purpose, the Federal government has refused reimbursement therefor, thus rendering our condition more insecure and harassing than it was during the existence of the Republic of Texas. These and other wrongs we have patiently borne in the vain hope that a returning sense of justice and humanity would induce a dif- ferent course of administration. When we advert to the course of individual nonslaveholding States, and that of a majority of their citizens, our grievances assume far greater magnitude. The States of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, by solemn legislative enactments, have deliber- ately, directly or indirectly violated the 3rd clause of the 2nd section of the 4th article of the Federal Constitution, and laws passed in pur- suance thereof; thereby annulling a material provision of the compact, designed by its framers to perpetuate amity between the members of the confederacy and to secure the rights of the slaveholding States in their domestic institutions a provision founded in justice and wis- Parties in Texas 91 dom, and without the enforcement of which the compact fails to ac- complish the object of its creation. Some of those States have imposed high fines and degrading penalties upon any of their citizens or offi- cers who may carry out in good faith that provision of the compact, or the Federal laws enacted in accordance therewith. In all the nonslaveholding States, in violation of that good faith and comity which should exist between entirely distinct nations, the people have formed themselves into a great sectional party, now strong enough in numbers to control the affairs of each of those States based upon the unnatural feeling of hostility to these Southern States and their beneficent and patriarchal system of African slavery, pro- claiming the debasing doctrine of the equality of all men, irrespective of race or color a doctrine at war with nature, in opposition to the experience of mankind, and in violation of the plainest revelations of the Divine Law v They demand the abolition of negro slavery throughout the Confederacy, the recognition of political equality be- tween the white and the negro races, and avow their determination to press on their crusade against us, so long as a negro slave remains in these States. For years past this abolition organization has been actively sowing the seeds of discord through the Union, and has rendered the Federal Congress the arena for spreading firebrands and hatred between the slaveholding and nonslaveholding States. By consolidating their strength, they have placed the slaveholding States in a hopeless minority in the Federal Congress, and rendered representation of no avail in protecting Southern rights against their exactions and encroachments. They have proclaimed, and at the ballot box sustained, the revolu- tionary doctrine that there is a "higher law" than the Constitution and laws of our Federal Union, and virtually that they will disregard their oaths and trample upon our rights. They have for years past encouraged and sustained lawless organi- zations to steal our slaves and prevent their recapture, and have repeatedly murdered Southern citizens while lawfully seeking their rendition. They have invaded Southern soil and murdered unoffending citizens, and through the press their leading men and a fanatical pulpit have bestowed praise upon the actors and assassins in these crimes, while the governors of several of their States have refused to deliver parties implicated and indicted for participation in such offences, upon the legal demands of the States aggrieved. They have, through the mails and hired emissaries, sent seditious pamphlets and papers among us to stir up servile insurrection and bring blood and carnage to our firesides. They have sent hired emissaries among us to burn our towns and distribute arms and poison to our slaves for the same purpose. They have impoverished the slaveholding States by unequal and 92 Platforms of Political partial legislation, thereby enriching themselves by draining our sub- stance. They have refused to vote appropriations for protecting Texas against ruthless savages, for the sole reason that she is a slaveholding State. And, finally, by the combined sectional vote of the seventeen non- slaveholding States, they have elected as President and Vice-President of the whole Confederacy two men whose chief claims to such high positions are their approval of these long continued wrongs, and their pledges to continue them to the final consummation of these schemes for the ruin of the slaveholding States. In view of these and many other facts, it is meet that our own views should be distinctly proclaimed. We hold as undeniable truths that the governments of the various States, and of the Confederacy its-elf, were established exclusively by the white race, for themselves and their posterity; that the African race had no agency in their establishment; that they were rightfully held and regarded as an inferior and dependent race, and in that con- dition only could their existence in this country be rendered beneficial or tolerable. That in this free government all white men are and of right ought to te entitled, to equal civil and poltical rights; that the servitude of the African race, as existing in these States, is mutually beneficial to both bond and free, and is abundantly authorized and justified by the ex- perience of mankind, and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator, as recognized by all Christian nations; while the destruction of the existing relations between the two races, as advocated by our sectional enemies, would bring inevitable calamities upon both and desolation upon the fifteen slaveholding States. By the secession of six of the slaveholding States, and the certainty that others will speedily do likewise, Texas has no alternative but to remain in an isolated connection with the North, or unite her destinies with the South. For these and other reasons, solemnly asserting that the Federal Constitution has been violated and virtually abrogated by the several States named, seeing that the Federal government is now passing under the control of our enemies to be diverted from the exalted ob- jects of its creation to those of oppression and wrong, and realizing that our own State can no longer look for protection but to God and her own sons We, the delegates of the people of Texas, in Conven- tion assembled, have passed an ordinance dissolving all political con- nection with the government of the United States of America and the people thereof and confidently appeal to the intelligence and patriot- ism of the freemen of Texas to ratify the same at the ballot box, on the 23rd day of the present month. Adopted in Convention on the 2nd day of February, in the year of Parties in Texas 93 our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one and of the inde- pendence of Texas the twenty-fifth. "O. M. Roberts, (President,) Edwin Waller, L. A. Abercrombie, W. A. Allen, Jas. M. Anderson, T. S. Anderson, James R. Armstrong, Richard L. Askew, W. S. J. Adams, Wm. C. Battle, S. W. Beazley, John Box, H. N. Burditt, Jas. M. Burroughs, Jno. I. Burton, S. E. Black, W. T. Blythe, Amzi Bradshaw, R. W. Brahan, A. S. Broaddus, Jno. Henry Brown, Robt. C. Campbell, Lewis F. Casey, Wm. Cham- bers, T. J. Chambers, Jno. G. Chambers, N. B. Charlton, Geo. W. Chilton, Isham Chisum, Wm. Clark, Jr., J. A. Clayton, Chas. L. Cleveland, A. G. Clopton, Richd. Coke, James E. Cook, Jon W. Dancy, A. H. Davidson, C. Been, Thos. J. Devine, Thos. G. Daven- port, Jas. J. Diamond, Wm. W. Diamond, Jno. Donelson, Jos. H. Dunham, Edward Dougherty, H. H. Edwards, Elbert Earley, John N. Fall, Drury Field, Jno. H. Feeney, George Flournoy, Spen- cer Ford, Jno. S. Ford, Thos. C. Frost, Amos P. Galloway, Charles Ganahl, Robt. S. Gould, Robt. Graham, Malcolm D. Graham, Peter W. Gray, Jno. A. Green, John Gregg, Wm. P. Hardeman, Jno. P. Hayes, Philemon T. Herbert, A. W. O. Hicks, Thos. B. J. Hill, Alfred M. Hobby, Jos. L. Hogg, J. J. Holt, Jas. Hooker, Edward R. Hord, Russell Howard, A. C. Hoyl, Thos. P. Hughes, J. W. Hutcheson, Jno. Ireland, Thos. J. Jennings, F. Jones, W. C. Kelly, T. Koester, C. M. Lesueur, F. W. Latham, Pryor Lea, Jas. S. Lester, Jno. Littleton, M. F. Locke, Oliver Lofton, Thos. S. Lubbock, P. N. Luckett, Henry A. Maltby, Jesse Marshall, James M. Maxey, Lewis W. Moore, Wm. Mc- Craven, Wm. Mclntosh, Gilchrist McKay, Thos. M. McCraw, Wm. Goodloe Miller, Albert N. Mills, Thos. Moore, Thos. C. Moore, Charles de Montel, B. F. Moss, John Muller, Thos. J. Nash, A. Nauendorf, T. C. Neel, Allison Nelson, Jas. F. Newsom, W. M. Neyland, E. B. Nichols, A. J. Nicholson, E. P. Nicholson, Jas. M. Norris, Alfred T. Obenchain, W. B. Ochiltree, W. S. Oldham, R. J. Palmer, W. M. Payne, W. K. Payne, Wm. M. Peck, W. R. Poag, Alex. Pope, David Y. Portis, D. M. Prendergast, Walter F. Preston, F. P. Price, A. T, Rainey, John H. Reagan, C. Rector, P. G. Rhome, E. S. C. Robertson, J. C. Robertson, J. B. Robertson, Wm. P. Rogers, James H. Rogers, Edward M. Ross, John Rugeley, H. R. Runnels, E. B. Scarborough, Wm. T. Scott, Wm. Read Scurry, James E. Shepard, Sam S. Smith, Gideon Smith, Jno. D. Stell, Jno. G. Stewart, Charles Stewart, F. S. Stockdale, Wm. H. Stewart, Pleasant Taylor, B. F. Terry, Nathaniel Terry, E. Thompson, Jas. G. Thompson, W. S. Todd, Jas. Walworth, R. H. Ward, Wm. Warren, J. C. Watkins, Jno. A. Wharton, Jos. P. Wier, Jno. A. Wilcox, A. P. Wiley, Ben Williams, Jason Wilson, Philip A. Work. R. T. Brownrigg, Secretary. Wm. Dunn Schoolfield and R. W. Lunday, Asst. Secretaries. 94 Platforms of Political DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1861 DALLAS, May 27 The outbreak of hostilities between the North and the South left little inclination for holding county conventions to select delegates to a State convention. Less than thirty counties sent delegates to Dallas. It was, therefore, "deemed unwise and im- politic to make any formal nominations for the offices of gov- ernor, lieutenant-governor and commissioner of the general land office." Officers: President pro tempore, John M. Crockett, of Dallas; permanent, T. M. Likens. Vice-Presidents, John M. Crockett and B. F. Ross. Secretaries, R. W. Lunday, W. J. Sparks, Junius W. Smith and W. H. Thomas. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1866 AUSTIN, February 7- April 2 During the war the military overshadowed the civil authority ; training camps for soldiers replaced political conventions. With the fall of the Confederacy, organized government ceased in Texas. After an interregnum of several months, the provisional governor, A. J. Hamilton, arrived at Galveston July 21st. It was one of his chief duties to provide for the assembling of a constitutional convention to be elected by the loyal voters of Texas. Provision was made for registering the voters, and when the major portion had registered the Governor, on November 15, ordered an election for delegates to be held January 8, 1866. The delegates assembled at Austin February 7th. Stanch Unionists, former Secessionists and a sufficient body of mod- erates to wield the balance of power composed the convention. There was great divergence of opinion between the extreme groups in regard to the action that should be taken upon the important questions resulting from the war : the right of secession, slavery, the war debt, the status of the freedmen, etc. The position taken upon these questions gave rise to groups called Parties in Texas 95 Radicals and Conservatives, which became the nuclei of new political organizations. The convention provided for the hold- ing of a general election in June, and before it adjourned each party held a caucus, put forward candidates, and made prepara- tions for the campaign. RADICAL UNION CAUCUS, 1866 AUSTIN, March [31?] A caucus of the Radical members of the Constitutional Con- vention, composed of the following delegates, agreed upon the declaration of principles and indorsed the candidates set forth below : . Members of Caucus: Albert H. Latimer, of Red River; I. A. Paschal, of Bexar; A. P. McCormick, of Brazos; H. Ledbetter, of Fayette; Hardin Hart, of Hunt; E. Degener, of Bexar; W. P. Bacon, of El Paso; A. P. Shuford, of Wood; X. B. Saunders, of Bell; W. M. Varnell, of Jackson; L. B. Camp, of Goliad; Daniel Murchison, of Comal ; James E. Ranck, of Mason ; Edmund J. Davis, of Webb; M. L. Armstrong, of Lamar; G. C. Benge, of Cherokee; F. J. Parker, of Cameron; A. Smith, of Lamar; Robert H. Taylor, of Fannin; J. B. Thomas, of Cameron; J. W. Flanagan, of Rusk; B. G. Shields, of Falls; S. M. Young, of Llano. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, E. M. Pease, of Travis ; Lieutenant-Governor, B. H. Epperson, of Red River; Attorney- General, C. C. Binkley, of Grayson; Comptroller, James Shaw, of Burleson; Treasurer, Sam Harris, of Travis; Commissioner of the General Land Office, F. M. White, of Jackson; Judges of the Supreme Court, William E. Jones, of Bexar, James H. Bell, of Williamson, C. Galdwell, of Grimes, William Stedman, of Rusk. William H. Johnson, of Lamar. DECLARATION OP PRINCIPLES To the Voters of Texas: Inasmuch as you will be called on to elect State, district and county officers on the fourth Monday in June next, we take the liberty re- spectfully to present to your consideration the propriety of uniting in 96 Platforms of Political such a declaration , of principles, and in the support of such men as will be most likely to secure, for the State of Texas, representation in the Congress of the United States and the full enjoyment of all her constitutional rights and privileges. "We are just 'emerging from an unnecessary and unhappy war, which has brought poverty, distress, and almost every form of calamity upon the people of the South. We have reason to fear that there are yet amongst us many who propose to pursue such a course in the future as will justify what has been done in the past, and thus furnish the fuel for continued strife and agitation, at the expense of the liberty, the tranquility, and the prosperity of the people. We want peace; we want a firm and regular administration of the laws, in the courts of the country, for the protection of life and property. We wish to see order restored throughout our State; we wish for the security of the domestic fireside; we wish industry to be undisturbed, so that the losses of the past can be repaired; we wish to see the Union restored in fact as well as in theory; we wish the hearts of all the people to warm once more with love for the Union and the government established by our fathers, that they may be in the future, as they were in the past, the Union and government of a free, prosperous, powerful, and happy people. We wish our beloved State to regain as soon as possible, her position as a member of the Federal Union, that her people may have a voice in the councils of the Nation, and share the benefits of fostering and beneficent legislation. To these ends, fellow-citizens, we cordially invite all men who love the Union and who desire its permanent power and glory, without respect to past differences, to unite in the following declaration of principles: 1. That we are unalterably devoted to our republican form of government, as established by the patriots of '76, and that we denounce the assumption of those who seek to justify the late rebellion by declaring that republican institutions have proved to be a failure; that we have no sympathy with monarchies or imperialists, but fondly hope that our free institutions may endure to the latest posterity; to which end we pledge ourselves to contribute, as much as in us lies, by a hearty and undeviating support of the constitutional authority of the government of the United States, and of the State. 2. That we fully recognize the supremacy of the Constitution of the United States, and of the laws made in pursuance thereof; that we believe it was wisely ordained that they should be the supreme law of the land, in all the States of the Union, anything in the constitu- tion or laws of the States to the contrary notwithstanding; that we regard the Union of the States, under the Constitution, as the best guarantee of civil liberty to the American people, and that under the powerful and benign influence of the Union we and our posterity may reasonably hope to enjoy the fullest protection for life and property, and the largest measure of prosperity and happiness. Parties in Texas 97 3. That we hold the Act of Secession, adopted in convention, at the City of Austin, on the 1st day of February, A. D. 1861, to have been in violation of the Constitution of the United States, and of the con- stitutional obligation of the State of Texas to the other States of the Union and, therefore, null and void from the beginning. 4. That we feel, in its full force, the obligation which rests upon the whole people of the United States to maintain the National credit, and to that end we pledge ourselves to give a hearty support to the National government in all proper efforts for the liquidation and discharge of the public debt; and we will oppose every effort to re- pudiate the same, and every effort to burden the loyal people of the United States with the debt of the Confederate States or any portion of it. 5. That we have unabated confidence that the wisdom and patriot- ism of the President of the United States and of the representatives of the people in Congress assembled will prove adequate to the task of guiding the country safely through the perils and difficulties of the present time, and of restoring the States to their constitutional rela- tions to each other, in such manner that the great principles of con- stitutional liberty will be at the same time vindicated and preserved. 6. That we acquiesce sincerely in the act of the Nation abolishing slavery, and that we will endeavor to ameliorate the condition of the freed people in our midst by treating them with justice, and by accord- ing to them, not grudgingly but willingly and heartily, the rights which are now, or may hereafter be, secured to them by the Constitution and the laws. 7. That we proclaim anew the liberty of speech and of the press, and the right of the people to assert and publish their opinions upon all subjects touching the public welfare; that upon the preservation of these inestimable rights depend the permanent existence and value of republican government; that their suppression in this State, during the past five years, was both ruinous and despotic, and that we hold it to be one of the highest duties of the people to rally to their reassertion, and to fix them upon immovable foundations. 8. That our form of government reposes upon the intelligence of the people, and that an honest and patriotic devotion to its great principles is entirely consistent with individual freedom of opinion; that we fully recognize the fact that very grave questions are now, for the first time, presented to the people, and that we, therefore, freely tolerate differences of opinion upon all subjects not embraced within the foregoing propositions. Upon these principles, fellow-citizens, we think that all lovers of the Union may, and ought to unite. r 328 98 Platforms of Political CONSERVATIVE UNION CAUCUS, 1866 AUSTIN, t April 2 A caucus, composed in the main of Conservative delegates to the Constitutional Convention, was held to checkmate the action of the Radical caucus. The following persons attended and signed the letter below : Members of Caucus: John Hancock, J. K. P. Record, M. T. Johnson, 0. M. Roberts, J. W. Henderson, H. P. Mabry, C. C. Herbert, H. R. Runnels, John D. Nash, J. W. Whitfield, J. M. Lindsay, W. C. Dalrymple, J. M. Hurt, A. M. Gentry, J. K. Bumpass, A. W. Nelson, J. M. Norris, A. Harwood, F. A. Hill, W. R. Anderson, A. J. Ball, R. F. Slaughter, Benjamin R. Tyus, Wells Thompson, A. W. Moore, W. M. Walton, Benton Ran- dolph, J. H. Parsons, A. W. Terrell, C. S. West. To HON. J. W. THROCKMOBTON AND HON. GEO. W. JONES r 1 GENTLEMEN: The undersigned representing, as they believe, the views of the people in various portions of the State, without distinc- tion as to past party affiliations, desire ^permission to use your names for the positions of Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Texas at the next election. Knowing you to be opposed to the radicalism of the day, which is persistently sought to be imposed upon the people of Texas, and being fully satisfied of your opposition to negro suffrage, and the hasty and inconsiderate elevation of the negro to political equality; knowing also that you indorse the good faith of the people of Texas, in their professions of loyalty to the general government, and appreciating their earnest desire for our State to be restored to her former Federal relations at the earliest practicable period; And believing, as we do, that the great mass of the people of Texas indorse President Johnson in his policy of restoration, which is based on the Constitution, we desire that you, whom we know to entertain the same views of his policy, should become the standard bearers of the Conservative Union men of the State in the coming election. Though you have persistently refused to allow your names to be used in this connection, the events of the last few days, we believe, render it necessary that you should yield to our wishes on this sub- ject. These events speak trumpet-tongued to every patriot in the land. The radical branch of the Republican party of the North, who l The Daily Herald (San Antonio,) April 10, 1866. Parties in Texas 99 closed the doors of Congress against Southern representatives, who have declared their intention to reduce us to a condition of territorial vassalage, and to place us below the level of those who were once our slaves, have their adherents in our very midst. They have had their caucuses, adopted their platforms, nominated their candidates for the principal offices in the State, and are determined to aid and abet Stevens, Sumner, and Phillips, in their opposition to the policy of the President, in their raids against constitutional liberty, and in the establishment of a consolidated despotic government. , We assure you that this call is not confined to a few persons, nor to any particular locality, but comes from every portion of the State; from men who are determined, if possible, to preserve the country and its institutions from the machinations of those, who in the last hours of the Convention defeated the resolution indorsing the policy of the President, and are determined to bind us, hand and foot, and surrender us to the Radical Republicans, or prolong indefinitely Provisional and Military Rule. THROCKMORTON'S ACCEPTANCE AUSTIN, April 3, 1866. 1 MESSRS. HANCOCK, RECORD, JOHNSON, MABRY, HENDERSON, HERBERT, RUNNELS, NASH, and others: GENTLEMEN: Your communication of the 2nd inst, requesting that I should become a candidate for Governor of the State, at the ensuing election, on the fourth Monday in June next, has just been handed me, and in reply I have the honor to say that I recognize the obligation that rests upon every individual to respond to the wishes of the people when their interest or free institutions are endangered, and fully con- curring with you in the views and sentiments you have expressed, I yield, regardless of my inclinations or interest, to your request and authorize you to use my name as the candidate of the Conservative, Union sentiment of Texas, for Governor. I have the honor, Gentlemen, to be Very respectfully, J. W. THROCKMORTON. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1867 HOUSTON, July 4 and 5 By the passage of the Reconstruction Acts of March, 1867, the President's plan of reconstruction was set aside. The re- constructing of civil government, therefore, had to be begun *The Daily Herald (San Antonio,) April 10, 1866. 100 Platforms of Political over again. The negro was given the ballot to assist in the pro- cess. A large number of ex-Confederates was disfranchised. Registration of voters began about the middle of May. The conservative white men were slow to register. The freed- man showed great eagerness to do so. The Radicals lost no time in seeking to enlist the colored voters on their side. Mass meet- ings were held, local organizations perfected, and a State con- vention was held in Houston in July. The convention was over- whelmingly African in its composition; the white delegates did not exceed twenty in number, while the colored numbered about one hundred and fifty. The absence of Union men was con- spicuous. Only twenty-six counties had delegates present. Officers: President, E. M. Pease. Vice-Presidents, Jesse Stencil, of Galveston; G. T. Ruby, of Galveston; Burl , of Harris; "William Richie, of Navarro; and W. B. Moore, of Bexar. Secretaries, William R. Fayle, Charles W. Winn, and Scipio P. McKee. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: S. P. Butler, of Walker; W._C.Jravis, of Lavaca; A. J. Evans, of McLennan; Jessie Stencil, of Galveston; JohnJEI. Lippard, of Hill; C. M. Winn, of Navarro; B. W. Hall, of Freestone; G, R. Scott, of Travis; W^JHosran, of Anderson; S. Mullin, of Falls; J. Rein- hart, of Grimes; J. H^Bell, Williamson; W. E. Horn, of Whar- ton; H. Ledbetter, of Fayette; R. Haywood, of Washington; W. B. Moore, of Bexar ; A. Henry, of Chambers ; Oscar Kneese, of Caldwell; A. Wade, of Gonzales; E. Cross, of Comal; C. B. Sabin, of Harris ; J. F. Gordon, of Guadalupe ; S. Curtis, of Fort Bend ; D. Gregory, of Fort Bend. PLATFORM 1 WHEREAS, The Loyal men of Texas, without distinction of race or color, believe it to be their duty, under the circumstances of the country, to organize for the purpose of more effectually aiding in the reconstruction of our State government, in accordance with the Re- construction Act passed by the Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States, on the 2nd of March, 1867, and the Supplementary Act, passed by the Fortieth Congress on the 23rd of March, 1867; and to that end have now assembled in convention; and, J The platform is copied from the Tri-Weekly Austin Republican, October 26, 1867. Parties in T.exas 101 WHEREAS, it is proper that we should publicly declare the views and principles upon which we propose to act, and by which we intend, as a party, to be guided; therefore, Resolved, 1. That we recognize the National Republican party as the means under Providence of saving our country and government from the calamity of successful rebellion, and of incorporating into our National legislation, as a living and fruitful principle, the declara- tion of our fathers, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that our gratitude is due to this party for their great services in the cause of free govern- ment and human liberty; that we do now take our place in its ranks, and call upon every man in Texas, who loves the Union or desires its perpetuity, to rally to its support. 2. That we do not hesitate to declare ourselves unconditional Union men; not because we would invite from the National government oppressions and wrongs, but because we see in the past abundant evi- dence of a determination on the part of the people of the United States to preserve a free republican government; because the policy and temper of the National government appear to us to have been always parental, inspiring us with confidence that we will never be called upon to submit to measures not directed by a supreme regard for the general safety and welfare of the Nation; and because we esteem union as the fundamental condition of the greatness, prosperity, and happiness of the American people. 3. That we pledge ourselves to a hearty support of the reconstruc- tion measures enacted by the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses of the United States, and that we will do all that in us lies to secure the reorganization of our State government in free accordance with the principles of the said acts of Congress. 4. That we deem the continuance in the civil offices of the State of those who actively participated in the late rebellion, and who are hostile to the Reconstruction Acts passed by Congress, as constituting an impediment to the execution of those acts in their true spirit and intent, which is insuperable. 5. That as a measure of State policy, we will endeavor to establish, at the earliest practicable time, a system of free common schools for the' equal benefit of all children and youths of the scholastic age, without distinction of race or color, to be supported by equal and uni- form taxation, until a school fund can be made available for this purpose. 6. That we will also advocate the enactment of an equitable law by which those of our citizens, without respect to race or color, who have never received any portion of the public lands of the State, may secure homesteads out of our vacant, unappropriated public domain. 7. That we appreciate the disposition which has been manifested by Major General Sheridan and Brevet Major General Griffin to extend 102 Platforms of Political protection to the lives and property of the people of Texas, and that we respectfully invite their consideration of the necessity which still exists for the adoption of active measures to increase this protection, and to secure freedom of speech and of the press throughout the State. 8. That we deem it due to ourselves to declare that the charge which is confidently made against us, of a desire to induce the general government to deal harshly with those who participated in the late rebellion, is a foul slander, propagated for party and unpatriotic pur- poses; that we have constantly and deeply regretted that a contuma- cious spirit of hostility to the government has survived the overthrow of the rebellion, and has manifested itself by opposition, by a majority of our citizens, to measures deemed necessary by Congress to the National' security; that we earnestly desire to see a spirit of concord amongst all the people; that we hail with gratification every evidence of the return of such a spirit; but we will make no further attempt, by any compromise of our principles, to conciliate the enemies of the National government. Central Committee: J. L. Haynes, chairman, A. H. Longley, William Alexander, Ed. Wilkinson, and Henry Dickinson. CONSERVATIVE RECONSTRUCTIONS STATE CONVEN- TION, 1868 HOUSTON, January 20 The day after the call for a convention of the Conservatives was issued from Houston, 1 a group of Conservative Reconstruc- tionists met in Galveston and on the 4th of January issued an address, calling a State convention to meet at Houston on Jan- uary 20th. The object of the convention was represented to be a free interchange of opinion from which there might arise a practical organization to aid in the early restoration of the State into the Union and to adopt measures to warrant the re- opening of the registration of voters 2 . An additional purpose was specified in a letter of T. H. McMahon, leader of the move- ment, issued about ten days later: namely, to consider whether we should not organize to defeat the Africanization of our be- loved commonwealth, as contemplated by the program of the Radicals 3 . The signers of the call included both former Con- federates and Union men, and in general represented the sup- 1 See page 105 below. 2 The call is printed in Flake's Daily Bulletin (Galveston), January 5, 1868. *Ibid., January 14, 1868. Parties in Texas 10IJ porters of the President. The attendance was very small about thirty; the deliberations were not harmonious; and efforts to induce the Conservative convention to adopt their resolutions failed. Officers: George Hancock, chairman; J. C. Cowan, secretary; General Byrne, chairman of the Committee on Resolutions. RESOLUTIONS 4 The loyal Union citizens of the State of Texas in mass convention assembled deem it but just to announce unhesitatingly the sentiments that actuate them in assembling in the interests of an early restoration of the practical relations of the State towards the Federal government, made necessary under the existing Reconstruction- Acts of Congress; therefore, they respectfully present for the consideration of the intelli- gent and patriotic voters of the State the following preamble and resolutions for their approval: WHEREAS, the early fathers of the Republic announced as the corner stone and origin of the Nation the principles set forth in the Declara- tion of Independence, and after the acknowledged independece of the Nation from the mother country, established the existing government, as is exhibited in the preamble and Constitution of the United States: therefore, Resolved, 1. That we fully indorse and proclaim our unalterable allegiance in the wisdom of the Declaration' of Independence, and the kindred necessity of the faithful obedience of all the privileges, rights, and immunities conferred upon all citizens as made incumbent on them by the Constitution of the United States and the laws thereunder. 2. We hold that the adoption of such a line of public policy by the people of this commonwealth will not only cause an early restoration of the State, but will redound to the welfare of the people by their full enjoyment of a republican form of government as guaranteed by the Constitution, and the adoption also of such a liberal State constitution as will guide the future legislation of the State in the interests of a complete development of all its resources and wealth, a liberal policy towards immigration, public lands, railroads, and public school system, which are freely acknowledged to have done so much towards the heretofore prosperity of sister States. 3. The late Civil War having been settled by the arbitrament of the sword, we deem it to be fruitless and valueless to continue in the engendering spirit of such sanguinary conflicts or to reflect upon the causes which produced the same, for we hold the only necessity made incumbent upon all citizens is the free and undeniable acceptance of all the results as determined by the sword and the immediate abroga- 4 The resolutions are copied from Flake's Daily Bulletin,, January 21, 1868. 104 Platforms of Political tion of the ideas of the rebellion which can alone give to a suffering people a speedy and acknowledged restoration of their personal and political rights and privileges in this or any community of the Federal government. 4. That we yield to none in our indorsement and desire for the adoption of healthful State laws that will give to all men equal and exact justice before the law. 5. That a committee be appointed by the president of this conven- tion, of which the Hon. John Hancock, of Austin, shall be chairman, whose duty it shall be to prepare and issue to the citizens of the State an appropriate address urging the people to rise from thein lethargy, and accepting all the privileges and conditions vouchsafed to them by the Reconstruction Acts of Congress. Therefore, we pledge to the "patriotic General commanding this military district our de- termination to faithfully and loyally maintain the obligation we have taken, that in the execution of the laws his declaration of the supremacy of the civil law is a sufficient guarantee that we rely upon in pur- suing the path of restoration under his control, in accordance with the true spirit of the law, and not to meet partisan views and pur- poses, and we are pleased to learn that the Chief Executive of the Nation has seen proper to give his approval to this declaration by an official message. 6. That a State central committee be appointed by the president of this convention, consisting of two citizens of each county, who indorse this platform of principles and the other objects we have in view, and that after the selection of such a committee it will immediately or- ganize so that the people of this State may be placed under a thorough organization, which course alone will guarantee a complete victory to our labors in the interests of an early restoration of the Lone Star into the sisterhood of the Union. Committee to confer with tlie Conservatives: George Han- cock, General Byrne, G. H. Giddings, Ham. Stuart, Geo. W. Carter. CONSERVATIVE STATE CONVENTION, 1868 HOUSTON, January 20-22 Registration of voters had ceased September 28th. On De- cember 18, 1867, General Hancock ordered that an election be held at each county seat from February 10th to 14th to deter- mine whether a constitutional convention should be called and to, select delegates to the same. At the same time he ordered that Parties in Texas ]05 the registry lists should be reopened and revised during the Last five days of January. 1 The Conservatives, who had manifested little active interest in the course of events, were thus confronted with the necessity of determining at once upon a line of action. On January 2nd, a call was issued from Houston for a State convention. Considering the grave aspect of political affairs, said the signers of the call, we deem it advisable that the con- servative people of the State should counsel together as to the course most expedient to adopt in relation to the approaching election. 2 The signers, with one exception, were former Confed- erates. The attendance was not large, but larger than that of its contemporary, the Conservative Eeconstructionist Convention. No credentials were required. The proceedings were marked by several contests. The appointment of a committee on resolu- tions was opposed by those who favored acceptance of the Con- servative Reconstructionist platform. Some wished to declare for affiliation with the Democratic party; others declared that the object of the convention was to unite all conservative white voters for the maintenance of white supremacy. The committee on resolutions found it difficult to formulate a report, and a long debate was provoked by the second resolution. Officers: President, Champe Carter. Vice-Presidents, John H. Reagan, of Anderson; Ashbel Smith, of Harris; Sam Mav- erick, of Bexar ; Hamilton Stuart, of Galveston ; and J. W. Hen- derson, of Harris. Secretaries, D. W. Shannon, pro tempore; S. B. Barron, permanent. Committee to Confer with the Conservative Reconstructionists : C. C. Gillespie, J. W. Henderson, J. C. Chew, C. J. Evans, J. W. Elam, J. S. Stuart, and B. Trigg. Committee on Resolutions: Ashbel Smith, chairman; P. W. Giray, of Harris; Hamilton Stuart, of Galveston; George Han- cock, of Travis ; W. H. Parsons, of McLennan ; D. C. Giddings, of Washington; S. A. Maverick, of Bexar; W. W. Croft, of Navarro; C. J. Evans, of Brazos; J. H. Reagan, of Anderson; Peter McGreel, of Smith; B. Trigg, of Bastrop; J. T. Joyce, of Austin; J. S. Sullivan, of Fort Bend; and E. W. Cave, of Harris. Reconstruction in Texas, 195-6. 2 The call is printed in Flake's Daily Bulletin, January 5, 1868. 106 Platforms of Political RESOLUTIONS 3 Resolved, 1. That the question of African supremacy arises far above all questions of party, and is vital to the future interests of this State; as subordinate to that, we cheerfully concur with all parties who are opposed to the Africanization of the State. 2. That believing it to be the determination of the Radical party to create a convention, and yet desiring to express our opposition to the Africanization of Texas, we recommend the people of the State entitled to register, to do so and to vote against a convention, and, to guard against the contingency of its being successfully carried, to vote at the same time for the election of delegates to the convention on the basis of creating a constitution without negro suffrage, and asking Congress to accept the same, believing that we should only be recognized as in the Union on a footing of equality with the other States, and that the Northern people will demand no more. 3. That the resolutions of the mass meeting of loyal Union citizens, assembled in this city on the 20th inst, submitted to us for considera- tion, meet the approval of this convention in their general spirit and desire to defeat the Africanization of this State, and to secure its restoration to civil government in the Union. 4. That representing as we believe, and know we do, the true feel- ings and sentiments of the masses of this State, especially the soldiers of the late Confederate army, that in their name and on their behalf, we return our profound acknowledgments to the large majorities of the conservative people of the Northern States, for the late manifesta- tions of their devotion to constitutional liberty, their sympathy for our threatened political misfortunes, their assurances of our ultimate relief and our restoration to equal political rights with themselves; and in the name and on behalf of all Texas, we do hereby extend to all white emigrants from those States, desiring homes in the South- west, the assurance of a cordial welcome, and that full freedom of speech and sentiment, and protection of person and property, are and will be as securely guaranteed to all such, of whatever opinion, as we claim and desire for ourselves. And we further acknowledge to our Northern conservative friends, that as a people we have manfully accepted all the results of the war, with the exception of African domination; and from that dire National calamity, we appeal to the men of our race and kindred in the North in whose hands rests this issue, to save us and themselves and our common posterity. 5. That while we are unalterably opposed to negro supremacy we are in favor of securing to them the full protection of all their rights of person and of property, under just laws bearing equally upon all. 6. That this convention do proceed to appoint a State Executive Committee, to consist of five delegates who shall continue in the 8 The resolutions are copied from Flake's Daily Bulletin, January 23, 1868. Parties in Texas 107 discharge of their duties until after the elections in relation to re- construction shall have been held, or until a State convention shall otherwise order, with power to fill vacancies and, if necessary, to appoint another or other Chairman; and that we recommend to the citizens of each county in this State to form county conservative committees, and to organize precinct committees in each election pre- cinct, such county and precinct organizations to continue in operation until after the elections relating to reconstruction shall have been concluded, with power to supply vacancies in their several organiza- tions. And we appeal to all citizens who sympathize with the objects of this convention to cooperate actively and earnestly with these or- ganizations. 7. That a committee of five be appointed to prepare an address to the people of Texas in behalf of the principles set forth in these resolutions. 4 State Executive Committee: John Hancock, of Travis, chair- man; J. W. Henderson, of Harris; S. A. Maverick, of Bexar; Richard Coke, of McLennan; Hamilton Stuart, of Galveston; L. D. Evans, of Harrison ; J. W. Throckmorton, of Collin ; James H. Starr, of Nacogdoches ; and R. S. Gould, of Leon. RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION, 1868-1869 AUSTIN, June 1- August 31, 1868, and December 7, 1868, to February 6, 1869 At an election held February 14 and 15, 1868, to determine whether or not a constitutional convention should be held, a large majority was in favor of the convention. Tt was the first election in Texas at which negroes voted. The vote for the con- vention was 44,689 (whites, 7,757; blacks, 36,932) : against the convention 11,440 (whites, 10,622; blacks, 818). The convention assembled June 1st; it numbered ninety dele- gates. Of this number nine were negroes ; only about ten were Democrats. Although almost entirely Republican, these dele- gates were nearly equally divided into two groups; one group, inclined to moderate action, was led by A. J. Hamilton, former provisional governor ; the other group, inclined to extreme radi- *Committee to Prepare Address: John H. Reagan, G. W. Carter, W. H. Parsons and E. W. Cave. The address Is printed in Flake's Daily Bulletin, January 25, 1868. 108 Platforms of Political cal measures, was led by Edmund J. Davis, president of the convention. This division showed itself from the beginning; time served only to widen the breach ; and it marked the separa- tion of the Republican party of Texas into two factions. The chief subjects of discord between the two factions were (1) the ab initio queston, L e., declaring void all acts of govern- ment in Texas during the war; (2) the division of the State; and (3) the disfranchisement of some thirty thousand whites, i. e., all those who had been in any way connected with secession. Upon each of these questions the Conservatives received the sup- port of the Democrats and were enabled to frustrate the plans of the Radicals. When the convention terminated, the contest between the two factions was transferred to "Washington. The Radicals tried to persuade Congress and the administration that the new con- stitution should be set aside, and that they should be empowered to formulate another embodying their views upon the subjects of disagreement. The Conservatives were able to meet all their arguments successfully. But, though the Radicals failed in their main purpose, they did so far succeed as to cause the Con- servatives to be suspected of having entered into a coalition with the Democrats and former Secessionists of Texas. As a result. President Grant postponed the time for voting upon the new constitution from the first Monday in July until November 30, 1869. Conservative office holders were displaced by Radicals. The election machinery was placed exclusively in the hands of the latter. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1868 BRYAN, July 7-9 The Reconstruction convention assembled at Austin on June 1, 1868. Assuming that this convention would speedily prepare a constitution which would pave the way for the readmission of Texas to the Union, and there being then in progress a presi- dential campaign, the executive committee of the Conservative party issued a call for a convention to meet at Bryan on July 7th. Parties in Texas J09 Conservative meetings were held in the several counties to select delegates. The attendance was large. Officers: President, J. W. Throckmorton. Vice-Presidents, Epperson, Burney, Maxcy, Boone, Whitfield, Reagan, McCul- lough, Stuart, Davis, Daniels, Harris, Burnet, Vaughn and Fos- cue. Secretaries, Clark, Jones, McGary, Kinney, Chase, Haschall and Chambers. Presidential Electors: 1 State at Large, B. H. Epperson, of Red River, and John Hancock, of Travis; 1st Congressional district, Wm. Stedman, of Harrison; 2nd Congressional district, David Culberson, of Marion; 3rd Congressional district, G. W. Jones, of Bastrop ; 4th Congressional district, C. Upson, of Bexar. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: G. W. Carter, chairman; B. H. Bassett, William Armstrong, W. S. Rather, A. Berny, E. T. Broughton, G. A. Howell, H. H. Boone, W. H. Crank, D. A. Nunn, J. S. Ferguson, E. S. Jamison, H. D. March- bank, J. E. Anderson and Somers Kinney. PLATFORM 2 The Democracy of the State of Texas, by their delegates in con- vention assembled, declare: 1. That the conservative people of the State believe that the prin- ciples of the National Democratic party contain those guarantees of constitutional liberty and regulated government essential to the main- tenance of the Union under the Constitution, and that the success of these principles gives the only assurance of averting Radical rule, anarchy, and despotism; and we declare the Democracy of the State an integral part of the Democracy of the Union; and that we will rally under its time-honored banner with all the energy and enthusiasm of a people who hope, through its triumphs, once more to enjoy the bless- ings of civil government and equality in the Union, and to escape the disfranchisement, negro supremacy, degradation and ruin now threat- ened by the Radical party. 2. That we acquiesce in good faith in the abolishment of negro slavery, the repudiation of the war debt of the State, and its abandon- ment of the doctrine of secession as a peaceable remedy for State *The tardy progress of the Reconstruction Convention in preparing a con- stitution delayed the readmission of Texas : so that no election for presidential electors was held. 2 The platform is copied from Flake's Daily Bulletin (Galveston,) July 12, 1868. Cf. Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia, 1868, p. 731. 110 Platforms of Political grievances, as results of the war finally settled, and do not propose to disturb or change the result. 3. That it is our purpose to adhere in good faith to our renewed allegiance to the Constitution and government of the United States, and to cultivate fraternal good will with the people of all parts of the country; and we repel with indignation the charges of disloyalty falsely made against us by the Radical party for the purpose of per- petuating military despotism over us, and as a pretext for the dis- franchisement of those who do not agree with their political opinions, and to maintain themselves in political power in disregard of right and of the popular will. 4. That we earnestly desire the restoration of the Constitution of the United States to its original supremacy and vigor, and the faith- ful enforcement of the Federal Jaws within their sphere in all the States of the Union; that we earnestly seek to be restored to all the rights of local self-government; that we earnestly desire the reestab- lishment of the civil law administration by constitutional courts, and to see its supremacy established over the military; that we are un- alterably opposed to the consolidation of the powers of the Federal government in the legislative department, or to the encroachment of the legislative upon the executive and judicial departments; that we deplore the unlimited and irresponsible military despotisms which now exist in the States of the American Union, and we earnestly appeal to the people of the States now represented in Congress to remove the odious and oppressive tyranny from over us; that we declare the practical operation and usual effect of the Freedmen's Bureau estab- lished amongst us is to cultivate and stimulate discontent, with both the white and black races, and calculated to promote differences of opinion and contests between the races which may prove disastrous to both and highly injurious to the whole country. That we declare it to be our deliberate conviction that there exists no necessity for con- tinuing the disfranchisement of any portion of the white people of the Southern States, and that the continued disfranchisement of the large number of intelligent classes now deprived of political rights, while the rights of suffrage and the holding of office are conferred upon all the negroes, must, in the nature of things, endanger the sta- bility of government, the peace and security of society, and prove destructive to good order and happiness amongst us. That we enter- tain no feelings of ill will or hostility to the negro race amongst us, and that we desire to see them protected by the laws of the State in all their rights of person and of property, and will do whatever we can to promote their improvement in knowledge and virtue, this being alike necessary for the general welfare and for the happiness of both races. 5. That we adhere to the constitutional doctrine that the power to regulate the question of suffrage in the States rests exclusively with Parties in Texas 111 the States themselves, and we therefore deny that Congress has any constitutional power whatever to enact laws on that subject. 6. That we need more population, labor, and capital, as well as peace and civil government, for the development of the resources of our great State, and that our true policy is to invite immigration and capital from the Northern States and Europe, and to assure them of a friendly welcome, and we declare that statements that immigrants from the Northern States are not received with friendship and connot expect security for life and property amongst us are made by the Radical party for poltical effect and are wilful perversions of the truth. 7. That we are in favor of an economical administration of the government State and National and are opposed to a greater collec- tion of taxes than will support government so administered. 8. That a well devised system of internal improvements by the State is necessary for the speedy and proper development of her great producing interests and the general prosperity of her people; we, therefore, deem it to be the duty of the State government to adopt such a liberal and enlightened internal improvement policy as will best secure these blessings in the shortest time possible. 9. That we are oppsed to and condemn the present Radical scheme for the dismemberment of the State of Texas, which is solely for party purposes and plunder. Resolved, [10] That while opposed to the ratification of any con- stitution embodying the sentiments and designs of the Radical party, yet should the Reconstruction Convention, now assembled at Austin, assume to create a State government and provide for the election of officers, it is expedient and proper that the people of the State par- ticipate in the same and endeavor to prevent the control of our local affairs passing into their hands. Resolved, [11] That the president of this convention communicate to Andrew Johnson, the President of the United States, in such lan- guage as may seem to him best and proper, the thanks of the people of Texas for his defence of the Constitution, his efforts to secure to the people of the South the benefits of civil government, and particularly for his late proclamation of amnesty. State Executive Committee: William M. Walton, of Travis, chairman ; John Hancock, of Travis ; Robert Josselyn, of Travis ; J. W. Throckmorton, of Collin ; J. W. Henderson, of Harris ; H. Stuart, of Galveston; S. A. Maverick, of Bexar; G. E. Burney, of McLennan; J. H. Starr, of Nacogdoches; J. H. Reagan, of Anderson; R. S. Gould, of Leon; B. H. Epperson, of Red River; J. D. Giddings, of Washington; S. Powers, of Cameron; E. B. Pickett, of Liberty; R. W. Bieckham, of Comal; Daniel Landes, 112 Platforms of Political of Austin; F. B. Sexton, of San Augustine; G. W. Jones, of Bastrop; J. W. Whitfield, of Lavaca; G. W. Smith, of Colorado; Geo. J. Durham, of Travis, Secretary. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1868 AUSTIN, August 12-14 On May 29, 1868, J. L. Haynes, chairman of the Republican State executive committee, issued a call for a State convention to meet at Austin on July 4th, "for the purpose of approving the nominations of the National Republican convention of Chi- cago, and for the nomination of presidential electors and State officers." 1 After the assembling of the Reconstruction Conven- tion, the Republican members requested the State chairman to postpone the meeting. He did so, and fixed the time of meeting for August 12th. 2 The members of the Reconstruction Conven- tion actively participated in the State convention, to the extent of making their differences an issue before that body. One hun- dred and two counties were represented. Officers: President pro tempore, J. L. Haynes; permanent, James H. Bell. Vice-President, W. V. Tunstall. Secretaries, the secretaries of the Reconstruction Convention. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: G. W. Paschal, chairman, E. J. Davis, E. M. Pease, A. J. Hamilton, J. L. Bur- nett, A. P. McCormick, Wm. R. Fayle, B. F. "Williams, and B. 0. "Watrous. PLATFORM 3 Resolved, [1] That the Republican party of Texas cordially ratify and indorse the National platform of principles, adopted by the Re- publican convention in Chicago, on the 21st day of May, A. D. 1868, as follows: [Here follows the National Republican platform of 1868 in full.] AND WHEREAS, since the adoption of said platform and its universal ratification by the Republican party, the ratification of the Fourteenth Constitutional Amendment has been completed by the required num- 1P The call is published in the Daily Austin Republican, June 1, 1868. 2 /6id., August 22, 1868. 8 The platform is copied from the Daily Austin Republican, August 15, 1868. Parties in Texas 113 ber of States, and it has been lawfully proclaimed as a part of the Constitution of the United States, which reads as follows: [Here follows a verbatim copy of the Fourteenth Amendment.] Resolved, [2] That we recognize our platform of principles as en- joining upon every Republican the maintenance of the Union by all the measures for reconstruction, including the qualifications for suffrage and office now established, the denunciation of every form of National repudiation, the equalization of taxation as near as may be, the main- tenance of National citizenship as now defined in the Constitution, and the protection of every citizen in all his rights at home and abroad, sympathy wi'th and a cordial invitation to the oppressed of every land, equal representation based upon suffrage as well as num- bers, the preservation of the Constitution, including the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Constitutional Amendments peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must and finally equal rights to every citizen before the law, and a government in harmony with the Declaration of Inde- pendence. [3] That the Republican party of Texas will regard every effort to overthrow the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Constitutional Amedments, or to disregard the same and the governments of the States estab- lished under the Reconstruction Laws, except in the manner provided for the amendment of the National compact, as a treasonable resistance to organic law, and an attempt to destroy the equal rights of citizens of the United States; and we would meet such a war upon the Consti- tution with all the force necessary to preserve the Union, the Constitu- tion, and the lawfully established governments thereunder as they are. [4] That the Republican party of Texas will do all in its power to carry into effect the Reconstruction Laws of Congress, and it will give a cordial support to the constitution to be adopted by the Convention, which shall be republican in form and consistent with the require- ments of Congress, like those other rebel States whose constitutions have been approved, and which are now happily in possession of all the advantages and benefits of the Union. [5] That we cordially approve of the nominations of General Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency, that we regard the success of this ticket as the only possible security for peace and prosperity, and while we deplore our inability to cast the vote of Texas for these candidates, we will give them all the moral support in our power, and will hail their triumph as the victory of loyalty and devotion to the Union over the allies of treason and the opponents to the success of the National cause. [6] That we regard the Republican party as essentially the party of progress and of liberal principles, as the friend of the poor and the defender of equal rights, as the only party under whose administration the misguided Southern States may hope for the capital and the aid necessary to reinvigorate their industry, to rebuild their dilapidated and decayed public works, to extend to them the facilities of com- 8328 114 Platforms of Political merce and interstate and international communication, to protect (.he weak against the strong, and to secure the benefits of law and order to all; and, as such, we cordially invite the misguided men who fol- lowed blind guides to their ruin, to its folds, as coworkers in the great work of producing peace and harmony, and developing the vast re- sources of our country; and we will demand no other evidences of reformation than the cordial support of the principles of our National platform and the earnest declaration that they demand no rights for themselves, which they are not willing to accord to any other citizen of the United States. Additional Resolution WHEREAS, It is yet uncertain what State officers will be elected under the constitution, now being formed by the State Convention, and at what time an election will be ordered for the ratification of the con- stitution and the election of officers under it; therefore, Resolved [7] Tha> it is inexpedient at this time to make any nomina- tions for State officers and members of Congress. MINORITY REPORT The following minority report was presented, but rejected, whereupon delegates to the number of thirteen withdrew. Among the bolters were E. J. Davis, E. Degener, and James P. Newcomb. AUSTIN, TEXAS, August 13, 1868. To THE HON. J. H. BELL, President of the Republican Convention: The undersigned, one of the Committee on Resolutions, begs leave to report that while he agrees with the majority of said Committee in re- gard to the resolutions reported by the same, it is his opinion that the two resolutions herewith reported should have been added. In his opinion, these additional resolutions (or something of their nature) express the sentiments of a large majority of the loyal people of this State in regard to the matters at issue, and besides are neces- sary to set at rest questions that are disturbing the Union party, and may possibly cause estrangement among those that should be friends. In the vote on the adoption of these additional resolutions, Mr. Williams, of the Committee, agreed with the undersigned on the first resolution, and Messrs. Williams and Watrous on the second. The other members present (all except Mr. Hamilton being present) were adverse to the adoption of the same. Respectfully, E. J. DAVIS. Resolved, [1] That in the opinion of the Convention the rebel State .legislatures so-called, which were organized after the pretended act Parties in Texas 115 of secession, had no binding or legal authority to make laws for the government of the people of this State, and, therefore, that all pre- tended legislation during the late rebellion was null and void from the beginning; Provided, that where under such pretended legislation lands in small parcels have passed into the possession of actual resi- dents, it is the opinion of this Convention that it would be good policy to confirm such possession. Resolved, [2] That the pretended laws of said pretended legislature authorizing payment in so-called State warrants of interest due from railroads to the school fund, were in fraud of the rights of the chil- dren of this State, and the pretended payments made thereunder (amounting in total to upwards of $320,000) were null and should not be regarded in making settlement with said railroads. State Executive Committee: John L. Haynes, of Travis, chairman; E. M. Wheelock, Secretary and Treasurer; 1. Judicial District, W. J. Phillips, of Wharton ; 2. Julius Schutze, of Bas- trop; 3. Benj. 0. Watrous, of Washington; 4. Thomas H. Strib- ling, of Bexar; 5. J. K. P. Record, of Dallas; 6. William Phillips, of San Augustine; 7. C. C. Binkley, of Grayson; 8. Donald Cameron, of Marion; 9. L. W. Cooper, of Houston; 10. W. M Varnell, of Jackson; 11. W. W. Mills, of El Paso; 12. R. B. Kingsbury, of Cameron; 13. R. M. Bankhead, of Walker; 14. John McClain, of Nueces; 15. Dr. J. 0. Shelby, of Liberty; 16. Francis Kettner, of Mason ; 17. A^J. Evans, of McLennan. RADICAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, 1868 AUSTIN, August 14 and 15 The delegates who withdrew from the regular Republican convention proceeded to hold a convention of their own. Al- though the number was small, the committee on credentials re- ported that "the delegates who answered to their names and those acting with the convention, representing all parts of the State, possessed the proper credentials." Officers: President pro tempore, G. W. Whitmore; perma- nent, D. F. Davis, of McLennan. Secretaries, A. P. Bennett and H. M. Taylor. 116 I'latfrms of Political PLATFORM 1 Mr. Talbot, from the Committee on Platform, introduced the follow- ing resolutions: Resolved, 1. That the Republicans of Texas indorse the platform and ratify the nominations of the convention held in Chicago, on the 21st day of May, A. D. 1868. 2. That we will do all in our power to carry out the Reconstruction Laws, and restore peace and civil government in Texas. 3 and 4. [Resolutions 3 and 4 are verbatim copies of Resolutions 1 and 2 of the Minority Report, p. 114, 115.] 5. That, in the opinion of this Convention, a liberal policy in the matter of the regulation of the elective franchise, a policy the dictate of prudence rather than revenge, will be best calculated to bring about harmony and acquiescence in the beneficent provisions of the Recon- struction Acts. 6. That, in the opinion of this Convention, the organic law of this State should embrace no prescriptive provisions looking to long pro- bationary terms of residence as necessary qualification for office. This Convention believing that exclusive regulations of this sort will have a tendency to create the impression abroad that the Republicans of Texas are jealous of the influx of strangers. 7. That the establishment of just and liberal provisions in our organic law, placing our State among the most progressive of the Union, with a rigid and exact enforcement of the laws, will encourage emigration, promote prosperity, and at an early day suppress lawless- ness and violence. 8. That the encouragement of manufactures and internal improve- ments, under ome general and effective system, should, in our opinion, be made a part of the organic law. But of first importance is the establishment and support of a complete common school system, and we recommend that all money, claims, and property belonging to the school fund should be collected without delay and appropriated to this purpose and that other means, if wanting, should be supplied. On motion of Hon. E. J. Davis, of Nueces, the resolutions were unanimously adopted. State Executive Committee: M. C. Hamilton, of Travis; E. Degener, of Bexar; G. W. Smith, of Marion; P. W. Hall, of Robertson; C. W. Bryant, of Harris; A. Bledose, of Dallas; GK W. Whitmore, of Smith; J. W. Talbot, of "Williamson; B. F. Williams, of Colorado ; N. Patten, of McLennan ; and G. T. Ruby, of Galveston. 1F The proceedings of this convention are taken from the San Antonio Express, August 21, 1868. Parties in Texas LIT CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, 1869 When the Reconstruction Convention adjourned, rival delega- tions carried the contest to Washington. The Conservatives were led by A. J. Hamilton, James H. Bell and J. L. Haynes, chairman of the State executive committee; the Radicals were headed by E. J. Davis and M. C. Hamilton. The former urged the holding of an election in Texas during the summer to ratify the constitution and to elect State officers. The Radicals bent all their energies toward a postponement of the election till fall in order to gain time in which to perfect new plans. While in Washington, A. J. Hamilton, on March 18 ? an- nounced his candidacy for the office of governor. J. L. Haynes called a meeting of the State executive committee to meet at Austin on April 20th. M. C. Hamilton from Washington issued a call for a State convention to meet at Galveston on May 10th. The executive committee was poorly attended but after can- vassing the replies sent by absent members decided not to call a State convention. The following ticket was agreed upon and announced about June 1st: For Governor, A. J. Hamilton, of Travis ; for Lieutenant- Governor, A. H. Latimer, of Red River ; for Comptroller, Armistead T. JVTonroe, of Houston ; for Treas- urer, James W. Thomas, of Collin; for Commissioner of the General Land Office, Joseph Spence, of Travis. MORGAN HAMILTON CONVENTION, 1869 GALVESTON, May 10 "The Republican State convention, agreeably to the pub- lished call of the State executive committee, met in Galveston. ' ' Fifteen counties were represented by delegates. Officers: President pro tempore, George T. Ruby; perma- nent, B. Rush Plumley, of Galveston. Vice-Presidents, J. G. Tracy, of Harris ; Sheppard Mullins, of Bosque ; P. W. Hall, of Robertson; A. Bledsoe, of Dallas; Sanford Mason, of Galves- ton ; John Keppard, of Harris ; Joseph Fitz-Simmons, of Nueces. 118 Platforms of Political Secretaries, G. W. Honey, of Galveston ; W. H. Mann, of Galves- ton; Richard Allen, of Harris. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: G. T. Ruby, John McLane, of Nueces, J. G. Tracy, A. Bledsoe, F. Schlikam, of Cameron, P. W. Hall, S. Mullins. W. A. Taylor, and the Presi- dent. TENTATIVE PLATFORM 1 [This platform was not adopted, but was "referred to the meeting of the 1st Monday in June," to which day the convention adjourned.] WHEREAS, It is proper and commendable for the people of a republic to come together and consult upon all subjects of a political nature, and give to the world their opinions and wishes upon all matters of public concern; therefore, the loyal Republicans of Texas, sincerely attached to our National government, do resolve: 1. That we most heartily approve of the proposed Fifteenth Amend- ment to the Constitution of the United States, and we will use our best endeavors to cause the adoption of the same by this State. We believe the principle so broadly laid down in the proposed Fifteenth Amendment, that the general government should and of right ought to establish the suffrage throughout the entire limits of the United States upon a uniform basis, is just and right in itself, and we plant our standard upon it. 2. That this Convention heartily joins in the sentiments of the President of the United States, as enunciated in his inaugural address, when he said "let us have peace," and to the end that peace and har- mony may prevail in our ranks we are willing to make every reason- able concession to the members of our party who differ from us on minor questions of policy, always maintaining inviolate the funda- mental principles as enunciated in the doctrines of the National Re- publican party. 3. That the thorough organization of the Republican party of Texas is imperative, and that we look with disfavor upon the attempt of men, claiming fealty to that party, to enter the coming momentous contest without holding .conventions and permitting an expression of the voice of the people through them. 4. That it is the duty of all patriotic Republicans to abide by the action of all conventions which may be held for State, county, legisla- tive, or congressional offices. 5. That information from loyal men, colored and white, embracing all portions of the State, convinces us that the loyal imen will not l be permitted to cast their ballot as their sentiment may dictate, without J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Daily Austin, Republican, May 18 and 19, 1869. Par ties in Texas 11 ^ submitting them to persecution, violence, and murder; therefore, re- BOlved, 6. That we earnestly ask General Reynolds, commanding this dis- trict, to station United States troops at every county seat on the day* of the election, so far as possible. 7. That we look with horror upon the reports from many portions- of the State of the murder of colored men by rebels upon the plea that they are caught in. the act of cattle; skinning and horse stealing, and that these terrible outrages call loudly upon the authorities, to- whom we look for protection, for summary and speedy redress. 8. That we urge the President to submit the suffrage clause con- tained in the proposed constitution separately from the other portions- of the same instrument. 9. That in the opinion of this body those acts of the late Recon- struction Convention, which are known as "Declarations" and gen- erally included in the term "private legislation," form no part of the constitution, and for as much as they have not been printed and are unknown to the mass of the people of the State, we respectfully request the Major General commanding to recommend that the President of the United States do, in his order of the election, declare them to form no part of the question thus submitted and voted upon. 10. That this Convention request the commanding general to ask the President to put off the election till fall. RADICAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, 1869 HOUSTON, June 7 and 8 The Houston Union and the San Antonio Express had called a convention of dissatisfied Republicans to meet at Houston May 24th. J. G-. Tracy, editor of the Union and prime factor in this move, attended the Hamilton Convention. When the Hamilton Convention adjourned to meet on the first Monday in June at Houston, Tracy promised to change the date of his convention so as to correspond. By the time the first Monday in June arrived nothing distinctive was left of the Hamilton Conven- tion; it was all of Tracy's following. "At that convention three- years ago, fifteen white men and some thirty colored men were all that mustered. ' n The absence of the old leaders of the party was particularly noticeable. About thirty counties were repre- sented. Officers: President, J. G. Tracy. Vice-Presidents, John Dix r *J. G. Tracy's address to the Republican Convention, 1872. 120 Platforms of Political J. S. Mills, Richard Allen, Erastus Carter, Murry Cole, and W. E. Parker. Secretaries, George W. Honey, J. W. McDonald and John Keppard. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, E. J. Davis, of Nueces; Lieutatiant-Governor, J. W. Flanagan, of Husk; Comptroller, W. Frank Carter, of Parker ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Bexar; Treasurer, W. D. Price, of Travis. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. P. Butler, G. T. Ruby, W. A. Saylor, Kichard Allen, A. Siemering, R. P. Tendick, and P. W. Hall. PLATFORM 2 Resolved, 1, That the Republican party of Texas heartily accepts the conditions of reconstruction embraced in the several Reconstruction Acts of Congress, and will in the future, as heretofore, fully sustain the same in word and spirit. 2. That the amendments to the Constitution of the United States, known as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, are necessary to the pacification of the country, and the security of the equal civil and political rights of all classes of the people. The Republican party, therefore, pledges itself to the prompt adoption of those amendments. 3. That the resolutions adopted by the Chicago convention on May 20th, 1868, where not modified by the proposed Fifteenth Amendment, are accepted by the Republicans of Texas as the embodiment of cor- rect principles of public policy. That the Republicans of Texas es- pecially commend the spirit of the additional resolutions adopted in that convention at the instance of Hon. Carl Schurz; and we will cheerfully accept the assistance of such of our fellow citizens as served in the late rebellion, but who now frankly and honestly co-operate with us in restoring the peace of the country, and reconstructing our State government on the basis of impartial justice and equal rights. 4. That the payment of the debt incurred in preservation of the unity of the Nation, to the last dollar, is in our opinion the sacred duty of the American people, and the Republicans of Texas will condemn all attempts to evade in any manner the payment of this debt according to the intent of the creators of the same. 5. That the Republican party of Texas earnestly desires the en- couragement of internal improvement and immigration, and will, as a party, press the adoption of measures having these ends in view. That in connection herewith, we condemn the demagogical use of the term of "carpetbagger" and other terms of reproach applied to strangers who 2 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Houston Union June 9, 1869. Parties in Texas 121 may come among us, designed to keep alive the prejudices of the igno- rant and deter immigration. 6. That while the constitution submitted to the people is in some respects imperfect and objectionable, it is believed on the whole to propose the main object of constitutional government, viz.: The equal civil and political rights of all persons under the law. This conven- tion, therefore, recommends the ratification of the same. 7. That the preservation of the unity and the organization of the Republican party is essential to the safe progress of reconstruction in this State, and they believe that to effect this reconstruction a great work has yet to be performed. They, therefore, warn the loyal people of Texas that opposition to the organization of the Republican party Is the result of an insidious design of the enemy purposing the prac- tical surrender of the State to the disloyal. 8. That the Republicans of Texas heartily express unqualified con- fidence in the administrative abilities and integrity of the honored head of our government, President Grant, and in the patriotism and wisdom of the majority in Congress. 9. That to this end we earnestly Invite the cooperation and support of all good citizens, advocates of peace, law, and order, and who believe in the principles of the party of union, progress, liberty, and reform, which has done so much for the pacification and well being of the country. Additional Resolution [10] That the commanding general of this military district, Major General J. J. Reynolds, deserves the approval of the loyal people of the United States for his activity in ferreting out and bringing to justice the murderers of the patriot, George Smith, and for the measures he has adopted for the security of life and property and the establishment of peace. State Executive Committee: J. G. Tracy, of Harris, chair- man; A. B. Hall, of Harris, Treasurer; John W. McDonald, of Harris, Secretary; 1. Judicial District, W. G. Phillips, of Whar- ton; 2. M. C. Hamilton, of Travis; 3. G. T. Ruby, of Galveston; 4. Dr. D. C. Marsh, of El Paso; 5. A. Bledsoe, of Dallas; 6. J. W. Flanagan, of Rusk ; 7. F. W. Sumner, of Grayson ; 8. G. T. Garland, of Marion; 9. G. H. Slaughter, of Smith; 10. W. M. Varnell, of Victoria; 11. N. Patton, of McLennan; 12, blank; 13. P. W. Hall, of Robertson ; 14. A. Siemering, of Bexar ; 15. H. C. Pedigo, of Tyler. 322 Platforms of Political DEMOCRATS, 1869 While the Republicans were contending among themsebes over the ratification of the proposed constitution and the elec- tion of State officers, the Democrats were debating what attitude they ought to adopt toward the same matters. The Houston Telegraph favored supporting the constitution and A. J. Hamil- ton for Governor; it opposed calling a State convention or or- ganization in any way, on the ground that a Democratic success would again defeat the reconstruction of the State as it did in 1866. Since Republicans must be elected, expediency dictated that the Conservatives be supported, but this support should be given in a way to avoid the charge of fusion. A number of the Democratic papers disapproved of this course. CONVENTION OF DEMOCRATIC EDITORS, 1869 BRENHAM, September 29 and 30 A small number of editors of Democratic newspapers gathered at Brenham, nominated a State ticket and adopted the platform below. J. W. Henderson, a member of the State executive committee appointed in 1868, was present but did not partici- pate in the convention. He gave the Associated Press following dispatch: "The so-called Democratic Convention at Brenham consisted of five editors. The Democratic party through its Executive Committee refused to call a convention or make any nomination for Governor. The Democratic party has no sym- pathy, or connection with this work." Nominees for State Offices: For Governor, Hamilton Stuart, of Galveston; Lieutenant-Governor, James Armstrong, of Jas- per; Comptroller, Edward Downey, of Cameron; Commissioner of the General Land Office, James P. Hector, of Guadalupe: Treasurer, Isaac G. Killough, of Fayette. Parties in Texas PLATFORM 1 WHEREAS, a large number of the representatives of the Democratic press of Texas, assembled in convention, have deemed it necessary in the present crisis to obtain a reorganization of the Democratic party; therefore, be it Resolved, [1] That the military government forced upon the people of this State is in derogation of their liberties and prejudicial to their material and moral well being. [2] That we have not assembled in a spirit of captious opposition to- the plan of reconstruction devised by the Congress of the United States, and will accept peacefully the rule of the majority. [3] That we are unalterably opposed to the proposed constitution of the State of Texas and to the amendment to the Constitution of the United States. [4] That the convention which framed the proposed constitution far exceeded the requirements of Congress as set forth in the Reconstruc- tion Acts, thereby forcing upon the people a studied system of political vassalage, utterly destructive of free government and their inherent vested rights under the Federal Constitution. [5] That the voluntary surrender of vital political principles will give encouragement to the aggressions of licentious power, and lead to evils of incalculable magnitude. [7] That the right to regulate the franchise was reserved to the people and States in the American system of republican government, and its surrender to a centralized power is totally destructive of it. [8] That we are in favor of encouraging European and American im- migration, and pledge them our protection, irrespective of both place and political principles. [9] That a system of internal improvements for developing the re- sources of the State should be devised, and most liberally encouraged by grants of public domain. [10] That we are in favor of the immediate establishment of a system of public schools for the separate education of the white and colored children of the State, to be so organized as not to violate the social laws governing the races, and so diffusive in their character as to secure equal benefits to all. [11] That we prefer the continuation of military government to the restoration of the State on the proposed dishonorable terms, and deem it infinitely less objectionable than Radical State misrule. State Executive Committee : J. D. Elliott, Victor W. Thomp- son, W. B. Cross, Somers Kinney, D. S. McGary. 'The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Civilian, October 7, 1869. 124 Platforms of Political DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1871 AUSTIN, January 23-26 In accordance with the call of W. M. Walton, chairman of the executive committee of the Bryan convention, and J. D. Elliott, chairman of the executive committee of the Brenham convention, the Democrats assembled at Austin on January 23, 1871. Between fifty and sixty counties were represented by delegates. It was, therefore, voted to request the Democratic representatives and senators in the legislature to represent counties whose delegates were not present. The following basis of representation was adopted : each county represented was al- lowed one vote in the convention and one additional vote for each 5000 inhabitants, and one vote for each fractional excess of 5000 inhabitants. Officers: President pro tempore, S. H. Darden, of Caldwell; permanent, Nat Terry, of Tarrant. Vice-Presidents, A. J. Booty, J. P. Douglass, H. R. Latimer, W. H. Pyle, W. H. Ham- man, J. W. Henderson, H. E. McCulloch and J. D. Elliott. Secretaries, A. E. Cotton, E. M. Bacon, and J. A. Hooper. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: Ashbel Smith, of Harris, chairman; E. B. Pickett, Thos. J. Devine, W. B. Wright, James M. Anderson, H. E. McCulloch, W. H. Hamman, E. L. Dohoney, A. J. Booty, B. L. Fulton, S. G. Sneed, E. T. Brough- ton, S. P. Donley, J. E. Dillard, L. W. Moore, A. J. Ball. PLATFORM 1 WHEREAS, It becomes necessary from time to time for the friends of constitutional government to reassert their devotion to it, and to pro- claim the principles upon which it should be administered; and when its enemies obtain power to expose their usurpation, to the end that the whole people may be aroused to action to protect their rights at the ballot box; therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That the Democracy of Texas have an abiding confi- dence in the devotion of the National Democratic party to the correct ^Proceedings of the Democratic State Convention, held in the Representative Hall in Austin, on the 23, 24, 25, and 26 Jan., 1871. State Gazette Job Office, 1871. Parties in Texas ]25 principles of government, and we pledge ourselves to cooperate with it, as an integral part thereof, in its future efforts to restore the gov- ernment in its administration to the principles on which it was founded 2. That we rely upon the honesty and capacity of the people for self-government. 3. That the Constitution, as formed by the free voice of the States, is the foundation of the powers of the government. 4. That the powers of the General Government are restricted to the express grants of the Constitution, and all powers not granted are reserved to the States and the people thereof. 5. That the regulation of suffrage and elections belongs to the respective States, and any interference by the General Government, with intent to control either, is a gross usurpation of power; and the use of the military at elections to overawe the people, and prevent a fair and full expression of their political sentiments, is utterly sub- versive of free government and should be resisted by all proper means until the evil is abolished, and an honest and untrammeled ballot restored. 6. That the abolition of slavery as a result of the war is accepted as a fixed fact, and it becomes our duty, by State legislation, to pro- vide for the security and well being of all classes of men, native or foreign born, white or black. 7. That the immigration of the white races from all quarters of the world should be encouraged, and there should be no unreasonable im- pediments or delay to naturalization and citizenship, the Democratic party having been uniformly in favor of a liberal policy toward all persons of foreign birth who in good faith seek a home in our favored land. 8. That we will yield obedience to the Constitution and laws. 9. That we, the Democratic party of Texas, are in favor of a judicious, liberal, and uniform system of internal improvements. 10. That the Radical State government of Texas has forfeited all claims to the respect of mankind by its unconstitutional and oppressive enactments, and to the end that the citizens of this State, and of the United States, may fully comprehend the grievances we are suffering, from the wrongs and usurpations of said Radical government, we charge them as follows: (1) In violation of the Federal and State constitutions, the legisla- ture of this State has conferred on the governor, in obedience to his own dictation, the power to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, declare the civil laws suspended, close the courts, refuse to our citizens the right of trial by jury, and subject them to trial by a court martial, composed of men who know nothing of the rules of law and evidence, and this in times of profound peace. (2) They have, in violation of the constitution, likewise at the governor's dictation, given the power, by aid of a police force, appointed by himself and officered by men of his own appointment, to Platforms of Political subject our citizens to seizure of their persons and property, and sub- jected their houses to unreasonable search, without warrant and with no probable cause supported either by oath or affirmation. (3) That said police have, without warrant, or oath, or affirmation charging an offense, and even when no offense had been committed, arrested and imprisoned our citizens, and have extorted from them, as the terms of release, a large sum of money, refusing them the benefit of counsel or trial and without being confronted by their accusers or the witnesses against them, and under a threat of trial by court martial, if 'they refuse the required sum. (4) The legislature has by enactment, in violation of a plain consti- tutional provision, authorized the governor to remove officers elected by the people, and appoint men of his own choice in their place, which power he has repeatedly exercised. (5) The legislature has authorized the governor to appoint thirty- five district attorneys, when the constitution of the State provides that they shall be elected, and he has exercised this power and causes these officers, so illegally appointed, to be paid in the aggregate forty- two thousand dollars annually out of the State treasury, thereby violat- ing the constitution and plundering the people. (6) The legislature has virtually abolished every check that secures the purity of the ballot box, and throws difficulties in the way of a full vote by compelling jthe people to vote at but one precinct in each county, on tickets that are not numbered for future identification, thereby rendering the detection of official frauds impossible, by failing to adopt a different mode of voting, as authorized by the constitution. (7) The Radical party of the State has obtained power by fraud and intimidation. The legislature seeks to perpetuate this power by making the elective franchise dependent on the caprices of registrars, subject to appointment or removal at the caprice of the governor. (8) That the senate and house of representatives, in utter dis- regard of the laws regulating contested elections, and without com- plaint in the manner and time prescribed by law, on ex parte state- ments or affidavits, deprived members of their seats, and their con- stituency of representation in the legislature, with the intention of securing for the Radical party a majority in that body. (9) That having been elected for a term of two years, they have continued their existence as a legislature for three years by an en- actment of their own body. (10) In order to subsidize and corrupt the press, they have es- tablished newspapers in each judicial district to advocate the interests of the Radical party, and although many of them had, at the time of their establishment, no circulation, in order to give them money and support, they have compelled public or private sales, ordered by any court, and sales under executions, in any county of the respective districts, to be published in the paper of the district, at a great expense to the widows and orphans of deceased persons, and of creditors of Parties in Texas 12 7 their estates, although not a single copy of the said paper might ba taken in the county where the sale is to be made. (11) It has just attempted to remove the Radical senator, who has denounced their corruption, by electing in his stead a military officer, who is not a citizen of the State of Texas. (12) In view of these high crimes and political misdemeanors of the Radical party, committed against the great interests of the people of Texas; Resolved, 11. That we invite all good men, whatever may have been their past political preferences, to unite with the Democratic party in removing from place and power those who now control the State gov- ernment, in order to release the people from oppressive, ruinous, and unequal taxation, to insure an honest administration of the laws, and an honest and economical expenditure of the public moneys, and to throw the aegis of justice and protection over the person and property of every individual whatsoever in the State of Texas. Additional Resolutions [12] That our deepest sympathies are with the suffering people of our frontier, to whom the present State administration has given such inefficient protection from Indian outrage, and we here express our unqualified condemnation of the employment by the administration of the men and means, that should have been used to the uttermost man and dollar in defense of the frontier, in harassment and oppression of the people of the interior. [13] That we pledge the Democratic party to protect the frontier people, and save their women and children from Indian rapine, mur- der, and outrage. State Executive Committee: A. S. Walker, of Travis, chair- man ; M. H. Bowers, W. M. Walton, John D. Elliott, S. G. Sneed ; 1. Senatorial District, E. B. Pickett, of Liberty; 2. S. B. Bew- ley, of San Augustine ; 3. T. R. Bonner, of Cherokee ; 4. James W. Ewing, of Anderson; 5. James II. Jones, of Rusk; 6. J. P. Douglass, of Smith; 7. James W. Pope, of Harrison; 8. H. P. Mabry, of Marion; 9. W. B. Wright, of Red River; 10. Wm. A. Wortham, of Hopkins; 11. S. B. Maxey, of Lamar; 12. R. L. Fulton, of Galveston; 13. P. E. Pearson, of Fort Bend; 14. J. W. Henderson, of Harris; 16. Seth Shepard, of Washington; 17. G. J. Goodwin, of Bryan ; 18. A. W. Terrell, of Robertson ; 19. Richard Coke, of McLennan; 20. C. M. Winkler, of ^Navarro; 21. John Hanna, of Dallas; 22. E. T. Broughton, of drayson; 23. W. E. Hughes, of Parker; 24. R. M. Forbes, of Calhoun; 25. 128 Platforms of Political Wells Thompson, of Colorado; 26. J. D. Sayers, of Bastrop ; 27. W. D. S. Cook, of Gonzales ; 28. J. W. Posey, of Williamson 29. C. Upson, of Bexar; 30. J. B. Carpenter, of Nueces. TAXPAYERS' CONVENTION, 1871 AUSTIN, September 22-25 1 On August 5, 1871, following call was issued from Austin: "We, the undersigned, citizens and taxpayers of the State of Texas, regardless of party, feeling a deep interest in State af- fairs, hereby earnestly call upon the people of every county of the State to hold meetings for the purpose of expressing their opinion in regard to the exorbitant expenditures and enormous taxes to which we are subjected. We would suggest that these meetings take place without loss of time, and that the people simultaneously elect from each and every county delegates to meet in convention, say at Austin, on the 22nd day of Septem- ber next, there to express the sense of the people upon the above subjects, and memorialize the authorities to reduce the taxation, and to order a general election in conformity to the provisions of the constitution." This call was signed by E. M. Pease, Geo. Hancock, W. M. Walton, M. C. Hamilton and many others. The convention met at Austin on the day named. The attendance was large. Ninety-four counties were represented. Officers: President pro tempore, George B. Erath, of Mc- Lennan; permanent, E. M. Pease, of Travis. Vice-Presidents, George Pfeuffer, of Comal; J. T. Harcourt, of Colorado; J. J. Gathings, of Hill; A. F. Trenckmann, of Austin; Champe Car- ter, of Ellis; and E. S. C. Robertson, of Bell. Secretaries, Wm. M. Rust, of Guadalupe; Walter Tips, and D. Truehart. Committee of Twenty-One to consider and report business for the convention: A. J. Hamilton, of Travis, chairman; F. M. Hays, of Smith ; John Ireland, of Guadalupe ; John M. Crockett, of Dallas; James Shaw, of Burleson; George Quinan, of Whar- ton; F. M. White, of Jackson; John W. Robertson, of Robert- ^Proceedings of the Taxpayers' Convention of the State of Texas, held at the City of Austin, Sept. 22d, 23d and 25th, 1871. Also a Memorial to the Legislature, and an address to the Taxpayers of Texas. Printed at the News Steam Book and Job Office, Galveston, 1871. Parties in Texas 129 son; M. C. Hamilton, of Travis; D. A. Nunn, of Houston; J. W. Throckmorton, of Collin; R. Price, of San Augustine; A. W. Moore, of Bastrop; X. 0. Green, of Bexar; A. S. Lathrop, of Brazoria; W. M. Walton, of Travis; S. B. Hollingsworth, of Johnson; R. M. Henderson, of Hopkins; M. A. Gaston, of Cherokee; T. J. Chambers, of Liberty; E. L. Dohoney, of Lamar. Committee of Five on Statistics: C. Upson, of Bexar; C. R. Johns, of Travis; G. B. Erath, of McLennan; M. C. McLemore, of Galveston; D. M. Prendergast, of Robertson. At the second day's session of the convention, Governor Ham- ilton, chairman of the Committee of Twenty-One, reported verbally that in consequence of the immense labor before them, the committee had been divided into three subcommittees, and these subcommittees were at work and hoped to be able to make their reports on Monday morning, the 25th. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-ONE AUSTIN, TEXAS, September 25, 1871. To THE HON. E. M. PEASE, President of the Taxpayers' Convention of the People of Texas. SIR: The undersigned, the Committee of Twenty-One, appointed by direction of your honorable body to consider and report upon business for the action of the Convention, beg leave to state that the general committee was subdivided, and labor allotted to each one of the sub- committees. We have the honor to present the reports of the subcommittees aa follows: First, a report upon violations of the constitution and laws. To THE HON. A. J. HAMILTON, Chairman of General Committee of Twenty-One. SIR: The subcommittee appointed to take into consideration and report to the general committee the several violations of the State and Federal constitutions, and other flagrant violations of law by the present administration of the State government, beg leave to submit the following report: The violations of constitutions and disregard of law have been very frequent and are very numerous; but frequent as they have been and numerous as they are, we have been unable to find a single one, of either class, based on an honest desire to accomplish good to the people of the State, or to secure prosperity to the country. On the contrary, their apparent cause seems uniformly to spring from one grand pur- 9 328 130 Platforms of Political pose, viz.: to concentrate power in the hands of one man, and to emasculate the strength of the citizens of Texas as a free people. However hopeless such a design might have appeared, and however little feared by the reasoning and intelligent mind eighteen months ago, yet at this day, we must confess, the scheme has far progressed toward consummation, and the people stand stripped of many of the inalienable rights of freemen, while he who is now clothed with these lost rights of the people gloats on their humiliation and congratulates himself on the possession of kingly power. We may safely state that the practical effect of each of the acts we shall name has been, and is now, to abridge the rights of the citizen, and to enlarge, solidify, and confirm the power of the executive. 1. Duly elected and qualified members of the legislature, in both houses, have been expelled, or denied seats, to give place to persons who were not elected by a majority of voters and who were not in law entitled to seats. (Case of Alford in the Senate. Case of Plato in the House, et al) 2. At a time when measures of grave importance of themselves and of vital interest to all the people were under discussion in the senate and not matured, the majority in the State senate, arbitrarily and without authority of law, placed nearly all the minority under arrest and deprived them of a voice in behalf of the people, and so held them in arrest and silent until the Militia Law, the Police Bill, the Enabling Act, the Registration Act, and the Election Law were passed, and until nominations for judicial and other important officers were approved of; all of which measures go to the oppression of the people, and many of the officers confirmed were unqalified as to capacity, corrupt as to morals, and entirely unfit for high position in any State. 3. A multitude of new offices have been created, and officers ap- pointed to fill them, without the consent and against the will of the people. 4. Important and useful legislation to the country has been post- poned and delayed at great expense until odious and oppressive laws were fastened upon the people. 5. Without authority of law, and in violation of the constitution, the term of office of the present members of the legislature has been ex- tended one year. They were elected on the 30th day o* November and 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of December, 1869; and now, under an act passed and construed by themselves, claim to hold until a general election in the year 1872, notwithstanding section 4, article 3, of the constitution. 6. The executive has omitted and failed to order elections to fill vacancies in the legislature, caused by death and otherwise, within the time prescribed by law, and has thus for many months denied repre- sentation to large bodies of the people, although they were taxed and have been forced to perform militia duty. (Constitution, Art. 3, Sec. 19; Laws of 1870, p. 130, Sec. 11.) 7. The present State administration bases its authority on the Parties in Texas ]31 claimed results of the general election held on the 30th November and 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of December, 1869, and yet has omitted and refused to order and provide for a general election until the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1872, thus throwing the second general election nearly three years from the first. (Constitu- tion, Art. 3, Sec. 4; Laws of 1870, p. 129, Sec. 7.) 8. The State of Texas is practically left without a legislature from December, 1871, until November, 1872, and that, too, wfiile the execu- tive is clothed with despotic power. 9. Newspapers have been established in the several judicial districts of the State to bolster up the present despotism, and to familiarize the people with executive usurpation, and, through forced patronage, to gain a profit, and thereby help to impoverish the citizens. (Laws of 1870, p. 74.) 10. The courts of the State are effectually closed against the ap- proach of the citizen, and prohibited from extending relief for an existing wrong in this, that though the judges of election may wil- fully and corruptly refuse to permit a qualified elector to vote, yet the courts are forbidden to compel such officers to do their duty, or refrain from the commission of a wrong by injunction, mandamus, or otherwise. (Laws of 1870, p. 132, Sec. 22; Constitution, Art. 1, Sec. 11.) 11. An Election Law has been passed, and is now enforced, which breaks down in practical effect all the safeguards of the ballot, and places in the hands of those who receive and count the votes the un- restrained power to defeat the will of the electors and to substitute their own instead; it authorizes those who have the handling of the votes, on one pretext or another, to cast out large proportions of the votes and to announce partial and untrue results; it,, by the non- identification of tickets voted, prevents fair and full investigation in cases of contested elections; it requires electors to travel long distances, to undergo heavy expense, and to consume much time needlessly to exercise the right of suffrage, thus compelling the citizen to forego the exercise of the elective franchise, or else to submit to exactions, oppressions, and wrongs to person and property. (Laws 'of 1870, p. 130, et seq.) 12. The Enabling Act places great power in the hands of the execu- tive, in palpable violation of the constitution, in that it authorizes him to appoint various important officers, who are charged with responsible duties, who under the constitution are elective by the people, and to remove others who are alone removable by due course of law. (Laws of 1870, pp. 17, 18; Constitution, Art. 5, Sec. 12.) 13. The terms of the Police Bill constitute of themselves an au- thorized violation of nearly every private right of the citizen. The police force is chosen by the executive and placed under his command without restriction or responsibility; it is always ready for action, with arms in hand, having for its duties the part of spies, informers, and detectives, circulating through the whole community. The very 132 Platforms of Political vocation of such a force renders them odious to the people; and un- principled of themselves, they are dangerous as hirelings to the reputations and lives of the people. The practical workings of this force, raised under the pretence of securing peace 'and quiet, and to arrest violators of the law, has demonstrated beyond doubt that it is a body of armed men, massed to overawe the citizen and to give an active arm to the executive to uphold and sustain him in his usurpa- tions and exercise of the unlawful power concentrated in him. Its work has been a succession of wrongs, mingled with blood; its con- tinuance is death to every private right and, in innumerable instances, to life itself. (Laws of 1870, p. 19.) 14. Large amounts of money have been subjected and appropriated to the use of the executive, obtainable on requisition and, on the sale of State bonds, to be held and vised by him without any of the restric- tions and safeguards which the laws require of all others who handle public moneys. (Laws of 1870.) 15. Under the authority of the Militia Law now in force and daily executed, the executive is vested with unlimited power. He may organize a standing army in a time of profound peace; in the face of heavy pains and penalties, the citizen is required to perform military duty, and to form part of such standing army. A State guard is pro- vided for, the men and officers of which are chosen and selected by the executive, thus creating a special organization of great strength, composed of pets, favorites, and tools of the governor, whose interest it is to maintain him in his usurpations and to enforce his orders, what- ever they may be. This is an armed body of men who may be thrown into any city or county of the State, and there with rapidity and unscrupulousness execute any order the executive may give. He is clothed with the power to declare martial law on the most paltry pre- texts. He may to all intents and purposes suspend the writ of habeas corpus when there is no rebellion, no invasion, and when the public safety does not require it. With martial law declared, the executive becomes dictator in Texas, and his will the sole guide to his action, he may take property or life and be responsible to no tribunal of justice in the State, so long as he remains governor under existing laws. (Laws of 1870, p. 11; Constitution, Art. 1, Sections 10 and 17.) It might possibly be said that, though such unlimited power is with the executive, yet that all the probabilities are that he will not call it into exercise; but already, under the arbitrary power conferred, he declared martial law in the county of Hill and through machinery rapidly extemporized gathered, by the hands of his adjutant general, large sums of money from citizens while under duress and without a judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction; and under the same arbitrary power martial law was declared in Walker County, and then, under like machinery, gathered large sums of money from the people, and in addition thereto incarcerated a freeman of the State of Texas in the penitentiary; and all this in a time of profound peace, Parties in Texas 133 when there was no rebellion, no invasion, when the public safety was not threatened, and when the civil officers in the respective counties were fully able to execute all process and to arrest all violators of the law. And again in the county of Bastrop martial law was time and time again threatened and held in terrorem over the people thereof, with intent to force the grand jury of said county to indict by false indictments the good people thereof and thus forge a reputation for that people of being a lawless and criminal people. These things have grown into history, and are now recognized as authentic occurrences of the times. 16. The executive is now enforcing the execution of a repealed law, and thereby greatly increasing the taxes demanded of the people, and gaining the possession and control of enormous sums of money, the distribution whereof is subject to his will, in connection with those about him who hold position by his appointment, and whose terms of office depend on his pleasure. (1) a. The act entitled "An act to organize and maintain a sys- tem of public free schools in the State of Texas." (Laws of 1871, p. 59,) was presented to the governor for his approval April 12, 1871. Senate Journal, p. 748.) b. In absence of approval the bill so presented would become a law in five days, if not returned. (Constitution, General Provisions, Sec. 25.) c. The bill so presented was not approved, nor was it vetoed; so on April 17, 1871, it became a law. d. The fifth section of said act provides that "The directors of each school district shall have the authority to levy a tax not exceeding one per cent for the purpose of building school houses and maintaining schools in their respective districts." (2) a. The act entitled "An act to give effect to the several pro- visions of the constitution concerning taxes," (Laws of 1871, p. 51,) was presented to the governor for his approval on April 20, 1871. (Senate Journal, p. 847.) b. Said bill was approved on April 22, and from that day became a law, five days after the first named had become a law under section 25 of the constitution before cited. c. The eighth section of the last act named provides that "A direct ad valorem tax, for the year 1871, of one-fourth the amount of the direct ad valorem State tax, on all real property situate, and all per- sonal property owned in each school district in this State . . . shall be levied and collected to provide the necessary school houses in each district, and insure the education of all the scholastic inhabitants of the several districts." d. The 22nd section of this act repeals all laws and parts of laws in conflict therewith, "except such as authorize special county taxes and other special taxes." 134 Platforms of Political e. Section 5 of the first law and section 8 of the last law are in conflict, or, at least, the one supplies the other, both being intended to raise a fund by taxation for one and the same identical purpose. f. The repealing clause repeals section 5 of the act first named, and thereby reduced taxation for school house purposes from one per cent to one-eighth of one per cent. But, notwithstanding the record shows the foregoing facts, yet the governor appended his approval to the law first named on the 24th day of April, 1871 seven days after it had become a law, and thus of his own will sought to change the dates of laws, and to give them force and effect in a reversed manner, and by his signature to revive a law which had been repealed. This repealed law is now being enforced, and under its provisions a tax of seven-eighths of one per cent on all the property in the State of Texas, real and personal, sought to be collected. 17. The people have been disarmed throughout the State, notwith- standing their constitutional right "to keep and bears arms." (Con- stitution, Art. 1, Sec. 13; Laws of 1871, p. 25.) The police and State guards are armed and lord it over the land, while the citizen dare not, under heavy pains and penalties, bear arms to defend himself, unless he has reasonable grounds for fearing an unlawful attack on his person, and that such grounds of attack shall be immediate and pressing. The citizen is at the mercy of the police- man and the men of the State guard, and that, too, when these bodies of men embrace in them the most lawless and abandoned men in the State, many of whom are adventurers strangers to the soil dis- charged or pardoned criminals, forgetful of law, unrestrained by the customs of society, and without interest in or ties to the State. 18. The Election Order, under the operation of which the near approaching election will be holden, is a monstrosity, and could only emanate from a mind deliberately determined to insult and humiliate the people to the last extreme, on the one hand, while on the other, it wilfully orders the violation of the constitution by the agents who are to carry said order into execution. It forbids the assembling of the people on the days of election; it prohibits free speech; it forbids the free and lawful movement of the citizen in person; it forbids the citizen the right to advocate the election of the candidates of his choice; it authorizes the judges of the election to close the polls on the merest pretexts; it subjects the citizen's motives and purposes to the judgment of policemen; it authorizes policemen to disperse bodies of citizens without warrant of law, and when they have been guilty of no violation of law; it subjects the citizen to arrest and detention while in attendance at an election, when he has not been guilty of treason, felony, or breach of the peace; it is ordered to be executed as a criminal law of the State when it has not a single feature of a law; it is the unlawful will of the executive, enforced by him through Parties in Texas 135 the power of an armed police upon an unarmed people; it is the will of a despot and the act of a tyrant overriding the supreme law of the land, (Constitution, Art. 3, Sec. 2.) 19. By orders executed through his armed bodies of police, the executive has taken control of peaceable assemblies of the people, called together for peaceful purposes, and there suppressed free speech under threats of arrest and subjection to punishment as criminals. (Galveston case.) 20. The executive has deliberately disregarded the solemn judg- ment of the district court, and ordered his policemen to contemn the court and by force, with arms in their hands, to defy the court, and to execute his will in a question of law where the court had decided the case and entered its judgment of record. (Brownsville case.) 21. For the purpose and with the intent to retain the power they now hold, and to avoid having the free will of the people expressed in the enactment of laws, the executive and others in authority con- template (and are now actively engaged to accomplish their object) so apportioning representation in the legislature as that only the voice of a small proportion of the people shall be heard. It is proposed to give some localities much larger representation than the population thereof lawfully authorizes, and to take from other localities repre- sentation to which their population entitles them. It is proposed to ignore local representation and to make large areas of territory repre- sentative districts, to the end that the sentiment of the population of a few localities may control the voice of the State in the enactment of laws. (Bill in both houses.) While, sir, we have not specified all the acts of the present adminis- tration infracting the constitution, in violation of law, and in willful disregard of the rights of the people, nor entered minutely into the- features of those named, yet we think we have shown enough to call upon all men for the most serious reflection, and to show the ten.- dencies of the present administration of the State government. Without enlarging, we may say that the power, which in republican government is supposed to rest in the people, is fast departing from the people of Texas and concentrating itself in the hands of one man the executive. That the people of this State no longer govern them- selves, but are governed by E. J. Davis as completely as if there were no constitutions, State or Federal. While in form we have a republican government, in substance and in fact we have a despotism, which con- stantly becomes more and more absolute, and will certainly end in unqualified enslavement of the people unless some check is interposed. Respectfully, W. M. WALTON, Chairman^ 136 Platforms of Political Second, the report of the subcommittee on Taxes and the report of the Committee on Statistics, appointed by order of the Convention, which, for convenience, have been consolidated, is as follows: To THE HON. A. J. HAMILTON, Chairman of the Committee of Twenty-One. SIR: The Committee on Statistics beg leave to submit the following report as the result of their deliberations: Previous to the adoption of our present State constitution, the legis- lature met biennially, and the appropriations for State expenditures were made for two years. We find from an examination of the laws that the seventh legisla- ture appropriated to be paid from the State Treasury for the ordinary expenses of the State government, for the years 1858 and 1859, the sum of $545,740. This gives one-half of that amount, or $272,870, as the ordinary expenses for each of the years 1858 and 1859. The entire appropriations of that legislature, for all purposes for the years 1858 and 1859, including the above, also for the old debt of the Republic, frontier defense, etc., amounted to only $809,592.49. We find from the same source that the eleventh legislature appro- priated for the ordinary expenses of the State government, for the years 1867 and 1868, the sum of $481,300. This gives one-half that amount, or $240,650, as the ordinary expense for each of the years 1867 and 1868. It will be recollected that there was no session of the legislature during either of those years. The entire appropriations made by the eleventh legislature, that met in 1866, for all purposes for the expenses of the years 1867 and 1868, for the legislature of 1866, and in addition thereto the expenses of the government from the 13th of August to the 31st of December, 1866, amounted only to the sum of $956,850.77. We find from the same source that the appropriations made by the legislature of 1870 for the ordinary expenses of the State government for the fiscal year, from the 1st of September, 1870, to the 1st of September, 1871, was $756,383. The entire appropriations of that legislature, for all purposes, except the subsidy to the International Railroad, amounted to the sum of $1,632,270.50. The appropriation of the legislature that met in the early part of this year (1871) for the ordinary expenses of the gov- ernment for the fiscal year, beginning on the 1st of September, 1871, and ending on the 31st of August, 1872, were $1,072,662; for schools for the same years, $504,500; for deficiencies for fiscal year ending August 31st, 1871, $364,743.45; for all other purposes, except subsidies to railroads, $178,699.83, making the entire appropriations by that leg- islature, exclusive of subsidies to railroads, $2,120,605.28. It will be recollected that the legislature of 1870 also voted a subsidy of ten thousand dollars a mile to the International Railroad, which will impose upon our people a debt of at least eight million dollars, if the Parties in 'Texas 137 company complies with the terms of the law; and the legislature of 1871 granted an additional subsidy of six million dollars to the Trans- Continental and Southern Pacific Railroads. We find that the cost of the legislature of 1857 was $159,760; that of 1866 was $167,000; that of 1870, $307,000; and that of 1871, $285,000, exclusive of the expenses of the adjourned session, which will prob- ably be several hundred thousand dollars more, while the number of members, the per diem and mileage were the same for that of 1866 as for the legislature of 1870 and 1871. We find that the ad valorem tax upon property in the years 1858 and 1859 was for the State one-eighth of one per cent.; for the county one-half of that rate. In 1866, the rate of taxation was increased, for the State to fifteen cents on each hundred dollars, and for county purposes, not exceeding one-half of that rate. The legislature of 1871. increased the taxes as follows, viz.: Ad valorem State tax upon property, one-fourth of which is for schools, one-half of one per cent.; ad valorem county tax, one-quarter of one per cent. ; ad valorem road and bridge tax, one-quarter of one per. cent. ; ad valorem tax for school houses, one-eighth of one per cent.; tax for building school houses and maintaining schools, one per cent.; a poll tax of one dollar for schools; a poll tax of one dollar for roads and bridges; besides the occupation and license taxes, and the tax for the frontier bonds, which is understood to have been fixed by the comp- troller at five cents on each hundred dollars, from which it will be seen that our present rate of taxation for State and county purposes is about two dollars and seventeen and a half cents ($2.17^) on each hundred dollars, besides the poll tax and occupation tax and license taxes. The following is an estimate of the taxes levied from the people the present year. The estimated value of the property subject to taxation is $212,000,000: One-half of one per cent, on above, as ad valorem State tax, will produce $1,060,000 One-quarter of one per cent, ad valorem county tax 530,000 One-quarter of one per cent, ad valorem bridge tax 530,000 One-eighth of one per cent., as one-quarter of State tax for school purposes 265,000 One-half of on& per cent., as tax to pay frontier bonds. . . . 106,000 One per cent, tax for school house purposes, etc 2,120,000 Poll tax for roads and bridges, estimated 150,000 Poll tax for schools, estimated 150,000 License and occupation for State, estimated 300,000 License and occupation for county, estimated 150,000 $5,361,000 338 Platforms of Political In addition to the above, each taxpayer has to pay for the commission for assessing his ad valorem tax, which it is supposed will amount to. about three per cent, on his ad valorem tax. Your committee believe, from the best examination they have been able to give the subject, that the expenses of the government and the present rate of taxation are excessive. They think the ordinary an- nual expenses of the government should not exceed $695,000. They be- lieve that an ad valorem tax of one-third of one per cent, for the State, and one-sixth of one per cent for the counties, with the present poll taxes and license and occupation taxes, will produce an amount of revenue ample to meet all necessary expenses, besides affording a liberal amount for public schools, and still leave a surplus in the Treasury. An ad valorem tax of one-third of one per cent, upon $212,000,000, the estimated value of property in the State, will produce $ 706,666.66 Estimate of license and occupation tax ... 300,000.00 $ 1,006,666.66 Deduct one-quarter, set apart by constitution for schools 251,666.66 Leaves for ordinary expenses $ 755,000.00 There will then be applicable for public schools, the above one-quarter 251,666.66 Poll tax of one dollar, estimated 150,000.00 Annual interest on railroad bonds | in Treasury belonging to school fund ( 136,431.00 This gives annually for public schools $ 538,097.66 A county tax of one-sixth of one per cent, on $212,000,000 will produce 353,333.33 License and occupation tax, one-half that for State 150,000.00 Poll tax for roads and bridges, estimated 150,000.00 This gives for county purposes $ 653,333.33 The expenses for the building of school houses should be levied by the citizens of each school district on property situated in the district. In conclusion, your committee recommend the adoption of the fol- lowing resolutions: Resolved, 1. That the present rates of taxation are greatly in excess of the legitimate and necessary wants of the government. 2. That the legislature now in session be, and they are hereby re- quested by this Convention, as the representatives of the taxpayers and citizens of the State, to revise and remodel the tax laws so as to levy in lieu of all other direct ad valorem taxes, only one-third of one per cent on all real and personal property, not exempt from taxation, for Parties in Texas 139 State purposes, and not exceeding one-half of that rate for county pur- poses. The constitutional rate for school purposes to be taken from the amount thus levied for State purposes. 3. That a copy of these resolutions and accompanying report on statistics be sent, duly authenticated, to the legislature now in session as a request to the said honorable body, that they will consider and act on the foregoing resolution. C. UPSON, Chairman Subcommittee. In connection with these reports and resolutions, we recommend the adoption of the following preamble and resolutions: In view of the foregoing facts, showing the infractions of the con- stitution and laws of the State, and in view of the extraordinary ex- penditures proposed by the authorities and legislature of the State, and consequent burden of taxation levied upon the people to meet such expenditures, and in consequence of the violations of the rights and interests of the people, as are clearly shown to exist in the enactments of the legislature, and in the exercise of unlawful and august powers assumed by the governor of the State, therefore, be it Resolved, by the representatives of the people of Texas, in convention assembled: 1. That a committee of seven be appointed by the President of this Convention, whose duty it shall be to embody the action of this Con- vention and confer with the legislature and ask from that body a re- dress of the grievances of which the people of the State complain. 2. That this Convention declare to the people of the State (having taken competent legal advice thereon) that the order of the superin- tendent of schools for the collection of one per cent for the building of school houses, etc., is illegal and void, and we advise the people not to pay the same, but only to pay the one-eighth of one per cent, as levied by the legislature. 3. That the committee to be appointed, as before directed, shall at once prepare an address to the people of the State, advising them in what particular manner to resist, through the courts of the country the payment of the school house and such other taxes as are deemed illegal. 4. That in the event the recommendations of this Convention should be disregarded by the governor and legislature, and no measures of relief to the people be adopted, and no early day be fixed for an election and assemblage of the legislature, the committee appointed by the President of the Convention shall prepare a memorial, which shall be presented from the committee, through our delegate in Congress, to the authorities of the general government, praying that the people of Texas may be protected in the right guaranteed by the constitution of the State in the election of members of the legislature, under a just apportionment, as well as an election of State and county officers; 140 Platforms of Political and that said committee shall be fully authorized to present such facts and evidence as will tend to secure the great object in view. In addition thereto, the committee recommend the adoption of the following resolutions: Resolved, 1. That while we are assembled here from every part of this great State, to protest to mankind against the grievous wrong under which the people are now laboring, we do at the same time solemnly and earnestly deprecate all violations of law and order, whether committed by bodies of men calling themselves by one name or another, or called by others by any name whatever. 2. That we recognize the right of every person in the State, with- out regard to race or previous condition, to equal civil and political rights under the law, and to have protection for his life, liberty, and property. That we are in favor of paying all lawful and reasonable taxes for the establishment of public free schools, and to carry on the government; but, at the same time, we recommend to the people that they do not pay such portions of the tax now demanded as we here show to be illegal. 3. That we solemnly appeal to the deliberate judgment of the civilized world, and especially to that portion believing in the principles of republican government, for their support and aid in our protest. All of which is respectfully submitted. A. J. HAMILTON, Chairman. On motion, the report of the committee was adopted, when the reso- lutions thereto attached were taken up seriatim and adopted by the Convention. Committee of Seven to memorialize the Legislature: 2 W .M. Walton, John Ireland, J. W. Throckmorton, J. T. Harcourt, M. C. Hamilton, A. J. Hamilton, and C. S. West. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1872 HOUSTON, May 14-16 The rupture in the ranks of the National Republican party caused the leaders of the party in Texas to lay great emphasis on the necessity for harmony. The call for a convention was issued early; among the objects of the meeting was specified a thorough reorganization of the party. The attendance was about three hundred and fifty delegates, representing, perhaps, one 2 The address to the taxpayers of Texas, and the memorial to the legisla- ture are appended to the Proceedings, pp. 27-30 Parties in Texas 141 hundred counties. The call for the convention had fixed the basis of representation at one delegate and one alternate for every five hundred votei's in each county. Officers: President pro tempore, John G. Scott, of Anderson ; permanent, Robert H. Taylor. Vice-Presidents: 1st Congres- sional district, William Chambers and Thomas Younger; 2. A. Lands and J. L. Lovejoy; 3. D. J. Baldwin and J. H. Wash- ington ; 4. Charles Metzner and Henry Haupt. Secretaries : G. T. Ruby, Richard Allen. M. H. Goddin, R. J. Blair, A. H. Longley, and J. J. Stevens. Delegates to the National Convention : 1st Congressional dis- trict : State at large, A. M. Bryant ; Local, J. B. Williamson, Wm. Chambers, and Thomas Younger. 2. State at large, Webster Flanagan; Local, N. A. Ellett, A. B. Norton, and F. W. Summer. 3. State at large, G. T. Ruby; Local, W. A. Saylor, Richard Allen, and II. V. McMahan. 4. State at large, J. P. Newcomb; Local, J. W. Talbot, T. C. Barden, and B. F. Williams. Presidential Electors: State at large, E. Degener, C. C. Cald- well, J. H. Townsend, and F. M. Hays. Congressmen: State at large, L. D. Evans, of Harrison, and A. B. Norton, of Dallas. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: Thomas H. Baker, of Caldwell; F. L. Britton, of Victoria; James H. Bell, of Travis; W. A. Price, of Matagorda ; C. C. Gillespie, of Harris; A. L. Darnell, of Grayson ; J. H. Townsend, of McLennan ; J. B. Williamson, of Harrison ; W. B. Bonner, of Limestone ; A. B. Norton, of Dallas; F. E. Younger, of Smith; A. Lands, of Red River; W. J. Locke, of Bexar; Julius Schutze, of Travis; F. W. tinier, of Lamar; Robert Zapp, of Fayette, and - - Patten, of Gal vest on. PLATFORM 1 WIIKKKAS. The Republican party of the United States is about to appeal once more to the Nation for the support of its principles in the coming presidential election; and WIIKREAS. The election in this State in November next will decide whether or not the Democratic party, with its prejudices against the 3 The proceedings of this convention are taken from The Nuecea Valley (Corpus Christi,) May 25 and June 1 and 8, 1872; the personnel of the executive committee is found in the issue for November 16. 142 Platforms of Political equal rights of men and against popular education, is to be restored to power in Texas: Therefore, the Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled, do now make the following declaration of their principles as a party: 1. We declare our full fellowship with the National Republican party of the United States, and our unqualified devotion to its prin- ciples and to its fortunes. 2. We declare that the grand and fundamental idea of the political equality of all men and their equal rights before the law is peculiarly Republican, and is not professed by any other party in this Nation; that it is the mission of the Republican party to carry this idea into full, practical effect, and, therefore, the Democratic party cannot safely be intrusted' with powers of government, either National or local. 3. That there are but two political parties in the Nation, the Repub- lican and the Democratic, that the nomination of Horace Greeley for the presidency of the United States was made in the interest of the Democratic party, and that the Republicans of Texas will follow no such lead, but will give their firm and zealous support to the nominees of the convention to assemble at Philadelphia on the 5th of June next. 4. We indorse the administration of General U. S. Grant as wise, just, and honest; and we instruct our delegates to the Philadelphia convention to vote for his renomination for the presidency. 5. The Republican party in Texas regard the free education of all the children of Texas as a sacred duty, the first and most sacred of all our public duties; and we hereby pledge ourselves to secure to the children of all the facilities of free public education at the smallest cost possible to the people; and we will hedge the system of public education with all possible safeguards, endeavoring to secure the most rigid economy and the best administrative experience. Free public schools shall ever be the dearest motto of the Republicans of Texas. 6. That the development of the vast mineral, agricultural, and stock resources of Texas is of vital importance to the future prosperity of our people, and a necessary prerequisite to that development is a well-devised system of internal improvements, stimulated by reason- able aid from the State, which shall not tax the people, and the Republi- can party of Texas will devise and support a reasonable system of aid to such improvements in lands, but will resist any and all further attempts at aid in bonds or money. 7. We declare our unabated confidence in the personal integrity and incorruptibility of Governor Edmund J. Davis, in his fidelity and devotion to the best interests of the people of Texas, and we will give him our firm and unflinching support in every effort to secure to all the people of the State a wise and good government. 8. That we declare our unqualified condemnation of all corruption and peculation on the part of public officials; we will do all that in' us lies to promote honest and wise legislation, to secure honest and just Parties in Texas 14: { administration, and to guard with a jealous care all the interests of all the people. 9. That we will endeavor to give protection to our frontier by every means at our command, and we pledge ourselves to cut down every superfluous expense in the State government, and to reduce taxation to the very least amount compatible with efficient govern- ment. State Executive Committee: J. G. Tracy, of Harris, chair- man: J. P. Newcomb, of Travis, secretary; 1st District, Wm. Chambers, of Chambers; 2. E. M. Wheeler, of San Augustine; 3. R. J. Blair, of Houston ; 4. J. H. Morrison, of Anderson ; 5. W. B. Harper, of Anderson; 6. L. A. Templeton; 7. S. H. Russell, of Harrison; 8, 9 and 10, blank; 11. R. Peterson, of Lamar; 12. blank; 13. J. H. Leathermaii, of Austin; 14. R. M. Yell, of Montgomery ; 15. C. Caldwell, of Grimes ; 16. T. G. Davidson, of Washington; 17. W. A. Saylor, of Brazos; 18. P. W. Hall, of Robertson; 19. blank; 20. T. H. Powell; 21. blank; 22. A. L. Darnell, of Grayson ; 23 to 27. blank ; 28. Henry Wil- lis, of Travis; 29. W r . J. Locke, of Bexar; 30. J. L. Haynes, of Cameron. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1872 CORSICANA, June 17-19 In the call for a State convention the Democratic executive committee pointed out that the meeting would be the most important that perhaps had ever assembled in Texas since, on the wisdom of its counsels and the harmony to be established will depend the future success of the Democracy of Texas. No limit was placed upon the number of delegates admitted from each county; the basis of representation would be fixed by the convention. Each county was granted one vote for each one hundred votes and one vote for each fifty or more votes. The attendance was record breaking, about seven hundred and fifty being present. Democratic editors took pride in stating that it was the largest representative body that had up to that time gathered in Texas. A knotty question required decision: *' Whether we shall follow our time-honored banner to victory 144 Platforms of Political under the leaders of our own faith, or whether, by a combination required by the exigencies of the occasion, we shall fight under leaders of a different creed, but those desiring the same object."" The two-thirds rule was observed in making nominations for congressmen for the State at large. Officers: President pro tempore, J. W. Henderson, of Harris; permanent, John H. Reagan, of Anderson. Vice-Presidents, Wnu Stedman, of Harrison ; S. B. Maxey, of Walker ; C. M. Winkler, of Navarro; Geo. W. Smith, of Colorado. Secretaries pro tem- pore, H. B. League, of Kaufman ; John Walker, of Nacogdoches ; E. W. Shands, of Travis; permanent, W. P. Hamblen, of Harris, and D. R. Wallace, of Bastrop. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, J. W, Henderson, o"f Harris; George W. Jones, of Bastrop; Charles De Morse, of Red River; and John H. Reagan, of Anderson. 1st Congressional district, G. W. Bryan, of Jefferson; J. H. Turner, of Harrison; R. H. Walker, of Nacogdoches; and W, H. Tucker, of Walker. 2. J. L. Camp, M. D. K. Taylor, C. W. Geers, and E. T. Broughton. 3. B. H. Bassett, of Washington- Ashbel Smith, of Harris; J. W. Downs, of McLennan; and G. M. Winans, of Walker. 4. Geo. W. Smith, of Colorado; J. D. Logan, of Bexar ; F. S. Stockdale, of Calhoun ; and John S.. Ford, of Cameron. Presidential Electors: 1st Congressional district, A. T. Rai- ney, of Anderson, and R. B. Hubbard, of Smith; 2. W. P. Mc- Lean, of Titus, and B. H. Epperson, of Red River ; 3. J. M. Maxey, of Walker, and Thomas Harrison, of McLennan ; 4. John Ireland, of Guadalupe, and N. G. Shelley, of Travis. Congressmen: State at large, A. H. Willie, of Galveston, and R, Q. Mills, of Navarro. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st District, Colonel Foscue, 2. D. M. Short, 3. E. R. Bonner, 4. G. W. Jones, 5. James H. Jones, 6. R. B. Hubbard, 7. G. B. Lipscomb, 8. Geo. Tabb, 9. Charles DeMorse, 10. Fred J. Darden, 11. S. B. Maxey, 12. Gteo. Mason, 13. C. H. Kendall, 14. Ashbel Smith, chairman, 15. J. C. Hutchinson, 16. J. D. Giddings, 17. Dewitt C. Booth, 18. Thomas P. Aycock, 19.' Thomas Harris, 20. James Raines, 21. Robt. Josselyn, 22. B. F. Christian, 23. J. W. Cartwright, Parties in Texas 145 24. Geo. P. Finley, 25. Geo. W. Smith, 26. Joel P. Robinson, 27. John C. Ireland, 28. Wm. M. Walton, 29. Charles L. Wurz- bach, 30. Bethel Coopwood. PLATFORM 1 We, the Democrats of the State of Texas, in convention assembled, deem it proper to announce our opinions and purposes in the present critical condition of public affairs. It is, therefore, Resolved, 1. That we have undiminished confidence in the time- honored principles of the Democracy, as embodied in the platform of the Democratic convention at Austin, January 25, 1871, hereunto annexed and made a part of this platform, and believe that the welfare and prosperity of the country will never be fully restored till those principles are in the ascendant; but we recognize as an alarming fact that the issues to be determined in the next presidential election not only concern matters of constitutional construction and political ex- pediency, but they also involve the far greater and vital question, whether we are hereafter to live under a government of law, or a government of force. 2. That the present administration has been subversive of consti- tutional government and free institutions throughout the country, and in the Southern States has been a system of lawless spoliation and central tyranny; that its chief, by accepting gifts and bestowing offices in return, by appointing incompetent and unfit relations and personal adherents to positions of profit and trust, and by devoting to unbe- coming pleasures and pursuits time that should be given to his official duties, has been culpably remiss of the responsibilities and dignity of his high standing, has set a bad example to the people, and violated alike the obligations of good faith and the usages of common decency; and that, encouraged and aided by the party in power, he has attempted to usurp or control legislative and judicial functions and thus estab- lish a consolidated personal government destructive of the rights of the States and the liberties of the people. 3. That in view of the threatening pretensions and great power of those now in authority, we consider their expulsion from all offices of honor or trust to be essential to the peace and welfare of the country, and to the preservation of constitutional government. 4. That we have seen with profound satisfaction the patriotic movement of the Liberal Republicans lately assembled in convention at Cincinnati, and we fully concur with them in believing that local self-government, with impartial suffrage, will guard the rights of all citizens more securely than any central power. The public welfare J The proceedings of this convention are taken from The Daily Telegraph (Houston), June 18-20 and 25; The State Gazette (Austin), June 26, and The Daily Herald (San Antonio), June 22, 1877. 10328 146 Platforms of Political demands the supremacy of the civil over the military authority, and freedom of person under the protection of - the habeas corpus. We de- mand for the individual the largest liberty consistent with public order, and for the State self-government, and for the Nation return to the methods of peace and the constitutional limitation of power. The civil service of the government has become a mere instrument of partisan tyranny and personal ambition, and an object of selfish greed, and is a scandal and a reproach upon free institutions and breeds a demoralization dangerous to the perpetuity of republican government. We, therefore, regard a thorough reform of civil service as one of the pressing necessities of the hour; that honesty, capacity, and fidelity constitute the only valid claims of public employment; that the offices of the government cease to be a matter of arbitration, favoritism, and patronage, and again be a post of honor. We demand Federal tax- ation, which shall not unnecessarily interfere with the industry of the people, which shall provide the means necessary to pay the expenses of government economically administered, pensions, interest on the public debt, and a moderate reduction annually of the principal thereof. 5. That we recognize the movement of Liberal Republicans in oppo- sition to the present administration of the general government as a commendable effort in behalf of reform and constitutional liberty, and we, the Democratic party of Texas, confiding in the wisdom, patriot- ism, and integrity of the great National Democratic party, to assemble in Baltimore, do hereby pledge ourselves to a vigorous support of the policy to be enacted by the Baltimore convention, and to battle for the restoration of civil government under whatever leadership it may direct. 6. That whoever may be the nominee of the Baltimore convention, this convention finds no reason therefrom for destroying, impairing, or even modifying the present organization of the Democratic party; but favor maintaining its organization for the purpose of putting down and removing the abuses under which our people labor from the tyrannical, dishonest and unscrupulous State government of Texas. 7. That we are opposed to all moneyed subsidies to private corpora- tions by the State government, and regard the same as unsound in principle and dangerous in practice. 8. That it is the duty of the general government to protect our citizens from the murderous bands of Mexicans and savages who are daily pillaging our country, murdering our citizens, and driving back the tide of civilization from our western frontier. 9. WHEREAS, The school fund, sacredly set apart for tne education of the children of this State, has, under the political misrule of the last two years, been plundered by speculation, squandered, and per- verted to political purposes: The Democratic party deem it fitting on this occasion to reaffirm the opinion that agreeably to the policy the party has hitherto pursued, it is the duty of the State to establish Parties in Texas 117 common schools and furnish the means of a good common school edu- cation to every child in the State. [Here follows the platform adopted by the State convention that assembled at Austin, January 25, 1871.] State Executive Committee: C. M. Winkler, of Navarro, chair- man; 1st District, E. B. Pickett, of Liberty; 2. Peyton F. Ed- wards, of Nacogdoches ; 3. B. H. Williams, of Houston ; 4. John H. Reagan, of Anderson; 5. Benjamin M. Baker, of Panola; 6. John C. Robertson, of Smith; 7. M, D. Ector, of Harrison; 8. W. E. Knox, of Marion; 9. W. P. McLean, of Titus; 10. W. Giles, of Wood; 11. H. W. Lidey, of Fannin; 12. M. C. Mc- Lemore, of Galveston; 1'3. Ben T. Harris, of Austin; 14. Geo. Goldthwaite, of Harris; 15. H. H. Boone, of Grimes; 16. M. A. Bryan, of Washington ; 17. Spencer Ford, of Brazos ; 18. W. M. Johnston, of Leon; 19. B. W. Rimes, of Falls; 20. Amzi Brad- shaw, of Ellis; 21. John C. McCoy, of Dallas; 22. Chas. W. Geers, of Denton ; 23. J. N. Roach, of Parker ; 24. D. C. Proctor, of Calhoun ; 25. Wells Thompson, of Colorado ; 26. J. D. Sayers, of Bastrop ; 27. Stephen H. Darden, of Caldwell ; 28. Jas. Boyd, of Bell; 29. R. L. Graves, of Bexar; 30. Jas. A. Ware, of Nueces. CONFERENCE OF "STRAIGHT-OUT" DEMOCRATS, 1872 AUSTIN, October 17 and 18 A determined minority in the State Democratic convention opposed a coalition with the Liberal Republicans. It agreed with the majority on State issues, but dissented from the acts of the Baltimore convention. It advised Democrats to let Re- publicans elect their own candidates. When the " Straight-Out " Democrats nominated O'Connor and Adams, and the defeat of Gireeley and Brown became apparent, thus destroying the only bond of cooperation between Democrats and Liberal Republicans, a meeting of the Democratic State executive committee was urged to determine what was best to be done. Failing to secure a meeting of the State executive committee, the State Gazette pub- lished a call for a State conference of those favoring O'Connor and Adams to meet at Austin, October 17th. Officers: Chairman, R. K. Cage; Secretary, J. M. Denton. 148 Platforms of Political RESOLUTIONS 1 Resolved, [1] That we do not regard the action of the Baltimore convention, in nominating two Republicans, as binding on us as Demo- crats. [2] That we are opposed to the election of General Grant as Presi- dent, and disapprove of the wholesale corruption and disregard of the Constitution that have characterized his administration. [3] That a committee of six members be appointed by the chairman of this meeting to prepare and publish an address to the Democracy of Texas, expressive of their views in regard to the objects of this Conference, and to confer with the present Democratic electors with the view of obtaining their votes for O'Connor and Adams, in the event it shall be found that their votes would not change the result of the presidential election. Committee on Address: Chas. S. West, J. T. Harcourt, E. K. Cage, David Sheeks, W. B. Cross, and J. D. Elliott. COLORED MEN'S CONVENTION, 1873 BRENHAM, July 3 and 4 Officers: President, N. W. Cuney. Vice-Presidents, Mathew Gaines, Richard Allen, and John Reed. Secretaries, John N. Coss, and J. H. Washington. Committee on Address: W. C. Richer, W. A. Price, Jacob Freeman, G. T. Ruby, J. J. Hamilton, John DeBruhl, B. F. Williams, P. J. Moore, Cooke Jenkins, L. A. Clope, J. J. Webb, Walter Riptoe, N. W. Cuney, W. H. Holland, J. H. Washington, and Richard Allen, chairman. ADDRESS 1 We, the undersigned members of the committee on address, do most respectfully, by leave, report as follows: That we consider one of the prime objects of our assemblage to be the promotion of good feelings between ourselves and our white fellow- citizens of the State, without whose earnest and sincere efforts in co- J The proceedings of this Conference are briefly reported in The State Gazette, October 21, 1872. a The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Daily State Journal (Austin), July 5 and 7, 1873. Parties in Texas 349 operation with our own, to effect our elevation, our progress must be slow and constrained, as has been asserted by the ultra Democratic press, and others who desire to estrange us from the kindly feelings of the white inhabitants, that we are unalterably opposed to their inter- ests, and always disposed to support such men and such measures, as result in subjecting them to additional taxation, and the increase of their pecuniary burdens. Now, we beg leave here to respectfully point out, that if our conduct has in any measure justified these accusations, it is no fault of our own. It must be borne in mind that the mass of the colored people are in a lamentable state of ignorance, the result of that wicked system of bondage, which shut them out from the acquisition of all knowledge of letters and made it a penal offense to teach them to read the Word of God. They must also remember that they have from the day of the acquisition of our liberty set their faces in steadfast opposi- tion to our political, educational, and social progress, with a blind spirit of malignant opposition not calculated to inspire us with either confidence or affection. It, therefore, should not excite surprise, still less should it expose us to animadversion, if we have given our con- fidence and support to men who may have abused it to promote selfish ends, or unworthy purposes particularly when these men declared them adhesive to those great principles embodied in the recent amend- ments to the Constitution, and which are the strongest planks in the Republican platform. Notwithstanding all that we, the colored people of the State, have suffered at the hands of our white fellow-citizens, we cherish towards them no animosities, and will hail with satisfaction any manifestation on their part of a disposition to abate their prejudices, and concede to us willingly all those rights and privileges that sweeten the enjoyment of civil life. It becomes our duty here to define clearly what is under- stood by us as civil rights in contradistinction to social privileges. There is no intelligent man in the State who should not discern, at a glance, that the enemies of the colored men wilfully abuse the public mind when they assert that we are aspirants for social privileges, and are desirous of promoting legislation of a character that will effect it. We certainly are not so foolish as to imagine that any law could be framed that could effect such an object. We know perfectly well that a man's social relations cannot be made by legislative enactments. We have no disposition to intrude ourselves upon them, and would resent as an indignity any intrusion upon ourselves. But we do de- mand our Civil Rights Bill of the Hon. Charles Sumner, and shall agitate the question of their concession with unabated ardor until we can celebrate their acquisition. We would far prefer to have received, these boons as a voluntary offering from our white fellow-citizens. We would be happy if the white men of this State would emulate the example of a portion of their Southern fellow-countrymen in Louisiana, and not wait to have Con- 150 Platforms of Political gressional legislation wring from their reluctant hands what we nirvr would gratefully receive as a generous concession, and which would most emphatically tend to create and strengthen bonds of fraternal feelings. It is a misfortune for both races that the Southern white men seem determined to leave their colored fellow-citizens nothing to be grateful for, as every right we enjoy has been forced from their grasp, in face of stern opposition and openly expressed hatred. Had even a part we now enjoy been voluntarily conceded, the mass of the- colored people would have patiently waited until time and education fitted them for the rest, and many of the evils of legislation, to which the South has been exposed, could have been avoided. With stolid obstinacy they have clung to their prejudices. Yet we do not despair and feel our duty to ourselves and them- render it imperative for us to hold out the olive branch, and express a willingness to cooperate with them in any measure for the advancement of the interests of our State and the welfare of its citizens. We appeal t6 them to meet us with the free concession of our civil rights in their hands, and will thus become a truly homogeneous people, animated by one common purpose, and that purpose the prosperity of the State. At all times and under whatever circumstances, imbued with the most kindly feelings for our fellow-citizens, we deny the charge here- tofore made that we have met in secret meetings, to war, or in any manner array ourselves against any class or classes of the community. That now, as ever, we are actuated by purely laudable motions in our political conduct, conducing as we believe, to the best interests of our State. In order, however, that all feelings or passion hitherto arrayed because of political gatherings, wherein we have participated, may be hereafter dispelled, we invite and request our fellow-citizens through- out the State, to hold and attend their meetings of a public character openly and before all, inasmuch, as to-day armed with the panoply of American citizenship, we need no longer fear malicious opponents in the exercise of our public rights. "With charity for all, and malice toward none" of our fellow- citizens, we appeal to the law-abiding and honest people of Texas, of whatever political party, to join with us in deprecating the outrages and wrongs perpetrated upon the colored people in various sections of our State, because of our new relations as freemen and citizens, and we ask that all acts of violence towards us, from whatever source, shall be condemned by the public sentiment of the community in such un- equivocal terms as that law and order shall be enforced. We also recommend to our people the acquisition of land and home- steads, and that they do not support for office any man or set of men who are likely to place obstancles in, the way of their success in this direction. We also urgently recommend to them that they refuse to support for any office whatever any man who is not pledged against repudiation Parties in Texas 151 in all its forms. We are not to consider how the State has been brought into debt, or the means by which its obligations were incurred; we only are to consider how we can earliest pay them, and we pledge our- selves to use our humble efforts to the payment of the State obligations, to the last dollar in the treasury, and we will cheerfully submit to any amount of taxation to accomplish that object. We also express ourselves as being decidedly in favor of internal improvements. This we also consider an appropriate occasion to disabuse the minds of our fellow-citizens of foreign birth, of the desire that has been attributed to us to lay obstacles in the way of the immigration of their brethren in Europe to this State. We indignantly deny that we cherish any so unworthy or selfish feeling. We look on the Americans as the trustees of this soil for the oppressed of all nations, and we welcome the downtrodden immigrant from wherever he may come with open arms. We cannot close this address without the strongest expression of our confidence in, and regard for President Grant and reiterate our thanks to him for his efforts to ameliorate our condition and obtain our civil rights. We also express our confidence in the Federal government and re- affirm our allegiance to the National Republican party. In conclusion, we tender our grateful thanks to Chas. Sumner for his constant and unwearied efforts for our acquisition of civil rights, and earnestly trust that his existence be so prolonged to win the com- pleted result of his lifelong labors. And we confidently hope and believe that our future will justify his past. State Executive Committee: Richard Allen, chairman; 1st Congressional district, S. H. Smothers, C. Jenkins, and David Abner; 2. W. A. Sands, and two 'to be appointed; 3. N. W. Cuney and J. H. Washington; 4. J. H. Holland, Rev. Frank Green, and W. H. Dale. GERMAN CONVENTION, 1873 AUSTIN, August 7 and 8 Early in July, 1873, a call for a convention of German-speaking citizens was published in the Stoats Zeitung of Austin. It was signed by men of all shades of political opinion, and stated the object of the meeting to be "a free discussion of the political situation, an open expression of our wishes, a 152 Platforms of Political definition of our relations to the political parties, and a union on one platform for which we intend to work at the next election." Between forty and fifty delegates attended. Officers: President pro temper e, Aug. Buttlar, of Galveston; permanent, Dr. E. Goldman, of Galveston. Vice-Presidents, Dr. R. Wipprecht, of Comal, and Joseph Bruckmueller, of Har- rison. Secretaries, pro tempore, A. Siemering, permanent, Hugo Lehmann, of Harris, and C. Erhard, of Bastrop. Committee on Resolutions: Aug. Buttlar, of Galveston; A. Siemering, of Bexar; Dr. Koester, of Comal; A. Zadek, of Na- varro; W. Brueggerhoff, of Travis. Committee on Address: O. Gareisen, of Galveston, A. Siem- ering, J. Schuetze, of Travis, the president, and the secretary. ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS 1 An die deutsch-amerikanischen Buerger von Texas: In Folge des Allen bekannten Aufrufs zu einer Convention der deutsch-sprechenden Buerger haben wir als beauftragte Delegaten und Buerger des Landes uns zu elner freien Besprechung der besten Interessen des Staates versammelt, nicht well wir Sonderinteressen erstreben oder eine Abtrennung von den uebrigen gleichberechtigten Elementen unsres Staatskoerpers, sondern lediglich aus dem Grunde, weil wir in unsrer Muttersprache uns leichter und sichrer ueber die Ziele verstaendigen koennen welche wir Alle erstreben und weil die ungenuegende Kenntniss des Englischen es einer grossen Zahl von uns unmoeglich macht, in den ueblichen Conventionen ihren Wuenschen, zu deren Kundgebung sie ein Recht hat, Ausdruck zu geben. Diese Gruende sollten alien billig Denkenden genuegen. Wir haben erklaert und wuenschen zu wiederholen, dass der Ge- danke, eine besondere Partei zu bilden, uns Allen fern liegt. Im Gegentheil geht unser Wunsch dahin, durch eine offene Aussprache unsrer politischen Absichten ein harmoniaclies Zusammenwirken mit alien -Nationalitaeten, welche das feste Band des amerikanischen Buergerthums in einen Koerper vereinigt, zu befoerdern. Wir fordern Nichts fuer uns, sondern beabsichtigen nur das all- gemeine Wohl. Unsere Beschluesse beziehen sich auf die unbestreit- baren Rechte eines jeden Staatsbuergers: Schutz fuer Person und Erziehung der Jugend, verstaendige Besteuerung, Anstellung red- lf The proceedings of this convention are taken from Die Woechentliche Texas Post (Galveston), August 10, 1873; a rough and incomplete transla- tion of the Address and Resolutions appeared in the Daily State Journal (Austin), August 11, 1873. Parties in Texas 153 licher Beamten, Sicherung der persoenlichen und buergerlichen Freiheit! Wir uebergeben Ihnen diese Beschluesse mit der Bitte, dieselben zu pruefen und in den bevorstehenden Wahlen Ihr Augenraerk darauf zu richten, dass die Candidaten, welche sich um Ihre Stimme bewerben, mit den von Ihnen vertretenen Grundsaetzen ueberein- stimmen. Da wir glauben, das jeder Buerger die Pflicht hat, sich ernstlich am politischen Leben zu betheiligen und am Wahlkasten seine Ueberzeugung zu vertreten, so erlauben wir uns, Ihnen die Noth- wendigkeit einer baldigen Registration und die Zweckmaessigkeit lokaler Versammlungen dringend ans Herz zu legen und' hoffen, dass dieser erste Schritt zur Vereiningung der deutsch-redenden Buerger die gewuenschten Fruechte fuer das Gesammtwohl unsres Staats bringen moege. Wir, die in Convention in Austin versammelten Deutschen, haben uns in unsrer Eigenschaft als Buerger dieses Landes zusammenge- funden, um uns ueber die politische Lage des Staates zu besprechen. Wir thun dies, weil die uns Allen verstaendliche deutsche Sprache eine bessere Verstaendigung ermoeglicht und weil wir in den ueblichen County Conventionen als eine Minoritaet nicht zum vol- len Ausdruck unserer Ansichten gelangen koennen. Wir empfehlen daher die nachfolgenden Grundsaetze unseren deutsch-amerikani- schen Mitbuergern als eine Richtschnur fuer ihr ferneres politisches Verhalten: 1. Wir verlangen ein liberates Freischul-System, welches dem vernuenftigen Anspruechen aller Buerger entspricht. 2. Wir verlangen einen ausreichenden Schutz fuer Leben und Eigenthum aller Bewohner des Staates. 3. Wir erklaeren uns gegen jede Spezialgesetzgebung, welche durch allgemeine Gesetze erledigt werden kann. 4. Wir erklaeren uns gegen Repudiation jeder Art. 5. Wir erklaeren uns fuer eine rationelle Staatsunterstuetzung der Einwanderung. 6. Bei Aufstellung von Candidaten fuer Aemter und Besetzung derselben verlangen wir als einzige Richtschnur Befaehigung und Rechtlichkeit. 7. Wir erklaeren uns gegen die Erlassung irgend welcher Ge- setze, welche auf die Bedrueckung irgen einer Klasse der Bewohner des Staates in Bezug auf Rasse oder Nationalitaet hinzielen. 8. Wir erklaeren uns gegen jede Beschraenkung der persoehn- lichen Freiheit der Buerger, insbesondere aber gegen alle Sonntags- und Temperenz-Gesetze. 9. Die Steuerlast muss gleichmaessig und ohne Bedrueckung besonderer gesetzlicher Geschaeftszweige vertheilt sein. Steuern 154 Platforms of Political sollen nur fuer die wirklichen Beduerfnisse des Staates und d&r Gemeinde und zur Bezahlung der oeffentlichen Schulden verwendet werden. Additional Resolution Beschlossen, dass wir die Deutschen imseres Staates auffordern, sich jedes Jahr einmal in Convention zu versammeln um die Inter- essen des Landes zu besprechen und dass zu diesem Zwecke von der jetzigen Konvention ein Executive Komite ernannt wird, dessen Pflicht es sein soil naechstes Jahr den Aufruf zu erlassen und zu gleicher Zeit darauf hin zu wirken, dass sich in jedem von Deut- schen bewohnten County ein Komite bilde das mit dem Executiv Komite in Korrespondenz trete. Executive Committee: 0. Gareisen, Galveston, chairman; A. W. May, Houston, secretary; H. Brosig, Galveston; Gustav Loeffler, Houston; Wm. Ahrenbeck, Hempstead; - - Koch, Beelville; P. Leisewitz, Brenham; F. A. Engelke, 'Brenham; F. Seydler, High Hill; C Wertzner, Bastrop; J. Jungmichel, Bastrop ; Paul Pressler, Austin ; A. Zadeck, Corsicana ; J. Bruck- mueller, Marshall; Dr. R. Wiprecht, New Braunfels; Dr. Koes- ter, New Braunfels; P. Braubach, San Antonio; H. Karber, San Antonio ; Kohlmann, Fayette ; G. Kulow, Columbus ; T. F. Leyendecker, Freiburg; G. Dalwigk, Fredericksburg ; W. Wahrmund, Fredericksburg; Dr. Assig, Blanco City; - Bieberstein, Brenham; A. Zoeller, Boerne. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1873 DALLAS, August 19 and 20 In June Chairman J. G. Tracy, of the State executive com- mittee, issued a call for a State convention. The call fixed the basis of representation. It set forth the issues upon which it was expected to gain the victory. It foreshadowed the fierce political campaign about to be initiated. About five hundred and fifty delegates attended. Eighty-four counties were repre- sented. It was not a ''nigger" convention, reported the official organ, but was composed of all classes of the people in proper proportion. Officers: President pro tempore, A. G. Malloy, of Marion; Parties in Texas 155 permanent, S. G. Newton, of Bexar. Vice-Presidents, G. T. Ruby, A. Siemering, W. H. Andrews, S. Roberts, Thos. H. Baker, and W. A. Roberts. Secretaries, W. A. Price, of Matagorda; A. R. Parsons, of Travis; J. H. Washington, of Grimes; W. H. Wentworth, of Dallas; and S. H. Russell, of Harrison. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, E. J. Davis, of Nueces; Lieutenant-Governor, R. H. Taylor, of Fannin; Comptroller, J. W. Thomas, of Collin ; Treasurer, A. T. Monroe, of Houston Commissioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Bexar; Superintendent of Public Instruction, A. B. Norton, of Dallas. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: S. H. Russell, A. B. Norton, W. H. Johnson, G. T. Ruby, W. W. Lewis, N. W. Cuney, Sam Cummings, Wm. Chambers, Wm. Alexander, A. Siemering, J. B. Lovejoy, D. Mackay, W. H. Lawrence, Geo. A. O'Brien, Thomas Ford, J. W. Thomas, T. J. Powell, W. A. Price, A. L. Darnell, W. G. Robinson, D. J. Baldwin, S. Bowlby, Robert Zapp, Henry Moore, W. A. Crafts, Colonel McCown, - Whitmore, Thos. E. Younger, Richard Allen, W. E, Parker, A. W. Wilder. PLATFORM 1 We, the Republicans of Texas, this 20th day of August, 1873, make the following declaration of principles: Resolved, 1. That we reaffirm our devotion to the principles enun- ciated in the National Republican platform, and to the wise and just administration of President Grant. 2. We are earnestly in favor of the establishment and mainte- nance ot a system of public free schools such as is imperatively required by article 9 of our State constitution, and of such im- provements as experience has shown to be desirable, and we strongly condemn the practical abolition by the thirteenth legislature of the system that was in operation. 3. We are in favor of the enactment of such laws by the legislature as will give full and ample protection to every citizen in the State, in the enjoyment of all his rights as a citizen. 4. We are opposed to special legislation believing that 'general laws may be framed which can obviate the necessity of special, J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Daily State Journal (Austin), July 19 and 20, 1873. 156 Platforms of Political and which would be more just, and less apt to be enacted from cor- rupt motives. 5. We are in favor of a judicious State aid to immigration, such as is contemplated by article 11 of our constitution. 6. We desire to be taxed for public purposes only and that taxa- tion should be imposed at equal and uniform rates upon property; very little, if any, to be put upon occupations. While we desire to have our State government administered with real economy, avoiding alike parsimony and extravagance, and we wish our public debt paid according to its terms, we are opposed to the creation of any new public debt and we are forcibly opposed to repudiation in any form. 7. The speedy development of the varied resources of our State we regard with favor and to this end do pledge ourselves to extend every reasonable facility and aid towards the establishment of an equalized and judicious railroad system for the State. That the success of railroad building in Texas materially dtepends upon carrying out in good faith our obligations heretofore made, whereby capitalists have been and may be induced to invest in our midst. 8. We declare ourselves opposed to the enactment of any public laws that may operate unequally upon citizens on account of their race, nativity, or belief, and that we are in favor of the largest amount of personal liberty consistent with the security of our people in the enjoyment of life and property. 9. We respectfully ask the National government to dismount, disarm, and put upon securely guarded reservations the savage tribes that continually ravage our frontier. 10. Again we ask our general government to relieve such of our citizens as are under political disabilities, and to improve the harbors on our coasts, as the National interests require. We trust the present Congress of the United States will not permit itself to be prejudiced against our people so as to treat them with injustice or illiberality, because the members of Congress dishonorably voted themselves and took back pay, which they should be made to disgorge. 11. We are in favor of short sessions of the legislature. We desire to have our public printing law repealed, and the public printing let on contract to the lowest bidder who can do it as required. 12. We express our strong disapprobation of the bad acts and worse omissions of the thirteenth legislature, and condemn its useless- expenditures of public money, chiefly upon itself, its in- discriminate squandering of the public domain to a large extent upon purely speculative and worthless corporations, and the un- just, discriminating legislating in favor of the rich and against the poor. While we cannot take the time and space to enumerate Parties in Texas 157 its misdeeds, we cannot forbear to denounce its unscrupuolus ef- forts to make homesteads subject to sale under execution. At tlie same time we congratulate ourselves and the people of this State that its oppressive Landlord and Tenant Bill was vetoed by the governor. 13. We trust that from this time forward the people will take steps to relieve themselves from the risk of vicious legislation, by electing senators and representatives, as well as all other State officers, on account of their character and qualifications. 14. We heartily commend to the consideration of the people the resolutions adopted by the German convention of this State, held at Austin on the 7th and 8th of August, 1873. State Executive Committee: G. T. Ruby, chairman; A. Zadek, secretary. 1st District, Thos. J. Russell, 2. M. W. Wheeler, 3. J. Texas Smith, 4. F. M. Hobb, 5. T. H. Russell, 6. Thos. E. Younger, 7. C. M. Campbell, 8. J. T. Fleming, 9. C. Waters, 10. B. H. Dodson, 11. Sam T. Carter, 12. N. W. Cuney, 13. W. T. Burton, 14. P. M. Yell, 15. N. C. Caldwell, 16. E. T. Wallis, 17. blank, 18. C. W. Gardner, 19. Geo. W. Patten, 20. Wank, 21. J. W. Dickson, 22. A. L. Darnell, 23. Sam H. Williams, 24. C. W. Hartup, 25. R. P. Tendick, 26. blank, 27. A. J. Fry, 28. H. M. Taylor, 29. W. J. Locke, 30. J. L. Haynes. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1873 AUSTIN, September 3-5 The call for the State convention was issued July 14, 1873. It was a long document, entering in detail into the recent ac- complishments of the party and surveying what still remained to be done. The attendance exceeded the capacity of the Hall of Representatives, which contained seven hundred chairs for the exclusive use of delegates. The basis of representation adopted by the convention provided that each county represented be entitled to one vote for each hundred votes cast for the Demo cratic candidate for Congress, either at the election in November, 1871, or October, 1872, taking the maximum vote, and one vote for each fraction of twenty-five votes or more; provided each county shall be entitled to one vote. The platform was adopted before making nominations. The two-thirds rule was observed 158 Platforms of Political in making nominations. The railroads were thanked for court- esies. Officers: President pro tempore, M. D. K. Taylor,. of Marion; permanent, R. B. Hubbard, of Smith. Vice-Presidents, R. H. Guinn, of Cherokee; N. J. Moore, of Jefferson; J. J. Goode, of Dallas ; R. R. Gaines, of Red River ; Charles A. Stuart, of Har- ris; David R. Wallace, of McLennan; F. S. Stockdale, of Cal- houn; and I. G. Killough, of Fayette. Secretaries, W. B. Say- ers, of Gonzales; Charles Evans, of Travis; W. C. Walsh, of Travis; W. L. Chalmers, of Travis; P. de Cordova, of Travis; J. J. McKeever, of Harris; R. M. Henderson, of Hopkins; N. G. Kittrell, of Walker; and George Pfeuffer, of Comal. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Richard Coke, of Mc- Lennan; Lieutenant-Governor, R. B. Hubbard, of Smith; Comp- troller, Stephen H. Darden, of Caldwell ; Treasurer, A. J. Dorn, of Fannin ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, J. J. Gross, of Comal ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, 0. L. Hollings- worth, of Hays. Committee of Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, James B. Simpson, of Liberty; 2. F. Voight, of Nacog- doches ; 3. R. H. Guinn, of Cherokee ; 4. J. H. Reagan, chairman, of Anderson; 5. H. McKay, of Harrison; 6. J. P. Douglas, of Smith; 7. W. L. Crawford, of Marion; 8. R. R. Gaines, of Red River; 9. D. M. Prendergast, of Limestone; 10. E. J. Darden, of Hunt; 11. B. F. Hays, of Fannin; 12. George Mason, of Galveston; 13. N. Holland, of Austin; 14. James Masterson, of Harris; 15. John R. Kennard, of Grimes; 16. Seth Sheppard, of Washington; 17. W. W. Lang, of Falls; 18. T. J. Beall, of Brazos; 19. George Clark, of McLennan; 20. John S. Ault, of Dallas ; 21. J. W. Throckmorton, of Collin ; 22. T. J. Brown, of Grayson; 23. L. E. Gillette, of Hill; 24. L. G. Harman; 25. M. Malsch, of Colorado ; 26. J. D. Sayers, of Bastrop ; 27. John W. Bunton, of Hays; 28. Wm. M. Walton, of Travis; 29. N. 0. Green, of Bexar; 30. W. H. Russell, of Cameron. Parties in Texas 159 PLATFORM 1 We, the Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, relying on the virtue and intelligence of the people, again declare our principles and policy, and ask for them the popular approval. 1. We declare our adhesion to the time-honored principles of the Democratic party; our devotion to popular liberty regulated by law; and to constitutional government simple in machinery, and to be administered with the strictest economy. 2. We congratulate the people of Texas on the repeal by the thirteenth legislature of a number of the oppressive, odious, and unconstitutional acts, passed by the twelfth legislature, in pur- suance of the Radical policy to overthrow the government of the people; and among which acts were: (1) The Militia Law, whereby the governor was authorized to suspend the writ of habeas corpus and establish martial law, there- by depriving the citizens of all legal and constitutional protection, and subjecting their lives, liberty, and property to the unrestrained caprice and malignity of a partisan executive. (2) The Police Bill, designed and intended, among other things, to create a system of secret espionage, by hired informers, upon the people; at war with the principles of civil liberty; odious to all freemen, and heretofore tolerated only in the despotisms of the old world, and the execution of which act was for the most part entrusted to a class of men of degraded and infamous character. (3) The Enabling Act, under which the governor was authorized to appoint district attorneys who were made elective by the consti- tution; to appoint all municipal officers, and to fill all vacancies that might occur in the offices of clerks and sheriffs, thereby de- signedly bestowing on him great power and patronage, to enable him to continue Radical misrule over this people. (4) The Registration and Election laws, which were framed and intended for the purpose of preventing free and fair elections; they openly encouraged the perpetration of frauds to defeat the will of the people, and to perpetuate Radical misrule, presenting to our people the extraordinary and humiliating spectacle of surrounding the places of registration and voting with an armed partisan police with which to intimidate and overawe the citizens. (5) The act relating to public free schools, which, among other bad features, provided the means of enabling public officials to speculate in school books, in the building and furniture of school houses, in the salaries of teachers, and furnished high salaries for ^Minutes of the Democratic State Convention of the State of Texas: Held at the City of Austin, September 3, 4 and 5, 1873. Statesman Book and Job Office; Austin, 1873. 40 p. 160 Platforms of Political a large and useless number of officers, which gave the Radical party the means to pay their political missionaries who traveled for Radical purposes and frauds from one end of the State to the other. 3. And we further congratulate the people of Texas that the Democratic members of the thirteenth legislature, so far as it was possible to accomplish their object, in the presence of the cap- tious vetoes of the governor, and the opposition of his partisans in the senate, replaced the foregoing obnoxious, repealed measures, by just and wholesome laws, bearing alike on all, and which, if honestly and faithfully executed, will redound to the lasting good of the country and prosperity of the people. 4. The Democratic party, when it comes into the possession of the government of the State, will administer it in the interest and for the benefit of the whole people, and not a party; and, however much we may have been provoked to hostile and retaliatory legislation, by the outrages committed on us by the Radical leg- islature and State government, it will be a part of our mission to rise superior to our just resentments, and administer the gov- ernment in such manner that every citizen, whatever his politics, religion, nationality, or color, shall feel that he is securelr protected in his life, liberty, and property. 5. The school fund, sacredly set apart for the education of the children of the State, has, under the operation of the misrule of the party in power, been plundered by speculation, squandered, and perverted to political purposes. The Democratic party, through us, reaffirms its past opinion and the policy it has ever pursued, that it is the bounden duty of the State to maintain an efficient system of free common schools, and secure the means of a common educa- tion to every child in the State; and we advocate the gradual sale of the alternate sections of land belonging to the common school fund, as also of the asylum and university lands, under such re- strictions as will secure the funds arising therefrom to the purposes for which they were intended, and giving in such sales proper pref- erences to actual settlers in good faith thereon. 6. It was the Democratic party which first inaugurated the wise and generous policy which has made the United States the asylum of all nations from oppressive government, and less favorable means of livelihood and independence; and the Democratic party of Texas, true to the early teachings and uniform practices of the party, advocates the most liberal and active policy to encourage and in- crease foreign immigration, to develop the resources of our fertile State, as well as to perpetuate the government, through the intel- ligence and moral worth of her citizens. And that every adopted citizen may enter into the spirit of. perfect freedom of thought and action in matters of conscience, the Democracy of Texas, in Parties in Texas 161 convention assembled, declare it to be our firm conviction that legal interference with the merely social habits of any class of citizens, natives or of foreign birth, is contrary to sound policy, to genuine Democracy, and to the enlightened spirit of the age. 7. The Democratic party is and has ever been in favor of throw- ing as few impediments as possible in the way of Europeans making the United States the land of their adoption; and to enable for- eigners to enter into citizenship without needless trouble, delay, or expense, we declare it to be our conviction that a foreigner, who desires it, should have the right to make his declaration of intention to become a citizen before the clerk, in vacation or in open court, as may be to him most convenient; and we favor the passage of a law to that effect. 8. We condemn in the strongest terms all corruption in public officials, and demand the strictest honesty and economy in the administration of public trusts, from the highest to the lowest officer of the government. 9. That the Democracy of Texas adhere to their past policy of developing the material resources of the State, and fostering the best interests of the people, by encouraging the construction of rail- roads. (1) That to this end, and to encourage the investment of cap- ital in such enterprises, we favor the granting of liberal charters to companies able to build such railroads, and of donating to such companies alternate sections of the vacant lands, under proper restrictions, and with such provisions of law as will protect the people against oppression and unreasonable exactions, until each section of the State has its equal proportion of railroad facilities. (2) That we are opposed to granting money subsidies by the State to secure the building of railroads, as unequal in the dis- tribution of burdens and benefits, and unjust in principle. (3) This Convention denounces as false and slanderous the im- putation, sought to be attached to the State of Texas by her enemies, that she contemplates the repudiation of any of her just and legal liabiliies. 10. We consider the constitutional amendments proposed by the last legislature as eminently necessary, and recommend their adoption by the people. 11. The situation and sufferings of our frontiersmen and their families arouse our deep and sincere sympathy; and we do hereby pledge the most earnest exertions of the Democratic party to secure their speedy and adequate protection in the future, believing this to be paramount to all other duties. 12. We favor the calling of a constitutional convention by our next legislature. 13. We invite all good men, whatever may have been their 11328 162 ' Platforms of Political past political preferences, to unite with the Democratic party in removing from place and power those Radical officials who now in part control the State government, in order to insure an honest administration of the laws, and an honest and economical ex- penditure of the public moneys, and to throw the aegis of justice and protection over the person and property of every individual whatsoever in the State of Texas. Additional Resolutions [14] That we deprecate the action of the Democratic members of Congress in cooperating with the Republican majority and Presi- dent Grant in the passage of the "back salary bill." [15] We heartily concur in the following resolutions passed by the Ohio Democracy in their recent convention, to wit: ''Resolved, That the act of the President in setting up by bayonets a government in Louisiana, not chosen by her people and having no title whatever to rule over them, was a flagrant violation of her rights, and of the Federal Constitution." And further, that we deeply and sincerely sympathize with the people of Louisiana in their misfortunes and the outrages perpe- trated on them. [16] That the State Democratic convention of Texas, now in session, fully indorse the action of General McKenzie, of the United States Army, in crossing into Mexico in May last in order to punish the Mexican and Indian robbers for depredating on Texas soil [17] That as the subject of the annexation to Texas of the parishes of Caddo and De Soto, of the State of Louisiana, has been agitated by the people thereof, and as those parishes are identified, politically and otherwise, with the State of Texas, therefore, we approve of said scheme, and we extend the hand of fellowship to the people of said parishes. [18] WHEREAS, It has come to the knowledge of many members of this Convention that there are among us some delegates who assert that they will not support the nominees of this Convention if certain prominent Democrats should receive the nomination of the same; therefore, be it Resolved, That delegates of this Convention do pledge themselves to use all honorable means to secure the election of all the nominees of this body. [19] That it is the imperative duty of the great State of Texas, in the plenitude of her wealth, to provide with a liberal hand for the battle-scarred veterans of the Texas revolution, not as a matter of charity, but as a just recognition of their distinguished services in the contest for Texan independence. Parties in Texas 163 State Executive Committee: John Ireland, of Guadalupe, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, W. W. Whitehead, of Tyler county; 2. T. M. Bowers, of Panola; 3. Samuel A. Wilson, of Cherokee; 4. John C. Goodgame, of Henderson; 5. C. B. Kilgore, of Rusk; 6. F. J. McCord, of Gregg; 7. H. F. O'Neal, of Cass; 8. "W. J. Swain, of Red River; 9. J. L. Halbert, of Navarro; 10. Samuel Upthegrove, of Hunt; 11. S. B. Maxey, of Lamar; 12. C. L. Cleveland, of Galveston; 13. P. E. Pearson, of Fort Bend; 14. Gustave Cook, of Harris; 15. John S. Cleveland, of San Jacinto; 16. John W. Carroll, of Burleson; 17. James Boyd, of Bell; 18. B. H. Davis, of Brazos; 19. Ira B. Sadler, or Coryell; 20. K. M. Van Zandt, of Tarrant; 21. G. B. Pickett, of Wise; 22. J. W. Jennings, of Grayson; 23. Wm. Veal, of Palo Pinto; 24. D. C. Proctor, of Calhoun; 25. Wells Thompson, of Colorado; 26. J. D. Sayers, of Bastrop; 27. Wm. F. Farris, of Caldwell; 28. Wm. H. Westfall, of Williamson; 29. Geo. Pfeuffer, of Comal; 30. B. B. Seat, of Cameron. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1875 AUSTIN, September 6 to November 24 The calling of a constitutional convention was recommended by the Democratic platform of 1873. When the holding of such a convention was submitted to the voters by the legislature in 1875, the question presented itself, whether the Democrats should act as a party in the selection of delegates. In his capacity as chairman of the State executive committee, John Ireland urged the holding of nominating conventions in each district. He recommended that the delegates be instructed on the more im- portant questions that would come before the constitutional convention, such as immigration, education and internal im- provements 1 The convention, on October 27, voted to form a committee that should prepare an address to the people of Texas, 1 'setting forth the leadiDg principles of the new constitution, the reforms provided for by it, and its claims to the approbation of the freemen of Texas." 1 The State Gazette (Austin), April 21, 1875. 164 Platforms of Political Officers: President pro tempore, J. W. Whitfield; permanent, E. B. Pickett, of Liberty. Secretary pro tempore, W. C. Walsh, of Travis; permanent, Leigh Chalmers, of Travis. ADDRESS 2 Fellow Citizens: The undersigned, members of the Constitutional Convention, have been appointed a Committee by that body to address you in expla- nation of the new Constitution and Ordinances adopted by it and now submitted to you for ratification. This we shall do as briefly as is consistent with the great importance of the subject. Our Past and Present Condition ) For six years the people of Texas have borne the burthens and oppressions inaugurated by the semi-military constitution of 1869. The evils fastened upon the State by that instrument are generally understood. Heavy taxation; an unwieldly and expensive judicial system, impoverishing to both the State and its counties; a vast political and partisan scheme under the pretence of sustaining free public schools; an unwise, expensive, and irritating system of registration; a vicious partisan, and mercenary State police; multitudes of irresponsible, partisan, and useless officers; irregu- larities,; confusions, ignorance and prejudices, and in some cases corruption pervading the various departments of the public admin- istration; money subsidies voted to railroads to the enormous sum of twelve millions of dollars of the people's money; high salaries, even to petty and useless officers in the school department; com- bined, until the inauguration of the present State government in January, 1874, with a partisan, oppressive, and often vicious ad- ministration of the laws, thrice accompanied with declarations of martial law and the suspension of the great writ of right, the habeas corpus these, fellow citizens, were some of the evils com- plained of by you, the freemen of Texas, under the constitution of 1869. The Present Convention On the first Monday in August last, the people, in order to re- lieve themselves of such an accumulation of wrongs, and reestablish in the State a just, wise and economical system of government, elected delegates to a convention to form a new constitution. At the same time, by a majority of nearly two-thirds, they distinctly 2 The Daily State Gazette (Austin), November 25, 1875. Parties in Texas 165 voted in favor of holding the convention. On Monday, the sixth day of September, your chosen delegates, ninety in number, from all parts of the State some of them living a thousand miles apart assembled in the city of Austin and entered upon the discharge of their grave and responsible duties. We venture to assert, with the most perfect sincerity, that no representative body of like number has ever assembled in this State or any other State of this Union, more fully resolved upon a conscientious discharge of the duties devolving upon them. Differences, truly, have arisen in the discussion of the best means of accomplishing the common desire of all the formation of a constitution which should secure the rights, liberties, and happiness of the people. But a spirit of patriotic concession has served to harmonize them substantially upon a common ground. Every member, as in all wise deliberative bodies, has yielded more or less of his individual opinions to the aggregate voice of the whole. So feeling, we are emboldened to appeal to the people of the State for a full and thorough examination into the work of the Convention. We invoke you to take the new constitution and the ordinances of the Convention, of which thousands of copies are being printed for free circulation, to your homes and examine them as a whole. Compare them carefully with the system under which we have lived for six years. Heed not the silly, unjust, and possibly suborned assaults of those who have denounced the Convention in advance of its work; but read, scrutinize, and decide for yourselves as intelligent, self-governing freemen, jealous of your rights and liberties. If you will do so we are confident that there will be such an uprising of the people at the ballot box in favor of ratification as has never been witnessed in Texas. Work of the Convention Let us glance at a few of the important points achieved by the Convention. The first act was to cut down the pay of its own members three dollars per day, and the second was to relieve the people of an entirely new registration prior to December, and to postpone a general election in that month for a legislature under the old constitution, at or about the same time the people would be voting to ratify the new Constitution and to elect a new legislature under its provisions. By this action we not only avoided the risk of having two rival legislatures at the same time, but saved the people from another humiliating registration and a useless election throughout the State, amounting in time and money, at a moderate estimate, to three hundred thousand dollars. It is true, and should be so stated, that some of the ablest and purest members of the Convention, upon strictly legal principles, denied the power of the 166 Platforms of Political Convention to exercise this function; but none denied otherwise its wisdom or its great economy to the people. Over two-thirds of the body, however, held to the opposite view, and passed the ordinance of September 24, postponing the December election. The New Constitution Fellow-citizens, we invite you first to examine the Bill of Rights; therein you will see that the liberty of the citizen, as inherited from our ancestors, is asserted and protected by every safeguard known to constitutional law. The government of Texas is restored to the people of Texas, a pledge to you that you, your children, and your children's children shall enjoy the priceless legacy b&- queathed to us by our fathers of 1776 and 1836. Executive Department By this you will see every needful guaranty of faithful and effi- cient administration, with a material reduction in expenses, and biennial return to the people for reelection, the result of a patriotic spirit of concession in the Convention. The direct money reduction in this department amounts to $31,500, by reduction of salaries and the abolition of certain offices. Legislative Department We invite your careful attention to the great reduction in this department of the government. The cost of the last six sessions of the legislature for mileage, per diem and contingent expenses, has been as follows: Three sessions of the Twelfth Legislature $ 641,122 . 62 One session of the Thirteenth Legislature 282,421.39 Two sessions of the Fourteenth Legislature 328,744.34 Total for six years $1,252,287.91 Showing an annual expense of $208,714.65. How It Will Be Hereafter Sixty days sessions biennially, per diem $37,500.00 Mileage 10,000.00 Contingent expenses, about 18,000.00 Total $65,500.00 Being annually only 32,500.00 Which being deducted from $208,714.65 shows an annual saving of $176,214.6.5. Then it is a moderate estimate to say that in sav- Parties in Texas 167 ing 250,000 votes of biennial registration, is equal in time and money to one dollar to each voter, or $250,000, equal to an annual saving to the industries of the State of $125,000. The new Constitution restores our former wise and just system of local representation in the legislature, whereby the representative is taken directly from his own locality, and thereby held more im- mediately responsible to those he represents. Suffrage After years o^f sore irritation to every spirit of manhood, in the enjoyment of our inherited rights as freemen, the new Constitution breaks down every barrier to an honest exercise of the right of voting. No more registration is required, and no more espionage by partisan officials is tolerated. As a guaranty of fair and honest elections, it is only required that every man shall vote in his own precinct, among his neighbors where he is known. The honest citi- zen will submit to this rather than leave the door open for re- peating and other frauds. County School Lands The four leagues, or 17,712 acres, donated by the fathers of Texas to each county for educational purposes, and wrested from them by the constitution of 1869, are restored to the rightful own- ers, subject to disposition by the respective county courts for school purposes. This is a righteous act of justice. Public Roads The unjust and odious road tax, placed in the constitution of 1869 for partisan purposes, and at variance with all our past history, by its burthen upon the aged, the widow, and the orphan, and its exemption of two : thirds of all the able-bodied men then in the State, is abrogated in toto. The new Constitution restores the old system, hallowed by time and demanded by the people of the State. The road tax as heretofore fastened upon us amounts in round num- bers to $137,500. This sum is saved to the people annually as a money contribution, by a return to our old system of personal service on the roads, which added to the annual saving in money to the people in the Legislative Department, amounts to an annual reduction of $290,998.15, which added to the reduction in the Executive Department, shows a grand total under these heads, annually saved to the people of $316,715.15. Add to this the annual saving of a biennal as compared with annual elections . 150,000.00 Total savings $466,795.15 168 Platforms of Political Education On this subject great diversity of opinion prevailed in the Convention among tha purest and most patriotic members of the body. All were anxious to place within the reach of every child in the State a sound, practical education for the duties of life; but as to the details, in view of our condition as a new and sparsely settled commonwealth of im- mense territory an area larger than France, and more than five times as large as the great State of New York the wisest and purest mem- bers of the Convention men whose devotion to Texas cannot be ques- tioned found themselves confronted with grave difficulties, and naturally held variant views as to the means with which to accomplish a common object the greatest good to those who are to succeed us, generation by generation, as the sovereign people of Texas. Some were disposed, in their intense desire for early universal edu- cation, to lay a heavy tax on the people at once) to maintain a general system of free schools for all. Others, no less ardent in favor of the common object, realized that the parents and taxpayers of today had just emerged from four years' bloody and devastating war, followed by ten years of first a military and then an anomalous system of govern- ment, distasteful to the intelligent multitude, repugnant to their tra- ditional ideas of liberty, and engendering distrust between the common citizenship of the State, distrust in the breasts of all towards those in authority, and altogether begetting in the minds of the most intelligent men a feeling of doubt and uncertainty, the very opposite of that which should exist in the heart of every citizen in a free State. Such being the case, the Convention, realizing that the State has on hand an interest bearing fund of about three million dollars; a patented land fund in the organized counties of about twenty million acres of land, now placed on the market and being taken up by actual settlers; an additional land fund of many million acres in the unorganized counties and the unorganized territory; and beyond all this munificent grant, one-half of all the unappropriated public demain of the State; the whole amounting in round numbers to over sixty million acres, de- cided that it would be unwise and unjust to impose on the parents and taxpayers of to-day an onerous money tax to maintain at once a gigantic system of free schools. After the most exhaustive discussion of the subject, and in view of this splendid future, a majority of the Convention determined to limit the present taxation on the people in support of free schools to one-fourth of the annual revenue of the State, and a poll tax of one dollar on each male inhabitant between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years, which, added to the annual interest on the permanent school fund, will now amount to the annual sum of about $775,000, so long as the general revenue shall remain as it now is. Beyond all this, it must be borne in mind that the 17,712 acres of land belonging to every county in the State is an additional fund for Parfies in Texas 109 educational purposes. Some of the counties have lands worth to-day five dollars to ten dollars per acre. Others are less fortunate, but to all this grant is a material auxiliary to the resources for common school education, and provision is made for bringing it into market and preserving its principal as a perpetual fund, the interest being annually used for school purposes by the counties themselves. Railroads By the clauses on this subject it will be seen that, while a liberal policy is adopted for the State, every needful power is retained in the hands of the people, through the legislature, from time to time, to so regulate and control them as to protect the people from all unjust monopolies and unfair discriminations. On this subject the Conven- tion has followed in the footsteps of Pennsylvania and Missouri in their constitutions, recently adopted after long experience, with a view to protect the people against abuses from that source. We ask your careful attention to this portion of the Constitution. It will be seen that neither the legislature, nor any county or town, can vote the public money, or fasten a debt by way of subsidy to any private cor- poration, whether railroad or other association for private profit. Judicial Department In this branch of the Constitution, under which the greatest burthens have heretofore rested on the people, the Convention encountered its most difficult problems. As it has been for six years, with forty judges laterally on the bench, the administration of justice has been far behind in nearly all the counties. Parties litigant in civil cases, as well as parties charged with crime, have been so delayed as to amount in thousands of cases to a denial of justice. But the most potent wrong has been upon the witnesses and juries taken from their re- spective industries and held for days, weeks, and sometimes months, in waiting upon the courts; and the enormous costs in enforcing the criminal laws. This state of things has been deplorable, and a severe tax upon the people. Judicial delays have kept our jails filled with prisoners at a ruinous expense to the counties; and many misde- meanors having been unwisely placed in the list of felonies, the peni- tentiary, at great cost to the State, has been made to overflow with convicts, mostly for short terms. To correct this evil, and these ruinous burthens upon both the counties and the State, whose interest Is one and the same, was a problem with which the Convention had to grapple. To relieve the supreme court of its overtaxed labors and secure prompt, final decisions; to enable the district courts to promptly discharge their business and relieve jurors and witnesses of the great burthens now imposed on them, were the great objects of the Conven- tion. We trust these results have been attained. We invite your critical attention to this article of the Constitution. By its pro- 170 Platforms of Political visions it is hoped all suits, civil and criminal, may be speedily dis- posed of, and, if time proves it defective, the legislature may, to a large extent, remedy the defect. The relief thus afforded to the people cannot be estimated with accuracy, but may be summed up as an enormous annual saving to the industry of the State. But under the new system as compared with the present there is a direct money saving which may be easily stated in dollars and cents. We state it by a comparison of the present with the proposed judicial system. Examine the figures: As It Is Now Five Supreme Judges at $4,500 each $ 22,500.00 Forty District Judges at $3.500 each 140,000.00 Thirty-eight District Attorneys at $1,200 each.. 45,600.00 Total annual salaries $208,100.00 As Proposed in the New Constitution Three Supreme Judges, $3,550 $ 10,650.00 Three Appellate Judges, $3,550 10,650.00 Twenty-six District Judges, $2,500 65,000.00 Ten District Attorneys (estimated) $500 ' 5,000.00 Total annual salaries $ 91,300.00 Annual reduction $116,800.00 Thus we save as follows annually: In the Executive Department $ 31,500.00 In the Judicial (in salaries alone) 116,800.00 In the Legislative 174,964.65 In the road tax.. 137,500.00 $460,764.65 Costs of Court The costs of administering the civil and criminal laws for the State for the year ending August 31, 1875, were as follows: To the State $ 373,120.00 To the Counties, for support of prisoners $216,617.21, for jail guards $68,063.21, for juries in criminal cases, $235,226.67 519,897.48 Pay of grand juries and juries in civil cases.... 132,740.18 Mileage on prisoners to the penitentiary 100,000.00 Fees to District Attorneys and other officers in crim- inal cases . 200,000.00 $1,425,765.66 Parties in Texas 171 It is confidently believed by persons well qualified to judge that under the new system fully one-half of this large sum of money, say $712,882.83. will be saved. The reduction in expense to the counties and the State would thus foot up As above ; $ 712,882.83 Reduction in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial De- partments, and in the Road Tax, as before set forth. . 460,764.65 Annual saving by Biennial elections 125,000.00 Annual saving by changes in Jury System, in money and time 300,000.00 Grand total $1,596,647.48 But this falls far short of the facts. The immense impositions on the people for jury service has heretofore well-night absorbed the general and ad valorem tax in the counties, leading to certain financial ruin. Under the new Constitution this evil, in actual money ex- penditure, is reduced fully one-half, with a corresponding saving of time to the people. The aggregate of this retrenchment in time and money to the people of the State at the lowest estimate cannot fall below three hundred thousand dollars. It is also believed that the speedy administration of the criminal laws, as provided for in the new Constitution, will rapidly diminish crime, and prove a double blessing to the State. Miscellaneous Subjects Examine the article on General Provisions and you will see many wholesome and judicious principles secured. In other articles and sections you will see wise provisions against the abuses of corporate power, extravagant taxation, special legislation, (the source of great evils and heavy expenditures,) prohibitions against appropriation of the people's money to illegitimate purposes, for the regulation of the veto power, checks against hasty or corrupt legislation, and many other safeguards against wrong and the preservation of honest government and the liberties of the people. Summing up the entire annual relief to the people in the moneyed reductions above set forth and the saving of time to the people of the State, you will readily see that the whole amounts to more than a million and a half of dollars. The entire expenses of the Convention, having reduced their own pay from eight to five dollars per day, including mileage in the reduction, does not exceed seventy thousand dollars, leaving unexpended of the appropriation made for the purpose, by the last legislature, thirty thousand dollars. Before the election of the Convention its opponents charged that it would cost from three to five hundred thousand dollars. Has any body ever assembled in this Union with greater evidence of self-denial and integrity of purpose? The late Convention of Missouri 172 Platforms of Political is said to have cost about three hundred thousand dollars, and that of Pennsylvania about one million. The convention of Missouri sat four months, that of Pennsylvania eight months. The Convention of Texas has done its work in two and a half months, at a cost of seventy thousand dollars. May not the people of our State be justly proud of such an array of facts? They constitute such a reply to the unjust attacks on the Convention from various quarters as must be satis- factory to every citizen of the State. Beyond all this, a most wise and salutary provision has been made to quiet land titles and protect actual citizens, who pay taxes to sup- port the government, in their homes against the wiles of unscrupulous men who are ever the enemies of good order, security and peace in the State. Thousands of families, now anxious and disquieted from this source, may repose in peace the moment the new Constitution shall be adopted by the sovereign voice of the State. Conclusion Making no pretense to perfection; acknowledging that neither one of us approves every item in the new Constitution; that each one of us may have opposed some particular clause or article, favoring other proposed clauses which failed to be adopted; realizing that T^xas is peculiarly and differently situated from any other t^te in the Union, owing to her own public domain, with a million and a half of people one-third of whom are comparative strangers to our peculiar juris- prudence and complex system of land titles; that we have so recently recovered the right of self-government, after years of misrule and mis- fortune; while some of us unqualifiedly indorse the essential prin- ciples of the new Constitution, all agree that it is a vast improvement on the present one, and will bring great relief to the people. And as an easy and simple mode is provided for its amendment in any par- ticular, where experience may prove its provisions unwise as citizens of the State, devoted to its welfare, and representatives of the people, recognizing our responsibility before the judgment bar of an enlight- ened commonwealth of freemen, we earnestly appeal to you, fellow- citizens, to turn out en masse on the day appointed, Tuesday, February 15, 1876, and vote for the ratification of the Constitution. JOHN HENRY BROWN, of Dallas, Chairman. JOHN H. REAGAN, of Anderson, JAMES C. GAITHEE, of Falls, JOHN W. WHITFIELD, of Lavaca, W. B. WRIGHT, of Lamar, L. W. MOORE, of Fayette, ED. CHAMBERS, of Collin, L. S. Ross, of McLennan, WM. P. MCLEAN, of Titus, WM. NEAL RAMEY, of Shelby. Parlies in Texas 17'J While we do not concur in all the particulars of the address of the Committee, we, nevertheless, join in recommending the adoption of the new Constitution by the people as one much to be preferred to that now existing. F. S. STOCKDALE, of Calhoun, JOHN S. FORD, of Cameron. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1876 GALVESTON, January 5-7 A consultation of Democrats was called to meet at Austin on November 10, 1875, by the new chairman of the State ex- ecutive committee, Joseph D. Sayers. 1 At this consultation it was agreed that the State convention should be held at Gal- vest on on the first Wednesday in January, 1876. A few days later a formal call was issued: "As important an election as was ever held in a free country will be before you. Not only the selection of proper officers thereby ensuring an honest and successful administration but also the consideration of a new organic law, and its adoption or rejection, will devolve upon you." Whether it should indorse the new constitution was the great issue before the convention. Officers: President, M. D. K. Taylor, of Marion. Vice-Presi- dents, thirty-one. Secretary, Leigh Chalmers. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, W. S. Herndon, F. B. Sexton, W. M. Walton, George Clark, George Mason, D. P. Bowers, T. B. Wheeler, M. D. K. Taylor, J. W. Whitfield, James Bates, E. Pinckney Hill, Leigh Chalmers, James N. Williams, Bethel Coopwood, N. Holland, and W. L. Crawford ; 1st Congressional district, D. A. Nunn, of Crockett, and W. H. Tucker, of Anderson; 2. James A. Weaver, of Hopkins, and H. W. Lightfoot, of Lamar; 3. Thomas H. Murray, of Collin, and John C. McCoy, of Dallas; 4. Ashbel Smith, of Harris, and J. B. Jones, of the Frontier Battalion; 5. J. D. Giddings, of Washington, and W. L. Moody, of Galveston ; 6. F. S. Stock- dale, of Calhoun, and Joseph E. Dwyer, of Bexar. Presidential Electors: State at large, D. C. Giddings and B. a Having been appointed one of the judges of the supreme court, John Ireland resigned the chairmanship about the middle of September. 174 Platforms of Political H. Epperson; 1st Congressional district, Geo. W. Chilton, of Smith ; 2, B. D. Martin, of Hunt ; 3. James M. Hurt, of Gray- son; 4. Thos. J. Beall, of Brazos; 5. Richard V. Cook, of Colo- rado; 6. William H. Burges, of Guadalupe. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Richard Coke, of Mc- Lennan; Lieutenant-Governor, R. B. Hubbard, of Smith; At- torney-General, H. H. Boone, of Grimes; Comptroller, Stephen H. Darden, of Caldwell; Treasurer, A. J. Dorn, of Fannin; Commissioner of the General Land Office, J. J. Gross, of Comal ; Supreme Court Judges, O. M. Roberts, George F. Moore, and Robert S. Gould ; Court of Appeals, C. M. Winkler, M. D. Ector, and John P. White. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st district, W. P. Hicks, of Tyler; 2. John H. Brooks, of San Augustine; 3. N. G. Bagley, of Rusk; 4. Wm. Stedman, of Harrison; 5. W. W. Henderson, of Cass ; 6. John H. Clark, of Red River ; 7. W. S. Herndon, of Smith; 8. John E. Dillard, of Cherokee; 9. James Q. Chenoweth, of Fannin ; 10. A. S. Marshall, of Hunt ; 11. J. M. Hurt, of Grayson; 12. R. D. Armand, of Collin; 13. W. L. Andrews, of Ellis; 14. Robt. A. Davis, of Grimes; 15. T. J. Bell, of Brazos; 16. Thos. W. Blake, of Grimes; 17. George E. Quinan, of Wharton; 18. E. Pinckney Hill, of Harris; 19. George Mason, of Galveston; 20. Dewitt C. Booth, of Burleson; 21. Geo. W. Tyler, of Bell; 22. Wm. W. Flournoy, of McLennan; 23. K. M. Van Zandt, of Tarrant ; 24. J. D. Stephens, of Comanche ; 25. John D. Elliott, of Travis; 26. B. F. Dunn, of Fayette; 27. J. M. Harwood, of Gonzales; 28. F. S. Stockdale, of Calhoun, chairman; 29. John S. Ford, of Cameron; 30. H. P. Brewster, of Bexar ; 31. Wm. H. Jennings, of Caldwell. PLATFORM 2 We, the Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, hereby declare our principles and policy, and ask for them the popular approval: 1. We reaffirm our faith in the principles of the Democratic party as heretofore enunciated by our State conventions, and congratulate the people upon the faithful redemption of all the pledges upon which the Democratic party was recently placed in power in Texas, and point -The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Houston Daily Telegraph, January 6-8, and the Galveston Daily News, January 6-7, 1876. Parties in Texas 115 to the honesty and efficiency of our present State administration as a full guarantee of our continued fidelity to the interests of the State and the people. 2. The Democracy now, as in the past, adhering to its policy of maintaining an efficient system of general education, declares it to be the duty of the legislature of the State to speedily establish and make provision for the support and maintenance of public free schools, and to this end to exercise the whole power with which ift is vested. 3. The sufferings and losses of our people on the frontier from the forages of savages, and upon the Mexican border from invasion, murder, and rapine by the Mexican banditti, enlist our deep and sincere sym- pathy; and, while we hereby pledge our most energetic efforts to afford them adequate protection in person and property by the State, we also earnestly appeal to the general government to give that protection and security to our people and their property thus exposed, to which they are entitled under the Constitution of the United States. 4. That the Democratic party, firmly upholding the Constitution of the United States as the foundation and limitation of the powers of the general government and the safe shield of the liberties of the people, demands for the citizen the largest freedom consistent with public order, and for every State the right of self-government and home rule. That they uphold the former and demand the latter. 5. The Democracy of Texas plants itself upon the great leading principles announced in the inaugural of President Jefferson and the Farewell Address of the immortal Jackson, and enters the contest of 1876 with the firm conviction that the elements of opposition to the National administration should be consolidated in the approaching presidential campaign without prejudice to the unity and perpetuity of the Democratic organization. 6. That we pledge to the nominees qf this Convention our earnest and active support. State Executive Committee: Joseph D. Sayers, of Bastrop, chairman; 1st district, W. W. Whitehead, of Tyler; 2. W. B. Waul of Houston; 3. J. G. Hazlewood, of Panola; 4. S. E. Was- com. of Harrison; 5. T. J. Campbell, of Marion; 6. W. A. Wor- tham, of Hopkins ; 7. Thos. R. Bonner, of Smith ; 8. H. J. Hunter, of Anderson ; 9. Henry W. Lightfoot, of Lamar ; 10. J. J. Hill, of Kaufman ; 11. Wm. Hudson, of Cook ; 12. Thos. H. Murray, of Collin; 13. A. Bradshaw, of Ellis; 14. James R. Seely, of Freestone; 15. J. H. Littlefield, of Robertson; 16. T. J. Goree, of Walker; 17. George Quinan, of Wharton; 18. Chas. Stewart, of Harris; 19. Chas. L. Cleveland, of Galveston; 20. Wm. Thomp- son, of Washington; 21. B. W. Rimes, of Falls; 22. C. G. Pearre, 176 Platforms of Political of McLennan; 23. C. M. Peat, of Tarrant; 24. G. G. Thomas, of Bosque; 25. N. G. Shelley, of Travis; 26. B. F. Dunn, of Bexar; 27. George McCormick, of Colorado; 28. G. F. Bailey, of Aransas; 29. John S. Ford, of Cameron; 30. Chas. Montague, of Medina; 31. A. N. Denton, of Hays. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1876 GALVESTON, January 12-14 "After consultation with many Republicans of Texas and members of the State Central Committee," said Chairman E. J. Davis, in a call dated Austin, December 13, "1875, "it has been deemed advisable to hold a convention of Republicans of the State to decide the policy of the party in the approaching canvass for State officers and the ratification or rejection of the constitution framed by the Constitutional Convention." Officers: President pro tempore, E. W. Brady, of Grimes, permanent, J. G. Tracy, of Harris. Vice-Presidents, 1st Con- gressional district, L. W. Cooper and A. T. Monroe; 2. J. B. Williamson and David Abner; 3. A. B. Norton and L. W. Wil- liams; 4. W. R. Chase and J. H. Washington; 5. James B. Cooper and Jeremiah Hamilton; 6. Nelson Plato and W. J. Locke. Secretary pro tempore, Julius Schutze, of Travis; per- manent, J. P. Newcomb, of Bexar. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, E. J. Davis, A. B. Norton, Adolf Zadek, and S. H. Russell; 1st Con- gressional district, L. W. Cooper and S. T. Newton; 2. A. G. Malloy and F. W. Miner; 3. J. L. L. McCall and L. W. Wil- liams; 4. R. Allen and A. J. Evans; 5. N. W T . Cuney and Julius Schutze; 6. J. P. Newcomb and Wm. Billings. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. D. McAdoo and Wesley B. Ogden ; 1st Congressional district, Webster Flanagan ; 2. J. B. Williamson; 3. J. H. Millican; 4. blank; 5. J. C. Acres; 6. W. Westhoff. Nominees for State Officers: Governor, Wm. Chambers, of Chambers; Lieutenant-Governor, Fred W. Miner, of Lamar; Attorney-General, J. R. Burns, of Fayette; Comptroller, A. M. Bryant, of Grayson; Treasurer, Wm. Umdenstock, of Harrison; Parties in Texas 177 Commissoner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Bexar. No nominations were made for judicial positions. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: E. J. Davis, of Travis, chairman; S. D. Wood, of Smith; L. W. Williams, of Grayson; W. J. Locke, of Bexar; R. Allen, of Harris; B. R. Plumley, Galveston : William Chambers, of Chambers ; J. R. Burnett, of Walker : L. W. Cooper, of Houston ; J. W. Flanagan, of Rusk; A. M. Cochran, of Dallas; Nelson Plato, of Nueces; W. H. Price, of Fort Bend ; F. W. Miner, of Lamar ; J. Wilson, of Brazoria; J. H. Bell, of Travis; J. L. Dickson, of Grimes; and John G. Bell, of Austin. PLATFORM 1 Resolved, 1. That we denounce the Constitution framed by the late convention at Austin, and now submitted to the people of Texas for ratification, as unfit to become the organic law of the State for the following, amongst other, reasons: (1) Because it is intended by it to deny that the people of the United States constitute a nation, and that the Constitution and laws of the United States are the supreme law of the land in all the States and Territories of the Union, thus remitting to the future the same political issues which involved the country in the late Civil War. (2) Because the said Constitution seeks to cheat the people with specious provisions in relation to schools, while it utterly fails to secure an efficient system of free public schools, which is the greatest necessity of the State, the surest guaranty of progress, and the best defense of liberty. (3) Because the said Constitution proposes a judiciary system .which, in practical operation, will be cumbersome, onerous to the people, destructive of private rights, unnecessarily expensive, injurious to the poorer classes, and especially to the interests of widows and orphans. (4) Because the said Constitution is unfriendly to immigration, so much needed to develop the great natural resources of our young and fertile State. (5) Because the said Constitution is unfriendly to any system of internal improvements, without which the agriculture of the State, which is its greatest interest, must languish for want of facilities for proper and healthful development. (6) Because the said Constitution is unnecessarily oppressive to a large number of citizens in requiring taxes on lands to be paid in the *The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Houston Daily Telegraph, January 13-15, 1876 ; they are incomplete. The reports in the Galveston News are equally unsatisfactory. 12328 178 Platforms of Political counties where the lands are situated. For which, and other reasons, the Republican party of Texas will oppose the ratification of the said Constitution and leave all the responsibility that will properly attach to its adoption upon the party which framed it. And we invite Repub- licans throughout the State to vote against its ratification. 2. That we indorse the administration of President Grant, and that the course of his administration in preserving peace with all nations; in liquidating so large a portion of the public debt; in con- ducting the affairs of the Nation with energy, economy, and impartial justice; and in exposing and punishing fraud and corruption wherever found, with the determination to "let no guilty man escape," especially meets our highest approbation, and commands our individual support. 3. That we favor a currency based on coin and redeemable in coin; and that the best interests of the country demand the speediest possible return to specie payments, so that the currency of the country may not be subject to constant fluctuations in value. 4. That the Republicans of this State deprecate party nominations of Judges of the Supreme, Appellate and other, benches, as impolitic, unwise, and unrepublican, and, therefore, we condemn and denounce the attempt of the Democracy to so make partizans of the judiciary as fraught with evil to the whole people of the State, and we recommend that no nominations for such offices be made, and that Republicans make choice at the election of the best men offering their services for the same. 5. That the disturbed condition of the Texas frontier commands the attention of this Convention, and demands our positive action with a view to secure increased protection to life and property; and for the purpose of extending all requisite aid in our power to the people of our border, we request from the National authority a rigid investigation forthwith of the alleged insecurity of life and property now existing upon the border and the cause thereof, and ask to be guaranteed the protection due American citizens; and further, we earnestly invoke the whole power of the Government, if necessary, to the adoption of such measures as will secure the\ protection required by reason of the said disturbed condition of affairs upon that border. That we confess with humiliation the inability displayed by the present State government to afford the protection sought in the fore- going resolution. 6. That we especially and particularly denounce that section of the proposed Democratic Constitution which forbids that proper aid and encouragement be given to immigration to our State. 7. That the present State administration deserves the condemnation of the people of this State because of its wasteful mismanagement of the finances of the State, whereby three millions of dollars of the State bonds have been added to the debt of the State, and many millions of dollars of taxation have been exacted from the people under our Parties in Texas 179 oppressive tax system, yet the treasury obligations of the State find no funds on hand for payment when presented at the treasury. 8. That because of the inefficiency and failure of the present State administration to enforce the laws in this State and protect citizens in their rights, it becomes necessary for us to call on the general govern- ment to assist, so far as the Constitution and the laws of the United States will permit, in maintaining order and protecting our citizens; and we further request the President of the United States to instruct the civil officers of the government of the United States, within this State, to see that the Kuklux and other protective laws are duly en- forced, and that schoolhouse burners be brought to punishment. 9. That the Republicans will expose the trick on the part of the Democracy to prevent the education of the poor of the State, and that the attention of the civil officers of the United States government will be called to the act of Congress readmitting Texas into the Union under certain conditions, viz.: that the constitution of Texas shall never be so changed as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of any of the school rights guaranteed therein, and ask that said act be enforced. 10. That it is the opinion of this Convention that an ad valorem tax is the only just system of taxation, and we demand a repeal of the State occupation tax, the nonpayment of which the Democrats have made a penal offence. Stiate Executive Committee: E. J. Davis, was re-elected chair- man, and all the members of the committee were re-elected. TEXAS STATE GRANGE, 1878 BRYAN, January 8-15 The Texas State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was organized at Dallas, October 7, 1873. It disclaimed being a political organization, but encouraged its membership in the dis- cussion of questions affecting the welfare of the farmer. No formal statements of all their demands were prepared, as they depended upon petition and memorial to bring these demands to the attention of legislators. The demands, adopted in 1878, 1880, and 1882, when the Texas State Grange had a membership of about forty thousand, will indicate the trend of their demands. Officers: W. W. Lang, of Falls, Worthy Master; R. T. Ken- nedy, of Limestone, Worthy Secretary. 180 Platforms of Political DEMANDS 1 Resolved, That all the delegates to the State Grange, representing the agricultural interests of Texas, favor: 1st. The repeal of the Resumption Act. 2nd. Remonetization of silver. 3rd. Payment of the National bonds and interest in greenbacks. 4th. Repeal of the National Bank Law. 5th. To make greenbacks a legal tender for all debts and dues, pri- vate and public, exports and imports (pp. 29, 61). [6.] It was voted to memorialize the legislature to repeal the pro- duce tax (p. 50), and to establish an experimental farm in connection with the Agricultural and Mechanical College (p. 60). [7.] The protective tariff was denounced, and a revision of the existing tariff for revenue only demanded (pp. 64, 65). [8.] The necessity for a deep water harbor on the coast of Texas was pointed out, and the Federal government was requested to grant aid in improving Galveston harbor (pp. 66, 67). INDEPENDENT GREENBACK CONVENTION, 1878 AUSTIN, March 12 The first State convention of the Independent Greenback clubs met at Austin, March 12, 1878. About forty delegates attended ; eight or ten of them were colored. No nominations of candidates for state office were made at this meeting; another convention for that purpose was held at Waco, August 7, 1878. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Robert Hanna, of William- son; permanent, W. H. Billingsley, of Washington. Vice-Presi- dents, W. E. Hutchison, of Galveston; A. D. Strieker, of Falls; and Dr. G. W. Gregg, of Coryell. Secretary pro tempore, J. W. Howard, of Coryell; permanent, J. B. Friedheim, of Harris. PLATFORM 2 WHEREAS, The object of our republican 'government is to protect alike the rights of every individual in the Union, irrespective of sec- tion, State, riches, poverty, race, color, or creed; and, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Session of the Texas State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, held at Bryan, Brazos Co., Texas, January 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15, 1878. 2 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Daily Statesman, March 14, 1878. Parties in Texas 181 WHEREAS, Both the old political parties have persistently ignored this fundamental principle; have encouraged sectionalism, fostered monopoly, and carried on a financial system so radically wrong as to pauperize the masses to support a chosen few in idleness and luxury; therefore, we, the delegates of the Independent Greenback clubs of the State of Texas, in convention assembled, do hereby sever all connection with other parties, organizing ourselves under the name of the Inde- pendent Greenback party of Texas, and make this declaration of our principles: 1. The greenback dollar must be a legal tender for the payment of all debts, and by the Government issued, protected, and received at par with gold. 2. The greenback to be a legal tender money of the country, and to be issued by the Government. 3. The General Government alone to issue money, and this for the benefit of all, and not to, through, or for the enrichment of National bankers. 4. All kinds of property owned by individuals or corporations to be taxed alike. 5. The immediate calling in of all United States bonds, and the payment of them, principal and interest, in legal tender lawful green- back paper money of the United States; and that every dollar of such issue of legal tender lawful money be protected by the Government as at par with other lawful money in gold or silver coin, never to be con- verted into bonds of any rate or class. 6. Universal manhood suffrage, without property qualification. 7. An efficient system of public free schools, commensurate with the growth and importance of our State. 8. A graduated income tax, by which accumulated wealth may be made to bear a just proportion of the burdens of government. 9. No squandering of the public domain upon private corporations. 10. No contract system by which convict labor is brought in com- petition with honest labor. 11. A more efficient system of criminal procedure for the suppression of crime. 12. Honesty and economy in the administration of public affairs, both State and National. State Executive Committee: W. A. H. Miller, of Travis, chairman. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1878 AUSTIN, July 17-24 The Democratic convention of 1878 was one of the most remarkable held in Texas. About 1,300 delegates attended. The 182 Platforms of Political money question was the occasion for a new political party in Texas, and it had much influence in shaping the Democratic platform of 1878. The time-honored two-thirds rule was retained. Three candidates for governor had made extensive campaigns. Two entered the convention with a, well organized support. Days were consumed in fruitless balloting; Throckmorton and Hub- bard were almost equally matched during thirteen ballots, and Devine, who replaced Throckmorton, held Hubbard to a tie there- after till the 27th ballot. At this point a compromise candidate was brought forward and nominated by acclamation Judge O. M. Roberts, chief justice of the supreme court. Officers: President pro tempore, Chas. Stewart, of Harris; permanent, M. D. K. Taylor, of Marion. Vice-Presidents, thirty- one. Secretary, pro tempore, B. B. Paddock, of Tarrant; per- manent, John Bookout, of Dallas. Nominees for State Officers: Governor, 0. M. Roberts, of Smith; Lieutenant-Governor, Joseph D. Sayers, of Bastrop; At- torney-General, George McCormick, of Colorado ; Comptroller, Stephen H. Darden, of Caldwell; Treasurer, F. R. Lubbock, of Galveston; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Wm C Walsh, of Travis. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: E. B. Seale; R. S, Pridgen, of Victoria; J. M. Wascom; F. B. Blocker; W. T. Armistead; Gus. Grayson; R. P. Thompson; J. Y. Gooch; E. B. Perkins ; F. P. Alexander ; Midlay Dean ; T. W. Dougherty ; Amzi Bradshaw, of Ellis ; John R. Henry, of Limestone ; Wm. H. Ham- man, of Robertson; Jno. R. Kennard, of Grimes; F. B. Chilton, secretary; J. C. Hutchinson, of Harris, chairman; M. S. Munson, of Brazoria ; B. H. Bassett, of Washington ; B. W. Rimes, of Falls ; B. D. Simpson, of Johnson; M. B. Franklin, of Tarrant; W. L. Startwell, of Comanche; Norton Moses, of Burnet; W. H. Led- better, of Fayette ; Wells Thompson, of Colorado ; E. R. Lane, of Goliad ; Wm. Scanlan, of Cameron ; J. H. McLeary, of Bexar ; F. B. Wilkes, of San Saba, Parties in Texas 183 PLATFORM 1 WHEREAS, It is right and proper that the friends of constitutional government should reassert their devotion to it, and to proclaim the principles upon which it should be administered; therefore, Resolved. 1. That we have an abiding confidence in the devotion of the National Democratic party to the correct principles of government, and we pledge ourselves to cooperate with it as an integral part there- of in its efforts to restore the administration of the Government to the principles on which it was founded. 2. That the powers of the general government are restricted to the express grants of the Constitution, and all powers not granted are reserved to the States and the people thereof. 3. That we pledge our devotion to the Union of the States under the Constitution, and to the Constitution itself. 4. That a faithful adherence to the following principles is necessary as an essential to the preservation of government, viz: Home rule; the supremacy of the civil over the military power; the separation of church and state; the equality of all citizens before the law; absolute acquiescence in the lawfully expressed will of the majority; and the maintenance and perfection of a common school system. 5. That the investigation of the frauds committed at the last presi- dential election in Florida and Louisiana ought to have been made by the Electoral Commission; its refusal to do so was a violation of the spirit of the law under which it was organized, and a gross outrage on, the people of the United States; and whilst the decision, as made by the Forty-fourth Congress, of the question as to who should be declared President of the United States for the present presidential term should not, in our judgment, be disturbed, that decision ought not to preclude an investigation and exposure by proper authority of all the frauds connected with that election and the due accountability of all who were guiltily connected with them. 6. That the commercial and industrial stagnation which has so long prevailed throughout the country, and the consequent widespread want and suffering are due directly to the pernicious financial legislation of the Republican party, which we hereby arraign for its acts and charge: First, That at a time when the country was weighed down with debt, created on the basis of the full volume of paper, added to both the precious metals as money, it enacted a sweeping change in the measure of value, wholly in the interest of moneyed capital, by demonetizing silver and decreeing the destruction of legal tender paper, and thereby wrongfully added, in fact, hundreds of millions to the burden of debt and taxes upon the people. Second, By pursuing its merciless policy of contracting the paper currency and hoarding gold, it has greatly appreciated the value of J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Daily Democratic Statesman (Austin), July 18-25, 1878. 184 Platforms of Political money and correspondingly depreciates the value of all other property, and especially of capital designed for productive use and required for the employment of labor, thus repressing instead of fostering industry, compelling idleness instead of sustaining trade and commerce, and now this party declare that the question of finance has been settled. We deny this declaration, and while we congratulate the country that the downward course to bankruptcy and ruin involved in the Republican policy has been partially arrested by the Democratic measures passed at the late session of Congress, restoring the debt paying powers to the silver dollar, made a law in spite of the President's veto, and stopping the further retirement of greenbacks, we demand as further acts of justice, as well as measures of relief, the repeal of the Resumption Act, the lawful liberation of the coin hoarded in the treasury, the removal of all restrictions to the coinage of silver fraudulently demonetized, the substitution of United States legal tender for National bank notes, and its permanent reestablishment as the sole paper money of the country, made receivable for all dues to the government and of equal tender with coin, the amount of such issue to be regulated by legisla- tive or organic law, so as to give to the people an assurance of suffi- ciency and stability in the volume of the currency and consequent stability of value. No further increase in the bonded debt; no further sale of bonds for the purchase of coin for resumption purposes, but a gradual reduction of the public debt, by payment according to the original contract by which it was created; a rigid economy in all branches of the public service, and a tariff for revenue only. 7. We favor one currency for the government and the people, the laborer and the officeholder, the pensioner and the soldier, the pro- ducer and the bondholder. 8. We hold that the right of States to tax property in the States is inviolable, and that United States bonds should bear the burden of government equally with all other property, and any legislation that exempts said bonds from taxation is unjust and oppressive. 9. We declare that all bonds and obligations of the National gov- ernment ought to be paid in legal tender notes of the United States except where it is otherwise provided by the original law under which they were issued; and all that can be called in and paid now, should be paid at once, and the remainder as soon as it can be lawfully done. 10. We heartily approve the action of Congress in passing the act known as the Silver Bill, thereby increasing the circulating medium of the country and restoring to us the dollar of our fathers. 11. We demand of the United States government ample and full protection of the Texas frontier, and we recommend for that purpose a law of Congress authorizing the raising of a sufficient cavalry force in Texas, officered by citizens of Texas; and should the general gov- ernment fail to extend protection, then the State of Texas should pro- tect her own border. We declare further that the United States gov- Parties in Texas 18.5 eminent should fully reimburse the State of Texas for all sums of money expended in the defense of her frontier. 12. We deprecate the necessity which now exists for keeping a por- tion of the convicts out of the walls of the State penitentiaries, and declare that they should be confined therein as soon as practicable. 13. We declare that it is the duty of the legislature of this State to pass an act regulating the rates of freight and tariff on all railroads in this State, in obedience to the provisions of the State constitution. 14. We pledge ourselves that no money shall be borrowed or bonds issued to meet the current expenses of the State government, the rate of taxation shall not be increased, and the current expenses should be confined within the current revenue. 15. The interest of the industrial, wealth-producing classes is the paramount interest of the people of the United States. Those whose labor and enterprise produces wealth should be secure in its enjoyment. Our warmest sympathy is extended to the laboring classes who have been thrown out of employment by the ruinous financial policy and unjust legislation of the Republican party, and we pledge the Demo- cratic party to a reversal of that policy and the restoration of all the rights they are entitled to upon its ascendancy to power. 16. We congratulate the country upon the restoration of the con- stitutional and pacific policy of local self-government in the States of the South, so long advocated by the Democratic party, and which has brought peace and harmony to our section of the Union. 17. Upon this platform of principles the Democratic party, feeling that the popular heart beats, in unison with it, appeals to every lover of constitutional government, whatever may have been his former party affiliation, and especially to those who have hitherto acted and still believe with us, but who now mistakenly hope for relief from other parties, to unite with us in our efforts to maintain a just and economic administration of the State government, and to rescue the administra- tion of the Federal government from the hands of the unscrupulous party which has wielded it for seventeen years and which has hesitated at no course to perpetuate its unhallowed rule. Additional Resolutions [18] That it is the expression of the Democratic party of the State of Texas in convention assembled that the officers and clerks in the Land Office, Comptroller's and the other departments of the State should be required to work nine hours each work day, and we recom- mend that the legislature pass a law to this effect. [19] We recommend that our next legislature submit to the people such amendments to the constitution of this State as its. defects de- mand, especially such change therein as will authorize the legislature to exempt from taxation farm products while in the hands of pro- ducers, and all provisions on hand for home consumption. 186 Platforms of Political MINORITY REPORT The undersigned minority of your committee being unable to agree with the majority on what they believe to be the great issue upon which the Democratic party of Texas, now in convention assembled, is called to announce its principles and policy, deem it to be their duty, and beg leave to make the following report "and ask the convention to adopt it in lieu of that portion of the report of the majority of the com- mittee relating to the same matter: Resolved, That the government of the United States has the power, and that it is its duty, to issue greenback money to an amount equal to the United States treasury notes now in circulation and the bonds of the United States, to be full legal tender for all duties, bonds, and taxes whatsoever, and to redeem such bonds; provided, that the bonds originally payable in coin shall be payable in currency at the rate at which they are payable in coin; that no tariff be imposed except for revenue; that no bonds be issued forever; and that greenback money be the equivalent of gold and silver. It is correct in principle, and the remedy by which the people can be relieved from the few bondholders who for the last sixteen years have been and are now aided by a man who usurps the office of President of the United States, holding 45,000,000 men, women, and children in the most abject slavery. HAMMAN, of Robertson, R. S. PRIDGEN, of Victoria. The report was rejected, but by what majority does not appear. Democratic State Executive Committee: E. G. Bower, of Dallas, chairman ; 1st District, J. H. McArdle, of Polk ; 2. J. C. Wooters, of Houston ; 3. W. M. Spivey, of Rusk ; 4. W. J. Cavin, of Harrison; 5. F. M. Henry, of Bowie; 6. W. A. Wortham, of Hopkins; 7. T. R. Bonner, of Smith; 8. R, H. Guinn, of Cher- okee; 9. J. Q. Chenoweth, of Fannhi; 10. J. G. Kearby, of Van Zandt; 11. George D. Patrick, of Grayson; 12. Thos. H. Murray, of Collin ; 13. Amzi Bradshaw, of Ellis ; 14. W. H. Richardson, of Limestone; 15. D. C. Carrington, of Leon; 16. T. J. Goree, of Walker; 17. A. T. Bedell, of Waller; 18. A. P. Hill, of Har- ris; 19. C. C. Sweeney, of Galveston; 20. A. S. Hervey, of Austin; 21. J. F. Berry, of Milam; 22. Jo Abbott, of Hill; 23. A. T. Watts, of Parker; 24. E. L. Shropshire, of Comanche; 25. T. E. Sneed, of Travis; 25. D. F. Dunn, of Fayette; 27. Volney Ellis, of Lavaca; 28. L. F. Lawson, of Tarrant; 29. E. F. Hall, of Webb; 30. Chas. Montague, of Bandera; 31. W. H. Surges, of Guadalupe. Parties in Texas 137 GREENBACK LABOR STATE CONVENTION, 1878 WACO, August 7 and 8 The Greenback Labor party claimed 482 clubs in Texas; of this number seventy were for colored voters. Two hundred and seventeen delegates were entitled to seats in the convention, but all were not present. The Democrats and Republicans contrib- uted equal shares of the number in attendance, but while very few of the old Democratic leaders were present, the Republicans had some of their strong men there. Officers: Chairman pro temper e, J. S. Rains, of Kaufman; permanent, W. A. H. Miller, of Travis. Vice-Presidents, J. S. Rains and J. H. Lippard. Secretary pro tempore, E. B. Allen, of Williamson ; permanent, Chat. E. McLaughlin, of Travis. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, W. H. Hamman, of Robertson; Lieutenant-Governor, J. S. Rains, of Kaufman; At- torney-General, Fred W. Chandler, of Travis; Comptroller, H. A, Spencer, of Dallas; Treasurer, G. W. Whetsone, of Cass; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Comal. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: August Montfort, chairman; S. R. Caruthers, secretary. PLATFORM 1 The representatives of the National Greenback Labor party of the State of Texas, in convention assembled, placing their trust in the intelligence, patriotism, and discriminating justice of the people of the State, do hereby announce the following as the political principles for the establishment and maintenance of which we pledge our earnest, united, and unceasing efforts. 1. Want of harmony of sentiment on the financial question in both the Republican and Democratic parties renders it absolutely necessary that those who demand financial reform should abandon the old or- ganizations and unite together in the National Greenback Labor party to save business men from bankruptcy, the working classes from starva- tion, the whole country from revolution, and the Nation from repudia- tion. 'The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Daily News, August 8 and 9, 1878. 188 Platforms of Political 2. We denounce as crimes against the people the law making the greenback only a partial legal tender; the act creating the National banking scheme; the act changing currency bonds into coin bonds; the act exempting bonds from taxation; the act repealing the income tax; the act demonetizing silver; the act for issuing interest bearing bonds for the purchase of silver bullion to be converted into subsidiary coin; the act for the forced resumption of specie payments; the act for indefinite increase of the National bank circulation and the enor- mous contraction of the volume of the circulating medium. We recog- nize that the financial legislation of the government from the com- mencement of the Civil War, was at the arbitrary dictation of a syndi- cate of bankers and usurers, with the single and settled purpose of robbing the many to enrich the few. 3. We hold that the government of the United States has the power, and that it is its duty, to issue at once absolute greenback money in an amount equal to the United States treasury notes now in circulation and the bonds of the United States, said money to be full legal tender for all debts, duties, taxes, and purposes whatsoever, and to redeem the treasury notes and bonds, principal and interest, immediately, with such absolute greenback money. We further hold that no tariff should be imposed except for the purposes of revenue; that all National banks should be promptly abolished; that no more bonds should be issued by the National government forever, and that all money of the government should be taxable as other property. 4. We hold that the importation of servile labor from Asiatic coun- tries should be prohibited under the severest penalties, but that the emigration of the liberty loving from other lands should be encouraged. 5. We hold that the honest mechanic and laborer of the country should not be forced into competition with gangs of convicts sentenced to penitentiaries for crimes, and we demand that the contract system for this class of labor shall be abolished, and that all convicts shall be confined within the prison walls. 6. We recognize the mutual dependence of capital and labor, and deprecate all attempts to antagonize them. Combinations of capital to rob, and the strikes of labor to resist robbery, are destructive of the true interests of both. We denounce alike the communism which demands an equal division of property and the infamous financial leg- islation which takes all from the many to enrich the few. We demand cheap capital and well paid labor in the place of dear capital and cheap labor. 7. We demand the abrogation of the odious and unjust occupation and smokehouse tax laws now in force in this State. 8. We 1 are opposed to the general or State governments making further donations of the public lands to railroads or other corporations, and we insist that they shall be reserved for the benefit of actual settlers and the increase of the common school funds. Parties in Texas 189 9. We demand the prompt abolition of all useless offices and a general and radical decrease of public salaries, and that county officers shall not be allowed to receive exceeding eighteen; hundred dollars per year for their services; and whenever practicable, especially in judicial offices, the compensation should be fixed by specific salaries, and, further, that in future the government of Texas shall be con- ducted on the strictest business principles and on the most economical plans. 10. We pledge ourselves to reestablish in fact common free schools, and we denounce the Democratic party for its failure to carry out its promises in this regard. 11. We declare in favor of an income tax based upon a constitu- tional limitation and graduating upwards, but leaving untouched all incomes under one thousand dollars. 12. We hold that all bonds now outstanding against the State of Texas should be funded in four per cent bonds, the same to be taxed as other property. 13. We demand the passage of such laws as will prevent all com- binations, discriminations, and granting of rebate by any transportation companies, and will compel common carriers to furnish the same fa- cilities and perform the same service for the same price to all men. 14. We demand a perfect and positive protection to our fron- tier a protection that will guarantee safety both to the settler and to the vast interests of our herdsmen. 15. We demand that the rate of taxation for the year 1879, and subsequent years, shall not exceed thirty-seven and one-half cents on the one hundred dollars as a State tax, and one-half of that amount as a county tax. 16. We demand that the exemption laws be so amended as to allow each family a comfortable homestead not to exceed in value two thousand dollars. 17. That we remember with profound gratitude the struggles of the fathers of Texas in defense of the rights of themselves and their fellow citizens, and viewing the government which they con- secrated with their suffering and cemented with their blood as a rich and inestimable boon handed down by them to us, we are pledged to aid in every way possible in securing its prosperity, and will oppose with all the earnestness of our nature every step looking to a destruction or to the impairing of its unity. 18. Finally, having thus set forth our distinctive principles and views, we invite the cooperation of all citizens of Texas, however differing from us on other questions, who substantially agree with us in their affirmance and support. State Executive Committee: W. A. H. Miller, of Travis, chair- man ; 1st to 4th Districts, blank ; 5. John King, of Bowie ; 6. to 190 Platforms of Political 9. blank; 10. John W. Buckner, of Kaufman; 11. W. H. Camp- bell, of Grayson: 12. Joe Forman, of Collin; 13. R. E. Hughes, of Dallas; 14. F..M. Underwood, of Freestone; 15. M. L. Monroe, of Leon; 16. J. M. Gibbs, of Grimes; 17. blank; 18. A. B. Bristol, of Harris ; 19. Harry Devlin, of Galveston ; 20. A. H. Campbell, of Washington ; 21 A. D. Strieker, of Falls ; 22. J. H. Lippard, of Hill; 23. W. D. Cameron, of Parker; 24. T. B. Owens, of Coryell ; 25. A. R. Bennick, of Burnet ; 26. S. R. Caruthers, of Lee; 27. B. C. Warm, of Gonzales; 28. and 29. blank; 30. John R. Baylor, of Bexar; 31. E. L. James, of Gttiadalupe. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1878 DALLAS, October 1 and 2 Chairman Davis and a majority of the State executive committee expressed satisfaction with the action of the Green- back convention at Waco, and counseled against holding a Re- publican State convention. A few members of the committee disagreed with this view and, after corresponding with work- ing Republicans in all parts of the State, issued a call for a "consultation in regard to the formation of a State ticket," to meet at Dallas October 1, 1878. Although less than forty counties were represented, the consultation on the second day of its sitting resolved itself into a State convention. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, A. B. Johnson; permanent, W. A. Saylor, of Travis. Yice-Presidents, Hardin Hart, of Hunt; W. W. Lewis, of Gregg; and W. E. Burton, of Fort Bend. Secretaries pro tempore, T. J. McHugh, J. W. Schneck and W. J. Ingram ; permanent, J. W. Schneck, of Dallas, J. J. Ham- ilton, of Travis, A. C. Lamkins, of Waller. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, A. B. Norton, of Dal- las; Lieutenant-Governor, Richard Allen, of Harris; Attorney- General, F. W. Miner, of Lamar; Comptroller, A. Siemering, of Bexar; Treasurer, S. D. Wood, of Smith; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Comal; Chief Jus- tice of the Supreme Court, James H. Bell, of Travis; Associate Justice, L. W. Cooper, Houston. Parties in Texas 191 PLATFORM 1 1. The people of the United States constitute a nation, and the Constitution and laws of the United States are the supreme law of the land, and all States and Territories of the Union, and the Republican party of Texas yield and demand implicit obedience to the same. 2. We reiterate the indorsement by the Republicans, and the State convention of 1876, of the administration of President Grant, and that the course of his administration, in preserving peace with all nations, in liquidating a large portion of the public debt, in conducting the affairs of the Nation with energy, economy, and impartial justice; in exposing and punishing frauds and corruption wherever found, met our highest admiration and commanded our undivided support, and extorted the admiration and respect of the whole civilized world. 3. We again declare that we favor a currency based on coin and redeemable in coin, and that the best interests of the country demand the speediest possible return to specie payments, so that the currency of the country may not be subject to constant fluctua- tions in value; and we congratulate the country on the fact that through the Republican administration of the governmefnt this greatly desired object is now about to be accomplished; we demand that the resumption act be carried into effect. 4. That the Democratic party, by its inaugurating a wicked and useless rebellion against the National government, and by its un- holy and unjust attack upon the Constitution and Union, involved the country in war, debt, and misery, and that party is justly re- sponsible for the public debt. 5. The Republican party originated greenbacks as a National currency, and issued United States bonds for the purpose of carry- ing on the war for the Union, and maintaining the National life. We hold that the faith of the government is pledged for their re- demption and full payment, and we congratulate the country upon the wise financial management of the Republican administrations of Grant and Hayes, whereby they have appreciated in value about equal to coin, and are most eagerly sought after by Democrats throughout the entire country; and the party that created green- backs, and increased their value to a coin standard, and has up- held the National currency and the United States bonds, is entitled to the confidence and support of all who love honest money and fair dealing. 6. The Democratic party in Congress is justly censurable for x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Daily News, October 2 and 3. 1878. 192 Platforms of Political its effort to foment strife and discord and its shameful neglect of the public interest in trying to unsettle the verdict of a tribunal of their own creation in regard to the result of the recent presi- dential election, and that the title of Rutherford B. Hayes as Presi- dent has been acknowledged by them and acquiesced in by good people and instead of endeavoring by factious opposition to create ill feeling, they should have joined him in his noble efforts to bring peace and quiet and order and fraternal feeling to the people in every State of the Union. 7. Governments are instituted for the protection of life and property, and to secure men in the pursuit of happiness, and as a State government of Texas, under the Democratic administration, has utterly failed to do each and all of these things, that party should be held to a strict accountability by the people for its shame- ful inability and inbecility, and it should be hurled from position and power by an indignant people. 8. We arraign the Democratic party of Texas for its gross mis- conduct, its false and hypocritical promises, its wicked and flag- itous acts, its general deception and unreliability, its oppressive and iniquitous legislation, its failure to reduce taxes as promised, its multiplication of offices and increase of salaries, its waste of public money, its increase of State indebtedness millions of dollars, its large issuance of State bonds to cover its deficiency, notwith- standing the millions of dollars wrung by taxation from labor and sweat and toil and the blood of the people, greatly impoverished by their extravagant and profligate expenditure of public money, and its general mismanagement of business and financial affairs of the State. 9. The Democratic party is responsible for a judiciary system which in its practical operation is cumbersome, onerous to the people, destructive of private rights, unnecessary, expensive, in- jurious to the poorer classes, especially* to widows and orphans. 10. The disturbed condition of the Texas frontier commands the attention of this Convention, and demands positive action, with a view to secure increased protection to life and property, and we earnestly invite the power of the National authority to adopt such measures as will secure that full protection to all citizens to which they are justly entitled, and which our State government has shown itself unable to render. 11. We confess with deep humiliation the inability displayed by the present State government to afford the protection sought In the foregoing resolutions. 12. We favor such legislation as will foster education, promote internal improvements, encourage immigration, develop the great natural resources of the State, and such reforms as will bring about a just and economical administration of public affairs. Parties in Texas ]9'f 13. That it is the opinion of this Convention that an ad vclorem tax is the only just system of taxation, and we demand the repeal of the State occupation tax, the nonpayment of which the Demo- crats have made a penal offense. 14. That the Democratic party is responsible for the destruction of the public school system inaugurated by the Republican party, and has utterly failed in its stead to secure an efficient system of free schools, which is the greatest necessity of the State, as the surest guaranty of progress, and the best defense of liberty; that the neglect of the legislature at its last session to provide for the payment of teachers and the sustaining of schools for more than one month evidences still more completely their hostility to the common schools, whereby the children of the country may be educated. Additional Resolution [15] That we entertain the kindest feeling towards our Repub- lican brethren who have seen proper to differ with us in reference to the policy we should pursue in the present State campaign, and that we earnestly appeal to all prominent Republicans of the State to throw their great weight and influence in common with us in an effort for the election of our distinguished State ticket and in the laudable effort to build up the Republican party in the great State of Texas. State Executive Committee: A. M. Coehran, of Dallas, chair- man. TEXAS STATE GRANGE, 1880 AUSTIN, January 13-16 Officers: W. W. Lang, of Falls, Worthy Master; R. T. Ken- nedy, of Limestone, Worthy Secretary. Committee on Good of the Order: B. B. Beaird, of Smith ; W. M. Ferguson, of Milam ; A. G. Rogers, of Leon ; W. D. Griffith, of Victoria; W. H. Woods, of Newton. DEMANDS 1 1. That the Department of Agriculture shall be made an executive department, and the Commissioner a cabinet officer. ^Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Texas State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, held at Austin, Texas, January 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1880^ 13328 194 Platforms of Political 2. That the Agricultural Department shall be sustained and sup- ported by annual appropriations commensurate with the importance of the great and perman-ent industry it represents. 3. That commercial treaties shall be made with all foreign countries, giving to American products equal and unrestricted intercourse with the markets of the world. 4. That governments be administered in a cheaper and simpler man- ner, consonant with the conditions of the people. 5. That a more rigid economy in the expenditures of public money be reestablished. 6. That the laws shall be plain and simple, to the end that justice shall be speedy, crime punished, and good government maintained. 7. That the creation or allowing of monopolies to exist is in viola- tion of the spirit and genius of free republican government. The National banks are monopolies. 8. That the tariffs of freights and fare over railroads and all trans- portation companies shall be regulated and all unjust discriminations inhibited by law. 9. That the revenue laws of the United States shall be so adjusted as to bear equally upon all classes of property, to the end that agri- culture shall be relieved of the disproportion of burdens it bears. 10. That the patent laws of the United States be so revised that innocent purchasers of patent rights shall be protected, and fraudulent vendors alone held responsible for infringements of rights and viola- tions of law. 11. That a system of elementary agricultural education shall be adopted in the common schools of the country. 12. That we are entitled to and should have a fair representation in the legislative halls cf the country, chosen from the ranks of the farmers (p. 40). Additional Resolutions [13] That we, as Patrons of Husbandry, are opposed to the sale or dealing out, in any way, of intoxicating liquors as a beverage (p. 28). [14] That this Grange indorse the action of the legislature in the passage cf the Sunday Law (p. 31). [15] That the bill now before the United States Congress, commonly denominated the Reagan Bill, although not fully expressive of our sentiments, is nevertheless the best measure yet proposed in Congress, and we, the State Grange of Texas, do hereby fully indorse said bill so far as it goes and urge upon our representatives and senators in Congress assembled the urgent necessity of the same (pp. -31, 32). [16] That we indorse the policy of retrenchment and reform in- augurated by Governor O. M. Roberts, and believe him entitled to the highest esteem of the citizens of the State of Texas for his firmness *! the administration of the State government (p. 44). Parties in Texas 19-";. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1880 AUSTIN, March 24 and 25 The split in the Republican party was adjusted amicably by the chairmen of the two factions ; Dr. Cochran withdrew in favor of ex-Governor Davis. In his address at the opening of the State convention, Chairman Davis advised that body to pay less atten- tion to National affairs and to devote more attention to Texas affairs. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Wm. Chambers, of Cham- bers; permanent, E. J. Davis, of Travis. Vice-Presidents, Alex Lane, of Harrison; Webb Flanagan, of Rusk; Geo. Hawkins, of Dallas: T. J. McHugh, of Robertson; Richard Allen, of Har- ris; W. M. Burton, of Fort Bend: A. Siemerin^, of Bexar; F. Malloy, of Marion ; B. H. Dodson, of Hopkins ; Lock McDaniel, of Grimes. Secretary pro tempore, N. W. Cuney, of Galveston ; permanent, Richard Nelson, of Galveston. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, E. J. Davis. Webb Flanagan, A. B. Norton and W. H. Holland ; 1st Congressional district, G. M. Dilley and Wm. Chambers, 2. A. G. Malloy and W. H. Hakes, 3. C. C. Binkley and D. A. Robert- son, 4. J. G. Tracy and W. R. Chase, 5. N. W. Cuney and R. A. Harvin, 6. A. Siemering and E. H. Terrell. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. R. Burns and J. P. Xexvcomb; 1st Congressional district, S. D. Wood, 2. F. W. Miner, 3. W. H. Andrews, 4. P. Osterhout, 5. Julius Sehutze, 6. Wm. Westhoff. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. G. Tracy, chair- man, fifteen members whose names have -not been found. PLATFORM 1 We, your Committee on Platform and Resolutions, beg leave to report that, after a full consideration of the resolutions submitted to us, report the following, and recommend their adoption: J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Daily Statesman, March 25 and 26, 1880, and The Texas Capital (Austin), March 30, 1880. 196 Platforms of Political 1. We hold it to be the duty of the United States government to secure to every citizen the free exercise of the elective franchise in all elections for President and Vice-President and members of Congress. 2. We are in favor of the use of both gold and silver as cur- rency, but we believe that a dollar, whether of gold or silver, should approximate to each other in value as nearly as possible. 3. We do not consider it expedient for this Convention to make nominations for State offices, but we delegate to the State executive committee the authority to call a future State convention to de- cide on that subject, if, in their opinion, the public sentiment shall hereafter indicate that a convention is desirable. 4. We hold the following to be among the highest duties of our State government: (1) To establish an efficient system of fre,e public schools, to be supported by a liberal appropriation of the public revenue in addition to the income of the permanent school fund. (2) To give efficient protection to every citizen in the State in the free use and enjoyment of all the rights guaranteed by the constitution and laws of the State, among which we recognize the enjoyment and free expression of their opinions upon all subjects. (3) To suppress and punish all violence and mob law of every description, both of which have heretofore been so common as to bring disrepute upon our State, and we regret to see that such acts have often occurred without any sign of official rebuke from the chief executive, whose duty it is to see that the laws are faithfully executed. (4) We also hold it to be the duty of the State government to invite and encourage immigration to our State. 5. That we denounce the Democratic party of Texas for in- flicting upon the people of the State the obnoxious measures known as the present Sunday and Bell Punch laws, regarding the former as restrictive of personal liberty, and the latter as a" piece of job- bery, projected in the interest of speculators, and that we favor the reenactment of the Sunday law previously in force. 6. That we denounce the present occupation tax and the man- ner of collecting the same as oppressive and unjust. 7. That the Democratic party of Texas deserves the* censure of all good people of. the State on account of the reckless, extrava- gant, expensive method by which the party has attempted to ad- minister the State government since it has had control of the same, as particularly instanced in the creation and establishment of use- less and expensive offices, which are created solely for the purpose of rewarding political favorites without regard to the public neces- sities or the wishes of the people. Parties in Texas 197 Additional Resolution [8] While the Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled, recognize the fact that U. S. Grant is the first choice of the Repub- licans of Texas, it is deemed inexpedient to give delegates to the Chi- cago convention any other instructions than to vote as a unit in the ballot for President. State Executive Committee: E. J. Davis, chairman. MEETING OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1 Exercising the powers conferred upon it, the State executive committee met at Hearne on August 25, 1880, and named the following candidates for State offices: Governor, E. J. Davis, of Travis ; Lieutenant-Governor, A. Siemering, of Bexar ; Attor- ney-General, J. A. McAdoo, of Washington; Comptroller, S. D. Wood, of Smith; Treasurer, J. W. Thomas, of Collin; Commis- sioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Comal; Judge of the Court of Appeals, J. B. Williamson, of Harrison. An executive campaign committee, too, was appointed, with power to enter into agreements with othei^ parties. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1880 GALVESTON, April 20 and 21 To provide the delegates to the National convention with cre- dentials that could not be questioned, the State executive com- mittee called a convention to meet at Galveston. A convention to nominate candidates for State offices was held at Dallas August 10, 1880. This marks the beginning of holding separate conventions to choose delegates to the National convention. Officers: Chairman pro temper e, W. S. Coleman, of Harri- son; permanent, Ashbel Smith, of Harris. Vice-Presidents, W. H. Tucker, of Anderson; William Stedman, of Harrison; Ed Chambers, of Collin; J. E. McComb, of Montgomery; Joseph Bates, of Brazoria ; W. H. Burges, of Guadalupe ; T. R. Bonner, of Smith; J. H. Cochrane, of Dallas; and W. S. Herndon, of Smith. Secretary, J. M. Claiborne, of Galveston. l The Galveston Daily News, August 26, 1880. 198 Platforms of Political , Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, J. W, Throckmorton, R. B. Hubbard, Tom Jack, John Ireland, and E. G. Bower; 1st Congressional district, W. S. Herndon, of Smith, and J. H. Jones, of Rusk; 2. G. B. Lipscomb, of Harrison, and J. Q. Chenoweth, of Fannin; 3. B. B. Paddock, of Tarrant, and Thornton E. Shirley, of Collin; 4. J. C. Hutchinson, of Harris, and B. H. Davis, of Brazos ; 5. John Hancock, of Travis, and B. H. Bassett, of Washington; 6. F. S. Stockdale, of De Witt, and J. E. Dwyer, of Bexar. RESOLUTIONS No committee on platform and resolutions was appointed and no formal platform was adopted. The following were among the more important resolutions: Resolved [1] That it is the sense of this Convention that the two-thirds rule should be retained in the National Democratic con- vention. [2] That the delegation from Texas to the National Democratic convention be not instructed as to the vote which they may cast in that body for President and Vice-President of the United States. [3] That the devotion manifested by Gen. W. S. Hancock to the constitutional rights of the citizen and the great cardinal doc- trines of Democracy entitles him to the confidence of the people, and Texas will be recreant to the promptings of gratitude when she withholds her indorsement of his worth. GREENBACK-LABOR STATE CONVENTION, 1880 AUSTIN, June 23 and 24 Chairman Miller, of the State executive committee, issued his call for a convention on April 15th, to meet at Austin, June 23 after the meeting of the National Greenback-Labor con- vention, at which Texas was, however, represented. Representa- tion was based upon clubs; about 140 delegates attended. Officers: Chairman pro tern/pore, R. T. Kennedy, of Free- stone; permanent, Ward Taylor, of Marion. Vice-Presidents, James Neill, of Travis, and G. W. Givens, of Dallas. Secretary pro tempore, J. T. Gano, of Dallas; permanent, M. J. Nolan, of Travis. Parties in Texas 199 Presidential Electors: State at large, H. L. Bentley, of Tom Green, and Andrew Young-, of Johnson; 1st Congressional dis- trict, A. E. Buneau; 2. A. D. Wallace; 3. R. E. Hughes, of Dallas; 4. John T. Brady, of Harris; 5. J. N. McFaddin, of Williamson; 6. E. L. James, of Guadalupe. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, W. H. Hamman, of Robertson; Lieutenant-Governor, George W. Givens, of Dallas; Attorney-General, H. F. O'Neal, of Cass; Comptroller, R. T. Kennedy, of Freestone ; Treasurer, Ward Taylor, of Marion ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Comal. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st District, L. D. Stansberry, 2. Ward Taylor, 6. P. C. Majors, 7. J. A. Cov/ell, 9. E. L. Dohoney, chairman, 10. J. H. Morrow, 13. J. C. K\rby, 14. H. Steele, 15. A. G. Rogers, 17. W. L Booth, 18. W. N. Linton, 20. W. C. Dixon, 21. W. M. Ferguson, 22 W. D. Moore, 23. Sam Evans, 25. Robert Hanna, 26. S. R. Caruthers, 27. H. D. Dunstan, 31. W. A. H. Miller, Jake Smith, of Bastrop, and J. J. Walker, of Travis. PLATFORM 1 We, the representatives of the Greenback-Labor party of Texas, in convention assembled, view with pride the action of the National Greenback-Labor party of the United States, in convention at Chi- cago, and most cordially and heartily ratify and indorse the plat- form of principles adopted, and candidates nominated by said con- vention. 1. Realizing the fact that there exist great abuses and wrongs in the administration of the State government, under the control and management of the party in power, we condemn the Democratic party of Texas for its wasteful and extravagant expenditure of money in the administration of the government, and demand a reduction in, governmental expenditures. 2. We demand a reduction in the rate of taxation from fifty to thirty-three and one-third cents on the one hundred dollars' worth of property. 3. We demand the repeal of the occupation tax, and the sub- stitution therefor of a graduated income tax. 4. We demand the prompt abolishment of all useless offices, 1! The proceedings of this convention are taken from The Texas Capital (Austin), June 27, 1880. 200 Platforms of Political and a general and radical decrease of all public salaries, and that county officers shall not be allowed to receive exceeding fifteen hundred dollars per annum for their services; and, whenever prac- ticable, especially in judicial offices, compensation should be fixed by special salaries; and, further, that in future the government of Texas shall be conducted on the strictest business principles and on the most economical plan. 5. We favor a radical change in our cumbersome and expensive judiciary system, and demand a more economical and effective system. 6. We denounce the present iniquitous road law, poll tax law, and law for the collection of ad valorem taxes from delinquents. 7. We favor the repeal of the present pretense of a school law, and the establishment of an efficient system of public free schools, and demand the appropriation by the legislature of the full con- stitutional limit of one-fourth of the general revenue for that purpose. 8. Believing it to be the part of wisdom to preserve the public school lands of Texas as the basis of a grand school fund, we de- mand the immediate repeal of all laws providing for the sale of the same, other than to actual settlers, in quantities of not more than one hundred and sixty acres to any one purchaser. 9. We demand that the public domain of Texas be reserved for a permanent school fund, and for the benefit of actual settlers under the homestead laws, and a repeal of the law providing for the sale thereof. 10. Believing that labor is the basis of all wealth and pros- perity, and that an increase in population will add to the material wealth of Texas, inducements should be offered to all honest and intelligent immigrants to come and assist in the development of the resources of the great State of Texas. 11. We demand a modification of the Sunday law. 12. We demand the immediate and unconditional repeal of the Bell Punch law. 13. We demand a perfect and positive protection to our frontier, that will guarantee safety alike to the settler and to the vast interests of our herdsmen. 14. The Greenback-Labor party everywhere denounces the at- tempted disfranchisement of citizens as a crime, whether committed by Republicans in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, or Bourbon Democrats in Texas, and denounces all laws restricting the right of suffrage, or impairing the secrecy of the ballot box, and any legislative interference with the free exercise of religious opinion by the people of this State. 15. We are unqualifiedly opposed to convict labor coming in Parties in Texas 201 conflict with honest labor, and demand the repeal of all laws permitting the same. 16. The heroes whose valor wrested this State from the govern- ment of Mexico deserve the prof oundest gratitude of a generous people, and we demand payment of an annual pension to the sur- vivors of that memorable struggle. 17. We remember with profound gratitude the struggles of the fathers of Texas in defense of the right of themselves and their fellow-citizens, and, viewing the government which they consecrated with their suffering and cemented with their blood as a rich and inestimable boon handed down by them to us, we are pledged to aid in every way possible in securing its prosperity, and will oppose with all the earnestness of our natures every step looking to the destruction or to the impairing of its unity. 18. Finally, having thus set forth our distinctive principles and views, we most cordially invite the cooperation of all citizens of Texas, regardless of their antecedents and political affiliations, who love the weal of their State and the prosperity of her people more than party, however differing from us on other questions, who substantially agree with us in their affirmance and support. State Executive Committee: E. M. Daggett, of Tarrant, chair- man ; M. J. Nolan, of Travis, secretary ; 1st District, C. R. Scott, of Orange; 3. Lodoviek Marioule; 4. Geo. A. Godfrey; 5. J. King, of Bowie; 7. 0. S. Davis, of Hopkins; 9. James Monks, of Fannin ; 10. Wm. Palmer, of Van Zandt ; 11. H. S. Harvey, of Grayson; 12. J. C. White, of Collin; 13. G. M. Swink, of Dallas; 14. R. T. Kennedy, of Freestone; 15. Walter S. Bryan, of Robertson; 16. W. R, Thomas; of Grimes; 17. James A. Felker, of Waller, 18. W. H. Steid, of Montgomery; 19. M. J. Mulcahy, of Galveston ; 20. W. C. Dixon, of Washington ; 21. P. C. Mitchell, of Bell; 22. Warren Douglas, of Johnson; 23. Wm. Hall, of Tarrant; 24. W. M. Nunn, of Wood; 25. H. C. Still, of Travis; 26. D. M. Scott, of Bastrop; 27. D. W. Jackson, of Colorado; 31. W. T. Moore, of Llano. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1880 DALLAS, August 10-13 The Democratic State convention met at Dallas August 10, 1880. Governor Roberts' was a candidate for re-election. His 202 Platforms of Political administration had given dissatisfaction to the more progressive elements in the party. The "Young Democracy," as the pro- gressives were called, supported strong candidates for the several offices and labored for a platform expressive of their views. The representation of unorganized counties and the two-thirds rule presented additional issues; the former were excluded, the latter was retained. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Joseph E. Dwyer, of Bexar; permanent, M. D. K. Taylor, of Marion. Vice-Presidents, thirty- one. Secretary, W. G. Sterrett. Presidential Electors: State at large, R. B. Hubbard and J. W. Throckmorton. 1st Congressional district, James H. Jones, of Rusk; 2. C. B. Kilgore, of Van Zandt; 3. S. W. T. Lanham, of Parker; 4. E. A. Jones, of McLennan; 5. John Hancock, nf Travis; 6. Julius A. Baker, of Bexar. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, 0. M. Roberts, of Smith; Lieutenant-Governor, L. J. Storey, of Caldwell; Attor- ney-General, J. H. McLeary, of Bexar; Comptroller, W. M. Brown, of Falls ; Treasurer, F. R. Lubbock, of Galveston ; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, W. C. Walsh, of Travis; Court of Appeals, James M. Hurt, of Dallas. Committee on Platform* and Resolutions: L. R. Perryman, J. J. Perkins, T. A. Elgin, R. D. Harrell, R. B. Levy, R, H. Guinn, H. D. McDonald, W. M. Giles, A. Bradshaw, Marion Martin, Chas. Stewart, A. T. McKinney, R. G. Street, C. C. Garrett, W. L. Prather, J. B. Ford, A. J. Peeler, V. 0. Ellis, W. R. Wallace, T. T. Teel, A. M. Taylor, Silas Hare, T. F. Johnson, C. W. Geers, W. D. Wood, J. C. Gaither, G. H. Goodson, W. Welden, T. D. Wilkes, A. -Haidusek. PLATFORM 1 The Democratic party of Texas, in convention assembled, declare: 1. We heartily approve the declaration of principles made by the National Democratic convention at Cincinnati, and cordially in- dorse its nominees, pledging them the united and enthusiastic support of the Democracy of Texas. 2. We favor the free coinage and full remonetization of silver. ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Statesman and the Galveston News. Parties in Texas 203 3. We favor such action by Congress, within its constitutional power, as will prevent unjust discriminations and extortionate rates of charges for the transportation of interstate commerce. 4. We regard the maintenance of a practical system of public free schools of the utmost importance, and to this end favor the largest appropriation, within constitutional limits, justified by the financial condition of the State. And we favor the adoption by the next legislature of the constitutional requirements for the organi- zation and maintenance of "The University of Texas." 5. We repudiate as false the charge that the Democratic party of Texas has been opposed to immigration, and, while the constitu- tion prohibits the use of public money for the support of a bureau of immigation, we urge the next legislature to make ample pro- vision for the collection and dissemination of statistics pertaining to our agricultural and other resources, to the end that all seeking new homes, knowing our great advantages, may settle in our midst, extending to them a most cordial welcome. 6. The suffering and losses of our people on the frontier enlist our deepest sympathy, and we pledge our most energetic efforts to afford them adequate protection in person and in property, and demand of the General Government that protection for our people thus exposed to which they are entitled under the Constitution of the United States, and which they have never yet received. 7. We enjoin upon the next legislature the duty of proposing such constitutional amendments as will secure a more efficient ju- diciary system. 8. We favor the most vigorous enforcement of the law for the suppression of all lawlessness and crime, and pledge the Democratic party of Texas to hold all officers to the fullest measure of duty and responsibility in that behalf. 9. We demand the most rigid economy, consistent with efficiency, in all the departments of the government, and favor the reduction of taxation as soon as the same can be safely done. MINORITY REPORT. [The following minority report was presented and read by Chas. Stewart. Without permitting debate, the majority report was adopted by 390 ayes to 139 noes.] The undersigned, constituting a minority of your Committee on Platform and Resolutions, beg leave to submit this as their report on platform: Resolved, 1. That the Democratic party of Texas, in convention assembled, indorse in all respects the action of the National Demo- cratic convention of the pres-ent year, and pledges to the nominees thereof its sincere and earnest support. 204 Platforms of Political 2. That the Democratic party of Texas recognizes its responsi- bility to the people, and pledges itself that so long as it shall be intrusted with the administration of the government it will deem it a duty not to be disregarded to enact such laws and make such regulations as will insure an efficient government in all its branches, and to execute the laws fearlessly, promptly, and impartially; and while exercising all due economy in the administration of public affairs will, first, provide a good government, and, second, raise a revenue sufficient to maintain the same without annual deficiencies and further increase of taxation. 3. That regarding the maintenance and perfection of an efficient system of public free schools as an essential to good government, the Democratic party, true to its traditions and policy from 1836 to the present time, does solemnly declare the free education of the children of this State, without regard to class or condition, in the ordinary branches of an elementary education, is a subject of paramount importance in State legislation, and to that end will earnestly favor the appropriation of the maximum amount of such revenues as is permitted by the constitution. 4. It was the Democratic party which first inaugurated the wise and generous policy which has made the United States the asylum of all nations from oppressive governments and less favorable means of livelihood and independence, and the Democratic party of Texas, true to the early teachings and practices of the party, advocates the most liberal and active policy to encourage and increase immi- gration, to develop the resources of our fertile State, as well as to perpetuate the government through the intelligence and moral worth of her citizens, and to that end the Democratic party pledges itself to earnestly favor the adoption of such means by the seventeenth legislature as will practically and reasonably encourage immigration to this State. 5. The Democracy of Texas declare it to be their firm conviction that legal interference with merely the social habits of any class of citizens, native or of foreign birth, is contrary to sound policy, a genuine democracy, and to the enlightened spirit of the age. 6. That the statute commonly known as the Bell Punch- law shall be repealed. 7. That the sale of our public and common free school lands shall be confined to actual settlers, and in such quantities and upon such terms as shall put them in reach of persons of limited means, and to that end such methods as will lead to the speedy sale of such lands in the manner above indicated should be immediately adopted. 8. Believing that it is of the highest importance that unor- ganized counties shall become organized so soon as they have the population required by law, and that the inner line of our frontier Parties in Texas 205 shall run with the boundaries of the State, and recognizing that the ordinary constabulary of the country will not be sufficient for a number of years to repress lawlessness and crime, the Democratic party favors the maintenance of a body of mounted troops, sub- ordinate to and under the direction of the civil authorities, sufficient to afford the most complete and ample protection to life and prop- erty in our frontier and sparsely settled counties. 9. The Democratic party is opposed to the further increase of our bonded debt and of taxation, and to the hoarding of money in the treasury, and views with disfavor any system of taxation which is calculated to embarrass the right to labor or place un- necessary or discriminating burdens thereon; and also does so con- sider all occupation taxes levied on any business or profession not pernicious in its tendencies or requiring police supervision, and from- such occupations will favor the collection of a license tax. 10. Jt is contrary to the traditions of the Democratic party and contrary to public policy to invest the executive with the power of appointing and removing officers to high and important public trusts at pleasure, and the Democratic party pledges itself against the enactment of laws of such character. 11. That whilst democracy means perfect equality for every American citizen in the benefits and privileges of the government, State and Federal, yet in choosing public servants, the people should carefully choose officers who are in sympathy with them, and who are opposed to centralization in all its forms, emanating from as- sociated capital or political combination, that may endanger the right of the several States and the people thereof. 12. That the utmost good faith must be observed in the payment of the obligations of the State. CHAS. STEWART, SILAS HARE, A. HAIDUSEK, W. R. WALLACE, J. B. FORD, T. T. TEEL, R. D. HARRELL. State Executive Committee: Geo. W. Smith, of Kaufman, chairman : T. W. Fort, of Jasper ; Geo. F. Ingraham, of Nacog- doches; F. J. Johnson, of Shelby; Wm. Aubrey, of Harrison; M. L. Crawford, of Morris; A. M. Taylor, of Red River; N. W. Finley. of Smith-; F. W. Gammage, of Anderson ; H. S. Randall, of Fannin; J. N. Rushing, of Kaufman; J. R. Jeter, of Gray- son; T. H. Murray, of Collin; W. C. Holland, of Dallas; C. 206 Platforms of Political Forty, of Navarro; W. H. Harmen, of Brazos; Sam T. Rabb, of Trinity; E. Harms, of Wharton; E. P. Hill, of Harris; C. C. Sweeney, of Galveston; Joe W. Gordon, of Burleson; Enoch Breeding, of Milam; M. A. Oatis, of Johnson; J. M. Hogshead, of Tarrant; Geo. P. Miller, of Hamilton; Jno. F. Coffee, of Williamson ; B. D. Orgain, of Bastrop ; Thos. Ponton, of Gon- zales; D. P. Marr, of Atascosa; W. E. Roe, of Uvalde; Bryan Cunningham, of Bexar ; J. V. Hutchins, of Hays. GREENBACK STATE CONVENTION, 1882 FORT WORTH, June 29 and 30 One hundred and forty delegates, representing about thirty counties of North and Central Texas, assembled at Fort Worth June 29, 1882. General James B. Weaver addressed the con- vention. On June 28, ex-Governor Davis, chairman of the Republican State executive committee, published a call for a convention; in it he suggested that all elements opposed to the Democrats unite in supporting independent candidates, and that the Republicans refrain from putting a State ticket in the field. This same proposition was the great issue before the Greenback convention. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Ward Taylor, of Marion; permanent, Dr. Rankin, of McLennan. Vice-Presidents, one for each congressional district represented (names not found). Sec- retary, D. B. Withers, of Smith. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: C. H. Jenkins, Car- los Murray, W. E. Farmer, H. C. Still, J. R, Johnson, Ward Taylor, and W. A. Moore. PLATFORM 1 We, the Greenbackers of Texas, in convention assembled, de- clare: that upon the subject of National politics we indorse the principles .set forth in the Greenback National ^platform, adopted at Chicago, June 8, 1880. We suggest a change in the wording a The proceedings of the convention are taken from the Dallas Herald and the Galveston News. Parties in Texas 207 so as to read as follows: The bonds of the United States should not be refunded, but should be paid when due, or when declared due by law, in any lawful money that the government may have on hand. State Policy 1. We declare that the Democratic party was put into power to right the wrongs inflicted upon us by the Republican party, which wrongs consisted in part in involving the State in debt and in grant- ing enormous subsidies to corporate monopolies. 2. That the Democratic party has betrayed its trust. It has doubled the debt. It has exempted the lands of the International Railroad from taxation, in violation of the constitutional provision that taxation shall be equal and uniform, and exempted said railroad company from the constitutional requirements of locating alternate sections for the benefit of the common school fund; it has issued land certificates to railroads, irrigating companies, and pretended canal companies to the amount of many million acres in excess of the public domain. It has robbed the public school fund and our people of homes; established gigantic land monopolies in our midst by granting to four Chicago capitalists 3,000,000 acres of public domain to build a State House. It has inaugurated a system of class legislation in favor of the rich by refusing to sell the public domain in tracts less than six hundred and forty acres, thus de- priving her men of the opportunity to acquire homes in our State. It has sold State bonds at eighty-five cents, and bought them back at one dollar and forty cents. It has persistently refused to ex- ercise the constitutional prerogative of State control over railroads. It has withdrawn from circulation in this State over a million and a half dollars and piled it up in the treasury as useless cash bal- ance, save for electioneering purposes, and at the same time has refused to make the constitutional appropriation for the support of public schools upon the false plea of insufficient revenue. It refused to submit to a vote of the people the question of prohibition, though petitioned so to do by a large and respectable portion of the citizens of this State, thus practically denying the inalienable right of petition. Under a pretense of favoring the laboring men it has exempted from taxation the cotton and sugar crops of the wealthy and at the same time taxed the mechanic's tools. In redistricting the State it resorted to shameless and outrageous gerrymandering which is odious to all honest people and contrary to the principles and teachings of true democracy. In short, the Democratic party of Texas has ceased to be democratic, but has become a close cor- poration run by and in the interest of a syndicate of machine poli- ticians. 3. That the Republican party of this State is not in any sense 208 Platforms of Political republican as tested by the teachings of that great republican apostle of liberty, Thomas Jefferson, and that it is no more worthy of sup- port now than when driven from power by the righteous wrath of an indignant people; that we call upon all true Democrats and Republicans to abandon these old organizations, and join with us in an attempt to establish in this State an administration in oppo- sition to the exactions and oppressions of corporate monopolies, State debt, competition of convict with honest labor, political gerry- mandering, property suffrage, occupation taxes upon occupations that are local in their nature and useful to the people, and in favor of an efficient system of public free schools and the appropriation of one-fourth of the general revenue therefor, and an increase of the scholastic age from seven to eighteen years, and in favor of an honest, economical, and progressive administration. Additional Resolution [4] That when this Convention adjourns it will adjourn to meet at the 1 instance of the Executive Committee at a date not later than the first of September and at a point not further north than Corsicana, nor further south than Calvert, Texas, for the purpose of making nominations for the different State offices. State Executive Committee: H. C. Still, of Travis, chairman; S. S. Withers, of Smith; James Monk, of Fannin; W. C. West, of Cooke ; J. W. Martin, of Tarrant ; Dr. Dixon, of Washington ; A. B. Crozier, of Burnet; Colonel Burns, of Brown. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1882 GALVESTON, July 18-21 Officers: Chairman pro tempore, J. W. Booth, of Wise; per- manent, John Hancock, of Travis. Vice-Presidents, 1st Congres- sional district, Hugh Jackson, 2. T. T. Gammage, 3. B. W. Brown, 4. G. T. Todd, 5. Silas Hare, 6. G. R. Gibson, 7. Geo. Quinan, 8. W. M. Flournoy, 9. J. D. Sayers, 10. F. Willis, 11. J. W. Booth. Secretary pro tempore, George R. Dashiel, of Bexar ; permanent, Will Lambert. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, John Ireland, of Guad- alupe; Lieutenant-Governor, Marion Martin, of Navarro; At- torney-General, John D. Templeton, of Tarrant; Comptroller, - W. J. Swain, of Red River; Treasurer, F. R. Lubbock, of Gal- Parties in Texas 209 veston ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, W. C. "Walsh, of Travis; Supreme Court, Asa H. Willie, of Galveston, J. W. Stayton, of Victoria, and C. S. West, of Travis; Court of Ap- peals, James M. Hurt, of Dallas, John P. White, of Guadalupe, and Sam A. Willson, of Cherokee. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st District, J. E. Hill, of Polk: 2. G. H. Gould, of Rusk; 3. W. J. Cavin, of Harrison; 4. A. G. Clopton, of Marion; 5. F. B. Alexander, of Hunt; 6. B. W. Brown, of Gregg; 7. R. H. Guinn, of Cherokee; 8. W. D. Wood, of Leon, chairman; 9. J. E. McComb, of Mont- gomery, secretary ; 10. M. S. Munson, of Brazoria ; 11. T. M. Har- wood, of Gonzales; 12. T. S. Reese, of Waller; 13. A. Haidusek, of Fayette ; 14. J. N. Henderson, of Brazos ; 15. John R. Henry, of Limestone ; 16. Z. T. Adams, of Kaufman ; 17. J. A. Carroll, of Denton; 18. Silas Hare, of Grayson; 19. 0. E. Finlay, of Young; 20. I. N. Roach, of Parker; 21. F. M. Sansom, of John- son; 22. L. C. Alexander, of McLennan; 23. Geo. C. Pendleton, of Bell; 24. John Cardwell, of Travis; 25. F. R. Stringfellow, of Caldwell; 26. F. S. Stockdale, of DeWitt; 27. C. M. Rogers, of Nueces; 28. E. R. Lane, of Bexar; 29. E. L. Shropshire, of Comanche ; 30. John P. Estis, of Hood ; 31. Charles De Morse, of Red River. PLATFORM 1 We. your Committee on Platform and Resolutions, respectfully report the following and ask its adoption: The Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, reannounces the primal elements of Democratic faith as constituting the un- changing faith of the Democrats of Texas, and relies upon the intelligence and integrity of the people for their success. 1. That all men are politically equal, and that the objects of government are subverted when legislation recognizes distinctions between persons, or favors one class of business pursuits at the expense of another and by any means impoverishes the many to enrich the few. 2^ We oppose -centralization, and that dangerous and growing spirit of encroachment which tends to consolidate the powers of 3ll the departments of government into one, and thus creates a real despotism, whatever be the form of government. 1 Tlie proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Daily News. 14328 210 Platforms of Political 3. That we are opposed to the present system of National banks of issue; that we favor the free and honest coinage of gold and silver, and are in favor of a paper currency consisting of treasury notes, of the government gold and silver certificates, based en bullion deposited, sufficient in volume with gold and silver to an- swer all of the business and commercial purposes of the people and a strict maintenance of the public faith, State and National. 4. We are opposed to a protective tariff, believing it to be un- just and detrimental to the best interests of our people and are in favor of a tariff for revenue only. 5. We favor the subordination of the military to the civil powers of the government, and a genuine and thorough reform of the civil service. 6. We declare that the right to a full and free ballot is a right preservative of all rights, and should be sacredly maintained in every part of the United States. 7. We favor free ships and a living chance for American com- merce on the seas and on land. No discrimination in favor of trans- portation lines or monopolies. 8. The Democratic party proposes to protect labor and the la- boring men of our country, and pledges itself to protect them alike against the cormorant and the commune. 9. We declare that a liberal provision should be made to endow with the public lands set apart for the payment of public debt or the proceeds of the sale of the same the State University and its branches, but in no case should any portion of the common school lands or fund be used for this purpose. We further declare that the debts due the University and common school funds of Texas, denominated as of doubtful validity, should be recognized and paid, with the interest due thereon. 10. We favor the fullest education of the masses, white and colored, in separate common schools, and the advanced education of the youths of the country in our higher schools and State Uni- versity. We favor the maintenance of normal schools for the in- struction of teachers. 11. We favor the submission to the people, of a constitutional amendment authorizing the levy and collection of a special school tax, separate from the general revenues, to the end that an efficient system of public free schools may be maintained, and that the State taxes may be reduced to the actual necessities of the State government. 12. We favor the protection of the public school lands of the State from waste and sacrifice, and pledge ourselves to secure returns from said lands, commensurate with the real value of the same. 13. We declare that the railroads and other corporations are subordinate and subject to the control of the political power of the Parties in Texas 211 State and of the General Government in their respective spheres of constitutional authority by such conservative legislation as will protect the rights of the people, and enforce the provisions of our constitution without injury to the just interests of those corporations. 14. We deprecate and protest against the continuous increase of the jurisdiction of the Federal courts as subversive of the rights of the people, civil liberty, and local self-government, as contemplated by the founders of our government. 15. As heretofore, we demand the strictest economy in the ad- ministration of every department of the government consistent with efficient and full execution of the laws. 16. Recognizing these as the great principles of the Democratic party principles upon which our civil liberty and free institutions are based we appeal to all lovers of the Union, the Constitution, and the government, by the people in the State of Texas, to assist in the maintenance and success of the same as essential to the individual rights of the citizen and general welfare of the country. State Executive Committee: John M. Claiborne, of Galves- ton, chairman; 1st District, L. W. Ford, of Jasper; 2. Jas. R. Sparks, of Nacogdoches; 3. J. B. Forrest, of Harrison; 4. L. C. De Morse, of Bowie; 5. B.' M. Henderson, of Hopkins; 6. J. S. Hogg, of Wood; 7. T. G. Garrison, of Rusk; 8. W. L. Denman, of Angelina; 9. blank; 10. J. C. Walker, of Galveston; 11. W. S. Fly, of Dallas ; 12. R. R. Lawther, of "Washington ; 13. W. H. Ledbetter, of Fayette; 14. J. K. P. Hanna, of Robertson; 15. Bryan T. Barry, of Navarro; 16. Z. T. Adams, of Kaufman; 17. T. M. Murray, of Collin; 18, J. H. Garnet, of Cook; 19. A. R. Crozier, of Young; 20. J. W. Booth, of Wise; 21. J. W. Brown, of Johnson; 22. B. H. Rice ? of Falls; 23. H. B. Robinson, of Bell; 24. John W. Robertson, of Travis ; 25. Thomas McNeil, of Cald- well; 26. Jonathan Payne, of Goliad; 27. E. F. Hall, of Webb, 28. John R. Jefferson, of Tom Green; 29. J. T. Berry, of Taylor; 30. W. H. Devine, of Erath; 31. D. H. Scott, of Lamar. TEXAS STATE GRANGE, 1882 BELTON, August 8-12 S Officers: A. J. Rose, of Bell, Worthy Master; R. T. Kennedy, of Limestone, Worthy Secretary. 212 Platforms of Political DEMANDS 1 [1] All Subordinate Granges were requested to memorialize the next legislature to pass "just and equitable laws in relation to freight charges on railroads" (p. 20). [2] That it is the sense of the Texas State Grange that our State legislature should enact such laws as will make our free school sys- tem more effective, so that the free school term may be extended at least to eight months in the year; that the public lands set apart to it be kept intact from every encroachment and as speedily as prac- ticable made available for their intended use; that we, as an organi- zation, will labor by the use of all proper effort to bring about such result. [3] That the elementary principles of the science of agriculture should be taught in the rural schools, and we will labor to secure the same to be done by the necessary legislation therefor (p. 26). REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1882 AUSTIN, August 23 and 24 In his address to the delegates, Chairman Davis referred to his recommendation to the convention of 1880, and to his call of June 28th last, ad repeated that it was his judgment the Republicans ought not to nominate a State ticket but support acceptable independent candidates. About four hundred dele- gates were present; half of them were colored. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, N. W. Cuney, of Galveston; permanent, J. Gr. Tracy, of Harris. Secretary pro tempore, T. A. Knox, of Falls; permanent, C. M. Campbell, of Marion. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: A. Siemering, of Bexar, chairman ; names of other members not found. PLATFORM 1 We, the Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled, recog- nizing the fact that our National and social welfare as citizens is largely the result of the policy that controls our State government, therefore, in the interest of what we conceive to be liberal and of the Eighth Annual Session of the Texas State Grange, held at Belton, Texas, August 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, 1882. 1 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Daily News. Parties in Texas 213 progressive government, we announce our intention to support, Jit the approaching election for State officers, candidates who eome before the people for suffrage purely as independents, free from party nominations or other forms of caucus dictation, and who do to a reasonable extent agree to support and enforce the following policies in our State government: 1. We favor an amendment to the constitution directing the levy and collection of a special school tax, sufficient in the minimum amount, together with other moneys accruing to the schoo.l fund, to maintain free schools for ten calendar months in the year, in all communities where there is sufficient scholastic population. 2. We disapprove in the strongest terms the breaking open of offices and counting out of legally elected officers, as practiced by the Democrats in some of the counties of Texas. 3. We favor a revision of the jury laws, to the end that jurors shall be drawn impartially from the body of the people liable to jury service. 4. That the Republican party is aggressive and progressive, and that we point with much pride to the five thousand miles of railroad in this State, the result of friendly legislation during the Republican administration. 5. We believe that the school and University lands should be sold only to actual and bmia fide settlers at current market values, and on long time, with a reasonable rate of interest, and in parcels not exceeding six hundred and forty acres for farming and grazing lands, and in large bodies for purely grazing lands. 6. We believe that such endowments as have been made to the University should be husbanded and strictly applied to the main- tenance of the same, but that no further endowments should be made to the University until the State shall have perfected a thor- ough system of public free schools. 7. We believe that humanity dictates, and our social well-being demands, that ample provision should be made for the maintenance of lunatics in well ordered asylums, to the end that our civilization shall not longer be disgraced by the incarceration of such unfortu- nates in common jails with felons. 8. We believe that a humane consideration for the criminal classes and the welfare of society demand that ample penitentiary room be provided in different sections of the State for the accom- modation of convicts within the prison walls, to the end that the inhumanities, brutalities, and demoralization that result from the outdoor lease system may remain no longer a blot on our civilization. We favor, also, that the State provide houses of refuge or cor- rection for juvenile offenders. 9. We believe that the revenues should be derived from an ad valorem tax on property and other forms of moneyed values, and 214 Platforms of Political that oppressive occupation taxes and head money or capitation taxes -have no rightful place in a republican government. 10. We believe that the State ought to promote and foster im- migration by all practicable methods. 11. We believe that the ends of equitable government would be conserved by the repeal of the existing road laws and the substitu- tion therefor of the levying and collection of the road and bridge tax to be expended by the commissioners court of each county in the maintenance of public highways. 12. We believe that no more money should be collected in the shape of taxes than is necessary for the reasonable maintenance of the government. 13. That in President Arthur we have a chief executive of the Nation, who, by wisdom and manly efforts to serve the material welfare of the whole people, has earnestly commended himself to the Republicans of Texas. That we reaffirm our adhesion to the great National Republican party, and adopt as our sentiments the platform promulgated at Chicago in 1880. 14. In order that the Republicans may act unitedly, resolved, that N. W. Cuney, E. W. Martin, Richard Allen, S. A. Hackworth, A. R. Collins, J. B. Williamson, A. Siemering, L. W. Cooper, Colonel Robert Taylor, W. H. Andrews, and Colonel Car be con- stituted a committee to confer with other anti-Bourbon organiza- tions as to whom among the Independent candidates the Republi- cans shall support for State offices and publish an address setting forth their names. That the eminent public services of E. J. Davis to the people of Texas commend him to the confidence and sup- port of all good men, irrespective of party. Additional Resolution [15] That we ask the next legislature to extend the scholastic age from six to eighteen. State Executive Committee: C. C. Binkley, of Grayson, chair- man; W. R. Carson, of McLennan, secretary. GREENBACK CONVENTION, 1882 CORSICANA, August 31 In accordance with resolutions adopted by the Greenback convention at Fort Worth on June 30, 1882, another convention was held at Corsicana on August 31, 1882. The attendance was small. Parties in Texas 215 Officers: Chairman, A. F. Corning, of McLennan; Viee-Presi- dent, J. W. Fleming, of Tarrant; Secretary, M. J. Nolan, of Travis. RESOLUTIONS Be it resolved by this Convention: 1. That we indorse and affirm the platform adopted by the Greenback convention at Fort Worth on June 29th last. 2. That the Greenback party of Texas favor and support the Independent candidates in the ensuing election who favor the prin- ciples enunciated in said platform. 3. That a campaign committee be appointed, consisting of one person from each congressional district, to aid in securing the election of said Independent candidates. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1884 FORT WORTH, April 29-May 1 E. J. Davis, hitherto the leader of Texas Republicans, was dead. The convention was marked by struggles between the office holders and those' who had no offices, between the Arthur supporters and the Elaine men, between the whites and the colored contingents. In each case the last named was successful. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, J. C. De Gress, of Travis; permanent. J. G. Tracy, of Harris. Vice-Presidents, 1st Con- gressional district, J. L. Williams, of Jefferson; 2. J. F. Pitts, of Anderson; 3. C. M. Campbell, of Camp; 4. J. F. Fleming, of Red River ; 5. 0. T. Lyon, of Grayson : 6. A. W. Chancy, of Tarrant ; 7. Henry Ballinger, of Galveston ; 8. W. A. Hutchinson, of Hays; 9. R. G. Wells, of Falls; 10. H. F. Clifton, of Wil- liamson; 11. B. Jackson, of Tom Green. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, C. C. Binkley, N. W. Cuney, Richard Allen, and Robert Zapp; 1st Congressional district, Evans and Farish; 2. Burkhardt and Davis ; 3. Flanagan and Burge ; 4. contested ; 5. Lyon and Cleeves ; 6. Acker and Whitmeyer ; 7. Rentf ro and Ferguson ; 8. Rosenthal and Green; 9. Patton and Blount; 10. De Gress and Hanselke; 11. Campbell and McConnell. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. M. Dilley and Bob 216 Platforms of Political Taylor ; 1st Congressional district, J. L. Taylor, of Montgomery ; 2. L. W. Cooper, of Houston; 3. J. F. Anderson, of Smith; 4. S. C. McCoy, of Marion; 5. T. B. Hanna, of Grayson; 6. J. M. McCormick, of Dallas; 7. John L. Haynes, of Cameron; 8. M. Meisner, of Austin; 9. Jno. W. McDonald, of McLennan; 10. Jas. W. Talbot, of Williamson ; 11. S. C. Slade, of El Paso. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: N. M. Cane, of Grimes; P. W. Hall, of Robertson; Webb Flanagan, of Rusk; J. C. Easton, of Lamar ; G. W. Pasco, of Grayson ; Geo. Hawkins, of Dallas; J. 0. Luby, of Duval; J. G. Shermack, of Fayette; J. C. Cone, of Washington; J. B. Rector, of Travis, chairman; S. C. Slade, of El Paso. PLATFORM 1 1. The Republican party of Texas, in convention assembled, declares its faith in the Republican party of the Nation to conserve and protect the best interests of the country, and advance and edu- cate the citizens. 2. That we earnestly approve the wise, consistent, and patriotic administration of Chester A. Arthur. 3. That we favor a tariff for revenue to defray the necessary expenses of the Government, and discriminating with special refer- ence to the protection of the domestic labor of the country; and in this connection we strike hands with the Ohio Republicans and demand the restoration of the wool tariff of 1867. 4. That free schools are essential to the life and prosperity of the State and Nation, and we greet with approbation the bill that lately passed the Senate of the United States to distribute over seventy million dollars in aid of such schools, and condemn the course of our senators in opposing said bill. 5. We demand that the thirty million of acres of land belonging to the school fund in Texas shall contribute at once, by a system of lease to the highest bidder, to the education of the children of the State, and demand that not one acre of said land shall be leased at less than the present rates. 6. That we are opposed to a herd law and in favor of free grass on all uninclosed lands. 7. That we are unalterably opposed to the further squandering of the public lands of Texas, and in favor of reserving those re- x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Fort Worth Daily Gazette. Parties in Texas 217 maining to the State, the free schools and the asylums, for sale to actual settlers in quantities sufficient for homesteads. 8. That while we deprecate the action of the Democratic party in squandering the public lands upon railroads and individuals, notably in the case of the Texas & Pacific and International rail- roads, in selling millions of the school lands at one dollar per acre, and of the public lands at fifty cents, most of which was acquired by corporations and speculators to the detriment of the best in- terests of the State, yet we can not condemn in too strong language the bad faith of the party in attempting to destroy the titles it had created after they had vested and the lands had risen in value^ through smelling boards and their vicious reports so hurtful to the fair fame and good name of the State, at home and abroad. 9. That we disapprove the course of the present Democratic ad- ministration of Texas in loaning the school fund (the children's money) to the various counties of the State: that the party squan- dered enough of the school fund during the late war to have learned wisdom by experience; that we apprehend a fruitful brood of evils In the near future from the reckless course it is pursuing. 10. That equal civil rights should be enjoyed by all classes of citizens, and to that end we recognize the duty and obligation of the National government to protect the citizen in a free ballot, and to see that the same is counted. 11. That we invite the hearty cooperation of all good citizens who are opposed to the narrow and sectional ways of the De- mocracy to unite with us in redeeming this great State from the rule of that party. State Executive Committee: C. C. Binkley. of Grayson, chair- man. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1884 FORT WORTH, June 11 and 12 The committee on permanent organization recommended that the two-thirds rule be observed, but it was rejected by a vote of 165 ayes to 303 noes. The delegates to the National convention were not instructed. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Thomas H. Murray, of Col- lin; permanent, Joseph D. Sayers, of Bastrop. Vice-Presidents, M. W. Garnett of Harris; D. A. Nunn, of Houston; N. W. Finley, of Smith; Chas. D. Grace, of Fannin; G. B. Pickett, 238 Platforms of Political of Wise ; Anson Rainey, of Ellis ; James Bates, of Brazoria ; W. F. Upton, of Fayette; Marion Martin, of Navarro; J. T. Brackenridge, of Travis; J. H. Traylor, of Hood. Secretary pro tempore, Maurice Coffee, of Galveston; permanent, Will Lambert, of Travis. Delegates to tlw National Convention: State at large, J. P. Smith, of Tarrant ; D. C. Giddings, of Washington ; A. W. Ter- rell, of Travis ; and T. J. Brown, of Grayson ; 1st Congressional district, 0. T. Holt, of Harris, and John N. Henderson, of *Brazos; 2. T. T. Gammage, of Anderson', and T. A. Dunn, of Houston; 3. H. Kretz, of Harrison, and H. M. Gate, of Wood; 4. J. B. Donaho, of Red River, and J. M. Adams, of Cass; 5. Silas Hare, of Grayson, and G. P. Mead, of day; 6. J. W. Ferris, of Ellis, and W. P. McFarland, of Johnson ; 7. W. Gus- sett, of Nueces, and C. C. Sweeney, of Galveston; 8. W. H. Surges, of Guadalupe, and R. L. Ford, of Colorado; 9. L. C. Alexander, of McLennan, and E. J. Simkins, of Navarro; 10. Henry Exall, of Lampasas, and J. E. Dwyer, of Bexar; 11. J. R. Fleming, of Eastland, and C. K. Bell, of Hamilton. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, Sam R. Perryman, of Liberty ; 2. S. J. Hendrick. of Rusk ; 3. 0. P. Forrest, of Harrison; 4. C. A. Culberson, of Marion; 5. E. W. Terhune, of Hunt; 6. H. G. Robertson, of Smith; 7. J. S. Spinks, of Van Zandt; 8. B. F. Frymier, of Houston, 9. blank; 10. Seth Shepherd, of Galveston; 11. John Woods, of Lavaca ; 12. D. C. Giddings, of Washington ; 13. J. D. Say- ers, of Bastrop ; 14. D. Fort Smith, of Brazos ; 15. L. L. Foster, of Limestone; 16. E. C. Heath, of Rockwall; 17. W. A. Kendall, of Denton; 18. J. M. Lindsey, of Cook; 19. J. R. McLain, of Baylor; 20. J. A. Kidd, of Parker; 21. ; 22. J. A. Martin, of Falls; 23. M. S. Duffy, of Coryell; 24. Wm. P. Gaines, of Travis; 25. L. J. Storey, of Caldwell; 26. E. D. Linn, of Victoria; 27. R. W. Hudson, of Frio; 28. A. W. Houston, of Bexar; 29. E. L. Shropshire, of Comanche; 30. J. H. Hyman, of Erath; 31. A. M. Taylor. Parties in Texas 219 PLATFORM 1 We, the Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, rene'-v our allegiance and attest our devotion to the great principles of the party founded by Thomas Jefferson, which, so long as they pre- vailed in the government of the United States, maintained purity in the administration of public affairs, commanded the respect of foreign nations, and secured peace, happiness, and prosperity to the people of all the States of the Union. We demand a return to the practices, methods, and republican simplicity of the fathers of the Constitution. Resolved, 1. That no government has the right to impose taxes direct or indirect in their nature for any other than a strictly pub- lic government purpose. No government has the right to foster monopolies or to encourage any industry at the expense of others. It is the duty of every branch of the government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in the conduct of our public affairs, and no more revenue ought to be raised than is necessary to defray the necessary expenses of the government and for the gradual but certain extinction of the public debt. 2. No duty should be imposed upon imports except to raise revenue necessary to the maintenance of an economical and efficient government and the payment of the public debt. And no discrimina- tion should be made in the imposition of duties for the purposes of protecting any industry. A tariff for protection is unconstitu- tional, unjust, and in conflict with the genius and spirit of free government. 3. We denounce the present tariff as a scheme for the protection of monopolies, and a masterpiece of injustice and false pretense. It has destroyed American commerce, and has diminished the profits and returns of American agriculture. It has enslaved American labor, under the false pretense of its protection. It has enriched a few at the expense of the mass of the people, under the false pre- tense of the development of the country and the promotion of the public good. 4. We earnestly indorse the action of the Democratic repre- sentatives of Texas in Congress in their vote in favor of the Mor- rison bill. 5. While we favor the education of the masses by every legiti- mate means, yet we regard the educational bill pending in Congress, which proposes to appropriate money from the Federal treasury to educational purposes within the States, as an unconstitutional and dangerous encroachment upon the rights of the States and as ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Fort Worth Daily Gazette. 220 Platforms of Political another great step towards the centralization of all power in the Federal government and the destruction of the Republic, and we heartily indorse the action of our senators in opposing the passage of the bill. Additional Resolution [6] That the Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, pledges itself to the grand principle embodied in the Monroe Doc- trine, and demand of the Federal government adequate protection for its citizens abroad, and that our delegates be requested to give expression thereof before the National convention at Chicago. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1884 HOUSTON, August 10-21 The convention was harmonious. The two-thirds rule was observed in the selection of candidates. The western delegates desired action on the subjects of free grass, the lease of school lands, and the sale of public lands in large bodies, but were not sufficiently numerous to carry their point. "The Young Democracy came in for its full share of recognition during the convention." Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Thos. R. Bonner, of Smith; permanent, W. F. Upton, of Fayette. Vice-Presidents, 1st Con- gressional district, J. L. Epperson, 2. S. W. Blount, 3. Barney B. Hart, 4. W. A. Wortham, 5. Jos. Bledsoe, 6. D. A. Williams, 7. G. R. Scott, 8. Wells Thompson, 9. Geo. Clark, 10. W. W. Mar- tin, 11. W. R. Shannon. Secretary pro tempore, J. W. Booth, of Wise; permanent, George W. Finger. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. H. McLeary, of Bexar, and Silas Hare, of Grayson; 1st Congressional district, J. E. McComb. of Montgomery; 2. Peyton F. Edwards, of Na- cogdoches ; 3. N. W. Finley, of Smith ; 4. H. C. Hynson, of Bowie ; 5. A. L. Matlock, of Montague; 6. W. F. Ramsay, of Johnson; 7. J. B. Wells, of Cameron; 8. R. H. Phelps, of Fayette; 9. George W. Tyler, of Bell; 10, John T. Brackenridge, of Travis; 11. K. K. Leggett, of Taylor. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, John Ireland, of Guadalupe; Lieutenant-Governor, Barnett Gibbs, of Dallas; At- Parties in Texas 221 t torney-General. John D. Templeton, of Tarrant; Comptroller, Win. J. Swain, of Red River: Treasurer, F. R. Lubbock, of Galveston ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, W. C. Walsh, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, B. M. Baker, of Tom Green. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, T. W. Ford, of Jasper; 2. W. W. Spivey, of Rusk; 3. blank; 4. E. W. Taylor, of Marion; 5. S. B. Simpson, of Hunt; 6. 0. Ruce ; 7. J. G. Kearby ; 8. M. Y. Randolph, of Madison ; 9. A. T. McKinney. of Walker ; 10. Thomas Gary, of Galveston ; 11. Wells Thompson, of Colorado; 12. A. Chesley, of Austin; 13. W. S. Robson, of Fayette ; 14. L. L. Foster, of Limestone, secretary; 16. John L. Cochran, of Dallas; 17. W. A. Kendall, of Denton; 18. H. 0. Head, of Grayson; 19. J. R. McLain, of , Baylor; 20. W. R. Shannon, of Parker; 21. E. F. Yeager, of Ellis; 22. J. C. Gaither, of Falls; 23. F. D. Wilkes, of Lampasas; 24. Thomas E. Sneed, of Travis; 25. W. W. Martin, of Blanco; 26. W. W. Woodward, of Goliad; 27. D. P. Marr, of Frio; 28. H. E. Barnard, of Bexar; 29. D. E. Bentley, of Mitchell; ' 30. L. N. Frank, of Erath ; 31. Charles De Morse, of Red River, chairman. PLATFORM 1 1. We, the Democrats of Texas, in convention assembled, cor- dially endorse the principles announced in the platform adopted by the National convention of the Democratic party, in the City of Chicago, in July last, and we hail with satisfaction the nomination of the Hon. Grover Cleveland, of New York, and Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana, for President and Vice-President of the United States, and we pledge our earnest and enthusiastic support to said nominees. 2. We declare that the people are the source of all political power, and the Democratic party is a party of the people, and that it has with unfaltering faith always adhered to the doctrine that government was instituted among men by their consent for mutual protection, and we point with, pride to the giant strides of our great commonwealth under its fostering care and protection. 3. We declare that a free ballot and a fair count is necessary to the existence of free government among men, and the Demo- 1 The ; proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Daily ' News, 222 . Platforms of Political cratic party pledges itself that this right shall remain inviolate. 4. We believe that an efficient system of common free schools, both for the white and colored races, is essential to the preserva- tion of the liberties of the people, and that our public institutions of learning should be fostered by judicious legislative enactments; and to this end we favor the raising of revenue for these purposes by such a disposition of the lands set apart for these objects under such limitations as may best subserve these ends, so that taxation for such purposes may be reduced to the lowest possible limit. 5. We declare that the free school and asylum lands are segre- gated from the public domain, and are, by law, a sacred trust in the custody of the legislature, to be held and managed for the best interests of the respective funds to which they have been dedicated, and we hold it to be the highest duty of the representatives of the people to see to it that that trust may not be sacrificed to the greed of any class. 6. We believe that the school and general interests of our State will be best subserved by the leasing of such lands until such time as they may be purchased by actual settlers, at a reasonable price fixed by law, without competition and in such a manner as not to retard the development and prosperity of the frontier. 7. We are opposed to the enactment of a herd law. 8. We believe that the existing laws of our State for the pro- tection of mechanics and laborers by liens should be more compre- hensive and efficient, to the end that the real laborer may be thor- oughly protected. 9. We declare that the legislature of this State should limit the amount of real estate owned or held by corporations in this State, and that our incorporation laws should be so amended as to prevent rather than encourage landed and other monopolies. 10. We declare that the proper and immediate regulation of the transportation of freight by common carriers is a matter of the gravest concern to the public at large, and that the delays and discriminations to which persons and places are often subjected by said carriers should be remedied by prompt and efficient legislation. 11. Recognizing these great principles of Democratic faith, as essential to the prosperity of the people and to the continuation of our free institutions, we confidently appeal to all lovers of good government in Texas to assist in the maintenance of the same. Additional Resolutions [12] That the Democratic party, in convention assembled, un- qualifiedly condemns the criminal indifference exhibited by the Re- publican party at all times and especially during the period when James G. Elaine was Secretary of State in reference to the care Parties in Texas 223 and protection of American citizens of foreign birth while visiting in foreign countries. [13] That we indorse the course of our senators and Democratic representatives in Congress, and especially do we commend their course with reference to the tariff issue. [14] That this Convention recommend to the nineteenth legis- lature of the State of Texas the formulating of a law providing for the organization of district criminal courts whenever necessary .throughout the respective judicial districts of the State. State Executive Committee: Bryan T. Barry, of Navarro, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, S. B. Tackaberry, of Polk; 2. R. T. Milner, of Rusk; 3. W. H. Pope, of Harrison; 4. L. A. Whatley, of Cass; 5. J. S. Sherrill, of Hunt; 6. Robert M. Staf- ford, of Wood ; 7. John Y. Gooch, of Anderson ; 8. B. F. Fry- mier. of Houston; 9. Henry Scherffius, of Harris; 10. Joe A. Owens, of Galveston; 11. T. F. Harwood, of Gonzales; 12. R, R. Lawther, of "Washington ; 13. Ed. R. Sinks, of Lee ; 14. Leonard Isaacs, of Milam: 15. L. D. Lillard, of Freestone; 16. Jeff Word, Jr., of Dallas ; 17. Thos. H. Murray, of Collin ; 18. Jot Gunter, of Grayson; 19. R. J. Browning, of Baylor; 20. L. C. Sparkman, of Wise; 21. Anson Rainey, of Ellis; 22. Robt. H. Rogers, of McLennan; 23. J. A. Eidson, of Hamilton; 24. John Threadgill, of Williamson; 25. Ed. R. Kone, of Hays; 26. S. F. Grimes, of De Witt ; 27. Solon Stewart, of Kinney ; 28. W. Crosby, of El Paso; 29. J. M. Moore, of Shackelford; 30. 0. L. Lockett, of Bosque ; 31. J. W. 'Dunn, of Fannin. GREENBACK STATE CONVENTION, 1884 WACO, August 26 The attendance at this convention was limited to the counties of Central Texas. The State executive committee was au- thorized to fill vacancies. Officers: Chairman, A. F. Corning, of McLennan; Secretary, R. E. Pitt, of Limestone. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. D. Rankin, of Lime- stone, and C. H. Jenkins, of Brown ; 3rd congressional district, F. P. Rogers, of Smith ; 6. A. Harris, of Tarrant : 9. Wm. Cleve- land, of Limestone ; 11. Horace Baker, of Parker. 224 Platforms of Political Committee on Platform and Resolutions: Dr. J. D. Rankiii, of Limestone; Dr. Andrew Young, of Johnson; Wm. Cleveland, of Limestone ; S. C. Cureton, of Bosque ; F. P. Rogers, of Smith. PLATFORM 1 We, your Committee on Platform, beg leave to submit the fol- lowing declaration: The National Greenback party of the State of Texas, in convention at Waco, declaring their unswerving admiration and allegiance to a true democratic republican royalty of the people as opposed to aristocracy and monarchy, and recognizing the fact that our govern- ment, as established by the fathers, has been subverted, and instead of being a government of the people, by the people, and for the general welfare of the whole people, has become an aristocracy, ruled and governed by land, money, and transportation oligarchs or monopolists; and as it is manifest that this revolution has been accomplished by and through the autocratic power assumed by Congress and by the States, so far as they have exercised it, of selling, giving, and distributing the National or sovereign properties of the people in large amounts, or unequal shares, to individuals and corporations; therefore, We denounce the exercise of such power, whether delegated or not. as being destructive to the equal rights and sovereignty of the people the fundamental basis of republican governments, as antithetic to aristocracy and monarchy, and we here announce our unswerving pur- pose to restrain, as far as possible, the exercise of such revolutionary power. The assumption of such powers by Congress, we declare to be a gross usurpation of power not delegated, near akin to treason; and is, as it were, a proclamation or advertisement to the world, that we, the Congress of the United States, have the power to sell and alienate the common properties of the people to whomsoever we will, at our auto- cratic discretion. Ho! every one who desires to monopolize the wealth and power of the people. We will transfer it to those who will bribe us the highest. Who will give most? Going, going, gone! Hence has proceeded the flood of bribery and corruption that has disgraced 'our civilization and government; that has opened the floodgates to avarice, cupidity, and ambition, which has swept over the land like a moral leprosy, till even the high orders in the Christian church have been corrupted, and even the ravenous ghouls of European monarchy, glutted with the spoils of Europe and the isles of the sea, have become bidders in this market place for the rich spoils of our people. That the government established by the fathers has been practically lf The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Waco Daily Ex- aminer, August 27, 1884. Parties in Texas 225 subverted; that the equal rights and sovereignty of the people have been destroyed; that the great mass of the people, instead of being equals and sovereigns, have become slaves mere tax and tribute pay- ers to and for the benefit of a comparatively few of their own fellow- citizens; that wealth and power to rule is being rapidly centralized more and more in the control of these few, and that these conditions result from the powers usurped by Congress of selling, giving, and distributing the common properties of the people in large amounts or unequal shares to individuals and corporations, are facts too manifest to every intelligent man to require proof or even need assertion. If proof were required we have only to ask, To whom and for what have we become tribute payers? The answer springs almost spontaneously from the lips of every intelligent man: In rent for the use of land, interest for the use of money, and excessive tolls and charges on our commerce over the public highways of our country to those whom Congress and our State legislatures have transferred these common properties of the people. This answer explains it all, from cause to effect, from sill to capstone, and no argument cou,ld demonstrate it more clearly; therefore, We declare that the public lands, the public money, and the public highways of our country rightfully belong to all the people who consti- tute our government: that the ownership and control of these sovereign properties embody the very elements and prerogatives of sovereignty, and which are universally found in the possession of the ruling power or sovereign in every form of government; and hence we declare that in a true republican government the ownership of these sovereign properties cannot be transferred or alienated in unequal shares without destroying the equal rights and sovereignty of the people, and which, as a matter of fact, has been accomplished through this autocratic power usurped by Congress, and largely by the State of Texas, by sell- ing, giving, and distributing these sovereign properties in large amounts or unequal portions to individuals and corporations. As we have denounced the assumption of this power by Congress as a gross usurpation we here present all the grants of power to Congress over these subjects: In Art. 1, Sec. 8, of the Constitution it is pro- vided that Congress shall have power to "coin money and regulate the value thereof," and in Art. 4, Sec. 3, power is delegated to Congress "to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States." But we insist that the power to dispose of does not necessarily mean an unlimited power to sell and alienate at discretion; and when it is con- sidered that the ownership of these properties is inherent in and embody the very elements of power and sovereignty, and which are universally found in possession of the ruling power or sovereign in all forms of government, and as no sovereign would willingly delegate power to any authority to alienate his sovereignty, it is manifest that the power to dispose of cannot rationally be construed as a power to 15328 226 . Platforms of Political sell and alienate at discretion, but only a power in trust to divide or distribute in equal shares or benefits, according to the fundamental principles of a true democratic republican royalty of the people; and the truth becomes manifest, -as charged, that the assumption of this power by Congress is gross usurpation nearly allied to treason against the sovereignty to the people. As to the public money and the public highways belonging to all the people by creation, as well as by right of sovereignty, we most em- phatically declare there is not a shadow of constitutional authority for the transfer of the ownership and control of these properties. In the first place, we charge and aver that Congress has no authority to create a corporation. It is well known that the States in convention over- whelmingly refused to grant such power. And to further guard the people against the usurpation of powers not delegated, the States made and ratified the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution declaring that: "all powers not delegated to Congress by this Constitution are reserved to the States and to the people." It would be needless to say more to men of common sense on this point. The power "to coin money," as delegated to Congress, is manifestly a power to make or create money, and is limited by the term MONEY as used in the grant of power. It is not a power tq create any mere "currency," such as bank notes, government notes, promising to pay money, nor any other hybrid substitutes for money. For we declare that money, in its true constitutional sense and in common sense, has as precise and distinctive attributes as any other creation of God or man, viz. : the attributes of legal tender in .the payment of all taxes and all debts, public and private. And these attributes, not a part, but all of them, when imparted to any suitable substance or material, properly prepared, (gold, silver, paper, or other material,) by the sovereign creative power, is the crowning act in its creation, and what constitutes money and gives to it its existence and nomenclature. It is, as it were, the breath of life breathed into the soulless clay of man by his creator, which gave to him existence and his name. Without these life giving attributes no money was ever made nor can be made; and the pretense that the power of Congress is limited to the process of milling or stamping coining as it is called of mere pieces of gold and silver, is not supported by reason or facts, for we may thus manipulate all the gold and silver in the world and yet not have a dollar in money. We, therefore, denounce and most emphatically condemn the power usurped by Congress of creating mere currencies bank notes, govern- ment notes, promising to pay coin, or any other hybrid substitutes for money as being unknown to the Constitution and unauthorized by it; and history is luminous with the record that they have ever proved the most potent and effective means of plundering the great mass of the people, through interest, usury, and otherwise, and of cen- tralizing their wealth and power in the hands of the few. Parties in Texas 227 We charge that the National debt, with all the billions of interest we have been compelled to pay on it, for the benefit of the few, is one of the direct results, and that the National banks a hydra-headed mon- ster the progeny of usurped power, to which Congress has created and given $356,000,000 of these substitutes for money with power to loan or issue the same for interest and usury, as for money, and to otherwise control the whole financial system of the country, with the prices of labor and its productions, are but further badges or links in the chain of slavery of the many to the few. We, therefore, demand that Congress shall cease to prostitute the sovereign power of the people by the creation of bank notes or other hybrid substitutes for money, and shall execute the sacred trust dele- gated to it by the States and the people, of creating or coining a suffi- cient amount of absolute money, of uniform value, whether of gold, silver, paper, or other material, invested with all the attributes of money, for the payment of all taxes and all debts, public and private, and the exchange of commerce; this being the manifest purpose for which the power to coin or create money was delegated to Congress by the States and the people. We, therefore, demand that the notes of the National banks be called in and substituted by an absolute paper money, endowed with full legal tender attributes and the bonds upon which they were issued be de- clared paid and cancelled to the extent of such substitution; that all acts chartering or extending the existence of the National banks be promptly repealed and the officers forced into liquidation and account; that the executive officers of the government, in order to relieve the present financial distress of the country shall call in, without delay, a sufficient amount of National bonds subject to call, and proceed to pay them off to the full extent of all legal tender money now uselessly hoarded in the National treasury; that all the public lands, granted or promised to railway companies to aid in the construction of their several roads and not earned by a strict and full compliance with all the terms upon which such grants were made or promised, shall be promptly declared forfeited by Congress and restored to the public domain; that no more grants of the public domain, State or National, by sale, gift, or otherwise, except in small amounts, in no case exceed- ing six hundred and forty acres to actual settlers alone; and we especially denounce and condemn the policy, State and National, which has allowed the accumulation of large bodies of land in the hands of nonresident foreigners. We declare that all telegraphic lines of communication properly constitute a part of the postal system of the United States, and for the management of which for the general welfare of the people power was delegated to Congress, but we must emphatically condemn the policy which has transferred the management of this property to individuals or corporations for private or corporate profit, and demand a radical reform of the policy. 228 Platforms of Political We indorse the National platform adopted at Indianapolis, May 29, 1884, on the tariff question. In order to arrest the centralizing and revolutionary tendencies growing out of the autocratic powers usurped by Congress as herein before shown, we anxiously invoke the State and the people to promptly assert and maintain their reserved rights and authoritatively demand of their public servants in the Federal government to abdicate their usurped powers, and as a part of these reserved rights of the people to promptly assume authoritative control over the management, fares, and charges of all public highways situated within their respective borders, remitting to and demanding of their servants in Congress the just exercise of the power invested in them by the Constitution regu- lating commerce between the States by preventing all regulations or combinations tending to obstruct or hinder a free and untrammeled commerce of the people. We favor equal taxation of all property, including bonds and other securities. We favor a graduated income tax. We deem it scarcely necessary to declare that the observance of the great principles we advocate with regard to tax, equal distribution of all the sovereign properties of the people, condemns the policy of leas- ing the public or school lands of Texas in larger bodies than six hundred and forty acres for long periods of time, thus constituting a temporary monopoly only in reach of wealthy men, contrary to public policy and the true principles of republicanism. And we favor the policy of selling the school lands in small bodies not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, on a low rate of interest on long periods of time, say, twenty years, with one-tenth annually at three per cent, interest, to actual occupants alone, and not transferable until the title is perfected; but we can discover no valid objection in principle or public policy, why the adjacent unoccupied lands should not be leased to such actual occupants in limited amounts for short periods of time, subject to actual settlement and so be utilized as an important adjunct to the public school fund. We are most unalterably opposed to the Democratic State legislation upon the stock law that allows the land holding colored man to vote and that denies the same right to a native born white man not a land holder, thus establishing a property line with the rich colored man and the rich white man in one class and the negro and the poor white man in another. We also denounce the school law as creating the same condition of things. We also denounce the jury law for the same reason that it creates property classes. For the same reason we denounce the unconstitutional execution laws and the road laws. We also denounce the Democratic platform as being everything to Parties in Texas 229 everybody and nothing to any body, as it has proposed to correct the legislation of the Republican party and has utterly failed to do so. We also denounce the legislature of the State of Texas for failing and refusing to regulate the railroad freights. Whereas, his Excellency Governor Ireland has issued a proclamation declaring that the necessity for carrying the six shooter no longer exists, therefore, we demand the disbanding of the ranger force. We are unequivocally opposed to a herd law. And in conclusion invoke God to guide the people in ways they have not known, to make darkness light and crooked ways straight before them. We thus exhibit principles for adoption or rejection, but it is as certain as effects follow causes that a continuation in the past and present course will lead the people into revolution and bloodshed for the recovery of these sovereign rights and properties and in this but repeat the history of the world through all the ages. For to this un- holy lust for acquisition of the sovereign properties of the people, as steps upon which to ascend the thrones of the world, may be truly ascribed all the bloody wars of ancient and modern times. State Executive Committee: Dr. J. D. Rahkin, of Limestone, chairman; 1st Congressional district, T. J. Brady, of Harris; 3. F. P. Rogers, of Smith; 4. H. F. O'Neal, of Cass; 5. J. M. Perdue, of Gregg; 6. J. E. Martin, of Tarrant; 10. M. J. Nolan, of Bexar; 11. J. R. Yessen, of Palo Pinto. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1884 HOUSTON, September 2 and 3 The breach between the white and colored Republicans was widened at this convention over the question of a State ticket. When the minority report of the Platform Committee was re- jected, a number of the former bolted. Officers: Chairman, A. J. Rosenthal, of Fayette. Vice-Presi- dents, W. C. Phillips, of Travis; N. W. Cuney, of Galveston; and R. N. Kerr, of Bastrop. Secretary, Lock McDaniel, of Grimes. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: James P. Newcomb, chairman ; J. G. Tracy, P. W. Hall, J. W. Bradshaw, H. Welch, F. S. Cleaves, J. P. Alexander, N. W. Cuney, W. W. Davis, Carl Schutze, David Redfield, B. W. Roberts. 230 Platforms of Political PLATFORM 1 Your committee beg leave to report the following as their action upon the resolutions submitted to their consideration: In regard to the resolution against nominating a State ticket, your committee is of the opinion that it is inexpedient and impracticable at this late day to place a State ticket in the field, and recommend that Republicans aid all Independent candidates for State offices favor- able to the defeat of the Democracy. We present the following resolutions to your consideration: Resolved, [1] That we heartily indorse the National Republican platform and recommend its protection and labor planks to the de- liberate judgment of the people of Texas, and ask them to aid us to give the electoral vote to Elaine and Logan. [2] That we reaffirm the principles adopted at the Republican Con- vention at Fort Worth, except that we are opposed to the lease law and in favor of selling the public lands to actual settlers. [3] That we condemn the present mode of drawing grand and petit juries in the county^and district courts. That the authority given by law to the judges of said courts to select jury commissioners, intended by the Democratic legislature that enacted said law to enable Demo- cratic judges to deprive Republican citizens of the right to sit on juries, and has had this effect in all such districts and counties, and we demand such a change in the drawing of juries that all citizens, without regard to white or colored proclivities, shall have the right and privilege to participate in the administration of justice. [4] That the Republican party of Texas is pledged to the enactment and enforcement of an equitable civil law by which the wages of labor may be secured to the laborers. MINORITY BEPOBT In behalf of the minority of the Committee on Platform and Resolu- tions, we desire to submit the following resolutions: WHEEEAS, the Republican party of Texas recognizes the National right of every American citizen to cast his vote according to the dictates of his conscience, and recognizing the fact that the failure of this Con- vention to place in nomination for the different offices to be filled in this State such men as represent principles in harmony with the Republican party will deprive a large number of citizens of this right and privilege, and recognizing the fact that the dignity of the Republi- can party of Texas demands that a full State ticket, composed of men who represent its principles, be placed before the people, and recogniz- ing the fact that Elaine and Logan, the Republican nominees for VThe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Gdlveston Daily News. Parties in Texas 231 President and Vice-President of the United States, are representative men of our party and that they fully represent our principles; there- fore, Resolved, That this Convention do place in nomination a full State ticket and that the delegates here assembled pledge themselves not to support any candidate or candidates for State offices who will not pledge themselves to support the Republican nominee for President, James G. Elaine, and for Vice-President, Jno. A. Logan. F. L. CLEAVES, J. W. BRADS HAW, HORACE WELCH. The minority report was rejected by a vote 80 ayes to 308 noes. State Executive Committee: C. C. Binkley, of Grayson, chair- man ; 1st Senatorial district, T. J. Russell, 3. Charles Mont- gomery, 4. W. J. Worsham, 5. James McDowell, 8. Loch Mc- Daniel, 9. H. D. Johnson, 10. J. H. Washington, 13. J. T. Sher- mack, 15. Z. A. Dent, 16, T. C. Byrne, 17. D. A Robinson, 26. W. L. Booth, 22. Gieo. A. O'Brien, 23. J. P. Osterhout. PROHIBITION MEETING, 1884 FORT WORTH, September 8 The chairman of the State executive committee submitted a communication from the chairman of the State executive com- mittee of the Greenback party of Texas offering to fuse with the Prohibition party and run a common ticket for presidential electors. It was not accepted. Officers: Chairman, E. L. Dohoney; Secretary, J. M. Thoma- son. Presidential Electors: State at large, W. K. Homan, of Burleson, and A. Wishart, of Dallas; 1st Congressional district, Charles Calmore, of Harris; 2. blank; 3. Rev. W. M. Allen, of Harrison; 4. Dr. J. L. Burton, of Lamar; 5. Dr. E. E. Winn, of Grayson; 6. E. Hovenkamp, of Tarrant; 7. blank; 8. Willis Holmes, of Lee ; 9. Rev. Wm. Gary Crane, of Washing- ton; 10. Dr. C. R. King, of Lampasas; 11. Elder Randolph Clark, of Hood. 1 *The proceedings of this meeting are taken from the Fort Worth Gazette, September .9, 1884. 232 Platforms of Political "STRAIGHT-OUT" REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, 1834 DALLAS, September 23 and 24 The bolters from the Houston Convention issued a call, signed by J. L. Haynes, A. M. Cochran, W. C. Phillips, W. N. Norton, and others, in which they called upon "the Republicans of the different counties in Texas, who are in favor of maintaining the unity and integrity of the Rpublican party, and of having a Republean State ticket in the field . . .to send from each county one or more Republicans to a conference to be held at Dallas, September 23, 1884." The attendance was small, but was composed mostly of whites. The conference resolved itself into a State convention. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, A. M. Cochran, of Dallas; permanent, Loch McDaniel, of Grimes. Vice-Presidents, W. C. Phillips, of Travis; Melvin Wade, of Dallas; and Robert Arm- strong, of Ellis. Secretary pro tempore, T. L. Wren, of Travis; permanent, Geo. W. Hynson, of Dallas. Nominees for State Officers: Governor, A. B. Norton, of Dal- las; Lieutenant-Governor, John L. Haynes, of Webb; Attorney- General, L. C. Grothaus, of Bexar ; Comptroller, Fred W. Miner, of Lamar; Treasurer, Sam M. Johnson, of Bexar; Commissioner of the General Land Office, R. J. Evans, of Grimes; Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, H. B. Kinney, of Travis. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: W. Y. Leader, of Travis; W. N. Norton, of Dallas; Daniel Taylor, of Grimes; W. C. Phillips, of Travis; M. H. Redwood, of Bexar; E. S. Thayer, of Dallas; and Melvin Wade, of Dallas. PLATFORM 1 This Republican State Conference, representing the Republicans who believe that the organization and the identity of our party should be preserved, do promulgate the following platform: Resolved, [1] That it is essential to the growth and success of the Republican party that it should have a full State ticket, composed of x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Daily Herald. Parties in Texas 233 men who support the principles and candidates of the National Re- publican party. [2] That we heartily indorse the National Republican platform, and recommend its protection and labor planks to the deliberate judgment of the people of this State, and ask them to aid us to give the electoral vote to Elaine and Logan. [3] That we favor a tariff for revenue to defray the necessary ex- penses of the government, and discriminating with special reference to the protection of domestic labor, home industries, and home pro- duction. [4] That we believe the educational bill now before Congress, com- monly known as the Blair Bill, is constitutional in all of its pro- visions, and we believe it to be to the interest of the people of this State that the members of Congress from Texas should heartily sup- port the same, and in this connection we condemn the action of Sena- tors Coke and Maxey in voting against the bill while before the senate. [5] That we declare ourselves opposed to all sumptuary laws, and all laws infringing upon the personal liberties and rights of the people. [6] That we believe that homesteads to the value of at least two thousand dollars, and all farm implements and mechanics' tools, now exempt from levy or sale under execution for debt, should be exempt from taxation, and to this end we favor a constitutional amendment giving the legislature power to make such exemption . [7] That the idea that the State cannot sell or lease its public lands is absurd and ridiculous, that we believe that the school lands, or lands set apart for public education, should be so disposed of as to give the present generation the largest amount of benefit. [8] That we favor the early completion of the University of Texas and its colored branch, and favor liberal appropriations by the State for the erection, maintenance, and equipment of these institutions. [9] That we favor a wise, liberal, and efficient road law that will give to every county in the State good and substantial roads. [10] That we favor the repeal of the obnoxious occupation tax, and we do not believe that legitimate labor should be taxed. [11] That we favor such legislation as will prevent corporations or monopolies of any kind purchasing and owning immense tracts of lands, and believe that the amount of land owned by any corporation should be limited by law. [12] That the Republican party denounces the squandering of public lands of the State by the Democratic party since it came into power, especially in giving to the International & Great Northern Railway Company seven million acres of land not in alternate sections, as to other companies, but in solid bodies, and exempting not only this land but all the real and personal property of that corporation from taxes for twenty-five years. [13] That we believe this exemption from taxes of the property of the International & Great Northern Railway Company, by which the 234 Platforms of Political taxpayers of the State have been robbed of many millions of dollars, to be in violation of the constitution, therefore illegal, and the legality of this exemption should be tested by the courts of the State. Additional Resolutions [14] That we, Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled, do extend to and commend to the lovers of public free schools, free speech, free ballot, and an honest count of colored votes of our National gov- ernment in the strong Democratic States, to come out on November 4, 1884, and show by your votes that you are in favor of true Republican- Ism, which is now, and ever has been in favor of civil liberty and right against slavery and wrong of any and every kind. Show this then we urge upon you by voting only for State officers men who are avowed supporters of our National ticket, Elaine and Logan, and against men who do by their actions and words vilify and condemn before the people of Texas our National leader. [15] That there be appointed a Republican campaign committee, consisting of a chairman and secretary and one member from each congressional district in the State, who shall be authorized to act as a committee for the supervision of the affairs of the Republican party, looking to its unity and integrity in Texas, and that said committee confer with Judge Binkley, chairman of the State executive com- mittee, and the advisory committeemen in each senatorial district, and its functions to end with this campaign. Campaign Committee: A. B. Norton, of Dallas, chairman; 1. Richard Allen, of Harris; 2. Win. Phillips, of San Angus- tine; 3. W. W. Collins, of Smith; 4. Horace Welch, of Marion; 5. L. T. Miller, of Wichita; 6. T. C. Byrnes, of Kaufman; 7. Calvin G. Brewster, of Webb; 8. and 9. blank; 10. W. Y. Leader, of Travis ; 11. W. T. Baird, of Callahan. GRAND STATE FARMERS' ALLIANCE, 1886 CLEBURNE, August 3-7 Although not a political party, the numerical strength of the Farmers' Alliance in 1886 was sufficient to secure attention for its demands, and to incur the solicitude of politicians. "These demands, first enunciated at Cleburne, in 1886, modi- fied at St. Louis, in 1889, perfected at Ocala, in 1890, reindorsed at Indianapolis, and still further modified at Washington in Feb- Parties in Texas 235 ruary, 1896, are the embodiment of all the fundamental principles of republican form of government, and of the highest type of civilization. They have stood the test of the most merciless criticism, abuse, and misrepresentation of the old line politicians, and at last hare in a great measure been indorsed by, and recom- mended in the platform of one of the political parties that once denounced them so persistently." Evan Jones, President State Farmers Alliance. 1 Officers: President. Andrew Dunlap, of Parker; Vice-Presi- dent, J. S. Morris, of Tarrant; Secretary, C. M. Wilcox, of McLennan. Committee on Good of the Order and Demands: W. M. Mathes, H. T. Clark, J. M. Perdue, B. F. Rogers, E. B. Warren, J. H. Morrow, Geo. H. Stovall. 2 DEMANDS AND RESOLUTIONS We, the delegates to the Grand State Farmers' Alliance of Texas, in convention assembled at Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, A. D. 1886, do hereby recommend and demand of our State and National govern- ments, according as the same shall come under the jurisdiction of the one or the other, such legislation as shall secure to our people freedom from the onerous and shameful abuses that the industrial classes are now suffering at the hands of arrogant capitalists and powerful cor- porations. We demand: 1. The recognition by incorporation of trade unions, co-operative stores, and such other associations as may be organized by the indus- trial classes to improve their financial condition, or to promote their general welfare. 2. That all public school land be held in small bodies, not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres to each purchaser, for actual settle- ment, on easy terms of payment. 3. That large bodies of land held by private individuals or corpora- tions, for speculative purposes, shall be rendered for taxation at such rates as they are offered to purchasers, on credit of one, two, or three years, in bodies of one hundred and sixty acres or less. 4. That measures be taken to prevent aliens from acquiring title to land in the United States of America, and to force titles already ac- quired by aliens to be relinquished by sale to actual settlers and citizens of the United States. ^Dallas News, August 19, 1896- '-'The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Daily News, August 4 and 8, 1886. 236 Platforms of Political 5. That the lawmaking powers take early action upon such meas- ures as shall effectually prevent the dealing in futures of all agricul- tural products, prescribing such procedure in trial as shall secure prompt conviction, and imposing such penalties as shall secure the most perfect compliance with the law. 6. That all lands, forfeited by railroads or other corporations, im- mediately revert to the government and be declared open for purchase by actual settlers, on the same terms as other public or school lands. 7. That fences be removed, by force if necessary, from public or school lands unlawfully fenced by cattle companies, syndicates, or any other form or name of corporation. 8. That the statutes of the State of Texas be rigidly enforced by the attorney-general, to compel corporations to pay the taxes due the State and counties. 9. That railroad property shall be assessed at the full nominal value of the stock on which the railroad seeks to declare a dividend. 10. We demand the rapid extinguishment of the public debt of the United States, by operating the mints to their fullest capacity in coining silver and gold, and the tendering of the same without dis- crimination to the public creditors of the Nation, according to contract. 11. We demand the substitution of legal tender treasury notes for the issue of the National banks; that the Congress of the United States regulate the amount of such issue by giving to the country a per capita circulation that shall increase as the population and business interests of the country expand. 12. We demand the establishment of a National bureau of labor statistics, that we may arrive at a correct knowledge of the educational, moral, and financial condition of the laboring masses of our citizens; and further, that the commissioner of the bureau be a cabinet officer of the United States. 13. We demand the enactment of laws to compel corporations to pay their employees according to contract, in lawful money, for their services, and the giving to mechanics and laborers a first lien upon the product of their labor to the full extent of their wages. 14. We demand the passage of an interstate commerce law, that shall secure the same rates of freight to all persons for the same kind of commodities, according to distance of haul, without regard to amount of shipment; to prevent the granting of rebates; to prevent pooling freights to shut off competition; and to secure to the people the benefit of railroad transportation at reasonable cost. 15. We demand that all convicts shall be confined within the prison walls, and the contract system be abolished. 16. We recommend a call for a National labor conference, to which all labor organizations shall be invited to send representative men, to discuss such measures as may be of interest to the laboring classes. Resolved, [17] That the president of the Grand State Alliance be, and he is hereby, directed to appoint a committee of three to press Parties in Texas 237 these demands upon the attention of the legislators of the State and Nation, and report progress at the next meeting of the Grand State Alliance. That newspapers be furnished copies of these demands for publication. That the president of the Grand State Alliance have fifty thousand copies of these demands and resolutions printed and dis- tributed to the Sub-Alliances, through the respective county secre- taries. That each delegate to this State Alliance present a copy of these demands and resolutions as early as possible to each candidate for a legislative office, State or National, and endeavor to secure his indorsement and assistance in carrying them to a successful issue. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1886 GALVESTON, August 10-13 The Prohibitionists, Farmers' Alliance, and Knights of Labor possessed sufficient strength to make an impress on the acts of this convention. Many of the delegates went home not at all pleased. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Thos. B. Bonner, of Smith; permanent, B. M. Wynne, of Tarrant. Vice-Presidents, 1st Con- gressional district, John M. Henderson, of Brazos; 2. T. J. Sim- mons, of Robertson; 3. Wm. M. Giles, of Wood; 4. S. L. Gilbert, of Hopkins; 5. B. D'Armond, of Collin; 6. B. D. Tarleton, of Hill; 7. Joseph Bates, of Brazoria; 8. M. H. Townsend, of Colorado ; 9. Geo. C. Pendleton, of Bell ; 10. J. D. Harrison, of Gillespie; 11. J. B. Fleming, of Shackelford; Joel Bobison, of Fayette ; and Stephen W. Blount, of San Augustine. Secretary, Will Lambert, of Travis. Nominees for State Offices: Gjovernor, L. S. Boss, of Mc- Lennan; Lieutenant- Governor, T. B. Wheeler, of Eastland; At- torney-General, James S. Hogg, of Smith ; Comptroller, John D. McCall, of Travis; Treasurer, F. B. Lubbock, of Galveston; Commissioner of the General Land Office, B. M. Hall, of Wil- liamson; Superintendent of Public Instruction, O. H. Cooper, of Harris; Supreme Court, B. B. Gaines, of Lamar. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. H. Davenport, of Eastland ; D. M. Prendergast, of Limestone ; B. C. Foster, of Grayson; J. A. Carroll, of Denton; B. F. Frymier, of Johnson; D. P. Marr, of Frio ; A. S. Fisher, of Williamson ; C. B. Kilgore, 238 Platforms of Political of Van Zandt ; N. A. Cravens, of Montgomery ; George F. Ingram, of Nacogdoches ; R. S. Gould, Jr., of Brazos ; J. N. Browning, of Wheeler; W. L. Crawford, of Dallas; C. M. Boynton, of Hamil- ton; "W. H. Pope, of Harrison; T. M. Campbell, of Gregg; L. J. Storey, of Cal dwell, chairman; George T. Todd, of Marion, secretary; H. Templeton, of Hopkins; D. A. Nunn, of Houston; A. "W. Houston, of Bexar ; W. H. Woodward, of Calhoun ; J. G. Dudley, of Fannin; George McCall, of Parker; J. E. Hill, of Polk; L. N. Bruce, of ; E. H. Phelps, of Fayette; J. W. Ragsdale, of Burleson; Howard, of Gonzales; Geo. P. Finley, of Galveston. PLATFORM 1 1. We, the Democrats of Texas, express our hearty satisfaction with the administration of our distinguished President, the Hon. Grover Cleveland, and testify our confidence in his ability, purity, and integrity. 2. We pledge ourselves that the current public expenditures shall be confined within the current revenue. 3. We recommend the submission to the popular vote of an appro- priate amendment to the judiciary article of our constitution, so as to secure a more efficient and prompt administration of law. 4. We favor the best system of education for white and colored children in separate common schools, which may be provided by lib- eral, without excessive, taxation. We believe that the education of the children is a matter of State right and duty, and that the Congress of the United States has no right to appropriate money to its aid. We congratulate the people of Texas upon the successful establishment of our State University, and we recommend the enactment of legislation to remove the same, as far as possible, from all political influences, and that its properties and revenue shall be strictly guarded, in- creased, and fostered so far as it can be done without taxation upon the people. 5. We believe that the true policy of the State, with respect to her public lands, is to provide for their sale, in tracts of reasonable size with reference to their quality and uses, at fair prices and upon long cretiit, to bona fide settlers for homestead purposes. We favor such a classification of the school, university, and asylum lands as may permit the unconditional leasing, for short terms, of lands only fit for grazing; and that the remainder may be leased temporarily and entirely sub- jected to the right of the State to sell to actual and bona fide settlers. And to these ends we favor the enactment of laws to compel the re- 1 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston Daily News. Parties in Texas 239 moval of trespassers and free grazers from the public lands, and to force the payment of rent for their use; and to fix absolutely the rental price of the lands to be leased. There should be such legislation as will make it practicable to enforce all laws intended to prevent the illegal use of the school or other public lands of the State. 6. We pledge ourselves to encourage and foster all works of in- ternal improvement, and the development of the manufacturing inter- ests of the State. 7. We denounce the unlawful interference with or injury to cor- porate property and corporate rights, as equally intolerable as is such interference with or injury to the rights of a citizen. And while we recognize the high obligation of the Democratic party to control and subordinate all public corporations to the general good we pledge our- selves to enact and enforce all laws that may be necessary to protect their property from every danger from whatever surce the same may come. 8. The Democratic party looks with apprehension upon the fact that foreign railway corporations have acquired contK)! of the railways of Texas in violation of the provisions of the constitution; and protest against the methods by which they are being operated. We pledge ourselves to pass laws to correct abuses and prevent unjust discrimina- tions; to compel all railways doing business in this State to maintain an office in the State in compliance with article 10, section 3, of the constitution; and we pledge ourselves to secure by law the right of the State to inspect all the books, belonging or appertaining to the organi. zation, operation, and business of the railways of Texas. We protest against the consolidation of parallel and competing lines in the State and pledge ourselves that laws shall be passed and enforced to correct this evil. We pledge ourselves to pass general laws forfeiting to the State all lands heretofore granted to railway corporations, where such corporations have failed to comply with the terms of their charters, or have failed in good faith to alienate their lands within the period fixed by law. 9. We believe that stockholders in private corporations should be held liable to pay the debts of the corporation to the amount due on their stock, and an additional amount equal to the stock owned by them, and that the legislature shall regulate and fix the terms upon which private corporations may do business in this State. And that laws shall be passed prohibiting corporations not chartered by the laws of this State from buying or leasing the public lands of this State or any of the school, university, or asylum lands. 10. We believe that the existing law of our State for the protection of mechanics and laborers by lien should be comprehensive and effi- cient, to the end that the real laborer may be thoroughly protected. 11. We declare that all State convicts should be confined within the walls of the penitentiary and it is the duty of the legislature to provide penitentiaries sufficient for this purpose. We are also in favor of a 240 Platforms of Political reform school, or house of correction, for minors and females con- victed of offenses, to the end that they may be separated from the adult convicts of the State. 12. We do not believe that the views of any citizen upon the ques- tion of local option should interfere with his standing in the Demo- cratic party; and we declare the question to be one in which every Democrat may indulge his own views without affecting his Democracy. 13. The Democrats of Texas declare that it is the duty of the general government to protect and defend the humblest American citi- zen against the unlawful acts of any and all nations; and that de- cisive action in demanding indemnity for past and existing grievances, and security for the future; will meet with the unqualified approval of the Democracy of Texas. MINORITY REPORTS The undersigned, constituting a minority of your Committee on Platform and Resolutions, beg leave to report that we do not concur with the majority of the committee in its platform as reported. We, however, agree to all the platform reported by the majority of the committee except section 5, and ask that it be stricken out and the following adopted in lieu thereof: We regard the settlement and development of the State by intelligent and law abiding citizens as paramount to all other questions of State policy, and pledge that wholesome and effective laws looking to that end shall be enacted as speedily as possible, that simple, comprehensive, and efficient laws should be enacted whereby the lands set apart for the benefit of the common school and other trust funds shall be disposed of in limited quantities to bona fide settlers only, and in such manner as not to injure said trust funds. J. N. BROWNING, J. H. DAVENPORT, GEORGE A. MCCALL, HOWARD TEMPLETON, J. A. CARROLL, W. H. POPE, W. H. WOODWARD. The minority report was tabled by a vote of 575 ayes to 142 noes. Section 5 of the majority report was retained by a vote of 449 ayes to 282 noes. IP The following report, too, was tabled; vote not given: We, the undersigned members of the Committee on Platform and *Fort Worth Gazette, Aug. 13, 1886. *G-alveston Daily News, August 15, 1886. Parties in Texas 241 Resolutions, believing that there exists a state of facts calling for a declaration of first principles of the Democratic party, and that all secret political societies are dangerous to the liberties of the people and the principles of free government, do submit the following resolu- tions and ask that the same be adopted in lieu of so much of the majority report as relates to this subject: Resolved, That it is the sense of the Democratic party of the State of Texas in convention assembled: 1. That all secret political organizations are inimical in spirit and method to democratic principles. 2. That it is not democratic or consistent for members of the Democratic party to deliberate on political questions with any other society, whether secret or otherwise, organized upon the principles of exclusion of a portion of their fellow-citizens by class or classes, and thereafter to seek to carry into effect the action of such secret delibera- tion by the agency of the Democratic party. 3. That while we have no issues to make with secret societies organ- ized for benevolent, social, or other like purposes, so long as they con- fine themselves to the legitimate and specific objects of their creation, we do abhor and detest the attempt to use them as agencies for political ends. 4. That such secret societies, composed of men not in accord in political principles, are incapable of properly and usefully influencing the deliberations or action of the Democratic party, and their decrees as to men or measures are not entitled to respect from the Democratic party, and any attempt, by concerted action or otherwise, to carry the same into effect through the agency of the Democratic party, meets with the condemnation of this Convention. 5. We appeal to all true Democrats, of whatever vocation or pro- fession, to withdraw from all such secret political associations, and to align themselves with the membership of their party in support of the principles of good government. D. A. NUNN, D. M. PRENDERGAST, J. H. DAVENPORT, J. A. CARROLL, GEORGE A. McCALL, J. W. RAGSDALE, A. W. HOUSTON. State Executive Committee: Henry Exall, of Lampasas, chair- man; 1. John H. Kirby, of Tyler; 2. S. W. Blount, of San Ja- cinto; 3. Tom A. El [1] Prohibition The people in a republic being the source of power we believe it to be the duty of the legislature to submit to 'the people for their acceptance or rejection such amendments to our organic laws as they may ask: such submission, when petitioned by a sufficient number in accordance with the bill of rights. [2] Public Lands We are opposed to the leasing by the State of large bodies of land, thereby shutting it out from immediate and actual settlement. [3] Public Roads We are opposed to the present law requiring the citizen to work upon the public roads of this State, but believe that the roads ought to be worked at public expense. [4] Though in favor of an ad valorem tax on property and occupa- tion taxes, we are opposed to occupation taxes on trades and professions. [5] The Republican party, having been in favor of the education of the masses to the fullest extent within the means of the government and ability of the people, favors the largest appropriation practicable by the State for that purpose, and we do further indorse and approve of that educational measure known as the Blair bill passed by the United States Senate. We are also in favor of county superintendents of public schools. [6] Laborers (1) That we reaffirm our confidence and acceptance of the principle set forth by Abraham Lincoln in his message to Con- gress in December, 1861, in which he defined the relations of the Re- publican party to American labor, and affirmed its superiority to the mere capital it had created. (2) That we stand and abide by the principles set forth by the martyred President a quarter of a century since, in which he affirmed the dignity of labor and the right of the laborer to legislative protection, and that we do all in our power to make these the principles of our State and National governments. (3) That we recognize the right of labor to share in the profits of the wealth it has created, and that we do all in our power to harmonize the interests of capital and labor and make the legislation of this State and Nation equally protective of the one as of the other. (4) That we are opposed to the employment of convict labor upon the public works of the State. (5) We are opposed to the leasing of convict labor in any form, and that we favor the passage of such laws as will confine convicts within the walls of the penitentiary of the State. (6) That we denounce that system of employing convict labor which compels the free labor of American citizens to come in competition with it in the public market. (7) That we favor the passage of such laws for the arbitration of all differences arising between corporations and those employed by them aa will most effectively prevent strikes and secure harmony. (8) We approve the existing laws making the importation of con- tract labor a crime, and demand their enforcement. 244 Platforms of Political <9) We favor such legislation as will most effectually prevent the oppressing of the mercantile and industrial interests by monopoly. State Executive Committee: J. B. Rector, of Travis, chair- man. PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1886 DALLAS. September 7 and 8 "The Texas Democratic State Convention placed in its plat- form the following sop to catch the votes of the Prohibitionists : [Paragraph 12 of the Democratic Platform, 1886, follows here]. The Prohibitionists who have backbone are not satisfied with it, and steps will be taken to put a State Prohibition ticket in the field." 1 . . . The attendance at the convention was small. There was opposition to the nomination of a State ticket by a convention on so short notice. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, J. B. Cranfill, of Cory ell; permanent, Rev. S. A. Beauchamp, of Denton. Secretary pro tempore, Rev. M. P. Matheny, of Dallas; permanent, D. P. Haggard, of Dallas. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, B. L. Dohoney, of Lamar; Lieutenant-Governor, S. G. Mullins, of Navarro; Attor- ney-General, B. F. Williams, of Young; Comptroller, Dr. T. L. Yoakum, of Smith; Treasurer, W. D. Jackson, of McLennan; Commissioner of the General Land Office, J. L. Blain, of Hunt; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Addison Clark, of Hood. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: E. L. Dohoney, Wil- liam H. Hamman, W. P. Hull, W. J. Halsell, Rev. S. A. Beau- champ, Mrs. Jenny Bland Beauchamp, J. B. Cranfill. PLATFORM 2 Be it resolved by the Prohibition party of Texas, in convention assembled: 1. That we reverently acknowledge Almighty God as the great 1 J. B. Cranfill in the New York Voice, quoted by the Galveston News, Aug. 28, 1886. -Dallas News, September 8 and 9, 1886. Parties in Texas 245 source of all just government, and we humbly invoke His blessings upon our work. 2. That we recognize it as an immortal political axiom, that what is morally wrong can never be politically right; that the liquor traffic is the prolific source of crime, pauperism, bribery, political corruption, and anarchy, and should be prohibited by law. 3. We declare that the leading object of the Prohibition party of Texas is the suppression by constitutional law of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in this State; and being in fact a home-protecting party, that we solicit the cooperation in this grand object of all the women of this State. 4. We denounce the Democratic party for its persistent and con- tinued refusals to submit to a vote of the people of the State of Texas a prohibitory constitutional amendment, and charge that their action is tyrannical and destructive of pure democratic principles, and now, that we further denounce them for nominating a saloon stump speaker for governor of a Christian people, and that their action is an insult to the morals of our State, and that this policy is being followed throughout the State in congressional and other Democratic nomina- tions. We further charge that the Democratic and Republican parties are in league with the liquor traffic in the National and State organiza- tions and administrations. 5. We demand of the next legislature the submission of a constitu- tional amendment to prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in Texas. We demand that the local option law be amended so that it can be efficiently enforced by making its violation a felony, punishable by confinement at hard labor in the State peni- tentiary. 6. We demand that our State legislature enact a scientific temper- ance restriction bill similar to the bill lately passed by the Congress of the United States. 7. We demand that the legislature of Texas shall prohibit by law all sales and purchases of "futures" of every character, and declare the violation of the law a felony, punishable by hard labor in the State penitentiary. 8. We denounce the action of the late Democratic State convention, which pledged the support of that party to corporations, but refused aid and sympathy to the laboring and producing class. We claim that labor is the creator of all wealth, the handmaid of virtue, and the source of all material prosperity and happiness. We demand that labor be pro- tected, and that corporations be rigidly regulated by such laws as will prevent all combinations^ discriminations, and granting of rebate by transportation companies. That we denounce and condemn the theory established and maintained by the courts of the country that so-called chartered rights are above and superior to legislative enactment and government control. We also demand that a law providing for a simple, speedy, and effective system of arbitration be enacted for the settlement 246 Platforms of Political of all issues and controversies between corporations and their em- ployes in reference to the wages of labor, and we favor legislation encouraging cooperation and profit sharing associations. We recognize the right of labor to organize for its protection, and we solicit the assistance of the great laboring classes in the overthrow of monopoly, at the head and front of which stands the liquor traffic. 9. We denounce the action of the Democratic party in giving away and nominally selling the public lands at fifty cents an acre to capital- ists and cattle syndicates, just at the time when they were becoming valuable, thereby permitting them to fence up whole counties and pre- vent the settlement and civilization of the west. We demand the for- feiture of all lands granted to individuals and corporations where the title has not absolutely vested, and that th-ese lands, together with the public domain yet remaining, be reserved for homesteads for our citi- zens, and sold only to actual settlers on long time with interest for the benefit of the school fund. 10. We believe that the most direct way out of our present land complications is the unconditional repeal of our present lease system and the sale of the public lands only to actual settle-rs. We declare that all the fences and other improvements illegally placed on public school lands are part of the realty, as if they had been placed on private property, and we demand that the State shall at once take control of these lands and the improvements thereon and prosecute all parties who may unlawfully interfere with or destroy the same, and we demand that the attorney-general shall at once proceed to recover such damages from trespassers on these lands as have been sustained by the use and occupation thereof. 11. We favor an efficient system of free schools. 12. We hereby pledge our cooperation and sympathy to the National Prohibition party. State Executive Committee: J. B. Cranfill, of Coryell, chair- man; 1. Rev. F. M. Law, of Brazos; 2. Win. H. Hamman, of Robertson ; 3. Rev. J. L. Terry, of Gregg ; 4. Prof. H. C. Gowdey, of Lamar; 5. A. L. Darnell, of Grayson; 6. Rev. J. P. Haggard, of Dallas; 7. D. S. Snodgrass, of Victoria; 8. blank; 9. W. P. Hull/of Bell; 10. J. B. Goff, of Travis; 11. Rev. J. P. Massett, of Coryell. ANTIMONOPOLY CONVENTION, 1886 FORT WORTH,, September 15 Pursuant to a call, issued by H. S. Broiles, chairman of the Antimonopoly executive committee, a convention was held at Parties in Texas 2-17 Fort Worth, September 15, 1886, for the purpose of organizing an Antimonopoly party. Twenty-eight counties were represented. After much discussion it was decided not to place a State ticket in the field. Officers: Chairman, S. P. Burns, of Brown; Secretary, T. D, Jones, of Jack. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: M. J. Nolan, of Tarrant; J. T. Loe, of Travis; W. T. Daniels, of Erath; J. M, Foss, of Dallas ; M. D. Priest, of Tarrant. RESOLUTIONS 1 Your Committee on Platform beg leave to report that they deem it inexpedient at this time to promulgate a platform. 2. That we recommend that the work of organization be pushed as rapidly as possible. 3. That we recommend that all antimonopolists in Texas use their influence to secure the election of such candidates for Congress and members of the House of Representatives as will come nearest repi*e- senting their sentiments. State Executive Committee: State at large, S. P. Burns, of Brown; J. E. Martin, of Tarrant; J. T. Loe, of Travis; W. G. Moore, of Lamar. NONPOLITICAL PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1887 WACO, March 15 and 16 An amendment to the constitution, to prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxictting liquors in this State, having been sub- mitted to the people for adoption or rejection, the supporters of the amendment met in convention at Waco, March 15, 1887. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, J. Z. Miller, of Bell: per- manent, D. M. Prendergast, of Limestone. Secretary pro tem- pore, R. 0. Rounsavall; permanent, W. S. Blackshear, of Waco. Committee on Plan of Campaign: 1st Congressional district, F. M. Law, 2. Wm. Shumatt, 3. T. N. Jones, 4. W. I. Ward, 5. ^Dallas Morning News, September 16, 1886. 248 Platforms of Political G. W. Rogers, 6. M. H. Neely, 7. J. D. Scott, 8. T. L. Johnson, 9. B. H. Carroll, 10. W. H. Brooker, 11. Randolph Clark. REPORT 1 1. That we make this campaign as citizens of Texas, without refer- ence to race, party politics, religious distinctions, or temperance socie- ties, as such, leaving to all organizations, moral or religious, to adopt their own methods of helping in this great conflict. 2. That there shall be a State Central Committee appointed by this body to which shall be referred the management of the campaign. That we include under the term management all questions of finance, literature, general organization, State canvassers, in a word, whatever is necessary to the prosecution of the work. 3. That this Central Committee may be representative of all sections of the State, it shall be composed of the following named citizens, to wit: Judge D. M. Prendergast, of Limestone; James Z. Miller, of Bell; Judge J. M. Fleming, of Albany; Judge J. C. Matthews, of Lampasas; Judge H. O. Head, of Sherman; J. S. McLendon, of Robertson; J. N. Roach, of Weatherford; H. W. Lightfoot, of Lamar; Thomas W. Dodd, of Laredo; W. K. Homan, of Caldwell; Thomas R. Bonner, of Tyler; Rev. G. W. Briggs, of Galveston; R. B. Parrott, of Waco; Dr. F. M. Law, of Bryan; W. B. Ward, of Jefferson; Judge T. L. Nugent, of Erath; W. O. Reeve, of Palestine; Judge W. W. Weatherhead, of Sabine; Harry Haynes, of Washington; A. A. Johnson, of Tarrant; W. H. Brooker, of Bexar; T. N. Jones, of Smith; W. B. Denson, of Gal- veston; G. W. Baines, Jr., of El Paso; A. Grant, of Travis; Judge J. V. Cockrell, of Jones; B. F. Rogers, of Anderson; R. C. White, of Collin; D. Mattier, of Guadalupe; Edwin Hobby, of Polk; H. C. Ferguson, of Denton; Judge W. H. Ford, of Jasper; Judge James C. Wilson, of Karnes; James B. Dibbrell, of Guadalupe; Rev. A. R. Griggs, of Dallas; C. H. Yoakum, of Hunt; R. M. Gano, of Dallas; L. W. Folts, of Austin; John Townes, of Georgetown; K. M. Van Zandt, of Fort Worth; A. J. Rose, of Salado; Col. Martin, of Colorado City. 4. That the headquarters of this committee be at Waco, with the following local members: Thomas Moore, J. M. Anderson, E. A. Jones, J. B. Cranfill, J. C. Stephenson, W. I. Barrett, Dr. J. C. J. King, Dr. B. H. Carroll, chairman of the Central Committee, T. O. Blair, E. J. Gurley 5. That the Central Committee be empowered to fill vacancies and make such additions or changes as circumstances may require. 6. That the committee shall meet at its headquarters at least once a month during the canvass, and in order to secure a full attendance, that all members of the committee outside of Waco be allowed trayel- T The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. ' Parties in Texas 249 ing expenses incurred in attending the monthly or stated meetings. 7. That the Central Committee shall elect an executive committee, consisting of the local members of said committee, and of such others as they may deem necessary. This executive committee shall hare power to carry on the work during the intervals between monthly meetings, under such instructions as the Central Committee may im- pose, at the stated meetings, and that all such work shall be reported to the next stated meeting thereafter. 8. The Central Committee shall hold a session at the close of this convention and send out an address to the people of Texas, setting forth the nature and issues of the canvass, and suggesting the best methods of work. 9. That this address may cover all the ground necessary, all plans of the work and resolutions relating thereto be referred to the Central Committee. 10. We recommend that there be county organizations, with county executive committees having control of the county canvass, under the direction of the Central Committee. ANTI-PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1887 DALLAS, May 4 The opponents of the prohibition amendment, or "True Blues," met at Dallas, May 4. 1887. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, George C. Pendleton, of Bell; permanent, D. C. Giddings, of Washington. Secretary, Will Lambert, of Travis. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: W. W. Spivey, of Busk; W. H. Poland, of Harrison; G. T. Todd, of Marion; R. R. Neyland, of Hunt; Horace Chilton, of Smith; C. B. Kil- gore, of Van Zandt; W. B. Page, of Houston; Gustave Cooke, of Harris; J. W. Mitchell, of Galveston; M. Kennon, of Colo- rado; J. H. Shelburn, of Austin; H. M. Garwood, of Bastrop; J. N. Henderson, of Brazos; R. Q. Mills, of Navarro; Seth Shepard, of Dallas ; Joe Foreman, of Collin ; J. V. Bemusdoffer, of Grayson; S. H. Hodges, of Montague; A. J. Hood, of Parker; A. P. McKinnon of Hill; George Clark, of McLennan; E. A. McDougall, of Cory ell; John Hancock, of Travis; W. E. Good- rich, of Guadalupe ; E. D. Linn, of Victoria ; G. H. Kalteyer, of Bexar; L. B. Perry, of Callahan; J. H. Humphries, of Erath; H. P. Wright, of Red River. 250 Platforms of Political PLATFORM 1 1. We oppose the pending prohibition amendment because it is a proposition to change our form of government from a free republic of sovereign and independent citizens to a species of paternalism, hateful to our people. It will take from the citizen his most sacred and in- alienable rights and will add to and augment the powers of govern- ment, and is, therefore, undemocratic and 'antirepublican. 2. We oppose this amendment because it is sumptuary and will vex the citizens and interfere with individual liberty. 3. We oppose this amendment because it is at war with the funda- mental principles of Anglo-Saxon civilization, and will destroy that inalienable right of the citizen to determine for himself by what method he will pursue his own happiness without interference with the rights of others, which principle is the basis of our liberties and the sole hope for the perpetuity of our institutions. 4. We oppose the amendment because its enforcement will entail upon the government the necessity of promoting a system of spies and informers, detestable to our people, and the enactment of extreme legis- lation of doubtful constitutionality, and under the sanction of which our homes may be searched, our property seized, and our dearest rights invaded. Texas cannot hope to escape these curses, which have in- variably attended similar experiences in other States. 5. Its adoption will suppress the general use of milder stimulants and encourage the use of the stronger drinks, and thus retard the ad- vancement of genuine temperance. It will stamp as criminal the man- ufacture of wines from our domestic grapes for family purposes, and will degrade drug stores into dramshops and elevate our doctors into autocrats over our appetites. 6. It will enable the rich to import and use their liquors without taxation or restraint, and will prohibit only those of our people who are too poor to buy their liquors in unbroken packages. And under its operations the saloon will give place to the gilded club room for the rich, while the poor will be forced to make their purchases at low dives and in violation of law. Such class legislation is odious to our people and contrary to free government. 7. It proposes, by the preponderance of a majority in certain sec- tions of the State, to fasten by force on other sections a theory of moral and social conduct and habit distasteful and repugnant to the latter. The varied interests of the sections in our State have been a prolific source of care and thought in our statesmanship, and this amendment if adopted will engender a hostile public sentiment in certain localities fatal to its enforcement, and thus beget a disrespect for law and a disregard of constitutional authority, and will produce 1 Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas '2")1 a lasting and permanent evil to our people and tend to disrupt the State. 8. It proposes to confiscate and destroy, without compensation, large property interests of our people. It will unsettle business and impair property values, paralyze, for a period at least, the commercial interests of our State, and destroy great industries already in opera- tion for the manufacture of the milder stimulants. It will abolish the source of public revenues fully one-third and increase to a correspond- ing amount the burdens upon our lands and the necessaries of life, already overburdened with the exactions of government. 9. The zealous adherents of this prohibition idea have already es- tablished and organized a third poltical party, and have waged relent- less warfare upon the principles 'and organization of the other estab- lished parties. Instigated by foreign emissaries they have, by agitation for years, secured from the legislature of our State the concession of this proposition to change our organic law, and by studied purpose and concerted movement they now seek to stifle political expression from our people until their own political designs are fully accomplished. We warn our people of this threatened danger, and call upon them to rebuke at the polls this sinister conspiracy against their political or- ganizations and the fundamental principles of American liberty. State Executive Committee: George Clark, of McLennan, chairman. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1888 FORT WORTH, April 24 and 25 The old rivalry between white and colored marked the pro- ceedings of this convention, and the latter practically controlled. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, A. M. Cochran, of Dallas; permanent, Webster Flanagan, of Rusk. 'Secretary, J. C. Mar- tin, of Tarrant. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, J. B. Rector, of Travis: A. J. Rosenthal. of Fayette; C. M. Ferguson, of Fort Bend ; N. W. Cuney, of Galveston ; 1st Congressional dis- trict, M. A. Baker, of Harris, and Joshua Houston, of Walker; 2. Geo. W. Burkitt, of Anderson, and Alex Alsberry, of Robert- son ; 3. Webster Flanagan, of Rusk, and L. B. Fish, of Smith; 4. Samuel Wright, of Lamar. and John Coffee, of Hopkins; 5. H. M. Spalding, of Denton, and J. W. Hearne, of Grayson ; 6. J. P. Alexander, of Tarrant, and C. F. Alterman, of Dallas; 252 Platforms of Political 7. H. C. Ferguson, of Wharton, and R. B. Renfro, of Cameron; 8. A. J. Johnson, of Colorado, and M. M. Rogers, of Fayette; 9. W. F. Crawford, of Milam, and W. H. Blount, of Washington ; 10. E. H. Terrell, of Bexar, and J. C. DeGiress, of Travis; 11. Robt. F. Campbell, of El Paso, and W. E. Morton, of Parker. Presidential Electors: State at large, T. B. Hanna, of Gray- son, and A. J. Evans, of Bexar ; 1st Congressional district, J. H. Stewart, of Liberty, 2. C. C. Flanagan, of Robertson, 3. W. H. McCarver, of , 4. blank, 5. E. L. Andrews, of Collin, 6. Phillip Altbayer, of Terrell, 7. C. G. Brewster, of Webb, 8. W. H. Maynard, of Caldwell, 9. -John D. McDonald, of McLen- nan, 10. Herman Seele, of Comal, 11. Geo. A. Knight, of Reeves. Committee on 'Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, W. E. Hightower, 2. Mr. Norton, of Calvert, 3. Webster Flanagan, 4. Hamilton Walker, 5. D. A. Robinson, 6. J. C. Big- ger, secretary, 7. Wright Cuney, 8. A. J. Rosenthal, chairman, 9. Paul Fricke, 10. W. E. Easton, 11. Robert F. Campbell. PLATFORM 1 We, your Committee on Platform and Resolutions, beg leave to sub- mit the following resolutions, and recommend the adoption thereof: 1. The Republicans of Texas, in State convention assembled, renew their allegiance to the principles of the Republican party upon which they have achieved so many glorious victories. 2. We ratify and confirm the principles of our National platform of 1884. 3. We condemn the free trade doctrine and sentiments expressed in the message of President Cleveland to Congress. 4. We favor a tariff for protection in order to afford security to our industries and protection to the rights and wages of the laborer and mechanic. 5. We recognize the importance of sheep husbandry in this State and the danger threatening its future prospects, and we, therefore, respect the demands of this important agricultural interest for a full and adequate protection of this product. 6. We demand that our General Government at Washington make ample provisions for the construction of a first-class deep water harbor on our Gulf coast, at such a point as may be designated by the gov- ernment engineers, and that Congress concentrate all appropriations of money for that purpose. lr rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 253 7. We demand, in the event Congress should fail in the early estab- lishment of a deep water harbor, that the legislature of Texas shall make sufficient and liberal appropriations to commence this work in order to prove to the country at large the good faith and the earnestness of the citizens of Texas. 8. We lament the death of Roscoe Conkling. The Republic is be- reft by his death of one of her noblest sons and humanity one of its grandest and most chivalrous champions and one of the brightest in- tellects that ever adorned the pages of our country's history. Resolutions We recommend to the convention the adoption of the following resolutions: 9. That our Texas delegation to the National Republican conven- tion at Chicago be not instructed as to choice of candidate for Presi- dent and Vice-President, in order that they may be governed in their action by the judgment and advice of the delegations from the doubt- ful Northern States that, in case victory is to be with us, must neces- sarily furnish the votes to elect. [10] That they regard the efforts of a small number of people of Texas in establishing and supporting a "Home" for the maimed and diseased ex-Confederate soldiers as praiseworthy, but unwise. [11] That we believe it to be the duty, and it should be the pride of the State, to endow or keep up by appropriations a "Home" for the helpless Union and ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors, so as to prevent their becoming a burden upon the charity of communities. [12] That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to His Ex- cellency L. S. Ross, governor, requesting that he submit them to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Texas. Additional Resolutions [13] Resolved, by the Republicans, in convention assembled, that they indorse the action and statesmanlike expressions in the recent troubles in Wharton and other counties of Governor L. S. Ross. [14] That in the administration of his office his course has been gallant, fearless, and without prejudice, having by his course won the esteem and gratitude of his political opponents. [15] Tfiat a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Governor L. S. Ross. [16] That the Chairman of this Convention appoint a committee from this body of thirty-three members, three from each congressional district of this State, to meet in the city of Austin, Tuesday, August 28, 1888, to nominate a full Republican State ticket. 254 Platforms of Political State Executive Committee: J. C. DeGress, of Travis, chair- man ; 1st Senatorial district, H. H. Smith, of Hardin ; 2. Webb Flanagan, of Rusk; 3. D. F. Dennis, of Harrison; 4. Sam C. McCoy, of Marion ; 5. F. I. Richardson, of Camp ; 6. blank ; 7. J. J. Stewart, of Henderson; 8. L. McDaniel, of Anderson; 9. S. J. Leonard, of Harris; 10. J. H. Washington, of Galveston; 11. N. S. Mosly, of Colorado; 12. H. C. Ferguson, of Fort Bend; 13. J. G. Schermack, of Fayette; 14. S. S. Miller, of Robertson; 15. Adolph Zadek, of Navarro; 16. S. H. Williams, of Dallas; 17. J. W. Thomas, of Collin; 18. John Donaldson, of Grayson ; 19. W. B. Stickney, of Clay; 20. G. W. Gillespie, of Tarrant; 21. blank; 22. J. B. Payne, of McLennan; 23. J. P. Osterhout, of Bell; 24. John T. Haynes, of Williamson; 25. C. G. Vogel, of Kendall; 26. J. R, S. Halowell, of Goliad; 27. A. P. Tugwell, of Maverick; 28. W. S. Mesmer, of Bexar; 29. F. R. Blount, of Mitchell ; 30. blank ; 31. E. A. Russell, of Lamar. PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1888 WACO, April 25 Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Rev. S. G. Mullins, of Navarro ; permanent, Rev. J. B. Link, of Travis. Secretary, Prof. F. 0. McKenzey, of Hood. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, E. L. Dohoney, of Lamar ; J. B. Cranfill, of McLennan ; C. W. Mertz, of Johnson; and Mrs. J. B. Beauchamp, of Denton; 1st Congres- sional district, A. 0. Norwood and L. G. Jordan ; 2. W. H. Ham- man and Mrs. Laura Pennel; 3. F. E. Yoakum and Rev. M. T. Rosseau; 4. D. P. Hallon and W. A. Kelsy; 5. G. W. Rogers and A. B. Ingram; 6. Henry Horton and M. P. Matheny; 7. W. P. Drew, of Galveston, and D. S. Snodgrass, of Victoria; 8. 0. B. Robertson, of Gonzales, and P. R. Stamps, of Gonzales ; 9. Frank Leslie, of McLennan, and Rev. S. G. Mullins, of Navarro ; 10. L. L. Todd, of Travis, and J. M. Malone, of Lampasas; 11. Dr. R. 0. Haughton, and Randolph Clark. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Marion Martin, of Navarro; Lieutenant-Governor, F. E. Yoakum, of Hunt; Attor- ney-General, J. B. Goff, of Travis; Comptroller, C. R. King, of Parties in Tera* 255 Lampasas; Treasurer, "W. D. Jackson, of McLennan; Com- missioner of the General Laud Office, J. C. Rathburn, of Mid- land; Superintendent of Public Instruction, F. 0. McKenzey, of Hood. Committee on Platform: E. L. Dohoney, Mrs. J. B. Beau- champ, S. G. Mullins, J. E. Boynton, and F. 0. McKenzey. PLATFORM 1 Your Committee on Platform herewith submit for the consideration of the convention the following report: The Prohibition party of Texas, in convention assembled, acknowledge Almighty God as the source from which the just powers of government are derived and to whose laws human enactments should conform as an absolute condition of peace, prosperity, and happiness, adopt the fol- lowing platform: 1. We favor the suppression of the liquor traffic by legislation, State and National, and regard the Prohibition party. State and National, as absolutely necessary for that purpose. 2. We favor the repeal of the United States internal revenue laws, and the repeal of all revenue laws, State and National, by which taxes are collected on the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors. 3. That such public lands as remain to the Sltate of Texas be re- served as homesteads for citizens, and the school lands be sold only to actual settlers, in quantities not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres. 4. That all charges for services by railroad companies and other common carriers be regulated by law for the protection of the people, and that an efficient system of arbitration be enacted for the settle- ment of all differences between corporations and their employes. 5. That a more efficient system of public free schools be established and maintained in Texas. 6. That all State convicts should be confined within prison walls and the contract system abolished. 7. That all monopolies and trusts are destructive of our free in- stitutions and should be suppressed. State Executive Committee: 1st Congressional district, A. 0. Norwood, of Grimes; 2. W. H. Hamman, of Robertson; 3. Dr. F. E. Yoakum, of Hunt; 4. E. L. Dohoney, of Lamar; 5. Mrs. Jennie B. Beauchamp, of Denton; 6. Henry Horton, of John- "The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. 256 Platforms of Political son; 7. D. S. Snodgrass, of Victoria; 8. L. C. Cunningham, of Gonzales; 9. W. D. Jackson, of McLennan; 10. J. B. Link, of Travis; 11. F. 0. McKenzey, of Hood, J. E. Boynton and J. B. Cranfill, of McLennan. CONVENTION OF FARMERS, LABORERS, AND STOCK RAISERS, 1888 WACO, May 15 On April 11, 1888, a call was issued from Dallas for a conven- tion to meet at Waco, May 15, ''for the purpose of considering what steps, if any, should be taken in the approaching cam- paign." The call was signed by some of the principal officers of the Farmers' Alliance. About three hundred delegates, repre- senting seventy counties, attended. While the Alliance men were most numerous, the Knights of Labor secured control of the organization. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, C. W. Geers, of Denton; permanent, H. S. Broiles, of Fort Worth. Secretary, Steve J. Harris, of Dallas. Committee on Platform: 1st Congressional district, L. L. Beach, of Harris, 2. Robert Prather, 3. W. E. Farmer, 4. E. Davis, 5. C. A. McManus, 6. J. B. Cobb, 7. H. C. Whitehead, 8. J. Sternberg, 9. J. V. Wright, 10. J. N. McFadden, 11. J. D. Morehead, J. F. Metcalf, of Navarre, A. L. Kessler, of Comal. PLATFORM 1 We, the farmers, laborers, and stock raisers of Texas in conven- tion assembled, to agree on a plan of action in consequence of the special privileges granted to favored classes, and after repeated fail- ures of the existing political organizations to remedy the same in violation of the pledges given to their constituents, and being pro- foundly impressed with the fact that all laws should emanate from the majority of the governed, and believing that all class legislation tends to destroy all democratic and republican governments and to build up a moneyed aristocracy contrary to the spirit of our institu- 1P The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 257 tions and destructive of liberty; therefore, we, the farmers, laborers, and stock raisers, representing eighty per cent, of the people of the State, hereby declare our independence of all political parties, rings, bosses, and cliques, and in following platform express our demands: 1. The National banks should be abolished and their bank notes retired from circulation, and in lieu thereof we advocate a legal tender money and a direct loan of the same to the people at a low rate of interest on real estate security. 2. The means of transportation and communication should be owned or controlled by the people as is the United States postoffice, and equitable rates everywhere established. 3. No aliens should be permitted to hold or own real estate in the United States, and no further grants of public lands be made to corporations. 4. We demand that an amendment be submitted by the United States Congress to the several State legislatures making the President, Vice-President, and United States Senators elective by a direct vote of the people. 5. We favor the enactment of a National usury law. 6. We demand a free ballot and fair count, and that tampering with the ballot box shall constitute one of the greatest of crimes. In presenting the foregoing to the people of Texas, we earnestly Invite the aid and cooperation of the liberty-loving people in the re- establishment of these, the principles of the patriots of 1776. State Executive Committee: H. S. Broiles, of Tarrant, chair- man. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1888 FORT WORTH, May 22 and 23 This convention was called to deal with Federal issues. How- ever, the division of the party after the prohibition campaign of 1887 was such that something was absolutely necessary to put an end to a condition bordering on political persecution. The hard-shells insisted upon adding a "heart of oak plank" to the platform, but moderation prevailed. Officers: Chairman, J. W. Throckmorton, of Collin. Secre- tary, George W. Finger, of Tarrant. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, George Clark, of McLennan; J. W. Throckmorton, of Collin; D. C. Gid- dings, of Washington; Horace Chilton, of Smith. 1st Con- 17328 258 Platforms of Political gressional district, 0. T. Holt, of Harris, and R. M. Smith, of Brazos; 2. W. M. Lacy, of Anderson, and G. F. Ingraham, of Nacogdoches; 3. W. H. Pope, of Harrison, and G. B. Perkins, of Hunt; 4. H. W. Lightfoot, of Lamar, and R. M. Lusk, of Fan- nin; 5. E. C. Smith, of Denton, and C. L. Potter, of Cooke; 6. Robert McCart, of Tarrant, and John Bookhout, of Dallas; 7. T. H. Sweeney, of Galveston, and J. B. Wells, of Cameron; 8. Thos. McNeall, of Caldwell, and E. G. Maetze, of Austin; 9. Geo. C. Pendleton, of Bell, and L. C. Alexander, of McLennan; 10. J. W. Robertson, of Travis, and Edgar Schramm, of Bexar; 11. A. A. Clark, of Shackelford, and B. H. Davis, of El Paso. Presidential Electors: 1st Congressional district, A. T. Mc- Kinney, of Walker; 2. C. C. Dickinson, of Cherokee; 3. R. C. De Graffenreid, of Gregg; 4. Howard Templeton, of Hopkins: 5. J. A. Carroll, of Denton; 6. James Wood, of Kaufman; 7. E. D. Linn, of Victoria; 8. W. S. Fly, of Gonzalcs; 9. W. H. Richardson, of Limestone; 10. J. H. McLeary, of Bexar; 11. E. A. McDowell, of Coryell. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: E. J. Henderson, W. M. Spivey, A. R, Starr, M. D. K. Taylor, J. J. Mathews. H. M. Gate, J. S. Spinks, J. E. Downs, T. H. Ball, W. P. Em- mett, W. L. Davi'dson, D. C. Giddings, W. S. Robertson, A. C. Isaacs, Bryan T. Barry, J. W. Bookhout, R. DeArmond, T. J. Brown, A. L. Matlock, R. M. Wynne, M. M. Crane, Georjjt; Clark, George C. Robinson, A. W. Terrell, W. H. Burgos, E. D. Linn, R. W. Hudson, J. H. McLeary, B. R. Webb, A. G. Mc- Mahon, S. B. Maxey. PLATFORM 1 Resolved, 1. That the new Democratic party of Texas, in conven- tion assembled, reaffirms the principles of the party announced in its National Democratic platform. 2. That we indorse the view expressed by Grover Cleveland, our President, in his annual message on the subject of the tariff. 3. That there is no power in Congress under the Constitution to lay and collect one farthing more of tax than is necessary for the support of the government economically administered. 4. That we commend our Democratic senators and members of T The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning 'News. Parties in Texas 259 Congress from Texas in their earnest efforts to reduce the tax burdens, and that we indorse the tariff bill reported by the Committee on Ways and Means, commonly known as the Mills tariff bill. 5. That the enormous surplus in the treasury, now reaching one hundred and thirty-seven million dollars over and above all lawful demands on the treasury, is the legitimate result of the protective tariff, which taxes the many to enrich the few, and that this unjust burden on the people emphasizes the necessity of a speedy reduction of the tariff to the just and economical needs of the government. 6. That we commend the present National Democratic administra- tion, and instruct our delegates to the National Democratic conven- tion to cast their votes for the renomination of Grover Cleveland. 7. That the able and impartial administration of L. S. Ross, gov- ernor of Texas, meets the hearty approbation of the Democratic people of this State. 8. That we condemn the pools and trust combinations of financial power which are now organized and on a gigantic scale threaten with ruin every legitimate industry involved by them, and we commend the efforts being made in Congress to expose and correct them. 9. That we accept the result of the vote on the proposed amend- ment to the State constitution on the question of prohibition, at the election held on August 4, 1887, as a finality, and the Democratic party of the State of Texas deprecates and will oppose any movement looking to the reopening or further agitation of the question of State prohibition. 10. The Democratic party is opposed to rechartering the United States banks and we believe that all the United States currency should be made a pure legal tender in the payment of all demands, debts, thereafter contracted. Additional Resolutions [11] That this Convention heartily indorses the course of Hon. Roger Q. Mills as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in Congress, and that our delegates to the St. Louis convention are instructed to vote for him for Vice-President of the United States on the Democratic ticket. [12] That we favor the cultivation of the most friendly relations with our neighboring Republic of Mexico and of a free and unre- stricted commerce with her people, and our delegates to the National Democratic convention are hereby directed to advocate the adoption by the convention of a resolution expressive of this policy as a part of the National Democratic platform. 260 Platforms of Political - -^ NONPARTISAN CONVENTION, 1888 FORT WORTH, July 2 and 3 The convention was called by Chairman Broiles. Some of the leading men of the Farmers' Alliance opposed placing a State ticket in the field. The attendance was small. Mayor Broiles, in his address of welcome, expressed the hope that the mortgaged serf and the wage slave would date their deliverance from the meeting of this convention. Officers: Chairman, W. R. Lamb, of Montague. Secretary, M. S. Stanford, of Coryell. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Evan Jones, 1 of Erath ; Lieutenant-Governor, H. S. Broiles, of Tarrant; Attorney-Gen- eral, Win. Chambers, of Chambers; Comptroller, C. W. Geers, of Denton; Treasurer, J. N. McFadden, of Williamson; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, J. P. Philpot, of Limestone ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ward Taylor, of Marion ; Supreme Court, J. C. Kearby, of Dallas, T. L. Nugent, of Erath, and W. K. Homan, of Burleson; Court of Appeals, Hal W. Greer, of Jefferson, and Wm. H. Burkhart, of Fort Bend. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, W. B. Crawford, of Jefferson; 2. blank; 3. Jno. 'Byrne, of Upshur; 4. Ward Taylor, Sr., of Marion; 5. C. W. Geers, of Denton; 6. J. E. Martin, of Fort Worth; 7. J. W. Rigley, of Galveston; 8. C. K. Walters, of Gonzales, 9. W. G. Ethridge, of Falls ; 10. J. N. McFaddin, of Williamson ; 11. G. W. Wilson, of Comanche. PLATFORM 2 We, the farmers, laborers, and stock raisers of Texas, in convention assembled, to agree on the action necessary for the removal of the burdens that are imposed upon us in consequence of the special priv- ileges that are granted to a favored class, and after repeated failures of the existing political organizations to remedy the cause, in viola- x Evan Jones declined the nomination (Galveston News, August 4, 1888) and Marion Martin, the nominee of the Prohibitionists, filled his place (Ibid., August 25, 1888). 2 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 261 tion of the pledges given to their constituents, and being profoundly impressed with the fact that all laws should emanate from a majority of the governed, and believing that all class legislation tends to destroy all democratic and republican governments and to build up a moneyed aristocracy contrary to the spirit of our institutions, and are de- structive to liberty, and that we view with alarm the policy upon which the machinery of the National government has been run for the last twenty-five years. We charge the Republican party while they controlled the National government with inaugurating a financial policy which has brought such ruin upon us. And we charge that the Demo- cratic party has continued the same usurious policy since their accession to power, thereby entailing upon us monstrous trusts, syndicates, and National banks. And we charge the two old parties as being guilty of squandering our public domain, which was the natural and inalienable birthright of the people. Therefore, we, the farmers, laborers, and stock raisers, representing a large percentage of the people of the State, hereby declare our independence of all political parties, rings, bosses, and cliques, and in the following platform express our demands: 1. That the National banks should be abolished and the bank notes retired from circulation, and in lieu thereof we demand that the Gov- ernment shall issue all money Direct to the people, and that the Gov- ernment shall never charter another banking corporation. All money shall be a full legal tender and should be issued in sufficient quantities to meet the necessary demands of the people. 2. The means of communication and transportation should be owned and controlled by the people as is the United States postoffice, and equitable rates everywhere established. 3. No aliens should be allowed to own or hold real estate in this State or in the United States, and that all lands now held by foreign syndicates or individuals be alienated within five years to actual set- tlers, by sale or otherwise, and that no further grants of public lands be made to corporations. 4. We demand that a constitutional amendment be submitted by the United States Congress to the several State legislatures making Presi- dent, Vice-President, United States senators and postmasters elective by a vote of the people. 5. We favor the enactment of a National usury law. 6. We demand a free ballot, a fair count, and that tampering with the ballot box shall constitute one of the gravest of crimes. 7. We demand the immediate payment of the National debt at its face value. 8. We are in favor of free and unlimited coinage of silver. 9. We demand a' graduated income tax. 10. We are in favor of a well regulated system of public schools, as upon the education of the masses depends the hope of the country, and the prosperity of our republican institutions. 262 Platforms of Political 11. We are in favor of rotation in office and are opposed to third termism. 12. We are unqualifiedly opposed to the change or repeal of our present homestead exemption laws. 13. We favor the passage of compulsory arbitration laws by which a just and speedy settlement of differences can be had between cor- porations and their employes, and the repeal of all laws that do not bear equally upon capital and labor, and the enactment of laws for the regulation of corporate and class interests so as to protect the people against oppression and wrong. 14. We demand that all real estate held for speculative purposes be taxed to the full amount at which it is offered to purchasers. Mr. Crawford moved that a committee of eleven be appointed to confer with the Union Labor convention that is to meet here Thursday to ask them to indorse the ticket. Adopted. Committee on Conference: 1st Congressional district, W. B. Crawford, 2. blank, 3. C. A. Burress, 4. John Johnson, 5. J. F. Elliott, 6. J. B. Cobb, 7. H. C. Whitehead, 8. C. K. Walters, 9. J. M. Smith, 10. W. P. Linthicum,. 11. S. P. Burns. State Executive Committee: J. E. Martin, of Tarrant, chair- man. UNION LABOR CONVENTION, 1888 FORT WORTH, July 5 The first Union Labor convention in this State assembled at Fort Worth, July 5, 1888. About one hundred and ten delegates were present, representing forty-seven counties. Many of the delegates were also delegates to the Nonpartisan convention. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Dr. J. D. Rankin, of Lime- stone; permanent, Sam Evans, of Tarrant. Secretary pro tem- pore, P. S. Watts, of Hardin; permanent, T. L. Eldridge, of Rockwall. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. D. Rankin, of Lime- stone, and Wash Jones, of Bastrop; 1st Congressional district, E. J. Smith, of Madison; 2. R. M. Humphries, of Houston; 3. John 'Byrne, of Upshur; 4. John McKinney, of Bowie; 5. A. Edwards, of Wise ; 6. Samuel Foster, of Johnson ; 7. Dr. R. H. Wayman, of DeWitt ; 8. A. J. Carruth, of Lee; 9. W. G. Eth- n ridge, of Falls; 10. James Denson, of Williamson; 11. -I. J. A 7 'ar- deraan, of Coryell. Committee on Conference: 1st Congressional district, P. S. Watts, of Hardin, 2. blank; 3. A. J. Wilburn, of Hunt; 4. John Johnson, of Bowie: 5. J. II. Mack, of Collin; 6. C. H. Hanson, of Johnson ; 7. J. W. Rigley, of Gal vest on ; 8. blank ; 9. J. M. Smith, of Bell; 10. E. A. Butler, of Travis; 11. H. F. Jones, of Comanche. PLATFORM 1 We, your Committee on Conference and Platform, beg leave to report as follows: After conference with the Nonpartisan committee, we would recom- mend that the platform of the Nonpartisan convention be adopted as the State platform of the Union Labor party of Texas and that the State ticket as nominated by the Nonpartisan convention be unanimously indorsed, and that the candidates of the National Union Labor party be recommended to the independent voters of Texas, and further we recommend the indorsement of the platform of the National Union Labor party with the exception of the tenth plank (the Woman Suffrage plank). State Executive Committee: J. E. Martin, of Tarrant, chair- man ; 1st Congressional district, W. B. Crawford, 2. Dr. Collins, 3. J. M. Perdue, 4. blank, 5. W. R. Lamb, 6. J. T. Loe, 7. blank, 8. G. W. Betts, 9. J. M. Alexander, 10. W. P. Linthicum r 11. T. D. Jones. DEEP WATER CONVENTION, 1888 FORT WORTH, July 10 and 11 "The Deep Water Convention has drawn to this city as dele- gates a very able body of men, . . . The personnel includes ex-governors, congressmen, stockmen, farmers, wholesale and re- tail merchants, manufacturers and miners. Colorado is repre- sented by nine delegates." The only contest that marked the convention was the effort of rival localities to secure specific in- dorsement for their projects. J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. 264 Platforms of Political Officers: Chairman pro tempore, R. M. Wynne, of Tarrant; permanent, R. A. Cameron, of Denver, Colorado. Secretary, Thomas J. Hurley, of Tarrant. Committee on Resolutions: F. A. Hyatt, B. S. Watham, "W. A. Adair, Everall, R. M. Henderson, P. M. Jones, G. A. Wright, D. A. Munn, J. G. Wilson, J. T. Brady, Walter Gresham, Julius Runge, D. C. Giddings, J. E. Longman, 0. C. Kirvin, S. H. Traylor, W. C. Connor, R. DeArmond, T. J. Brown, J. N. Browning, Henry Warren, K. M. Van Zandt, E. Frymeier, J. E. Elgin, W. Cameron, W. G. Jones, C. H. West, John Han- cock, John Ireland, G. W. Fulton, N. G. Collins, R. H. Boerne, Uriah Lott, H. Sayles, J. H. Heiman, W. E. Pabor, W. P.' Caruthers. RESOLUTIONS 1 Resolved, 1. That it is the sense of this Convention that the com- mercial, agricultural, mining, and stockraising interests, not only of Texas, but of all the territory north and west thereof, as well as the commerce and trade of the United States with other countries, demand a first class port on the coast of Texas. 2. That this Convention believes that such a port ought to be selected by a board of competent engineers to be appointed by the United States government. 3. That the senators and representatives in Congress from Texas, Colorado, Kansas and other States interested in securing a first class port on the Gulf of Mexico, be requested by memorial from this Con- vention to urge at once the appointment of a board of competent en- gineers by the United States government, for the purpose of selecting a location on the coast of Texas for a first class port (to be secured in the shortest time) capable of admitting the largest merchant and naval ships, and at which the best and most accessible harbor can be secured and maintained. 4. That the said senators and representatives be and are hereby earnestly requested to secure adequate appropriations by the Federal government sufficient in amount to give assurance to the continuous prosecution of the work to its ultimate, speedy, and successful com- pletion. 5. We indorse any effort of private enterprise to secure deep water on the coast of Texas and pledge ourselves to use our influence to lr The proceeding's of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 265 induce the general government to reimburse the outlay when twenty feet of water shall have been procured. 6. That this Convention request our delegation in Congress to urge on the Federal government an appropriation of about five million dollars to give us a deep water port on the coast of Texas, to be raised by a special appropriation, leaving the mode^ manner, and plan of expenditure to be determined by the government. [7] The Committee also reported the following resolution: WHEREAS, all the States and Territories west of the Mississippi River are interested in the pressing importance of securing a deep water port on the coast of the State of Texas; WHEREAS, Denver, Colorado, being centrally located and very ac- cessible to all the sections of country interested; therefore, be it Resolved, That the citizens of the City of Denver be requested by the delegates to this Convention to call an interstate deep water con- vention to be held in that city at such date as they may select, not later than September 15, 1888. 2 DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1888 DALLAS, August 14-17 The defeat of the railroad commission, the refusal to recom- mend calling a constitutional convention, and a warm contest over the nomination of judges marked this convention. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Geo. C. Pendleton, of Bell; permanent, Horace M. Gate, of Wood. Secretary, Will Lambert, of Travis. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, L. S. Ross, of McLen- nan; Lieutenant-Governor, T. B. Wheeler, of Eastland; Attor- ney-General, James S. Hogg, of Smith; Comptroller, John D. McCall, of Travis; Treasurer, F. R. Lubbock, of Galveston; Commissioner of the General Land Office, R. M. Hall, of Wil- liamson ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Oscar H. Cooper, of Harris ; Supreme Court, John W. Stayton, of Victoria ; R. R. Gaines, of Lamar, and J. L. Henry, of Dallas; Court of Ap- peals, James H. Hurt, of Dallas, Sam A. Willson, of Cherokee, and John P. White, of Guadalupe. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. G. Hill, W. J. Graham, W. H. Pope, J. H. Smelzer, E. M. Tate, N. W. Finley, Frank Templeton, M. L. Randolph, J. R. Joynes, Walter Gresh- 2 The interstate deep water convention met at Denver, August 28, 1888. 266 Platforms of 1'ulHiatl am, C. S. Tatum, W. W. Searcy, Ed Earl, M. W. Sims, T. J. Gibson, W. E. Brown, J. A. Carroll, C. C. Potter, A. L. Matlock, W. S. Pendleton, J. W. Ferris, Felix H. Eobertson, W. D. Davidson, W. L. Davidson, Thomas McNeal, F. S. Stockdale, T. W. Dodd, W. B. Brock, M. Leverett, M. W. Knight, H.. D. McDonald. PLATFORM 1 1. The Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, reaffirms its devotion to Democratic principles as taught by the fathers and from time to time declared by the party in its organized capacity. 2. We heartily indorse and accept the principles announced in the platforms adopted by the National Democratic convention held at St. Louis in June last, and by the Democratic State convention held at Fort Worth May 22, 1888. 3. We express our gratification at the nomination of Grover Cleve- land and Allen G. Thurman for President and Vice-President of the United States, recognizing in them the emphatic embodiment of all the essential and vital principles of Democracy, and the inviting hope of relief from high taxation and vicious class legislation, and we pledge to them the united and enthusiastic support of the Democracy of Texas. 4. We congratulate the country upon the good results flowing from Democratic supremacy in the executive and in the lower branch of the legislative departments of the National government, and trust to the virtue and good judgment of the people to give the Democracy com- plete control of the entire government, in order that it may be fully restored to its pristine purity. 9. We declare the Democracy of Texas to be in full and hearty sympathy with the efforts of Democratic representatives in Congress to lower tariff taxation on the necessaries of life and reduce the sur- plus in the treasury, and it is with pride that we commend the Texas delegation for their earnest and successful work in securing the pass- age of the Mills bill in the interest of the tax-burdened masses. 6. We earnestly commend the present State administration as being wise, economical, and just in the interest of all the people, and as furnishing to our sister States a bright example of the good results of Democratic government. 7. We favor the enactment of prudent and efficient mining and irrigation laws to develop the agricultural and mineral resources of our State. J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 2(57 8. We favor the enactment of such laws as shall restrict the freight charges of railway and express companies, so that they may only yield a fair interest on the money actually invested in them, and at the same time to prevent discrimination in charges against any points within the State. Resolutions Your committee further report and recommend the passage of the following resolutions which have been referred to them: [9] Resolved, That the next legislature shall pass laws defining trusts, pools, and all illegal combinations in restraint of trade, and imposing severe penalties in regard thereto. [10] Resolved, That the Democracy of Texas, in convention as- sembled, realizing the importance of a deep water port or ports on our coast, heartily indorse the resolutions recently adopted at the Fort Worth deep water convention, and we hereby pledge the Democracy to the principles therein enunciated. Additional Resolution [11] Resolved, That we commend the action of the Hon. Richard Coke and the Hon. John H. Reagan, during the present session of Congress, in their efforts to free the cattle industry of Texas from the combinations that are seeking to monopolize the beef product of the United States, and in favor of such wise legislation as will secure to both producers and consumers prices based on the laws of supply and demand. . MINORITY REPORT Robertson, of McLennan, presented a minority report, and stated that the minority agreed with every proposition contained in the majority report, but went one step farther. For the minority he pre- sented a resolution that the next legislature be requested to call a constitutional convention. The minority's resolution was laid on the table by a vote of 456 ayes to 338 nays. State Executive Committee: N. W. Finley, of Smith, chair- man; 1st Senatorial district, James E. Hill, of Polk; 2. George F. Ingraham, of Nacogdoches ; 3. R. P. Littlejohn, of Harrison ; 4. W. H. Rand, of Cass; 5. Hiram Glass, of Franklin; 6. T. N. Jones, of Smith; 7. A. B. Watkins, of Henderson; 8. J. C. Wooters, of Houston; 9. Charles T. Renne, of Harris; 10. James McDonald, of Galveston ; 11. N. F. Miller, of Gonzales; 12. John 268 Platforms of Political T. Haggarty, of Austin; 13. T. G. Sayers, of Bastrop; 14. T. S. Henderson, of Milam ; 15. R. C. Beale, of Navarro ; 16. Mathew Cartwright, of Kaufman; 17. E. C. Smith, of Denton; 18. F. C. Dillard, of Grayson; 19. J. A. Templeton, of Clay; 20. J. G. Sporer, of Jack; 21. T. S. Smith, of Hill; 22. W. H. Lessing, of McLennan; 23. Dr. Geo. F. Perry, of Hamilton; 24. J. G. Cook, of Burnet; 25. F. Hampe, of Comal; 26. E. D. Linn, of Victoria; 27. J. B. Wells, of Cameron; 28. J. E. Dwyer, of Bexar; 29. J. M. Pressler, of Comanche; 30. J. N. Doyle, of Hood; 31. H. P. Birmingham, of Lamar. FARMERS' STATE ALLIANCE, 1888 DALLAS, August 21-25 President, Evan Jones, of Erath; Acting Secretary, E. D. MacCready. Committee on Industrial Depression: J. M. Perdue, chair- man; T. M. Smith, H. A. Tage, R. J. Sledge, and J. M. Griffin. Committee on Good of the Order: C. W. Geers, chairman, A. W. Gibson, B. M. Clark, Hasten Twomey, and J. B. Thompson. JOINT REPORT 1 We, your committee to enquire into the cause of industrial depres- sion, beg leave to submit the following report, assuring you, however, that the time at the disposal of your committee is entirely inadequate to make a thorough investigation of the subject. We gather the more prominent facts from authorized statistics, with the most rational deductions we are able to make therefrom and present them for your intelligent consideration: It is a fact which can not and should not be longer disguised, that there is among the laboring and producing people an alarming destitution of the means of maintaining a progressive civilization. The masses of the people, who are engaged in productive industries, are being driven, year by year, and day by day, nearer a condition of serfdom and tenantry. Where is the responsibility for this condi- tion? Is it the failing energy and enterprise of the people? Has the increase of population outstripped the industry, intelligence, and These committees and the Report are taken from W. Scott Morgan's His- tory of the Wheel and Alliance, 105-10. Parties in Texas i>69 enterprise of the toilers of this Nation, upon a continent rich in all the natural elements of production, blessed by Providence with every variety of climate and soil demanded? The total meat product in the United States in 1884 was 1,497,356,943 pounds; in 1885, 1,577,932,305 pounds; in 1887, 1,619,126,582 pounds, an average annual increase of five and one-third per cent.; at this ratio the meat product would double itself in eighteen and three- fourths years. The total production of cotton in the Uninted States in 1867 was 2,019,774 bales; in 1868 it was 2,593,993 bales; in 1869 it was 2,439,030 bales; in 1885 it was 5,669,021 bales; in 1886 it was 6,550,215 bales; in 1887 it was 6,513,624 bales, an increase in production of over two hundred and fifty per cent, in twenty years, while th average increase of population for the same period of time is only sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. We are presented then with this anomalous condition. We find the ratio of increase of production to the ratio of increase of population two to one, the ratio of transporta- tion facilities is equal to the ratio of production. We find that the people with greatly enlarged production and every facility for trans- portation and communication are growing poorer. We conclude, there- fore, that the cause of depression and poverty among the producing classes is not a lack of industry and attention to business; it is not be- cause a generous soil has refused to respond to the efforts of the agriculturist; it is not because the earth has refused to yield up her precious ores; it is not because our forests are exhausted; it is not because fat kine are not upon the thousand hills; we must look elsewhere for the present depressed condition of the masses of our people. This great increase of production results in a corresponding increase of National wealth; but where is the wealth? It is not with the producers; it must be with some other class. We again examine the statistics. The total net earnings of the National banks for the year 1887 was $64,506,868.66. The net earnings of the National bank- ing associations of the United States for the past seventeen years is $857,639,430.66. This is the net profits of these institutions, during a period of seventeen years, on a circulation of notes that contain not an element of safety, nor a monetary function that is not injected into them by the statutes of the general government. During the last twenty years the people paid in interest on the National debt the enormous sum of $2,153,691,193. The total amount of interest paid by the people in the past twenty years, as interest on a bonded National debt, and on a National circulation based thereon, will in the aggregate amount to over $3,000,000,000, or fifty dollars per capita. Here is $3,000,000,000 that have gone into the coffers of a class known as bondholders and National bankers. The public debts of the States in 1880 amounted to $1,056,583,146. This draws from the people not less than $74,000,000 annually in interest. 270 Platforms of Political The people paid to the railway companies of the United States in 1887, in gross earnings, $822,181,949. Their net earnings for the same year were $300,602,565. At this point we beg leave to refer you to an address to his Excel- lency, Governor L. S. Ross, dated Austin, Texas, April 4, 1888, signed by thirty-two members of the Texas Legislature: First. For six years or more the people of the State have been demanding legislation to restrain the railroad corporations of this State from violating plain provisions of the constitution, and to restrict the powers of the same to impose upon the products and merchandise of the country burdensome and extortionate charges for the transportation of the same. Second. To every legislature for the past six years have the people looked and appealed in vain for relief from this form of taxation, so grievous and oppressive in some counties that the revenue collected therein for. the support of State and county governments sinks into insignificance compared with that annually gathered by the railroads of the State for transporting the products of the 'country to market. We submit that what is true in Texas in this regard is true through- out the States of the Union. The net earnings of the Western Union Telegraph Company for the past twenty years aggregate the sum of $85,840,089. If we add to these vast sums the interests and profits that are paid to other cor- porations and trusts, together with the vast amount of interest on private indebtedness, it is easy to discover why the condition of labor is daily becoming more intolerable. The substance of the people is eaten out by usury. The public debt of the United States at the close of the war between the States was $2,773,236,173.69, or fifty dollars per capita, principally in the form of treasury notes circulating among the people as money and costing them no interest. These served a beneficent purpose. They furnished an abundant circulating medium. The people were individually out of debt. Productive labor and legiti- mate business enterprises prospered. The people were making and gaining homes, not losing them. Churches and schools were well sustained. . The government entered upon a contracting policy at the close of the war, in order to resume specie payment. The treasury notes were converted into interest bearing bonds and National bank notes, and gradually substituted for them in circulation. This contracting policy, coupled with the hoarding policy, ostensibly maintained to successfully maintain resumption, has withdrawn the circulation from the people and congested it in the United States treasury and money centers of the country until there is no money among the masses to enable them to effect exchanges without submitting to the tolls and exactions of the organized money trusts in this country. The people have been forced to the expedient of doing business on chattel mortgages or bills Parties in Tesu* 271 of sale to the sweat and blood of labor instead of legal tender cur- rency. The above facts unmistakably point out the causes of industrial depression. We, therefore, recommend the following legislative reme- dies: 1. That the National banking system shall be abolished. 2. That the money of the country shall consist of coin and United States treasury notes, all a full legal tender for all debts, public and private, and in sufficient volume to do the business of the country in cash. 3. That there shall be unlimited coinage of silver as well as gold. 4. That there shall be constitutional amendments submitted to the States prohibiting forever hereafter the issuing of interest-bearing bonds, or the chartering of banks with the power to issue notes that shall cir- culate as money, and requiring that the President and Vice-President of the United States and postmasters be elected by popular vote. 5. That the interstate commerce act be so amended as to secure to the whole people the benefits of railway transportation at just rates, and rigidly enforced by a railroad commission. 6. The passage of a law prohibiting the formation of trusts and combinations by speculators to secure control of the necessaries of life for the purpose of forcing up prices on consumers, imposing heavy penalties. 7. The passage of a law prohibiting alien ownership of land in the United States. 8. That corporations holding grants of public lands from State or National government be required to alienate to bona fide settlers in small bodies, not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres to each purchaser, all lands within, a period of twelve years from date of grant, or forfeit of title. We demand of our State government the following legislative re- forms: 1. That all questions involving the outlay of public money for any purpose beyond the current expenses of the county, or bonding the county for any purpose whatever, a vote of the qualified voters shall be had, and commissioners' courts shall act in accordance with a majority vote. 2. That unimproved lands be assessed for taxation at the same value per acre as improved lands of same quality and locality, or market price, and that the land commissioner rigidly enforce the law requiring actual settlement of the lands sold by the State. 3. That the homestead law be not tampered with. 4. That the State establish maximum freight and passenger rates on railroads, chartered by the State, upon a basis that will allow no more than a reasonable income on the money actually invested in the road and to defray the cost of repairs and operating the roads. 272 Platforms of Political i REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1888 FORT WORTH, September 20 Only about half of the Committee of Thirty-Three, created by the Fort Worth convention in April, assembled at Austin on the day appointed. Those in attendance disagreed upon the subject of placing a State ticket in the field. It was agreed that a State convention should be called to deal with this subject. Chairman DeGress issued a call on August 29th. Officers: Chairman, John T. Brady, of Harris. Secretary, J. E. Wiley, of Dallas. Committee on Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, Rich- ard Allen, 2. W. H. Stewart, 3. F. I. Eichardson, 4. J. T). English, 5. J. M. Thomas, of Collin, 6. Eugene Marshall, chairman, 7. N. W. Cuney, 8. J. N. Brown, 9. J. W. McDonald, 10. W. H. Ellis, 11. W. L. Aldwell. REPORT 1 We, your Committee on Platform and Resolutions, beg leave to report as follows: [1] We cordially ratify the nomination of the eminent statesman and tried soldier, Benjamin Harrison, for President, and that able financier and philanthropic citizen, Levi P. Morton, for Vice-President, and do hereby pledge them our hearty support. [2] We hereby declare that we are in thorough accord with the platform promulgated by the late National 'convention at Chicago, and with the principles of the National Republican party as enun- ciated, explained, and interpreted in the recent letter of Benjamin Harrison, accepting the nomination of the Republican party for Presi- dent. [3] We demand such National legislation as will give adequate protection to wool, hides, and all Texas products and industries. [4] As citizens of this great State, the material welfare of which is to us paramount to every partisan consideration, we deplore the existence of the outrages which have been recently committed in Fort Bend and Washington counties. T5] We believe that the growth, development and prosperity of this great State should not be retarded nor imperilled by the lawless x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 273 I acts of certain parties in these counties. We denounce these outrages and demand that their perpetrators be punished according to the law of the land without regard to party affiliation. [6] In view of the fact that the Republicans of Texas have already placed a full electoral ticket in the field, and the further fact that there is no reasonable probability of electing a State Republican ticket, we hereby express our conviction that it would be unwise and in- expedient under these circumstances for the Republicans of Texas to place in the field any candidate or candidates for State offices. Report was adopted by 256 ayes to 130 noes. EIGHT-HOUR CONVENTION, 1889 DALLAS, July 3-5 "At a meeting recently held in Dallas, composed of duly accredited delegates from the various trades unions and local assemblies of the Knights of Labor, the following call was unan- imously adopted, and provisions made to forward a copy of the same to each of the several subordinate labor organizations in the State. WHEREAS, the necessity for unity of action among wage workers has been fully demonstrated and we believe such unity of action can be best accomplished by an organization composed of dele- gates chosen by the various trade and labor organizations of the State; therefore, Resolved, that we, the representatives of the various trade and labor organizations of Dallas do hereby call a State conven- tion of all labor organizations and trade unions of Texas to con- vene at Dallas, July 3, 1889, for the purpose of perfecting a State organization, to further the eight-hour movement, and to do whatever else the convention may, in its wisdom, deem to be for the best interest of the wage workers of Texas. . . . James Boggs, Sec'y- Thirty-four cities were represented on the first day of the convention. Thirteen organizations were represented, including the Farmers' Alliance. The Texas Federation of Labor was organized, and the platform below adopted. Officers: Chairman, W. E. Farmer, of Mineola; Secretary, James Boggs, of Dallas. 18328 274 Platforms of Political Committee on Platform: J. T. W. Loe, of Dallas; S. T. Worley, of Gainesville; C. A. Hall, of Fort Worth; Daniel Miller ,, of Dallas; Melvin Wade, of Dallas; D. Tinkham, of Long- view; W. R. Edwards, of Mt. Pleasant; J. B. Marshall, of Cope- ville ; J. A. Allen, of Mineola ; J. A. Russey, of Dallas. PLATFORM 1 WHEREAS, thousands of men and women are idle, cut off from natural opportunities by unjust systems; and WHEREAS, a shortening of the hours of labor would give more em- ployment, increase consumption and production, and hence increase the demand for raw materials, stimulate investment, decrease crime, in- crease intelligence, excite patriotism, and generally improve the con- dition of the wage working millions of the United States in common with all other occupations; and WHEREAS, by the decrease of tramps, paupers, and idleness the cost of government is lessened; and WHEREAS, monopoly is contrary to the spirit and genius of this government and is the exterminator of individuality; and WHEREAS, the land is the basis of all monopoly, the land being the chief and most essential of all natural opportunities; and WHEREAS, the National banking system of our country operates as a monopoly of our monetary system, being in the interest of a few the creatures of class laws; and WHEREAS, the railways as operated, by their discriminations between persons and firms of the same place, and between places and localities, is not alone unjust, but a species of favoritism unwarranted by equity; and WHEREAS, the steady tendency toward the centralization of all lines under a common management tends in the end to commercial despotism, resulting in the practical paralyzation of the agricultural and stock interests, and precluding the success of all manufacturing enterprises except in localities favored by said railway companies; and WHEREAS, the telegraph and telephone systems are equally so burden- some under the present management, the Western Union Telegraph Company declaring a dividend of four million dollars per annum as profits between thirteen stockholders; and WHEREAS, the average earnings of the wage workers in this govern- ment is one dollar and forty cents per day, while the average profit to the employer is three dollars and eighty cents per day. And while there are many things too numerous to recount here, the results of class laws, and hence of improper systems; therefore, be it lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 275 Resolved [1] That we favor eight hours as a working day and de- mand the passage of a law so declaring and pledge ourselves to do all in our power to establish and perpetuate the system from and after May 1, 1890. [2] That we favor a single tax, or a tax upon land values, and the repeal of all other taxes whatsoever, because all other taxation is a fine placed upon intelligence, energy, and labor. [3] That we favor the repeal of the National bank law and all other class laws, so that all Issues of money be by the government only, and by law declared to be of equal value and a full legal tender. [4] That the only equitable solution of the transportation question is in the government ownership of the railways, telegraphs, and tele- phones. [5] That we favor the abolition of the United States Senate and all State senates, because of the corruption practiced; the abolition of the grand jury system, because it is used by designing men to crush, ostracise, and persecute in some instances those who oppose existing systems, and the supremacy of either the Democratic or Republican factions. And to the end that our votes may be counted when cast, and all corruption and the damnable boodle system be obliterated, we favor the Australian system of holding elections; the election of all officers by direct vote of the people. [6] We favor a law that will secure a lien on the products of labor. Additional Resolution [7] That this State Federation of Labor recommends that public meetings be held and a general observance of Labor Day be had in all places possible, and the principles enunciated in the platform adopted to-day be discussed on said occasion. Executive Committee: W. P. Jones, of Houston; L. L Rhodes, of Emory; C. W. Geers, of Denton; C. A. Teagle, of Waco ; Melvin "Wade, of Dallas. STATE FREIGHT RATE CONVENTION, 1889 DALLAS, July 8 and 9 The convention was well attended by manufacturers, jobbers, members of the legislature, and some railroad officials. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, J. B. Simpson, of Dallas; permanent, T. J. Brown, of Sherman. Secretary, Howard W. Peak, of Fort Worth. 276 Platforms of Political Committee on Resolutions: 1st Senatorial district, S. D O'Brien, 2. blank, 3. W. M. Mathews, 4. George T. Todd, 5. blank, 6. J. M. Perdue, 7. J. G. Kearby, 8. R. T. Flewellyn, 9. to 11. blank, 12. W. H. Derrick, 13. Thos. I. Edwards, 14. blank, 15. J. M. Smith, 16. J. B. Simpson, 17. A. C. Ousley, 18. T. J. Brown, 19. J. A. Kemp, 20. G. M. Sutherland, 21. A. J. Brown, 22. blank, 23. George W. Ryler, 24. John Orr, 25. to 28. blank, 29. J. T. Crawford, 30. J. Jenkins, 31. W. T. Gass. RESOLUTIONS 1 Your Committee on Resolutions beg leave to report that they have carefully considered all resolutions submitted to them, and from them all they have selected and prepared the following resolutions which they here present and ask their adoption by the convention: WHEREAS, a great burden now rests in the excessive and enormous charges demanded by the combination of railroads now operating in this State, and WHEREAS, numerous efforts have been made by the representatives of the industrial interests of the State of Texas to obtain relief from the unjust and exorbitant tolls exacted from our people, and that to the present moment these efforts have been entirely futile, and WHEREAS, enormous quantities of grain are now wasting in the granaries of the farmers of Texas for want of transportation at living rates, and our merchants are struggling under burdensome loads that will drive them into inevitable bankruptcy unless relief be had, and that the 'cotton of the State grown by the farmers is paying, and has for years paid an enormous and unjust rate of toll to corporations domi- nating the public highways of the State, and WHEREAS, Texas possesses in her borders the finest forests of uncut long leaf pine, white oak, ash, hickory, and walnut to be found within the limits of the Union, and that no State possesses superior advantages for the manufacture of agricultural implements, flat and box cars, furniture, and all woodenware products over those possessed by this State, but that these advantages are denied to us by reason of the paralyzing and excessive freight rates charged by the powerful com- bination controlling the traffic of the State; and WHEREAS, the demand for lumber in the cities of the State is un- paralleled in the history of the country, and the agricultural sections are compelled to use great quantities of lumber requisite for the im- provement of farms and ranches, and the discriminating railway tariffs on lumber operate with peculiar hardship upon our people; and lr The proceedings of this Convention were taken from the Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 277 WHEREAS, Texas possesses the finest and most extensive bodios of superior iron ores known to exist within the limits of the Republic; and WHEREAS, the demand for iron production in Texas cannot well be reckoned in figures, so great is that demand, but that by reason of unjust discrimination and excessive tolls the development of the iron industry of the State is forbidden to its people and to outside capi- talists, and the State's vast wealth in her iron ore still sleeps un- disturbed in the bowels of the earth; and WHEREAS, by reason of what we believe to be excessive and burden- some rate tolls charged by the transportation companies of the State, a sum over and above the legitimate roadway tolls is exacted from the people of this State greatly in excess of all the taxation paid by the people of Texas to support its asylums, its charitable institutions, its great system of common schools, its interest on its public debts, and, indeed, the entire expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the State and very much higher than the rates charged in the States similarly situated; therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That a permanent committee of thirty-one composed of one member from each senatorial district be constituted by this Con- vention, whose duty it shall be to confer with and if possible obtain from the railway and express traffic managers of Texas a satisfactory reduction of our freight rates and express charges. 2. That it shall be the duty of said committee to request a con- ference to be held on or before August 15, 1889, with the traffic managers of Texas, and to endeavor to induce them by every honorable means to grant the people of Texas just and reasonable freight rates. 3. That each member of said committee shall be constituted chair- man of his particular senatorial district, and that in the event no compromise or adjustment of rates can be made with railway mana- gers, then, that conventions be called in each county in said senatorial district and resolutions be submitted urgently petitioning the governor of Texas to convene in extra session the twenty-first legislature to the end that remedial legislation be at once enacted, and that said com- mittee of thirty-one, as representatives and duly accredited agents of this convention, apply to the governor for an extra session to be so holden, and that the district chairman appoint a proper party in each county within his district to so call said convention. 4. That this Convention, in the name of the people of Texas, de- mand of the railroads of this State and of those controlling them that they reduce the freight tariffs on local business and so adjust the same as to make them just and equitable, and that equal and fair rates be given to all localities and persons in this State without rebates or discriminations, so that every citizen may enjoy his legal rights in these public agencies for the transaction of the public carrying business of the country, whereby our people will be enabled to reap the benefits of home markets for home productions. 278 Platforms of Political Your committee further recommend the adoption of the following resolutions: Resolved, [5] That the people of Texas are earnestly recommended to vote for the amendment to the State constitution submitted by the twenty-first legislature to be voted upon at the next general election which removes all constitutional doubt as to the creation of a railroad commission and expressly confers upon the legislature the power to delegate the fixing of reasonable traffic rates on railroads to an intel- ligent agency or commission. [6] That the opening of one or more deep water ports upon the Texas coast will contribute largely to the reduction of railway freights in Texas, and that this Convention urgently requests the CongresSi of the United States to make sufficient appropriations to open such ports. [7] That this Convention pledges its moral support to members of the legislature who endeavor to pass proper laws for the regulation of railway companies and to the officers of the law who enforce the same. MINORITY REPORTS I On behalf of the minority of the committee on resolutions, I beg leave to offer the following: WHEREAS, there is widespread dissatisfaction and demoralization in productive and business interests throughout the State arising from unreasonable and burdensome freight rates exacted by the railway companies operating in this State, and WHEREAS, the power is vested in the people by the constitution of this State to regulate and control the railways in the interest of the public, through their legislative bodies, and WHEREAS, no other power is given the people as sovereigns to enforce a schedule of freight tariffs that will be reasonable and just to both railway companies and the people; therefore, Resolved, That we ask Governor Ross to convene the legislature in extra session and that we demand of that body immediate legislation that shall be corrective and effective in restraining the railway and transportation companies of this State in their unreasonable and unwarrantabl-e exactions of the people. That, the people of the State be called upon by this Convention to hold county mass meetings and pass resolutions expressing their sense upon this momentous question and forward them to Governor Ross, and also to both bodies of the State legislature. J. M. PERDUE, S. D. O'BRIEN, W. M. MATTHEWS, THOMAS I. EDWARDS. Parties in Texa* 2V 9 II The undersigned beg leave to amend the majority report by striking out all that part which relates to calling a special session of the twenty- first legislature, for the following reasons: We are opposed to such call and to losing" time and spending the great amount of money that will be necessary to pay expenses of an extra session, unless there is some probability that it will result in the passage of the desired legislation. We do not believe that it will do this, as not one of the senators who opposed railroad legislation is here in atendance on this Convention, showing that they have under- gone no change in their views on this subject, and without such change no good can be accomplished. We further believe that the same senators who opposed railroad legis- lation on the ground that it would be unconstitutional can not con- sistently and conscientiously say now that it is constitutional, es- pecially when they are backed up by ex-Governor Roberts and other eminent jurists, and that they will vote now as they voted then. We believe further that the railroads will accede to the demand of this Convention and reduce rates, but in order to defeat the pro- posed amendment to the constitution and that after such defeat they will again raise their rates and meet proposed legislation with the declaration that the people have spoken at the polls and said they wished and needed no railroad legislation. We believe whether the roads refuse to reduce rates or not the Con- vention and the people shpuld use their best efforts to secure the adop- tion of the amendment so as to take away the last excuse for opposing legislation. We, therefore, recommend that the amendment be adopted. J. W. PIXLEY. It was explained that no member of the committee had any objection to the three last resolutions in the majority report. The minority reports were tabled. Committee of Thirty-One: 1st and 2nd Senatorial districts blank ; 3. J. M. Galloway, of Marshall, 4. A. H. Schluter, of Jeffer- son ; 5. A. D. Martin, of Pittsburg; 6. R. B. Kuteman, of Mineola; 7. J. G. Kearby, of Wills Point; 9. to 11. blank; 12. Frank Robi- son, of Brenham; 13. J. M. Rennick, of Leginxton; 14. blank: 15. T. M. Smith, of Blooming Grove ; 17. T. S. Letson, of Far- mersville; 18. J. W. Bailey, of Gainesville; 19. W. R, Lamb, of Bowie; 20. G. W. Sutherland, of Tarrant; 21. M. M. Crane, of Cleburne ; 22. blank ; 23. R. Y. King, of Belton ; 24, John Robin- 280 Platforms of Political son, of Austin; 25. to 29. blank; 30. J. M. Frazier, of Morgan; 31. A. G. Hubbard, of Paris. STATE ROAD CONVENTION, 1890 DALLAS, April 8 On February 18, 1890, the Board of Trade of Dallas issued a call to the county judges and county commissioners to meet in that city in a State convention for the purpose of considering a better system of county roads. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, E. G. Bower, of Dallas; permanent, W. N. Bush, of Collin. Secretary pro tempore, J. D Bass, of Camp ; permanent, Wm. A. Bramlette, of Fannin. Committee on Resolutions: T. J. Brown, of Grayson; I. N. Roach, of Parker; E. S. Chambers, of Red River; W. H. Bullock, of Wise; G. P. Hodges, of Bell; L. B. Haynie, of Navarro; J. C. Henderson, of Cass; John O'Neil, of Calhoun; G. R. Dunn, of Robertson; J. T. Johnston, of Ellis; A. J. Nance, of Denton; Lafayette Kirk, of Washington ; S. S. Lyday, of Fannin ; L. C. Alexander, of McLennan; W. A. Smith, of Williamson; J. S. Spinks, of Van Zandt; J. G. Abney, of Hill; R. B. Levy, of Gregg; Wm. A. Proctor, of Runnels; H. A. Porter, of Taylor; D. M. Edwards, of Palo Pinto ; M. G. York, of Lee; A. R, Hart- man, of Rockwall; W. E. Hughes, of Dallas; Judge Abernathy, of Collin; A. B. Flint, of Marion; W. B. Maddox, of Tarrant; A. R. Barry, of Bosque ; J. L. Dupree, of Victoria ; T. U. Tay- lor, of Travis; E. W. Wegner, of Galveston; C. S. Hardy, of Limestone; B. F. Watson, of Montague; Judge Scott, of Falls; T. C. Glass, of Kaufman; B. B. Biard, of Smith; E. J. Moch, of Hunt ; J. M. Corbin, of Hopkins. REPORT 1 We, a majority of your Committee on Resolutions, beg leave to report the following: Resolved, That this Convention recommend to the people of Texas that they adopt the amendment to section 9 of article 8 of the present constitution of Texas, submitted by the twenty-first legislature, as being the best solution of the public road question. ^Dallas Morning News. Parties in Texas 281 FARMERS' CONVENTION, 1890 DALLAS, April 12 The call by the Board of Trade for a convention of the county judges and county commissioners influenced the Dallas County Alliance also to call a convention for the purpose of considering the dirt road problem, the pending constitutional amendment concerning a railroad commission, and matters of a political but nonpartisan nature. It was feared that the judges and com- missioners might adopt resolutions in favor of legislation distaste- ful to the farmers. About twenty-five counties were represented. Officers: Chairman, E. A. Daniels, of Dallas. Secretary, James E. Baird, of Lamar. Committee on Address: William H. Harris, of Dallas; G. W. White, of Limestone; W. A. Shaw, of Dallas; M. L. Cowen, of Collin ; T. H. Henderson, of Lamar. ADDRESS 1 This meeting, representing the farmers, wageworkers, and other con- servative classes, submit for the thoughtful consideration of the people of Texas the following facts, together with some recommendations and demands which we think now an opportune time to make, inasmuch as we are upon the threshhold of a political campaign of more vital import to the classes named than any through which the State haJ previously passed. It is, indeed, not extravagent to assert that this campaign is to be a decisive struggle between the people and their merciless oppressors, as represented by trusts, syndicates, monopolies, railroad lobbyists, subsidized workers, and subsidized newspapers. Every honest citizen whether farmer, lawyer, doctor, wageworker, merchant, or of whatever class should, therefore, put himself in a position of self-defense against our common foe. Every honest citizen should labor, not only to post himself upon the issues of the day, but to direct the minds of others into channels of investigation and education, leading to well grounded convictions and conclusions upon which to base intelligent and conscientious en- deavors, for the people are, of all times, now most willing to open the fountains of their own thoughts and investigations to admit the pure lights of facts, reason, and right. The necessity for this is 1 Dallas Morning News. 282 Platforms of Political doubly emphasized at this time, because the darkest and deepest schemes by shrewdest and most unscrupulous schemers are being laid to entrap the votes of farmers, wageworkers, and other burdened classes, and all in the name of liberty, under cover of whose mantle so many great crimes have been perpetrated. Capital, drawn from its legitimate channels and massed in monopo- lies, syndicates, and trusts, and then aided by the ablest legal, business*, and newspaper talent, which, shame to say, prostitutes itself to bribery, is laying plans not only to perpetuate the unequal and unjust burdens oppressing the people, but to graft yet other and greater evils upon them; all in the name of liberty! To do this it will be attempted to place pliant tools in our State offices, State departments, and legislature, many of whom are the vilest of God's creatures men with vigorous and learned minds, which they use in the service of bribe-givers. To this end they will use every fraud, deception and falsehood which cunning can invent or cor- ruption suggest; and all in the name of liberty! Our political history will prove that there have been few political conventions in Texas, and few, if any, legislative sessions, in which the power of monopoly has not been of sufficient force to either direct or obstruct its proceedings. In this monopoly has had the help of the leading daily papers, with a few honorable exceptions, those being paid, directly or indirectly, for their unpatriotic and corrupt work. And all in the name of liberty! The forces named create a power within the bars of nominating conventions which it will require the combined wisdom, patriotism, and nerve of our great and grand Texas people to overthrow, for the efforts of these selfish and merciless powers have in the past been puerile compared to the Herculean work they will put forth during this campaign. And all in the name of liberty! Then, shall any honest, patriotic citizen, or any honest, patriotic newspaper, hesitate to help lay bare the rottenness and corruption of every plot and plotter, every man and measure, every plan and paper, by which monopoly and its bribed allies will attempt to influence thfc people? Should not each strive to spread light, arguments, and facts, uninfluenced by bribe-givers; and thus aid in counteracting the dark- ness, sophistries, and falsehoods on the part of bribe-payers and bribe- takers? Recognizing the force of these facts, and, by sequence, the further fact that the greatest evils affecting the farmer, the wageworker, and other burdened classes, are political evils, we make the following recommendations and demands: We recommend that the people of Texas vote for the constitutional amendment conferring power upon the legislature to create a railroad commission, to the end that local rates may be so regulated and con- Parties in Texas 283 trolled as to protect and foster the agricultural and manufacturing interests of the State. It is false to charge that farmers and other burthened classes are inimical to railways. On the contrary, we recognize their great value and utility. But if permitted to exercise their monopolistic powers without check, they control the prices of both our products and our lands. Therefore, they should be restricted and limited in the exercise of their powers by such legislation as will secure justice to the citizens without injustice to the railroads. We think this can best be accom- plished through a commission. We make no recommendation as to the amendment to the consti- tution permitting counties to levy an additional tax of fifteen cents on the one hundred dollars for road purposes, except to caution voters to investigate thoroughly, and form well matured conclusions, before voting for or against said amendment. We recommend that this meet- ing extend to the late Road convention of county judges, etc., in Dallas, its most hearty congratulations, in that it did not indorse any bond scheme or take any action calculated to create political strife, and thus divert attention from the railroad commission issue; and we further recommend to county judges, commissioners, and all concerned to accept this action as conclusive until after next general election. We demand of political conventions a condemnation of all further county bond schemes of whatever character. We demand of political conventions an indorsement of a railroad commission, as outlined in the foregoing recommendations. Inasmuch as the State undertakes the education of its children, it is its duty to say what the children shall be taught, and, therefore, we demand a uniform system of textbooks in our public schools, and a method of their publication to insure books at the least cost to patrons. We demand that the system of hiring out convicts be abolished at the earliest practicable time and that they be used only on public work, and to this end would recommend a law under which each county may work short time convicts on the public roads. We are opposed to paternalism; in favor of the maximum of per- sonal liberty consonant with good and substantial government; and unequivocally condemn class legislation, for experience teaches that its ultimate effects are discouraging to the producers, whose wants are simplest, and who constitute the most defenseless class of our population. In conclusion, we appeal to every farmer, every wageworker, and every other honest citizen not only to know what he wants, but to adopt the best methods of securing it by being present at every primary and convention of his party. 284 Platforms of Political Upon National issues we offer the following: WHEREAS, agriculture is the basis of prosperity, and the true measure of success in all our industrial pursuits; and, WHEREAS, all laws, practices, and customs which hinder or obstruct agricultural success, or in any wise discourage agriculture, are a public injury, and an obstruction to public prosperity and universal happi- ness; and, WHEREAS, through class legislation many laws have been enacted, and many customs established which oppress and burden those en- gaged in agricultural pursuits; therefore, Resolved, 1. That, as the price of the products of our farms is fixed by the price of the surplus we sell in foreign markets, we believe any unjust tariff restrictions to be unwise. 2. That for government to take from one industry to support an- other is inconsistent with the true aims and purposes of its creation, and as tariffs on imports which are established for protective pur- poses do this, we demand that the tariff laws be revised so as only to raise a revenue for economical government, and that duties should be laid heaviest on luxuries. 3. That we demand a financial system in the United States which will admit of an expansion to suit the growth in wealth and population of the country. 4. We demand the abolition of the National banking system, as opposed to principles of republican government. 5. That pooling and dealing in futures be made a felony, punishable by imprisonment. 6. That United States senators should be elected by a popular vote. 7. That we favor the free coinage of silver and that it be made a legal tender. PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1890 FORT WORTH, May 13 Officers: Chairman, H. G. Damon, of Navarro; Secretary, J. G. Allison, of Dallas. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, E. C. Heath, of Rock- wall; Lieutenant- Governor, J. M. Thomason, of Carson; Attor- ney-General, J. B. Goff, of Travis; Comptroller, S. G. Tomlin- son, of Hopkins: Treasurer, "W. D. Jackson, of McLennan; Commissioner of the General Land Office, S. G. Mullins, of Na- varro ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, A. Clark, of Hood. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: D. M. Prendergast, Parties in Texas 285 of Limestone; Dr. F. M. Law, of Brazos; J. B. Cranfill, of Mc- Lennan; E. L. Dohoney, of Lamar; Mrs. M. M. Clardy, of Bexar; W. D. Knowles, of Dallas; S. M. Templeton, of Rock- wall. PLATFORM 1 1. We favor the suppression of the liquor traffic by legislation, State and National, and regard 'the Prohibition party, State and National, as absolutely necessary for that purpose. 2. That any form of license, taxation, or regulation of the liquor traffic is contrary to good government, that any party which supports regulation, license, or taxation enters into an alliance with such traffic and becomes the active foe of the State's welfare, and that we arraign the Republican and Democratic parties for their persistent attitude in favor of the license iniquity whereby they oppose the demand of the people for prohibition, and through open complicity with the liquor crime defeat the enforcement of law. 3. That our immigration laws should be so enforced as to prevent the introduction into our country of all convicts, inmates of other dependent institutions, and others physically incapacitated for self- support. 4. That no person should be allowed to vote who has not been a resi- dent of the United States for ten years, or who is unable to read and write the English language. 5. We arraign the liquor traffic as a menace to civil liberty, in that it is the vehicle by which the Democratic and Republican partiefc' shamelessly corrupt the ballot box, and we further favor such changes in the election laws as shall render bribe-giving and bribe-taking impossible. 6. Recognizing that the liquor traffic, in itself a soulless monopoly, is the greatest foe to the laboring classes as an ever present menace to their homes, we earnestly and cordially invite all laboring men to join us in the attempt to throttle their most malignant enemy. 7. We recognize in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union a powerful ally in the battle for temperance and prohibition. We bid them godspeed in their noble and self-sacrificing labors. 8. That all charges for service by railroad corporations and of other common carriers be regulated by law for the protection of the people, and that an efficient system of arbitration be enacted for the settle- ment of all differences between corporations and employes. 9. That all State convicts should be confined in the walls of the penitentiary and the lease system be abolished. proceedings of this convention are taken from the Fort Worth Daily Gazette. 286 Platforms of Political 10. That all monopolies and trusts are destructive of free institution and should be abolished. 11. Recognizing and declaring that prohibition of the liquor traffic has become the dominant issue in National politics, we invite to full party fellowship all those who 1 MINORITY REPORT We, the undersigned members of the committee on platform and resolutions, beg leave to dissent from the report of the majority of said committee and submit the following minority report: The Democracy of the State of Texas, in convention assembled, makes the following declaration of principles and policy: I. 1 Believing that all issues affecting Federal policies and in the enunciation of the general principles of government, the Democratic party of the United States, in convention assembled, at Chicago, in June last, has promulgated the authentic declarations of the party upon all prominent questions and in full accordance owe allegiance thereto, we hereby indorse and adopt as a whole and without qualifica- tion the platform of that convention and we hereby ratify the nomina- tions there made. 2. Recognizing the bounty system as a part of the iniquitous and oppressive protective tariff policy of the Republican party, we are op- posed to the principles therein involved, and, whereas in the case of the sugar bounty the practical operation of that system so far as Texas is concerned is ameliorative of the burden of protection, we declare that the State should receive the money due it under the law granting a bounty on sugar and we favor the appropriation of this money to the support of the Confederate Home. 3. We indorse the railway commission as an existing agency for the State regulation of railroads, but demand that its functions and powers be clearly and definitely confined within constitutiontal limitations and that the railroad commissioners be elected by the direct vote of the people. 4. We favor nine months' session of our public schools and the com- plete and efficient administration and maintenance of our free school system and of the University of Texas as a fitting and indispensable culmination thereof, 5. We deplore and denounce the impression which has been created and gone abroad that it is the policy of the Democracy of Texas to discourage immigration and the investment of outside capital in any department of enterprise or labor. On the contrary, we cordially in- vite all legitimate accessories of population and wealth and pledge them the equal and just protection of our laws. 6. We disapprove of the policy of disquieting or clouding the land titles of citizens or corporations by vexatious legislation, and demand such legislation as will prevent the inauguration of such a policy by any officer or agent of the State unless specially authorized by the legislature itself, and we further demand the passage of proper re- pealing or validating acts to cure the titles of all purchasers from railway companies in what are known as the ''sidings and switches" lands. 21328 322 Platforms of Political The foregoing is offered by the minority of your committee as a sub- stitute for the entire platform and resolution reported by the majority. DUDLEY WOOTEN, E. P. HAMBLEX, D. C. GIDDIXGS. The majority report was adopted by a vote of 693 to 168. This action resulted in a number of vigorous protests, and the defection of a few delegates. State Executive Committee: Waller S. Baker, of McLennan, chairman; 1st congressional district, J. J. Ball, of Cass; 2. J. D. McLean, of Titus ; 3. William Hodges, of Lamar; 4. E. P. Hill, of Cooke; 5. John T. Craddock, of Hunt; 6. J. M. Strong, of Dallas ; 7. A. G. Mcllwaine, of Smith ; 8. M. J. Whitfield, of Panola; 9. 0. B. Colquitt, of Kaufman; 10. P. H. Pardue, of Ellis; 11. Monta J. Moore, of Milam; 12. J. L. Goodman, of Rob- ertson; 13. James E. Downes, of Houston; 14. Rufus Price, of San Augustine ; 15. Sam R. Burroughs, of Leon ; 16. R. M. John- ston, of Harris; 17. John E. Linn, of Wharton; 18. T. T. Mc- Common, of Fayette; 19. Ed. R. Sinks, of Lee; 20. John W. Rob- ertson, of Williamson; 21. Ed. R. Kone, of Hays; 22. F. R. Graves, of Karnes; 23. R, W. Stayton, of Nueces; 24. W. R. Camp, of Bexar; 25. R, Kratz, of Kinney; 26. H. C. Randolph, of Coleman; 27. T. C. Taylor, of Coryell; 28. Frank R. Bowles, of Palo Pinto; 29. R. W. Hall, of Wilbarger; 30. T. 0. Martin, of Hood ; 31. C. W. Martin, of Wise. TURNER HALL CONVENTION Officers: Chairman pro temper e and permanent, Jonathan Lane, of Fayette. Vice-presidents, W. M. Walton, of Travis; H. M. Garwood, of Bastrop; S. Stone, of Austin; B. B. Paddock, of Tarrant; Columbus Upson, of Bexar; and W. P. Ilamblen. of Harris. Secretary pro tempore, W. D. Wood, of Hays: per- manent, James H. Quarles, of McLennan. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, George Clark, of Me- Lennan; Lieutenaiit-Governor, C. M. Rogers, of Travis: Attor- ney-General, E. A. McDowell, of Coryell; Comptroller, Charles B. Gillespie, of Dallas ; Treasurer, Thomas J. Goree, of Cherokee ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, W. C. Walsh, of Parties in Texas 323 Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jacob Bickler, of Galveston; Court of Criminal Appeals, W. D. Wood, of Hays, and E. H. Phelps, of Fayette. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, J. H. Matthews, 4. Colonel Crooks, 11. L. C. Alexander, 12. F. E. Crawford, 14. B. F. Cannon, 16. J. A. Shelburne, 17. T. J. Duffy, 18. H. Teichmueller, chairman, 19. D. C. Giddings, 20. C. Upson, 21. F. Coreth, 22. T. J. McFarland, 23. J. E. Elgin, 24. J. R. Fleming, 25. W. A. H. Miller, 26. John Ben- nington, 27. J. C. Matthews, 28. Theo. Mack, 29. M. C. Harris, 30. T. J. Powell. PLATFORM [1] We, the Democrats of Texas, in State convention assembled, renew our devotion to the principles of government as taught by Thomas Jefferson, and declare our belief that all the evils of trusts, monopolies, class legislation, and the oppression of the masses are the direct conse- quence of a departure from those principles. [2] We believe that equality before the law is the foundation prin- ciple of this government, and that all citizens have equal rights and none are entitled to special privileges. [3] We further believe that the perpetuity of our institutions de- pends upon the enjoyment by the citizens of the largest measure of individual liberty, consistent with good order and the public safety; we, therefore, oppose all sumptuary laws which vex the citizen and interfere with his individual liberty. [4] We believe the world is governed too much, and that the least government which may suffice for the protection of the citizens is the best government. Government is instituted among free men solely for the protection of life, liberty, and property, and whenever it attempts to interfere with the business of the country it is guilty of usurpation and ought to be rebuked by a free people. Such attempts have always resulted in promoting certain classes at the expense of all other classes, and thereby fomenting injustice and precipitating distress upon the people. A wise and frugal government which shall restrain men from injuring one another, and which shall leave them otherwise free to regu- late their own pursuits of industry and improvements, and shall not take from the mouth of labor bread it has earned, is the sum of good government. [5] We are opposed to all forms of "one man power" and have an abiding faith in the capacity of the people for governing themselves. lr rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Houston Post. 324 Platforms of Political We believe in the right of local self-government, untrammeled by dicta- tion from any central authority. We condemn all attempts to interfere with this right, coming from any source, and we favor the election of all officers by the people themselves. Especially do me demand the right to elect our railroad commissioners, in order that such agency shall cease to be dominated for personal and political effect, and that it may impartially determine controversies between citizens and rail- roads, in such manner as may be prescribed by law. [6] Railroad corporations and all other corporations being creatures of law are subject to State legislation and control. We favor the con- tinuance of the present method of railway regulation by means of a commission clothed with such constitutional powers as may be requisite for the protection of the people against injustice or extorition, but we are opposed to the taking of private property for public use without just compensation. [7] We condemn all forms of communism and State socialism and view with alarm the existing war upon the rights of property in this State. Protection is guaranteed by the constitution to every citizen in the enjoyment of his rights of person and of property, and it is the duty of the State to extend this protection to all forms of property, no matter whether it may consist of farms or of railroads. The right to own property carries with it necessarily a right to its use and enjoy- ment, including a reasonable return by way of interest on its actual value, and we are opposed to all laws or methods designed to deprive the owners of any property of this right. [8] We condemn all secret, oath-bound political organizations as un-American and undemocratic, contrary to the genius of our institu- tions, and destructive of the liberties of the people. Members of such organizations have no place in a Democratic household, and we view with alarm the recent effort on the part of the present administration in our State to utilize such associations in an attempt to dominate the will and expression of the Democrats of Texas. [9] Our sympathies are most cordially extended to all laboring people in their efforts to better the condition of themselves and those dependent on them, and we will advocate and support all laws calculated to protect them in their efforts to better their condition. We deprecate and will oppose all resorts to violence or revolutionary methods on the part of any class of our citizenship, believing that an appeal to the law always furnishes the best protection to the citizen in the enjoy- ment of all rights. We especially condemn the use in any emergency of foreign armed mercenaries in this State, and demand of the legisla- ture the passage of a law forbidding such employment under severe penalties. [10] The necessities of our people and the development of our in- dustries and means of transportation demand that the introduction of money at a low rate of interest in the State should be fostered and Parties in Texas 325 encouraged. We condemn all legislation calculated to drive capital or immigration from us, and we extend a hearty welcome to all honest people who may choose to come and make their homes with us or to invest their money here, and promise them that their rights of person and property shall be guarded with the same jealous care as our own, under the protection of equal laws, justly administered. [11] Our State government, following in the footsteps of the Fed- eral government, is fast filling the land with public tax eaters. We demand the abolition of all usel-ess offices in the interest of necessary retrenchment and the lowest rate of taxation compatible with efficiency in government and commensurate with the due protection of life, lib- erty, and property. [12] As an integral part of the Democracy of the Union, we indorse the platform of principles recently adopted by the National Demo- cratic convention, at Chicago, and pledge our hearty support to the nominees of said convention for President and Vice-President. [13] We oppose what is commonly called the Jester amendment and the law enacted thereunder, because the effect of the same will be to squander the permanent school fund. [14] We favor protection against the claim by the State and valida- tion of land titles, where such lands have been purchased in actual good faith in reliance upon the patent of the State, issued upon a con- struction of the laws by the executive department. [15] We oppose the investment of the school fund in railroad se- curities. [16] We oppose perpetuities and monopolies, and we oppose the acquisition of lands by corporations, except such as may be necessary to enable them to carry on the business for which they are created. [17] We arraign the administration of Governor Hogg, because it has driven and is keeping capital from the State, because it has un- settled land titles and retarded immigration, because his administra- tion has been undemocratic and despotic. Additional Resolutions [18] We demand that the State shall collect from the Federal gov- ernment the bounty on the sugar produced on the State convict farm, and that such bounty be given to the Confederate Home at Austin; and we denounce the veto of Governor Hogg of the joint resolution passed by the twenty-second legislature, by which the State lost the bounty, as a species of cheap political demagoguery. [19] Resolved, that we condemn the loose and unrestricted manner of voting in this State and demand the passage of such laws as will prevent illegal voting. [20] That we demand laws be passed to further the building of public roads in this State, thereby affording facilities for the people to get their produce to market. 326 Platforms of Political [21] That we favor a law which shall exempt from taxation all school or public lands, filed by actual settlers, for three years from the date of the settlement of same or until such time as the owner shall acquire some character of legal title thereto. [22] That the action of the Democratic executive committee, in the taking of the temporary organization of the convention out of the con* trol of the assembled delegates and disfranchising a large number ol counties represented on the floor, was unwarranted, undemocratic, revolutionary, and without precedent, and deserves and ought to re ceive the unqualified and express condemnation of every true lover of liberty, and for the honor of the Democratic party we so condemn it and refer it to the Democratic party of Texas. State Executive Committee: A. L. Matlock, of Tarrant, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, C. C. Burke, of Bowie, 2. Gus Shaw, of Red River; 3. E. S. Connor, of Lamar; 4. B. C. Murray, of Grayson; 5. R. R. Neyland, of Hunt; 6. Barry Mil- ler, of Dallas; 7. J. Milo Sharp, of Smith; 8. James II. Jones, of Rusk; 9. T. H. Daily, of Kaufman; 10. J. 0. Files, of Hill; 11. Bart Moore, of McLennan; 12. Phil E. Peers, of Robertson; 13. David A. Nunn, of Houston; 14. I. D. Polk, of San Augus- tine; 15. E. L. Parrish, of Walker; 16. J. F. Meyer, of Harris; 17. W. Fort Smith, of B'razoria; 18. AVilliam Donavant, of Colorado; 19. George Milton, of Bastrop; 20. William M. Wal- ton, of Travis; 21. J. D. Guinn, of Comal; 22. F. C. Proctor, of Victoria; 23. E. R. Tarver, of Webb; 24. C. H. Neniitz, Jr., of Gillespie ; 25. Charles Davis, of El Paso ; 26. R. H. McKane, of Erath; 27. C. P. White, of Coryell; 28. Dr. C. S. Vance, of Eastland; 29. W. D. Berry, of Wilbarger; 30. B. B. Paddock, of Tarrant; 31. R. M. Collins, of Denton. "REGULAR" REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1892 FORT WORTH, September 13 and 14 The "Lily- White" or "Reform" Republicans nominated a State ticket at their convention in April; the "Regulars" faced a difficult situation. Should they nominate a State ticket and meet defeat, or should they make no nominations and leave each voter free to follow his choice, or should their party be com- mitted to some one of the candidates in the field? Parties in Texas 327' Officers: Chairman, R. B. Hawley, of Galveston. Secretary, H. M. Tarver, of Washington. Committee on Platform and Eesolutions: Judge W. K. Ma- kemson, chairman, Lock McDaniel, Frank Cleaves, T. A. Pope, R. Aiken, A. J. Rosenthal, W. M. Banks, T. L. Wren, W. S. Messmer, D. Redfield, J. W. McKinney. W. P. Butler. PLATFORM 1 We, the Republicans of the State of Texas, in convention assembled, pointing with just pride to the record of our party, declare our allegiance to its principles, as expressed in the National platform adopted at Minneapolis. We heartily approve of the action of the National convention in the nomination of President Harrison, whose pure, able, and patriotic administration of affairs has defied arraign- ment even at the hands of the Democracy, and we pledge him and his colleague on the National ticket, Whitelaw Reid, the solid vote of the party in Texas. We arraign the present administration of Texas because: 1. It has arrayed labor against capital, to the great injury of both, and has intensified class prejudice. 2. It has, in effect, confiscated property, and practically denied to the owners thereof the right to be heard in the courts. 3. It has, by intolerance, proscription, and interperate -expression, driven much capital out of Texas, and prevented the coming of much more, and thereby raised the rate of interest and increased the burdens of all except the money lenders. 4. It has unsettled land titles and depreciated taxable values. 5. It has robbed the laboring men of Texas, because by driving out capital our industrial enterprises have been paralyzed and the value of labor diminished. 6. It has attacked the decisions of courts and tried to bring into contempt our very citadel of liberty, our judiciary. 7. It has discouraged immigration, thereby retarding agricultural development, thus robbing the farmer by decreasing values, and the State by restraining production. 8. It has prevented the organization and upbuilding of new indus- tries that would have employed large capital, given profitable employ- ment to many laborers, and increased the values of farm products. 9. It has favored nepotism and prostituted a sacred trust the ap- pointive power for personal ends. 10. It has selfishly and corruptly used the power entrusted to it by the people as a means to perpetuate its existence in office. lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Morning News, September 15, 1892. 328 Platforms of Political 11. Its ignorance of the constitution, as evidenced by the approval and attempted enforcement of the alien land law, the railway com- mission law, and other laws, has been a just cause of complaint, and imposed vexatious burdens alike on the people and the courts. , 12. It, for selfish purposes, deprived the public treasury of large moneys that should have been placed there to the credit of the State by refusing to accept the bounty on sugar due Texas from the Federal government. 13. For a selfish, if not corrupt purpose, it has invaded and begun to destroy the common heritage of the children of Texas, the sacred school fund, bequeathed in trust to them by their forefathers. 14. By unwise legislation, by threats against capital, and reckless disregard of sacred rights, it has paralyzed capital, prostrated indus- tries, and depreciated farm values, and, by false promises, impossible of fulfillment, has caused strife and dissatisfaction among the masses. 15. Its future policy, as outlined in the Houston platform, gives no promise or hope of any relief from the evils complained of, but rather confirms the belief that they will be increased and intensified if it receives indorsement in November, and we, therefore, urge upon the people of Texas the imperative necessity of placing the seal of their utter condemnation upon the present administration. The Republican party demands: 1. Perfect equality before the law; equal rights to all, and special privileges to none. 2. We are opposed to all sumptuary laws, and believe in the largest individual liberty consistent with good government. 3. We favor the regulation of railway corporations under such re- strictions as will insure equal justice to the railways as well as the people. 4. We condemn all forms of communism and State socialism, and view with alarm the existing war in this State upon property. 5. Our sympathies are most cordially extended to all laboring people in their efforts to better the conditions of themselves and those depend- ent upon them. 6. We condemn all revolutionary methods and violence on the part of our citizens, believing that an appeal to the law best protects every citizen in the enjoyment of his rights. 7. We condemn all legislation calculated to drive capital out of the State or turn immigration from us. 8. We favor the enactment of such laws as will secure to us the introduction into this State of money at a low rate of interest. 9. We demand that the coming legislature shall provide for the collection from the Federal government of the bounty on sugar produced on the State farms. 10. We demand that the State legislature enact such laws as will r~ ;' Parties in Texas 329 protect the ballot of every citizen in accordance with the demands ex- pressed in the election plank of the National Republican platform. 11. We demand the passage of such laws as will further the building and keeping in repair of a system of intercounty public roads, and to this end we demand the employment of penitentiary convicts, thus procuring for them profitable employment without bringing them into- competition with free labor. 12. We condemn the law which discriminates against colored teach- ers upon the county school boards of examiners as class legislation. 13. We demand that the legislature comply with the constitutional requirement and establish a branch of the State university for the colored people. Judge Makemson said that the 'committee on platform had reached a point where there was some difference and there was a majority and a minority resolution. He then read the majority resolution, adopted by eleven of the thirteen members, as follows: [14] Resolved, that the present deplorable condition of the public affairs of our State is such that the general welfare demands at our hands as patriotic citizens the defeat of James S. Hogg, and the election of some one in his stead who will give to Texas a liberal and progressive administration, and to this end we earnestly recommend to th-e Republicans of our State the election of Hon. George Clark. MINORITY REPOBT To the Republican convention of Texas: We, the undersigned mem- bers of your committee on resolutions, beg to dissent from the resolu- tion reported by the majority of this committee, indorsing the State ticket headed by George Clark for governor, and submit the resolution annexed as the sense of the minority and ask that the same be adopted as the sense of this convention. C. G. WHITE, S. H. BUCHANAN. Resolved, that we deem it inexpedient to put forth a Republican State ticket, but we earnestly urge every voter to go to the polls in November and cast his vote for the National Republican ticket, and for such State officers as in his opinion will be fitted to remedy the evils of which we complain and will best promote the principles we advocate. The majority report was adopted by a large vote. State Executive Committee: N. B. Moore, of Tarrant, chair- man ; 1st Congressional district, J. H. North, of Marion ; 2. S. B. Hungerford, of Hopkins; 3. C. M. Ferguson, of Lamar; 4. J. A. Shannon, of Grayson; 5. W. H. Love, of Collin; 6. R. T. Glover, of Dallas; 7. J. W. Butler, of Smith; 8. J. M. Hickey, 330 Platforms of Political of Rusk; 9. W. M. McDonald, of Kaufman; 10. Cyrus M. Dun- ham, of Hill ; 11. Nathan Patton, of McLennan ; 12. J. R. Niece, of Limestone; 13. H. D. Loyd, of Cherokee; 14. P. Larkin, of Tyler; 15. L. E. Dunn, of- -; 16. H. C. Ferguson, of Fort Bend; 17. C. G. Vogue, of Brazoria ; 18. J. G. Shermack, of Fayette; 19. W. E. Dwyer, of Washington; 20. Hugh B. Han- cock, of Travis; 21. A. L. Maynard, of Aransas; 22. D. M. O'Con- nor, of Victoria; 23. W. N. Linton, of Cameron; 24. W. S. Mesmer, of Bexar; 25. J. A. Smith, of El Paso; 26. G. N. Arnold, of Erath ; 27. C. S. Doubleday, of Hamilton : 28. Wil- liam McManus, of Callahan; 29. D. C. Kolb, of Wichita; 30. T. B. Burbridge, of Tarrant ; 31. W. W. Barbour, of Wise. DEMOCRATIC HARMONY MEETING, 1894 DALLAS, March 19 and 20 The serious consequences of the split in the Democratic psrty caused many to urge a reunion of the factions. A conference of the leaders of the People's party at Waco, August 18 and 19, 1893, impressed many Democrats with the necessity of harmony in order to forestall defeat by this party. Governor Hogg made a harmony address at Dallas, January 27, 1894. Chairman Mat- lock and his committee formulated a plan for restoring harmony at a meeting held in Dallas, February 1. It was promptly taken up by Chairman Baker. He called a meeting of his committee to be held at Dallas, March 19th, and invited Chairman Matlock and his committee to be present. The committees held separate meetings, but appointed following conference committees: 1. W. S. Baker, R. W. Stayton, E. M. Johnston, John T. Craddock, A. G. Mcllwaine, 0. B. Colquitt, and Monta J. Moore. 2. A. L. Matlock, William Poindexter, J. 0. Files, B. B. Paddock, W. A. Kincaid, E. S. Connor, Jonathan Lane, and Bart Moore. AGREEMENT 1 WHEREAS, a serious division exists among the Democrats of Texas, and it is to the interest of the party and of good government that such lr The proceedings of this meeting are taken from the Dallas News. Parties in Texas 331 division should be adjusted and the party reunited upon the basis of fraternal union, involving no sacrifice of principle on the part of any Democrat, nor the imposition of any terms calculated to bring humilia- tion, therefore, be it Resolved, that we most heartily favor a reunion of the party, and while this committee does not assume to frame or dictate a platform, yet for the purpose of reunion, we recommend and submit as a basis of adjustment and settlement of all differences honorably: 1. We reiterate our indorsement of the National platform, adopted in Chicago in 1892, as a true expression of Democratic faith and stand as a unit ready to second the exertions of our Democratic President and Congress in the execution of the demands of said platform. 2. We condemn the platform and principles of the Republicans and Populists or People's party, as essentially inimical to democracy and destructive to free government. 3. We propose that all primaries and conventions to be held in 1894 be composed and, constituted on the basis of the vote for Demo- cratic presidential electors in 1892, and no person who was then of age and did not so vote, unless prevented by sickness, absence or other good cause, and no person who will not pledge himself to abide by the action of the State convention so assembled, shall be allowed to par- ticipate in the primaries. 4. Resolved, that in order to unify the machinery of the party in the State, it is agreed that in all counties in which there may exist two Democratic county or precinct committees that committee which was created by the regular Democratic county convention shall con- stitute the only recognized county and precinct Democratic committee, and all appointments of county chairmen made by either State execu- tive committee be and the same are hereby revoked. 5. Upon the adoption of the basis of settlement agreed upon by both Democratic State executive committees, Chairman Matlock and his committee will issue a public address to the Democrats of Texas who supported the Turner Hall ticket advising them of the settlement made, and that in pursuance of said settlement no call for a State convention will be issued by his committee and that his said committee is dis- solved; that the call of Chairman Baker and his committee is the authorized call of the regular united Democracy of Texas, and it is urged upon all members of the party to respond to said call in a spirit of Democratic brotherhood, and to unite with all good Democrats in the primaries and conventions in cementing the party and promoting its success in perpetuating the true principles of Democratic govern- ment. The foregoing agreement was adopted by each committee separately, and then they joined in a political lovefeast. On the day following, the Matlock committee issued the public address as agreed, and dissolved. 332 Platforms of Political PEOPLE'S PARTY STATE CONVENTION, 1894 WACO, June 20 and 21 Perhaps, twelve hundred delegates attended this convention. The proceedings were harmonious. Officers: Chairman, H. S. P. Ashby, of Tarrant. Secretary pro tempore, C. H. Jenkins, of Brown; permanent, J. H. Boyd, of Delta. Nominees for* State Offices: Governor, Thomas L. Nugent, of Tarrant; Lieutenant-Governor, Marion Martin, of Navarro; Attorney-General, R. V. Bell, of Cooke; Comptroller, E. O. Meitzen, of Lavaca; Treasurer, H. E. McCulloch, of Guadalupe; Commissioner >of the General Land Office, Stephen G. Granberry, of Travis ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Addison Clark, of Hood; Supreme Court, Tom Russell, of Jefferson; Court of Criminal Appeals, E. L. Dohoney, of Lamar. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, R. J. Sledge, of Waller; 2. J. T. Spillman, of Shelby; 3. H. G. Wood, of Hunt; 4. S. J. Wright, of Lamar; 5. R. V. Bell, of Cooke; 6. J. L. Harle, of Navarro; 7. D. B. Harris, of McLennan; 8. C. H. Jenkins, of Brown; 9. J. B. Sutler, of Travis; 10. C. K. Walter, of Gonzales; 11. Ben F. Terrell, of Guadalupe; 12. W. R. Robinson, of Bexar; 13. H. L. Bentley, of Taylor; State at large, John Dyer, of Galveston, and J. B. Rayner, of Robertson. PLATFORM 1 We hereby indorse the principles enunciated in the People's party platform, adopted at Omaha, July 4, 1892. 2. We declare the People's party to be an antimonopoly party and reiterate our opposition to the monopolization of natural resources and public utilities by individuals or corporations for speculative purposes. 3. We declare the monopolies of land, money, and transportation to be the fruitful sources of civil and industrial inequality and wrong, the parent monopilies from which all lesser monopolies spring, and to 1 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News. Parties in Texas 333 the end that these monopolies and their baneful consequences may be removed we advocate appropriate measures of relief. 4. The abolition of all private banks of issue of every character, whether State or National. 5. The construction, ownership, and operation of railroads by the government to the extent necessary to control and regulate rates. 6. The governmental ownership and operation of all telephone and telegraph lines. 7. The free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver upon the ratio of 16 to 1. 8. The issuance by the government of full legal tender paper money upon some system or plan, which, while securing all flexibility, shall so regulate the volume of currency as to limit it to the actual needs of business. 9. We condemn emphatically the issue of gold bonds in times of peace to meet current expenses of the government. 10. We favor the building of the Nicaragua Canal under proper treaty, provided it is built and operated by our government in proper cooperation with Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 11. We declare that the doctrine of a tariff for revenue is wrong in principle, and -we especially condemn the policy of free raw material while manufactured goods are protected. 12. All lands heretofore granted to individuals or corporations, in which the grantees have not complied with the conditions of the grant, should be forfeited to the State for homsetead purposes. 13. No alien ownership of land should be allowed in Texas. 14. Corporations shall not be allowed to own more land than they actually use in the prosecution of their business. 15. We favor an effective system of public schools for six months in the year for all children between the ages of six and eighteen years, and that each race shall have its own trustees and control its own schools. 16. We demand the adoption of a uniform series of textbooks for the public schools to be furnished by the State at cost. 17. [Same as plank 3 of the platform of 1892.] 18. [Same as plank 8 of the platform of 1891.] 19. We demand a free vote and an honest count. 20. [Same as plank 8 of the platform of 1892.] 21. We demand that all county officers shall receive fixed salaries not to exceed $2,000 per annum net, and that all fees shall be turned into the general fund. 22 and 23. [Same as plank 11 of the platform of 1892.] 24. [Same as plank 12 of the platform of 1892.] 25. We demand the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ration of 16 to 1 and that they be made legal tender for all debts. W4 Platforms of Political 26. We demand a sufficiency of good money to supply the wants of trade and believe that $50 per capita is required. 27. We favor such amendment of the vagrant laws as will prevent the prosecution as criminals of industrious laboring men whJle in a condition of enforced idleness. 28. While believing government ownership offers the only complete and satisfactory solution of the railroad question, we nevertheless favor the continuance of the commission, but demand that the com- missioners shall be elected by the people and that the law shall be administered in the spirit of fairness to all parties. 29. We demand that the State provide sufficient accommodation for all its insane without discrimination in color. 30. We favor proportional representation. 31. We declare the People's party to be in favor of local self-govern- ment and the enjoyment by th individual of his natural rights to the greatest extent compatible with good society. 32. We favor such amendment to our constitution and tax laws as will secure the assessment of lands and improvements separately. 33. We favor a modification of the laws of limitation, as to real estate, to the end that titles to lands may be quieted. 34. We demand the enactment of a law declaring eight hours to be a legal day's work, except in domestic and agricultural affairs. Additional Resolution By John Dwyer of Galveston: WHEREAS, the industrial classes of Texas have sought the ameliora- tion of their condition through the medium of honest, wise, and con- servative legislation as contained in twenty-two bills presented to the late twenty-third legislature, and WHEREAS, only two bills of the twenty- two became legislative enact- ments; therefore, be it Resolved, that we, in convention assembled, severely censure and heartily condemn the Democratic party as being opposed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of the State. MINORITY REPORT I do not concur in the plank with reference to local self-government, as the said plank was put in the platform for the purpose of capturing the German vote and as I am opposed to the purchase of votes. J. B. SUTLER. The minority report was voted down by an overwhelming majority. State Executive Committee: H. S. P. Ashby, of Tarrant, chairman; 1st Congressional district, R. J. Sledge, of Waller; Parties in Texas 335 4. E. L. Dohoney, of Lamar; 5. D. E. Lyday, of Fannin; 6. J. W. T. Loe, of Dallas; 13. J. W. Baird, of Jones. PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1894 WACO, June 28 About fifty delegates attended this convention. Officers: Chairman. H. G. Damon, of Navarro. Secretary, J. M. Dunn, of Hopkins. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, J. M. Dunn, of Hop- kins ; Lieutenant-Governor, H. G. Damon, pf Navarro ; Attorney- General, J. B. Goff, of Travis; Comptroller, E. A. Wingo, of Van Zandt; Treasurer, Ed Rogers, of Hill; Commissioner of the General Land Office, A. B. Dailey, of Hays; Superintendent of Public Instruction, B. W. Williams, -of Parker. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. B. Cranfill, B. W. Williams, D. M. Prendergast, E. A. Wingo, Wentworth Manning, W. D. Knowles, E. C. Heath, Harry Boon, R. C. Burleson. PLATFORM 1 [Preamble is same as that of 1892.] 1. The liquor traffic is the chief source of crime, poverty, degrada- tion, and political corruption, and should not be legalized and pro- tected under any form of license, but absolutely prohibited by law. 2. [Same as plank 4 of the platform of 1892.] 3 and 4. [Same as planks 5 and 6 of the platform of 1892.} 5. The privilege of suffrage should be determined solely by standards of character and intelligence, and no foreigner should be allowed to vote who has not become naturalized and resided in the United States over ten years. 6. Foreign immigration has become a burden upon industry, one of the factors in depressing wages and causing discontent; therefore, we declare in favor of immigration laws so framed as to exclude the pauper, criminal, insane, and anarchist classes. 7. 8, and 9. [Same as planks 9, 10, and 11 of the platform of 1892.] 10. Nonresident aliens should not be allowed to acquire land in this 1( The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, June 29, 1894. 336 Platforms of Political country, and we favor the limitation of individual and corporate own- ership of land. All unearned grants of lands to railroad companies or other corporations should be reclaimed. 11. We stand unequivocally for the American public schools taught in the English language, and are opposed to any appropriation of public money for sectarian schools. 12. All taxable property shall be listed for taxation at its actual value, less any bona fide indebtedness of the owner thereof. 13. We are opposed to the issuance of government bonds for any purpose in times of peace, and denounce the Democratic and Republi- can parties for the recent issues of such bonds under plea of necessity, and declare that such action is contrary to the interests of the people. 14. We cordially invite the cooperation of all our fellow-citizens to the end that these declarations may be made triumphant in the State and Nation. Where there are other organizations who stand for any or all these principles, we shall regard with special favor any efforts wisely directed toward securing such a union of forces as shall in any way hasten the overthrow of saloon rule, reinforced as it is by the monopolists on the one hand and outworn and vicious political organizations on the other hand. State Executive Committee: E. C. Heath, of Rockwall, chair- man; 1st Congressiona district, R. F. George^ of Harris; 2. G. W. Carroll, of Jefferson; 3. J. W. Peyton, of Rockwall; 4. J. T. White, of Hopkins; 5. Dr. D. H. Hancock, of Collin; 6. G. W. Owens, of Dallas ; 7. J. T. Jordan, of Bell ; 8. B. W. "Wil- liams, of Parker; 9. G. W. Logan, of Williamson; 10. W. T. Clayton, of Galveston; 11. Dr. Henry Combs, of Bastrop; 12. B. P. Bailey, .of Bexar; 13. A. Freeman, of Wichita; State at large, J. B. Cranfill, and W. D. Jackson, of McLennan. "REFORM" REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1894 DALLAS, August 6 and 7 On the occasion of the meeting of the League of Republican Clubs at Fort Worth, June 12 and 13, 1894, an effort was made by some of the prominent men on each side to bring about har- mony between the "Regular" and "Reform" factions. The latter insisted upon the "census plan as a basis of representa- tion," so nothing was accomplished. Both factions placed State tickets in the field. About one hundred and fifty delegates at- tended this convention. One colored delegate was present. Parties in Texan o37 Officers: Chairman pro tent-pore, Dr. A. M. Cochran, of Dal- las; permanent, Charles B. Peck, of Harris. Secretary, Ed S. Heller, of Dallas. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, J. B. Schmitz, of Denton : Lieutenant-Governor, M. W. Mann, of Dallas ; Attor- ney-General, W. H. Atwell, of Dallas; Comptroller, Tom P. Johnson, of Bexar ; Treasurer, H. K. Davis, of Robertson ; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, Thomas Breen, of Wood; Superintendent of Public Instruction, S. D. Swinford, of Har- ris; Supreme Court, Lock McDaniel, of Harris. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 0. "W. Morton, of Parker: Arthur Springer, of Tarrant; H'enry Klein, of Harris; W. H. Atwell, of Dallas; - - Wynne, of Hunt; - Hale, of Grayson; G. O. Greiner, of Lamar. PLATFORM 1 [1] Believing in America for Americans, we affirm our allegiance to the National Republican platform adopted at Minneapolis, in 1892. We demand a tariff for the protection of all American industries, and articles which cannot be produced in the United States, except luxuries, should be admitted free of duty, and on all imports coming into com- petition with American labor there should be duties levied equal to the difference between wages at home and abroad. We condemn the action of our Texas congressmen in so voting on a tariff as to blight the lumber, wool, and other industries of our State. [2] We condemn free trade with foreign nations in any form un- less by reciprocity or treaties that will open up the markets of other countries to American producers. [3] We believe in the Republican doctrine of protection by the general government of the life, liberty, and property of every Ameri- can citizen at home and abroad. [4] We sympathize with the laboring classes of our country in all lawful efforts to better their condition and obtain a more equal distri- bution of the wealth produced by labor. [5] We extend a willing hand to the farmers of the United States and demand for them the enactment of such laws as will insure fair returns for the products of their toil. [6] We believe in the coinage of both gold and silver and the issu- ance of paper money so adjusted that the purchasing power of every government dollar shall be equal. 'The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, August 7, 1894. 22328 338 Platforms of Political [7] We condemn the leasing of convict labor of the State outside of the walls of the penitentiary, but favor the enactment of laws allowing the county to levy a tax of at least twenty-five cents on the hundred dollars as a road and bridge fund, and the repealing of the present road law which requires citizens to work roads. [8] We are in favor of a superintendent of roads and bridges in each county. [9] In conclusion, we congratulate the Republicans of Texas on the glorious outlook for the future of the party. Honest money, Ameri- canism, and protection, the immortal trio, we commend to you first, last, and all the time. State Executive Committee: L. P. Goodell, of Tarrant, chair- man; Ed Davis, of Marion; W. H. Carson, of Camp; G. 0. .Greiner, of Lamar; W. S. Nevins, of Grayson; H. Wagner, of Hunt; W. N. Norton, of Dallas; John Gillis, of Wood; P. Alt- bayer, of Kaufman; George B. Colby, of Johnson; George A. O'Brien, of McLennan; S. M. Jones, of Limestone; C. Em- manuel, of Cherokee; George F. Pool, of Orange; C. B. Peck, of Harris; W. B. Blain, of Fayette; T. L. Wren, of . Travis; E. Mullen, of De Witt; C. W. Standart, of Kinney; G. W. An- drew, of Erath; W. H. Harvey, of Bell; William McMaines, of Callahan ; J. C. Martin, of Tarrant ; Sam L. Hain, James P. Newcomb, and Tom B. Johnson, of Bexar. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1894 DALLAS, August 14-16 This convention was not far behind its predecessor .of two years ago in point of attendance, division over important ques- tions, rival candidates, and the volume of oratory. A contem. porary characterized it as quite as full of fight but not of split. Besides four candidates for governor, free silver, Presi- dent Cleveland's policy, and the two-thirds rule required some sort of decision. Majority rule won over the two-thirds rule by a vote of 481 to 374. The silver men won most of the nomi- nations; the sound money men shaped the platform. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, J. R. Fleming, of Bexar; permanent, W. R. Hamby, of Travis. Thirty-one vice-presi- dents. Secretary, Will L. Sargent, of Navarro. Parties in Texas 3^9 Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Charles A. Culberson, of Dallas; Lieutenant-Governor, George T. Jester, of Navarro; Attorney-General, Martin M. Crane, of Johnson ; Comptroller, R. W. Finley, of Travis ; Treasurer, W. B. Wortham, of Travis ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Andrew J. Baker, of Tom Green; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. M. Car- lisle, of Tarrant; Supreme Court, Reuben R. Gaines, of Lamar, Thomas J. Brown, of Grayson, LeRoy G. Denman, of Bexar; Court of Criminal Appeals, J. M. Hurt, of Dallas, W. L. David- son, of Williamson, John M. Henderson, of Brazos. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, H. A. O'Neill, of Cass; 2. Howard Templeton, of Hopkins; 3. E. L. Agnew, of Fannin; 4. Allison Mayfield, of Grayson; 5. George R. Smith, of - -; 6. W. H. Clark, of Dallas; 7. Gordon Russell, of Wood; 8. John T. Garrison, of Nacogdoches; 9. M. H. Gossett, of Kaufman; 10. G. C. Groce, of Ellis; 11. George Clark, of McLennan ; 12. J. W. Blake, of Limestone ; 13. S. P. Wilson, of Cherokee; 14. J. D. Polk, of Jefferson; 15. P. W. Dean, of Leon; 16. 0. T. Holt, of Harris; 17. Thomas J. Ballinger, of Galveston; 18. Jonathan Lane, of Fayette; 19. D. C. Giddings, of Washington, chairman; 20. R. H. Evans, of Williamson; 21. A. B. Storey, of Caldwell; 22. John C. B'eas- ley, of Bee ; 23. G. W. Fulton, of San Patrick) ; 24. J. A. Buck- ler, of - -; 25. W. N. Caldwell, of El Paso; 26. T. H. Strong, of Coleman ; 27. J. W. Moffett, of Bell ; 28. D. G. Hill, of Taylor; 29. J. N. Browning, of Donley; 30. Lee Riddle, of Hood; 31. A. C. Owsley, of Denton. PLATFORM 1 The Democrats of Texas, in State convention assembled, renew their pledge of devotion to the fundamental principles of the party as taught by the fathers, and hereby adopt the following platform of principles: 1. We reiterate our indorsement of the National Democratic plat- form, adopted at Chicago in 1892, and stand as a unit in support of our Democratic President and Congress in their efforts to redeem the pledges of said platform. We also indorse and reaffirm the Dallas Harmony Agreement, entered into on March 19, 1894, and ratify said agreement as the act of the Democratic party of Texas. J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt, 340 Platforms 'of Political 2. The Federal government is a government of limited powers, deriving all its powers from express grants from the people, and all powers not expressly delegated to it are reserved to the States and the people. Each government, Federal and State, is supreme within its respective sphere and 'is entitled to the loyal support of every citizen. We deprecate all assaults on either government while acting within the scope of its constitutional authority, and hold it to be the duty of every citizen to sustain both governments alike in the exercise of all their respective constitutional functions, executive, legislative, and judicial, without diminution or detraction from either. 3. Recognizing the fact that the Federal Constitution expressly empowers Congress to provide for calling forth the military to exe- cute the laws of the Union and to suppress insurrection against the Federal government, and that Congress, in pursuance of such express grant of authority, has enacted laws carrying into effect these constitu- tional powers, we commend the President for his prompt and vigorous action in suppressing the recent lawless disturbance in Illinois and other States, for the purpose of executing the laws of the Union, and believe that such action on his part was expressly sanctioned by the Constitution. 4. We hold to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money of the country, and the equal coinage of both metals without discrimination against either metal or charge for mintage; but the dollar unit of coinage of both metals must be of equal intrinsic and exchangeable value or be adjusted through international agreement OT by such safeguards of legislation as shall insure the maintenance of the parity of the two metals and the equal power of every dollar at all times in the markets and in payment of debts, and we demand that all paper currency shall be kept at par with and redeemable in such coin. We insist upon this policy as especially necessary for the pro- tection of farmers and laboring classes, the first and most defenseless victims of unstable money and a fluctuating currency. 5. We demand of Congress the passage of such tariff legislation as may be in strict accordance with the principles announced in our last National platform, and denounce all attempts to secure special protection or privileges for any particular class or classes as unwise, unpatriotic, and undemocratic. 6. We indorse the Democratic administration of Grover Cleveland as eminently wise, patriotic, and statesmanlike. 7. We heartily indorse the present Democratic State administration and congratulate the people of Texas on the reforms it has accom- plished. 8. We congratulate the people of Texas that the disturbing 'question of railway legislation has been definitely and finally settled and in a manner alike just to the people and the railways. Parties in Texas 341 9. While recognizing to the fullest extent the right of labor to or- ganize for the advancement of its members and the promotion of their interests, we maintain that the right of every citizen of Texas to pur- sue his labor and occupation without molestation or hindrance from any source must not be abridged in this State; and we demand of our next legislature the passage of such laws as may be necessary to pro- tect every citizen in the full enjoyment of such individual liberty. 10. We hold to the theory that government was instituted for the protection of life, liberty, and property, and that it fails in its purpose when it denies that protection to any citizen or class of citizens. We view with grave apprehension the growing tendency to set at defiance the laws devised for the protection of life and property, and demand of our legislature such amendment of these laws as may be found necessary, and of our executive officers the use of all the powers of the State, when necessary, for the suppression of lawlessness and the protection of the lives of our citizens and all classes of property within this State. 11. A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the liberties and rights of the people, we pledge that the constitutional provisions requiring the public free schools to be maintained and supported for a period of not less than six months each year shall be faithfully car- ried out, and the University, its branches, and other educational insti- tutions shall be properly endowed and maintained. 12. We believe the system of hiring convicts to corporations and individuals is against public policy and should be discontinued at the earliest practicable moment consistent with the best interest of the State. 13. We favor the passage of a law by the next legislature regulating primary elections of political parties in this State. 14. We commend the action of the public officials in seeking to recover lands unlawfully obtained by railroad companies from the State for sidings and switches, and pledge the people that so long as the Democratic party remains in power this course shall be continued until every acre is recovered or returned to the State. At the same time we pledge that all actual settlers on such lands and also all pur- chasers in good faith for value, who may have purchased any of said lands from the railroad companies or their assignees, shall have their titles validated and made good in so far as the State may have any claim. 15. We demand that our senators and representatives in Congress be requested to use all honorable means to secure adequate appropria- tions for the improvement of the ports and inland waterways of the State of Texas. 16. We favor the adoption of the pending constitutional amendment authorizing annual appropriations for the support of the Confederate 342 Platforms of Political Home, and pledge the Democratic party to the continued maintenance and support of said institution. D. C. GIDDINGS, D. G. HILL, O. T. HOLT, JOHN T. GARRISON, J. N. BROWNING, P. W. DEEN, J. A. BUCKLER, THOS. J. BALLINGER, GEORGE CLARK, L/EE RIDDLE, G. C. GROCE, S. P. WILSON, J. D. POLK, G. W. FULTON, JONATHAN LANE, W. M. CALDWELL, A. B. STOREY, W. H. CLARK. MINORITY REPORT We, the minority of your committee on platform and resolutions, respectfully report that in a spirit of Democratic charity and con- cession we have exhausted every reasonable means to secure an agree- ment with the majority upon a Democratic platform, and, being thus unable to agree, we submit the accompanying platform which we deem a just and fair presentation of Democratic principles upon which every Democrat in Texas should be able to stand, and we recommend the adoption of the same by the convention. J. W. BLAKE. JOHN C. BEASLEY, ALVIN C. OWSLEY, E. L. AGNEW, H. A. O'NEAL, G. R. SMITH, J. W. MOFFETT, HOWARD TEMPLETON, R. H. EVANS, J. G. RUSSELL, M. H. GOSSETT, ALLISON MAYFIELD. T. H. STRONG, We, the Democracy of Texas, happily reunited, in convention as- sembled, invoking the favor and blessings of Almighty God, hereby proclaim the' following declaration of sentiments, principles, and poli- cies, to which we solemnly pledge our fealty and support: 1. We reaffirm our adherence and devotion to Democratic principles as taught by the fathers of the republic and from time to time pro- claimed by the party. 2. We declare and pledge anew our allegiance to the National Democracy, and indorse the declaration of principles adopted at Chi- cago in 1892. 3. We heartily commend and indorse the administration of our Democratic President, Grover Cleveland, in the elevation of official integrity, the reduction of governmental expenditures, the wise and patriotic treatment of the pension question, the firm insistence upon respect abroad or land and sea to the United States flag, the efforts to reduce custom duties to a strictly revenue basis, and the passage of a tariff bill embodying an income tax, the prompt repeal of the Parties in Texas 343 odious Federal election laws, and we stand pledged and ready to aid all faithful exertions of the administration in the execution of the demands of our party platform. 4. We hold to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money of the country and to the coinage of both metals without discrimina- tion against either or charge for mintage, but the dollar unit of coin- age of both metals shall be adjusted by such safeguards of legislation as shall insure the maintenance of the parity of the two metals, and the equal power of every dollar at all times in the markets and in the payment of debts and we believe that this parity and purchasing power will be maintained by the free and unlimited coinage of both metals at the ratio of 16 to 1. We, therefore, favor the immediate restoration of silver coinage as it existed prior to 1873, and, if upon a fair trial it shall be determined that this ratio will not keep the two metals in circulation on a parity with each other, then the ratio to be readjusted to the end that the money of the people shall be such in quantity and quality as was originally contemplated by the Consti- tution, and we further demand that all paper currency shall be kept at par with and redeemable in such coin. 5. We reannounce that the Federal government is one of limited and delegated powers and that such as are not conferred upon it by the Constitution are reserved to the States respectively or to the people, and we insist that the strict observance of this principle is essential to the prosperity of local self-government. 6. We favor the equal and impartial enforcement of the laws of the land, State and Federal, against all guilty of a violation thereof, and we indorse the vigorous measures recently taken by President Cleve- land to execute the laws of the United States for the preservation of public property, transmission of the mails, and regulation of inter- state commerce; but at the same time we regret the necessity for such interference by the President, and believe that the power thus exer- cised should only be used as in this instance in the last extremity, and after the State has failed and refused to preserve order. 7. We assert and contend that life tenure of office invites arbitrary despotic power, and, therefore, favor such amendments to the Federal Constitution as will limit the terms of Federal officers to a reasonable term of years. 8. We favor Federal appropriations sufficient to deepen our several harbors and remove obstructions in, and provide locks and dams for the Trinity, Brazos, and other navigable rivers, so that our vast com- merce may at an early day have the advantage of water transportation to thp markets of the world. 9. We commend and indorse our State Democratic administration and congratulate the people upon the successful inauguration of re- form in the alien ownership of lands, the prohibition of land monopolies, the regulation of railways by the agency of the commission, the regu- 344 Platforms of Political lation of the execution of municipal securities, and stocks and bonds by railway companies, and pledge an efficient enforcement of these laws. 10. We condemn the destructive principles of the Republican and so-called People's party as essentially inimical to Democracy and de- structive to free government. 11. We pledge a continued economical administration of the State government in all its departments consistent with efficiency of the public service. 12. We favor the enactment of such further laws as may be neces- sary to protect laborers, material men, and mechanics against loss and injustice. 13. We favor the continuation of the policy and system of working convicts that prevents their competition with free labor. 14. We pledge the further enactment of such laws as experience and wisdom may find necessary to complete the work of suppressing trusts, pools, and combinations in restraint of trade. 15. We favor and pledge the necessary appropriations to maintain the efficient operation of the public free schools for the constitutional period of six months, the efficient maintenance of the University and its branches, and the proper support of the Confederate and Orphans' homes. 16. We favor the enactment of laws to prevent and punish frauds in primary elections. 17. With unshaken belief in Democracy and the political soundness and justice of the principles herein enunciated, we confidently commit them to the candid judgment of the verdict they will render. The minority report was defeated by a vote of 451 to 4!5. State Executive Committee: J. G. Dudley, of Lamar, chair- man; 1st Senatorial district, W. W. Dillard, of Bowie; 2. John L. Young, of Delta; 3. W. J. Hood, of Fannin; 4. E. P. Hill, of Cooke; 5. H. A. Finch, of Collin; 6. George A. Garden, of Dallas; 7. Henry B. Marsh, of Smith; 8. S. J. Hendricks, of Rusk: 9. J. M. Harper, of Navarro; 10. W. C. Wear, of Hill; 11. J. C. Oltorf, of Falls; 12. L. L. Mclnnis, of Brazos; 13. S. A. McMeans, of Anderson; 14. J. S. Keaghey, of Jasper; 15. George D. Neal, of Grimes; 16. R. M. Johnston, of Harris; 17. John E. Linn, of Wharton; 18. M. L. Townsend, of Lavaca; 19. W. B. Garrett, of Washington; 20. A. S. Walker, Jr., of Travis; 21. Joseph Faust, of Comal; 22. E. L. Dunlop, of Vicoria ; 23, George W. Fulton of San Patricio ; 24, R. H. Burney. of Kerr; 25. C. L. Lauderdale, of Llano ; 26. Arch Grinnan, Parties in Texas 345 of Brown; 27. W. G. Kingsbury, of Bosque; 28. W. H. Warren, of Shackelford; 29. R. E. Huff, of Wichita; 30. A. L Moseley, of Parker; 31. G. W. Barefoot, of Montague. "REGULAR" REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1894 DALLAS, August 28 and 29 The interest of this convention centered around the selection of the State chairman. N. W. Cuney opposed the re-election of N. B. Moore. Dr. John Grant was elected by a vote of 368 to 247. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Wilbur F. Crawford, of Milani; permanent, Webster Flanagan, of Rusk. Secretary, D. C. Kolp, of Wichita. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, W. K. Makemson, of Williamson; Lieutenant-Governor, R. B. Rentfro, of Cameron; Attorney-General, J. A. Hurley, of Hopkins; Comptroller, G. A. Tomlinson, of Tarrant ; Treasurer, G. W. Lowden, of Taylor ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Ed Anderson, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, A. H. Colwell (c), of Brazos; Supreme Court, J. M. McCormick, of Dallas, C. H. Maris, of Cameron, C. 0. Harris, of Runnels; Court of Criminal Appeals, W. K. Homan, of Grayson, Henry Terrell, of Bexar, C. G. White, of Smith. Committee, on Platform and Resolutions: R. B. Hawley, chairman; 1st Congressional district, A. T. Lockett, 2. J. G. Tibbetts, 3. Webster Flanagan, 4. C. M. Ferguson, 5. George A. Knight, 6. B. O. James, 7. Thomas A. Pope, 8. J. M. Terrell, 9. W. K. Makemson, 10. R, B. Hawley, chairman, 11. J. W. Robinson, 12. W. S. Messmer, 13. J. A. Smith. PLATFORM 1 [1] We, the Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled, renew our unqualified devotion to the principles of the Republican party as set forth in the National Republican party platform, adopted at Minne- apolis in 1892. 1P The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt. 346 Platforms of Political [2] We reaffirm the American doctrine of protection, and we favor more uniform protection to manufacturers and producers in every branch of industry which shall equalize the difference between the compensation paid to American labor and the earnings of labor abroad. [3] We denounce the attitude of the Democratic Congress in legis- lating against the industrial interests of the country. [4] We denounce their flagrant discrimination against the agricul- tural and pastoral growth everywhere, while fostering the combina- tions and trusts of aggregated capital, creating and maintaining mon- opolies at the expense of every consumer and injury of the entire country. [5] We point with pride to the success of the Republican policy of reciprocity, under which our interchange of trade had grown enorm- ously, leading to free intercourse and freer commerce with every American nation and we denounce the action of the Democratic Con- gress which has abrogated these trade relations to the injury of every interest and every part of the country. [7] We are in favor of sound money gold, silver, and currency its volume as large as practicable, so coined and issued that every dollar shall be equal in value the one to the other. [8] We favor the indorsement of the Nicaragua canal project by the National government. [9] We condemn the letter of President Cleveland to Congressman Catchings as prolonging a condition of uncertainty which has pafalyzed the industries of the country for the past two years, and we approve his action in interposing the National authority to suppress the late riots in Chicago and elsewhere. [10] We favor equal school accommodations for all races and con- demn that policy of the Texas Democracy which has reduced the per capita appropriation of the State school fund from $5.00 two years ago to $3 or less at the present; also that the State should, as early as practicable, take the necessary steps toward instituting the colored branch of the university, thus putting into effect the expressed will of the people. [11] We denounce in unmeasured terms the acts of the Democratic administration in invading and depleting the permanent school fund as an assult upon the noblest heritage left by the fathers to the chil- dren of Texas. [12] We denounce the Democratic methods of finance, the deple- tion of the State treasury, and their utter incapacity in providing State revenues and caring for the State's credit. [13] The condition of our sheep and cattle industries demands a rational revision of the State laws governing the lease and sale of State lands. We favor the leasing of grazing lands for long terms, with absolute possession for such term of years, with minimum selling Parties in Texas 347 price, confident that such policy will result in increasing revenues to the State. [14] We deplore the communistic tendencies of Governor Hogg and his antagonism to that spirit of National unity which should pervade every State of this great Nation. Additional Resolutions WHEREAS, the great and rapid increase in the agricultural and manu- factured products of the State of Texas makes it necessary for this people to have like advantages and facilities with other portions of the United States in the export and import of all commodities, and make our Gulf ports the gateways to the markets of the world, which would insure and bring a greater trade from all portions of the globe to our doors in exchange for the products of the great northwest, we deem it absolutely necessary that to accomplish this great object it is nec- essary to cheapen the transportation as far into the interior as possible by water. By improving our navigable rivers we can offer such inducements to th-e people of the great northwest that their trade will naturally seek our markets; therefore, be it Resolved, that this convention do ask and demand of the government of the United States such appropriations as will be necessary to make the Trinity River navigable every day in the year from Dallas to the Gulf of Mexico. Resolved, that we condemn the law passed by the last legislature which provides that negroes living in counties under the district sys- tem shall not be trustees under that system. State Executive Committee: Dr. John Grant, of Tarrant, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, W. E. Singleton, of Marion; 2. R. E. Colwell. of Camp: 3. and 4. blank; 5. Thomas Andrews, of Collin; 6. blank; 7. J. W. Butler, of Smith; 8. J. M. Hickey, of Anderson; 9. W. M. McDonald, of Kaufman; 10. S. M. C. Davis, of Hill; 11. W. F. Crawford, of Milam; 12. and 13. blank; 14. W. W. Frazier, of Jasper; 15. L. E. Dunn, of -: 16. Henry C. Ferguson, of Fort Bend; 17. blank; 18. J. G. Shermack, of Fayette; 19. John C. Cain, of Washing- ton; 20. Hugh B. Hancock, of Travis; 21. A. L. Maynard, of Caldwell ; 22. G. R. Townsend, of Victoria ; 23. W. N. Linton, of Webb; 24. E. H. Terrell, of Bexar; 25. J. A. Smith, of El Paso; 26. C\l. Mullins, of Robertson; 27. Harry Harris, of Cor- yell; 28. B. B. Kenyon, of Taylor; 29. D. C. Kolp, Wichita; 30. Thomas B. Burbridge, of Tarrant; 31. George A. Knight, of Montague. 7 348 Platforms of Political STATE LABOR CONVENTION, 1894 FORT WORTH, September 24 Dissatisfaction with the treatment of the demands of labor by the twenty-third legislature, and with the ninth and tenth planks of the Democratic platform, prompted the labor organi- zations of Dallas and Fort Worth to call a State convention. Its sessions were held behind closed doors. Officers: Chairman, George Clough, of Dallas. Secretary, W. W. Price, of Denison. DEMANDS AND RESOLUTIONS 1 Money. 1. We hold that the value of all labor products is deter- mined by the amount of labor required to produce or duplicate them, and as silver and gold are labor products their intrinsic value must necessarily vary from time to time in relation to each other. Hence to maintain a parity of value at any fixed ratio between two or more labor products, varying in their supply and in the labor required for their production, is a manifest impossibility, except by the exercise of fiat authority, which is unjustly and improperly exercised when used to give any one labor product an artificial value over others; therefore, demand that our statesmen shall devise some form of cur- rency each unit of which shall at all times represent a fixed and un- varying amount of labor. 2. Under exigencies of present conditions, and until such ideal labor money shall become a practical verity, we demand of Congress the free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1, with- out international agreement; and we denounce as an intolerable out- rage upon wealth producers the demonetization of silver and the con- traction of our circulating medium to a single gold standard basis. 3. As Congress has not the power to charter National banks, we demand the abolition of such banks, believing them to be inimical to the best interests of the country. Land. We demand the elimination of all speculative ownership of land or other natural resources, and believe the only practicable means of accomplishing this end is through the concentration of all taxes on the rental value of such land or natural resources. Direct Government 1. We demand that the Constitution of the United States be so amended that the President, Vice-President, and a The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, Septembr 25 and Ocobr 6, 1894. Parlies in Texas ?49 United States senators be elected by direct vote of the people; also that postmasters be elected by popular vote of the people of the city or community in which they serve. 2. We demand of the members of the coming legislature that they do not vote for or support any person for United States senator who will not pledge himself to vote for our demands. WHEBEAS, we believe that the time has come when organized labor should and must combine in some manner to defeat the encroachments of organized capital, and WHEBEAS, we believe that effective resistance to such encroachments is only possible through united action at the ballot [box] ; therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That we denounce the action of Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, in sending the army of the United States into Chicago, to uphold organized capital and overawe organized labor, in defiance of the protest of the governor of the State of Illinois and in contravention of the Federal Constitution and the guaranteed rights of sovereign States, and pledge ourselves to oppose any man for public office who indorses Mr. Cleveland's action. 2. That as trade unionists and laboring men we regard the strike as a legitimate weapon, and we regard with alarm and great concern the attempt of any political party to make such action illegal or to visit with penal punishment any peaceful or nonaggressive action taken in furtherance of such strikes. 3. That we denounce and condemn the ninth and tenth planks of the platform adopted at the last Democratic State convention, as- sembled at Dallas, August 18, 1894, and we hereby call upon all labor- ers, organized and unorganized, to assist us by every possible effort to defeat every candidate, from local officials up, who indorses or accepts such planks. 4. That we express our sympathy for E. V. Debs in his manly and patriotic struggles to uphold the rights and liberties of American workingmen, and we condemn and denounce the cruel and infamous persecution to which he has been subjected by the subservient tools and agents of organized monopoly. 5. That we denounce the practice of officers throughout Texas of arresting unemployed men and women on a charge of vagrancy and putting them to work on the streets and poor farms; we also denounce the convict system of this State. State Executive Committee: G. C. Renken, of Fort Worth, George N. Beach, of Dallas, G. W. Baird, of Gordon, W. W. Price, of Denison, J. W. Bain, of Tyler, F. A. Harris, of Rock- dale,, W. A. Carper, of Waco, B. U. Hultzman, of Omaha, W. S. Gross, of Cooper, Mayo Paretti, of Galveston, M. P. Jones, of San Antonio, M. W. Williams of Taylor. 350 Platforms of Political STATE CONFERENCE OF "GOLD" DEMOCRATS, 1895 WACO, May 9 Pursuant to a call issued April 19th, the Democratic members of the legislature, opposed to free silver, held a caucus on the 24th; they decided to take no formal action. On the same day, a call was issued from Waco for a conference of Democrats op- posed to free silver, to be held May 9, 1895. The attendance at the conference was not large. Officers: Chairman, Rufus Hardy, of Navarro. Secretary. George Robinson, of Bell. Committee on Resolutions: L. C. Alexander, of McLennan; V. W. Hale, of Lamar; A. L. Matlock, of Tarrant; W. E. Hughes, of Dallas; John T. Harcourt, of Parker; Lewis Han- cock, of Travis; Henry Sackett, of Coleman; George Clark, of McLennan; P. M. Whitaker, of Smith; G. J. Adkisson, of Mc- lennan ; J. T. Davis, of McLennan ; A. A. Kemble, of Ellis, chair- man. Upon motion the chairman was added to the committee. i RESOLUTIONS 1 1. The efforts of the advocates of the unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 at their recent meeting at Austin to pledge the Democratic party to the cause of silver monometalism forces upon us, as Democrats, the necessity of declaring our views, and of appealing to all Democrats who favor sound money to arouse themselves to the duty of putting the financial issue clearly before the masses of the people. These advocates of free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, without reference to the radical changes in monetary conditions during the past twenty years, or the cooperation of other civilized governments, seriously propose that the United States of America, alone of all the great powers, is able to double by legislation the market and intrinsic value of the silver bullion of the world, for such is necessarily the meaning of free and unlimited coinage under present conditions. We declare our disbelief in such doctrine, and assert that this government, great as may be its power, can not give value to anything by law alone. lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, May 10, 1895. Parties in Texas 351 2. We congratulate the country that the advocates of free and un- limited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 have at last thrown aside the disguise of honest bimetalism, under which they have been masquerading for years, and now publicly proclaim their purpose to place the finances of the country upon a silver basis alone. In de- fiance of the latest authoritative expression from the Democratic party in National convention, which refused by an overwhelming vote to commit the party to the heresy of free and unlimited coinage of silver, and despite the refusal of the Democratic State convention of Texas in 1894 to incorporate such a demand in a Democratic platform, and un- mindful of the history and traditions of the party throughout the long years of its glorious existence, it has always stood for a sound and honest currency and has never once given party countenance to de- based money, these advocates of free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 announce their purpose to seize and take pos- session of the Democratic party in Texas and to drive from the party all those who differ with them and refuse to bow the knee to this silver Baal. We declare that we will not be driven from the party, neither will we tamely submit to the seizure and prostitution to such base purposes. We stand, without apology or explanation, upon the plat- forms of our party, National and State, upon this rock we build our political church, and the gales of Populism and fiatism shall not pre- vail against it. 3. We hold that there can never exist with any people for any definite time two different standards of money value, and the history of this country since 1792 abundantly confirms the assertion. We stand with Andrew Jackson and with our present Democratic adminis- tration for gold as the unit measure of value and as the best and most stable measure yet discovered by human effort, and we demand of our lawmakers that this country shall take no backward step upon this question, but to the contrary that the gold standard of value shall be maintained inviolate, to the end that the honor and glory of our coun- try, its good name and credit, shall be preserved among the nations of the earth and our people be saved from the destruction of their material interests necessarily resulting^ from a change to a debased and constantly fluctuating standard of value. 4. We favor honest bimetalism and the use of both gold and silver as the money of the country and the largest coinage of silver con- sistent with the safety of our financial system and the preservation of an honest dollar worth 100 cents at all times and in all countries. We demand that every dollar in circulation among the people, whether gold or silver or paper as its representative, shall possess at all times equal purchasing and debt-paying power with every other dollar, and we declare it to be our purpose to wage unceasing warfare upon any proposed system of coinage which will enable a, mine owner or bullion owner to take his bullion to a government mint and have it stamped 352 Platforms of Political as a dollar, regardless of its value. If bullion values are to be thus increased we prefer that such increase shall inure to the government and the people rather than to the mine owner. 5. It is neither contemplated nor desired that one dollar of silver now coined or which may be coined under present laws shall be demonetized, or its standing in any way impaired, and the government should carry out the present requirement of the law that its parity with gold be maintained. 6. We denounce the heresy of fiatism in all its forms and we an- nounce our purpose to defend and maintain the essential principles of pure Democratic government, and we have no words of comfort or encouragement for its enemies. We call upon all Democrats who love their party for itself and not for office, and who take a patriotic pride in the honor and glory of their country, to come and unite with us in preserving the party from the dangers which now seriously threaten its very existence, and in saving our country and its people from the misery and destruction which must ensue from the driving from our shores of $600,000,000 of gold coin now in circulation among us, and the adoption of silver as the sole basis of value in this country. We favor unrestricted commercial intercourse with the nations of the earth, and honest money as the basis of our exchanges at home and abroad. Additional Resolution Resolved, that a Central committee to be composed of seven Demo- crats be appointed by the chairman, and that said committee be in- vested with full authority to take such action as it may deem neces- sary for the advancement of the cause of honest money and the pre- servation of Democratic principles. Said committee shall have power to appoint such other committees, State and local, as may be deemed necessary, and it may also call a delegate State convention of honest money Democrats at such time and place as may be deemed proper, and generally have charge and supervision of the organization of sound money clubs throughout the State. Central Committee: V. W. Hale, of Lamar; Lewis Hancock, of Travis; B. B. Paddock, of Tarrant: W. E. Hughes, of Dallas; D. A. Nunn, of Houston ; L. C. Alexander, of McLennan ; Rufus Hardy, of Navarro, chairman. At a meeting of the Central committee at Dallas, June 22, 1895, it was voted to increase the committee so as to consist of one member from each senatorial district of the State. Delegates to the 'Memphis Convention: K. M. Van Zandt, T. J. Powell, A. L. Matlock, B. B. Paddock, of Fort Worth; Parties in Texas 353 Columbus Upson, of San Antonio ; E. L. Dunlop, of Victoria; Rufus Hardy, Richard Skinner, of Corsicana; William Poindex- ter, of Cleburne; V. W. Hale, E. S. Connor, Fred H. Gaines, H. D. McDonald, of Paris; D. A. Nurm, of Crockett; Jerry McDaniel, of Centerville; M. L. Crawford, George Aldredge, John W. Springer, W. E. Hughes, 0. P. Bowser, of Dallas; Lewis Hancock, George B. Zimpleman, of Austin ; George Clark, L. C. Alexander, R. H. Kingsbury, of Waco; W. L. Christian, John T. Harcourt, of Weatherford; Walter Gresham, Leo N. Levi, of Galveston; Joseph Bledsoe, of Sherman; M. L. Sims, of Clarksville; W. E. Spell, of Hillsboro; George Robinson, of Belton; E. L. Antony, of Cameron; Henry Sackett. of Camp Colorado; D. C. Giddings, of Brenham; 0. T. Holt, of Houston; J. T. Bottorf, E. C. Smith, of Denton ; W T . M. Garwood. of Bas- trop ; Cone Johnson, R. B. Hubbard, Theodore Woldert. of Tyler. STATE MASS MEETING OF "SILVER" DEMOCRATS, 1895 FORT WORTH, August 6 Pursuant to a call issued April 19th, the Democratic mem- bers of the legislature, favoring the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, held caucuses April 22 and 25, at which resolutions were adopted, calling upon all Democrats in sympathy with them to select delegates to a general State mass meeting at Fort Worth, August 6, 1895. Between four and five hundred delegates attended. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Bryan T. Barry, of Dallas; permanent, Joseph W. Bailey, of Cooke. Secretary pro tempore. W. L. Sargent, of Hunt; permanent, W. A. Fields, of Hill. Committee on Resolutions: 1st Senatorial district, H. A. O ? Xcal, of Cass ; 2. John L. Shepard, of Camp ; 3. Travis Hen- derson, of Lamar; 4. C. L. Potter, of Cooke; 5. C. H. Yoakum; of Hunt; 6. C. A. Culberson, of Dallas; 7. John M. Duncan, of Smith; 8. B. B. Hart, of Wood; 9. A. B. Watkins, of Henderson; 10. Jo Abbott, of Hill; 11. Cullen F. Thomas, of McLennan, secretary; 12. Spencer Ford, of Brazos; 13. John H. Reagan, of Anderson; 14, A. H. Conkrite, of Nacogdoches; 15, T. H. Ball, of Walker; 16. J. S. Dougherty, of Harris; 17. blank; 23328 354 Platforms of Political 18. K. O. Faires, of Fayette; 19. blank; 20. J. J. Faulk, of Travis; 21. Lee Beatty, of Caldwell; 22. blank; 23. R. W. Hen- derson, of Frio; 24. J. F. Onion, of Bexar; 25. James Brock, of El Paso; 26. S. P. Burns, of Brown; 27. Felix Venney, of Bell; 28. W. P. Sebastian, of Stephens; 29. John H. Stephens, of Wilbarger; 30. R. M. Wynne, of Tarrant, chairman; 31. H. C. Ferguson, of Denton. PLATFORM 1 WHEREAS, the policy and traditions of the Democratic party since its organization have been in favor of both silver and gold as the standard money of this country; and WHEREAS, every National Democratic convention held since 1876, when silver coinage was first made an issue, has declared the policy of the party to be in favor of the coinage of both gold and silver with- out discrimination; and WHEREAS, a large majority of the Democratic representatives in Congress since the demonetization of silver in 1873 by a Republican Congress has demanded the restoration of silver to the position it held as one of the redemption moneys of the United States before the act of 1873; and WHEREAS, there is an organized effort to lead the Democratic party into indorsing, ratifying, and approving the vicious and ruinous legis- lation of the Republican party on the financial question, which has resulted in such widespread disaster and impoverishment of the in- dustrial classes of our country; and WHEREAS, there is manifested a purpose on the part of some of our prominent Democrats, led by President Cleveland and his cabinet, to overturn the established creed of the Democracy upon the financial question, and to place the business interests of this country within the control of a concentrated money power and above the laws and will of the people; the proposed issue of $500,000,000 of gold bonds in times of profound peace, and the withdrawal and cancellation of $500,000,000 of greenbacks and National currency from circulation, and the substi- tution of National bank currency therefor, is a proposition so startling to the Democratic party as to cause just alarm; and WHEREAS, the advocates of the single gold standard have already or- ganized an aggressive campaign to defeat the will of the voting masses of the Democratic party and bring strife and discord into its organiza- tion, and to that end have written open letters, made speeches, and organized conventions; ir The proceedings of this mass meeting are taken from the Fort Worth Gazette, August 7, 1895. Parties in Texas 355 Now, therefore, we, the Democratic party of Texas, in mass meeting assembled, proposing and intending only to preserve our party from the pernicious effects of such radical and revolutionary departure from its traditions and oft repeated declarations of principles, and to wrest it from the control of those who would lead it into the Republican camp to be destroyed, here most solemnly pledge our devotion to its principles and its achievements in the past. Resolved, 1. That gold and silver are the money of the Constitution and that Congress has no authority to destroy or to materially impair the use of either as the standard money of the country. 2. That gold and silver jointly measured the value of property an the volume of bank paper and exchange from 1792 to 1873, and that silver ought to be restored to the place it occupied as a part of the metal money of the country before the passage of the act of Congress of that year for its demonetization. 3. That the passage of that act, effected clandestinely, in the judg- ment of this mass meeting, was the greatest crime ever perpetrated in this country by an act of legislation. 4. That the act, by striking down one-half of the standard money of redemption, has caused the destruction of thousands of millions of dollars of the value of property, paralyzed all industries, except money lending, has arrested enterprise, has filled the country with tramps and beggars who can not obtain employment, caused an amount of bankruptcy greater than ever existed in this country before, made agricultural and mercantile employments unprofitable, and must end, if persisted in, in general bankruptcy and ruin. 5. That while the great losses caused by the act in the past can not be retrieved, as a means of preventing the continuance of this condition, we are in favor of and demand the restoration of silver to the place it occupied prior to the passage of the act of Congress of 1873 as a part of the standard money of the country, and demand the free and unlimited coinage of both gold and silver at the ratio of 16 of silver to 1 of gold, and that the same be made legal tender for all debts, public and private, and we demand the passage of a law by Congress that all contracts hereafter made for payment of money, whether in gold, silver, or coin, may be discharged by any money made legal tender by law. 6. That this country is great and powerful enough to establish and maintain a financial system for the benefit of our people independently of the interests, policy, or dictation of foreign countries, or their bond- holders and money lenders. 7. That we are in favor of gold and silver and paper money, con- vertible into these metals, as the money of the country, and we are opposed to the retirement of the legal tender notes of the government and the substitution for them of bank paper based on promises to pay, and not on gold and silver. 356 Platforms of Political 8. We condemn the policy by which all coin obligations of the gov- ernment have been held payable in gold at the option of the holders, thereby causing the issuance of bonds in time of peace, when the option to redeem in either metal, wisely exercised by the secretary of the treasury, would have prevented the issuance and sale of bonds, which have cost the people vast sums of money, and caused an appeal to foreign bondholders to protect the treasury. 9. We denounce as unwarranted the declaration of certain advocates of the gold standard in this State to the effect that the friends of free silver contemplate or desire the disruption of the Democratic party, or to take action independently of the organization of said party in this State, and conceive and express the belief that our only hope for financial reform in the interest of the masses of the people is by loyalty to the organization and precepts of the Democratic party. Additional Resolutions [10] By the Committee on Organization: We further recommend that this convention request the State Democratic executive committee when it issues its call for a State convention to elect delegates to the next Democratic National convention, that the financial issue, that is, whether the Democracy favors the single gold standard or bimetalism, gold and silver, as the standard money of the country and the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the present ratio of 16 of silver to 1 of gold, and that delegates elected to said State convention be instructed by said primary to vote for delegates to the National convention in accordance with the decision of said primaries. [11] The Democrats of Texas, on their own volition, assembled in convention, desire to express their admiration and undiminished con- fidence in the Hon. Richard Coke, who won this State from the tyranny of Republicanism and subsequently served this State with distinguished ability in the Senate of the United States for eighteen years, and, recognizing in him a friend of the people, we send him greetings in his voluntary retirement and assure him that his great and splendid services in behalf of the people are gratefully remembered, and we commend to those in the public service the course and character and devotion to duty of the Hon. Richard Coke. State Executive Committee: J. W. Blake, of Limestone, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, J. M. Talbot, of Bowie; 2. A. P. Corley, of Red River; 3. R. L. Ross, of Lamar; 4. J. L. Nel- son, of Grayson ; 5. W. G. Beverly, of Collin ; 6. Bryan T. Barry, of Dallas; 7. R. N. Stafford, of Wood; 8. Ned Morris, of Hen- derson ; 9. Bryan Drew, of Kaufman ; 10. T. S. Smith, of Hill ; 11. O. L. Stribling, of McLennan; 12. A. G. Board, of Brazos; Parties in Texas 357 13. S. A. McMeans, of. Anderson; 14. blank; 15. L. T. Dashiell, of Leon; 16. J. S. Dougherty, of Harris; 17. James McDonald, of Galveston; 18. J. S. Ledbetter, of Fayette; 19. blank; 20. Nor- ton Moses, of Burnet; 21. A. A. Thomas, of Hays; 22, and 23. blank; 24. M. C. Harris, of Bexar; 25. Juan S. Hart, of El Paso ; 26. T. H. Strong, of Coleman; 27. Winbourn Pierce, of Bell; 28. 0. T. Maxwell, of Eastland; 29. S. P. Huff, of Wilbarger; 30. J. W. Swayne, of Tarrant; 31. Sam G. Tankersly, of Wise. "REGULAR" REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1896 AUSTIN, March 24-26 1 The efforts of the managers of the several candidates for the presidential nomination to line up the largest number of dele- gates resulted in many contests. Much depended upon the action of the credentials committee. Apparently the McKinley sup- porters were in the majority, but a combination of the Allison and Reed men, under the leadership of N. W. Cuney, captured the temporary organization of the convention. The attendance was very large. Rumors that there would be a split preceded the assembling of the convention. Officers: Chairman, N. W. Cuney, of Galveston. Secretary, D. C. Kolp, of Wichita. The temporary officers were made per- manent. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, N. W. Cuney, W. M. Makemson, E. H. Terrell, H. C. Ferguson. Presidential Electors: State at large, G. G. Clifford, of Bexar, Eugene Marshall, of Dallas. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, B. Ripsdorph, 2. P. J. Dennis, 3. Webster Flanagan, 4. C. M. Ferguson, 5. R. M. McConnell, 6. J. M. McCormick, 7. L. B. Kinchion, 8. Dr. W. E. Davis, 9. Henry C. Gray, 10. R. B. Hawley, chairman, 11. R. B. Rentfro, 12. George B. Jack- son, 13. J. C. Minton. 358 Platforms of Political PLATFORM 1 1. We reaffirm the historic adherence of the Republican party to sound finance. We demand an honest dollar of greatest purchasing power for every class alike. The largest issue of gold, silver, and paper compatible with security and the requirements of the trade, all of equal value, interchangeable one for the other, every dollar rest- ing on gold coin as the only money of final redemption. The Republi- cans of Texas declare this to be in their deliberate judgment the only basis for a large and liberal circulation of money and for the main- tenance of confidence. [2] We reaffirm the American doctrine of protection. Under its influence every legitimate enterprise will revive, labor will be em- ployed, and the earning power of every laborer in every field will be enhanced. We denounce the Democratic Gorman-Wilson bill as a pre- tense and a fraud. Professing a reduction of the tariff, it struck down the greatest interest of the South, which for thirty years has been pro- tected under Republican administration. We demand the re-enactment of a tariff which shall provide ample revenues for the expenses of the government and secure for American labor in every part of our country protection against the invasion of the products of the pauper labor of Europe and of Asia, where children of tender years and every member of every family are required to labor on starvation wages without education and without hope. [3] We are in favor of the maintenance of every American right as defined by the Monroe doctrine, and sympathize with all people strug- gling for liberty, but we oppose the unnecessary acquisition of new territory, or the involving of our country in foreign complications as contrary to the traditions and history of our country. [4] We view with satisfactin and pride the growth of Republican sentiment in the South and, relying on the force of a healthy public opinion, demanding fair and honest elections, we believe that further legislation on this subject by Congress is undesirable and unnecessary. [5] We view with alarm the character of much of the foreign immi- gration now entering our country and demand the enactment of more stringent laws, fixing a standard of requirements for all immigrants, based upon moral and physical health and intelligence. ^Additional Resolution [6] Resolved, that we demand that wool, hides, cattle, sugar, and lumber shall be provided by Congress with that character of protection which these great industries warrant and require. ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Statesman^ March 25-27, 1896. Parties in Texas 35IJ McKINLEY REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, 1896 AUSTIN, March 26 Failing in their efforts to vote down the report of the cre- dentials committee, unable to stop the proceedings by boisterous conduct, and unsuccessful in their attempt to capture the stage by physical force, about sixty per cent of the delegates organ- ized another convention immediately after Cuney declared the ' ' Regular ' ' Republican convention adjourned. Chairman Grant mounted the rostrum and said: "I am now before the highest tribunal in the land that of the people through their represent- atives. I am here in the interest of liberty and freedom some- thing we have been denied today. I stand before you as the chairman of the Republican State executive committee to demand for you the rights and privileges guaranteed to you by the constitution and laws of the State. . . . The talk of the mob which has just left here about fairness and harmony is a hollow mockery. One man stands here and says we shall not be heard. As chairman of the State executive committee it matters not to me how you voice your sentiments, but I now give you a chance to voice them in your own way. I now declare the proceedings just had here null and void. You were sent here by the people to voice their sentiments, to attend an orderly convention. I now call such a convention to order and declare it open for business." Officers: Chairman, Richard Allen, of Houston. Secretary, Lewis Luitwieler. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, John Grant, of Grayson; Frank Hamilton, of Travis; R. L. Smith, of Colorado; Dr. W. E. Davis, of Tarrant. Presidential electors: State at large, A. H. Colwell, E. P. Hunt. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, D. C. Anderson, 2. H. B. Kane, 3. Webster Flanagan, chairman, 4. H. G. Goree, 5. Thomas McConnell, 6. D. N. Mason, 7. W. F. Banks, 8. C. C. Drake, 9. T. B. Rowland, 10. R, L. Smith, 11; J. W. Robinson, 12. E. Vanderlight, 13. Marshall Hunt. 360 Platforms of Political REPORT We believe that the question of protection to American industries in the coming presidential contest will be the leading issue and we, there- fore, regard Hon. William McKinley as the logical Republican candi- date, and instruct the delegates and alternates selected by this con- vention to vote for him at St. Louis as long as his name is before said convention. "REFORM" REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1896 HOUSTON, April 20 "The convention was composed of representative men, very few, if any, of whom appeared to belong to the class known as professional politicians. ' ' Officers: Chairman, Lock McDaniel, of Harris. Secretary. A. B. Norton, of Dallas. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, H. F. McGregor, of Harris ; L. P. Goodell, of Tarrant ; W. N. Norton, of Dallas; J. B. Schmitz, of Denton. Presidential electors: State at large, W. B. Slosson, of Har- ris, E. P. Scott, of Lamar. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, Henry Cline, 2. George F. Pool, 3. W. T. Koach, 4. E. P.-Scott, 5. E. W. Norton, 6. W. H. Atwell, secretary, 7. H. K. Davis, 8. John L. Ward, 9. T. H. Dwyer, 10. W. R. Kimmons, 11. F. Fritz, 12. C. W. Standart, 13. W. S. McCutcheon, of El Paso, chairman. PLATFORM 1 1. We reaffirm our allegiance to the great basic principles of the Republican party, protection, reciprocity, and internal improvements,, sustained by a sound financial system. 2. We favor bimetalism, i. e., the use of gold and silver coin as money of ultimate redemption. 3. We favor the immediate calling of an international monetary and reciprocity conference for the adoption of an international agree- 1P rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Houston Post, April 21, 1896, Parties in Texas 361 ment, with such reciprocal clauses as to trade between countries that ratify the action of the conference as will force every country through self-interest to adopt the basis thus established. 4. We favor the Nicaraguan canal project. 5. We favor changing the basis of representation in the National conventions so that congressional districts, that are not represented by Republican congressmen at the time the congressional convention for the election of delegates is called, shall be entitled to elect but one delegate and one alternate. 6. We favor the adoption by the National convention of a code of procedure for State and district conventions, governing the election of delegates to the National convention, that will protect the integrity of the Republican party. 7. We favor all measures calculated to improve the condition of the colored race and that will enable an Afro-American citizen to better fulfill the obligations of and maintain the high standard of American citizenship. 8. We believe in a protective tariff that will protect our markets for America's products and that will insure American wages for American workmen. We 'believe in a protective tariff for Texas products horses, cattle, sheep, and all raw material as well as manufactured products. 9. We believe in the payment by this government of the bounty to sugar producers and manufacturers, as under the McKinley act of 1890, to the end that the production of sugar be stimulated until all that we can consume is produced by our own people in this country. State Executive Committee: H. F. McGregor, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, Ed Davis, of Marion; 2. William Holliday, of Newton; 3. G. 0. Greiner, of Lamar; 4. J. T. Atcheson, of Cooke; 5. H. Wagner, of Hunt; 6. J. M. Steere, of Dallas; 7. John Gillis, of Wood; 8. blank; 9. P. Altbayer, of Kaufman; 10. George B. Colby, of Johnson; 11. Dr. A. M. Armstrong, of McLennan; 12. S. M. Jones, of Limestone; 13. blank; 14. J. T. Armstrong, of Jefferson; 15. R. F. Trau, of Polk; 16. Seth B. Strong, of Harris ; 17. F. Colwell, of Brazoria ; 18. and 19. blank; 20. T. L. Wren, of Travis; 21. F. A. Vaughan, of De Witt; 22. and 23. blank; 24. T. B. Johnson, of Bexar; 25. C. W. Standart, of Kinney; 26. blank; 27. W. Harvey, of Bell; 28. blank; 29. J. E. Lutz, of Wilbarger; 30. blank; 31. C. T. Ramsdell, of Denton. 362 Platforms of Political STATE CONFERENCE OF "GOLD" DEMOCRATS, 1896 DALLAS, April 21 The Democratic State executive committee met at Austin, February 5, 1896. The Gold Democratic executive committee followed with a conference on February 15th at Galveston. About two hundred attended this conference. The questions con- fronting the latter were, whether they should recognize the call of Chairman Dudley to participate in the primary on June 6th, or whether they should organize outside the Democratic party. There was division upon these points. The majority favored continuing the fight within party lines, but denounced the pri- mary as a usurpation to be submitted to only as a last resort. The minority favored the creation of an organization inde- pendent of Dudley's committee. The grievances against Chair- man Dudley were summarized as follows: At the last convention of the party in this State a State ex- ecutive committee was duly elected and constituted according to customary party usage, which committee, as constituted, was composed of eighteen Democrats who believed and advocated a sound money system of currency . . . and thirteen Dem- ocrats who believed in and advocated the free and unlimited coinage of silver by this government alone at the ratio of 16 to 1. It is to be assumed that the respective members of the committee, as regularly constituted, represented actual sentiment of the Democratic party in their respective constituencies. The death of two members, who represented the sentiment of sound money on said committee, furnished an opportunity to the chair- man thereof to appoint as successors for said deceased members two others of diametrically opposite views upon the financial question, and' each appointment was promptly made and the wishes of a large majority .of the Democratic voters of these two senatorial districts were stifled and disregarded. . . . The committee still stood sixteen for sound money and fifteen for the free and unlimited coinage of silver. . . . Without notice or form of trial . . . the chairman removed W. B. Garrett, a sound money member . . . and appointed nri advocate of the free and unlimited coinage of silver in his place . . . the pretense being that he [W. B. Garrett] had removed from the district. Parties in Texas 363 The course of subsequent events convinced the "Gold ?J Demo- crats that they could not win in the primary of June 6. Chair- man Hardy called another conference to meet at Dallas, April 21, 1896. Here the final step was taken; the "Gold" Democrats declared in favor of a separate organization. This decision was reached after much debate. The majority report of the com- mittee on resolutions proposed to send delegates to the Chicago convention and to nominate presidential electors, but made no provision for a straight-out organization of a Democratic party at Austin in June. The minority report, which was adopted by an overwhelming majority, proposed to reorganize the party and call a nominating convention to place a straight ticket in the field for State offices and put sound money candidates in the field for Congress in each of the districts. Officers: Chairman, L. C. Alexander, of McLennan. Secre- tary, George Robinson, of Bell. Committee on Resolutions: 1st Senatorial district, J, H. Mathews, of ; 2. R. M. Henderson, of Hopkins; 3. E. S. Connor, of Lamar; 4. W. 0. Davis, of Cook; 5. R. De- Armond, of Collin ; 6. A. T. Watts, of Dallas ; 7. Cone Johnson, of Smith; 8. J. B. Long, of Cherokee; 9. Rufus Hardy, of Navarro; 10. W. Poindexter, of Johnson; 11. George Clark, of McLennan; 12. W. H. Lewis, of Robertson; 13. B. C. Hasmer, of Rusk ; 14. R, A. Green, of Jefferson ; 15. William Watson, of -; 16. E. H. Bailey, of Harris; 17. George P. Finley, of Galvestoii; 18. and 19. blank; 20. Irvin Daniel, of Travis; 21. Eugene Nolte, of Guadalupe; 22. E. L. Dunlop, of Victoria; 23. blank; 24. W. P. Hudgins, of Bexar; 25. W. J. Fewel, of El Paso; 26. L. B. Russell, of Comanche; 27. E. R. Hall, of Coryell ; 28. C. U. Connallee, of Eastland; 29. J. C. Chesterner, of - ; 30. J. A. Kidd, of Parker; 31. J. T. Bottorff, of Denton. MAJORITY REPORT 1 [Th-e majority and minority reports were substantially, almost verbatim, the same, except that the majority report does not contain the words italicised in resolutions 3 and 4 below. For this reason only the minority report, which was adopted, is here printed.] J The proceedings of this conference are taken from the Dallas News, April 22, 1896. 364 Platforms of Political MINORITY EEPORT [1] We denounce the conduct of Dudley and his packed committee for attempting a series of usurpations subversive of party practices and destructive to party principles. They have attempted: (1) To defy and repudiate the National Democratic convention and to hold the Democratic party in Texas in favor of the free and unlim- ited coinage of silver, regardless of the action of the National De- mocracy. (2) To prescribe that the expression of the Democracy of Texas, in a partisan primary election, shall constitute a final judgment upon the silver question, which judgment shall stand as the party decision until reversed by another primary election or convention, regardless of the action of our brother Democrats of the Nation. (3) To prescribe a form of ticket which presents the issue in a false and fictitious light, and which would force upon every Democrat the necessity of voting a falsehood, no matter on which side he casts his ballot, and this for the purpose of driving from the polls every Democrat who believes in the maintenance of honest money in these United States. (4) To emasculate the powers of local Democracy in the counties, and to take from county conventions all powers heretofore exercised by them. (5) To take from the people in their local assemblages the privilege of giving expression to their sentiments on all public questions and to limit their right of expression to a single issue, and that falsely stated. (6) To create an officialism hitherto unknown in the party, to wit: one set of permanent delegates to all conventions during the year, thereby depriving the local Democracy of the right to elect their repre- sentatives according to their will and pleasure, according to such exi- gencies and conditions as may exist at the time party action may be- come necessary. This for the purpose of hedging off the Democratic people of this State from any expression after the National convention has declared the party faith on National issues. (7) To call into the councils of the Democracy the hosts of Pop- ulism for the purpose of nominating its candidates and formulating its platforms without even requiring of them a serious promise to vote for the one or assist in enacting the other into laws, and for the pur- pose with their aid of committing the Democracy of Texas and the Union to Populist principles and to deliver the electoral vote of Texas to a free silver candidate for President. Because of these usurpations we refuse to recognize James G. Dud- ley and his fellow-usurpers as constituting any longer the Democratic State executive committee of Texas. We repudiate in toto the author- ity of said pretended committee and call upon all Democrats of Texas Parties in Texas 365 to unite with us for the preservation of the essential principles and practices of Democratic faith in this State. [2] We recommend to all Democrats to abstain altogether from any recognition of the primary elections called by James G. Dudley for June 6, 1896, and to refuse to vote therein for any person or for any purpose. Touch not, handle not the unclean thing. [3] We recommend that the chairman of our executive committee issue at once his call for a delegated convention of the Democratic party of Texas, to be held at the City of Austin on Tuesday, June 23, 1896, at 11 a. m., then and there to reorganize the Democratic party of Texas, to select four delegates from the State at large to the National Democratic convention to be held at Chicago on July 7, 1896, and four alternates, and also two electors for the State at large and two alter- nates; to provide that separate conventions of the several congressional districts may be held at the same time and place for the selection of two delegates and two alternates for each district, and also a presi- dential elector and alternate for each district, and to arrange and pro- vide -for holding thereafter a State nominating convention and such other conventions for the nomination of other officers by the Democratic party of Texas as may be deemed advisable. [4] We recommend an immediate and thorough organization of the Democratic party throughout the State, the formation of Democratic clubs and the nomination of candidates for every office whose election is provided for by law on the first Tuesday in November, 1896. In those counties in which the county executive committees have refused to bow the knee to these gross usurpations on the part of James G. Dudley and his so-called committee and confederates, we suggest such line of conduct as to them may seem best, according to conditions existing at any time which may call for proper Democratic action. In those counties in which the county executive committees have yielded to these usurpations of Dudley and his so-called committee we recommend that the Democracy of such counties meet at once in their respective precincts and counties, reorganize the party, and send full delegations to the State convention to be called by our chairman, in accordance with the recommendations herein, to assemble at Austin on June 23, 1896. [5] Fellow-Democrats of Texas, the issue is upon us and can not be evaded. We have witnessed with mortification the spirit and intent displayed by James G. Dudley and his abettors, manifesting a deter- mination to ostracise more than one-half of the Democrats of this State in order to carry out their unholy purposes, in obedience to the order of a cabal at Washington. We have seen him and his abettors trample upon the rights and sentiments of the Democracy of two of the senatorial districts by the appointment of members from said dis- tricts on his committee wholly alien in sentiment to the Democracy they pretended to represent. This not being sufficient for the ac- 366 Platforms of Political complishment of his partisan purposes, we have seen him defy law, precedent, and decency by the removal of another Democrat from the committee and the appointment of a silver partisan in his stead; and these unlawful acts were promptly followed by the bold and destructive usurpations which we enumerate. [6] We have appealed for redress without avail. We have besought these people for the right and have been spurned. The edict has gone forth that no Democrat who believes in sound money and the pre- servation of the honor and good name of the American people shall have any voice in party affairs, and shall only be extended the gracious privilege of voting for such nominees and principles as those of opposite faith may permit. More than once unrelenting war has been declared against us. More than once have we been invited to abandon the Democratic household and leave it in charge of these aliens and de- structives. The Democratic party is our party, and we propose to defend it and to maintain its immortal purposes and principles, de- fiant alike of foes without and traitors within. The existence of the party is the issue now, and we call upon all Democrats who revere its glorious traditions and love its principles to unite with us in an honest determination to uphold its existence for the good of ourselves and those who may come after us. STATE CONVENTION OF "GOLD" DEMOCRATS, 1896 AUSTIN, June 23 The attendance was not large. A State nominating convention was held at Waco, August 25, 1896. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, E. L. Antony, of Milam; permanent, J. Peter Smith, of Tarrant. Secretary pro tempore, F. H. Gaines of Travis; permanent, M. W. Johnson, of Lamar. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, George Clark, Rufus Hardy, E. S. Connor, A. L. Matlock; 1st Congres- sional district, J. M. Shaw, of Grimes, and Jerry McDaniel, of Leon; 2. Peter H. Hughes, of Anderson, and William Fletcher, of Jefferson; 3. L. D. Stroud, of Rockwall, and J. H. Turner, of Rusk ; 4. H. D. McDonald, of Lamar, and William Henderson, of Hopkins; 5. P. B. Moore, of Grayson, and E. C. Smith, of Denton; 6. George N. Aldredge, of Dallas, and John R. Clay, of Kaufman; 7. W. T. Hefley, of Milam, and J. R. Martin, of Falls; 8. T. F. West, of Tarrant, and J. E. Bomar, of Tarrant; 9. W. P. Gaines, of Travis, and George McGee, of Hays; 10. Parties in Texas 367 Fenton Cannon, of Galveston, and French Simpson, of Lavaca; 11. Ed Linn, of Victoria, and W. R. Neill, of Guadalupe; 12. A. W. Houston, of Bexar, and Ca.pt. L. Hagen, of Gillespie; 13. B. W. Rose, of Eastland, and Charles Davis, of El Paso. Presidential Electors: State at large, A. T. Watts, of Dallas, and W. 0. Davis, of Cooke; 1st Congressional district, W. C. Abercrombie, of Walker; 2. Robert McClure, of Rusk; 3. Cone Johnson, of Smith; 4. R. M. Henderson, of Hopkins; 5. C. W. Geers, of Denton; 6. W. L. Crawford, of Dallas; 7. John W. Davis, of McLennan; 8. B. B. Paddock, of Tarrant; 9. R. J. Hill, of Travis; 10. M. L. Malevinsky, of Galveston; 11. Paul Wipprecht, of Guadalupe; 12. Perry Lewis, of Bexar; 13. Wil- liam Veale, of Stephens. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: W. D. Wood, chair- man, 2. Dr. J. G. Foster, 3. E. S. Connor, 4. blank, 5. M. H. Garnett, 6. J. J. Carnes, 7. blank, 8. D. R. Harris, 9. Rufus Hardy, 10. blank, 11. George Clark, 12. M. W. Sims, 13. J. H. Grant, 14. A. Gilman, 15. Wm. G. Millroy, 16. blank, 17. A. W. Fly, 18. blank, 19. Thomas B. Botts, 20. A. P. Wooldridge, 21. W. D. Wood, 22. to 25. blank, 26. J. P. Smith, 27. R. C. Bigham, 28. W. E. Armstrong, 29. Walter F. Moore, 30. A. L. Matlock, 31. C. W. Geers. PLATFORM 1 1. We, the Democrats of Texas, in State convention assembled, renew our pledges of devotion to the undying principles of the party as taught by Jefferson and Jackson, and splendidly exemplified by Grover Cleveland. 2. Having heretofore formally repudiated the methods and actions of a fraudulently constituted so-called Democratic executive committee, we hereby reaffirm such denunciation and announce our purpose not to vote for, or in any manner give political countenance to any candi- date for political office who either approves such action or who pro- poses in any manner to profit thereby. The action of this so-called committee was deliberately conceived and executed for the purpose of effecting a complete disfranchisement of brother Democrats, and it has resulted in the destruction of Democratic methods and pro- cedure, consecrated by party use for more than half a century, and the ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Statesman, June 24, 1896. 368 Platforms of Political preservation of which are essential to the purity of party action and the stability of party ascendancy. This destructive action has neces- sitated the reorganization of the Democratic party in Texas, and we announce that our separation from those who would destroy the party for the sake of gaining a temporary advantage for their peculiar financial heresy is final and irreconcilable until they return to the advocacy of true Democratic principles. 3. Holding it to be as impossible for man to measure value by more than one standard as it is to so measure any other quantity, and being firmPy convinced that a change in the standard for the measure of value at this time would result in a financial panic to which the history of the world furnishes no parallel, and believing that every government owes it to its honor and to its citizens that it shall so order its laws as to require all debts to be paid in money as nearly as possible equal in value to the money in circulation at the time of the creation of the debt, we declare that it is the duty of the United States to maintain the present gold standard as the measure of value to the end that justice shall be done to all men and the honor of the Nation be preserved. We believe in the use of silver as current money and the coinage and cir- culation of such amount thereof as can be kept at a parity with gold, but we oppose the free and unlimited coinage of silver by this govern- ment alone as a measure borrowed from Populism and fraught, if successful, with dishonor and disgrace to the Nation and destruction to the people. 4. We favor a tariff for revenue only, sufficient in amount to sup- port the government, economically administered. We demand a re- turn to frugal and simple government, the abolition of all useless offices, the rigid curtailment of all expenses, and the return of the government to its ordinary functions of protection to life, liberty, and property. We oppose all sumptuary legislation, no matter under what disguise, and demand that the citizen be left free to pursue his own happiness without unnecessary interference by governments. 5. We believe that the issue of greenbacks by a Republican Congress under the imperious exigencies of a great civil war, and which were then declared to be a temporary expedient, and their retention in cir- culation by subsequent congressional action has contributed to mis- educate and to debauch the public mind upon questions of finance more than all other causes combined. It has miseducated our people as to the proper financial functions of the government and has tended to the propagation of fiatistic ideas now so current in the land. It has misled many of our people into the belief that the government can create values with its stamp, and their constant redemption and reissuance has more than once nearly bankrupted our treasury and enabled the money changers to rob the people. We demand the immediate retire- ment of this government from the banking business, and that the law authorizing the reissuance of the treasury note shall be repealed and Parties in Texas 369 such promises be retired and canceled. We favor the establishment of a safe system of banking under rigid governmental supervision in order that the people of this country may have at all times a sound, safe, and elastic currency, amply sufficient for the transaction of their business. 6. We congratulate the country that thus far the credit and the honor of the Nation have been maintained by the patriotic and untir- ing efforts of President Cleveland and his secretary of the treasury, John G. Carlisle, in the unequal battle which they have so long waged against the combined strength of the cormorants of Wall and Lombard streets and the bullionaires of the silver mountains, aided and abetted by two Congresses, so grossly incompetent as not to know the right or so unpatriotic and dishonest as to prefer their own political and finan- cial aggrandizement to the good of their country, and we call upon all good citizens, irrespective of party affiliations, to add to our own their unqualified and hearty indorsement of these two pure and unselfish patriots. 7. Resolved, that we elect four delegates from the. State at large and four alternates, and that each congressional district elect two delegates and two alternates, to attend the National Democratic convention to be held in Chicago on July 7, 1896; that we confide to the patriotism and fidelity of said delegates or alternates so attending the full dis- cretion to act in such manner as in their judgment will best promote the integrity and honor of the Democratic party of the State and Nation, and we instruct them to act as far as possible in concert with all true Democrats there met together for the advancement of the principles and policies hereinbefore declared. 8. That we nominate fifteen Democratic electors, one from each congressional district, and two from the State at large. 9. That a State Democratic convention is hereby called to meet at Waco on August 25, 1896, for the purpose of nominating candidates for all State offices. 10. That we elect a State chairman and a committeeman from each State senatorial district to constitute the Democratic executive com- mittee of Texas. 11. That we recommend that in each congressional, senatorial, and representative district in this State candidates be nominated by Demo- crats of such districts who are in accord with the platform herewith submitted. State Executive Committee: Rufus Hardy, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, blank; 2. Dr. J. G. Foster, 3. E. S. Connor, 4. W. II. Dougherty, 5. S. D. Hatler, 6. A. T. Watts, 7. and 8. blank. 9. John L. Terrell, 10. W. C. Ware, 11. W. T. Hefley ; 12. H. E. Stoddard, 13. J. J. Wood, 14. blank, 15. Jerry Mc- 24828 370 Platforms of Political Daniel, 16. to 18. blank, 19. T. B. Botts, 20. blank, 21. Ham Hardy, 22. to 26. blank, 27. John M. Reed, 28. J. J. Butts, 29. to 31. blank. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1896 AUSTIN, June 23 and 24 With "Gold" and "Silver" State executive committees, each claiming to represent the true Democracy of Texas and each endeavoring to perfect an organization to ensure the success of its pet measures, the outlook for the Democratic State ex- ecutive committee, selected at the last State convention, was anything but pleasing. Chairman Dudley called a meeting of his committee at Dallas for May 27, 1895, "for the purpose of taking such action in reference to the issue upon the financial question, now agitating this State, ... as will be for the best interests of the Democratic party." When the committee met, it was evenly divided upon the money question, thus mak- ing it necessary for the chairman to give the deciding vote. It was decided to submit the "pending issue on the financial question ' ' to the voters of the entire State in ' * the same primary election in which delegates are selected to the usual conventions." The language of these resolutions left it in doubt whether there were to be held two primaries or only one convention. Another meeting of the State executive committee was held at Austin on February 5, 1896. By a vote of 16 to 15 it was decided to hold the primary election on June 6, 1896, to vote on the money question and to elect delegates to the State convention. The delegates when elected were to be considered as instructd and shall attend all State conventions held in 1896. State conven- tions were held June 23 and August 18, 1896. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, W. F. Ramsey, of Johnson; permanent, H. G. Robertson, of . Secretary pro tempore, Lee J. Rountree, of Hays; permanent, W. A. Fields, of Hill. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, J. W. Bailey, John M. Duncan, J. W. Blake, Charles A. Culberson, John H. Reagan, E. G. Senter, Horace Chilton, J. S. Hogg; Parties in Texas 371 1st Congressional district, L. T. Dashiell and 0. T. Holt; 2. J. M. Campbell and M. R. Gear; 3. H. B. Marsh and Ben Tooney; 4. John L. Shepard and Jake Hodges; 5. C. B. Randell and "W. T. Beverly; 6. D. W. Odell and W. J. Hooks; 7. H. P. Robert- son and Charles A. Coffield; 8. J. M. Richardson and Eugene Moore ; 9. Jeff Johnson and Heber Stone ; 10. W. S. Robson and John Lovejoy; 11. J. A. Dibbrell and R. A. Pleasants; 12. F. M. Paschal and W. W. Gatewood ; 13. Fred Cockrell and J. A. Templeton. Presidential Electors: State at large, T. S. Smith, of Hill, Winbourne Pierce, of Bell ; 1st Congressional district, J. C. Buf- fington, 2. W. M. Imboden, 3. Ned Morris, 4. Howard F. O'Neal, 5. E. L. Agnew, 6. F. P. Powell, 7. D. H. Hardy, 8. M. M. Scott, 9. T. B. Coehran, 10. S. H. Hopkins, 11. A. S. Thurmond, 12. Melton Mays, 13. S. B. Huff. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, Hiram Glass, 2. H. E. Henderson, 3. N. P. Jackson, 4. D. A. Bliss, 5. R, W. Carpenter, 6. F. P. Holland, 7. R. B. Baird, 8. R. T. Milner, 9. W. H. Allen, 10. F. P. Powell, 11. J. M. McKinney, 12. A. C. Brietz, 13. John H. Reagan, chair- man, 14. W. W. Perkins, 15. W. G. Bennett, 16. H. B. Rice, 17. John E. Linn, 18. Jonathan Lane, 19. S. L. Staples, 20. Norton Moses, 21. A. A. Thomas, 22. J. C. Beasley, 23. John R. Kleiber, 24. J. F. Onion, 25. M. G. Jackson, 26. J. M. Pressler, 27. 0. L. Lockett, secretary, 28. 0. T. Maxwell, 29. J. A. Templeton, 30. J. W. Swayne, 31. J. P. Blount. PLATFORM 1 1. The Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, reaffirms its traditional principles in favor of strict construction of the Federal Constitution and the preservation of the rights of the States and the liberties of the people, the political equality of our citizens, freedom of conscience, the separation of church and State, and the freedom of the press as among the fundamental doctrines embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, and at all times adhered to by the Democracy of the Union. 2. We are opposed to all monopolies and trusts and all class legis- lation and demand equal rights to all and exclusive privileges to none, x Tlie proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Statesman, June 24 and 25, 1896. 372 Platforms of Political and we insist that all of the great corporations, while protected in all rights, should be held subordinate to law and held subject to all legal restraint and control. 3. We favor a tariff for revenue only, but in a sufficient amount supported by other taxation to meet the expenses of the government economically administered, so as to render it unnecessary to increase the public debt in any manner whatever. And we believe that the present tariff law lets into the country raw materials free of duty and levies heavy duties on manufactured products, thus subjecting our agricultural and pastoral classes, to competition with the world, while it enables the rich manufacturers by means of combinations and trusts to extort their own prices for their products from the people, violating the Federal Constitution as well as the fundamental principles of the Democratic party that tariff duty should be levied and collected for the purpose of revenue only. 4. We favor an economical administration of the government. And we view with alarm the increased expenses caused by the session of Congress just adjourned, which has appropriated for expenditures during the next fiscal year $515,759,820.49. We condemn this excessive appropriation of the people's money and insist on a large reduction of the public expenditures, and we believe that there has been an unnecessary increase in the number of officers and employes of the Federal government, and that the number should be greatly and speed- ily reduced. 5. We demand the submission of a constitutional amendment to the several States which will authorize Congress to pass an income tax law, to the end that the wealth of the Nation may be compelled to bear its just share of the expenses of the government. 6. The Democratic party is unalterably opposed to the issuance of interest-bearing bonds by the Federal government in times of peace, and we demand that the Federal debt should be diminished rather than increased until it shall be fully paid off and discharged. 7. We favor the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver into standard money without discrimination against either and at the ratio of 16 to 1, independently of the action of other nations, which standard money shall be legal tender for all debts, public and private, and we further demand that the money of the country shall consist of gold and silver thus coined, and of paper convertible into these coins on demand by the holder, and in this connection we demand that the practice of the Treasury Department of refusing to exercise its option to pay coin notes in silver the same as in gold shall be discontinued, because the same is an unwarranted use of power which results in making the Federal treasury but a brokerage office for speculators in gold. 8. We demand that a law shall be enacted by the Federal Congress making gold and silver coined at the ratio heretofore mentioned, and Parties in Texas 373 the paper convertible into such coin on demand of the holder of such notes, legal tender for all debts, public and private, thereafter con- tracted, without reference to any contract or agreement that the debts shall be paid in some particular kind of money, reserving alone to the Federal government the right to designate the kind of money In which customs dues may be paid. 9. We are opposed to the cancellation and retirement of the legal tender notes of the government, which serve all the purposes of money to the government and the people at the least expense at which cur- rency can be supplied. 10. We oppose National banks of issue for the reason that the issu- ance of paper currency is a function of the government which should not be farmed out to any individual either natural or artificial. 11. That the Democracy recognizes as a necessary result of the War between the States that the Federal soldiers, who were therein disabled and whose necessities may require it, should receive a pen- sion, but it is insisted that the pension roll should be made a roll of honor and that those who performed no service for the government, or who are in affluent circumstances, should not demand that the masses be taxed to increase their wealth and a still greater burden should not be imposed upon those who are so little able to bear it. The Democratic party views with alarm -the growing tendency in pen- sion legislation to discriminate between the officers and soldiers of the late war and to give to the widows of deceased officers large pension^ and to the widows of the common soldiers very much smaller amounts without reference to the needs of the one or the wealth of the other, thereby creating what the spirit of our government prohibits a privileged class akin to and fashioned after the class distinctions of European monarchies. 12. The Democracy of Texas further hereby instructs its delegates to the National convention, to assemble at Chicago, to use their ut- most endeavors to secure the adoption of the platform above outlined in its entirety, and particularly that portion which relates to the money question, which we believe to be the paramount issue in this campaign. 13. They are further specially instructed to use their utmost and best endeavors to secure the nomination of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States at said convention who are known to be in perfect harmony with the money plank herein proposed, and who will endeavor to secure its enactment into a law by the Federal Congress in the event of their election. 14. They are further instructed to vote as a unit upon all questions that may be presented to the convention, as well as upon the ones above specifically mentioned. 15. We believe that any law which permits the President of the United States to send troops into a State without a request therefor by the legislature or executive of the State, when there is no insur- 374 Platforms of Political rection against the government of the United States nor resistance to the enforcement of the National laws, not only violates a plain pro- vision of the Constitution, but is dangerous to the liberties of the people and should be repealed. 16. We approve, indorse, and recommend our present State admin- istration as being patriotic, wise, and economical and pledge our con- tinued support of the same. [17] Resolved, that we, the delegates composing this convention, do hereby pledge ourselves and, as far as we have the power to do so, the Democracy of this State to sustain, uphold, and advocate whatever policies may be adopted by the Democratic National party to be put forth by it at the National convention soon to be held in the City of Chicago. [18] We indorse and confirm in detail and in whole the action of the State executive committee in the conduct of the campaign up to the present time, and congratulate the chairman, Hon. James G. Dud- ley, upon the able and patriotic manner in which he has discharged the onerous duties devolved upon him as chairman of said committee. [19] That we favor the election of United States senators by a direct vote of the people. [20] That we look with horror upon the tendency of some of the people to adopt the wild vagaries advocated by the Populist party. [2l] That we believe that all differences of opinion upon political issues that may exist among Democrats should exist within party lines, and we deplore the disposition of any Democrat to leave his party because he may not agree with the majority upon economic questions, and trust that all Democrats will abandon such purpose and remain with us and help to defeat all enemies of our grand old party. [22] That we view with alarm the fact that the Republican party is unable to profit by the light of experience or observation, and that by its recent platform, adopted at St. Louis, it has shown that it is still in favor of carrying out all of the pernicious policies so long practiced by it to the great detriment of the people and that the people can no longer hope for any relief by the supremacy of that party. MINORITY REPORT i The Democracy, in convention assembled, now proclaim to the people its entire confidence in the wisdom and patriotism of the Democracy of the United States and of Texas to give to all the people a wise, pure, economical, and good government, and we declare: 1. That we reflect with pride upon the achievements of our party in the past and realize that the people are indebted to the Democratic party for all the liberty they now enjoy under this government. 2. [Same as plank 22 of the majority report.] 3. [Same as plank 20 of the majority report.] Parties in Texas 375 4. That we recognize in our Democratic President, Grover Cleve- land, a wise, courageous, and patriotic citizen and look upon him as a true friend to all of the people, but especially as a friend of the South. We regard his official acts and messages as exceptionally wise and just and heartily approve and indorse the same, feeling sure that in every instance he has done the best thing that could be done under existing circumstances, and we can not fail to condemn the disposition manifested by some who claim to be Democrats to abuse and slander him. 5. We believe that our country should remain upon a safe, sound, and stable currency basis and that gold is the best possible standard and measure of values. a. We favor the freest and fullest use of silver possible as a legal tender money consistent with its stability and to the extent that its parity with the best money in existence may be maintained, which is in full accord with our National administration. b. We believe in adopting a policy that will give to our people as much money as is possible, so long as every dollar issued can be kept equal in value and in purchasing power with every other dollar and with the best dollar. c. We are opposed to any policy that may force upon the people a fluctuating and depreciating currency. d. We believe that any deficiency in the volume of our money or gold and silver should be supplied with paper money, issued by the government and redeemable in coin on demand, and that the govern- ment should provide a sure and certain means for its redemption at as little cost as is possible to the people. e. We are opposed to the free and unlimited coinage of silver into legal tender money by the United States alone at the ration of 16 to 1, and feel sure that such a policy would result in a debased and fluctuat- ing currency and would greatly contract our supply of money. f. We approve and indorse the views of Cleveland and Carlisle upon the financial issue. 6. [Adopted; appears above as plank 16 of the majority report.] 7. We believe that only a sufficient amount of money should be collected from the people to economically administer the affairs of the government, and that all laws intended to raise revenues should be adjusted and framed with the single view to raise such revenues as are necessary to so conduct the government, and we are unalterably opposed to the protective system, and to all other forms of class legislation. 8. That we consider it beyond the power of the executive committee of this State to direct the sovereign Democratic voters of the several counties to select their delegates to the State and district convention in any particular manner, fully believing that such power rests with the voter of each particular county, and that Democracy can confide 376 Platforms of Political to the wisdom and purity of the voters of each county the duty oJ selecting their delegates, and believe that they will send only Demo- crats to Democratic conventions and will adopt a method to obtain an honest expression of the people on all subjects submitted to them without dictation from any centralized source. 9. [Same as plank 21 of the majority report.] JONATHAN LANE, JOHN I. KLEIBEB. Duncan stated that the framers of the majority report had by an oversight failed to indorse the State administration; therefore, he moved that the report of the minority be tabled with the exception of the section indorsing the State administration. The motion prevailed. STATE LABOR UNION, 1896 WACO, July 3 and 4 In his call for the meeting of the second annual session of the Texas State Labor Union, President George N. Beach stated the purpose of this organization as follows: "The purpose of this organization is to form a closer bond of union between the organized farmers, artisans, and wageworkers of the State, to assist in molding public opinion in favor of the rights of pro- ductive labor, and to furnish action on matters of mutual in- terest. The organization is nonpartisan, but discusses and en- courages the discussion of questions of political economy in their bearing on work and wages, and all bodies electing delegates to the Waco meeting are requested to instruct them as to the wishes of the body sending them upon the questions of shorter hours, child labor, compulsory arbitration, the initiative and refer- endum, proportional representation, preferential ballot, convict labor, home rule in taxation, and such other questions as the electing body deems proper for discussion at the State Labor Union." Officers: President, George N. Beach, of Dallas. Secretary, Mrs. Alice McAnulty, of Williamson. DEMANDS 1 1. We demand of the State legislature the submission to the people an amendment to the constitution giving all taxing districts x The demands are copied from the Dallas News, July 5, 1896. Parties in Texas 377 the right to levy their taxation upon such forms of property as they &ee fit, provided they pay their full quota to the State fund. 2. We demand the adoption of the initiative and referendum in the making and adoption of all laws. 3. We demand the abolition of the present official fee system, and all in excess of $2500 in fees shall go to the public school fund. 4. We demand a uniform system of textbooks in the public school* of the State, to be furnished free. 5. We demand an effective mechanics' and laborers' lien law. 6. We demand the abolition of the present contract system, and that convict labor be taken out of competition with free labor, and recommend that the employment df convict labor be applied to the construction of public roads and improvement of waterways, and that all convict labor not employed in those works manufacture tools and clothing for the use of the various State institutions only. We further demand that all convict-made goods shipped into the State from with- out shall be stamped or branded "convict-made". 7. We demand the passage of a bill to protect employes and to guarantee their right to belong to labor organizations. We indorse and recommend what is known as the "Golden" House Bill No. 652 of the twenty-third legislature. 8. We demand that all railroads and corporations in our State be compelled to pay their employes in lawful money of the country, weekly or monthly, and in case of discharge that employes be paid at the nearest railroad station to the place of discharge. 9. We demand the passage of a law prohibiting the employment of children under fifteen years of age in mines, factories, or workshops. 10. We demand the passage of a law giving all installment pur- chasers an equity in their purchases to the full amount paid in, and forbidding the forfeiture of such right by failure to continue the pay- ments. This law should apply to real estate as well as to personal property. 11. We demand the establishment of a State labor bureau as a de- partment of the State government, to collect, compile, and submit to the legislature and executive from time to time all obtainable data on questions affecting work and wages. 12. We demand that the State administration make a thorough and immediate investigation of the condition of affairs at the Thurber coal mines and of the miners. And, moreover, we condemn the use of armed forces for the purpose of holding in oppression the working people of this State. State Executive Committee: George N. Beach, of Dallas; A. E. Widmer, of Waco; T. B. Taylor, of Cornhill; Tracy, of Dallas; - - Miller, of Dallas; F. Bossy, of Granger. 378 Platforms of Political PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1896 DALLAS, July 29 About fifty delegates attended this convention. The report of the platform committee raised the issue between the "broad gauged" and "narrow gauged" adherents; the latter were in the majority. The report of the committee on nominations caused some debate on the advisability of placing a State ticket in the field. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, James B. Goff, of Travis; permanent, J. M. Dunn, of McLennan. Secretary E. A. Wingo, of Van Zandt. Presidential Electors: J. M. Dunn, J. B. Cranfill, J. D. Graves, E. A. Wingo, D. H. Hancock, S. T. Wise, W. D. Jack- son, G. W. Logan, J. M. Webster, H. Bradford, Miles Epler, S. C. Cunningham, A. B. Bailey, G. H. M. Wilson, E. C. Heath. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Randolph Clark, of McLennan; Lieutenant-Governor, Rev. H. Bradford, of Dallas; Attorney-General, James B. Goff, of Travis; Comptroller, W. T. Clayton, of Galveston; Treasurer, Jerome W. Henderson, of Hopkins; Commissioner of the General Land Office, W. Man- ning, of Van Zandt; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. E. C. Burleson, of McLennan. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: G. A. Colson, D. M. Prendergast, Ed Rogers, E. A. Wingo, E. C. Heath, G. W. Owen, S. W. Patterson. PLATFORM 1 [Preamble same as that of the platform of 1892.] 1. [Same as plank 1 of the platform of 1894.] 2. [Same as plank 6 of the platform of 1892.] 3. We favor immigration, laws so framed as to exclude paupers, insane, ignorant and vicious classes; and no foreigner should be al- lowed to vote who has not become naturalized, and resided in the United States ten years. ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News. July 30, 1896. Parties in Texas 37!) 4. [Same as plank 9 of the platform of 1892.] 5. The President and Vice-President of the United States should be elected by a direct vote of the people. 6. [Same as plank 11 of the platform of 1892.] 7. [Same as plank 11 of the platform of 1894.] 8. [Same as plank 13 of the platform of 1894.] 9. We favor the initiative and referendum. 10. [Same as plank 14 of the platform of 1894.] State Executive Committee: E. A. Wingo, of Van Zandt, chairman; 1st Congressional district, J. D. Graves, of Brazoria; 2. B. W. Burch, of Orange; 3. J. W. Peyton, of - -; 4. J. W. Henderson, of Hopkins; 5. D. H. Hancock, of Collin; 6. H. F. Mclntosh, of Dallas ; 7. J. T. Jordan, of Bell ; 8. R. G. West, of Parker; 9. G. W. Logan, of Williamson; 10. W. T. Clayton, of Galveston; 11. A. B. Bailey, of Hays; 12. B. P. Bailey, of Harris ; 13. T. H. Peebles, of Wichita. PEOPLE'S PARTY STATE CONVENTION, 1896 i GALVESTON, August 5-8 The Peoples' party did not hold a State convention for the purpose of selecting delegates to the National convention which met at St. Louis, July 22, 1896. The Texas delegates to that convention opposed fusion. One of the problems of the lead- ers was to prevent the Galveston convention from taking action censuring the fusionists. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Marshall Burney, of Kerr; permanent, H. L. Bentley, of Taylor. Secretary pro tempore, L. M. Galloway, of Navarro; permanent, J. F. Weeks, of Cher- okee. Presidential Electors: State at large, E. 0. Call, of Navarro, H. D. Wood, of Hunt; 1st Congressional district, R. H. Cab- iness; 2. G. W. Carnes, of - -; 3. John 'Byrne, of Gregg; 4. Sid C. Harper, of Hopkins; 5. E. W. Kirkpatrick, of Collin; 6. E. G. Sessions, of Navarro; 7. G. B. Harris, of ; 8. J. E. Martin, of Tarrant; 9. Marion M. Williams, of Travis; 10. J. R. Allen, of Fayette; 11. A. J. Carrothers, of -; 12. T. W. Haines, of Blanco ; 13. D. B. Gilliland, of Jack. 380 Platforms of Political Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Jerome C. Kearby, of Dallas ; Lieutenant-Governor, H. S. P. Ashby, of Tarrant ; At- torney-General, W. M. Walton, of Travis; Comptroller, E. O. Meitzen, of Lavaca; Treasurer, S. 0. Daws, of Limestone; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, S. G. Granberry, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, A. B. Francisco, of Gal- veston; Railroad Commissioners, Evan Jones, of Erath, W. W. Nelms, of Williamson, E. P. Alsbury, of Harris; Supreme Court, T. J. McMinn, of Bexar; Court of Criminal Appeals, R. V. Bell, of Cooke. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: C. H. Jenkins, chairman, N. P. Houx, W. H. Matthews, E. S. Peters, R. J. Sledge, J. B. Gay, A. B. Carruthers, J. G. Burney, H. L. Bent- ley, J. G. H. Buck. PLATFORM 1 Preamble We demand a change of administration in Texas for the reason that during the twenty-three years in which the Democratic party has had control of this State it has squandered our magnificent public domain in donations to corporations and sales at nominal prices to syndicates and land grabbers, and has thrown every impediment in the way of the actual settler. It has multiplied officers, wasted the public reve- nues, increased our State debts, and raised our taxes to the point approaching confiscation. It has increased the expenses of the State government from $1,000,000 per annum to more than $4,000,000 per annum. By its maladministration of the public school funds it has, in open violation of the constitution, reduced our public free schools from a six to a three months' session per annum, and at the same time it has invaded our permanent school fund so that the same will be ultimately extinguished, instead of remaining as a perpetual benefit to posterity, as designed by our fathers. Though needlessly multiplying courts, it has failed to enforce the laws by refusing to repeal senseless technicalities in our criminal procedure; it has rendered necessary reversals of the judgments of convictions against notorious criminals to such an extent that our courts of final resort have been subjected to gross abuse and the administration of our laws has been brought into such contempt as to incite mobs to deeds of violence to the shame and disgrace of our State. lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston News, August 6 and 7, 1896. Parties in Texas 381 We denounce the present administration of this State as being purely personal and dominated by ring rule, as is evidenced by such acts as the payment of extravagant and unnecessary fees to its henchmen and its refusal to buy bonds except through favorite brokers. This ad- ministration, like its predecessor, claims the right of being its own successor, and like them will claim the right to pass the office of governor to the "next in line," unless the citizens of Texas show by their votes that the office of governor belongs to the people, and not to the official family. A long lease of power tends to corruption, and is subversive of economy and efficient government, and we believe that the best interests of Texas demand a change of administration and an inspection of the books. We submit the following declaration of principles of the People's party of Texas, in convention assembled, at Galveston, Texas, this August 5, 1896: National Politics [1] We indorse the principles of the People's party as set forth in our National platform, adopted at St. Louis, July 22, 1896. Amen. Land [2] The People's party favors all State legislation that tends to increase the number of homeowners and that will assist in the settling of our unoccupied land; hence we demand that only the improvements and the amount actually paid to the State upon school lands be subject to taxation. [3] No non-resident alien ownership of land should be allowed in Texas. [4] [Same as plank 14 of the platform of 1894.] [5] We demand a law giving to owners of real estate one year to redeem all lands in Texas sold under forced sale and deeds of trust. Taxation [6] We favar a constitutional amendment exempting $250 of per- sonal property from taxation in lieu of the exemption of $250 of house- hold and kitchen furniture and the exemption of $500 worth of im- provements on homesteads. [7] We are opposed to counties or cities contracting a bonded debt unless the same be ordered by a majority vote of the people proposed to be taxed by said debt. [8] We are in favor of a just and equal rendition of all property " for taxation, and to that end demand that all notes and other securi- ties shall be rendered for taxation, and we are opposed to double taxation. 382 Platforms .of Political [9] We denounce the Democratic party for its reckless extrava- gance in the adminishtration of the affairs of State, and pledge the People's party to the most rigid economy in the administration of said affairs. Schools [10] We favor an effective system of public free schools for six months in the year, as provided for in the constitution, for all children between the ages of five and eighteen years, and each race shall have its own pro rata portion of the school fund, and its own trustees, to be elected by the respective races, and control its own schools. [11] [Same as plank 16 of the platform of 1894.] [12] [Same as plank 3 of the platform of 1892.] Labor [13] We demand the enactment of a law declaring eight hours to be a legal day's work for all artisans, mechanics, and laborers in the employment of contractors and corporations. [14] [Same as plank 11 (1) of the platform of 1892.] [15] [Same as plank 11 (2) of the platform of 1892.] [16] [Same as plank 8 of the platform of 1892.] [17] [Same as plank 27 of the platform of 1894, except that the word "favor" is replaced by "demand".] General Demands [18] We demand a free vote by every qualified elector without reference to nationality, and an honest count. [19, 20, and 21] [Same as planks 29, 30, and 31 of the platform of 1894.] [22] [Same as plank 8 'of the platform of 1891, plus the following: "and that all short term convicts and county convicts shall be em- ployed upon the public roads, where thought practicable by the com- missioners' court."] [23] We favor a law making it a misdemeanor for any railroad company to give free transportation to any State, county, or municipal officer, or any such officer to receive such transportation. [24] We demand the repeal of the law authorizing conductors on railroads to charge more than the regular ticket fare when tickets are not procured by passengers. [25] We demand that the State be redistricted, as to judicial and representative districts, to the end that the number of judicial and representative districts be materially reduced. [26] We demand that the present system of paying our officers by Parties in Texas 383 fees shall be abolished and that all county officers and district clerks be paid fixed salaries not to exceed $2000 per annum net, and that all fees collected in excess of this salary shall be paid into the county school fund. [27] ~We condemn now, as we did in our platform of 1894, the policy of placing raw material on the free list while every article manufactured from said raw material is protected. [28] We are not the enemy of railroads, and we here declare that, while we favor government ownership of railroads, yet, so long as such property is owned and operated by corporations, it is entitled to fair and impartial treatment at the hands of the government and the people and to the same protection that is accorded to private property. [29] We condemn the setting aside of large contingent funds sub- ject to the draft of one man, as demoralizing to good State government. [30] Without committing the party to the advocacy or rejection of government bounties as a principle or policy, we condemn the Demo- cratic State administration because of their failure to collect from the general government the sugar bounty earned by and due to the State. We favor also the collection by the State of the pro rata of money due Texas or its citizens on account of the illegal cotton tax collected by the general government, and we demand that said fund, in addition to the fund now provided by law, be devoted to the aid of infirm and indigent ex-Confederate soldiers and their wives, the balance, if any, to be devoted to the extension of provisions for the industrial educa- tion of the boys and girls of Texas. [31] We favor such a revision of the fellow-servants' act as shall correct the inequalities of the present law and give adequate protection to employes. [32] We are in favor of equal justice and protection under the law to all citizens, without reference to race, color, or nationality. [33] The People's party of Texas favors a liberal appropriation by the general government to improve the harbors of Texas and to this end we request our senators and representatives in Congress to sup- port such appropriations as will be sufficient to secure and, maintain deep water in such harbors, rivers, and waterways. Additional Resolutions [34] Resolved, that we favor a law allowing county convicts not less than fifty cents a day for all work performed by them in working cut fines and costs on the public roads and poor farms. [35] That we condemn the practice of letting contracts upon public buildings in this State without advertising for proposals for same. [36] That it is the policy of the Populist party that the money col- lected from the taxpayers of the State should be disbursed within and to the citizens of the State when practicable. 384 Platforms of Political State Executive Committee: Joe S. Bradley, of Taylor, chair- man; State at large, J. B. Rayner, of Robertson, L. D. Stans- berry, of Gregg; 1st Congressional district, E. P. Alsbury, of Harris; 2. H. C. Howell, of Jasper; 3. S. G. Earle, of Hunt; 4. S. C. Harper, of Hopkins; 5. D. E. Lyday, of Fannan; 6. E..O. Call, of Navarro; 7. A. C. Isaacs, of Milani; 8. Thomas B. King, of Erath; 9. M. W. Williams, of Travis; 10. J. B. Gay, of Brazoria; 11. J. W. Rut-ledge, of Karnes; 12. A. B. Surber, of Kerr ; 13. J. S. Bradley, of Taylor. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1896 FORT WORTH, August 18 and 19 t i The majority rule again was applied to nominations. For the first time the State executive committee nominated the officers of the temporary organization. A proposition was received from the campaign committee of the People's party that the Demo- cratic party allow the former seven of the fifteen presidential electors ; it was declined. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, R. M. Johnston, of Har- ris: permanent, C. L. Potter, of Cooke. Secretary pro tempore, John J. Ball, of Cass ; permanent, A. M. Kennedy, of Limestone. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, W. T. Armistead, 2. James Clark, 3. Travis Henderson, 4. Dr. W. H. Freeman, 5. J. S. Sherrill, 6. James Moroney, 7. F. J. McCord, 8. J. H. Long, secretary, 9. A. S. Gill, 10. W. F. Ramsey, 11. R. L. Henry, 12. J. C. Scott, 13. John H. Reagan, chairman, 14. George F. Ingraham, 15. L. T. Dashiell, 16. Frank Andrews, 17. E. D. Gavin, 18. W. S. Robson, 19. S. L. Staples, 20. D. S. Chessher, 21. Ed R, Kone, 22. A. S. Thurman, 23. Dr. T. J. Turpin, 24. J. F. Onion, 25. Winchester Kelso, 26. H. C. Randolph, 27. J. R. Raby, 28. H. C. Hord, 29. D. F. Goss, 30. R. M. Wynne, 31. W. S. Jamison. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Charles A. Culberson, of Dallas; Lieutenant-Governor, George T. Jester, of Navarro ; Attorney-General M. M. Crane, of Johnson; Comptroller, R. W. Finley, of Travis; Treasurer, W. B. Wortham, of Travis; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, A. J. Baker, of Tom Green ; Parties in Texas 385 Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. M. Carlisle, of Tar- rant; Railroad Commissioners, John H. Reagan, of Anderson, Allison Mayfield, of Grayson, L. J. Storey, of Guadalupe. PLATFORM 1 The leaders of the Populist party have opened the campaign with a platform containing many incorrect statements respecting past and present State administrations. Denouncing an alleged personal gov- ernment under ring rule, they have committed the management of their party to a committee of three, with plenary powers to trade and traffic for offices for their leaders; asserting that the administration refuses to buy bonds except through favorite brokers, they could have found by proper investigation the incorrectness of such a charge; charging that in the past twenty-three years expenses have increased from $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 annually, the record shows that the gen- eral expenses of the State government, for the fiscal year ending September 1, 1896, amounted to $2,231,791.81, and for the year ending September 1, 1897, will not exceed $2,200,000, instead of $4,000,000 annually as charged, and that' expenses for general purposes were greater in 1873 than now; insisting that the school term has been reduced from six months to three months, the truth is that the term is now four and six tenths months, and the next year will be five and one-half months; declaring the rate of taxation approaches confiscation,' it is well known that the rate is moderate and necessary to conduct an economical government, is lower than any State in the Union, ex- cept three; and though free with promises, the convention shows its inconsistency by its failure to pledge a reduction either of taxation or expenses; alleging a multiplication of offices, they point out none which should be abolished, and propose the creation of two additional official bureaus; protesting special friendship for silver and loyalty to principle above place, they conceal their choice for President and Vice- President. Upon these misrepresentations by the Populist leaders, which we do not believe are concurred in or indorsed by. the friends of good government in their own or any other party, we invoke the considerate judgment of the people, and submit the following as the declaration of principles of the Democratic party of Texas in the present campaign: 1. We indorse the principles of the Democracy as set forth in the platform of the National convention, which convened at Chicago, July 7, and pledge to William J. Bryan and Arthur Sewall our united and cordial support for President and Vice-President. 2. We indorse in toto the platform of our National convention, but we specially commend and approve the declaration for an income tax, ir The proceedings of the convention are taken from the Dallas News. 25328 386 Platforms of Political opposition to the issue of bonds in time of peace, against the power of banks to issue money, for a tariff for revenue that will operate with- out discrimination, against classes or sections, and for the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, with full legal tender quality, and without reference to the action of other gov- ernments. 3. We approve, indorse, and commend the administration of Gov- ernor Culberson and his associates as being economical, wise, and patriotic. Under them the government has been administered effi- ciently and faithfully, the fees of office have been reduced $188,000 annually; the general expenses have been decreased $332,000 per year, and freight charges to the people have been lessened over $3,000,000 since the railroad commission began operation. It has paid off a de- ficit of $788,000 in the general revenue which was caused by the pay- ment of a portion of the public debt, the necessary construction and repair of public institutions, and a reduction of the rate of taxation, and yet conducted the government at a less annual cost for general purposes than for the years 1871, 1872, and 1873, including bond issues, 1882, 1889, and each year since 1891. It has paid off a deficit in the school fund of $547,000, caused by an extraordinary increase in the scholastic population and general financial depression, causing the in- ability of the State to continue to sell and lease its public school lands, and to collect interest upon notes for lands already sold, yet operated the schools four and six tenths months the past year, and has pro- vided a per capita apportionment for the next year of $4, which will run the schools five and one-half months. Notwithstanding the rate of taxation has been increased to the old rate, in order to meet these deficiencies and carry on the government, the rate for all purposes, including schools, is lower than for any year from 1871 to 1882, only half a cent higher than for the years 1885, 1886, and 1887, and lower than any State in the Union, except three. The public institutions and various departments have been conducted with energy and ability, the laws have been faithfully executed, and the fair name of the State protected and preserved. 4. We pledge a continuance of economy in the conduct of the gov- ernment, such further reductions of expenses as may be found con- sistent with efficiency, and a strict enforcement of the laws. 5. We demand a reapportionment of the judicial districts of the State, to the end that the labor of the judges may be equalized and unnecessary districts abolished. 6. We demand that the legislature enact a law requiring express companies to maintain general offices within the limits of the State. 7. We indorse the reforms in our fee system recommended by Gov- ernor Culberson, and demand that the fees of county and district offices be regulated by the enactment of a law similar to that which now regulates the compensation of county treasurers, with such modifica- Parties in Texas 387 tions as will secure efficient public service and be just alike to officer, litigant, and taxpayer. 8. 'The Democratic party is the friend of labor and the laboring man, and for the ample and sufficient protection of the artisans, me- chanics, and laborers of our State, we demand the passage of liberal laws, securing them in the prompt payment of their wages, and pro- viding for fixing and enforcing liens therefor. 9. We demand such further amendments to the present fellow- servant law as will attain the purpose sought to be accomplished there- by, and as will protect employes of railway and other corporations in their lives and against injury. 10. The Democratic party will continue its well established policy of disposing of the public school lands of the State to those desiring homes, so as to promote, as far as practicable, the settlement of the country and its speedy development. To this end, and that the school fund may be more speedily increased from that source, we favor such legislation as will facilitate the sale of such lands, rather than the indefinite perpetuation of a lease system. 11. We demand a reformation in our criminal laws. Among the reforms imperatively demanded is an amendment to the code of crim- inal procedure authorizing the appellate court to presume that all matters of venue were proven on the trial, that the accused pleaded to the indictment, and that the jury was sworn, unless such questions were in issue in the trial court and were there acted upon before appeal; an amendment to article 725, Code of Criminal Procedure, to the effect that the appellant court shall not be required to reverse a judgment unless a failure of the trial court to observe the require- ments of that article probably injured the defendant and deprived him of a fair trial; and the correction of the evil of professional jury service. We further demand that our jury laws be revised and that the number of exemptions from jury service be reduced, and that in every criminal case trials shall be alike fair and impartial as between the State and defendant, and to that end that the State have the same number of peremptory challenges allowed a defendant. 12. We believe that the system of hiring convicts to individuals or corporations is contrary to public policy, and should be discontinued at the earliest practicable moment consistent with the best interests of the State. We favor the adoption of the amendment to Section 4, Article 7, of the constitution, submitted by the twenty-fourth legisla- ture, which will permit the investment of a portion of the school fund In agricultural lands for the benefit of the penitentiary system. This will provide necessary employment for convicts, restrict competition with free labor, assist in avoiding taxation to support the penitentiaries, and furnish a safe investment for the fund, but the amount of money for this purpose should be carefully limited. 13. We favor such careful and guarded laws as may be necessary 388 Platforms of Political to enable the State board of education, in the investment of the school fund in county bonds, to compete with private investors, so that this fund may not lie idle in the treasury. 14. The constitution well declares that a general diffusion of knowledge is essential to the preservation of liberty, and we, therefore, demand a careful husbanding and faithful administration of the school fund and revenue of the State, to the end that the constitutional pro- vision requiring the public free school to be maintained for at least six' months in the year shall be observed faithfully, and that the Univer- sity, its branches, and other educational institutions shall receive all proper and adequate support for their maintenance and growth. 15. Having founded the Confederate Home, the Democratic party takes special pride in the necessaries and comforts it provides for dis- abled heroes, and pledges a continued improvement and enlargement of its benefits. 16. We pledge to all classes and races equal protection in the en- joyment of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Provision has already been made by us for the control and management of colored schools by colored trustees. The Prairie View Normar scnool should be enlarged, making provision for industrial features and gradually converting it into a university for the colored people. To this end we favor setting apart immediately for this purpose 50,000 acres of the unappropriated public domain. 17. We favor the election of United States senators by a direct vote of the people. 18. We demand that our representatives and senators in Congress be requested to use all honorable means to secure adequate appropri- ations for the improvement of the ports and inland waterways of the State. 19. We demand that the continued, persistent discrimination by railways in favor of alien shippers and against our merchants, manu- facturers, and farmers shall cease. 20. We hold that it is the absolute duty of the State to provide ample and sufficient asylum accommodation for the unfortunate insane of the State, and we pledge the Democratic party to the accomplish- ment of that purpose. Confident of the justice of our cause, and relying upon the deliberate judgment of the people, we invite the cooperation and support of all citizens, irrespective of past party affiliations, who approve these prin- ciples and desire an efficient State and National administration. Additional Resolution [21] Resolved, that the chairman of the Democratic executive com- mittee is authorized to appoint a campaign committee of three, of which he shall be ex-officio chairman. Parties in Texas 389 State Executive Committee: J. W. Blake, of Limestone, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, B. F. Sherrill, of Marion; 2. A. P. Doak, of Red River, 3. Ben H. Denton, of Lamar ; 4. I. M. Standifer, of Grayson; 5. W. A. "Williams, of Hunt; 6. John H. Cullom, of Dallas; 7. R. W. Simpson, of Upshur; 8. Jonathan D. Rudd, of Harrison; 9. A. B. Watkins, of Henderson; 10. F. B. Baillio, of Johnson; 11. Shell Hogan, of McLennan; 12. H. E. Ellis, of Limestone; 13. S. A. McMeans, of Anderson; 14. J. H. Brooks, of Jefferson ; 15. A. F. Brigance, of Grimes ; 16. R. M. Johnston, of Harris; 17. John Lovejoy, of Galveston; 18. W. S. Robson, of Fayette; 19. M. M. Felder, of Washington; 20. F. T. Roche, of Williamson ; 21. Lee J. Roundtree, of Hays ; 22. J. G. Jamison, of Victoria ; 23. James B. Wells, of Cameron ; 24. B. F. McNulty, of Bexar; 25. J. W. Hill, of Tom Green; 26. Arch Grinnan, of Brown; 27. J. L. Spurlin, of Hamilton; 28. H. P. Brelsford, of Eastland; 29. W. B. Plemmons, of Pot- ter; 30. R. E. Maddox, of Tarrant; 31. Dr. J. B. Blount, of Denton. STATE CONVENTION OF "GOLD" DEMOCRATS, 1896 WACO, August 25 The action of the Chicago convention was disconcerting to the "Gold" Democrats of Texas. A conference of the leaders was held July 31. About 600 delegates attended the convention at Waco, August 25. The subject of nominating a State ticket was not discussed. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, F. Charles Hume, of Gal- veston; permanent, Columbus Upson, of Bexar. Secretary, J. A. Redd, of Navarro. Presidential Electors: State at large, A. T. Watts, of Dallas, and W. 0. Davis, of Cooke; 1st Congressional district, H. W. Garrow; 2. Robert McClure; 3. B. B. Cain; 4. R. M. Henderson; 5. C. W. Geers, 6. M. W. Littleton, 7. J. W. Davis, 8. B. B. Paddock; 9. R. J, Hill, 10. I. M. Dennis, 11. William Rust, 12. W. W. King, 13. William Beall. Delegates to the Indianapolis Convention: State at large, D. C. Giddings, George Clark, A. W. Fly, W. L. Crawford; 1st 390 Platforms of Political Congressional district, Jerry McDaniel and J, M. Cotton; 2. J. J. Wood and H. M. Rice; 3. T. 0. Woldert and James H. Jones; 4. W. T. Hudgins and W. F. Skillman; 5. J. M. Lindsay and T. W. Stratton; 6. W. W. Locke and J. T. Trezevant; 7. W. T. Hefley and A. E. Watson; 8. Sidney L. Samuels and W. H. Lassiter; 9. George T. McGee and Peyton Brown; 10. M. E. Kleberg and T. J. Ballinger; 11. Grant R. Bennett and T. D. Wood; 12. William Antony and S. D. Scudder; 13. S. W. Eastern and Marion Hill. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, J. L. Meyer, of Harris, and William Watson; 2. D. A. Nunn, of Houston, and M. J. Whitman, . secretary ; 3. T. 0. Woldert, of Smith; 4. R, M. Henderson, of Hopkins, and W. H. Elliott; 5. R. C. Foster, of Grayson, and W. 0. Davis, of Cooke; 6. W. L. Crawford, of Dallas, chairman, and Rufus Hardy, of Navarro; 7. George Clark, of McLennan, and J. A. Martin, of Falls ; 8. J. P. Smith, of Tarrant, and Henry Lockett, of Coleman ; 9. W. W. Searcy, of Washington, and W. D. Wood ; 10. F. Charles Hume and M. Lasker, both of Galveston; 11. T. M. Moore, and F. C. Proctor, of Victoria ; 12. William Aubrey and Reagan Houston, both of Bexar; 13. W. F. Moore, and John N. Simpson. PLATFORM 1 1. We, the National Democracy of Texas, in State convention as- sembled, hereby reaffirm our allegiance to the principles of the Demo- cratic party as they have been determined by the party in National conventions prior to the National convention of 1896, and deny the right of the latter convention to fasten upon the party new political tenets which constitute innovations upon the body of Democracy and which will, if successful, overwhelm the country in universal embar- rassment. 2. Having heretofore formally repudiated the methods and actions of the fraudulently constituted so-called Democratic executive com- mittee, headed by James G. Dudley, and, since that time the so-called Democratic party of Texas having approved such methods and in- dorsed said action and the committee, we also hereby repudiate its action and every act at Chicago and subsequently at their different conventions. lr rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News,, August 26, 1896. Parties in Texas 391 3. Parties are made for men and not men for parties, and the allegiance which parties owe their political affiliations is not to a mere name, hut to the principles which the party was organized to pro- mote. It is manifest accordingly that when an apparent majority makes use of its temporary ascendancy to repudiate the basic prin- ciples on which the party rests and violates the traditions to which the party in the past has owed its greatness and its glory, it becomes the patriotic duty of every member of the party to return to its ancient principles and resume its capacity for continued usefulness. 4. We believe that in order to maintain the integrity of the Demo- cratic party and to preserve its principles pure and uncontaminated, it is the duty of all Democrats to repudiate the platform and nominees of the late Chicago convention and cast their vote for electors selected at Austin, to voice the principles and maintain the policy of the true Democratic party. 5. We are in favor of honest elections, and to this end we demand that all parties have fair representations among the judges and clerks of election. 6-9. [Same as planks 3-6 of the platform adopted June 23, 1896.] 10. We condemn the methods adopted by those who have been in- vested with the management of the affairs of the Democratic party of Texas, they having used the same solely for the purpose of retaining the present administration in this State, and by which the true De- mocracy of this State was in a manner disfranchised at the primaries, and, therefore, the so-called Democratic nominations at Fort Worth have no binding force upon any true Democrat in this State. State Executive Committee : Rufus Hardy, of Navarro, chair- man; 1st Senatorial district, W. H. Elliott, of Bowie; 2. A. J. Cross, of Red River ; 3. W. P. Brown, of Lamar ; 4. W. 0. Davis, of Cooke; 5. S. D. Hatter, of - -; 6. John N. Simpson, of Dallas; 7. S. A. Lindsay, of Smith; 8. R. L. Jennings, of Harrison; 9. James Hoffmaster, of - ; 10. T. R. Ander- son, of Ellis; 11. W. T. Hefley, of Milam; 12. E. J. Gibson, of Limestone; 14. blank; 15. Jerry McDaniels; 16. M. F. Mott, of Galveston ; 17. and 18. blank ; 19. T. B. Botts, of Washington ; 20. W. P. Gaines, of Travis ; 21. Hammett Hardy, of Hays ; 22. James McDonald, of Victoria ; 23. Grant R. Bennett, of Nueces ; 24. J. L. Burgess, of Bexar ; 25. W. J. Sewall, of El Paso ; 26. James U. Benson, of Bosque; 27. Bart Hill, of Eastland; 28. blank; 29. "Willis Stewart, of Jack; 30. A. L. Matlock, of Tar- rant; 31. C. W. Geers, of Denton. 392 Platforms of Political "REGULAR" REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1896 FORT WORTH, September 9 and 10 The convention was well attended. The opening was post- poned from the 8th until the 9th because the State executive committee could not agree upon the preliminaries. The opening was marked by the defeat of N. W. Cuney for temporary chair- man. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, C. M. Ferguson, of Lamar; permanent, H. B. Kane, of Anderson. Secretary pro tempore, D. C. Kolp, of Wichita; permanent, K. L. Smith, of Colorado. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, E. L. Angel, 2. Henry B. Kane, chairman, 3. Webster Flanagan; 4. J. A. Hurley, 5. H. E. Smith, 6. J. M. McCormick, 7. J. P. Osterhout, 8. Dr. W. E. Davis, 9. E. P. Wilmot, 10. N. W. Cuney, 11. J. 0. Luby, 12. M. D. Bridges, 13. J. G. Low- den. PLATFORM 1 [1] Resolved by the Republican party of Texas, in convention assembled, that we heartily indorse the platform of the National Re- publican convention as adopted at St. Louis, and hereby pledge our faithful adherence to the same for the following reasons: Because it stands for honest money of which every dollar at all times shall be as good as gold. Because it stands for protection to American industry and reci- procity. Because it stands for a vigorous and dignified foreign policy and for the protection of American citizens and American property everywhere at any cost. Because it stands for generous recognition of the veterans of the Union army and for reforms in the administration of the pension laws.- Because it stands for a strict enforcement of our immigration laws. Because, in the nomination of McKinley and Hobart, it represents the highest type of American citizenship and by their election insures a return of prosperity to the business interests of our country and the restoration of peace and liberty throughout the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof. x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas September 10 and 11, 1896. Parties in Texas 393 [2] We favor the extending of aid by the National government to the improvement of our rivers and harbors, and request our members of Congress to use their best efforts to secure adequate appropri- ations of public money for this purpose. [3] We unqualifiedly condemn the present administration of affairs in the State government of Texas through its various agencies, and unite in calling upon all good citizens irrespective of party to join together in a determined effort to drive the present so-called Demo- cratic party from power in our beloved State and give to our people a wise, honest, economical, and pure government that shall guarantee the greatest good to the greatest number and the blessings of good government to the people of this great State. [4] We recommend to our legislature the enactment of appropriate laws for the development of a system of irrigation in the semiarid sections of the State. [5] We insist that laws should be speedily enacted extending to our colored youths the opportunities of a university education. [6] We favor a vigorous enforcement of the criminal laws of this State, irrespective of persons, and demand that the procedure govern- ing appeals in such cases be reformed with a view to the speedy de- termination of the correctness of convictions, without regard to tech- nicalities, and in this connection we denounce in unmeasured terms the resort to mob violence against persons charged with, but not con- victed of crime. To this end we recommend the appointment of a committee of three to be appointed by the chairman of this convention with full and plenary powers to arrange all details of the campaign to secure the objects set forth in these resolutions. State Executive Committee: Edward H. R. Greene, of Kauf- man, chairman. "REFORM" REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1896 FORT WORTH, September 9 Sixty counties were represented at this convention. It was held contemporaneously with the * * Regular ' ' Republican conven- tion, with a view of coming to some working agreement with that body. A plenary committee was appointed to continue negotiations after adjournment. Officers: Chairman, Dr. Max Urwitz, of Harris. Secretary, George Hall, of Orange. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Henry B. Cain, of 394 Platforms of Political Harris; Lieutenant-Governor, Robert Hanschke, of Bexar; At- torney-General, J. H. Norton, of Harris; Comptroller, T. B. Johnson, of Bexar ; Treasurer, W. N. Norton of Dallas ; Commis- sioner of the General Land Office, James M. Steere, of Dallas; Superintendent of Public Instruction, H. F. McGregor, of Har- ris; Railroad Commissioners, C. H. Donohower, of Deriton, Ed Davis, of Marion, L. B. Brackenbraw, of Brewster. Committee on Resolutions: H. B. Cline, S. L. Hain, J. M. Decker, J. J. Fairbanks, L. E. Deger. PLATFORM 1 1. We heartily indorse the platform as set forth at the St. Louis convention, and, in naming as our standard bearers McKinley and Hobart, meets our approval and we assure the National ticket of our support. 2. That the growth of our party in worth and numbers requires that in the counties where the white and colored races are numerous, the races should be organized in separate primaries whenever desired by either race. 3. That we condemn lynching as a violation of the law and cor- rupting the public morals. 4. That we recommend that the fee system be abolished. 5. That the public school system should give at least six months open school, and that all children of school age be compelled to attend some school for such time. Committee wit~k Plenary Powers: J. J. Fairbanks, of Gray- son; J. P. Newcomb, of Bexar; Whit Dry den, of Tarrant; J. B. Schmitz, of Denton; H. F. McGregor, of Harris. St\ate Executive Committee: J. J. Fairbanks, of Grayson, chairman. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONFERENCE, 1897 WACO, July 30 Chairman Blake called a conference of "all 'State, congres- sional, senatorial, representative, judicial, county, and precinct chairmen as well as of the presidents, secretaries, and other offi- VThe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, September 10, 1896. Parties in Texas 395 cers of Democratic clubs, and the editors of Democratic papers. ' ' The conference was an innovation ; its object was to consult in regard to the condition of the party and to discuss plans for improving the organization. The State executive committee also met on this occasion, and upon motion of the chairman a committee was appointed to solicit bids from cities desiring the next State convention, sug- gesting abandoning the "old way of rotation." Officers: Chairman, J. W. Blake. Secretary, . Committee on Resolutions : 1st Congressional district, Fred B. Robinson, of Walker, secretary; 2. William M. Imboden, of Cherokee; 3. R. N. Stafford, of Wood; 4. B. H. Denton, of Lamar; 5. S. P. Evans, of Grayson; 6. W. F. Ramsey, of John- son ; 7. R. L. Henry, of McLennan ; 8. J. M. Pressler, of Com- anche, chairman; 9. Jeff Johnson, of Travis; 10. A. Haidusek, of Fayette; 11. J. N. Garner, of Uvalde; 12. J. F. Onion, of Bexar; 13. C. V. Terrell, of Wise; the chairman. RESOLUTIONS 1 We recognize that this conference has no authority or right to speak for the Democracy of Texas in any binding or official sense. The sovereign voice of the Democracy of the State has been heard and is expressed in the platform of the party in convention duly assembled. 2. We reaffirm our unswerving and unwavering allegiance to the principles of the party as expressed in its last platforms, State and National, and we appeal to all members of the party and to the intelli- gent citizenship of the State desiring good government to stand as a unit in its support, and to further continue it in power as the only means of securing good government, economy in public expenditures, and the due and proper preservation and protection of the rights and liberties of the people. 3. We hail as an advance sign of the return to the principles upon which the prosperity of the country can alone be achieved the dis- position of the people in other States, as expressed in the recent elec- tions, to return to the time-honored doctrine of bimetalism and to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money metals of the country, and to a system of just and fair taxation, opposed to trusts and monopolies, and to the principles contained in the last National Democratic platform, adopted at Chicago in 1896. 4. We denounce the hypocrisy and false pretense of the Republican ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, 396 Platforms of Political party, which gave the promise of restoring prosperity as a means 1;3 deceive the voters of the country and to further fasten on the indus- tries of the people of America all the calamities of the single gold standard and excessive and unjust taxation. 5. That it is the sense of this meeting that the Democratic State executive committee, as now composed, shall recommend a primary election to be held throughout this State on some day hereafter to be named by said committee in 1898, wherever practicable, for the selection of the nominees of the Democratic party, and for the settlement of such issues as there may be serious conflict over within the party, the details of the recommendation to be made by said committee, to be hereafter formulated and adopted, it being the purpose of this resolu- tion to reaffirm as a principle of Democratic faith the relegating to the body of the Democracy the right and power of making their voice the voice of the Democratic party, expressed in a free and untrammelled manner, which experience has proven may be best done in a primary election. 6. We recommend that the Democratic State executive committee, as soon as in its judgment may be deemed advisable, issue an address to the voters of Texas, setting forth the record of the Democratic party of the State as to the fulfillment of its pledges. | Committee on Address: R. M. Johnston, H. P. Brelsford, Lee J. Rountree, A. B. Watkins, John H. Cullom, the Chairman. PEOPLE'S PARTY STATE CONVENTION, 1898 AUSTIN, July 27 and 28 The convention was attended by 1,200 to 1,500 members of the party. The ill effects of attempts at fusion in 1896 had converted nearly all to a middle-of-the-road policy. Officers: Chairman, Joe Eagle, of Harris. Secretary, N. P. Hbux, of Limestone. Nominees for 'State Offices: Governor, Barnett Gibbs, of Dal- las; Lieutenant-Governor, E. W. Kirkpatrick, of Collin; At- torney-General, J. H. Davis, of Hopkins; Comptroller, E. P. Alsbury, of Harris; Treasurer, J. B. Barry, of Bosque; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, H. L. Bentley, of Taylor; Superintendent of Public Instruction, V. A. Collins, of Van Zandt; Railroad Commissioner, Joe Farley, of Dallas; Supreme Court, T. J. McMinn, of Bexar; Court of Criminal Appeals, George T. Todd, of Marion. Parties in Texas <>97 Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, E. P. Alsbury, 2. S. R. Whitley, chairman, 3. H. D. Wood, 4. G. W. Edmonds, 5. S. J. Hampton, 6. Harry Tracey, 7. G. B. Harris, 8. J. L. L. JVIcCall, 9. S. G. Granberry, secretary. 10. C. K. Walter, 11. J. M. King, 12. J. H. Foster, 13. A. K Bentley. PLATFORM 1 Preamble We, the People's party of Texas, in convention assembled, renew our allegiance to the undying principles of the People's party as enunciated at Omaha and St. Louis. We congratulate the President of the United States on the efficient and successful prosecution of the war between Spain and the United States. With the most profound feeling of kindredship and National loyalty, devoid of all sectionalism, we most heartily embrace this opportunity of declaring our soldiers and sailors the bravest, the most loyal, gallant, and efficient of the world. 1. We demand the speedy construction and operation of the Nicaragua canal hy the government of the United States alone. 2. We demand that no government bonds shall be issued in time of war or peace. 3. The war between the United States and Spain was at its incep- tion declared and understood to be in the interest of humanity, and not for conquest. We cordially indorse this sentiment, and demand that the war shall be vigorously prosecuted to a successful' termina- tion on these lines and in this spirit, and we now and here pledge to the President and his administration our cooperation to that end. 4. We indorse the Omaha agreement of June 17, 1898, and we further indorse the action of our National committeemen at said con- ference. Arraignment of the Democratic Party We arraign the State Democracy for its maladministration of the State government for the past quarter of a century. Its platform promises are now a list of its past failures. Pledged to reduce the number of district judges, it has increased them. Pledged to protect the interest of shippers, it has levied a tribute of "all the traffic will bear," and when violations of its laws are discovered it has com- promised with the corporations for a pittance to the people and an equal or greater sum to its political henchmen. Pledged to donate ir rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Statesman, July 28 and 29, 1898. 398 Platforms of Political 50,000 acres of public lands to the colored race for educational pur- poses, it had no public lands then, nor has it any now. Pledged to honest elections, it holds office by Harrison County methods and the illegal Mexican vote of the border. Pledged to carry out the constitu- tional provisions requiring six months' public free school in the year, they have signally failed to do this, except in a few localities, not- withstanding the fact that for several years, under the Jester amend- ment, one per cent of the permanent school fund had been annually transferred to the available fund, and also that $1,200,000 of local funds have been used in one year to supplement the State and county funds. Pledged to economize, it has persistently increased tne taxes of the people. Pledged to reserve the public domain for actual set- tlers, it has donated the people's heritage to railroads and nonresident aliens, individual and corporate. Pledged to reduce official fees and salaries, it enacted a law that many of its own partisans will not de- fend. Pledged to economize in the expenditures of government, It filibustered against an appropriation bill that would have saved to the taxpayers half a million dollars. Pledged to prevent discrimination against any kind of lawful money, it has defeated a bill prohibiting gold contracts. Pledged to free silver, it has selected for nomination candidates for governor and lieutenant-governor who have been de- clared by their own henchmen to be in harmony with the gold ring of the party, and in league with the corporations of the Slate. To the end that Texas may escape the evils herein enumerated, we appeal to all good citizens to unite with us in the great struggle we are now making for State reforms, which it is possible to secure in the near future. State Platform 1. We declare the railroad commission has utterly failed to per- form its plain duty to the people of Texas in persistently refusing to properly exert its lawful powers in securing reasonable freight rates. While recognizing a railroad commission as tentative, and asserting that government ownership is the final solution of the problem, we yet declare that a railroad commission can and should materially reduce freight rates in Texas. Therefore, we demand the construction and operation by the State of Texas of a relief railroad from Red River to the Gulf. 2. We demand the speedy enactment of laws establishing a people's government under the system of direct legislation, known as the Initiative, referendum, and imperative mandate. 3. We are opposed to increasing our interest bearing bonded debt without a direct vote of the people State, county, or municipal. 4. We demand the reduction of fees and salaries of all officials to correspond with labor and its products. 5. We demand an economical State administration, and a reduction Parties in Texas 399 of expenses to the lowest limit consistent with efficient public service. 6. We demand an efficient free school system, commensurate at all times with the growth and development of the State, and that text- books be furnished public school pupils by the State at actual cost; and we further demand that where the law provides that scholastic trustees shall be appointed to take the census, that white trustees shall be appointed to take the census of white children and colored trustees shall be appointed to take the census of colored children, to the end that each race may have the more complete managment of its own school affairs. 7. We demand that no citizen of Texas be disfranchised in local elections because he is not a freeholder, and we demand purity at the ballot box, a free ballot, and a fair count. 8. We demand that any officer sheriff and constable excepted who accepts and uses railroad passes shall be removed from office. 9. We denounce the cumbrous judicial system of this State, consist- ing as It does of seven appellate courts, whose decisions conflict, entail- ing on the State the expense of seven appellate courts without the virtue of one. 10. We condemn the mismanagement of the State Confederate Home and we denounce the use of it and the appropriations made to the same, by high officials for campaign purposes in the interest of cliques and rings, but favor the maintenance of the Home in the interest of the disabled Confederate soldiers, only granting them the right to remain at home with their families on a pension per month not to exceed the cost to comfortably maintain them in the State home. 11. We demand that a constitutional amendment be submitted to the people of Texas to repeal the Jester amendment, which amend- ment now provides that one per cent of the permanent school fund may be transferred annually to the available fund; and demand that the legislature provide sufficient and safe investment for all the per- manent school fund at not less than four per cent per annum. 12. We denounce the occupation tax laws enacted by the twenty- fifth legislature and demand their repeal. 'Additional Resolutions "[13] Resolved, that we oppose the present lease system, that places the settlement of a part of our public domain beyond the reach of settlers by making the leases on all the land west of the certain line absolute. We demand the abolition of said lease line, and that all the public free school land be sold to actual settlers only, in quantities not to exceed four sections to any purchaser, and that all leases be made subject to sale. [14] That we congratulate the Populists of Texas upon the valiant and patriotic stand taken by them upon the amendments as submitted 400 Platforms of Political and supported by the State machine Democracy last year, discriminat ing in favor of and against classes of our citizens. [15] WHEREAS, legislation is and always has been pronouncedly in favor of capital and against labor, and WHEREAS, collections of earnings are and have been more expensive than wage earners could afford; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that we favor the enactment of a statute by the next legis- lature which will provide that in case a plaintiff suing for earnings shall prevail there shall be taxed up as a part of the judgment ob- tained: first, attorney's fees, second, pay for all time lost in attending trial at the rate the plaintiff was earning at the time of employment; third, interest on his demand from the time of his discharge to the date of judgment, and, in case it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court and jury that vexatious delays have been obtained, exemplary damages in any sum not greater than double the amount sued for. Such statute to be drawn so as to avoid the objection of class legisla- tion, and so that the defendant may recover for attorney's fees, time lost, and damages should he establish to the satisfaction of court and Jury that the suit was maliciously brought. State Executive Committee: J. S. Bradley, of McLennan, chairman; State at large, E. P. Alsbury, of Harris, Henry F. Jones, of Comanche. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1898 GALVESTON, August 2-4 A meeting of the State executive committee was held at Dal- las, February 22, 1898, for the purpose of selecting a place of meeting and adopting a test to be used in the primary election. The resolution adopted at Waco regarding bids from cities for the State convention was rescinded, and Galveston was selected as the convention city. The test, selected after much debate, was won by the radicals ; it excluded all Democrats from voting in the primary election who did not vote for the nominees of the Chicago and Fort Worth conventions of 1896. The holding of primary elections on July 9, for the nomination of candi- dates for State office and selection of delegates to the State con- vention, was strongly urged, but it was left optional with the county executive committees whether they would hold primary elections or primary conventions. As the primary election set- Parties in Texas 4.01 tied most of the contests, the subject of chief interest in the convention was the policy to be pursued in dealing with the territory acquired in the war with Spain. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, James B. Wells, of Cam- eron; permanent, J. W, Blake, of Limestone. Secretary pro tempore, A. F. Brigance, of Grimes; permanent, James Hays Quarles, of McLennan. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Joseph D. Savers, of Bastrop; Lieutenant-Governor, James N. Browning, of Pot- ter; Attorney-General, Thomas S. Smith, of Hill; Comptroller, R. W. Finley, of Smith; Treasurer, John W. Bobbins, of Wil- barger; Commissioner of the General Land Office, George W. Finger, of Tarrant; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. S. Kendall, of Fanniii; Railroad Commissioner, Allison May- field, of Grayson; Supreme Court, Thomas J. Brown, of Gray- son; Court of Criminal Appeals, M. M. Brooks, of Hunt. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, H. F. O'Neal, of Cass; 2. James Clark, of Red River; 3. J. L. Carpenter, of Fannin ; 4. J. W. Bailey, of Oooke : 5. J. R. Gough, of Collin; 6. Edward Gray, of Dallas; 7. Horace Chilton, of Smith; 8. R, T. Milner, of Rusk, secretary; 9. blank; 10. M. M. Crane, of Johnson; 11. T. S. Henderson, of Milam; 12. A. J. Harper, of Limestone; 13. T. M. Campbell, of Ander- son, chairman; 14. S. B. Cooper, of Tyler; 15. M. S. Cooper, of - - ; 16. E. P. Hamblen, of Harris; 17. G. C. Davis and N. M. Vogelsang; 18. Jonathan Lane, of Fayette: 19. H. M. Garwood, of Bastrop ; 20. T. W. Gregory, of Travis; 21. A. B. Storey, of Caldwell ; 22. R. A. Pleasants, of De Witt ; 23. J. B. Wells, of Cameron; 24. J. F. Onion, of Bexar; 25. W. W. Gatewood, of - -; 26. G. W. Goodwin, of Brown; 27. A. Mathis, of Cory ell; 28. T. H. Connor, of Eastlaud: 29. H. H. Wallace, of Potter; 30. W. P. McLean, of Tarrant; 31. F. F. Hill, of Denton. PLATFORM 1 Be it resolved by the Democrats of Texas, in convention assembled: 1. That we indorse in every particular the platform adopted by the x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston News, August 3-5, 1898. 26 328 402 Platforms of Political National Democratic convention at Chicago in 1896, but we especially commend and approve the declarations in favor of an income tax, against the power of banks to issue money, for a tariff for revenue that will operate without discrimination against classes or sections, and for the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, with full legal tender qualities and without reference to the action of other governments. 2. We denounce the Republican party for the passage of the Dingley tariff bill, which places the burden of tariff taxation upon those least able to bear it and which has resulted in a great deficit of revenue. 3. We declare that the present war excitement can not and shall not obscure the money question, upon which the fight in 1900 will be chiefly made, and that interest now being taken in the 2,000,000 people of Cuba and Porto Rico must not detract from the vital interest of the 75,000,000 of our own people. 4. That while we recognize the necessity of a war tax, we denounce the revenue bill passed by the Republican party for the gross in- equalities therein, both in the tax imposed and the exemptions made. 5. That we congratulate the country upon the skill and intrepidity of the American soldiers and sailors in the present war, which we de- clare to have been forced upon us by the conduct of Spain. 6. The National Democratic party will give the President of the United States its full support in all measures necessary to conduct this war to an early and successful end. 7. That we favor the generous development of the American navy to whatever extent it may be necessary to protect our commrece on every sea and our citizens in every land. 8. That we favor the construction and control of the Nicaragua canal by the United States. 9. That we favor the carrying out of the letter and spirit of the resolutions under which we intervened in Cuba, and we insist that the Cubans shall be permitted to establish an independent government of their own; but, in the event that the people of that island shall hereafter desire to be annexed to this country and the terms of annexa- tion can be satisfactorily arranged between the two governments, we will welcome Cuba as a part of the territory of the United States. 10. We favor the acquisition of Porto Rico and all other Spanish possessions in the western hemisphere. 11. That we reaffirm our faith in the Monroe doctrine and oppose the annexation or continued retention of the Philippine Islands or any territory upon the Eastern Hemisphere. 12. We approve the action of the Democrats in Congress in engraft- ing upon the bill providing for the present army that the increase thereof be mustered out at the end of this war, and we declare against any increase in the standing army of the United States. 13. That we indorse the action of the Chicago convention in the Parties in Texas 403 nomination of William J. Bryan for President, approve the campaign he made, and pledge him our support for renomination in 1900. 14. We indorse and commend the administration of Governor Cul- berson and his associates as being economical, wise, and patriotic. 15. That whereas the Democratic party can justly claim that from its organization it has been the stanch and consistent friend of the working classes, therefore, we declare it to be a correct principle that all public work (including the public -printing) should be done within the confines of the State, other things being equal, whenever possible. 16. We indorse the fee bill and textbook bill passed by the last legislature. 17. We indorse the railroad commission law and the administration thereof; and in this connection we demand that the legislature make all needful appropriations to enable the commission to employ such experts as the commission may deem necessary to enable it to examine into the traffic affairs of the railroad companies in this State. And we further favor the enactment of a law making it the duty of the commission to keep such experts continuously employed in this work, to the end that discriminations by railroad companies against persons and places be entirely prevented. 18. We indorse the able, honest, and economical method in which Attorney-General Crane has managed the buisness of his high office. 19. We favor the appointment by the twenty-sixth legislature of a committee to consist of the governor, comptroller, and State revenue agent, whose duty it will be to diligently inquire into our State's financial system, including the method of levying and collecting taxes, and the system of accounting of the government officials; said com- mittee to formulate such measures of reform looking to a fair and equitable distribution of the burdens of government and to a more economical and expeditious collection of taxes, and at the same time provide all proper and necessary safeguards for checking the receiving and disbursing officers charged with the duty of handling State funds; the said committee to report to the legislature, making such recom- mendations as may be deemed wise and practicable. 20. We recognize the necessity of the development of our educa- tional system; we, therefore, declare that all legislative assistance necessary will be given to bring the system to the highest possible degree of efficiency consistent with our financial conditions, and in order to accomplish this purpose we demand that the law, allowing the appropriation of any part of the permanent school fund to be transferred to the available school fund, shall be repealed. 21. Feeling a just pride in the increasing usefulness of the Uni- versity of Texas, the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and other educational institutions, we favor such appropriations by the legisla- ture as may promote their efficiency and advancement. 22. We favor the greatest possible assistance to the eleemosynary 404 Platforms of Political institutions of the State consistent with its financial condition, and especially favor that the State care for all its insane, idiots, and epileptics. 23. We favor the enactment of a statute prohibiting all railroad companies from giving free passes or free transportation to any person not in the employ of the said companies. Additional Resolutions [24] We favor the holding of primaries for State officers, whether by convention or primary election, on one and the same day. [25] We denounce mobocracy and whitecapism, and we demand that all persons of whatever race, creed, or condition shall be equally protected by our laws in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and the pur- suit of happiness. MINORITY REPORT For myself and eight others, as a substitute for Sections 9 and 10, I submit the following: We believe that a colonial policy is contrary to the theory of this government, and we are opposed to the acquisition of any territory inhabited by a people who are incapable of self-government, because we hold the right of local self-government to be the basic principle of our Republic. We are opposed also to the acquisition of any territory, the govern- ment or control of which will necessitate an increase in the standing army of the United States. We reaffirm the declaration of Thomas Jefferson that all govern- ments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and we are opposed to the establishment of any government anywhere by the United States without the consent of the people to be governed. J. W. BAILEY, H. H. WALLACE, J. B. WELLS, F. P. HILL, R. T. MILNER, S. B. COOPER, J. L. CARPENTER, HARRY H. O'NEIL. J. R. GOUGH, The minority report was tabled by a vote of 721 to 334. State Executive Committee: Charles K. Bell, of Tarrant, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, Sam H. Smelzer, of Bowie; 2. H. E. Henderson, of Hopkins; 3. J. M. Terry, of Fannin; 4. I. M. Standif er, of Grayson ; 5. W. T. Beverley, of Collin ; 6. Jot Gunter, of Dallas ; 7. Gus F. Taylor, of Smith ; 8. John T. Parties in Texas 405 McLemore, of Shelby; 9. Richard Mays, of Navarro; 10. J. S. Davis, of Ellis ; 11. J. J. Swann, of Falls ; 12. John W. Doremus, of Brazos; 13. John B. Peyton, of Trinity; 14. R. A. McRey- nolds, of Jefferson ; 15. B. H. Powell, of Walker ; 16. John M. Moore, of Fort Bend; 17. John Lovejoy, of Galveston; 18. John S. McGregor, of Colorado; 19. Ben S. Rogers, of Washington; 20. Dayton Moses, of Burnet; 21. J. L. Ellison, of Caldwell; 22. D. C. Stone, of Bee; 23. Robert J. Kleberg, of Nueces; 24. Frank H. Bushick, of Bexar; 25. James M. Goggan, of Maverick; 26. C. H. Willingham, of Runnels; 27. J. Hall Bowman, of Bell; 28. H. C. Ford, of Nolan; 29. W. B. Plemmons, of Potter; 30. William Capps, of Tarrant; 31. J. T. Buckaloo, of Wise. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1898 FORT WORTH, August 16-18 The attendance was large, and remarkable for the fact that more than half the delegates were white. It marked the reunion of the "Reform" and "Regular" factions. The principal con- test was waged over the question of a State ticket. Officers: Chairman pro temper e, Henry C. Ferguson, of Fort Bend; permanent, R. E. H'annay, of Waller. Secretary, D. C. Kolp, of Wichita. Committee on Platform, and Resolutions: '1st Congressional district, S. E. Tracy, of Harris, secretary; 2. Theodore Miller, of Cherokee; 3. Dr. Keys, of Hunt; 4. A. H. O'Neal, of Hunt; 5. Cecil Lyon, of Grayson; 6. W. E. King, of Dallas; 7. A. H. Caldwell, of Brazos; 8. C. C. Drake, of Tarrant; 9. E. P. Wilmot, of Travis; 10. M. C. McLemore, of Galveston; 11. J. 0. Luby, of Duval; 12. Henry Terrell, of Bexar; 13. P. B. Hunt, of Young. PLATFORM 1 Be it resolved by the Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled: [1] That we tender unreservedly our congratulations to the Ameri- can people on the able, impartial, and patriotic conduct of public affairs by the National administration. lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, August 17-19, 1898. 406 Platforms of Political [2] We congratulate the country in the renewed confidence it has inspired on the restoration of natural conditions in our daily life and resulting prosperity of unexampled proportions. [3] That we reaffirm our allegiance to the principles laid down by the St. Louis platform in 1896, and we particularly announce that we are unreservedly for sound money. [4] We heartily indorse the action and course of President McKinley and the administration since their inauguration. They ha~ve inspired universal confidence, restored normal conditions in American indus- trial life, and developed an industrial prosperity of unexampled proportions. [5] We indorse the actions and career of the Hon. R. B. Hawley in Congress as being wise, conservative, and patriotic, and commend him to the electors of the tenth district for reelection. [6] We congratulate our brave soldiers and sailors who have so nobly upheld the honor of our country and inspired in the hearts of an oppressed people the spirit of liberty and independence, and we commend them to the tender care and reverence of our Nation forever. [7] We favor the immediate construction of the Nicaragua canal and insist that it should be owned and controlled by the United States. [8] We indorse and approve the following acts of Congress, passed at the instance and by the votes of the Republicans: The arbitration bill, by which it is sought to settle disputes between employers and employes; the war revenue bill, and especially the inheritance tax which has been placed upon the statutes of the United States for all time, and we commend it to our State government as a measure fair and impartial, just and necessary. We especially call attention to the eight-hour law passed by Congress, applying to labor employed on all government work, and we recommend that its terms be followed by legislation in Texas. [9] We favor an increase in our army and navy to the extent that circumstances and conditions require to establish and carry into effect permanently the plans and policies of our administration, with refer- ence to the annexation of Porto Rico and other Spanish possessions, and to establish and guarantee a stable government in the island of Cuba. [10] We approve with satisfaction the terms upon which peace will be entered into between Spain and the United States, as set forth in the President's note and protocol, and we congratulate him and the administration upon their conduct of and successful termination of the war. [11] We approve the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands as being wise and tending to increase our commerce and trade, providing a safe, convenient, and sufficient naval base and coaling station, and add- ing much to the wealth and resources of our country. We insist that the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands is within the spirit and letter Parties in Texas 407 i of the Constitution and an evidence of a determination on the part of our administration to carry into effect the Monroe doctrine. [12] We deride the platform of the Democratic State convention of Texas for its vagaries, inequalities, and inconsistencies: (1) It professed to speak as the friend of labor, yet rejected the honest plea of labor to be employed in the production of State docu- ments and other necessities of the State; and we insist that all State work, printing, and other undertakings where mechanical labor is re- quired, be done by Texas labor. (2) It adopted a platform favoring territorial expansion, favoring the maintenance of the obligations undertaken by this government to establish and maintain a stable and orderly government in Cuba, the acquisition of Porto Rico with 800,000 alien people, and in the same breath declaring their fixed opposition to the smallest increase in the United States army, through which alone at this time can these pledges be fulfilled. (3) They rejected the policy of Bailey, with respect to territorial acquisition, yet they indorsed him for speaker of the House, where he could authoritatively defeat the plans and purposes for which they de- clared. They repudiated the purpose and policy outlined by Bryan in every line he has written on territorial expansion, yet they indorsed him for President, where, vested with authority, he would inevitably defeat every plan, purpose, and policy to which the Democracy of this State stands committed. [13] We have looked with regret at the narrow spirit of partisan- ship displayed by the Democratic State administration of Texas during the late war in its appointments to the military service, in such marked contrast to the broad statesmanship of William McKinley in his ap- pointment of Wheeler, Fitzhugh Lee, Butler, and others to the highest places within the military establishment. [14] We heartily indorse the proposed deep water improvements in Texas, recommended by the board of United States engineers, which will make Texas the pathway to Europe and countries reached by the Nicaragua canal, for the products of the Mississippi valley and of the great northwest, the completion of which, with the miles of natural wharves, will afford cheap and unlimited terminal facilities, give com- petition and freedom from control of monopolies, and great saving to the producer in the cost of reaching the markets of the world. [15] The workings of the State railroad commission under Demo- cratic rule have operated against the interests of Texas and in favor of producers outside of the State. The discriminations in rates and the unjust rulings have occasioned great loss to individuals and com- munities. [16] We demand a constitutional amendment that will give to cities and towns exclusive and original jurisdiction in criminal matters with- in their limits. 408 Platforms of Political [17] To encourage the stock and wool industries of this State, we demand that a scalp law be passed by our legislature that will cause the extermination of all wild animals that prey upon the large herds or destroy the grass on the prairies of the State. [18] We commend to the people of Texas the adoption of the con- stitutional amendment providing for pensions to the ex-Confederate residents of Texas. [19] We condemn the Democratic mismanagement of the available school fund, and strenuously oppose the resolution adopted by the Galveston convention, recommending the repeal of the law authorizing the expenditure of one per cent of the permanent school fund for present educational purposes. We believe the repeal of that law would be an unjust discrimination against the children of this generation and leave open to speculators that which rightfully belongs to the children of the State. [20] We deprecate the fact that under the present regime the school teachers of Texas are unable to collect their pay as earned, but are forced to accept in lieu thereof time warrants, subject to heavy dis- count, and we favor such legislation as will not only remedy this defect but provide the most liberal support of our State free school system, a system ever conducive to a high standard of citizenship. [21] We denounce the present fee bill and demand its repeal. [22] We demand for all persons within our borders the equal pro- tection of the laws, and denounce mob law and anarchy in all forms. [23] We believe that the efforts of the Republican party of Texas at the coming election should be confined to the election of representa- tives to Congress, and we, therefore, recommend that no State ticket be placed in the field this year, leaving to the respective counties and senatorial districts the option of placing representatives in the field in said counties and senatorial districts as may seem best to the interests of such organizations. Additional Resolutions [24] WHEREAS, by reason of the fact that Texas borders for 1,200 miles on a foreign nation, and the further reason that the government has one of the best equipped military headquarters and posts in the country located at San Antonio; therefore, be it Resolved, that we urge upon the administration the early restoration of the military department of Texas. [25] That in making up the quota of volunteers who are to be retained in the service of the United States for the occupation and defense, the President is hereby requested to retain in the service of the United States, for the term of their enlistment, the proper propor- tion of Texas volunteers already in the service. [26] That we demand that a liberal appropriation should be made Parties in Texas 409 for the maintenance and support of the State volunteer guard, and de- nounce the failure of the Democratic administration for neglecting that organization and by such omission tending to destroy rather than increase the efficiency of the volunteer guard. State Executive Committee: E. H. R. Green, of Kaufman, chairman; 1st to 4th Congressional districts, blank; 5. Cecil A. Lyon, of Grayson; 6. Dr. B. R. Bluitt, of Dallas; 7. blank; 8. C. C. Flanagan, of Rusk; 9. blank; 10. Harry Beck, of Hill; 11. Charles A. Boynton, of McLennan; 12. blank; 13. George W. Burkitt, of Anderson; 14. J. C. Frazier, of Jasper; 15. and 16. blank ; 17. Webster Wilson, of Galveston ; 18. J. G. Shermack, of Fayette; 19. W. E. Dwyer, of Washington; 20. Dr. E. P. Wilmot, of Travis; 21. Frank Maynard, of Caldwell; 22. blank; 23. J. W. Durst, of Nueces; 24. blank; 25. Joseph Tweedy, of Tom Green; 26. W. B. McCain, of Erath; 27. blank; 28. John H. Morrow, of Taylor; 29. blank; 30. John B. Hawley, of Tar- rant; 31. John B. Schmitz, of Denton. PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1898 DALLAS, August 22 Less than one dozen delegates attended this meeting. Officers: Chairman, B. P. Bailey, of Harris. Secretary, E. A. Wingo, of Van Zandt. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: B. P. Bailey, E. C. Heath, D. H. Hancock. PLATFORM 1 The Prohibition party of Texas, in convention assembled, begs to call to the attention of the people the following: 1. The existence of the army canteen, through which the soldiers that our country has raised for her defense are debauched, and their training and efficiency impaired. For this both the Democratic and Republican parties are equally responsible. 2. While the public mind is so occupied with other matters money, expansion, and the questions growing out of the war the liquor ques- tion is lost to view, the position most desired by that element, for then 1( The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, August 23, 1898. 410 Platforms of Political it can quietly dominate the conventions of the old parties and nominate friendly candidates for the highest positions within the gift of the people. While the public mind seems to be stirred more than usual on what it terms Republicanism, and Democratism, we congratulate ourselves that we stand for the most important of all National reforms, the paramount issue, the outlawing of the liquor traffic, not only in precincts, counties, and States, but also in the Nation as a whole. [Preamble same as that of 1892.] [One plank only was included in the platform; it is identical with plank 1 of the platform of 1894.] Additional Resolution WHEREAS, there exists an official order from the War Department of the United States, granting military companies and regiments the privilege of establishing booths, more familiarly called "army canteens," where intoxicating liquors are sold to the soldiers; WHEREAS, we, the Prohibitionists of Texas, in convention assembled, deprecate the fact that our heroic soldiers are daily being tempted by this evil and that our government is sanctioning such an evil by permitting such an order to exist; therefore, be it Resolved, that we hereby petition our Christian President and com- mander-in-chief of the United States forces, William McKinley, to strike from the record such an order that is daily teaching our boys the path of ruin, and that he no longer permit the presence of the army canteen among our victorious sons in the army camps. Committee to Consider the Advisability of a State Ticket: J. B. Cranfill, of Dallas; E. C. Heath, of Rockwall; D. H. Han- cock, of Collin; E. A. Wingo, of Van Zandt. This committee, on October 4, selected following state ticket: Governor, B. P. Bailey, of Harris; Lieutenant-Governor, D. H. Hancock, of Collin. State Executive Committee: B. P. Bailey, of Harris, chair- man. SOCIALIST LABOR STATE TICKET, 1898 The Socialist Labor party placed a State ticket in the field for the first time in Texas in 1898 : Governor, H. G. Royal, of Lampasas; Lieutenant-Governor, Edmund Bellinger, of Bexar. N'o record of a State convention has been found. Parties in Texas 431 REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1900 WACO, March 6 and 7 The convention opened with a contest between William M. McDonald and Henry C. Ferguson for the temporary chairman- ship. The two negroes were political rivals. The State execu- tive committee nominated McDonald. There was so much con- fusion during the roll call that each side claimed the election. Chairman Green declared McDonald elected. After perfecting temporary organization the convention adjourned. The Ferguson supporters held a caucus and, when the con- vention re-assembled next morning, announced that he had been elected temporary chairman. Amid much confusion, McDonald announced the usual committees, some one moved to adjourn, and the convention was declared adjourned until one o'clock. The Ferguson faction, however, continued in session The Mc- Donald supporters were obliged to postpone the closing session from 1 to 7 o'clock, as they could not get possession of the hall. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, William M. McDonald, of Kaufman; permanent, J. G. Lowden, of Taylor. Secretary pro tempore, D. C. Kolp, of Wichita; permanent, Dr. J. M. Mose- ley, of Grayson. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, E. H. R. Green, R. B. Hawley, William M. McDonald, M. M. Rogers. Presidential Electors: State at large, Edwin H. Terrell, of Bexar, and W. H. Love, of Collin. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: Alex White, of Grimes; William McZeal, of Orange; E. D. Baptist, of Gass: E. J. E. Pearson, of Upshur; J. T. Harris, of Cooke; B. R. Bluitt, of Dallas ; A. H. Caldwell, of Brazos, chairman ; W. H. Catts, of Hood; A. L. Maynard, of Caldwell; A. Barber, of Galveston; Theo. Baughman, of Victoria; Dr. Fred Terrell, of Bexar; W. B. Worsham, of Clay. 412 Platforms of Political PLATFORM 1 t Be it resolved by the Republicans of the State of Texas, in convention assembled: 1. That we point with pride to the wise and patriotic administra- tion of our distinguished President, William McKinley, in its conduct of the late war with Spain, in the settlement of the results of that war, set forth in the treaty of peace, and in the various public questions which have required solution. 2. We approve of the broad statesmanship and the eminent patriot- ism shown in the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, and feel confident that the course pursued by the ad- ministration in all of our great questions will be confirmed by the people at the polls next November. 3. We most cordially indorse the financial legislation now being carried through Congress by the Republican party, and hail it as settling for many years to come the grave financial questions, which have so troubled and vexed the commercial life of the country. 4. We most cordially indorse the public services and party manage- ment of the Hon. E. H. R. Green, as chairman of the State executive committee, and the eminent course and public services of the Hon. R. B. Hawley, as the Republican member of Congress in this State. Additional Resolutions [5] A resolution favoring an appropriation to secure navigation of the Brazos. [6] Another resolution denounced the dominant faction of the De- mocracy and advocated a coalition with, all who desire to compass the defeat of that faction, and called for a State conference to discuss this combination. FERGUSON-BURNS REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, 1900 WACO, March 7 Maintaining that Ferguson had been elected temporary chair- man, his supporters continued the proceedings after the Mc- Donald faction had adjourned and quit the hall. Precaution was taken to guard against interference, and Ferguson put all on notice that the meeting would n'ot adjourn until it had 1P The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News of March 7 and 8, 1900. Parties in Texas 413 finished its business and that no other convention would mett in the hall while theirs was in session. Officers: Chairman pro temper e, Henry C. Ferguson, of Fort Bend; permanent, Waller T. Burns, of Harris. Secretary, D. C. Kolp, of Wichita. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, R. B. Hawley, C. M. Ferguson, E. H. R. Green, George B. Jackson. Presidential Electors: State at large, Paul Fricke, of Wash- ington, and Wilbur F. Crawford, of Milam. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: F. Wilkinson, of Bowie ; Theo. Miller, of Cherokee ; C. C. Flanagan, of Hender- son; - Harris, of Hopkins; J. H. Stewart, of Denton; George Malone, of Ellis; Ben F. Wallace, of Milam; Hiram McGar, of Tarrant ; J. H. Hughes, of Washington ; A. J. Rosen- thai, of Galveston, chairman; A. H. Roland, of Goliad; T. S. Brockenbrough, of Brewster; J. E. Lutz, of Wilbarger. PLATFORM 1 Resolved, 1. That we, the Republicans of Texas, in State convention assembled, express our abiding faith and confidence in the Republican party of this Nation; that we hereby renew our pledges of fealty to our party, and specially indorse the platform adopted at St. Louis in 1896. 2. That we hereby indorse every act of our National administration, and express our confidence in the conservatism and wise statesmanship of our admirable President, William McKinley, who has restored con- fidence and established for our country prosperity, and who has car- ried to a successful end the war with Spain, hoisted the banner of liberty beyond the seas, and gained for our flag the respect and ad- miration of the nations of the world, and that we will uphold the hands of our President and will assist him in peace or war, so that our flag where once planted shall never be lowered. 3. That we admire the valor of our soldiers and sailors, and demand for them at the hands of the Congress of the United States proper recognition and generous reward for their gallant patriotism. 4. That we hail with pleasure the efforts of our National legislators who are now laboring to bring about the establishment of the Nicaragua canal, which will place us in closer communication with our colonies, and together with our territorial possessions will expand our com- a The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Nevo t March 8, 1900. 414 Platforms of Political merce and carry the influence of our gallant navy to the iai East. 5. That in the Hon. R. B. Hawley we recognize the true type of American citizenship, and a representative of the people; that we indorse his efforts on behalf of our country in general, and the entire State of Texas in particular; that we admire his talents and demand of the Republicans of the tenth district to return him to Congress again and again till called to higher honors. 6. That we demand the appointment of a commission which shall prescribe rules for the government and guidance of our party and State executive committee in order to purify the party of the corrupt- ing influences which now prevail. PEOPLE'S PARTY STATE CONVENTION, 1900 FORT WORTH, May 4 It had been the policy of the People's party since its organ- ization to elect delegates to the National convention by congres- sional districts. This course was pursued also in 1900, but, on account of a split in the National executive committee, two National conventions had been called : one at Sioux Falls, S. D., and another by the middle-of-the-roaders at Cincinnati. At a meeting of the State executive committee, March 24, it was resolved to hold a State convention "for the purpose of elect- ing two delegates from the State at large to the next National convention of the People's party, and also for the purpose of instructing all the delegates from this State to the next National convention." The attendance at the State convention was be- tween 300 and 400 delegates. The middle-of-the-roaders con- trolled the convention. The three National committeemen from Texas, a majority of the members of the State executive com- mittee, and a few of the delegates bolted the convention, and declared that they would go to Sioux Falls. Officers: Chairman, J. M. Mallett, of Johnson. Secretary, S. A. Bryant, of Eastland. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, Sam Evans, of Tarrant, and J. M. Mallett, of Johnson. Parties in Texas 415 RESOLUTIONS 1 Resolved, 1. That we recognize the convention called to meet in Cincinnati 01 May 9 proximo as the only regular and authorized Popu- list National convention, and we hereby instruct our delegates to attend said Cincinnati convention. 2. That, while we are unalterably opposed to fusion or union with either of the two old parties or any affiliating organization of either of them, we heartily approve of a union of all reformers of whatever name under one banner with our leaders, provided such union be effected without the surrender of any of the principles of the Omaha demands. [3] That all the delegates to the Populist National convention be Instructed to vote for no man for President or Vice-President who is not a straight Populist. [4] WHEREAS, we regard the war in South Africa as being waged against sister republics for the purpose of subjugating conquest, and plunder on the part of the British; therefore, be it Resolved, that we extend to the Transvaal and the Orange Free State our heartfelt sympathy in their heroic and unparalleled efforts in the defense of their homes and maintenance of their independence. ! DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1900 AUSTIN, June 20 and 21 The proceedings of this convention were harmonious; the minority report of the platform committee was the only subject to occasion debate. The platform was a reversal of that of 1898 upon the subject of territorial expansion. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, George A. Garden, of Dal- las; permanent, K. L. Henry, of McLennan. Secretary pro tempore, James Hays Quarles, of Tarrant; permanent, 0. J. Logan, of Johnson. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, T. H. Ball, of Walker; James Swayne, of Tarrant; S. B. Cooper, of Orange; J. W. Blake, of Grayson; D. W. Odell, of Johnson; Jonathan Lane, of Fayette; E. B. Perkins, of Dallas; Winbourne Pierce, of Bell; 1st Congressional district, H. B. Rice, of Har- lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Southern Mercury, May 10, 1900. There was no committee on platform. Resolutions adopted were offered from the floor. 416 Platforms of Political ris, and Fred B. Johnston, of Grimes; 2. Lee Blanchette, of Jefferson, and C. C. Wiggins, -of Cherokee; 3. John M. Duncan, of Smith, and R. G. Andrews, of Wood; 4. S. H. Smclser, of Bowie, and J. H. Deiismore, of Hopkins; 5. I. M. Standifer, of Grayson, and W. S. Jamison, of Montague; 6. W. E. Spell, of Hill, and Ed Gray, of Dallas; 7. George R. Taylor, -of Brazos, and Sam Scott, of McLennan; 8. H. C, Shropshire, of Parker, and William Capps, of Tarrant; 9. E. P. Curry, of Washington, and John W. Hornsby, of Travis; 10. W. L. Moody, Sr., of Galveston, and John M, Moore, of Fort Bend ; 11. A. B. David- son, of De Witt, and John N. Garner, of Uvalde ; 12. John See- horn, of Bexar, and John M. Goggin, of Maverick; 13. 0. W. T. Maxwell, of Eastland, and A. F. Fires, of Childress. Presidential Electors: State at large, Ned B. Morris, of Hen- derson, and R. W. Hall, of Wilbarger ; 1st Congressional district, W. R. Boyd, of Freestone, 2. Jasper Collins, of Panola; 3. B. Q. Evans, of Hunt; 4. Jake Hodges, of Lamar; 5. Rosser Thomas, of Fannin; 6. Richard Mays, of Navarro; 7. John L. Wortham' of Limestone; 8. John H. Cox, of Mills; 9. Dan S. Chessher, of Williamson; 10.* Jacob F. Wolters, of Fayette; 11. 0. A. McCracken, of Wilson; 12. James Flack, of Llano; 13. W. D. Bell, of Hardeman. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, R. R. Lockett, 2. Gus Shaw, 3. Rosser Thomas. 4. J. W. Bailey, 5. W. Y. Carver, 6. J. E. Cockrell, 7. R. N. Stafford, 8 R, T. Milner, 9. B. H. Johnson, 10. Nelson Phillips, 11. D. H. Hardy, 12. T. M. Taylor, 13. John B. Peyton, 14. W. W. Dies, 15. George T. Garvin, 16. W. H. Bailey, 17. James G. Barbee, 18. I. E. Clark, 19. W. B. Garrett, 20. W. M. Brown, 21. George F. Burges, 22. A. J. Bell, 23. R. J. Kleberg, 24. L. J. Burch. 25. G. H. Boynton, 26. John C. Randolph, 27. T. P. Hamilton, 28. W. P. Sebastian, 29. Harry Mason, 30. W. A. Hanger, 31. J. T. Baltorff. PLATFORM 1 Resolved, that the delegates elected by this convention to the Demo- J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin Statesman, June 21 and 22, 1900. Parties in Texas 417 cratic National convention to be held in Kansas City, Mo., July 4., 1900, be instructed to vote as a unit: 1. For the nomination of William J. Bryan as our candidate for President of the United States. 2. For the readoption of the platform adopted by the. Democratic National convention at Chicago in 1896, with amendments emphasizing our hostility to all trusts and combinations in restraint of trade, pledging our party to uphold and defend the doctrine that all govern- ments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, op- posing all efforts to establish or maintain colonial possessions, renew- ing our allegiance to the Monroe doctrine, demanding the speedy ful- fillment of our pledge to Cuba, and demanding for the people of the Philippine Islands the same treatment as was promised to the Cubans. 3. For a declaration in favor of a constitutional amendment pro- viding for the election of United States senators by direct vote of the qualified electors of the several States. 4. For a resolution expressing the cordial sympathy of the United States with the Transvaal Republic in its heroic struggle for self- preservation. 5. Favorable to the construction, ownership, and control of the Nicaragua canal by the United States government. 6. We favor a generous development of the American navy to an extent that will protect our commerce on every sea and our people in every land. MINORITY BEPORT Amend majority report in section 2 by striking out all of the words in said section after the words "colonial possessions," and substitute in lieu thereof the following: 4. We favor a territorial government for Puerto Rico. 5. We favor carrying out the letter and spirit of the congressional resolution under which we intervened in behalf of Cuba, and we insist that the people of the island of Cuba are and of right ought to be free and independent, and we demand that the authorities of the United States forthwith deliver said island and the government thereof to the people of Cuba and withdraw therefrom. But if, after the island and government shall have been so delivered to its people, they should voluntarily express a desire for annexation to this country, and the terms can be agreed upon between both governments, then we favor such annexation. 6. We reaffirm our adherence to the Monroe doctrine, and hence we favor independence for the Philippine Islands, and we favor a stable, independent government for these islands under a guarantee of pro- tection from the United States until such stable government be estab- lished. 7. Favorable to the building of the Nicaragua canal. The minority report was tabled by a vote of 707 to 165. 27328 418 Platforms of Political SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1900 DALLAS, July 4 About seventy-five delegates attended this convention. Officers: Chairman, S. J. Hampton, of Fannin. Secretary, E. G. Cloar, of Bexar. Presidential Electors: State at large, Eugene Pillod, of Dal- las, and F. J. Miller, of Jefferson; 1st Congressional district, E. H. Duescher, 2. J. E. Kariaziewicz, 3. Dr. W. H. Smith, 4. H. B. Cochran, 5. T. Giddens, 6. John Kerrigan, 7. W. C. Moore, 8. Alfred Hammond, 9. H. M. Hallinger, 10. L. Brown- son, 11. G. G. Morris, 12. William Tullos, 13. W. Roper. Nominees for State Officers: Governor, L. L. Rhodes, of Van Zaiidt; Lieutenant-Governor, G. H. Shoaf, of Bexar; Attorney- General, blank; Comptroller, W. A. Mitchell, of Kaufman; Treasurer, W. E. Marshall, of Fannin; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Dr. Charles A. Otterbein, of Parker; Su- perintendent of Public Instruction, J. E. Gibson, of Wood; Railroad Commissioner, Dr. G. B. Harris, of McLennan. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: W. E. Farmer, Karl Feige, F. J. Miller. PLATFORM AND ADDRESS 1 The Social Democratic party of Texas, in State convention as- sembled, indorses the principles of international socialism, and re- affirms the National platform adopted by the Indianapolis convention. We indorse the nomination of Eugene V. Debs and Job Harriman by that convention for President and Vice-President of the United States. We hold that the doctrine of international socialism the collective ownership of the means of production and distribution is the only solution of the economic problem. The Socialists of Texas call special attention to the conditions exist- ing at this time as they relate to the production of the things neces- sary to the lives and happiness of the people, and would direct the attention of those who produce, whether in the factory or on the farm, lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Neivs, July 5, 1900. Parties in Texas 419 to the fact that the amount which they retain of their labor products is growing less from year to year. The means by which this is accomplished in the factory and work shop is through the introduction of improved labor-saving machinery and by the labor of women and children, and upon the farm by means of the control of the allied interests by the capitalist class through private ownership of the means whereby the farmer reaches the mar- ket and exchanges the results of his labor for the things produced by. the labor of others that are necessary to himself and his family. We realize that the railroads are the modern highways of travel and trade and that the things necessary to life are no longer the product of the spinning wheel and the hand loom in the home, and that by reason of the private ownership of the railroads and machinery of production the working people on the farm are rendered as depend- ent as the wage workers of the city even though he may own his farm and agricultural implements. When all is summed up, we find the capitalist class so control as to permit the worker who produces wealth to retain only so much of what he produces in the form of wages as will enable him to renew his strength to work again. The attempt made by the ruling party in Texas to regulate the grasping avariciousness of the capitalists, who hold control of the necessities of life which the people of our State must have, by means of anti-trust and other suppressive laws, have been justly made the subject of ridicule and contempt by all students of economics, and the work of the last Texas legislature in this direction will go down Into history as a singular exemplification of the insufficiency and inutility of even the most drastic anti-trust legislation. Immediate Demands 1. The enactment of a law prohibiting the employment of children under sixteen years of age in factories, mines, or at any employment that precludes the fullest opportunity for acquiring an education, and which shall provide for assistance, when necessary, from the public funds, to furnish food, clothing, books, and supplies, without inflicting the stigma of pauperism. 2. The enactment of a statute prohibiting the employment of women and children in all unhealthful occupations. 3. A law for the rigid inspection of factories, mines, and workshops with reference to the safety and health of the workers. 4. That a legal workday shall not exceed eight hours. 5. We demand the establishment of the system known as the Initiative and referendum and imperative mandate. 420 Platforms of Political Additional Resolutions Resolved, 1. That we favor the union of all Socialists who subscribe to the international program in working for the advancement of the common cause. 2. That Texas Socialists refuse to become entangled in any fac- tional disagreements over nonessentials. 3. That for the good of the Socialist cause in Texas we will only recognize the State executive committee as supreme authority, until such time as in our judgment we will be justified in uniting with tffe National organization. Provided, such organizations as are already organized shall not be required to give up their charters to the Na- tional organization, and the executive board shall have power to grant charters to local branches to be hereafter organized. 4. That class conscious unity is absolutely essential to the de- velopment of the Socialist movement. 5. That we are unalterably opposed to fusion in any form with any capitalist or middle class political party. 6. That it is the sentiment of the Social Democracy of Texas that all crafts of labor should be organized, and that for the furtherance of the amelioration and final emancipation of labor we earnestly invite the cooperation and support of the labor organizations of Texas. State Executive Committee: W. E. Farmer, of Fanmn, chair- man; T. Giddens, of Grayson; S. J. Hampton, of Fannin; Dan Bruce, of Parker; Karl Feige, of Johnson; Charles Trotter, of Dallas. SOCIALIST LABOR STATE CONVENTION, 1900 SAN ANTONIO, July 22 The State convention of the Socialist Labor party was held in San Antonio, July 22, 1900. It was attended by about thirty local Socialists, while outside members of the party were rep- resented by proxies. There was no noise or general publicity about the holding of this convention, and not until the 26th of July did the Express know that a convention had been held. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. B. Webb, and S. Silvermann. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, G. H. Royal, of Lam* pasas; Lieutenant-Governor, Edmund Bellinger, of Bexar. Parties in Texas 421 ADDRESS 1 Recognizing the fact that much misapprehension exists in the public mind concerning Socialism, largely due to the machinations of a pre- tended "Socialist" organization that, as the residuary legatee of moribund Populism, has become an asylum for labor fakirs and fleecers, economic Imbeciles, intellectual eunuchs, and traitors expelled from the Socialist Labor party, we issue this note of warning to the wage workers of Texas, in the hope that it will arrest the attention of those who really desire to know the truth. Organized by fakirs, for the benefit of fakirs, the Social Democratic party can never have any other status in the political world than that of an auxiliary, ever ready to furnish capitalist parties with trained fakirs to mislead the workers and betray the cause of labor. Finally, this bogus "Socialist" concern, like a house built of rotten timber on a quicksand foundation, will tumble and fall to pieces. It will, perhaps, serve as a "good enough Morgan" until the fall election is over, and then it will go into quarantine until capitalist exigency and fakir necessity demand its resurrection as a brand new "labor" party. It affects certain phrases stolen from the literature of the Socialist Labor party, and by this means it has no doubt enticed a few honest men into its ranks, but these will desert it when its true character becomes more fully developed. Middle-aged men can call to mind dozens of these "labor" parties that, starting off with a great flourish of trumpets, have had a mush- room growth and then disappeared, swallowed up by the capitalist parties. The reason for this apparently contradictory phenomena in the political field is not far to seek. These various attempts had no solid foundation; in a word, they have been based upon ignorance. They ignored the class struggle. They accepted as truth the false philosophy that "capital and labor are friends," and are only prevented from fall- ing upon each others' necks like long separated brothers by the per- sistent Socialist agitators. In contrast with this dismal record of folly and treason, ignorance and superstitution, we invite the attention of all wage workers, organ- ized and unorganized, to the unshaken solidarity of the class conscious Socialist Labor party. Organized ten years ago, it has never sought rapid growth by catering to this or that interest. Its platform states with precision the causes of the ills that crush the wage workers, and with equal clearness it points out the remedy. Moreover, understand- ing clearly that its revolutionary program can never be crystalized into law, except through the conquest of the public powers, and that to accomplish this a highly disciplined party is necessary; and so thoroughly is that party guarded at every point by its uncompromising lr This Address is copied from the San Antonio Express, July 27, 1900. 422 Platforms of Political tactics that from its inception to the present day it has withstood every assault from without, while with equal vigor it has crushed every attempt at treason within its own ranks. A striking illustration of this occurred at the National headquarters in New York City last July. A conspiracy of crafty fakirs and traitors, covering several cities, instigated and backed by Tammany, attempted to depose our National executive committee, and by burglarious methods sought to capture the party machinery, including our official organ, The People. But the conspirators had reckoned without their host. Instead of being met with the feeble protest of milksop reformers, they ran up against the knock down arguments of militant Socialists. Our National officers demonstrated that they were the right men in the right places by the extraordinary energy with which they administered the uncompromis- ing tactics of the party. Throughout the country whereever treason reared its head, it was promptly throttled. Traitors were expelled and sections were suspended and reorganized, and the loyal membership throughout the Nation enthusiastically endorsed this prompt and vig- orous display of integrity and courage by the National executive com- mittee. There was no parleying with fakirs, no concessions to traitors, and the party is all the stronger today by reason of this effective house-cleaning. And in the future, if fakers and traitors sneak into the party and attempt to disrupt it, the same fate will overtak-e them that befell the Kangaroos. There are no factions in the party now, and none will be tol-erated in the future. In its principles and tactics the Socialist Labor party is wholly differ- ent from all other political organizations, and one of its chief merits is that it has the courage to be unpopular. It proclaims its mission in no uncertain language. Everywhere it declares its purpose to over- throw the capitalist system and substitute therefor the cooperative commonwealth. It will make no compromise with capitalist parties or their middle class adjuncts. It will steer clear of even the semblance of affiliation with the various bogus "Socialist" and "labor" parties. It disdains the arts of the demagogue. It does not feed the workers on taffy, but dares to tell them that they are slaves; that, while th-eir labor power is a marketable commodity like grain and pork, and sub- ject to the same iron laws of supply and demand, their boast of being "free and independent Americans" is claptrap and a soul blistering lie. It tells them, moreover, that they will remain slaves, subject to ever increasing misery, unless they have the courage to enlighten their minds and dispel the ignorance and superstition with which they have been stuffed by tire economic statisticians and sweatshop theologians in the service of the capitalist class. The Socialist Labor party seeks to educate the workers, confident that when they once clearly understand what their rights are, they will soon find the proper method to attain those rights. That method and it is the only one now is the class conscious ballot of the Socialist Labor party. Parties in Texas 423 It must be apparent to the dullest mind that th,e workers of the Nation, constituting a vast majority of the population, united under the banner of the Socialist Labor party, will form an irresistible power under whose class conscious blows the entire capitalist system will soon be ground to powder, thus, for the first time in American history, making wage slaves absolute masters of themselves, with full right to enjoy all the wealth they create, without yielding up three- fourths of it, as is now the case, to a felonious class that revels in splendor and luxury on the surplus values stolen from labor. Animated by the spirit of the class struggle, which thrills every fiber of its being, the Socialist Labor party, ever true to its high mission, and distinguished for its courage and capacity and integrity, as demonstrated throughout its history, feels that it is justly entitled to the respect and confidence of the wage working class wherever dis- persed. So to quote the last paragraph in our National platform: We, therefore, call upon the wage workers of the United State, and upon all other honest citizens, to organize under the banner of the Socialist Labor party into a class-conscious body, aware of its rights, and determined to conquer them by taking possession of the public powers; so that, held together by an indomitable spirit of solidarity, under the most trying conditions of the present class struggle, we may, put a summary end to that barbarous struggle by the abolition of classes, the restoration of the land, and of all the means of production, transportation, and distribution to the people as a collective body, and the substitution of the cooperative commonwealth for the present state of planless production, industrial war, and social disorder, a common- wealth in which every worker shall have the free exercise and full benefit of his faculties, multiplied by all modern factors of civilization. PEOPLE'S PARTY STATE CONVENTION, 1900 WACO, July 24 and 25 The attendance was large; the delegates belonged to the middle-of-the-road wing. The absence of many of the former leaders was commented upon. Officers: Chairman pro tern-pore, C. M. Cureton, of Bosque; permanent, Milton Park, of Dallas. Secretary pro tcmpore, J. M. Adams, of Comanche; permanent, W. A. Binyon, of Hood. Presidential Electors: State at large, James K. Allen, of Fay- ette, and Milton Park, of Dallas; 1st Congressional district,. B. P. Alsbiiry. 2. Sam B. Maupin, 3. A. F. Henning, 4. D. M. Reedy, 5. L. B. Lefteller, 6. J. D. Griffin, 7. R. H. Little, 8. S. M. Woolsey, 9. J. E. Greer, 10. M. W. Frazier, 11. J. E. Luse, 12. J. P. Gilbert, 13. W. A. Binyon. 424 Platforms of Political Nominees for State Offices: 1 Governor, Jerome C. Kearby, of Dallas; Lieutenant-Governor, Clarence Nugent, of Erath; At- torney-General, John G. Nix, of Hunt; Comptroller, J .S. Teague, of Grimes; Treasurer, Part, B. Clark, of Red River; Commissioner of the General Land Office, S. C. Granberry, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Reddin Andrews, of Bell; Railroad Commissioner, ; Court of Criminal Appeals, George T. Todd, of Marion. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: C. M. Cureton, of Bosque; 0. F. Dornblazer, of Hill; George B. Long, of Fort Bend; C. K. Walter, of Gonzales; Clarence Nugent, of Erath; Jesse Adams, of Coleman; Owens Miller, of Coryell; J. W. Biard, of Lamar; G. B. Harris, of McLennan; Milton Park, of Dallas; J. S. Teague, of Grimes; J. M. Marshall, of Bell. PLATFORM 2 We, the People's party of Texas, in convention assembled, renew our allegiance to the undying principles enunciated in the National platform adopted by the convention held at Omaha in 1892, and in Cincinnati in 1900; and we congratulate the advocates of reform upon the rapid growth of economic sentiment, and upon the interest mani- fested among the masses in favor of placing our government in the hands of the people, to whom it rightfully belongs. Arraignment of the Democratic Party We arraign the State Democracy for its maladministration of the State government for the past quarter of a century; its platform promises are now a list of its past failures. Pledged to reduce the number of district judges, it has augmented them. Pledged to protect the interest of shippers, it has levied a tribute of "all the traffic will bear," and when violations of law have been discovered it has com- promised with corporations for a pittance to the people and in equal or greater share to its political henchmen. Pledged to carry out the constitutional provisions requiring six months' public free school each year, it has signally failed, except in a few instances, notwithstanding a At a meeting of the State executive committee, held at San Antonio, September 19, 1900, following changes were made in the State ticket of the People's party : Governor, T. J. McMinn, of Bexar ; Treasurer, H. J. McCuistian, of Lamar ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, V. A. Collins, of Van Zandt ; Supreme Court, George D. Green, of Johnson. 2 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt and Southern Mercury. Parties in Texas 425 the fact that under the "Jester amendment" one per cent of the perma- nent school fund has been annually transferred to the available fund, Pledged to a reduction of taxation, they have, with few exceptions, levied a "tax on every form of human endurance." Pledged to reserve the public domain for actual settlers, it has donated the people's herit- age to railroads and nonresident aliens, individual and corporate. Pledged to reduce official fees and salaries, it has enacted a law that many of its partisans will not defend. Pledged to prevent a discrimina- tion against any kind of lawful money, it has defeated a bill prohibiting "gold contracts." Pledged to free silver and the overthrow of Cleve- land's financial policy in 1896, its delegations in the National conven- tion at Kansas City opposed a specific declaration for the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, and opposed the nomination of Charles A. Towne, the logical candidate of the Bryan Democracy for Vice-President, and selected in his stead a relic of the Cleveland administration, one Adlai E. Stevenson. Pledged to the suppression of crime and the enforcement of the statutes of the State, they have in violation of law permitted the sheriffs throughout the State to appoint an unlimited number of deputies. Pledged to a free ballot and a fair count, they persist in "Harrison County" methods in the country, while the ward heeler is assisted in the prostitution of the ballot by the so-called Australian ballot system. Pledged to an economical administration of the State government, they have squand- ered $60,000 of the people's money in a specially called session of the legislature which resulted in no benefit whatever to the taxpayers of the State. State Platform 1. We demand the submission of an amendment to the State con- stitution providing for a people's government under the system of direct legislation known as the initiative and referendum and the imperative mandate. 2. We demand the abolition of the Railroad Commission, as past experience has proven it to be a delusion and a fraud, a useless burden upon the commercial and industrial interests of the people, and in lieu thereof we recommend State ownership and operation of transporta- tion to such extent as may be necessary to regulate freight rates. 3. We favor the construction, ownership, and operation of the Nicaragua canal by the United States government. 4. We demand an efficient system of public free schools through- out, and that the scholastic age be from six to .twenty-one years, and that all books used in the public schools be furnished by the State at cost. 5. We denounce the cumbrous judicial system of Texas, and demand that the expense of our courts be reduced, and that a fair, speedy, and impartial trial be given litigants. 426 Platforms of Political 6. We denounce the cowardly action of the Democratic legislature in ignoring the demands of the railway employes in Texas, prohibiting the running of double-headers. 7. We demand that Article 4896, of the Revised Statutes of the State of Texas, be so amended as to make it a penal offense, punish- able by a fin-e not exceeding $500, for any sheriff to appoint a greater number of deputies than is provided for in said article. 8. To aid in an equitable distribution of the burdens of taxation, we favor a law requiring that all evidences of indebtedness in the shape of notes in existence on the first day of January of each year, whether secured or unsecured, be rendered for taxes according to their value before such note or evidence of debt shall be collectible in the courts of the State, and that for all notes secured by property the note shall serve as a discount on its taxable valuation to the extent of the secured indebtedness. 9. We demand such a change in our present State law as will correct the abuses of the fee system. 10. We demand the enactment of a libel law fair and just to the press and to the public. Additional Resolutions [11] We favor the cotton mills in the cotton fields of Texas and further favor the establishment of industrial schools in order to edu- cate our children so that they may operate same without the importa- tion of foreign labor. [12] Resolved, that the People's party of Texas is not alone the friend of the producer, but is -equally the friend of the manufacturer and the business man, and that its object is to develop the industries of Texas to a point commensurate with her natural advantage and wealth, and to do this the People's party invites all laborers, pro- ducers, manufacturers, and business men to join in an effort to make Texas the industrial empire of the United States. [13] We as Populists are opposed to all occupation taxes as a prin- ciple in government. [14] A resolution was adopted favoring the appropriation of money by Congress for Brazos and Trinity river improvement. State Executive Committee: Henry F. Jones, of Comanche, chairman; State ajf, large, C. M. Cureton, of Bosque, and W. P. Blake, of Donley. Parties in Texas 427 DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1900 WACO, August 8-10 "The most acrimonious and bitter fight in the history of the Democratic party since the day when Richard Coke dethroned Edmund J. Davis" is the way one observer characterized the proceedings of the Waco convention. It was all brought about by the criminations and recriminations growing out of the re- admission of the Waters-Pierce Oil Company in May last, and by an attempt by the majority of the platform committee to smother the "Hogg" amendments. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Marshall Hicks, of Bexar; permanent, Robert E. Prince, of Navarro; Secretary pro tem- pore, James Hays Quarles, of Tarrant ; permanent, Mark Logan, of Hamilton. Xominess for State Offices: Governor, Joseph D. Bayers, of Bastrop; Lieutenant-Governor, J. N. Browning, of Pctfter; At- torney-General, Thomas S. Smith, of Hill; Comptroller, R. M. Love, of Limestone ; Treasurer, John W. Robbins, of Wilbarger ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Charles H. Rogan, of Brown ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. S. Kendall, of Fannin ; Railroad Commissioner, L. J. Storey, of Guadalupe ; Supreme Court, R. R. Gaines, of Lamar; F. A. Williams, of Houston; Court of Criminal Appeals, J. N. Henderson of Brazos. Committee on Platform- and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, John J. King, of Bowie ; 2. E. S. Chambers, of Red River ; 3. Travis Henderson, of Lamar; 4. Cecil Smith, of Grayson, chairman; 5. L. A. Clark; 6. Barry Miller, of Dallas; 7. John M. Duncan, of Smith; 8. T. S. Caven, of Harrison, secretary; 9. Lee Walker; 10. D. W. Odell, of Johnson; 11. F. M. Boyles, of Falls; 12. W. E. Doyle, of Limestone; 13. John B. Peyton, of Trinity; 14. ' S. B. Cooper; 15. T. H. Ball, of Walker; 16. S. R. Ferryman, of Harris; 17. Lewis R. Bryan, of Brazoria; 18. W. S. Robson, of Fayette; 19. W. C. Henderson; 20. R. E. Brooks, of Travis; 21. T. H. Spooner; 22. R. W. Hudson, of Frio; 23. J. B. Wells, of Cameron; 24. P. J. Lewis, of Bexar; 428 Platforms of Political 25. W. A. Wright, of Tom Green; 26. John J. Cox, of Mills; 27. George F. Perry; 28. George W. Smith, of Mitchell; 29. Edgar Scurry, of Wichita; 30. W. J. Bailey, of Tarrant; 31. W. S. Jameson, of Montague. PLATFORM 1 Recognizing that the American people are now confronted by issues, the decision of which will mark an era in the life of our Republic, the Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, desires to emphasize its indorsement of the platform of the party set forth by the Kansas City convention as being wise, patriotic, and expedient, and as pre- senting a righteous solution of the great questions involved, and invites the cooperation of all classes of our citizenship in maintaining the fundamental principles of government as announced therein. 2. We congratulate our people upon the nomination by our party of a man for President whose splendid statesmanship knows no section and whose lofty patriotism has elevated American manhood, and we pledge to the Democracy of the Nation fifteen electoral votes for Wil- liam J. Bryan and Adlai E. Stevenson. We especially commend the manner of their selection as voicing the spontaneous will of a free people, uncontrolled by the whip of a party boss and uninfluenced by party greed. 3. Believing that United States senators ought to be elected by a direct vote of the people, we instruct our delegation in Congress to work for the submission of a constitutional amendment having this end in view. 4. Recognizing that Texas is the natural gateway for the commerce of the Trans-Mississippi States, we commend our senators and mem- bers of Congress for their earnest efforts toward obtaining Federal aid in deepening our harbors and improving our waterways, and we urge them to use all honorable means to further these enterprises. 5. In the confident expectation that the ownership, construction, and control of the Nicaragua canal by the United States government would be of great, substantial, and permanent benefit, not only to the entire country, but to Texas especially, our senators and representa- tives in Congress are requested to give their earnest and active sup- port to such legislation as will accomplish the purpose. 6. We indorse and commend the administration of Governor Sayers as being wise, patriotic, and economical; and we especially approve of the enlargement and the maintenance of the State eleemosynary insti- tutions, putting them in the highest degree of efficiency and enabling them to properly and promptly meet every demand; the successful J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, H out- ton Post, and San Antonio Express. Parties in Texas 429 management of the penal establishments; the reduction of taxation to the lowest rate of any State in the Union save one; the energetic enforcement of the criminal laws, giving protection to life and prop- erty without regard to race or condition; the making of needed reforms in the method of purchasing supplies for the State institutions; the inhibition upon counties, cities, and towns to issue bonds without authority from a direct vote of the people, and the requirement upon the treasurers of counties, cities, and towns to make annual reports of all bonded indebtedness and of the disposition of the sinking funds; the honest effort to equalize taxation; the enactment of a law making rebating and discrimination by railroads a felony, thereby stopping the pernicious practice for the first time in the history of any American commonwealth; the quieting of land titles and providing for the issu- ance of patents to homestead locations and preemptions; the settle- ment of the deficiency due the permanent school fund, and the large increase in the available fund through the recoveries of moneys due for past illegal occupancy of the school lands, and also through the lease of additional lands; the present cash balance in the treasury for gen- eral revenue purposes of $1,215,000, notwithstanding the heavy and much needed appropriations by the twenty-sixth legislature for the betterment of the eleemosynary institutions and of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and for the construction of an epileptic asylum, and for the payment of ex-Confederate pensions; the enact- ment and enforcement of an anti-trust law; the building of cotton factories, resulting in the incorporation within the present year of ten companies, having a total capital stock of $950,000, which means an uplifting of the price of this commodity and the general improvement of the condition of the agricultural and laboring population; the en- couragement given to every form of industrial enterprise, evidenced by the inauguration of enterprises of many kinds, the construction of 146 miles of railroad during the first half of the present year, and the general development of our commerical institutions. 7. Recognizing the existence of gross inequalities in our present tax system, we favor such legislation as will equalize taxation without increasing its burdens, and also secure the complete rendition for taxa- tion of all property of whatsoever description, except such as may be exempted by the constitution, and the prompt and certain payment of all taxes imposed thereon, to the end that every individual and every interest may be compelled to contribute in just proportion to the sup- port of the government. 8. The educational system of our State, conceived by the fathers of the Republic and fostered by Democratic statesmen, has become the just pride of our people, and we pledge our continued efforts to strengthen and maintain it in all its branches and to keep it clear from partisan politics. To this end we favor the submission by the legislature of a constitutional amendment looking to the election of school trustees, and appointment of the members of the governing 430 Platforms of Political boards of the higher institutions of learning for a term of six years, as contemplated by the law and practiced by each administration until declared unconstitutional by a recent decision of the Supreme Court. 9. Feeling a just pride in the increased usefulness of the Univer- sity of Texas, the Agricultural and Mechanical College and its branch, th-e Prairie View Normal, and other educational institutions, we favor such liberal appropriations by the legislature for- their support and maintenance as will secure their greater efficiency and advancement. 10. Believing that the free pass system is hurtful to the best inter- ests of the masses, we demand that the Democratic members of the next legislature enact a law prohibiting railways from giving free transportation, except to sheriffs, constables, marshals, and their depu- ties, or persons in the employ of a railroad and their immediate families. We furthed demand a reduction in passenger fares corre- sponding to any increase in passenger earnings by reason of the dis- continuance of the free pass system. (Rejected; see Minority Report.) 11. We favor the enactment of a law prohibiting the operation of double-header trains; that is, two or more locomotive engines on one train, over any line of railway in this State except on divisions where heavy grades necessitate the use of two or more locomotives to handle a reasonable number of cars. 12. We demand that the next legislature pass a law whereby the hiring of any person to work or electioneer in the interest of any candidate seeking a nomination at any primary election held by authority of any poltical party shall be absolutely prohibited, and that suc"h a law require that each candidate at a primary election file with some proper officer, within a given time after such primary, an item- ized statement on oath, showing a complete account of all his expenses connected with his candidacy, and that a violation of such law be punished by such penalty as will secure the enforcement thereof. IS. We renew our indorsement of the principles of reform in official fees, but recommend such changes in the present law as will correct any inequalities of compensation for service that experience may dem- onstrate to be necessary, a reasonable maximum to be fixed where not now provided. 14. We favor the establishment by the State of an industrial school for girls. 15. We demand a law limiting the hours of daily service of laborers, workmen, and mechanics employed upon public works of, or work done for the State of Texas to eight hours a day. 16. We favor a law creating a State board of arbitration or con- ciliation, vested with power to settle differences between corporations and their employes. 17. We recommend the enactment of a law defining civil libel that will be fair and just both to the public and the press. 18. We pledge to the people an honest, economical, and efficient administration of the public service in all of its branches. Parties in Texas 431 Additional Resolutions [16] WHEREAS, there is great difficulty in determining as to the liability for expenses incurred in quarantine regulations instituted for the control of contagious diseases, therefore, we recommend that the next legislature pass a law more fully denning the duties and liabilities of municipal and county governments relative thereto. [17] That the Democracy of Texas favors uniform primary elec- tions and conventions as the best method of securing a fair and un- biased expression from Democratic voters in the selection of candidates for State offices. The State executive committee is hereby directed to order primary elections or conventions, as the several counties may elect, to be held upon the same day throughout the State, for the selection of candidates for State offices, and provide that the vote of no county shall be received or counted in determining the result of such primary election or convention where the election or convention has not been held in such county upon the day ordered by the executive committee. [18] That the Democratic party is ualterably opposed to the use of money by corporations in either primary or general elections or to their contribution of funds for such purpose and demand the enact- ment of such a stringent law as will absolutely prohibit their use of money or contribution of funds to such purpose. [19] WHEREAS, the Colorado river traverses the State of Texas for a distance of over 500 miles and if the rafts, logs, and other obstruc- tions were removed, would become navigable at least 100 miles from its mouth and such improvement if made would open up a section of country 50 by 100 miles in extent near its mouth, which is adapted to the raising of cotton and sugar cane, but is now by reason of obstruc- tions laid waste; therefore, be it Resolved, that our representatives in Congress from this State use their best endeavors to secure an appropriation for the purpose of removing said obstructions and having the river made navigable, if found to be feasible. [20] We favor the creation of a State board of health and provision for the collection of the vital statistics of the State as provided for by the constitution; Article 16, Section 32, and the enactment of laws to distribute the expenses of enforcement equally between the State, counties, and municipalities. MINORITY REPORT Mr. Hudson offered the following minority report to take the place of plank 10 of the majority report: We ask that the constitutional amendment to define and to prevent insolvent corporations from doing business in this State, to prevent the use of corporate funds in politics, and to suppress the free pass 432 Platforms of Political system over the railways, as presented and discussed by J. S. Hogg before the public recently, shall be submitted by the next legislature to the people for their action thereon. The minority report was adopted by a vote of 561 * to 401 % . State Executive Committee: James B. Wells, of Cameron, chairman ; 1st Senatorial district, A. C. Oliver, of Cass ; 2. H. E. Henderson, of Hopkins; 3. A. P. Dohoney, of Lamar; 4. H. L. Stuart, of Cooke; 5. "W. Y. Carver, of Collin; 6. Joseph E. Cockrell, of Dallas; 7. John S. Spinks, of Van Zandt; 8. W. E. Ross, of Panola; 9. James R. Young, of Kaufman; 10. W. C. Morrow, of Hill; 11. John H. Bickett, of Milam; 12. W. T. Bartholomew, of Robertson; 13. W. B. O'Quinn, of Angelina; 14. J. C. Harris, of Nacogdoches; 15. W. L. Dean, of Madison; 16. J. M. Moore, of Fort Bend; 17. A. P. Norman, of Galvesro tt-mport, <;. II. Boynton, of Hamilton; permanent. R. H. Powell, of Angelina. Dele-gates to tl\e National Convention: State at large, J. W, Bailey, of Cooke, M. M. Brooks, of Dallas, J. L. Storey, of Cald- well. A. J. Baker, of Tom Green; 1st Congressional district, A.. C. Stewart, of Bowie, and James G. Dudley, of Lamar; 2. G.. ('. Wood, of Jefferson, and S. W. Blount, of Nacogdoches; 3. R.- I*. Wofford, of Henderson, and John Barnwell, of Upshur; 4'.. Rice Maxey, of Grayson, and W. II. Clendennin, of Rains; 5. W. K. Spell, of Hill, and James 0. McXealus, of Dallas; 6. J. K. Astin, of Brazos, and S. 0. Wofford, of Freestone; 7. James B. Stubbs. of Galveston, and E. B. Pickett, Jr., of Liberty; 8. Charles Highsmith, of Harris, and C. W. Nugent, of Mont- gomery: !). A. E. Mnstcrson, of Braxoria, and J. W. Ragsdale, of" Lavaca: 10. Ed R. K August 12 and 13, 1908. 516 Platforms of Political spread impression at the money centers from which capital should come to us that investments in Texas are insecure and unprotected. We favor, therefore, the adoption of such State policies as will be recog : nized as an earnest and sincere invitation to capital to seek within our borders all forms of investment and will be accepted as a guarantee of protection and fair treatment. 2. We suggest and specify the most important of the things to be done to put this policy into practical effect; we condemn as unwise and inopportune and too radical: (1) The Robertson insurance law; (2) The law imposing a tax upon the gross revenues of corporations and individuals having their capital invested in public service enter- prises, the encouragement and multiplication of which is so vitally important; (3) The laws imposing taxes on the so-called intangible assets of such corporations; (4) The laws imposing discouragingly excessive franchise taxes and Incorporation fees upon corporations, private as well as quasi-public; (5) The laws imposing almost prohibitory restrictions ' upon the formation or the increase of the capitalization of private corporations, a vast number of which, the history of all successful development has taught us, is needed to carry on such languishing and legitimate enter- prises as individuals are unable or unwilling to undertake; (6) The laws creating and establishing, in comfortable quarters at the State Capitol, at great expense to the State, various forms of "smelling committees," under the titles Tax Commissioner, Tax Boards and Revenue agents, and investing them with inquisitorial powers. We favor the repeal or modification of the objectionable laws men- tioned and such others as belong in the same classification, so as to make our legislation conform to the go-ahead policy of a broad-minded and progressive people. 3. We favor fewer and better laws on all subjects, and particularly on the subject of taxation, while we favor, as the only just principle, the equal and uniform distribution of the burdens of taxation on the rendition and assessment of all property at its full value. We con- demn the recent full rendition law, and the methods pursued by the administration in enforcing the law, and demand its repeal or its amendment. It is subject to the objection of being expressive of a policy to swell excessively and unreasonably the taxable values of land, and thus discourage the investment of capital therein, with the in- evitable result of eventually reducing the value thereof, and with the further objection that this law is an unwise and dangerous inter- ference with the powers conferred by the constitution of the State upon the county assessors and commissioners to fix and determine the value of all property for taxation. 4. We oppose involving the State in any scheme to insure or guar- antee bank deposits. Such a policy would be an unnatural effort to Parties in Texas 517 place all banks and bankers on the same plane, and would be unmer- ited by the bad and unjust to the good. It would but stimulate the activity of the tax gatherer resident at Austin in the accumulation of a fund, the sufficiency of which would be problematical, and which at last the borrowers and other customers of the banks would provide, for it is certain that the bankers will not pay one cent of this tax or abate any part of their profits on account of it. 5. The constitution of the State of Texas provides that it shall be amended by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the legislature pro- posing and of a majority of the voters subsequently ratifying any amendment. We are opposed to its being amended in any other way, and especially by the initiative and referendum method now being pursued by the Democratic party, and which, if successful, will form a dangerous precedent and tend to destroy the sacred rights now pre- served by the constitution. We are, therefore, opposed to the sub- mission by the thirty-first legislature of a statewide prohibition amend- ment, but, instead thereof, do favor the enactment by such legislature of fair and rigidly enforced local option and license laws, which pro- vide penalties for their violation so severe as to compel their obedience and afford the utmost protection to society. 6. We favor the repeal of the laws which hamper, by minute and ridiculous regulations, the conduct and actions of the political parties, when preparing to present candidates and platforms of principles to the public for its consideration. The present law upon this subject is legislation in the interest of machine politics. Its provisions relat- ing to primary elections are cumbersome, complicated, contradictory, and unintelligible, and impose upon those who seek to enter the public service by standing for an elective office a great and unnecessary expense. 7. The law passed by the thirtieth legislature, known as the public school textbook law, and the action thereunder of the present School Textbook Board, in awarding the' contracts thereunder for furnishing our people school books at an increased expense of thousands of dollars, deserves the condemnation of all people of every party, and the former should be repealed and the latter abolished at the earliest possible time, and an investigation had of the graft and corruption which is charged to have already been practiced under this statute. We are in favor of the State furnishing all school books to the children of the public schools of the State, free of cost to them. The hope of a republic lies in the proper education of its citizens, and the children of Texas, whether of town or country, are entitled to equal opportunities, and, therefore, we demand, as a matter of right to the children and of correct public policy that the qualified voters of every school district in Texas shall have the power and it shall be their duty to levy a tax that will give to all children equal opportunities, and we favor such changes in our laws as will permit 518 Platforms of Political the people living outside the cities to levy a tax sufficient for that purpose. 8. We believe that our State judiciary should be above, beyond, and wholly independent of partisan politics, and we favor the selection of all judges at an election held exclusively for that purpose and not in the same year in which a general election is held. We favor longer terms and increased salaries for our Supreme, Appellate, and District judges, so that our best lawyers can, without too great a sacrifice, afford to take and hold those high and honorable positions. We favor paying the actual and necessary expenses of the District Judges and the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals when in the performance of their official duties they are required to leave the counties of their residence. 9. We favor the reorganization of the judiciary system of Texas in order to secure more speedy trial of criminal cases and thus lessen the expense to county and State and the reasons for lynch law, and that civil suits may be more quickly terminated and time and expense saved to both litigants and the State. 10. We favor the amendment of the anti-pass law, so as to remove all restrictions against public utility corporations extending free service, if they see fit to do so, to any and all peace officers, including deputy sheriffs, ministers of the gospel, and persons engaged in chari- table and educational work, and also to permit the exchange of trans- portation by railroad companies for advertising space in the news- papers; and we favor such an amendment by Congress of the Hepburn bill as will permit the issuance of free transportation to "bona fide immigration agents. 11. As counties are now required to place their deposits with the highest bidding institutions, in the interest of economy, we favor the abolishment of the office of county treasurer, and suggest that deposits be placed with depositories by the county collector who shall perform the nominal duties of treasurer. 12. Believing as we do in the maintenance of an adequate militia, we favor an annual appropriation for that purpose by the State equal in amount to that received by the State from the United States gov- ernment. 13. We favor the control of quarantine matters by the National government, such action having been taken by many States, in order to secure greater safety to our citizens, and we also favor the establish- ment of a laboratory, to be under the charge of the State Health Officer, for the production of anti-diphtheritic serum and such anti- toxins as will best conserve the health of our people. 14. We again declare in favor of the continuance of the policy of liberal appropriations by the National government for the improvement of the waterways of the State of Texas. [15] We but record the well known verdict of a vast majority of the people of this State, as well as of the Nation, in commending, Parties in Texas 519 without reservation, the administration of President Roosevelt, as having been throughout honorable, high-minded, and patriotic, and as having richly merited the glowing tribute paid to it in the platform adopted by the last Republican convention at Chicago, and all that is there said in commendation of the President and his administration we approve, without qualification, and adopt as expressive of our appreciation of and gratitude for his great work in behalf of the country and its people. We proclaim our loyalty to and approval of, and pledge our support to the principles, policies, and candidates of the National Republican party, as propounded by its delegated repre- sentatives in convention assembled at Chicago, and we commend it on its record, on tho principles for which it stands, and on the high character and preeminent qualifications and trained ability of William H. Taft, of Ohio, its distinguished candidate for the high office of chief executive of the Nation, to the thoughtful and unbiased consideration of our fellow-citizens of the State of Texas. State Executive Committee: Cecil A. Lyon, of Grayson, chair- man; 1st Senatorial district, J. A. Hurley, of Bowie; 2. W. J. Gideon, of Delta; 3. Dr. C. A. Gray, of Fannin; 4. C. B. Dor- chester, of Grayson; 5. R. F. Akridge, of Hunt; 6. E. S. Thayer. of Dallas ; 7. S. D. Waldrip, of Van Zandt ; 8. D. H. Morris, of Leon; 9. Rube Freedman, of Navarro; 10. C. Dickson, of John- son; 11. J. W. Cocke, of McLennan; 12. Frank A. Myers, of Brazos; 13. G. W. Burkitt, of Harris; 14. George H. East, of Jefferson; 15. Charles George, of Grimes; 16. A. N. McKay, of Harris; 17. Otto Letzerich, of Galveston; 18. Arthur Fricke r of Fayette; 19. W. W. Edwards, of Bastrop ; 20. J. M. Thorn- ton, of Travis; 21. August Graeb, of Guadalupe; 22. M. P. Schorre, of Karnes; 23. Ed C. Lasater, of Starr; 24. H. R. Richter, of Gillespie; 25. Charles B. Stevens, of El Paso; 26. J. B. Lockhart, of McCulloch; 27. Joe E. Williams, of Hamil- ton; 28. L. S. McDowell, of Howard; 29. J. E. Lutz, of Wil- barger; 30. Sam Davidson, of Tarrant; 31. J. A. Burgess, of Montague. 520 Platforms of Political DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1908 SAN ANTONIO, August 11-13 I The right of initiative was invoked for the first time under the Terrell election law in a petition to the State executive com- mittee requesting that the question of State prohibition, be sub- mitted to the Democratic voters in the July primary election. There were cast for submission 142,614 votes, and against sub- mission 139,335 votes. Those favoring submission controlled the convention. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Charles F. Greenwood, of Hill; permanent, J. A. L. Wolfe, of Grayson. Secretary, Bob Barker, of Bexar. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Thomas M. Campbell, of Anderson; Lieutenant-Governor, A. B. Davidson, of DeWitt; Attorney-General, Robert V. Davidson, of Galveston ; Comptrol- ler, J. W. Stephens, of Travis; Treasurer, Sam Sparks, of Bell; Commissioner of the General Land Office, J. T. Rohison, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, R. B. Cousins, of Limestone; Railroad Commissioner, 0. B. Colquitt, of Kauf- man; Commissioner of Agriculture, R. T. Milner, 1 of Rusk; Supreme Court, F. A. Williams, of Travis; Court of Criminal Appeals, W. L. Davidson, of Williamson, and W. F. Ramsey, of Johnson. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, H. W. Vaughn, of Bowie; 2. D. M. Portwood, of Red River; 3. R. W. Wortham, of Lamar; 4. C. L. Yowell, of Gray- son ; 5. M. G. Abernathy, of Collin ; 6. Nelson Phillips, of Dallas ; 7. T. B. Butler, of Smith; 8. R, T. Brown, of Rusk; 9. Jed C. Adams, of Kaufman ; 10. W. E. Spell, of Hill ; 11. Eugene Wil- liams, of McLennan; 12. J. E. Butler, of Brazos; 13. R, W. Brown, of Anderson; 14. George Smith, of Jefferson; 15. L. T. Dashiell, of Leon; 16. Jonathan Lane, of Harris; 17. Walter Gresham, of Galveston; 18. W. A. Trenckmann, of Austin; 19. X R. T. Milner withdrew his candidacy for this office, and about September 1, the State executive committee nominated Ed R. Kone, of Hays. Parties in Texas 521 Paul D. Page, of Bastrop: 20. James H. Robertson, oi' Travis, chairman ; 21. R. S. Dilworth, of Gonzales ; 22. Robert A. Pleas- ants, of DeWitt ; 23. John G. Willacy, of San Patricio ; 24. Albert Hohrath, of Bexar; 25. Richard F. Burges, of El Paso; 26. Charles H. Jenkins, of Brown; 27. Fred P. Hamill, of Bell; 28. W. T. Shannon, of Jones: 29. R. W. Hall, of Wilbarger; 30. George W. Armstrong, of Tarrant; 31. J. H. Matthews, of Montague. PLATFORM 2 1. Declaring our devotion to those principles of government for which the Democratic party has ever been the most valiant champion and defender, we pledge ourselves to every effort necessary to per- petuate the rights guaranteed by our Federal and State constitutions, and look with confidence to a brilliant Democratic victory in the com- ing election for their vindication. 2. We indorse the platform, adopted by the National Democratic convention at Denver, and heartily ratify the nomination of William Jennings Bryan and John Worth Kern for the presidency and vice- presidency of the United States. 3. We heartily indorse the present Democratic administration, the official acts of Governor Thomas M. Campbell, and the acts of the thirtieth legislature, enacted in obedience to platform demands, and we rejoice at the emphatic indorsement given said laws and adminis- tration by the Democratic voters in the recent primary election. 4. We indorse the official course of our senators and representa- tives in the United States Congress and commend their faithful dis- charge of official duties. 5. We recommend that the thirty-first legislature resubmit for adoption by the people a constitutional amendment making provision for the indigent wives and widows of Confederate soldiers. 6. In harmony with the National Democratic platform, pledging the party to legislation for the guaranty of National bank deposits, we favor the prompt establishment of a system under the supervision and control of the State for the guaranty of the deposits of State banks of Texas. 7. We recommend such amendments to and changes in the laws governing court procedure as will reduce the expense of litigation and tend to the speedy administration in civil as well as criminal cases. 8. The Democratic party believes that ignorance is a misfortune and that education is a blessing, and we, therefore, favor a wise and liberal financial support of our public schools and all our State educa- *The proceedings of this convention are taken from the San Antom* Express, August 11-14, 1908. 522 Platforms of Political tional institutions. We favor the adoption of the pending amendment to Section 3, Article 7, State constitution, relating to public free schools, and commend the support of said amendment to the voters of Texas. The recent decision of the Supreme Court in the Baird Independent School District case invalidates outstanding bonds of such districts to the approximate amount of $3,000,000. These bonds are held by the State permanent school fund and other innocent purchasers. There should be no repudiation of any public debt in Texas. We, therefore, favor a constitutional amendment validating said bonds. 9. We repudiate the charges that have been made that Texas legislation is unfriendly to capital, and we invite a comparison of our laws affecting capital, private or corporate, with the laws of other States on this subject. We declare the Democratic party of Texas to be one of progress, looking well to the material interests of the people, and in favor of an early and rapid development of the natural resources of the State. The party invites the investment of friendly capital, by both indi- viduals and corporations, and guarantees full and complete protection of all such investments. The party recognizes the necessity for the construction of many miles of new railroad to bring into market and use at an early date our unoccupied lands, the timber growing thereon, and the minerals and other valuable deposits therein, and heartily invites the construc- tion thereof under proper regulations, and guarantees of protection by just and fair laws intelligently and honestly administered. 10. We favor decreasing the number and increasing the compensa- tion of the legislators of this State. 11. We favor the establishment of additional experimental agri- cultural stations, especially in Central, West, and Northwest Texas. 12. We recommend that our State Health Department be granted adequate authority and ample means to properly safeguard the public health. In order to secure greater efficiency in our public health agencies, so as to maintain the reputation of our State for healthful- ness, we favor such legislation as will effect this purpose. 13. Recognizing that the oil and rice industries are of great im- portance in the growth of the State, we recommend legislation that will conserve and protect them, and we also recommend that adequate provisions be made for fixing and regulating the charges of canal and pipe line companies. 14. Realizing that one of the most important industries of our State is involved in the fish and oyster industry, and that our bays furnish in a limited quantity and inadequate at the same time, a supply of those foods to the people, and that adequate laws ought to be en- acted to protect the limited supply we have, and viewing the situation from foreign States and with regard to the laws that they have passed to protect their food supplies, we ask that the State legislature be Parties in Texas 523 instructed, or requested, to pass such laws or amendments to the present statutes on those questions that will enable the Fish and Oyster Commissioner and his deputies to properly protect the interests of the people in this great food supply; and we desire further to have such legislation as will increase and protect the fisheries of Texas. 15. We demand the submission by the thirty-first legislature of the State of Texas of a constitutional amendment to the people of the State of Texas, for their adoption or rejection, prohibiting within the State of Texas the manufacture, sale, gift, exchange, and intra- state shipment of spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors and medicated bitters, capable of producing intoxication, except for medical and sacramental purposes. 16. We recommend that the prohibition amendment demanded by the recent primary election be submitted to all qualified voters at a special election to be held in 1909. We declare that at such election a vote for or against the amendment shall not be considered a test of Democracy, as it is not the purpose of this convention to commit the Democratic party for or against State prohibition. Resolutions Your committee further recommends the adoption of the following resolutions: 1. The fact that neither the State nor the party, by a vote of the entire State, has the right to elect either a State senator or representa- tive is conclusive evidence that they have no right to instruct them adversely to the expressed will of their local constituency. The man- ner of their election under the constitution and laws of this State, adopted an enacted by the Democratic party of this State, shows the party devotion to the doctrine of local self-government advocated by our Democratic fathers and so dear to all Democrats. [This resolution was withdrawn by the chairman of the platform committee, after the adoption of plank No. 15.] 2. Realizing that the development of our State and the prosperity of our people depend largely upon the quick and economical transporta- tion of their commerce, we approve and earnestly recommend the adoption by the Federal government of a wise, liberal, and compre- hensive policy for the improvement of the waterways of our country, and especially recommend and request our senators and representatives in Congress to use their influence and best efforts to secure adequate annual appropriations with provisions, under continuing contract, for the speedy widening, deepening, and enlarging of the harbors of this State, the proper and continuous construction of the intercoastal canal, and the early improvement of our rivers. 3. WHEREAS, it has been the impression of some of the people of the Republic of Mexico that the citizenship and officials of the border counties of Texas have not used due diligence in the apprehension of 524 Platforms of Political those persons who have violated the neutrality laws of the United States of America, in the recent commission of unlawful, outrageous, and unmerciful depredations upon the inhabitants of the Mexican Republic; therefore, be it Resolved, that we, the Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, do hereby pledge to the Republic of Mexico the hearty cooperation of the constabulary of our State in the extermination of any of those influences and conditions that may threaten the amicable relations now existing between the United States and Mexico. 4. We deeply deplore the death of Governor S. W. T. Lanham, who in his life embodied the highest standards of character and citizenship, and whose distinguished services to the State and Nation has endeared his memory to Democrats throughout the land, and we tender our sincere sympathy to the members of his family in their bereavement. 5. [Thanks to the citizens of San Antonio.] 6. We express our thanks to George A. Garden, the chairman of the retiring executive committee, for the faithful discharge of his official duties. MINOBITY BEPOBTS We, the members of the committee on platform and resolutions, appointed by the convention, respectfully dissent from the views of the majority of your committee upon the subject of this State guar- anteeing deposits made in State banks as recommended in plank No. 6 of the platform reported by the majority and ask that said plank be stricken out and be not adopted. JONATHAN LANE, PAUL D. PAGE, NELSON PHILLIPS, W. A. TBENCKMANN, R. S. DILWOBTH, ALBEBT HOHBATH. The minority report was tabled by a viva voce vote. II We, members of the committee on platform and resolutions, appointed by said convention, respectfully present to the convention the follow- ing resolution and ask that it be substituted for plank No. 15 of the proposed platform upon the subject of State prohibition, submitted by a majority of your committee, to wit: WHEREAS, heretofore, prior to the late Democratic State primary election, a petition was presented to the State Democratic executive committee requesting that said executive committee submit to the Parties in Texas 525 entire body of Democratic voters of Texas, participating in such primary election, the question: Whether this Democratic State con- vention should place in the Democratic platform a demand for certain specific legislation, namely: That the thirty-first legislature of Texas pass a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the State of Texas to the effect, substantially: That the manu- facture or sale, at wholesale or retail, of spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors hereafter be prohibited by law in the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, the authority of the executive committee to so submit said question was controlled by an act of the thirtieth legislature of the State of Texas which said law reads as follows, to wit: "Any political party in this State, in convention assembled, shall never place in the platform or resolutions of the party they represent any demands for specific legislation on any subject unless the demand for such specific legislation shall have been submitted to a direct vote of the people, and shall have been indorsed by a majority of all the votes cast in the primary election of such party; provided, that the State executive committee shall, on petition of ten per cent of the voters of any party, as shown by the last primary election vote, submit any such question or questions to the voters at the general primary next preceding the State convention;" and WHEREAS, under and by virtue of said law, the Democratic executive committee of the State of Texas did submit in substance said question to the voters to be voted upon directly by all the people voting at said primary election, which was duly held throughout Texas in accordance with law, on July 25, 1908, and which included the matter of nominat- ing, among others, a Democratic candidate for the office of governor; and WHEREAS, the returns of said primary election have been duly re- turned to and canvassed by the State executive committee aforesaid, which said executive committee has certified to this convention that the total number of votes cast for the candidates for governor at said election was 320,062, thereby evidencing and establishing that said number of Democratic voters participated in and voted at said pri- mary election; and WHEREAS, said executive committee has certified to this convention that out of said total number of 320,062 votes only 142,175 were cast ni favor of said question, which was a minority of all the votes cast in the said primary election of the Democratic party by 17,545 votes; therefore, be it Resolved, that said question so proposed and so submitted to the voters at the said Democratic primary election has not been indorsed by a majority of all the votes cast in said primary election, and that, therefore, said plank can not be inserted in the platform of the Demo- cratic party by this convention without violating the plain letter and 526 Platforms of Political spirit of said law, and, therefore, this convention for said reason declines to do so. RICHARD F. BURGES, R. W. WORTHAM, JONATHAN LANE, J. E. BUTLER, NELSON PHILLIPS, GEORGE W. ARMSTRONG, JOHN G. WILLACY, JAMES H. ROBERTSON, PAUL D. PAGE, W. A. TRENCKMANN, WALTER GRESHAM, ALBERT HOHRATH. This minority report was rejected by a vote of 418 2-7 ayes to 225 5-7 noes. Ill We, the undersigned members of the committee on platform and resolutions, dissent from the majority report of the said committee as to Resolution No. 1, and recommend that the same be not adopted for the reason that said resolution in effect destroys the binding force of the Democratic platform, encourages insubordination, and plants the seed of party disintegration. P. W. BROWN, H. W. VAUGHN, R. W. HALL, EUGENE WILLIAMS, R. T. BROWN, W. E. SPELL, C. N. PORTWOOD, W. T. SHANNON, T. B. BUTLER, J. H. MATTHEWS, C. H. JENKINS, L. T. DASHIELL. The withdrawal of Resolution No. 1 made unnecessary any action on this report. State Executive Committee: A. B. Storey, of Caldwell, chair- man, 1st Senatorial district, H. F. O'Neal, of Cass; 2. J. M. Melson, of Hopkins; 3. F. S. Dudley, of Lamar; 4. Jesse C. Murrell, of Cooke; 5. William Bacon, of Hunt; 6. Robert B. Allen, of Dallas; 7. J. M. Edwards, of Smith; 8. R. G. Brown, of Gregg; 9. J. M. Murchison, of Henderson; 10. A. B. Honey- cutt, of Johnson; 11. J. W. Dudley, of McLennan; 12. N. P. Houx, of Limestone; 13. J. C. Box, of Cherokee; 14. W. J. Crawford, of Jefferson; 15. J. Lewellyn, of Montgomery; 16. William Masterson, of Harris; 17. J. B. Stubbs, of Galveston; 18. C. E. Lane, of Fayette; 19. A. Wangemann, of Washington; 20. J. Gregg Hill, of Travis; 21. F. J. Maier, of Comal; 22. F. G. Moffett, of Jackson; 23. Archie Parr, of Duval: 24. Will A. Morriss, of Bexar; 25. G. B. Finley, of Uvalde; 26. W. D. Mc- Christy, of Brown; 27. J. D. Brown, Jr., of Coryell; 28. J. H. Parties in Texas 527 Beall, of Nolan; 29. Nat Henderson, of Wichita; 30. W. R. Parker, of Tarrant; 31. Emory C. Smith, of Denton. SOCIALIST LABOR STATE TICKET, 1908 No account of a State convention of the Socialist Labor party in 1908 has been found. Presidential Electors: Carl Schmidt and F. Maiorana. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, William B. Cook; Lieutenant-Governor, I. Goodman; Comptroller, Joe Piombino; Treasurer, Robert Strach; Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, G. H. Royal. SOCIALIST STATE MASS MEETING, 1910 CORPUS CHRISTI, August 9 The platform had been adopted and the candidates selected by a party referendum, so the only purpose of the State mass meeting was to comply with the Terrell election law. Officers: Chairman, H. L. Dreyer, of Nueces. Secretary, E. R. Meitzen, of Lavaca. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Reddin Andrews, 01 Smith; Lieutenant- Governor, P. G. Zimmerman, of Jones; At- torney-General, M. A. Smith, of Hunt; Comptroller, E. R. Meitzen, of Lavaca; Treasurer, W. J. Bell, of Smith; Commis- sioner of the General Land Office, Alfred Mueller, of Bexar; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mrs. H. A. Fee, of Bexar ; Commissioner of Agriculture, M. S. Graham, of Jones; Rail- road Commissioner, J. C. Aschenbeck, of Wharton, and Eustace Bellinger, of Bexar; Supreme Court, S. H. Tucker, of Coryell; Court of Criminal Appeals, G. P. McLester, of Eastland. PLATFORM 1 The Socialist party of Texas reaffirms its allegiance to the principles of international Socialism as expressed through the National plat- form of the Socialist party. Today men, women, and children work with complex and wonder- lr The proceedings of this mass meeting are taken from the Dallas News, August 14, 1910. 528 Platforms of Political fully productive machinery. The driver of the modern locomotive can transport more articles of commerce in one hour than his pre- decessor of fifty years could in months by means of the overland cart. The wonderful textile machines, attended by children, turn out miles of cloth where the hand loom of the past wove inches. The com- bined steam header, thrasher, and sacker harvest thousands of bushels of grain where the scythe and the flail of the last century harvested one. Whichever way society looks the same advancement in every i line of industry is seen. Because of this evolution of machinery and jits complement the acquisition of land the members of society have been separated into classes the owners or nonworkers, and the non- owners or workers. The workers, or the majority, in order to obtain life's necessities must use the land or the machines. But before they can use either they must secure permission of the owner, or the minority. Permission is never granted, only on the condition that the workers surrender a part of their labor's product to the owner. This constitutes the economic basis of society and can be changed only by making the ownership of the land and the machinery collective that is, by making society the owner, instead of the individual. In order to perpetuate society's present economic foundation, the owners of the land and the machinery must maintain political power. For the workers to change the present economic status, and thereby retain to themselves the full social products of their labor, they must come into possession of the political power. The Socialist party of Texas has for its object the capture of the political power of this State, and pledges its candidates, on penalty of recall and expulsion from the party, to labor for the economic change as set forth in the above. Therefore, it demands: 1. A democratic form of government by constitutional amendment providing for the initiative, referendum, and power of recall on a basis of six, eight, and fifteen per cent respectively. 2. The extension of the full right of franchise to women. 3. The abolition of the poll tax as a qualification to the right of ballot, and the simplification of the Terrell election law to a correct and easy interpretation by the average voter. 4. The unrestricted right of peaceable assembly, free speech, and free press. To this end we demand the refusal by the State to cities of charters tending to restrict or abridge this constitutional right. 5. That the State of Texas cease the sale of school or other public lands; that all lands now held by lease shall, on the expiration of said lease, become a part of the public domain, upon payment for all im- provements at an appraised valuation. 6. That the State purchase all land sold for taxes in this State, the same to become part of the public domain. 7. That nonresident land owners assess their own land, the State Parties in Texas reserving the right to purchase such land at its assessed value, plus ten per cent. &. A graduated land tax on all farm land held for exploitation or speculation, farmers' unoccupied farm land now in its possession, or hereafter acquired, at the prevailing rate of rent share. As soon as said rent share amounts in the aggregate to a sum equal to one-half the value of the land at the time of application, rent to cease, and the State to issue to such tenant a permanent right of occupancy. 10. That the tools, teams, and implements -of landless farmers to the amount of $800 be exempt from taxation. 11. The State ownership of cotton gins, cotton seed oil mills, cotton compresses, warehouses, and other utilities in their nature public. 12. The establishment of an eight-hour work day among all day- laborers; the passage of sanitary laws and their rigid enforcement in all public works; strict inspection of mills, mines, factories, etc.; abolition of child labor in all wage-paying industries; State fire, life,. accident, and sick insurance. 13. The immediate and speedy extension of the State Railway, em- ploying free labor at prevailing union wages. 14. Humane and scientific treatment of the inmates of the State penitentiaries, all the value of their labor above an economical cost of maintenance to go to their families or dependents. 15. The erection, by the State, of as many as three sanitariums, to be located equiangularly, or as nearly as may be; board and treat- ment of inmates to be furnished by the State. 16. All physicians and surgeons doing general practice in this State shall be in the employ of the State. To this end we recommend the districting of the counties on a basis of square miles, the distribution of physicians proportioned to the population; and the operation, by the State, of a drug dispensary in each such district. The removal of any physician for incompetency to be by majority vote of qualified voters in such district. 17. Free textbooks to the scholastic pupils in the public schools,. and adequate public maintenance of all destitute and semi-destitute children in this State. 18. That the right of asylum to political refugees shall not be de- nied in Texas. We condemn the act of some officials in lending aid to foreign tyrants and Pinkerton thugs to have such men extradited or imprisoned. E.r'iitir< Committee: H. L. Dreyer, of Xueces, chair- man; E. R. Meitzen, of Lavaca, secretary; G. T. Bryant, of Jones; Dan ('. Older, of Eastland : Frank Hnbbell, of Refugio : W. M. Williams. of Jones; A. Haynes, Jr., of Lavaca; W. A. Mitchell, of Dallam; E. Bellinger, of Bexar; W. J. Bell, of Smith: Frank \Ylms. of Stephens; John Raider, of Wharton; 1). W. P. Cornelius, of Red River; 3. Ed D. Steger, of Fannin; 4. R. S. Fulton, of Grayson: 5. William Bacon, of Hunt; 6. Murphy W. Townsend, of Dallas; 7. Julius Germany, of Van Zandt; 8. P. M. Young, of Harrison; 9. George M. Wofford, of Hen- derson; 10. Hardie P. Missell, of Ellis; 11. W. T. Hefley, of Milam ; 12. H. S. Morehead, of Robertson ; 13. Will H. Bonner, of Angelina; 14. S. B. Cooper, Jr., of Jefferson: 15. R W. Brahan, of Walker; 16. John H. Kirby, of Harris; 17. James B. Stubbs, of Galveston : 18. J. W. Ragsdale, of Lavaca ; 19. Paul D. Page, of Bastrop; 20. Ike D. White, of Travis; 21. F. J. Maier, of Comal; 22. T. D. W T ood, of Victoria; 23. A. Parr, of Duval; 24. Claude Birkhead, of Bexar; 25. John White, of Mason; 26. J. K. Baker, of Coleman; 27. J. N. Fallis, of Bosque; 28. R. L. Penick, of Jones; 29. Nat Henderson, of Wichita; 30. Paul Waples, of Tarrant ; 31. R. E. Carswell, of Wise. 538 Platforms of Political REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1910 DALLAS, August 9 and 10 The attendance was large; the proceedings were harmonious; the only contest made centered about resolutions below, num- bered 24 and 25. Officers: Chairman pro temper e, W. II. Atwell, of Dalian; permanent, Charles W. Ogden, of Bexar. Secretary pro tern- pore, Mose C. Harris, of Bexar; permanent, Otto Patterson, of Tarrant, Nominees for State Offices: Governor, J. O. Terrell, of Bexar; Lieutenant-Governor, Harris Masterson, of Harris; Attorney- General, Charles W. Ogden, of Bexar; Comptroller, Fred Hoff- heinz, of Comal; Treasurer, C. W. Hutchinson, of Tarrant; Commissioner of the General Land Office, W. H. Fealherstone. of Clay; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sam T. Swin- ford, of Harris; Railroad Commissioner, J. H. Hawley, of Gal- veston; Commissioner of Agriculture, Ed C. Lasater, of Starr ; Supreme Court, J. G. McGrady, of Fannin; Court of Criminal Appeals, J. W. Cocke, of McLennan. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: E. P. Wilmot, of Travis, chairman; J. A. Hurley, of Bowie; C. R. Bone, of Jeffer- son; S. D. Waldrip, of Van Zandt; C. A. Gray, of Fannin; M. N. Baker, of Dallas; Allen Meyers, of Brazos; John Grant, of Galveston; W. A. Matthaei, of Austin; Ben Sheldon, of Aransas; Joe E. Williams, of Hamilton; C. C. Littleton, of Parker; Lewis B. Lindsay, of Cooke; J. S. Sweet, of Bexar; E. G. Crabbe, of Nueces; A. H. Anderson, of El Paso. PLATFORM 1 [1] Resolved, that we commend President Taft for his advocacy of the policy of progress developed by his predecessors and himself and indorse his administration for the many substantial measures of re- form it has written into our statutes and assure him of our approval J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, August 10 and 11, 1910. Parties in Texas 539 and support in all efforts to secure further effective reforms in legisla- tion and administration, and reaffirm our allegiance to the Republican National platform of 1908. As to State affairs: [2] Two years of additional misrule in Texas have not changed, but have confirmed the position taken by the Republicans of Texas in convention assembled in 1908 and, therefore, we, the Republicans of Texas, assembled in convention, in common with all thoughtful and observant persons, recognize in recent and now transpiring political events and discussions the unmistakable evidence of the patriotic interest which the entire citizenship of our State is taking in the many and important issues of the hour, affecting both our National and State governments. That this awakening to a solemn duty exists to such an unusual degree is, we consider, one of the most hopeful signs of the times and promises well for the future of our great State, for we have no manner of doubt that if every individual voter will think and act for himself and not at the dictation of any man or set of men, the important questions before us will be solved so as to promote the best interests and aid in the development of the limitless resources of the State. We commend and share in the apparently universal resolve to treat those vital issues as business propositions? and as such to give them the best, the most unselfish, unprejudiced, unbiased, and nonpartisan thought of which fair-minded and patriotic citizens are capable. Without other purpose in view than to promote the general welfare, we tender to the people of Texas the aid of the Republican party, its organization and its membership throughout the State, in working out the problems which confront and affect us all alike. To this end we propound for the consideration of our fellow citizens of Texas the following declaration of principles: [3] We favor again the adoption of such State policies as will be recognized as an earnest and sincere invitation to capital to seek within our borders all forms of investment and will be accepted as a guarantee of protection and fair treatment. [4] We, therefore, again condemn as unwise and too radical, [Here are quoted verbatim count (1) to (5) and the concluding paragraph of plank 2 of the platform of 1908.] [5] We favor fewer and better laws on all subjects and particularly upon the subject of taxation. [6] We again condemn the full rendition law and the methods pur- sued by the State administration in enforcing same and demand its repeal or amendment. Since the condemnation of this law by the Re- publican convention in 1908, it has been abundantly proven by its operation and enforcement to be a vicious enactment which has in- creased the assessed values of certain classes of property without fulfilling the promise of reduction in tax burdens. [7] We unsparingly condemn all hasty and ill-considered legisla- tion, and call the attention of the people to the great bundle of laws 540 Platforms of Political passed by the recent legislatures involving the material welfare of the State without having given to the important subjects the mature con- sideration which they demand, and we call especial attention to the Inexcusable waste of public money which legislative haste involves as IB illustrated by the fact that the Governor has just called a special session of the legislature for the purposes of, as he states, repealing the fire rating bill which has just been passed by the same legislature, involving the people in an expense which is estimated to be not less than $50,000. [8] WHEREAS, the Democratic party of this State has been guilty of the inconsistency of adopting a plank in its platform declaring for the submission of a prohibition amendment to the constitution, and of nominating a candidate for governor who made his campaign in oppo- sition to such submission and to prohibition in every phase of the question; and, WHEREAS, the Democratic party has thus thrown the State into an- other prohibition campaign, which will array neighbor against neighbor and community against community, we reiterate the declaration con- tained in our platform of 1908 and again declare in favor of the strict enforcement of the local option laws as the correct solution of the liquor question in Texas. [9] We again, and with added emphasis, demand the repeal of the provisions of the Terrell election law relating to the primary elections as being legislation in the interest of machine politics, and as being cumbersome, complicated, unintelligible, and expensive, and as being intended to force the citizens of this State to surrender their inde- pendence as voters to a political machine. [10] We oppose the proposed legislation prescribing the educa- tional qualification for voters as being calculated to deprive many of our worthy citizens of foreign extraction, who speak with greatest facility their native tongues, and who are not yet versed sufficiently in the English language to expound or construe the constitution to the satisfaction of Democratic election officers. [11] We denounce the expenditure of public money derived from taxation of all the people in the legislative investigation of alleged frauds in partisan primary elections. [12] We again denounce as meriting the condemnation of all of every party the law passed by the thirtieth legislature known as the textbook law, and the action thereunder of the School Textbook Board in awarding the contract for textbooks, at an additional expense of many thousands of dollars to our people, and again demand the repeal of the law, and that the said board as now constituted should be abol- ished at the earliest possible time, and a law enacted providing that the State shall furnish at its own cost all the school books for the children of the public schools of the State, as is being done by so many States of this Union. [13] Recognizing the importance of thorough primary training in Parties in Texas 541 our schools, we favor and demand the enactment of such laws as will build up and strengthen the country public free schools of the State by giving longer terms and securing more efficient teachers. [14,] [15.] [16,] and [17] [Same as planks 8, 9, 10, and 12 of the platform of 1908.] [18] [Same as plank 13 of the platform of 1908, plus the follow- ing:] and we deplore the veto by Governor Campbell of the appropria- tion for the establishment of a tuberculosis sanitarium. [19] We condemn and deplore the act of the Governor of Texas in his veto of the proper and necessary appropriation made by the last legislature for additional barracks to be erected at the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the young men of the State. By his veto he has compelled several hundred young men who are seeking to secure an education to camp, sleep, and live in tents. [20] We demand the passing of such laws as will further the es- tablishment, laying out, building, and keeping in good repair of a system of intercounty public roads, and to this end we further demand the employment of penitentiary convicts, thus providing for their profitable employment without bringing their labor into competition with honorable free labor. [21] We condemn the inhuman treatment of our State convicts, as well as the administration of the third degree or other barbarous treatment of prisoners with a view of extorting confessions. [22] [Same as plank 14 of the platform of 1908.] Additional Resolutions [23] Resolved^ that we especially commend President Taft's admin- istration for its friendly cooperation with the liberal and progressive government of Mexico in promoting peace among the Central Ameri- can republics and in fostering mutual beneficial relations of friendship. [24] That it is the sense of the convention that no person who is a member of any executive committee of the Republican party in Texas, State, district, county, or precinct, shall be considered eligible to apply for appointment to any Federal position in Texas so long as he remains a member of such executive committee, nor until after his resignation as such has been received and acted upon. We, therefore, suggest to the State chairman that he decline to recommend any such person for an appointment to any Federal position in Texas. [25] That it is the sense of this convention that the chairman of any Republican executive committee in the State of Texas shall upon the request of the chairman of the State executive committee furnish a complete list of the executive committee of which he is chairman, and a failure to furnish such information within a reasonable time there- after shall be deemed a sufficient cause for removal from office and the chairman of the State executive committee is directed to proceed accordingly. 542 Platforms of Political [26] That we most cordially indorse the administration of our party affairs under the leadership of Hon. Cecil A. Lyon as being clean, honest, and conservative, that he has given tone to the party and brought into its ranks the best citizens of the State and thereby strengthened the party in a substantial and commendable way. W extend to him the expression of our profound appreciation of hit diligent service for the party, and we hereby vote for the reelection of Hon. Cecil A. Lyon as chairman of the Republican State executive committee for the next two years and the election of Bart Marshall as secretary of said committee. [27] That the convention tender its hearty congratulations to Hon. Julius Real, the Republican senator from the twenty-fourth district, and point with liveliest feelings of pride and satisfaction to his splen- did record made in the thirty-first legislature. He is a type of the representatives Republicans select to represent them, and we most heartily commend him to the earnest, loyal, and undivided support of all the electors of the twenty-fourth senatorial district, regardless of political feeling or predilection. He deserves such support and in- dorsement, for he has "stood as a stone wall," holding the balance of power and defying the partisan, fanatical, and un-American legisla- tion recommended to be passed by a Democratic chief executive. [28] That the Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled, do hereby direct the secretary of this convention to convey to Hon. and Mrs. O. B. Colquitt our profound sympathy in this their hour of bereavement. State Executive Committee: Cecil A. Lyon, of Grayson, chairman: 1st Senatorial district, A, M. Peebles, of Cass; 2. August Huffman, of Titus; 3. Dr. C. A. Gray, of Fannin; 4. 0. F. Johnson, of Grayson; 5. W. N. Griffin, of Collin; 6. E. S. Thayer, of Dallas; 7. F. N. Hopkins, of Wood; 8. D. H. Morris, of Harrison ; 9. Rube Freedman, of Navarro ; 10. J. B. Copeland, of Hill; 11. J. W. Cocke, of McLennan; 12. Frank A. Myers, of Brazoria; 13. George W. Burkett, Sr., of Harris; 14. E. G. Christian, of Hardin ; 15. William Watson, of Leon ; 16. Charles A. Warnken, of Harris; 17. Otto Letzerich, of Galvestori; 18. W. Hottman, of Fayette; 19. W. W. Edwards, of Bastrop ; 20. Dr. E. P. Wilmot, of Travis; 21. W. R. Kelley, of Caldwell; 22. Max P. Schorre, of Karnes; 23. Ed C. Lasater, of Starr; 24. John E. Elgin, of Bexar; 25. Charles B. Stevens, of El Paso; 26. J. B. Lockhart, of McCulloch; 27. Joe E. Williams, of Hamilton; 28. L. S. McDowell, of Howard; 29. Lewis Johnson, of Jack; 30. Sam Davidson, of Tarrant; 31. Harry Karlsburg, of Montague. Parties in Texas 543 STATE PROHIBITION MASS CONVENTION, 1910 FORT WORTH, December 8 Assuming that the next legislature would obey instructions and order submission, a State prohibition mass convention was held at Fort Worth to formulate plans for the prosecution of a state-wide campaign. About 700 delegates attended. The State- widers formally opened their campaign at Waco, April 21s1. Another platform was adopted which was a rejoinder to their opponents' declaration of principles of April 3rd. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, William Poindexter, of Johnson ; permanent. Julius Germany, of Van Zandt. Secretary wo lem-pore, J. M. Richards, of Parker; permanent, Tom C. Perkins, of Collin. Committee on Resolutions: Thomas H. Ball, of Harris; Rice Maxey, of Gray son ; Jess Baker, of Hood ; George C. Rankin, of Dallas; Ben F. Looney, of Hunt; J. B. Cranfill, of Dallas; A. G. Webb, of Callahan. PLATFORM 1 As State-wide prohibitionists from every section of Texas, assembled in mass convention, without regard to personal, political, or party differences upon other questions or issues, having one purpose in com- mon, and that to make Texas dry, we arraign the liquor traffic before the bar of public opinion upon the specific charges which follow, and submit them to the people of Texas as ample warrant for dissolving the alliance now existing between King Alcohol and our great common- wealth. [1] The history of the liquor traffic is a history of crime, degrada- tion, sorrow, suffering, poverty, pauperism, insanity, and woeful economic waste, without a single virtue to its credit, or a sane reason for its license, toleration, or existence. [2] Its continuance is so indefensible from an economic standpoint as to challenge the thoughtful attention of the business world and de- mand its abatement. It stands for absolute waste of at least sixty million dollars annually, expended by the people of Texas for alcoholic 'The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt, December 9, 1910. 544 Platforms of Political beverages, hurtful and not helpful to their consumers. It calls for burdensome taxes to meet the cost of State and local judicial and con- stabulary expenditures, and maintenance of prisoners, paupers, and lunatics chargeable to its agency. [3] Its cost for consumption of its products and worse than wasted taxes due to its existence is overshadowed by the fearful results of its daily work of sapping the moral, mental, and physical productive force and energy of its victims. Minds, weakened or lost characters, under- mined or destroyed bodies, diseased or killed bear witness to these facts, when the cry from every sphere of human activity is for honest, sober, and industrious men a demand alike from individuals, cor- porations, and labor unions. [43 It is the prolific source of more crime than any other agency, if not of more than all other agencies combined, and its unfortunate patrons constitute a large majority of those who fill our jails and peni- tentiaries. It kills more men every year than all the people of Texas kill, and, while yearly we hang and imprison many of our brother men for murder, the liquor traffic, as authority for its dead, offers in evi- dence a license under the great seal of the State. [5] It is provable by the highest scientific authority to be without a rival in its contribution to our insane asylums, whose inmates meet the fate of reasoning men changed to empty-minded imbeciles, gibbering idiots, or raving maniacs. [6] It is the brutal parent of a larger family of paupers than any other author can claim to its discredit, and refuses to claim or pro- vide for its own. [7] It brings shame, woe, and poverty to countless homes, and an army of helpless women and children. It absorbs the earnings of labor, is a constant breeder of drunkards, and is an ever-present snare for men and boys, weak in will power or coerced with a diseased appetite, mayhap inherited from alcoholic forbears. [8] It is the greatest menace of the twentieth century to civic righteousness, clean politics, pure elections, and the sanctity of the ballot box, upon which depends the value and success of popular gov- ernment. [9] It is an enemy to the great cause of universal education, de- clared by our constitution as necessary to preserve civil liberty, and a foe to all institutions of learning, including denominational schools and colleges and our great related university system, which has its head at the capital of Texas. [10] It is the lion in the pathway of the onward march of the Christian religion in its supreme struggle to uplift humanity, save men and women from sin, and evangelize the world. [11] Regulatory laws have been enacted from the dawn of civilized jurisprudence in the vain attempt to control or regulate by law an evil per se, inherently vicious and without sense of moral responsibility to constituted authority. In Texas, it is the only business authorized or Parties in Texas 545 permitted by law which, by express constitutional provisions, may be outlawed by popular vote of any local community in the State. [12] In Texas, it is the only business authorized or permitted by law to live which in effect is declared by various statutes to be danger- ous to the morals of our youth, inimical to the cause of education, repugnant to the Christian religion, subversive of ths Sabbath and workmen's rest day. menacing to our homes and firesides, a foe to the wives and female relatives of its patrons, and so destructive of the purity of elections and the sanctity of the ballot box that it must hide its head from twelve hours before until twelve hours after the touch of a ballot by a freeman's hand. [13] To the propounders of the personal liberty and undemocratic sophistries, we cite the decisions of all appellate courts, State and National, and the Statutes of Texas before herein referred to, passed by Democratic legislatures, for the prohibition, regulation, and suspension of the liquor business. These laws occupy more pages in our civil and criminal statutes than do all capital felonies combined, and liquor sellers break them all. [14] To the real and pretended friends of local option, as against State-wide prohibition, we say: If in the business, your are insincere; if not, you are deceived. Before local prohibitory laws, when voted, become effective, brewers, distillers, saloons, and their allied boot- leggers and hirelings begin the work of preparing for the introduction of their vile decoctions or liquor under alias names, by the use of money and lawless emissaries, into dry territory. They overthrow and violate the law, until they are a stench in the nostrils of law-abiding citizens and then, with brazen effrontery, point to their work as evi- dence that prohibition does not prohibit and that the use of liquor is greater under prohibition than under license, a claim which, if true, would make every brewer and distiller a prohibitionist. [15] To the misleading cry of local self-government, as applied to the whiskey business, we answer that the State is sovereign, and is the unit which should deal with a State-wide evil, which no local community can confine within its borders, away from social and commercial con- tact with the citizenship of the State, that the principle of local self- government no more applies to the liquor business than it does to pistol toting, horse racing, gambling, bucket shops, or any other crime against the peace and dignity of the State. [16] To the charge that State-wide prohibition will not prohibit in communities opposed to its passage, we reply: Not we, but you, insult such communities in assuming that because a majority therein may oppose the passage of a law, such majority are ready to join the criminal class by nullifying it, although it is, by popular vote, en- grafted in our organic law. Once a part of our constitution, law- abiding, patriotic anti-prohibitionists, with no masters to serve and no liquors to sell, will join law-abiding prohibitionists and constitute a majority for the majesty of the law, to disprove this anarchistic cry. 35328 546 Platforms of Political [17] The liquor interests, fearful that the gathering wrath of the people of Texas will overthrow their business by popular vote when the constitutional amendment is submitted, not content to confine their activities in debauching the politics of some commercial centers, have emerged from their lair, and now boldly undertake to turn loose their ill-gotten gains in perfecting an organization, State-wide in its activi- ties, and thus protect their business by controlling the politics of Texas and shaping her future policies and destinies. To prevent this un- speakable calamity, we have gathered to call the people of Texas, not to arms, but to a battle of ballots, for the sole purpose of applying the only effective remedy to meet existing conditions, that of State-wide prohibition. [18] Upon the foregoing declaration of self-evident truths, we call upon the Texas legislature to submit to the qualified voters of Texas, upon the regular primary day, in July, 1911, an amendment to our constitution prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in our State, and for its adoption, when submitted, we pledge our faith and service and invoke the aid of every Texan, without regard to race or color, age or sex, faith or creed, profession or occupa- tion, personal or political affiliations, who honors God or loves his fellow man. Campaign Executive Committee: Thomas H. Ball, of Harris, chairman; State at large, Cone Johnson, of Smith; William Poindexter, of Johnson; T. M. Campbell, of Anderson; W. H. Daugherty, of Cooke; A.. J. Houston, of Jefferson: Reddin Andrews, of Smith ; George W. Brackeiiridge, of Bexar ; 1st Con- gressional district, Horace W. Vaughan, of Bowie, and Hardy O'Neal, of Cass; 2. J. C. Box, of Cherokee, and S. W. Blount, of Nacogdoches; 3. T. N. Jones, of Smith, and H. B. Marsh, of Smith; 4. Rice Maxey, of Grayson, and Lee Clark, of Hunt; 5. John J. Simmons, and Sterling P. Strong, of Dallas ; 6. Rich- ard Mays, of Navarro, and T. S. Henderson, of Milam ; 7. Ben- jamin Greenwood, of Anderson, and J. W. Madden, of Houston ; 8. 0. E. Garrett, of Harris, and Ben Powell, of Walker; 9. Dr. F. 0. Norris, of Colorado, and Dr. Simonds, of Matagorda; 10. John W. Robbins, of Travis, and Dr. N. E. Shands, of Hays; 11. Dr. S. P. Brooks, of McLennan, and J. Z. Miller, of Bell; 12. D. M. Alexander, of Parker, and Dr. H. A. Boaz, of Tarrant; 13. Walker Hall, of Wilbarger, and R. E. Gofer, of Cooke; 14. Arch Grinnan, of Brown, and W. A. Silvius, of Bexar ; 15. W. W. Canes, of Live Oak, and George Lillard, of Guadalupe; 16. J. D. Sandefer, of Taylor, and Fred Freeman, of El Paso. Parties in Texas 547 ANTI-STATE-WIDE PROHIBITION MEETING, 1911 HOUSTON, April 3 The executive committee of the Anti-State-wide prohibition organization held a meeting at Houston, April 3, 1911, for the purpose of outlining the campaign against State-wide prohibi- tion. .Many prominent anti-prohibitionists were present. A committee was appointed to draft a statement "that would em- body the sentiments and principles of those citizens who believe that the adoption of the state- wide prohibition policy would be detrimental to Texas." The campaign was formally opened with a grand rally at Fort Worth, June 5th. A platform was adopted which followed the lines of the one here printed. Committee on Resolutions: A. Haidusek, chairman, George C. Pendleton, W. B. Collins, John G. Willacy, Jonathan Lane. RESOLUTIONS 1 WHEREAS, we believe that any evil results which may flow from the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors can best be prevented by reasonable, proper, and lawful regulation, and that the prohibition of the manufacture and sale thereof can only be effective in communities where a majority of the law-abiding citizens favor such action, and only by and through the instrumentality of local option, where public opinion will sustain; and WHEREAS, in the State of Texas we already have upon our statute books laws regulating the sale of such liquors; and WHEREAS, by provisions of the constitution of our State the people of any section thereof are permitted to prohibit the sale of liquors in their localities by a popular vote of the people, enforced by stringent statutory enactments; we, therefore, oppose the adoption of the consti- tutional amendment known as the prohibition amendment, submitted by the last legislature to be voted upon on the 22nd day of July, 1911, for the following reasons: 1. The adoption of said amendment is an attempt to enforce un- reasonable sumptuary laws and the abridgement of the personal liber- ties of the people, both of which are contrary to the well established *The proceedings of this meeting are taken from the Houston Chronicle, April 4, 1911. 548 Platforms of Political teachings of both the Democratic and Republican parties and are essen- tially un-American. 2. Such legislation is in direct violation of local self-government a principle which is dear to all liberty-loving people and upon which our free government is founded. 3. The adoption of said amendment would repeal the provisions of our constitution providing for local option, as well as all the statute laws of this State, putting in force constitutional, local prohibition, said body of laws represented the earnest and faithful work of our legisla- tures and our courts for the past thirty-four years. The consequent repeal of these laws would leave our State in a chaotic condition so far as the sale of intoxicants is concerned. 4. The adoption of said amendment would throw out of employment immediately approximately 25,000 laborers and thus render them un- able to support 100,000 people dependent upon them, thereby causing ruinous competition, greatly injuring all laboring classes in this State. 5. It would destroy the value of many million dollars' worth of property now situated in this State, which has been invested under the sanction of the laws of this State and thereby materially reduce the taxable values of property in Texas. 6. Its adoption would render vacant thousands of business houses and many more residences now occupied by people engaged in the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors and thus reduce the rental value of all city property and correspondingly reduce the selling value of real estate in our cities. 7. If the amendment should be adopted the vain efforts of its advo- cates, under the influence of zealots and extremists, would cause bitter strife and unfriendly feeling among our people, which would exist beyond the life of any person now living and would cause the enact- ment and attempted enforcement of many cruel and inhuman laws in direct violation of our constitutiion. 8. The laws which would be passed to carry into effect the provisions of the amendment could never even substantially be enforced in the State of Texas, as is evidenced by the fact that such laws have never been enforced, but have always proved a dismal failure in countries inhabited by liberty-loving people. They have always caused the use of more and worse liquors, thereby producing more intemperance and drunkenness than existed when the traffic was regulated by wise and just laws or prohibited by local option. 9. Its adoption and attempted enforcement would create among the people a disrespect for the law and a contempt for the petty officers charged with its enforcement, and would produce and cause perjury, hypocrisy, and corruption beyond the limit of any one's imagination. 10. It would cause the loss of a vast amount of revenue to the State, counties, cities, and towns, which would have to be supplied by in- creased taxation upon other property. 11. It would reduce materially the business of railroads, express Parties in Texas 549 companies, manufacturers, merchants, and hotels, and lessen the de- mand for agricultural and farm products to a great extent. 12. Its adoption would cause the people of our State to send millions of dollars in cash out of the State to buy liquors to be shipped here for home use, permitting all profits of such sales to remain away from the State and thereby depriving our people of the profits and vastly deplete our supply of ready money. 13. Its adoption would fill our offices with undesirable types of meddlesome and offensive politicians who would constantly seek their own personal aggrandizement and constantly grasp for more power with constant diminution of the liberties of the people, a condition which would be unbearable, but which could not be relieved for many years to come. 14. Its adoption would seriously diminish our public school fund to the great detriment of our children and would deplete our general revenue so as to seriously cripple our eleemosynary institutions. 15. We assert that the adoption of the amendment would make it easier for minors to obtain. 1 liquors than under legal license and regu- lation. 16. The agitation of the question in this State, where drunkenness is largely on the decrease and intemperance has been materially lessened, is but an effort to gratify the views of zealots who are aided by mercenary interests out of the State, who would financially profit thereby,, and by enemies of both the Democratic and Republican par- ties who desire by pretensions of. great virtue to draw to their support honest people who do not understand the effect of such legislation with the hope of organizing and promoting the interests of a Prohibition National party, antagonistic to both Democracy and Republicanism. 17. We delight in the knowledge of the fact that in assuming the position we do we are following the example set by the 1 greatest and most illustrious statesmen and patriots which have been produced by the United States, including among them Thomas Jefferson, the father of Democracy; Abraham Lincoln, the expounder of Republicanism; Jefferson Davis, the Southern patriot and statesman; Thomas F. Beard, the great Democratic leader; Grover Cleveland, the last Democratic. President; our own beloved ex-Senator Coke; Roger Q. Mills, the lion of Democracy; Judge George Clark, who ranks with Jefferson in com- prehensive knowledge of the principles of Democracy; the matchless John G. Carlisle; our own superb Sam Houston; our splendid Demo- cratic Texas governors, Francis R. Lubbock, O. M. Roberts, John Ireland, Sul Ross, James S. Hogg, C. A. Culberson, Joseph D. Sayers, and O. B. Colquitt; and our present United States senators, C. A. Culberson and Joseph W. Bailey; and all of our most eminent con- gressmen. 18. In those portions of the State where public sentiment is largely opposed to State-wide prohibition, it can only be enforced by ignoring our local officers, establishing a State constabulary, and probably martial 550 Platforms of Political law, and sending alleged violators to distant places for trial, thereby destroying all the basic principles of free government in order to en- force coercive temperance. We also realize the fact that in advising this State to follow the course we do with reference to this question, we are in line with the conduct of the great statesmen of the governments of Great Britain, Germany, France, and others, and are not following the lead of Turkey, Japan, and China. For the foregoing and many other reasons too numerous to mention, we oppose the adoption of the amendment, realizing, of course, that the intemperate use of intoxicating liquors, like the intemperate use of many other things, and the violation of the laws regulating the manu- facture and 'sale of liquors, results! in harm, and that both should be by wise and just laws prevented to the fullest extent possible without working greater harm, but we believe that the cause of temperance and the prevention of the violation of laws regulating the sale of liquors, can best be promoted by lawful regulation where it is per- mitted at all, and by local option adopted by the people of the several communities where it is desired it shall be prohibited. Moved by these considerations, we, the executive committee of the anti-state-wide prohibition organization, call upon all patriotic citizens who are committed] to the cause of temperance, in all things, believe that the peace and prosperity of this commonwealth are menaced and that the great principles of local self-government, a^ established in the constitution and ratified by the people, are threatened, to come together in mass meeting at such time and place as the subcommittee appointed for that purpose, may select to launch a campaign to bring about the defeat of the amendment. State Executive Committee: 1st Senatorial district. W. D. Sanders, of Bowie ; 2. M. G. Black, of Titus ; 3. John T. Dick- son, of Lamar ; 4. S. W. Porter, of Grayson ; 5. R. E. Carpenter, of Collin ; 6. Hugh N. Fitzgerald, of Dallas ; 7. R. N. Stafford, of Wood; 8. Ben Cook, of Harrison; 9. Carter Kirven ; Jr., of Navarro ; 10. C. L. Harpold, of Ellis ; 11. R. Lyles, of Milam ; 12. H. S. Morehead, of Robertson; 13. W. B. Collins, of Hous- ton; 14. J. B. Bisland, of Orange; 15. E. B. Seay, of Madison; 16. Jonathan Lane, of Harris; 17. Miles Crowley, of Galveston; 18. George E. Lenert, of Fayette; 19. J. P. Buchanan, of Wash- ington; 20. George W. Littlefield, of Travis; 21. Adolph Seide- man, of Guadalupe; 22. Alf McFadden, of Victoria; 23. John G. Willacy, of Nueces; 24. 0. C. Guessaz, of Bexar; 25. D. M. Payne, of El Paso; 26. John F. Maddox, of Runnels; 27. George C. Pendleton, of Bell ; 28. John B. Little, of Howard ; 29. Will A. Miller, Jr., of Potter; 30. Bascom Dunn, of Tarrant; 31. Sam Hawkins, of Denton. Parties in Texas 551 TEXAS RENTERS' UNION, 1911 WACO, November 4 The first convention of Texas tenant farmers was held at Waco, November 4, 1911. Between seventy-five and one hun- dred delegates from, sixteen counties attended. Officers: Chairman, Hugh N. Moore, of Falls. Secretary, A. G. Maxey, of McLennan. RESOLUTIONS 1 WHEREAS, out of 165,000,000 acres of arable land in Texas only 27,- 000,000 acres were in cultivation in 1910; WHEREAS, white tenants have increased from 165,000 in 1900 to 219,575 in 1910, and the number of negro and Mexican tenants and farm laborers has greatly increased; WHEREAS, the cost of machinery necessary to obtain the best results! in farming has greatly increased; WHEREAS, many landlords demand contracts that interfere with the political and personal liberty of the tenants as well as the manner in which 1 he cultivates his crops; WHEREAS, the present tenant system, through lack of proper improve- ments, overcropping, and single cropping is causing the soil to lose/ its fertility and yield unsatisfactory returns; WHEREAS, the increase in land values has made it impossible for the tenant under ordinary conditions to buy and pay for land; WHEREAS, these conditions are forcing the landless farmer to live in miserable shacks and is keeping the women and children in the fields to such an extent as to be exceedingly detrimental to the mental and physical well-being of our people and a menace* to the homes and social institutions of our State; therefore, be it Resolved, [1] that we, the renters of Texas, in convention assembled, protest against the evils of increased rents, bonuses, and money rents, and pledge ourselves to use all our strength to abolish them. [2] That we advocate a tax up to the limit on all lands held for speculation or exploitation. [3] To the end that tenantry and its attendant evils may be abol- ished, we declare for use and occupancy as the only title to land. [4] WHEREAS, this movement is seeking the good of all the people lf rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas New*, November 5, 1911, and Renters' Union, Catechism and Constitution. 552 Platforms of Political and we propose to carry out our program by orderly and lawful methods; therefore, be it Resolved, that we present our demands to the platform committees of all political conventions held in Texas in 1912 and to all candidates for political office regardless of party. 2. That we pledge opposition to all parties and candidates that de- cline to advocate our demands. 3. That the officials, of our organization prepare and present to the citizens of our State for signature a blank petition demanding of the legislature which convenes in January, 1913, to submit to the people a constitutional amendment authorizing a tax on land values to the limit, and use and occupancy to be the sole title to land. State Executive Committee: Hugh N. Moore, of Falls; A. G. Maxey, of McLennan; A. J. Rasco, of Henderson; R. D. Mil- ler, of Hale; J. E. Hardie, of Wood; E. 0. Meitzen, of Lavaca; J. A. Smith, of Wharton. PROHIBITION STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEET- ING, 1912 DALLAS, May 28 At a meeting of the State executive committee of the Prohibi- tion party, the following were chosen delegates to the National convention, and presidential electors nominated. A long "pro- posed platform was referred to the Texas delegation to be con- sidered by them and presented to the National committee." Delegates to the National Convention: A. J. Houston and Thomas Brown, of Jefferson; I. E. Teague, of Grayson; W. V. Groves, of Harris; Mrs. J. E. Grayson, of Freestone; Joe B. Reed, of Brazos; H. E. White, John L. Andrews and wife, Arthur A. Everts and wife, P. F. Paige, J. B. Cranfill, Pierre L. Russell, and Clarence A. Read, of Dallas; A. W. Genres, of Fannin; J. L. Campbell and Rev. H. P. Bond, of El Paso; E. G. Cook, of Wichita; John D. White, of Hall; and others that may be selected. Presidential Electors: State at large, H. R. Hughes, of Cass; J. Vandaveer, of Jefferson; W. V. T. Murray of Van Zandt; D. E. Taylor, of Fannin; District, H. E. White and Clarence A Read, of Dallas; Jim Cooper, of Brazos; J. M. Meek, of Gal- Parties in Texas 553 veston; C. W. Ransom, of Harris; John Sutherland, of Mata- gorda; B. J. McCarty, of Williamson; J. M. Thompson, of Mc- Lennan; R. G. West, of Parker; C. Goodnight, of Armstrong; George H. Cox, of Burnet; William Gerhardt, of Nueces; C. W. Cowden, of Taylor; J. L. Campbell, of El Paso; J. W. Vogaii, of Brazoria; W. F. Heller, of Kandall. RESOLUTIONS 1 Be it resolved by the State executive committee, in session at Dallas, May 28, 1912. 1. That our delegates to the National convention at Atlantic City, July 10, go as an uninstructed delegation, but that we earnestly recom- mend or suggest that in the selection of the National chairman and executive committee the Texas delegation labor to have such selection made on the floor of the convention by all the delegates rather than by the new National committee to be selected at the convention, believing that this plan would tend to bring harmony, and to the selection of the men that would more nearly represent the sentiment of the entire party. If impossible to carry out this plan at this convention, by reason of any rule against it, that the Texas delegation labor to change the rules as to make this plan possible at the next National convention. 2. That the delegation is left free to use its best judgment in the support of presidential candidates, suggesting, however, that the dele- gation hold a caucus and, if possible, vote as a unit on thjs matter. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1912 FORT WORTH, May 28 The campaign between the Roosevelt and Taft supporters, led by Cecil A. Lyon and H. F. MacGregor respectively, was very warm. There were splits in many county and district con- ventions. A split in the State convention was looked for. The Roosevelt supporters controlled the State executive committee. When the contests before the executive committee had been de- termined, MacGregor with a large portion of the Taft sup- porters declined to participate in the regular convention, but proceeded to hold a separate convention. x The proceedings of the State executive committee are taken from the Dalla News, May 29, 1912. 554 Platforms of Political ROOSEVELT CONVENTION Officers: Chairman pro tempore, R. E. Hannay, of Waller; permanent, Noah Allen, of Cameron. Secretary, O. I. Patter- son, of Tarrant. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, Cecil A. Lyon, Ed C. Lasater, H. L. Borden, Joe E. Williams, Lewis Lindsay, J. 0. Terrell, J. M. McCormick, Sam Davidson; 1st Congressional district, W. R. Smith and J. M. Singleton; 2. D. H. Morris and E. G. Christian; 3. F. N. Hopkins and J. L. Jackson; 4. E, H. Crabb and R. F. Akridge; 5. W. B. Franks and 0. E. Schawe; 6. Rube Freedman and J. Allen Myers; 7. George W. Burkett and Ed. McCarthy; 8. V. A. Matthaei and E. W. Atkinson; 9. J. R, Kurth and J. M. Holler; 10. M. M. Turner and H. C. Stiles; 11. C. C. Baker and J. Walter Cocke; 12. C. C. Littleton and Eugene Greer; 13. W. P. Featherstone and F. H. Hill ; 14. R. Penninger and G. N. Harrison ; 15. J. C. Scott and T. J. Martin ; 16. U. S. Stewart and L. S. McDowell. Presidential Electors: State at large, Tyler A. Baker, C. W. Hutchinson, T. M, Kennerly, Louis Johnson; 1st Congressional district,^. T. Bartlett, 2. E. J. Love, 3. J. H. Kinkaid, 4. J. T. Stark, 5. Wade B. Leonard, 6. Tyler Haswell, 7. George, W. Burkett, 8. William Watson, 9. Max P. Schorre, 10. E. P. Wil- mot, 11. M. W. Reisinger, 12. J. E. B. Stewart, 13. W. F. Pughes, 14. 0. S. Newell, 15. Ed C. Lasater, 16. W. S. McCutcheon. Committee on Platform- and Resolutions and Nominations: 1st Congressiontl district, G. T. Bartlett, . of Cass; 2. H. B. Wilson, of Jefferson; 3. E. H. Angell, of Gregg; 4. C. A. Gray, of Fannin; 5. T. S. McBride, of Dallas; 6. Tyler Haswell, of Brazos; 7. C. A. Clinton, of Houston; 8. R, W. B. Gould, of Harris; 9. Max B. Schorre, of Karnes; 10. W. A. McElroy, of Hays; 11. J. W. Cocke, of McLennan; 12. Dr. J. F. Tubb, of Erath; 13.. A. J. Coombs, of Baylor; 14. J. 0. Terrell, of Bexar ; 15. T. J. Martin, of Kinney, chairman; 16. H. A. Baker, of Shackelford. Parties in Texas 555 RESOLUTIONS 1 Resolved, [1] that we, the Republicans of Texas, in State convention assembled, reaffirming our allegiance to the principles of the Republi- can party, and our belief in the ability and right of the people to rule, do hereby declare that we favor the nomination of the people's friend, the peerless statesman, patriot, and leader, Theodore Roosevelt, as our candidate for President, and that each and every delegate and alter- nate elected by this convention to the Republican National convention at Chicago be, and are hereby instructed and pledged to use every honorable means, work and vote as a unit at all times and upon all questions to secure his nomination as long as his name remains before the convention. Additional Resolutions [2] The Republicans of Texas, the State producing more raw ma- terial than any other in the Union, in reaffirming their allegiance to their belief in a protective tariff, desire to especially emphasize their faith in that good Republican doctrine which declares that while pro- tection is given to the laborer who works in the factory that it should also be extended to his worthy brothers who toil upon the farm and ranch, and we invite all good citizens who hold the same faith to join with us in extending protection to the raw materials of Texas. [3] Realizing that an advancing civilization is dependent upon the maintenance of the soil fertility of our farms, and that the forces that lead to its maintenance can be brought into being by the establishment of an adequate financial system for our country, and/ by instituting the proper distributing agencies from country producing people to urban consumers, we ask that special attention be given to these issues by the Republicans of Texas and the Nation. [4] Resolved, that we do most heartily indorse the administration of the party's affairs in the State of Texas, by the Hon. Cecil A n Lyon, as our National committeeman and State chairman, and as an evidence of our sincerity and faith in him, and approval of his administration as our leader for the last twelve years, we recommend that this conven- tion now and here, by the adoption of this resolution, declare him duly reelected as our National committeeman for the ensuing four years. MINORITY REPORT. A minority report was presented by J. W. Cocke, of McLennan, which sought to substitute for the indorsement of Roosevelt and instructions to the National delegation for him, an indorsement of the administra- tion of President Taft and instructions to vote for his nomination. It was tabled by a vote of 162% ayes to 13*4 noes. ir The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt, May 29, 1912. 556 Platforms of Political TAFT CONVENTION Officers: Chairman pro tempore, C. K. McDowell, of Val Verde; permanent, Harry Beck, of Hill. Secretary. George Kockhold, of Dallas. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, H. F. MacGregor, W. C. Averill, C. K. McDowell, J. E. Elgin, J. E. Lutz, W. H. Lowe, W. M. McDonald, G. W. Burroughs. The dis- trict delegates, elected by district conventions, were indorsed and instructed for Taft. Presidential Electors: State at large, Ira P. Jones, of Har- ris; Dr. J. L. Gaston, of Wichita; J. C. Gibbons, of Lamar; Ben Sass, of Galveston. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: P. B. Hunt, Web- ster Flanagan, Ira P. Jones, S. A. Hackworth, A. M. Gray, F. C. Allen, M. H. Broyles, J. H. Hawley. RESOLUTIONS 2 Resolved, [1] that the Republican party of Texas accepts the great cardinal principles of the National Republican party, which are uni- versal liberty, even-handed justice, and equal political rights to all law- abiding citizens, irrespective of race, nationality, or condition of life. [2] That the administration of William H. Taft, our great Presi- dent, has been successful in that he carried out the expressed wish of his party platform as laid down in the National convention of 1908. He, by virtue of the passage of the Payne tariff bill with the excise clause, has removed a deficit which he found when he was inaugurated of $50,000,000, and in one year changed the deficit to a surplus of $40,000,000 per annum, and because he has acted as a wise, just, and honest administrator, we not only indorse his administration but de- mand and hereby instruct the delegates elected by this convention to work and vote for his renomination. [3] That we indorse the able manner in which the Hon. H. F. MacGregor has conducted, President Taft's campaign in this State, and we hereby instruct our delegates to the National convention to support and secure his election as State member of the National Republican executive committee. The proceeding's of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt, May 29, 1912. Parties in Texas 557 DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1912 HOUSTON, May 28 and 29 The supporters of Woodrow Wilson controlled the convention. Following the precedent set at the Fort Worth convention, in 1908, this convention chose the district delegates to the National convention. The convention and its platform present a remark- able contrast to the Galvestoii convention of 1910 and its plat- form. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Richard Mays, cf Navarro; permanent, Cullen F. Thomas, of Dallas. Secretary pro tem- pore, J. C. McNealus, of Dallas; permanent, S. L. Blackwell, of Johnson. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, Cone Johnson, Thomas W. Gregory, C. A. 'Culberson, T. H. Ball, M. M. Crane, T. M. Campbell, Marshall Hicks, R. L. Henry; 1st Congressional district, T. M. Scott, of Lamar, and C. E. Terry, of Red River ; 2. Eugene H. Blount, of Nacogdoches, and T. W. Davidson, of Harrison; 3. James M. Edwards, of Smith, and R. T. Brown, of Rusk; 4. Byron Mock, of Hunt, and Clarence Merritt, of Collin; 5. Royal A. Watkins, of Dallas, and J. R. Mayhew, of Ellis; 6. Charles H. Mills, of Navarro, and Ed Hall, of Brazos; 7. J. C. Feagin, of Polk, and C. L. Edmondson, of Houston ; 8. W. L. Hill, of Walker, and Hood Boone, of Grimes ; 9. W. S. Holman, of Matagorda, and Scott Dilworth, of Gon- zales ; 10. Thad Thompson, of Travis, and Cooper Sansom, of Wil- liamson; 11. A. R, McCollum, of McLennan, and Church J. Bartlett, of Falls; 12. Clifford G. Beckham, of Tarrant, and B. M. Utterback, of Erath; 13. A. D. Rogers, of Wise, and R, E. Huff, of Wichita ; 14. Perry J. Lewis, of Bexar, and Arch Grin- nan, of Brown; 15. Dr. A. H. Evans, of Maverick, and R. W. Hudson, of Frio; 16. A. C. Hughes, of Nolan, and Zack Lamar Cobb, of El Paso. Presidential Electors: State at large, Harry P. Lawther, of Dallas; George D. Armistead, of Bexar; Henry G. Wagner, of Bell; Felix J. McCord, of Gregg; 1st Congressional district, J. M. Henderson, of Morris ; 2. W. T. Norman, of Cherokee ; 3. M. 558 Platforms of Political D. Carlock, of Wood; 4. W. L. Hay, of Grayson; 5. John D. McRae, of Ellis; 6. J. K. Freeman, of Milam; 7. I. A. Daniel, of Houston; 8. Thomas H. Stone, of Harris; 9. J. R. Kubena, of Fayette ; 10. J. M. Mathis, of Washington ; 11. C. W. Taylor, of Bell; 12. T. H. Hiner, of Hood; 13. J. W. Sullivan,, of Den- ton; 14. M. Damon Slator, of Llano ; 15. John T. Briscoe, of Medina; 16. Walter Scott Pope, of Jones. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: John M. Hender- son, of Morris ; 2. M. D. Carlock, of Delta ; 3. W. F. Moore, of Lamar; 4. Andrew L. Randell, of Grayson; 5. Lee A. Clarke, of Hunt, chairman; 6. Yancey Lewis, of Dallas; 7. Cone John- son, of Smith; 8. S. S. Baker, of Panola; 9. W. A. Tarver, of Navarro; 10. G. C. Groce, of Ellis; 11. 0. L. Stribling, of Mc- Lennan; 12. Scott Field, of Robertson; 13. T. M. Campbell, of Anderson; 14. Tom Adams, of Jefferson; 15. W. A. Foster, of Montgomery; 16. Jonathan Lane, of Harris; 17. Miles Crow^ ley, of Galveston; 18. Clarence Ousley, of Tarrant; 19. Q. U. Watson, .of Lee; 20. R. C. Briggs, of Williamson; 21. Thomas McNeal, of Caldwell; 22. W. B. Davis, of Goliad; 23. Hugh R. Sutherland, of Nueces ; 24. Samuel Belden, of Bexar ; 25. Penrose N. Ions, of Tom Green ; 26. Arch Grinnan, of Brown ; 27. John B. Durrett, of Bell; 28. W. H. Mercer, of Palo Pinto ; 29. J. L. Penry, of Potter; 30. W. S. Kemble, of Tarrant; 31. R. E. Carswell, of Wise. PLATFORM 1 1. The Democracy of Texas rejoices at the bright outlook for Demo- cratic victory in November. In the great National contest to be de- cided, Democratic victory will be assured by patriotic action at Balti- more in naming candidates and in adopting a platform of Democratic principles, reflecting an abiding confidence in the right and capacity of the people to rule, and thereby secure the blessings of liberty, protec- tion of life and' property, equality before the law, and an honest admin- istration of public affairs. We commend to the Baltimore convention as our party's candidate for President that great Democrat, bright scholar, profound student of economics, Christian gentleman, capable executive, and our foremost exponent of the dominant thought, that privilege must be driven from power and the rule of the people be established Woodrow Wilson. x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Galveston News, May 29 and 30, 1912. Parties in Texas 559 We congratulate the people of the country upon the record of achieve- ments made by the Democratic party in the recent session of Congress, and especially upon the accomplishment during the present session under a Democratic majority in the lower house. We commend the patriotism with which representatives of our party, while in the major- ity, put aside questions of party advantage, and with the aid of some of the Republicans enacted laws for the relief of the people; and ( we commend the courage and patriotism with which, when in the majority, they put before the Republican administration, unmindful of its pledges, comprehensive plans for relief from the oppressive Republican tariff exactions. 2. The supreme issue before the American people is the issue of Privilege vs. the People. Privilege on the part of the trusts to plunder the people by means of interstate commerce, committed to the Federal government, but not sufficiently governed, controlled, or protected thereby; privilege of the great combined interests to read into the law the measure of their exactions from the common people; privilege compacted, unified ,and solidified to wrest government from the hands of the people and administer it to their own interest and against the common good. 3. We reaffirm the Democratic platform promulgated by the Demo- cratic convention at Denver in 1908. 4. We demand an immediate revision of the tariff in the interest of the great mass of the consumers of the country in order that tax con- tributions may be limited to the necessities of the government and that they may not be made to pay tribute to any favored interest. The protective tariff is founded on unjust discrimination and has been perpetuated by corrupting government, and under it there has been built up a system of pillage which has justly earned the name of "robbery". We believe in the old-fashioned Democratic doctrine of a tariff levied solely to produce a revenue sufficient for the support of the gov- ernment, and not levied for the protection of any interests, incidental or otherwise. In applying this principle of the revenue tariff, articles of prime necessity to the great body of the people should be free of duty, unless required to be taxed in order to raise the necessary revenue for the support of the government, while luxuries and mere con- veniences should be made to bear the greater burden of necessary taxation. When this principle is applied and enforced it will put an end to any basis for the contention that certain raw materials or products should be put on the dutiable list, because other articles are so placed; because Democrats would levy tariff duties solely in the interest of the body of the people, and not in response to the appeals of the par- ticular interest to be affected. No party, having for its battle-cry, "We demand our share of the spoils," can hope to route the forces of graft and greed. Democracy 560 Platforms of Political must emblazon on its flag, "We are opposed to all protection, because it is a denial of the cardinal Democratic principle of 'equal rights to all, and special privileges to none'." 5. We do not abate one jot of our opposition to trusts, which in a large measure are fostered and made possible by the Republican policy of protection. We reiterate the Democratic doctrine that trust-con- tro % lled articles should be placed on the free list. We utterly deny the suggestion that there are good trusts and bad trusts, to be determined by the privilege or favor of some officer. This is a 'doctrine full of menace to property and threatening to the continuance of the Republic when in the hands of reckless and imperious men. We demand, instead, a firm, impartial, and uninterrupted execution of laws for the dissolution and utter destruction of all trusts, and the criminal prosecution of all offenders, and the strengthening of trust laws wherever necessary. To this end we suggest that all corpora- tions engaged in interstate commerce be subjected to the inspection of their books, records, and transactions by officers of the government, as our National banks now are, and that all corporations engaged in interstate commerce be required to secure a license from the Federal government upon conditions definitely stated by Congress, which license shall be forfeited upon lawful ascertaining of the violation of the law. 6. We favor presidential primary elections in the respective States in order that the people 1 by a majority vote may register their prefer- ence in the nomination of candidates for the presidency. 7. We congratulate the Democratic party in its progress in forcing upon the Republican administration a law limiting the expenditures of a member of Congress to secure his election and heartily favor stringent regulations prohibiting contributions by corporations to cam- paign funds and limiting the amount which an individual may con- tribute and providing for publicity both before and after election, with the names of contributors, the amounts contributed, and purposes for which expended, with strict and efficient penalties for a violation of such law. If the Republic is to be preserved, active steps must be taken to prevent the debauching of elections, and this is one of the chief public concerns, requiring prompt and adequate action. 8. We favor the' nomination and election of United States senators by the direct vote of the people of the States. 9. We favor a tax upon incomes as a part of the revenue system of the Federal government, as a just measure for equalizing the burdens of taxation, and as an additional means of affording relief from tariff exactions. 10. We are opposed to the Aldrich currency scheme as a dangerous consolidation of the money power, and we demand the rehabilitation of our monetary system by such revision of the National banking law as will decentralize the control of the Nation's money and commercial Parties in Texas 561 credit, providing such a system as will safeguard it from domination by sectional or particular financial or political influences, and whilt it will be fair for the honest business, farming, and laboring interest* of the whole country. 11. The Democratic party has been the constant friend of labor, both in the State and in the Nation, in securing adequate laws for its protection and the advancement of its interests. Injunctions ought not to issue in any cause in which an injunction would not properly issue if no industrial dispute was involved, and we adhere to the right of trial by jury in the Federal courts in cases of indirect complaint. We recognize the right of labor and agricultural organizations to met together for the proper benefit of the membership, and such organiza- tions should not be deemed illegal combinations in restraint of trade. We favor a National board of arbitration and consultation, but not for compulsory arbitration; a board clothed with powers with which it can be legally clothed to investigate and adjust disputes 1 and differ- ences between the corporations engaged in interstate commerce and their employes, when invoked by the parties at interest. 12. We hold the platform pledges of the party to be the covenant between such party and all of the people, binding on all officers and representatives of such party, and we regard the honest platforms thereof as "the indispensable foundation of party government, while a disregard thereof necessarily leads to party destruction and to ma- chine rule. We arraign the Republican administration for its flagrant disre- gard of its pledges in its platform to give relief to the people from tariff burdens that have made the cost of living intolerably high and we declare that by such wanton breach of faith and abuse of public confidence the Republican party deserves the condemnation of all patriotic men. 13. Subject to the limitations that the government shall be republi- can in form, we reaffirm the right of the people of each State to mold and change their institutions at pleasure according to their own judg- ment of what is to their best interests. We agree with the candidates for the Democratic nomination for President which have expressed themselves, and with Mr. Bryan, that the question of theMnitiative and referendum as a mode of legislation, and the recall, is not in this election a Federal question, but that it is ft question to be determined by the people of each State for themselves. We believe in the rule of the people as the source of all political power and their right to an effective control of all the departments of government. A representative Democracy will be preserved by the representative representing the people alone, and he ought not, during his term of office, to accept employment from favor-seeking corporations or inter- ests, and this principle should be enacted into the law. 14. The delegates at large and the district delegates and all alter- 36328 562 Platforms of Political nates to the Baltimore convention are hereby instructed to vote as a unit for Woodrow Wilson as the Democratic nominee for President so long as his name is before the convention, and to use all honorable means to secure his nomination and voice the convictions of the Texas Democracy that "with some other candidate we might win, but vith Woodrow Wilson we are sure to win." Said delegates are instructed to vote as a unit on all questions com- ing before said convention, the majority of the members of the delega- tion entitled to vote being authorized to decide how the vote shall be cast and to have it cast accordingly. L. A. CLARKE, Chairman, R. C. BEIGGS, T. M. CAMPBELL, YANCEY LEWIS, P. N. IONS, W. F. MOOEE, ABCH GBINNAN, W. A. FOSTER, JOHN M HENDERSON, ANDREW L. RANDELL, W. H. MERCER, G. C. GROCE, CONE JOHNSON, SAMUEL BELDEN, R. B. CARSWELL, SCOTT FIELD, M. D. CARLOCK, W. A. TARVER, W. S. KEMBLE, O. L. STRIBLING, Q. U. WATSON, S. S. BAKER, THOMAS MCNEAL, Resolutions [15] Resolved, that we indorse the movement for the development of the intercoastal canal, and pledge the Texas Democracy to that Improvement of our waterways. [16] That the resolution of Congressman Smith, introduced in the lower house of Congress, calling for the appointment by the state department of an official to investigate and report upon the personal injuries sustained by citizens of the State of Texas from the fire from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande during the late battle of Juarez, be recommended and indorsed. [17] That we urge the thirty-third legislature of Texas to make prompt appropriations to pay deficiency warrants issued or to De issued for the repair of the main building and mess hall recently suffered from fire at the Agricultural and Mechanical College. MINORITY REPORT. We, a minority of the committee on platform and resolutions, ap- pointed by this convention upon yesterday, beg leave to submit the following minority report, to wit: 1. We recommend that in lieu of all expressions in the majority report concerning the tariff that the following be inserted: "We favor a tariff for revenue only, sufficient to honestly and economically admin- Parties in Texas 563 ister the affairs of the Federal government, so laid as not to discriminate against any section or class of our common country." 2. We move the convention that the latter part of paragraph No. 5 of the platform report by the majority, which reads as follows: "To this end we suggest that all corporations engaged in interstate com- merce, be subjected to the inspection of their books, records, and transactions by officers of the government, as our National banks now are, and that all corporations engaged in interstate commerce be re- quired to secure not a charter, but a license from the Federal govern- ment upon conditions definitely stated by Congress, which license shall be forfeited upon lawful ascertainment of the violations of the law," be not adopted, for the reason, among others, that to demand such course is equivalent to demanding that the United States government take jurisdiction over all trading corporations in the State of Texas or in any other State which sells all or any part of its products in any State other than the one in which they are situated; and, further, that it requires all transportation lines, including railroads, telegraph and telephone lines, which do an interstate business, to be under the con- stant supervision and control of such officer or tribunal, which might under such demands be created by the acts of Congress, and under such conditions, if a large trunk line entering Texas should be denied by such tribunal or officer a license to do business, or after having been allowed such license the same should be revoked, serious results would follow, not only to such transportation company, but to all the people of the State or country through which such transportation line might pass and whose commerce it handled. If, as suggested in such a case, a Federal receiver might be appointed to operate such line or lines pending adjustment, it would mean that our transportation lines would be handled by numerous petty officials, ranging from the general manager to the section hands, and equally serious results would follow from the handling of the general commerce and industry of the country through the instrumentality of the Federal government. JONATHAN LANE, Q. U. WATSON, CLARENCE OUSLET, W. B. DAVIS, J. T. ADAMS. The minority report was tabled by a viva voce vote. National Committeeman: Cato Sells, of Johnson. 564 Platforms of Political SOCIALIST STATE CONVENTION, 1912 WACO, August 13 About one hundred Socialists from different parts of the State met at Waco to adopt a platform and canvass the returns of the recent referendum vote for nominees for the various State offices. Officers: Chairman, W. S. Noble, of Milam. Secretary, E. 0. Meitzen, of Lavaca. Presidential Electors: State at large, Dan C. Crider, S. A. Brinkley, A. B. Clayton, Morgan S. Graham; 1st Congressional district, J. B. Triplett, 2. John B. Yarbrough, 3. John F. Hunt, 4. W. P. Bickley, 5. F. V. Evans, 6. H. F. Simpson, 7. Carl Blaser, 8. F. Meyer, 9. T. J. Haynes, 10. Jack Cahill, 11. W. A. Walker, 12. A. M. Dobbs, 13. M. A. Anderson, 14. H. H. Ed- wards, 15. J. R. Boyd, 16. J. R, Echols. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Reddin Andrews, of Smith ; Lieutenant-Governor, T. A. Hickey, of Lavaca ; Attorney- General, Henry Faulk, of Travis ; Comptroller, G. W. M. Taylor, of Parker ; Treasurer, W. J. Bell, of Smith ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, W. R. Browning, of - ; Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, J. E. Hamilton, of^^- ; Railroad Commissioners, Joe Beer, of Harris, and Wm. Thordy, of ; Commissioner of Agriculture, P. A. Eichblatt, of Harrison; Supreme Court, E. 0. Meitzen, of Lavaca; Court of Criminal Appeals, J. R. Brown, of Bowie ; Congressmen at large, D. D. Richardson, of Hunt, and J. M. Haggard, of Cooke. PLATFORM 1 Preamble The Socialist party of the State of Texas declares that the capitalist system has fulfilled its historic mission and has become utterly in- capable of meeting the problems now confronting society. We de- lr The proceedings of this State mass meeting are taken from the Dallas News, August 14, 1912. The platform is copied from a broadside issued by the party during the campaign of 1912. Parties in Texas 565 nounce this capitalist system as incompetent and corrupt and the source of unspeakable misery and suffering to the entire working class of the Lone Star State. Under this system the land of the State of Texas has passed into the hands of the few. According to the 1910 census out of one hundred and sixty-five million acres of tillable land in Texas only twenty-seven mil- lion acres were in cultivation, while tenantry has increased to the point where 209,000 tenants are tilling the soil, men and women who are as impoverished as the rack-rented tenant in the Galty Mountains of Ire- land or the poor miserables of Southern Europe. Negro and Mexican tenants and farm laborers have greatly increased. The cost of ma- chinery necessary to obtain the best results in farming has grown enormously. Landlords demand contracts that interfere with the political and personal liberty of the tenant, as well as the manner in which he cultivates his crop. Through this system of tenantry that is inherent in the capitalist system, overcropping and single cropping is causing the soil to lose its fertility and thereby the present and future generations are robbed. The increase in land values has made it im- possible for the tenant under ordinary conditions to buy and pay for land. These conditions have forced the landless farmer to live in miser- able hovels and keep the women and children in the fields to such an extent as to be exceedingly detrimental to the mental and physical well- being of our people and a menace to the homes and future progress of our State. Under this capitalist system the industrial equipment of the State has passed into the absolute control of the plutocracy which exacts an annual tribute of millions of dollars from the producers. Unafraid of any organized resistance it stretches its greedy hands over the still undeveloped resources of the State and has grabbed the land and is now acquiring the mines, the oil wells, the forests, and water power sites in every part of the State. Under this system multiplication in labor-saving machines and inv proved methods of industry find the share of the producers growing ever less and the price of the necessities of life ever higher. The hundreds of thousands of wage workers in the State have seen the purchasing . power of their wages decrease until life has become a desperate battle for mere existence. Farmers in every part of the State are plundered by increasing prices exacted for tools and machinery and by extortionate rents, freight rates, and storage charges. We denounce this capitalist system as responsible for the increasing burden of armaments, poverty, slums, child labor, and most of the insanity, crime, and prostitution that afflicts mankind, and we look with scorn upon alleged reformers who seek to abolish the profits ot saloon keepers while allowing trust magnates to riot in their profits. This capitalist system in Texas has developed hypocrisy to that point where its upholders boast of their chivalry while compelling the wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, sweethearts, of the agricultural workers 566 Platforms of Political to toil under the blazing sun with cotton sack, chopping hoe and, often plow, thus dwarfing physically and mentally our womanhood and deny- ing our children the education that is their natural heritage. In the face of these evils so manifest that all thoughtful people are appalled at them, we find that the plutocracy in Texas' has seized the courts, the legislature, the railroad commissioners, and the governor, to the end that their interests be protected even though the interest of the vast majority of producers suffer from this usurpation of power. Realizing this deplorable condition of affairs, the Socialist party of the State of Texas declares that society is divided into warring groups and classes, based upon material interest. In this fight we declare our- selves unhesitatingly upon the side of the wealth producers. We point out that the working class greatly outnumber their exploiters and call upon them to recognize their material interest and develop a spirit of class solidarity that will enable it to enforce its will. Given such solid- arity, the workers on farms, in mine, railroad, mill, and factory in Texas will have the power to make all laws and control all industry in their own interest. The Socialist party is the political expression of the economic inter- ests of the workers. Its defeats have been their defeats ana Its vic- tories their victories. It is a party founded on the science and laws of social development. It proposes that since all social necessities today are socially produced, the means of their productive distribution shall be socially owned and controlled and democratically managed. The Socialist party stands for the complete overthrow of the capital- ist system and the installation of the Socialist republic in its stead. In the meantime as measures of relief for the workers now groaning under the system of capitalism, we present the following Demands T. A constitutional amendment authorizing a tax on land to the limit. 2. We declare that use and occupancy should be the sole title to land and pledge ourselves to engage in a continuous campaign of education to secure by constitutional amendment the legality of such, title. 3. That the State encourage the establishment of co-operative farms by individual associations; that the State rent lands to landless farm- ers at a nominal rent, the land so appropriated to be secured by purchase of all land sold for taxes or otherwise acquired. 4. That land occupied and used in a useful* and bona fide manner without exploitation be subject to a minimum tax and conversely all land used for exploitation and speculation shall be taxed to the maximum. 5. All tools necessary to the cultivation of land used without exploitation or speculation shall be exempt from taxation. Parties in Texas 567 6. We demand the State ownership of cotton gins, cotton seed mills, compresses, grain elevators, warehouses, irrigation canals, etc. 7. We recommend the loaning of money at the lowest possible rate of interest by the State on cotton and other imperishable farm products. 8. The establishment of an eight-hour work day among all day laborers. The passage of sanitary laws and a rigid enforcement in all public works; strict State inspection of mills, mines, factories, etc. 9. We demand the prohibition of the employment of children under sixteen years in all wage paying industries. 10. We indorse State fire, life, storm, drouth, and sick insurance. 11. A constitutional amendment providing for the initiative, refer- endum, and recall including the judiciary. 12. Compulsory education; free night schools for adults; free teit- books for all pupils in public schools; vocational education in all public schools; adequate public maintenance for all destitute and semi- destitute children. 13. Free and equal suffrage for both men and women, unrestricted by poll tax, educational or property qualifications. 14. The absolute freedom of press, speech, and assemblage. 15. Humane and scientific treatment of the inmates of the Statt penitentiaries; all the value of their labor above an economical cost of maintenance to go to their families or dependents. 16. The erection by the State of as many as three sanitariums to be located equianguarly or as nearly as may be; board and treatment of inmates to be furnished by the State. 17. An increased State inheritance tax, graded in proportion to amount of bequest, and to nearness of kin. 18. Graduated income tax. 19. Abolition of the State senate and the gubernatorial veto. 20. The abolition of the fee system as to all public officials. 21. A stringent employers' liability and employes' compensation act and a more stringent law against blacklisting. State Executive Committee: W. S. Noble, of Milam, chair- man; 1st Congressional district, J. S. Willard, of Bowie; 2. J. H. Freeland, of Cherokee: 3. blank; 4. C. E. Obenchain, of Hunt ; 5. blank ; 6. W. H. Wilson, of Limestone ; 7. J. C. Har- rett. of Trinity; 8. blank; 9. W. W. Fitzgerald, of Victoria; 10. blank; 11. C. G-. Davidson, of McLennan; 12. Clarence Nugent, of Erath; 13. to 15. blank; 16. W. R. Pritchard, of Shackelfordi 568 Platforms of Political PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1912 DALLAS, August 13 Between fifty and sixty delegates attended this convention. Officers: Chairman, A. J. Houston, of Jefferson. Secretary, E. C. Heath, of Rockwall. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, A. J. Houston, of Jef- ferson ; Lieutenant-Governor, L. M. Hewitt, of Brazos ; Congress- man at large, E. H. Conibear, of Dallas. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: L. M. Hewitt, chair- man, W. V. Graves, E. H. Conibear, H. W. Clark. PLATFORM 1 1. We, the Prohibition party of Texas, in convention at Dallas, August 13, 1912, recognize God as the source of all government, indorse the platform and nominees of the National Prohibition convention at Atlantic City, N. J., and commend them to the people of Texas as a splendid expression of progressive, Christian, civilized government. We urge upon the good people of Texas the necessity of an active campaign and a strong vote for the only candidates who represent a principle of honorable, honest government of and for all the people. 2. We favor a complete revision of the jurisprudence of this State, both civil and criminal, which will eliminate useless and costly delays to litigants and in many ways a miscarriage of justice. 3. We declare the licensed liquor trade a crime and not a business and declare that no- government, State or National, has a right to license or regulate it. The only right attitude for the government is an unrelenting war of extermination. Today the leading prohibition- ists, so-called, within the Democratic party, are advocating regulation and declaring that they do not stand for prohibition in the platform. To change the policy of the State from license to prohibition, there is only one effective way and that is to elect a party to power that by its platform and its nominees is committed to that change. The Prohibi- tion party of Texas pledges itself, if intrusted with power in this State, to repeal the liquor license laws of Texas. We pledge ourselves to deal then with the outlawed liquor traffic as with any other crime against government, and to carry into effect such police measures as may be necessary for the carrying out of this program, as far as it lf rhe proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt, August 14, 1912. Parties in Texas 569 can be carried out in opposition to the license policy of the Federal government, until such time as the National government, also, is committed to the prohibition policy. 4. We favor the policy of publicity of contributions and expendi- tures of all campaign funds of every nature. 5. We favor the most liberal appropriations to our educational in- stitutions and especially to the agricultural institutions, and would extend the agricultural departments to all rural schools. 6. We pledge the party to a progressive plan for the encouragement and development of the commercial and industrial resources of the State by an intelligent protection of all the various interests of this broad domain. 7. We believe that the agricultural development can best be en- couraged and extended by an intelligent extension of the transporta- tion facilities through a more liberal State good roads system; and we pledge the party to the construction of a system of State roads through the several counties which will best serve the greatest num- ber of people for the most economical expenditure; these State roads to be so constructed that the several counties may add to them and make a complete system of good highways. 8. We condemn the system of convict labor-made goods for com- mercial trade and recommend that all convict labor that may be spared from State farms be used for State road, building, and that all con- victs be credited for their labor upon a basis of the prevailing rate for labor, that the difference of maintaining the convict and the value of his labor be used for the maintenance of those dependent upon the convict for support. 9. We condemn the present insurance laws, which created the in- surance rating board of the State, as a vicious trust, generally supposed to have been instigated by the fire insurance companies for the pur- pose of eliminating possible competition in the fire insurance business, and thus creating a burdensome tax upon the people of the State, and we demand the repeal of the law and the abolition of the rating board. 10. We believe that the present system of State elections every two years creates an unnecessary and wasteful use of time, money, and energy, and we recommend that all State officers be elected for four years, and that State elections alternate with National elections. 11. We do not believe that it is an economical policy to appraise the railroads of the State above their actual value for stock and bond pur- poses, but we believe that the valuation as made by the commission for such purposes should prevail with all boards of assessors for the pur- pose of taxation, and we recommend the enactment of a law to this effect. 12. As the extension of our agricultural resources must precede the development of our commercial resources, and as every legitimate effort should be made to a more extensive educational system among rural residents, we favor a law permitting railroads to issue free trans- 570 Platforms of Political portation to all agents of the Agricultural Department of the State and to all secretaries of commercial organizations engaged, wholly or in part, in the extension of farm products within the State. 13. We believe to deny intelligent, refined, chaste, and sensible women the privilege of the ballot while extending this privilege to the illiterate, immoral, vicious, and corrupt men is not only nonsensical and criminal, but that it is an insult to womanhood as well as a re- flection upon our intelligence; we, therefore, pledge the party to equal rights of suffrage for women and men. 14. We condemn the treatment of the Americans in Mexico by the President of the United States, in arousing prejudice against them by his un-American proclamation and then failing to defend them against outrages. 15. We denounce the reign of lynch law as one of the many curses for which the liquor traffic is responsible. State Executive Committee: State at large, Edward Owens, of Tarrant, and H. A. Taylor, of El Paso; 1st Congressional district, Miss M. I. Taylor, of Marion; 2. A. J. Houston, of Jefferson; 3. E. B. Tuggle, of Kaufman; 4. J. F. McFarland, of Fannin; 5. D. P. Williams, of Dallas; 6. L. M. Hewitt, of Brazos; 7. J. M. Meek, of Galveston; 8. W. V. Graves, of Harris; 9. L. J. Winters, of Refugio; 10. E. P. Laney, of Caldwell; 11. J. D. Knapp, of McLennan; 12. S. R. McElreath, of Tarrant; 13. C. S. Rice, of Gray ; 14. A. L. Home, of Lampasas ; 15. Mrs. L. B. Wiseman, of Wilson ; 16. J. L. Campbell, of El Paso. PROGRESSIVE STATE CONVENTION, 1912 DALLAS, August 13 and 14 The delegates of the Roosevelt convention of May last were turned down by the Republican National convention. State Chairman Lyon and a number of the members of the State ex- ecutive committee attended the Progressive National convention, August 5, 1912. They still controlled the Republican State ex- ecutive committee, and were thus in position to determine the contests preliminary to the State convention, August 13. The Taft supporters declined to participate in this convention. There were about two hundred and fifty delegates present: of this number only five were negroes. The great question before the Parties in Texas 571 convention was the change of the party's name. It was decided by the adoption of the following resolution: Eesolved, that the political organization in Texas heretofore and now known as the Republican party of Texas is now and shall hereafter be known as the Progressive party of Texas, and that the duly elected delegates and alternates of the Regular Republican organization of Texas, in regular State convention assembled, hereby resolve, affirm, and decree that the Republican party of Texas has ceased to exist and in its place and stead is the Progressive party of Texas, of which the delegates and alter- nates here assembled are the duly elected and legal representa- tives, clothed with full authority to do all work and acts for which this convention was assembled, and we hereby invite all true and loyal citizens of whatever political name or creed to join the Progressive party of Texas and help us procure "a square deal for everybody" and special privileges for none. Officers: Chairman pro tem,pore, J. M. McCormick. of Dal- las; permanent, Lewis Lindsay, of Cooke. Secretary, Bart Mar- shall, of Grayson. Presidential Electors: State at large, F. H. Hill, of Carson, C. W. Hutchison, of Tarrant, T. J. Martin, of Kinney, and Dr. C. A. Gray, of Fannin ; 1st Congressional district, J. M. Single- ton, of Marion; 2. E. G. Christian, of Bowie; 3. Z. T. Jackson, of Smith; 4. J. T. Stark, of Collin ; 5. A. C. Wilson, of Dallas; 6. Tyler Haswell, of Brazos ; 7. George W. Burkett, of Anderson ; 8. W. B. Sharp, of Harris; 9. Max P. Schorre, of Karnes; 10. Ed. H. East, of Hays; 11. M. W. Reisinger, of Coryell : 12. W. P. Hallmark, of Erath ; 13. Pat Darling, of Hardeman; 14. W. Z. Stiles, of Bexar : 15. J. C. Scott, of Nueces ; 16. H. A. Baker, of Shackelford. Xominees for State Offices: Governor, Ed C. Lasater, of Brooks; Lieutenant-Governor, W. H. Featherston, of Clay; Attorney-General, Henry Lee Borden, of Harris; Comptroller, George E. Kepple, of Harris ; Treasurer, T. S. McBride, of Dallas ; Railroad Commissioner, 0. S. Newell, of Bexar; Commissioner of Agriculture, Harvey C. Stiles, of Hays; Supreme Court, J. M. McCormick, of Dallas, and IT. S. Goen, of El Paso ; Congress- men at large, Z. T. White, of El Paso, and F. M. Etheridge, of Dallas. 572 Platforms of Political Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. M. Singleton, E. G. Christian, J. T. Palmer, W. J. Minter, T. S. McBride, R. L. Ferguson, P. J. Hays, H. L. Borden, George Ireland, M. C. Kelly, Joe E. Williams, Otto Patterson, 0. P. Maricle, E. S. Thayer, Ed C. Lasater, chairman, J. W. Boynton. PLATFORM 1 The convention adopted the National platform in its entirety, and added thereto the following: [1] We condemn the weak and vacillating policy of the Taft ad- ministration in its dealing with the Mexican situation. We believe the American citizen should be protected by his government in what- ever foreign land he may reside; and the killing of nine and wounding of twenty-three citizens of the United States on Texas soil at El Paso, Texas, on May 10 and 11, 1911, by Mexican soldiers, from Mexican soil, should have called for vigorous protest and demand for reparation from the Mexican government by the President of the United States, and his failure so to do is just cause for this declaration of protest. [2] We favor more liberal appropriations by the legislature on behalf of higher education and insist that in this respect Texas put herself in line with Wisconsin and other progressive States. We be- lieve that money so spent should be regarded as an investment and not as a charge upon the people. [3] In legislation we advocate a policy extending the powers of municipal corporations giving. them larger charter rights to control sanitary, housing, street, and all other conditions affecting their moral and economic welfare. [4] We recommend that the legislature of the State of Texas pro- ceed to reform the court procedure of the State without delay. [5] We approve the attitude of Colonel Roosevelt in respect to the rights and political status of the American negro, as outlined in hla speech delivered in Chicago, August 6, 1912. [6] The present anti-trust laws of Texas are unjust alike to business and consumers. Honest business is made to suffer, on the one hand, while illegitimate combinations go practically unpunished, on the other. As a corrective of these conditions, we favor the creation of a State industrial commission, similar in character and function to tha State railroad commission, with full power to supervise, regulate, and give full publicity to the acts of all corporations (not subject to the Federal anti-trust laws) doing business in Texas. On these principles and on the recognized desirability of uniting the 1P The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, August 13-1S, 1912. The platform was obtained from the secretary of th convention. Parties in Texas 573 progressive forces of the State into an organization which shall un- equivocally represent the progressive spirit and policy, we appeal for the support of all Texas citizens, without regard to previous political affiliations. Executive Committee: Cecil A. Lyon, of Grayson r chairman; 1st Senatorial district, J. M. Singleton, of Marion; 2. Yehner Antle, of Hopkins; 3. Dr. C. A. Gray, of Fannin; 4. 0. F. Johnson, of Grayson; 5. R, F. Akridge, of Hunt; 6. J. M. McCormick, of Dallas; 7. J. L. Jackson, of Smith; 8. Cooper Shetfall, of Gregg; 9. Rube Freeman, of Navarro; 10. W. B. Franks, of Ellis; 11. F. W. Stallworth, of Falls; 12. John Daly, Jr., of Brazos; 13. George W. Burkett, Sr., of Anderson; 14. O. S. Hunter, of Jefferson; 15. blank; 16. Henry Lee Borderu of Harris; 17. Ed McCarthy, of Galveston; 18. W. A. Matthaei, of Austin; 19. M. M. Turney, of Bastrop; 20. J. C. Bierbower, of Caldwell; 21. W. B. Kelley, of Caldwell; 22. Max P. Schorre, of Karnes; 23. Ed C. Lasater, of Brooks; 24. J. D. Dodson, of Bexar; 25. J. T. Martin, of Kinney; 26. W. P. Hallmark, of Erath; 27. Joe E. Williams, of Hamilton; 28. H. A. Baker, of Shackelford ; 29. K. M. Hopgood, of Clay ; 30. F. M. Wright, of Tarrant; 31. Harry Karlsburg, of Montague. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1912 DALLAS, August 13 and 14 The delegates of the Taft convention of May last were seated by the National convention. When the State executive com- mittee met at Dallas, August 12, the members of that committee supporting Taft refused to recognize Cecil A. Lyon as State chairman, and proceeded to elect C. A. Warnken to that posi- tion. However, the members supporting Lyon outnumbered his opponents, so the latter changed their place of meeting, and proceeded with their convention independently. About three hundred delegates attended; of this number about one-third were negroes. Officers: Chairman, Eugene Marshall, of Dallas. Secretary, Sam L. Gross, of Harrison. Presidential Electors: State at large, Ira P. Jones, Dr. J. L. 574 Platforms of Political Gaston, J. C. Gibbons, Lewis Johnson, of Jack; District electors, Will E. Singleton, Jr., of Marion; S. H. Pedigo, of Tyler; R. C. Spence and C. A. Duck, of Hunt; A. M. Morrison, of Ellis; Seth W. Hamilton, of Limestone; W. C. Kendall, of Anderson; I. M. Limbocker, of Harris; J. F. McCan and E. P. Wilmot, of Travis; D. P. Baker, of McLennan; J. E. B. Stewart, of Par- ker; L. M. Kealy, of Denton; John Hall, of Lampasas; F. Van- dervoort, of Dimmit ; M. F. Burns, of Midland. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, C. W. Johnson, of Young; Lieutenant-Governor, W. C. Averill, of Jefferson; At- torney-General, Tyler Baker, of Johnson; Comptroller, Fred- erick Hofheinz, of Comal; Treasurer, W. C. Kenyon, of Pot- ter; Commissioner of the General Land Office, W. H. Love, of Collin ; Railroad Commissioners, T. M. Barret, of Bexar, and George W. Eason, of Nacogdoches; Commissioner of Agricul- ture, Joseph F. Green, of San Patricio ; Supreme Court, Eugene Marshall, of Dallas, J. Walter Cocke, of McLennan, and T. M. Kennerly, of Harris; Court of Criminal Appeals, Nathan Pat- ten, of McLennan ; Congressmen at large, J. E. Elgin, of Bexar, and R. B. Harrison, of Bowie. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: W. J. Baker, of Lamar; George W. Eason, of Nacogdoches; George C. Hopkins, of Wood; R. S. Legate, of Grayson; W. H. Atwell, of Dallas, chairman; Claude P. McGregor, of Milam; M. M. Rogers, of Fayette; John L. Burke, of Bastrop; Dan Emerson, of Falls; C. B. Milliken, of Parker; C. W. Johnson, of Young; M. D. Townley, of Lampasas ; Harvey Finch, of Callahan ; L. D. Roach ; H. F. McGregor, of Harris; C. P. Jones; T. W. Johnson; R. B. Stite. PLATFORM 1 [1] The Republican party, in State convention assembled, at Dallas, Texas, August 13, 1912, reaffirms the cardinal principles and tenets that gave it birth and strength and that have marked the administration of its respective leaders as they have successfully and successively admin* istered the affairs of this Republic from Abraham Lincoln to the pres- ent hour. Incited by its faith, high aim, and purposes, the people be- lieved, and believing, embraced. 1P The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas Newt, August 13-15, 1912. Parties in Texas 575 Not unlike the rest in faithfulness, statesmanship, and fidelity has been the administration of President William Howard Taft, who for the last four years, despite bickerings from within and opposition from without, has guided honorably and nonpartisanly the destinies of our matchless Republic. In recognition of this service and because the people believed in the reward of the faithful servant, they renominated him at Chicago, and we here and now approve and indorse his admin- istration, his renomination, and the platform that our representatives at Chicago, in June, 1912, fashioned and framed as a renewed promise to the American people, and in this connection we call attention to the fact that the Republican party makes no promise to be broken. We are satisfied with our form of government and are against its destruction. We believe the Declaration of Independence is right; we believe that the Constitution of the United States of America is not out of date. We believe in individual liberty; we believe in the pro- tection of life; and we believe in the protection of property. As long as any of these beliefs are assailed the mission and work of the Repub- lican party is unfinished. 2. We have always stood for fair elections, and while there are many good features in the so-called Terrell primary election law, there are many features that are not understandable, and tend to keep the Democratic party and its machines and bosses in power, when, if the same were remedied so as to include a direct primary law, the voice of the people would be substituted for the rule of the boss. 3. We favor a reformation of Texas court procedure. 4. We condemn the present stock and bond law, and demand that such legislation be had as shall be fair to the people and permit the business interests to develop the resources of the State. 5. Profligate expenditure of the people's taxes is as indefensible as unjust taxation, and we criticise any system of government, county, or State, which is not economical and that is not regardful of the purse of the people; and we, therefore, condemn the present Democratic State administration, and call the attention of the people, specifically, to the $2,000,000 deficit and to the increase in the burden of taxation. 6. We favor the provision by the State for a full nine months public free school and free textbooks, and we believe that such school should embrace as a part of their fundamental work the teaching and demonstration of agriculture and the proper acquaintance with indus- trial and mechanical arts; and we favor a compulsory school law re- quiring at least six months attendance in each year of every child between the age of eight and sixteen. 7. We favor the enactment of a law that shall authorize the Gover- nor to appoint a highway commission, whose duty it shall be to super- vise the construction of all permanent roads and bridges; and we further recommend that the present road law shall be so amended that a majority vote shall carry, instead of a two-thirds vote, in the issue of all road bonds. 576 Platforms of Political 8. We favor the abolition of the office of county treasurer where a county has a depository. 9. We demand the reduction of the present exorbitant freight and express rates on fruit and vegetables grown in the State of Texas. 10. We do not believe that free labor should compete with convict labor, and we, therefore, favor the use of the convict in the betterment of the public roads rather than on the farm, in the factory, or in the mine. 11. We demand the strengthening and rigid enforcement of the present barratry statute, to the end that the burden of the damage suit evil may be removed. State Executive Committee: C. K. McDowell, of Val Verde, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, W. E. Singleton, Jr., 2. W. J. Ingram, 3. Phil E. Baer, 4. R. S. Legate, 5. D. W. Ryan, 6. George F. Rockholt, 7. J. H. Parker, 8. D. H. Morris, 9. blank; 10. J. B. Copeland, 11. M. M. Patton, 12. P. D. Daniels, 13. W. B. Rogers, 14. blank, 15. George W. Jones, 16. C. A. Warn- ken, 17. E. C. Webster, 18. George F. Steiner, 19. Charles B. Ziegenhalz, 20. John Hall, 21. blank, 22. H. C. Adler, 23. blank, 24. Julius Oppenheimer, 25. C. L. McDowell, 26. George H. Wray, 27. J. H. Burnett, 28. L. S. McDowell, 29. E. E. Diggs, 30. G. A. Tomlinson, 31. T. A. Robison. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1912 SAN ANTONIO, August 13 and 14 The convention was completely controlled by the supporters of Governor Colquitt. He submitted a draft of the platform, which with a few alterations was adopted by the convention. The convention took a radical step in that it treated the -selec- tions made by the districts for the various committees as "recom- mendations, ' ' which were disregarded wherever the recommenda- tion did not suit the majority. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Will A. Hanger, of Tar- rant; permanent, Claude B. -Hudspeth, of El Paso. Secretary, Dayton Moses, of Burnet. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, 0. B. Colquitt, of Kaufman; Lieuten ant-Governor, Will H. Mayes, of Brown ; Attorney-General, Ben F. Looney, of Hunt; Comptroller, W. P. Parties in Texas 577 Lane, of Tarrant ; Treasurer, J. M. Edwards, of Runnels; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, James T. Robison, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, F. M. Bralley, of Fannin; Railroad Commissioner, Earl B. May field, of Bell, and William D. Williams, of Tarrant ; Commissioner of Agri- culture, Ed R. Rone, of Hays; Supreme Court, T. J. Brown, of Grayson, Nelson Phillips, of Dallas, and William E. Hawkins, of Cameron; Court of Criminal Appeals, A. C. Prendergast, of McLennan; United States Senator, Mprris Sheppa'rd, of Bowie; Congressman at large, Hatton W. Sumners, of Dallas, and Daniel E. Garrett, of Harris. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, T. D. Rowell, of Marion; 2. P. H. Fosque, of Franklin; 3. E. E. Nunn, of Fannin ; 4. Cecil H. Smith, of Grayson, chair- man; 5. W. H. Clendennin, of Rains; 6. M. T. Lively, of Dal- las; 7. Cone Johnson, of Smith; 8. C. L. Brachfield, of Rusk; 9. John L. Davis, of Henderson; 10. William Poindexter, of Johnson; 11. E. W. Bounds, of McLennan; 12. Robert Hanns, of Limestone; 13. Wyatt Norman, of Cherokee, secretary; 14. E. A. McDowell, of Jefferson; 15. J. Lewellyn, of Montgomery; 16. Jonathan Lane, of Harris; 17. James B. Stubbs, of Galves- ton; 18. J. J. Mansfield, of Colorado; 19. J. P. Buchanan, of Washington; 20. Charles Rogan, of Travis; 21. Emil Mosheim, of Guadalupe; 22. Ben W. Fly, of Victoria; 23. Walter F. Simon, of Nueces; 24. A. W. Houston, of Bexar; 25. James Cal- lan, of Menard; 26. W. C. Woodward, of Coleman; 27. C. E. Clark; 28. S. P. Hardwicke, of Taylor; 29. A. L. Anderson; 30. Hunter P. Lane, of Tarrant; 31. Alvin C. Owsley, of Denton. PLATFORM 1 1. We earnestly approve the platform of principles enunciated by the National Democratic party in convention assembled in Baltimore, and ratify and indorse the nomination of Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey for President and Thomas R. Marshall of Indiana for Vice Presi- dent, and pledge the cooperation and assistance of the Democratic party of Texas in securing their election. 2. We hold the Constitution to be a solemn chart, defining and 'The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Son Antonio Ex- press. August 14 and 15. 1912. 37 328 578 Platforms of Political limiting the powers of government and insuring the protection of in- dividuals and minorities against oppression, and we insist upon the observance of it in letter and spirit. Ours is a government regulated by law and local self-government is a cardinal Democratic principle in perfect accord with the limitations of government established by the Constitution. We believe that a representative Democracy is the-most perfect form of government ever devised by the wisdom of man. We are unalter- ably opposed to every attempt to destroy or impair the excellent system established by our wise and patriotic forefathers. We hold it to be the highest duty of a representative to faithfully execute the will of liis constituency, intelligently and honestly ascertained. 3. A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preserva- tion of the liberties and the rights of the people, we recommend that our educational system, from the primary school to the University, shall not longer suffer from faulty organization and insufficient finan- cial support. The Democratic party of Texas, therefore, pledges the Thirty-third Legislature to make liberal appropriations for the support and development of our entire educational system. We reiterate the demand made in the State Democratic platform adopted at Galveston, in August, 1910, that adequate provision by con- stitutional right be made for a liberal and independent income to sup- port the State institutions of higher learning, including the University, the Agricultural and Mechanical College, the State Normal Schools and the College of Industrial Arts. We favor more efficient county supervision, and the extension and betterment of our rural schools, and the teaching in them of industrial and agricultural subjects. We favor the submission of an amendment to our Constitution which will provide that any county may levy, by a majority vote of the taxpayers thereof, a ceunty tax for the better maintenance of the schools of such county. We further favor that the legislature propose and submit an amend- ment to Section 11, of Article 16, of the Constitution, providing for the complete divorcement of the University and the Agricultural and Me- chanical College and remove the inhibition against making appropria- tions out of the general revenue for the erection of buildings for tha University, and that a just and equitable division of the permanent University fund be made as between the University and the Agricul- tural and Mechanical College. We indorse the proposed amendment to Article 16 of the Constitution providing for six-year terms of office for University Regents, and boards of managers and trustees of other State colleges, schools, eleemosynary and penal institutions, and we call upon all good Democrats through- out the State to vote for this amendment to the end that a law may be enacted by the legislature providing that the terms of members of such boards may be arranged so that the terms of office of one-third of each board may expire every two years, thus insuring those institution! against frequent changes of management to their detriment. Parties in Texas 579 Under existing laws it is provided that school trustees of districts which levy a special local tax may extend the scholastic age in such district. We recommend the amendment of this law so as to give to school trustees in all districts in the State authority to extend the scholastic age in their discretion or on vote of the people of such dis- trict or community, up to the age of twenty-one years. We also recom- mend that the legislature pass a law giving boards of school trustees in districts that may vote a special tax authority to supply textbooks to children attending school in such districts, and to pay for the books thus furnished out of revenues derived from local taxation. We recommend that the Thirty-third Legislature shall promptly pass a bill appropriating money to pay the emergency authorized by the Governor for the erection of a mess hall and a main building for the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and for the building for the use f the medical branch of the University at Galveston. 4. We protest against the tendencies of economical thought and of political policies to sacrifice the welfare of the producer, who is th only creator of wealth, and whose success is the very base of the State's prosperity. In order that the producer of cotton may be enabled to market his crop gradually and in such manner as will realize for him the value thereof, it is necessary that he have secure, adequate and inexpensive warehouse facilities which will enable him to hold his cotton and the receipt issued therefor shall carry on its face such undis- puted evidence of validity and solvency that it can be negotiated not only in the locality of its issue, but in the commercial centers of the world. To realize these essential advantages to the maximum degree, it is necessary that a strong, stable and comprehensive warehousing system be established in this State, and in order that such system may not fall Into the hands of private interests, which might utilize it to the detriment of the producers, a strong public power of control is advisable. We earnestly recommend that the next legislature shall pass a law establishing an efficient warehouse system for this State with proper provision for regulating the sampling and grading of cotton. Without discussing the merits of pending proposals for monetary reform, we recommend that in any legislation which Congress may enact for emergency currency based upon commercial paper under- written by banks or associations of banks provision should be made for including bonded or public warehouse cotton receipts, and we call upon our senators and representatives in Congress to urge the incor- poration of such provision in any act which Congress may pass pro- viding for emergency currency. We recommend that the next legislature shall make adequate appro- priation for the agricultural department of the State government to enable said department to carry on the work for which it was created and to enable that department in connection with its crop reporting system to cooperate with the agricultural departments of other cotton- 580 Platforms of Political growing States and with the Federal government in securing and pub- lishing reliable statistics of cotton consumption and manufacturing and other useful information from all cotton-consuming countries, to the end that the public may have reliable information concerning the :-!'> Mnt. of i otton required for consumption, as well as the amount which will probably be produced. 5. We favor the enactment of a law by the next legislature which will require every saloon in the State to close its place of business at 9:30 p. m. each week day and to keep the same closed until 6 a. m. the following day, and from 9:30 p. m. Saturday until 6 a. m. Mondays, and empower any incorporated city or town to close saloons earlier after sunset if the people of such city or town deem it advisable. We favor the enactment of a law by the next legislature empowering the city commission or city council of each and every city or town In the State to prescribe the district within which the sale of intoxicating liquors may be licensed within such city or town and empowering such city commission or city council to prohibit the location of saloons in residence districts where not inconsistent with the general laws en- acted by the legislature. We favor amendment to the local option system which will provide that the people of any county or subdivision thereof may order an election in like manner that an election on prohibition is ordered and may vote to confine the sale of intoxicating liquors to unbroken pack- ages and prohibit the drinking of same on the premises where sold. Provided this section shall not apply to those counties and subdivisions of counties where local option has been adopted and is in force. 6. We favor a general revision of the so-called election law, to the end that the individual voter may be fully protected in his right to cast an untrammeled ballot and have it honestly counted as he casts it. We especially favor an amendment to Section 110 of said law s rs to provide that the will of the greatest number of voters of any ire- cinct, county, or district in a primary election shall be reflected by the delegates elected by such precinct, county, or district to a State or district convention. The provision now prohibiting campaign contributions by corpora- tions to any candidate or to any election should be extended to apply to all persons and corporations required to obtain a permit or license from the State to do business, and we further declare for the enact- ment of a law requiring the publicity of all campaign contributions and expenditures in all elections, both before and after all elections. We favor the passing of a law prohibiting the acceptance of money for the making of political speeches in all elections, and prescribing severe penalties for the circulation of campaign lies and slanders for the purpose of injuring persons who may be aspirants for public office. 7. We recommend that the next legislature pass a bill providing for the appointment of a commission of five competent attorneys, whose duty is shall be to take our Civil and Penal Codes and session laws and Parties in Tc.ras exclude from them surplus words and phrases, reduce their bulk and yet retain the meaning and purpose of the law, aricl to recommend reform in the practice and procedure of our courts. This commission should be nonpartisan, and its members should be required to devote all their time to the work imposed upon them. The salary should be sufficient to justify the best lawyers in the State to accept the appoint- ment upon the commission, and appointments should be confined to a list of names recommended by the indorsement of the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals. We favor a change in the practice which will require trial judges to charge a jury on the law before attorneys make any argument. This will afford a chance to discuss the charge and its application to the facts before the jury and avoid many reversible errors in the lower courts. 8. We favor the unconditional repeal of what is known as the firt rating board law. We favor the enactment of a law for the protection of the insuring public against wildcat insurance companies, and a law for the regulat- ing of benevolent and mutual insurance companies, to the end that members carrying policies of insurance shall be protected against the extravagance and waste of mutual and benevolent isurance funds. Section 6, of Article 12, of the Constitution declares: "No corpora- tion shall issue stocks or bonds except for money paid, labor done, or property actually received." We favor the enactment of a law which will carry this provision of the Constitution into effect and protect the public from issuance and sale of fictitious stocks or bonds of fire insurance companies or banking or trust companies or other corporations. We pledge the enactment of the law for controlling and regulating the organization of profit- sharing corporations and providing that the expense of such organiza- tion may be fixed and that the commission or compensation for the sale of stock or subscriptions thereto in such corporations or contemplated corporations be fixed at a reasonable amount and providing that such organization shall be conducted under the general supervision of the appropriate State department, and persons selling such stock or taking subscriptions thereto shall be duly authorized so to do only on a permit from the department. 9. We have a law in Texas providing for the arbitration of disputes between labor and their employers resulting in strikes. If called into use the law affords a fair method of adjustment of differences between striking employes and their employers. The law should be widened in its scope so as to allow the public through some constituted author- ity to invoke its provisions and invite the disputants to arbitrate their differences when the good of the public as well as the contending par- ties justify and demand it. 10. The new penitentiary law imposes an extra burden of expense in the way of management of approximately $300,000 per annum, and 582 Platforms of Political we favor a revision of the statutes so as to eliminate such unnecessary expense. We further favor the passage of an act making it a penal offense for any person to aid, abet, or encourage a mutiny amongst the prisoners. 11. We favor the passage of a law by the next legislature creating a State board of charities, whose terms of office shall be six years and who shall have the business supervision of all the asylums and other eleemosynary institutions in the State. 12. All clerical positions in any of the departments or State insti- tutions should be filled on the test of merit, and the rules of civil service applied to them. The merit system would enable the State to have its work done with fewer clerks and consequently with less ex- pense. There would be no partisan service expected of those holding clerical positions under civil service regulations; neither would the head of a department or institution keep an incompetent person through political influence. The public service would be greatly benefited, and we recommend that the next legislature enact such a law. 13. We indorse the bill recommended to the Special Session of the thirty-second legislature by the Governor, which proposed an amend- ment to the stock and bond law so as to authorize railroad companies to issue improvement bonds under the restriction and control of the railroad commission so that railroad properties in uncompleted condi- tion or in a state of decay may be improved and made more serviceable and safe to the traveling public. 14. We believe in the wisdom of the railroad commission act and the laws regulating the issuance of stocks and bonds of railway cor- porations in this State. It is evident, however, that the present trans- portation facilities are not adequate to the proper transaction of its business. To the end, therefore, that new mileage may be constructed and the facilities of all lines be extended and improved, the party pledges itself to the enactment of such laws as shall permit the issu- ance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness secured by lien upon the properties of suchi railways, not to exceed the actual present value of the property at the time of the issuance of the securities, and the railroad commission shall be authorized upon its own motion and re- quired upon the application of any railway company to value or revalue any railway line to ascertain its just present value, the amount of the securities to be issued thereon in no case to exceed the actual present value of such property, as same shall be ascertained by the railroad commission. Laws shall likewise be passed permitting the issuance by railway carriers of bonds or other evidences of debt, secured by lien on the property, for the purpose of procuring and constructing equip- ment, addition, improvements, and betterments, not in any way to exceed the cost thereof as ascertained by the railroad commission of Texas. 15. There is no internal improvement that will advance the welfare Parties in Texas 583 of our people more rapidly than the construction of substantial public- highways. We recommend to the next legislature the passage of a law creating: the position of public highway engineer to cooperate with county officers in laying out and building better public roads. We also favor an amendment of the law so as to authorize the voting of bonds for good roads by a majority of the property taxpayers. 16. We recommend that the next legislature make ample appropria- tion to provide asylum room for every insane person in the State. 17. We indorse the proposed amendment to the Constitution to b voted on in the general election in November, which proposes a special, tax not to exceed five cents on the $100 to pay Confederate pensions. 18. We commend the efforts of the administration to preserve and protect the fish, oysters, and game of the State, and recommend such amendments and changes in the laws for the protection of game, fiih, and oysters as will make them more effective. 19. We commend the efforts designed to secure greater efficiency in the public health of the State and favor such further legislation and. appropriations as will more effectively accomplish this purpose. 20. We indorse the action of the Governor of this State in th- prompt and efficient exercise of his constitutional powers in preventing, the destruction of life and protecting property from depredations by marauders from Mexico and call upon the Federal government to ful- fill its obligation to maintain order along the Rio Grande border andi safeguard the rights of Americans residing in Mexico or doing business in that country. 21. We favor the passage of such thorough, wise, and constructive legislation in aid of the great interests and subjects of irrigation, min- ing, and drainage and for the conservation of our natural resources as these great subjects demand. These laws as to irrigation should be so liberal as to encourage and promote development, and yet so carefully guarded as to prevent monopoly and illegal exactions; to protect the riparian owner and also give assurance of care and protection of the interests of both upper and lower land owners. Our present law should be amended so as to authorize, by vote of land owners, to be affected, more liberal bond issues, thereby making possible the development and improvement of rich sections of our semi r arid lands and greatly adding to their productiveness and to the wealth and well-being of our citizenship. Encouragement of the proper development of our mining wealth should find expression, in fair and liberal legislation, with the same safeguards. 22. We favor the passage and adoption of additional laws for the greater protection of the stock and sheep-raising interests of Texas and for a substantial allowance in the way of appropriations to carry on the work of inspection. 23. We favor the passage of a law with adequate penalties making it 584 Platforms of Political an offense to abandon the wife or minor children under sixteen years of age, or to neglect or refuse to support them. 24. We favor the enactment of an employes' compensation law afford- ing adequate indemnity for injury to body or loss of life applicable to employes in this State engaged in hazardous avocations. [25] We cordially commend the wise, firm and conservative policies of Governor O. B. Colquitt, who has kept faith with the people under trying circumstances and whose administration has been indorsed by the Democratic voters of this State, and we invoke for him and other nominees of the July primary election the hearty cooperation of the entire Democracy of this State, to the end that Texas may move for- ward together in achievements in moral, social, and material develop- ment. We invite investment for the utilization of our great resources and pledge fair treatment under the law to every honorable and help- ful enterprise, and we commit ourselves anew to the historic principles of our great party and to the continuation of its unblemished record of economical, honest, and intelligent administration of public affairs. We submit that the policies announced in this platform will restore to our party the harmony that distinguishes citizens of common political faith and will bring to this State a long period of legislative rest and political peace, which will permit the people under Providence to pro- mote the prosperity and happiness which is the supreme object of civil government. CECIL H. SMITH, Chairman, for the Committee. We sign subject to objections in minority report. W. POINDEXTEB, CHAS L. BRACHFIELD, WALTER C. WOODWARD, CONE JOHNSON, W. H. CLENDENNIN, T. D. ROWELL, E. W. BOUNDS. Resolutions Following resolutions, submitted by the majority of the committee on platform and resolutions, were adopted by the convention: 1. WHEREAS, a merchant marine owned by citizens of the United States is necessary for the development of our foreign trade and the expansion and protection of our commerce; therefore, be it Resolved, that, in the opinion of this convention, the citizens of the United States should have the right to buy ships in the markets of the world and to sail them under our flag, untrammeled by restrictive laws. 2. Resolved, that we recommend to the legislature the continuation of the levee and drainage work in Texas and the simplifying of the law authorizing the creation of levee and drainage districts, and sug- gest the enactment of a statute creating a levee and drainage depart- Parties in Texas 585 ment with necessary appropriations to make it effective and efficient in the reclamation of the overflowed lands of our creek and river bot- toms, the undrained lands of the coastal plains, and the storage of waters in the semi-arid portions of our State. 3. Recognizing the importance of military posts along the South- western border of Texas and especially that post at the city of San Antonio, and the advantage and economy of having free passage be- tween these posts and the border of this State, this convention declares in favor of a government road leading from Fort Sam Houston in the city of San Antonio to Fort Mclntosh in the city of Laredo, and we urge upon our senators and congressmen to work and vote for an appropriation to establish this needed passageway under such condi- tions as are deemed wise. 4. WHEREAS, Hon. J. W. Bailey will soon voluntarily retire from public life after a service of more than twenty years, during all of which time he rendered brilliant and conspicuous service to the Demo- cratic party and to the State and Nation; and WHEREAS, we desire to assure him of our deep appreciation thereof and of our confidence in him; therefore, be it Resolved, by the Democracy of Texas, in State convention assembled, that we extend to him the great appreciation of the militant Democracy of imperial Texas, wishing him godspeed and a life of happiness and prosperity; and that the chairman of this convention be directed to promptly transmit this message to our junior senator. 5. We favor such reforms in judicial procedure as will enable the causes of litigants to be disposed of with the greatest expedition con- sistent with the administration of justice, the purpose for which our courts were formed. To that end we favor the securing of the most efficient judges, ade- quately compensated, to decide questions of law. As far as possible, the selection of judges should be severed from the strife engendered in the selection of other officers, and we favor their selection at separate primaries. We believe that, in order to fairly, justly, and expeditiously dispose of the litigation in the courts, the best moral and intelligent juries to decide questions of fact should be secured, and to that end we favor the reduction of the class of exemption from jury service, the strength- ening of the laws to enforce their attendance and service. We favor a law that will exclude parties on appeal as to all questions not raised in the trial court, with a provision that no case on appeal shall be reversed on account of irregularities that do not affect thto rights of the parties, and giving to the appellate tribunals enlarged powers to do justice between the parties, and require them to consider cases after they have accepted the submission thereof, regardless whether they are presented in a formal way or not. We favor a provision restricting statements of facts and bills of exception to that part of the evidence which bears upon the disputed 586 Platforms of Political issues of fact raised by proper bill of exception in the trial court, thereby shortening records on appeals and enabling the appellate courts, when they find improper judgments rendered below, to reverse ana render proper ones. We favor the jurisdiction of the courts of original jurisdiction as to cases arising beyond this State, as far as is consistent with the con- venience of the citizens of this State. We favor the reduction of the original jurisdiction of the supreme court as far as is consistent with due administration of public affairs and we favor an increase of the membership of that court. 6. [Thanks the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.] 7. WHEREAS, Colonel R. M. Johnston, of Houston, Texas, has served the Democracy of Texas as National committeeman with great dis- tinction for more than twelve years and his great energy, faithfulness, and ability won for himself and the State of Texas a high place of honor in the councils of all the members of the Democratic executive committee of the Nation; therefore, be it Resiolved, that we, the members of the Democratic executive com- mittee of Texas, assembled in the city of San Antonio, Texas, August 13, 1912, ratify and indorse the able, faithful, and efficient course of Colonel R. M. Johnston as a member of the National executive com- mittee and tender him a sincere vote of thanks for his long and splen- did service as a member of the highest council of the 'Democratic party In the Nation. CECIL H. SMITH, Chairman. We, the undersigned members of the platform committee, subscribe to and most heartil^ indorse the foregoing majority report with the exception of plank No. 5 which we do not approve. P. H. FOSQUE, JONATHAN LANE, WALTER F. TIMON, E. A. MCDOWELL, J. P. BUCHANAN, BEN W. FLY. MINORITY REPORTS I We, the undersigned members of your committee on platform and resolutions, beg leave to submit the following minority report: In lieu of plank No. 5 contained in the majority report and as a substitution therefor, we submit the following: 1. We recommend to the legislature the passage of such laws as will reduce to a minimum the recognized evils of the sale of intoxicat- Parties in Texas 587 ing liquors in territory where such sale is not prohibited and par- ticularly the following: (1) A law closing all saloons and other houses where intoxicating liquors are sold from 7 p. m. to 7 a. m. during each week day and from Saturday evening until Monday morning, and inhibiting the sale of and drinking of such liquor upon such premises during such hours. (2) A law prohibiting treating in all intoxicating liquors on prem- ises where sold. (3) A law increasing the occupation tax of retail liquor dealers to such an extent as will tend to discourage the lawless and irresponsible liquor dealer. 2. We solemnly protest against that part of the platform demand- Ing the unconditional repeal of what is known as the fire rating board law. In lieu thereof we would recommend such amendments of that law as will make same effective, and that after such amendments the law as amended be given a fair trial before same is repealed, to the end that the people of Texas may be protected against discriminating and excessive rates for fire protection. 3. We most solemnly protest against those planks in the majority platform declaring in favor of the amendment of the stock and bond law to the extent therein recommended. Because in our opinion amend- ments to that law should be limited to the necessities of the occasion, whereas, the amendments proposed are so wide in their scope as to seriously impair the protection intended to the people against a flood of railroad securities issued without the consideration provided for in the constitution and laws of this State. W. POINDEXTER, CHARLES L. BEACHFIELD, WALTER C. WOODWARD, CONE JOHNSON, W. H. CLENDENNIN. This report was tabled by a viva voce vote. II The undersigned member of your committee on platform begs leave to submit the following minority report: That all parts of the platform concerning the party's belief in measures regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors be stricken from the platform, as having no place in the declaration of the principles of the party. CHARLES L. BRACHFIELD. This report was tabled by 766 ayes to 10 noes. Slate Executive Committee: Walter E. Collins, oi Hill, chair- 588 Platforms of Political man; 1st Senatorial district, J. C. Fant, of Cass; 2. W. P. Cor- nelius, of Bed River; 3. J. Sheb Williams, of Lamar; 4. George H.,Culp. of Cooke; 5. William Bacon, of Hunt; 6. J. J. Sim- mons, of Dallas; 7. J. R. Warren, of Upshur; 8. A. H. Baker, of Panola; 9. J. S. Grinnan, of Kaufman; 10. Earl Fain, of Ellis; 11. W. T. Hefley, of Milam; 12. J. E. Wood, of Freestone; 13. P. H. Hughes, of Anderson ; 14. Thomas N. Hill, of Jeffer- son; 15. L. C. Eastham, of Walker; 16. B. F. Bonner, of Harris; 17. James B. Stubbs, of Galveston; 18. E. J. Weber, of Fayette; 19. J. R. Heslep, of Burleson ; 20. John L. Brunner, of William- son; 21. Clint L. Hopkins, of Hays; 22. 0. A. McCracken, of Wilson; 23. Archie Parr, of Duval; 24. R, P. Coon, of Bexar; 25. G. B. Fenley, of Uvalde; 26. Hilton Burks, of Comanche; 27. D. R. Bailey, of Coryell ; 28. Tom Trammell, of Nolan ; 29. D. E. Decker, of Hardeman; 30. Paul Waples, of Tarrant-, 31. J. W. Chancellor, of Bowie. SOCIALIST LABOR STATE CONVENTION, 1914 HOUSTON, August 11 Presidential Electors.- Carl Schmidt and G. H. Royal. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, K. E. Choate, of Har- ris ; Lieutenant-Governor, Robert Strach, of Bexar ; Comptroller, N. S. Wilson, of Harris; Commissioner of the General Land Office, G. H. Royal, of Lampasas ; Railroad Commissioner, Frank Maiorana, of Harris; Commissioner of Agriculture, Adolph Joppich, of Atascosa. PLATFORM 1 i The Socialist Labor party of Texas, in convention assembled, this llth day of August, 1914, in the city of Houston, Texas, hereby indorses the National platform and tactics of the Socialist Labor party of the United States. W indorse the following to be offered as an amendment to the Con- stitution of the United States, and recommend that same be adopted as part of the permanent platform of the Socialist Labor party: "1. That all socially used plants of production, transportation, and *The platform is taken from the Dallas News, August 30, 1914. Parties in Texas 589 distribution, and the land, within the confines of the United States and its insular possessions, shall pass into the collective ownership and control of the Industrial Workers of the World, headquarters Detroit, Michigan. "2. The Congress shall have power to enforce the provisions of this article by appropriate legislation. "3. This amendment shall become effective on and after its passage." The Socialist Labor party of Texas declares there is but one issue before the citizens of the United States today: Labor claims priority rights and access to the means of life the land and tools. Capital claims priority rights and access to the means of life the land and tools. That and that only is the issue, and this issue gives rise to the class struggle, which struggle rages around ownership and control of the means of life^the land and tools. We declare that because of the private ownership and control of the means of life the land and tools by the few, the workers of the land are disinherited and enslaved. We declare that to gain permission to exchange their labor power for food, clothing, and shelter for themselves, their wives, and babies, they are compelled to yield to the master class their industrial free- dom. We declare that through this method of production, the private own- ership of the means of life the land and tools by the few, the work- ers are rendered unsafe, insecure and in constant fear of want and death by starvation, not alone for themselves, but for their wives and children. We declare that this constant fear, this constant dread, renders it impossible for the Nation to produce men and women, but that, due to this private ownership of the means of life the land and tools by the few it can only produce a race of slaves, bereft of knowledge, ideals, and hope. We, therefore, call upon the workers of this State and Nation to vote for that party which points the way to safety, which declares that the workers ' shall no longer toil and slave for the benefit of a master class, but that says to the workers: "Place the control of the means of life in an economic organization which has the strength, the intelligence, and the courage to conduct production for the benefit and use of the workers." In thus providing a depositary for the political demands of labor, the Socialist Labor party for the first time in the history of American politics definitely points the way to the worker. We, therefore, call upon all workers more seriously deliberate than ever before to vote for the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and to join that organization, the only organiza- tion, wherein for the worker and his wife and babies lies safety, secur- ity against starvation and want, the Industrial Workers of the World, headquarters Detroit, Michigan. 590 Platforms of Political SOCIALIST STATE MASS MEETING, 1914 YOAKUM, AugUSt 11 According to the custom of the Socialist party, the candidates for State offices were nominated by a referendum. The nomina- tions were "legally" made at a State mass meeting at Yoakum, August 11, 1914. Officers: Chairman, Patton McCord. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, E. R. Meitzen; Lieu- tenant-Governor, W. S. Noble; Attorney-General, Henry Faulk; Comptroller, G. W. M. Taylor; Treasurer, W. J. Bell; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, J. C. Smith; Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, Emma G. Kelsey; Railroad Commissioner, G. A. Lambreth; Supreme Court, E. Bellinger; Court of Criminal Appeals. W. T. Flowers; Congressmen at large, Nat B. Hunt -and W. S. Noble. Committee on Platform: W. J. Bell, Nat B. Hunt, and W. S. Noble. PLATFORM 1 We, the Socialist party of Texas, realize that all political parties are the expression of economic class interests. All other parties than the Socialist party represent one or another group of the ruling capitalist class. Their political conflicts reflect merely superficial rivalries be- tween competing capitalist groups. However they result, these con- flicts have no issue of real value to the workers. Whether the Demo- crats, Republicans or the factions within those parties win politically, it is the capitalist class that is victorious economcally. The Socialist party is the expression of the economic interests of the working class. Its defeats have been their defeats; its victories, their victories. It is a party founded on the science and laws of social de- velopment. It proposes that, since all social necessities today are socially produced, the means of their production and distribution shall be socially owned and democratically controlled. In the face of the economic and political aggressions of the capitalist class, the only reliance left the workers is that of their economic organizations and their political power. By the intelligent and class- 1( This platform is printed in the Houston Post, May 11, and The Rebel, May 16, 1914. Parties in Texas 591 conscious use of these they may resist successfully the capitalist class, break the fetters of wage slavery, and fit themselves for the future society, which is to displace the capitalist system. The Socialist party appreciates the full significance of class organization and urges the wage earners, the working farmers, and all other useful workers every- where to organize as the Renters' Union does on industrial lines, all to the end that class division in the ranks of labor be abolished, and we pledge ourselves to support the toilers of the fields as well as those in the shops, factories, and mines in their struggle for economic justice. We call to the memory of organized labor, both of the agricultural -and industrial field, the betrayal of both by the using of the Farmers' Union to defeat the full crew bill; then the affiliated railroad unions were inveigled into defeating the reduction in cotton tariffs. Thus the Democratic polticians simply put clubs in the hands of both and laughed as the ignorant workers clubbed each other; and are even now using the head officials of both organizations to keep the workers divided on both the industrial and political fields, thus preventing their uniting forces. We, therefore, ask all workers to join hands, both industrially and politically, thus meeting the enemy with a solid front on the in- dustrial field and at the ballot box. The custom of one nation landing a portion of its war forces upon the soil of another nation, on the pretense of safeguarding the mythi- cal interests of their citizens of one nation upon the soil of another, is a practice pregnant with possibilities of involving such nations in con- flict and should be abolished. Persistence in this unwarrantable custom has brought this country to the point of armed conflict with our sister republic of Mexico, whose internal troubles have only been augmented by the meddlesome inter- ference of this Nation. We condemn the strife breeding customs of war crazed nations in the interest of international capitalists, and advocate a policy o'f hands off of the internal affairs of Mexico. The Mexican situation is a repetition of the inside story of all wars, augmented by a grim determination among the people to wrest from syndicates the land that has been grabbed by them with the con- nivance of the officials of Mexico, reducing the people to peonage and forcing millions of them to seek homes in a strange land and become wanderers over the earth. We, therefore, condemn the use of the armed forces and other pow- ers of the United States in aiding to hold those people in bondage and demand that all citizens and soldiers of the United States be with- drawn from Mexico to the end that that nation may settle its ques- tions untrammeled by outside interference. As important steps in constructive preparation for industrial de- mocracy, we advocate and pledge ourselves and our elected officers to the following program: 592 Platforms of Political 1. To tax all land in excess of that required for personal or indi- vidual use without the exploitation of the labor of other persons, in an amount equal to its rentals, exempting entirely from taxation all home- steads actually occupied and used without exploitation of the labor of others, thus compelling the owners of unused land to throw such land on the market at its real value. 2. To empower the State to acquire lands, public utilities, and industries at their rendered taxable value, and to exercise this power as rapidily as resources permit. 3. It is a principle of Socialism that "'all property privately used should be privately owned." In accord with this principle we pledge, that the land, publicly owned or acquired by the State shall be sold without profit or rented in parcels not larger than may be usecl with- out exploitation of the labor of others, to persons seeking homes, and when the rent shall equal the cost of acquirement, rents shall cease and title be vested in the renter, making occupancy and use the sole title; no land to be otherwise disposed of if needed to supply such applicants. 4. It is also a principle of Socialism that "all property publicly used should be publicly owned and operated." In accord with this principle, we pledge that the land in excess of what is demanded for private use as homes, etc., shall be tilled, mined, quarried, or other- wise put in use at the instance of the State, with the most perfected labor saving machinery and tools furnished by the State. That public utilities, mills, mines, warehouses, and other industries acquired by the State be also put in operation. Tha't the land and industries thus used shall be thrown open to the employment of persons desiring such public employment. That such land and industries shall be adminis- tered without profit to the State and democratically managed by the workers therein, industrially organized. By this program will the curse of unemployment be abated, the existence of landlords and tenants be abolished, the workers provided with homes, the population of Texas increased by the influx of a multi- tude of self-supporting actual workers, the State made to blossom as a rose, and the foundation implanted for industrial democracy. [5] We recommend an appropriation by the State to cover the expense of an investigation by the attorney-general of all reported land and timber steals. All land acquired fraudulently shall be restored to the State, and the full value of all timber secured by fraudulent means be collected for. [6] We favor the straightening and leveying of the water courses of Texas to prevent both the destruction of land and crops, also the establishment of irrigation plants for the purpose of irrigating State lands. [7] The horror of the shambles of Ludlow, Colorado, is over- whelming. Not since the days when pitiless red men wreaked ven- geance upon intruding frontiersmen and upon their women and chil- Parties in Texas 593 dren has our country been stained by so foul a deed. This crime against humanity is but one of a long chain of similar crimes in .every State in which there has been large development of the mining and lumber industries, privately and autocratically managed. This is evi- denced by the frightful loss of life in avoidable coal mine and saw mill accidents. A loss that is greater than in any other country in the world, and also the loss of life that has resulted from the bestial methods of the private owners in the conflicts with their wage slaves, as is shown by the recent events in West Virginia, Michigan, Colorado, Merryville, and Grabow, Louisiana. Therefore, we recommend that all mineral and lumber industries and all timber and mineral lands neces- sary for their operation shall be taken over by the State of Texas and operated by the State for the use and benefit of the citizens of same. [8] We favor compulsory insurance for all workers as a necessity for the protection of the people against the many failures of private companies as well as the extortionate rates charged by them, and demand that the State maintain and conduct a department of insur- ance on a safe basis, that all necessary insurance may be furnished the people at cost. [9] One of the acts of our Democratic politicians, proving their disregard for humanity, is the passage of a humane law for the pro- tection of dumb brutes, while aged and decrepit men and women are forced to struggle for a pittance or be bundled off to the county farm, where they must endure the odium of being paupers. We, therefore, commit ourselves to the passage of a law to pension old and indigent workers. [10] Many poor or unfortunate people, on account of poverty, are compelled to suffer and see their children die or go through life crip- pled and deformed for lack of funds to secure proper surgical or medi- cal treatment. For this reason we pledge the establishment of a sufficient number of sanitariums to furnish free medical and surgical treatment to all unfortunate citizens of Texas. [11] The numerous preventable accidents occurring in our trans- portation and industrial departments remind us of the necessity of a real employers' liability act. We, therefore, pledge such needed legis- lation along these lines as will furnish protection both as to safety appliances and sanitary conditions for the workers and public at large. [12] A normal, healthful, and educated citizenship is necessary for the safeguarding of society. We condemn the working of children in places tne nature of which makes such employment injurious to health and morals. And pledge further enactment of law to the end that all child slavery shall cease in Texas. [13] It being a notorious fact that individuals and corporations evade the law against blacklisting, refusing to employ men who are members of a labor union and maintain a system of tracing men to learn whether or not they are members of labor unions, and inasmuch 38328 594 Platforms of Political as no labor union ever demands more than a fraction of what the workers are rightfully entitled to, we pledge the passage of laws guar- anteeing to all citizens the right of organization and peaceful assembly and the establishment of an eight-hour work day, with a rest period for each worker of at least one and one-half days each week. [14] We pledge the repeal of all laws classing any man as a vag- rant who is willing to work, but out of employment, or that would force any man under our present system of capitalism to work for less than the union scale of wages and hours. [15] Inasmuch as the history of private detective agencies is the history of crime of every character, and these inhuman assassins stop at nothing to gain their nefarious ends, and inasmuch as they are recruited from the very lowest elements of society, we believe that Texas should follow the lead made in other States and abolish them from within our borders. Accordingly we propose that no armed force of men shall ever be employed in this State except by local peace officers, and then only when necessary for preservation of peace and order, and only citizens of Texas of good repute shall then be em- ployed. [16] We pledge the repeal of the poll tax amendment that the voters of Texas may be restored to their constitutional right in a free and untrammeled ballot. [17] We pledge equal suffrage for both men and women without property qualification in all elections. [18] We declare for a revision of our election laws that will enable all absentee voters that are qualified to participate in all elections by mailing their ballots to the proper election officers. [19] In view of the fact that Article 17, Section 1, of the constitu- tion of the State, makes it necessary for "a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house" in order to submit a constitutional amendment, making it possible for a small minority to defeat an amendment, and inasmuch as only eighty-four members of the house voted for the submission of the referendum measure now before the voters, its submission is plainly a joke a ruse to deceive the people into a belief that they have acquired self government and shows the utter futility of expecting any genuine measure of democracy from a capitalist political party; we, therefore, pledge to amend said article and section to provide that any constitutional amendment or law initiated by six per cent of the voters shall be submitted for adoption by a majority of the qualified votes cast in an election. [20] We demand the right of recall of all officials, including the judiciary, abolition of the senate, and the veto power of the governor, [21] We declare our unalterable opposition to the convention sys- tem in all of its phases as acting other than an advisory board and pledge the passage of laws annulling legislative and elective powers in conventions, to the end that democracy be established. [22] We pledge an amendment to Article 11, Section 1, of the con- Parties in Texas 595 stitution of the State, giving the several counties and cities recogni- tion as legal subdivisions of the State and the right to transact any commercial business, such as is granted to any private individual or corporation. [23] We pledge ourselves to a complete reorganization of the judicial system by (a) Abolishing the grand jury system; (b) The election of a common counsellor, and such other reforms as to establish free justice for all, so our poor will not be made to suffer while the rich and powerful escape on technicalities, but all will stand equal before the courts. [24] We are unalterably opposed to the present fee system and declare for the placing of every officer upon a salary commensurate with the duties performed. One of the most infamous things in the statutes of Texas is the pro- vision for the officers of the law being remunerated by fees to be paid by litigants and in criminal and misdemeanor cases to be paid by the defendant upon his plea of guilty or conviction, thus compelling officers of the law to seek conviction in order that they may benefit, and forc- ing innocent persons to plead guilty in order to escape with a small fine and trimmings rather than take chances on having to pay a big fee bill. The fee system in large counties is making office holders rich at the expense of litigants, and many of these officers are receiving tenfold what they deserve or could honestly earn. We wish to abolish the fee system and with it the special privilege of taxing up costs for the sole benefit of officials frequently corrupted thereby. [25] In view of the fact that our present system of handling State and county convicts does a great injustice in many instances to the dependent ones who, being deprived of their support, are forced to suffer for a crime of wliich they are innocent, we pledge that convicts who have no means of support shall be allowed wages for their support which shall be remitted monthly to the dependent ones, and in case no such dependent ones exist that all in excess of the cost to the State of keeping said convict be set aside for him to have something upon which to begin a new life. Also that our parole system be extended as much as practicable, and that humane treatment be given all prisoners in convict camps, re- formatories, prisons and other places of detention, and the use of the bat or other inhuman means of punishment or torture in Texas or any political subdivision of the State be abolished. [26] We believe in the widest possible diffusion of knowledge and that our officials are paid to serve all alike. Therefore, we seriously object to the highhanded act of the thirty-third (Democratic) legisla- ture, which forbids the attorney-general from giving any citizen of a county, except the district or county attorney, any advice on the legal phases of public affairs; thereby centering the power of public infor- 596 Platforms of Political mation, which was formerly free to all, into the hands of one official who may himself be seriously in need of correction, yet is the sole custodian of the very information needed to undo him. After forty years of administration, the disgraceful inefficiency of the Democratic party is manifest in their conduct of the educational affairs of the State, by the astounding fact that Texas ranks first in the amount of its permanent school fund, yet it is thirty-eighth in attend- ance, expenditure per wealth, expenditure per child, teachers' salaries, length of term, and value of school properties. Realizing that permanence and advancement in civilization rest upon an enlightened citizenship, we pledge: (1) Compulsory attendance of schools. (2) Free textbooks, medical attendance, and nourishment to needy children. (3) A bureau of education segregated from the control or in- fluence of politicians by civil service rules, with authority to com- pletely systematize all our educational institutions and forces by planning and classifying the work, avoiding duplication of effort, em- ploying suitable persons to execute the work, conserving funds and energies, correlating to economize pupils' time, adjusting the work of schools to the next higher, and consolidation of rural schools by means of transportation. (4) The addition of vocational training. (5) Increasing the salaries of teachers, and limiting the number of pupils per teacher to increase efficiency. [27] It being a well known scientific and sociological fact that poverty has caused more intemperance than intemperance has caused poverty, we ask all to assist us in abolishing poverty by placing in the hands of the workers the economic and political powers of our State. Then we can settle the liquor question with other questions that are inherent in the "capitalist system." As the first step we will take the 13-cent profit out of a 15-cent drink. Having done this we are sure society will control the sale and manufacture of liquor in a way that will be to the best interests of all. In presenting the above platform to the people of Texas the member- ship of the socialist party believes that it breathes the spirit of social- ism around whose banner 30,000,000 people have assembled in all the civilized, nations of the earth. It speaks for the solidarity of the work- ing class in every line. It does this because the Socialist party has no other function upon the political field than that of improving the con- ditions of the working class at the moment, while they are organizing to secure their complete freedom by the seizure of all the public pow- ers in the very near future. As Socialists we will point out to you the great fact that is written in the record of daily events that no matter in what part of the world the Socialist party may exist, our interests are the interests of th$ working class and that class alone. If you believe in the platform outlined above, join our organization, and then the day of deliverance will be at hand. Parties in Texas 597 PROGRESSIVE STATE CONVENTION, 1914 SAN ANTONIO, August 11 About two hundred delegates attended this convention. Officers: Chairman, Nat M. Washer, of Bexar. Secretary, Bart Marshall, of Grayson. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, F. M. Etheridge, of Dallas; Lieuteiiant-Governor, George E. Kepple, of Harris; Attorney-General, U. S. Goen, of El Paso; Comptroller, T. S. McBride, of Dallas ; Treasurer, J. N. Winters, of Tarrant ; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, I. W. Carhart, of Donley; Superintendent of Public Instruction, H. A. Baker, of Shackel- ford; Railroad Commissioner, 0. S. Newell, of Bexar: Commis- sioner of Agriculture, Harvey C. Stiles, of Hays; Supreme Court, Noah Allen, of Bexar; Court of Criminal Appeals, J. X. Woods, of Guadalupe; Congressmen at large, J. E. Williams, of Hamilton, and H. L. McQuiston, of Lamar. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. E. Williams, of Hamilton; R. E. Goree, of Harris; Noah Allen, of Bexar; F. M. Wright, of Tarrant ; W. P. Hallmark, of Erath ; C. A. Boyn- ton, of McLennan ; and T. J. Martin, of Kinney. PLATFORM 1 1. We reaffirm and indorse the principles of the Progressive party as laid down in the platform adopted by the National Progressive con- vention, at Chicago, August, 1912, especially its program looking to the realization of social and industrial justice. 2. We denounce as insincere and political hypocrisy the campaign promises made by the Democratic party to impartially and intelli- gently revise the tariff and thereby reduce the cost of living, and the enactment of a tariff law placing the raw materials, which are the source of wealth in this State, upon the free list, while retaining a tariff without corresponding reductions on the manufactured product, of each of such raw materials, and which tariff revision has not re- sulted in reducing the cost of living. We declare such revision is not J The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Son Antonio Express, August 12, 1914. The platform was obtained from the secretary of the convention; 598 Platforms of Political only violative of every precampaign pledge and promise made by the Democratic party, but is founded on no wise or safe economic prin- ciple and that such policies have been pursued by the Democratic party solely as political expediency. And we believe, and so declare ourselves, such revision of the tariff should be made for the benefit of all the people of the United States and can only and be best effected and accomplished by an experienced nonpartisan tariff commission. 3. We condemn the proposed treaty with Colombia whereby the United States government, under its present political domination, un- dertakes to restore to that country by monetary consideration the alleged violation of its national rights. We believe that the action of the government in acquiring the canal site was right and that this country now neither owes financial payment nor a humiliating na- tional apology to Colombia. We charge that this treaty is an effort to use public money for political purposes of the Democratic party; and if, in the opinion of the Democratic party, it was wrong to ac- quire the site by the methods used then it should go on record now as offering to return the canal zone to Colombia. We deplore the repeal of the toll exemption enactment, and declare that as the canal is on American territory, was engineered and built by American genius and capital, therefore, it should be governed and controlled by the United States without deference to the demand of any foreign power. 4. We deplore war at any and all times, excepting when our Na- tional honor and the safety of our citizenship in foreign lands are at stake. We condemn the present National administration for its in- competent and un-American method of handling the Mexican situa- tion. We stamp as inhuman and unworthy of the high ideals of our Nation the lifting of the embargo on American arms and munitions of war, which act necessitated our own men when landing at Vera Cruz to face shot and shell supplied Mexico by the commerce of our own country. We call upon our National government to take such steps, not only in Mexico but in all other foreign countries, to the end that our flag and our people and our property shall be respected at all times and in any and all places. 5. We hereby reaffirm our faith and allegiance in the patriotism, wisdom, and integrity of Theodore Roosevelt, America's greatest and grandest representative, who stands before the people of all nations as the central world figure of our time the "man who does things." 6. We declare that the Progressive party in Texas shall be officered, controlled, and governed by white voters exclusively and denounce the insincerity of the Democrats in inviting negroes into their recent primaries in Bexar and other counties in this State. 7. We arraign the State Democratic administration for its utter failure to carry out its platform pledges, given to the people at its last convention assembled; to give to the people efficient, economical, and capable government; for its failure to give the proper aid and support to our eleemosynary institutions; for its palpable neglect of our public Parties in Texas 599 school system and our higher educational institutions; for its gross mismanagement of our penal institutions, whereby a debt of more than a million dollars has been created in the name of the State of Texas, and the penitentiaries of the State having been transformed from public reformatories into asylums for the care of political hench- men of the successful candidate in the Democratic primaries; for its indefensible extravagance, without corresponding compensation or benefit, whereby the State tax rate has been exploited from four cents to twenty cents on the one hundred dollars ad valorem valuation; for its bitter partisanship and its brazen policy of rewarding political satelites at the expense of the interest of all the people. Therefore, we would favor the elimination of partisan politics from the adminis- tration of our educational, eleemosynary, penal, and other public institutions. 8. We view with alarm the committal of the Democratic party in Texas to the policy of State regulation of private property owned by individuals in matter of contract, which principle we declare is mani* festly more menacing to the genius of our government than the Social- istic doctrine of State regulation. The foundation of all free govern- ment is home ownership by our rural population. We believe that all constitutional help should be extended to the farmers to aid them in acquiring their own homes, and we pledge the party to enact such laws as will properly devote the credit ^f the State to the accomplishment of that end. 9. We favor a constitutional amendment reducing the number of senators and representatives, composing our State legislature, to at least one-half of its present number, and correspondingly increasing the compensation of the membership of said body, so as to secure the. offering for election of the best men available in each district. 10. We favor the separation of the University of Texas and the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and to extend to each the aid necessary to carry out their respective phases in the educational life of Texas. 11. In order to secure more efficient administration of justice, we favor an amendment to our State constitution providing, first, a non- partisan nomination and election of all judicial officers entirely separate from nomination and election of other officers; second, for the aboli- tion of our present cumbersome system of appellate jurisdiction and substituting in lieu thereof a supreme court composed of five or more divisions, with an appropriate number of judges assigned to each, one to be known as the central division located at the State Capital, the remaining in different localities to best serve the public, convenience, said courts to have such original and appellate jurisdiction that may be provided by law, the decision of any division of said court to be final, excepting in cases involving constitutional questions and caaes wherein two- of the divisions trying any case therein shall disagree with and dissent from the opinion of a majority thereof, in which case 600 Platforms of Political the same may be reviewed by the central division; third, prohibiting a judge of any court from active participation in partisan political conventions or controversies. 12. We favor a law prohibiting injunctions in cases arising out of labor disputes when such injunction would not apply when no labor dispute existed, and providing for trial by jury in contempt cases and labor disputes, except when such contempt was committed in the actual presence of the court or in such a way that it might interfere with the proper administration of justice. 13. We demand a change in the election laws that will provide for a short and simple ballot, prohibiting the use of partisan names or labels upon official ballots, and placing the names of all candidates for any particular office in a column, one below the other in alphabetical order under the name of the office sought, with a proper place in front of said name of each candidate* where the voter shall be required to designate for whom he wishes to vote, and prohibiting any election officer from assisting an elector in preparing his ballot, except in cases of physical inability of the elector to prepare the same. We favor an amendment "to our State constitution providing for nonpartisan nomi- nation and election of all city and county officials. 14. We favor the construction of a National highway, and the crea- tion of a State highway commission designed to promote the improve- ment of public highways throughout the State. We denounce as un-American, inhuman, and a broad field for fraud, corruption, and brutality, the convict contract labor system and favor the employment of all State convicts upon public highways. 15. Campaign expenses, as evidenced by the public report made by candidates, as required by law by the present pripary system, have become a crime against public morals. Legislation should be enacted limiting the personal expenditures of each candidate, and all expendi- tures to be made -through the candidate himself. We believe that the State should undertake to print and distribute at its own expense to every voter in the State the platform of principles advocated by each candidate of all parties, under reasonable restrictions, thus giving every man desiring office, whether rich, powerful, or poor, oppor- tunity to reach all the people. 16. We favor an amendment to our State constitution in further- ance of the principles set out in the Chicago National platform incor- porating the principles of initiative, referendum, and recall, providing for submission of any proposed amendment to the constitution, or any proposed new law or proposed amendment or repeal of an existing law, or proposed recall of a public official, upon petition signed by one-third of the voters. 17. We believe in America and that its government and institutions should be sacred to and controlled by the intelligent citizenship of America. We, therefore, believe the suffrage laws of Texas should be so amended, by constitutional amendment, that the right of ballot be Parties in Texas 601 secured to real citizens only, men and women, either native born or fully naturalized, and to such of those only who have manifested sufficient interest in and concern for our government and its institu- tions as to have learned to speak, read, and write the English language. 18. We believe the chief aim of every political party to be so to act as to best serve the interests and welfare of the country and its people. To this end, we tender to all good citizens, irrespective of former or present party lines and affiliations, this declaration of principles which we consider embodies those policies universally recognized to be neces- sary and earnestly solicit them to join with us in securing same. State Executive Committee: Cecil A. Lyon, of Grayson, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, J. M. Singleton, of Marion; 2. Velmer Antle, of Fannin; 3. E. M. Mulkey, of Grayson; 4. blank; 5. B. W. Fields, of Hunt; 6. J. M. McCormick, of Dallas; 7. J. L. Jackson, of Smith; 8. J. B. Campbell, of Johnson; 9. and 10. blank; 11. J. R. Ferrell, of McLennan; 12. John Daley, Jr., of Brazos; 13. G. W. Burkett, Sr., of Anderson; 14. 0. S. Hunter, of Jefferson; 15. blank; 16. H. L. Borden, of Harris; 17. blank; 18. W. A. Matthaei, of Austin; 19. M. M. Turney, of Bastrop; 20. J. C. Bierbower, of Lampasas; 21. Eugene Nolte, of Guadalupe; 22. Max P. Schorre, of Karnes; 23. S. W. Divor- man, of Cameron; 24. J. D. Dodson, of Bexar; 25. T. J. Martin, of Kinney; 26. W. P. Hallmark, of Erath; 27. Joe E. Williams, of Hamilton; 28. J. B. Baker, of Walker; 29. K. N. Hapgood; 30. F. M. Wright, of Tarrant; 31. T. A. Ball, of Wise. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1914 WACO, August 11 About two hundred delegates attended this convention. Officers: Chairman, George F. Rockhold, of Dallas. Secre- tary, Julius Oppenheimer, of Bexar. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, John W. Philp, of Dallas ; Lieutenant-Governor, John Hall, of Lampasas ; Attorney- General, Jack E. Elgin, of Bexar; Comptroller, Austin Callan, of Val Verde; Treasurer, John C. Gibbons, of Lamar; Commis- sioner of the General Land Office, E. E. Misener, of Hamilton; Superintendent of Public Instruction, B. F. Crews, of Ellis; Railroad Commissioner, W. F. Connor, of Dallas; Commissioner 602 Platforms of Political of Agriculture, G. W. Eason, of Nacogdoches ; Supreme Court> J. Walter Cocke, of McLennan; Court of Criminal Appeals, 0. S. York, of Galveston; Congressmen at large, E. E. Diggs, of Childress, and Charles A. Warnken, of Harris. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, Tom Daley, 2. G. W. Eason, chairman, 3. C. D. Duck, 4. G. I. Barlow, 5. W. F. Connor, 6. S. Daniels, 7. H. L. Price, 8. C. A. Warnken, 9. P. D. Daniels, 10. W. B. Brush, 11. Dr. W. B. Renfro, 12. Lon Barkley, 13. T. A. Robinson, 14. J. D. Townley, 15. Austin Callan, 16. W. C. Kenyon. PLATFORM 1 The Republican party of Texas, in convention assembled, at Waco, Texas, on August 11, 1914, hereby reaffirms its faith in the sound poli- cies of government as expressed in the platform of the party and as carried out by the Republican National administrations. Its record of resistance to popular error has been as conspicuous as its con- structive performance in developing the greatest Republic in all his- tory. Today it reasserts its belief that the stability of a republican form of government is dependent upon the preservation of the consti- tutional guarantee of individual liberty and the protection of indi- viduals in the enjoyment and ownership of property independent of any political administration in control cf this government, socialistic or otherwise. The Republican party opposes the subjecting of individual rights, granted under the Constitution, to the caprices and tyranny of tem- porary majorities; and it opposes changing the constitution so as to abridge individual property rights. It believes in a self-controlled, representative democracy which is a government of laws and not of men and in which order is the prerequisite of progress. The Republi- can party favors the continuation of policies of protection for Ameri- can farmers, American wage earners, and American industries under which the country has grown prosperous and rich. We believe in the policy of keeping our money at home; for the purpose of keeping pace with the development of the country it favors the agencies of develop- ment; laws resulting in: (a) A tariff commission to investigate and recommend just rates that business may be free from political and selfish influences as far as practicable. (b) The enforcement and administration of Federal laws govern- x The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Waco Times-Herald, August 12, 1914. The platform was obtained from the secretary of the convention. Parties in Texas 603 ing interstate commerce by a Federal trade commission, with clearly defined powers. (c) An amendment to our anti-trust law clearly defining legal and illegal acts under same. (d) The revival of our merchant marine, the necessity of which is forcibly demonstrated by the situation created by the war in Europe. (e) The safeguarding of life and property by land and sea and the protection of our citizens wherever they may be found. (f) The prevention of involuntary service by seamen. (g) The continuation of a conservation policy to prevent waste and monopoly. (h) The protection of wage earners in dangerous trades. (i) Limiting hours and wages for labor of children. (j) Limiting and safeguarding the labor of women. (k) Just workmen compensation laws. (1) Laws to encourage homeseekers, miners, and prospectors. (m) The reclamation of arid lands and the protection of bottom lands from flood waters. (n) The further development of rivers and harbors. (o) The gradual development of government lands by lease in such manner as to prevent monopoly. (p) Courts as established under the constitution and laws to have their authority, integrity, and independence maintained. (q) The reform of the civil service laws; abolishment of bureaucracy form of government service; development of individuality among em- ployes; prevention of perpetual office holding class interested only in positions, promotions, and pensions; limitations to periods of service in same position. (r) Limiting officeholders to two successive terms in same office, eligible for reappointment or reelection after the lapse of one term, or promotion to another office for two terms without any lapse of one term. Under the constitution, adopted under Republican rule in Texas, the land was conserved for actual settlers and for school purposes. For forty years the Democratic party has controlled the affairs of the State of Texas under the constitution and laws adopted by the De- mocracy, and the result is the land has been disposed of in large quantities. The most valuable part of the Texas domain is now in the hands of landlords with no constructive effort being made to develop the remaining lands belonging to the State. Legislation for the benefit of farmers and stockmen has been lacking. Opportunity for tenant farmers becoming home owners have not been fostered. The mineral resources of the State have been wasted. The oil lands, worth billions of dollars, have accrued to private owners. Politicians have run riot with the revenues of the State. Extravagant fees have been paid. The penitentiary system has been mismanaged. Schools have been neglected. Proper provision has not been made for the insane. 604 Platforms of Political The paramount political issue for many years has been prohibition and anti-prohibition, to the material neglect of the interests of our State. Therefore, the Republican party favors laws producing: 1. A thorough and economical system of handling public funds. 2. Enabling Texas to keep pace with other States in educational progress, and becoming the great State of Texas, and for the separation and divorce of the Agricultural and Mechanical College from the Uni- versity of Texas. We favor compulsory education in the lower grades of our public schools, with free textbooks to be furnished by the State. 3. Making ample provision for our eleemosynary institutions that the blind may not be housed in fire traps and the jails crowded with the insane. 4. Promoting and perfecting a penitentiary system on business lines, and humane treatment of prisoners. 5. Simplifying, overhauling, and perfecting our entire system of civil and criminal procedure. 6. Abolishing the fee system. 7. Establishing a good State roads system. 8. Providing for rural credit, a good warehouse system, and a better land policy. 9. Conserving the remaining school lands of the State for home owners. 10. Conserving the mineral rights belonging to the State and pro- viding for their protection and development. 11. Permitting the State to cooperate with the National government and the owners of property in arid and overflowed districts in providing for the control of the water supply to make the arid lands of Texas tillable and useful, the rich bottom lands available for bumper crops, and for the conservation and development of the water power of our streams. 12. Permitting the State to cooperate with the National government in making a preliminary survey and estimate for controlling by stor- age basins in States hereinafter mentioned, the flood waters of the Missouri river and diverting same to the arid lands of Western Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, under the plan developed by Captain John Hall and former Congressman Elaine. 13. Providing that amendments to the constitution of the State, and particularly those creating great public interest like the prohibition question, should be submitted to the voters at special elections on years that general elections are not held and that same may not be constantly agitating the public to the detriment of other important matters affecting the welfare of the State, and when submitted shall settle the question for a definite term of years. Parties in Texas 605 Resolutions Resolved, that we refuse to adopt and protest against the proposed reduction of representation of Texas in National convention as recom? mended by the National committee at a recent meeting of said Na- tional committee. We sincerely regret that the vacillating policy of the National ad- ministration has fostered and encouraged revolutions in Mexico, created a contempt for our flag, humiliated our citizens and humbled their pride on foreign soil. We hope never again will we see our soldiers bottled up in a foreign port under conditions from which they can neither withdraw or ad- vance. Additional Resolutions [A resolution was adopted expressing profound sorrow over the un- timely death of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, wife of the President, and ex- tending sympathy to the bereaved.] We regret the dissensions that have arisen in our former united ranks, and, while we are firmly convinced of the justice and right of our cause, still we bear no malice or ill will towards our former comrades, and now here declare our readiness to extend to them the hand of fellowship and to welcome them back to a common party affiliation, since we look forward to a time in the very near future when we shall, Republicans and Progressives, present again a united front to our common political enemies. We approve of the system of rural high schools and favor the enact- ment of such laws as will fully perfect such system, to the end that residents of rural districts may enjoy educational advantages equal to those of the towns, and wherever necessary favor special State aid to such schools in erecting and equipping proper buildings. We hereby indorse the administration and acts of our State chair- man, the Hon. Phil E. Baer, and of our National committeeman, the, Hon. H. F. MacGregor. Their zeal, energy, loyalty, and unselfish de- votion to our interests are worthy of all praise, and we hereby tender them our sincere confidence and commendation. MINORITY BEPOBT We, the undersigned members of the committee on platform and resolutions, offer the following minority report: Resolved, that the report of the majority of the committee be ap- proved except that portion dealing with the proposed reduction of representation recommended by the National committee and that in lieu of that portion of said report, same be amended so as to read: Resolved, that we approve of the proposed reduction of representa- 606 Platforms of Political tion in National conventions, as recommended by the National com- mittee at a recent meeting of said committee. L. M. BARKLEY, G. J. BARLOW. The minority report was tabled by a unanimous vote. State Executive Committee: Phil E. Baer, of Harris, chair- man; 1st Senatorial district, D. H. Morris, of Cass; 2. W. P. Harris, of Hopkins; 3. J. C. Gibbons, of Lamar; 4. J. L. Hick-, son, of Cooke; 5. C. A. Buck, of Hunt; 6. G. F. Rockhold, of Dallas; 7. J. H. Parker, of Smith; 8. blank; 9. A. M. Sommer, of Kaufman; 10. C. W. Beck, of Hill; 11. M. M. Patten, of Mc- Lennan; 12. J. W. Davis, of Freestone; 13. W. B. Rogers, of Anderson; 14. H. M. Smith, of Jefferson; 15. blank; 16. C. A. Warnken, of Harris; 17. H. A. Griffin, of Galveston; IS. blank; 19. R. A. Brooks, of Bastrop; 20. John Hall, of Lampasas; 21. A. L. Davis, of Gonzales; 22. and 23. blank; 24. J. M. Oppen- heimer, of Bexar ; 25. C. L. McDowell, of Val Verde ; 26. G. H. Ray, of Erath ; 27. J. H. Burnett, of Bell ; 28. L. S. McDowell, of Howard; 29. E. E. Diggs, of Childress; 30. A. J. McCampbell, of Tarrant; 31. T. A. Robinson, of Denton. DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1914 EL PASO, August 11 and 12 The convention was in control of the supporters of James E. Ferguson, nominee for governor. He prepared the platform in advance, and it was adopted with few changes. The convention took another step to insure majority control by adopting a rule providing that no debate shall be permitted on any resolution not presented to and reported upon by the committee on plat- form and resolutions. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, B. Y. Cummings, of Hill: permanent, J. F. Cunningham, of Taylor. Secretary, C. B. Watters, of Bexar. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, James E. Ferguson, of Bell; Lieutenant-Governor, Will P. Hobby, of Jefferson; Attorney-General, Ben F. Looney, of Hunt; Comptroller, Henry Parties in Texas 607 B. Terrell, of McLennan; Treasurer, J. M. Edwards, of Run- nels; Commissioner of the General Land Office, James T. Robi- son, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Walter P. Doughty, of. Falls; Railroad Commissioner, Earl B. May- field, of Bell; Commissioner of Agriculture, Fred W. Davis, of Cooke; Supreme Court, William E. Hawkins, of Cameron; Court of Criminal Appeals, W. L. Davidson; Congressmen at large, Jeff McLemore, of Harris, and James H. Davis. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, R. S. Crumpton, of Bowie ; 2. S. M. Porter, of Red River ; 3. John F. Dickson, of Lamar; 4. George Gulp, of Cooke; 5. P. W. Pierson, of Rains; 6. Cecil Simpson, of Dallas; 7. N. A. Gentry, of Smith; 8. Lee Ferguson, of Panola; 9. 0. B. Col- quitt, of Kaufman ; 10. Bowd Farrar, of Johnson ; 11. Lud Wil- liams, of McLennan, secretary; 12. J. R. Astin, of Brazos; .13, G. C. Clegg, of Trinity; 14. J. H. Drummond, of Jefferson; ]5. Dr. A. H. Spears, of Madison; 16. Jonathan Lane, of Harris, chairman; 17. W. L. Hall, of Wharton; 18. C. E. Lane, of Fay- ette; 19. Paul D. Page, of Bastrop; 20. T. H. McGregor, of Travis; 21. J. B. Dibrell, of Guadalupe; 22. A. B. Davidson, of DeWitt; 23. C. C. Thomas, of Frio ; 24. P. H. Swearingen, of Bexar; 25. L. A. Dale, of El Paso; 26. John D. Guion, of Run- nels; 27. F. M. Spann, of Bell; 28. D. H. Murchison, of Haskell; 29. Will A. Miller, Jr., of Potter ; 30. W. A. Hanger, of Tarrant ; 31. J. W. Chancellor, of Montague. PLATFORM 1 We, your committee on platform and resolutions, beg leave to report: 1. That we, the Democracy of Texas in convention assembled, at El Paso, reaffirm our faith in and pledge anew our devotion to the fundamental and time-honored principles of Democracy as secured by the founders and fathers of this Republic, and as reannounced in the last Democratic platform as made at Baltimore, and upon which our party secured control of the Federal government, and from which has followed and will follow manifold blessings to all our people. 2. We cordially and heartily indorse the National Democratic ad- ministration and congratulate the people of the United States upon the patriotic fidelity with which that administration has kept faith lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News and San Antonio Express. 608 Platforms of Political with the people and has passed into living laws promises made by our party in its National platform at Baltimore. We believe that having so thoroughly and persistently kept the faith, that that administration is entitled to and will receive the indorsement, support and assistance of all Democrats and these we gratefully pledge for all the Democrats of Texas. 3. We cordially commend the wise, patriotic, firm and conservative policies of Governor Colquitt, who has kept faith with the people under trying circumstances and express to him the gratitude and appreciation of a free and grateful people. 4. The people of Texas are to be congratulated in the fact that the Democratic primary of July 25, by the nomination of J. E. Ferguson for Governor and the defeat of the demand for submission of a prohi- bition amendment, has guaranteed that, at least for a while, the vexa- tious question of prohibition and regulation of the liquor traffic will not be seriously agitated nor used to disturb and annoy the people and distract their attention, energy, and" means from their own, and the State's important business affairs and to this end the determination of Mr. Ferguson, as expressed in his opening campaign speech, to disapprove any legislation upon that question is most heartily in- dorsed and approved. 5. "Civilization begins and ends with the plow." The prosperity of all our people depends upon the prosperity of the farmer. Texas is essentially an agricultural State, with an empire for a domain. Seventy- 1 six per cent of her people live upon farms, and under the doctrine of a square deal patriotically applied by her legislature, her people could feed and clothe the world. In view of this, we demand as the first consideration of the incoming legislature, that laws to the following effect be passed: (a) Fixing a maximum of rent to be collected on all lands rented in this State for agricultural purposes where the same is cultivated by the tenant, when he furnishes everything except the land, at not more than one-third of the value of the grain and one-fourth of the value of cotton raised on said land, and a maximum rent of not to exceed one-half where the landlord furnishes everything except the labor and the tenant furnishes the labor; and such law to provide penalties for actual or attempted evasions. (b) A law establishing an effective warehouse system for this State with adequate provisions for sampling, grading, weighing, and storing cotton and other farm products, and the issuance of negotiable receipts for same, with such restrictions and limitations as will safeguard at all times the interests of the producer. (c) Such laws as may be necessary to absolutely prohibit pools, combines, and trusts from in any way arbitrarily fixing the market price of any of the products of the farm, and providing imprisonment penalties alone for their violation. And we recommend that such laws be passed only after a full and thorough investigation of existing con- Parties in Texas 609 ditions, and with the knowledge of all the facts and conditions which make such laws necessary, in order that they may be effective. And we recommend that such investigation cover in its course the market- ing, handling, and manufacturing of cotton and all of its products. (d) We recommend to the consideration of the legislature the State's department of agriculture, and demand that it be dealt with in such way as to make it of the highest benefit to our people. (e) We heartily approve the interest taken by the farmers in the public affairs of this State and cordially indorse the demands of the great body of farmers for legislation, and we realize that the welfare of the State is cherished with high and patriotic purposes by the men of all republics who live upon the farms and fields, and our State will grow and prosper so long as our farmers help to shape her destiny.' 6. We commend to the consideration of the legislature the appeals and demands of the great bodies of organized labor which have al- ways been the faithful allies of the Democratic party, and who keep alive not only the spirit of liberty in our State, but also the healthy and wealth-producing thrift and industry in our shops and factories. 7. We welcome the investment of outside capital in the develop- ment of our State, and assure to it the absolute protection of the law because we recognize that legitimate capital, patriotically invested, is absolutely essential to the upbuilding of this State, and so long as wealth obeys the law the people of this State will not only protect, but assist it under the law. 8. We demand that the facilities of various asylums for the insane be so enlarged as to furnish room for our insane, so that there will not be left at the end of next year a single lunatic in a jail in this State for the lack of adequate conditions in our asylums. 9. We demand that the asylum for the blind be either so remodeled, or a new one be built, so as to make it modern, safe, fireproof, and commodious. 10. We demand that the school for the deaf and dumb be made sufficiently commodious as to meet the requirements of the State. We also direct that the children who attend this school shall be taught some useful trade or occupation, by means of which they may earn a livelihood and become useful and producing citizens of the State. 11. A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the pre- servation of the liberties and the rights of the people, we demand that our educational system shall not suffer from faulty organization and insufficient financial support. We recommend that liberal appropria- tions for education purposes be made by the legislature until the edu- cational institutions of Texas rank with those of any other State in the Union. To the end that the boys and girls in the country may have ad- vantages equal to those enjoyed by the children in the cities and towns, we demand the immediate improvement of the country schools, includ- ing efficient professional, nonpolitical supervision, and the establish- 39328 610 Platforms of Political ment of properly equipped rural high schools giving agriculture and other courses of study adapted to the needs of farming communities. We demand further: (a) The increase of the constitutional limitation thereby enabling districts to levy a tax sufficient to provide for necessary buildings and the maintenance of schools for nine months in each year. (b) The submission of an amendment to the constitution whiqh will provide that any county may levy, by a majority vote of the tax- payers, a county tax for the better maintenance of county schools. (c) The passage of an act authorizing trustees of a district whose taxpayers so vote to furnish to the children of the schools free text- books. (d) The passage of a law, carefully planned and limited to suit the conditions in this State, requiring attendance upon the public or other schools. We are gratified at the rapidly growing demand for higher education and pledge the party to furnish to the young men and women of Texas facilities and opportunities not inferior to those offered in any other State. To that end we demand that permanent and dependable provisions "be made for the support and development of the University, for the Agricultural and Mechanical College, the State Normal Schools, and the 'College of Industrial Arts, and that such steps as may be necessary be taken, by constitutional amendment or otherwise, to provide for the erection of needed and permanent fireproof buildings for these in- stitutions. We also demand that the legislature make appropriations for the support of summer sessions of these institutions, that the teach- ers of the State may have an opportunity to increase their professional attainments without undue expense. 12. We demand that hereafter all school books used in the public schools of this State shall be printed in Texas, subject only to existing. contracts. 13. We demand that in all departments of public works adminis- tered by the State, counties, and cities, including the public schools, that hereafter the women employed in any capacity shall receive the same salaries as men employed in such capacity, where the service rendered is the same. 14. The school fund of Texas is a sacred fund preserved by our fathers to educate our children, and we denounce in unmeasured terms the suggestion from any source to divert that fund from that high purpose, and we direct that that fund be continued to be in- vested as it is now, in order that itmay be free from the folly of the politicians and safe from the hands of any others who would ex- ploit it. 15. We reaffirm our faith in the Democratic platform of 1890, de- claring for a law prohibiting the further operations of land corpora- Parties in Texas 611 tions, and reasserting it as a sound principle of State policy and direct our legislature not to depart from that policy. 16. We demand that the differences between the Agricultural and Mechanical College and the University of Texas be fairly, equitably, carefully, and cautiously adjusted, not forgetting that both of these great institutions are the property of the State and the source of grati- fication and pride of all our people. 17.- We demand adequate appropriations for all of the State institu- tions, and direct that each and every appropriation be itemized, and to be so expended as to secure to the State a dollar's worth of value for every dollar so expended. 18. We demand that the Land Office be so remodeled or overhauled as to make it fireproof in order that the valuable records which if contains may be safe. 19. We demand the construction upon land owned by the State of an armory to house and store the State's military stores which are now kept in the basement of the Capitol and which involve the safety of that building. 20. We recommend legislation looking to the creation of State high- ways to be built and maintained by the State with the use and by the means of the labor of State convicts. 21. We urge and request the incoming administration in its en- tirety to give the penitentiary affairs its most patriotic and careful consideration, in order that it may so shape those affairs as to make it self-sustaining and humane in all its departments: We demand, how- ever, that it never again return to the so-called lease system. 22. We recommend the passage of a law requiring all State officers to be nominated by a majority vote, and direct that such law be so drawn as to make such nomination involve as little expense to those seeking such office as possible. 2 E. T. Judd, 5. Dr. J. R. Bragg, 6. T. W. Watson, 7. Dr. E. V. Converse, 8. R. E. Hannay, 9. Jesse A. Chase, 10. Harvey C, Stiles, 11. W. H. Black, 12. W. P. Hallmark, 13. Lewis Lindsey, 14. Granville Thomas, 15. J. B. Baker, 16. R. B. Harrison. Committee on Resolutions: F. M. Etheridge, of Dallas; R. E. Hannay, of Waller; Xoah Allen, of Bexar; Harris Masterson, of Harris; G. W. Ray, of Tarrant; W. P. Hallmark, of Erath; B. W. Fields, of Hunt ; G. W. Burkett, Sr., of Anderson ; A. C. Hamilton, of Webb. RESOLUTIONS 1 Resolved, that we favor the election of Henry L. Borden, of Houston, as a member of the Progressive National executive committee and that the delegates to the Progressive National convention be and they are hereby instructed to vote for his election as such committeeman. 1. We hereby renew our faith in and allegiance to the principles of the Progressive party as enunciated in its National platform of 1912. 1P The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Waco Times-Herald May 23, 1916. 616 Platforms of Political 2. We condemn the weak and vacillating policy of the present ad- ministration which has put the people of the United States in a false and humiliating attitude before the world, and we are justly resent- ful. The administration's foreign policy, if it may be said to have had any fixed policy, and more especially in reference to Mexico, con- sists of a succession of lamentable blunders. 3. We heartily commend the principle and spirit of true American- ism and preparedness in fact, as contradistinguished from a make- beiieve preparedness for political purposes, and the protection of American citizens and American rights at home and abroad, on land and on sea, as typified by the illustrious patriot, Theodore Roosevelt, whom we regard as the greatest living American today. The exi- gencies of this Nation are such as to imperatively require the election of Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency as an essential to the restora- tion of the confidence of the American people and the respect to which this Nation is entitled amongst the nations of the earth, and that peace with honor and prosperity with pride shall prevail as the result of the unfaltering advocacy of true Americanism. Additional Resolution Inasmuch as it has pleased the Supreme Ruler of the Universe to remove from our midst our former State chairman and National com- mitteeman, General Cecil A. Lyon; therefore, we, the Progressives of Texas, in State convention assembled, desire to give public expression of our appreciation and high regard for his manly qualities, both as a citizen and as a leader of men. It is our conscientious conviction that in his death our party has lost a wise and efficient leader, the, State one of her foremost citizens, and the Nation a worthy and loyal patriot. Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be given to the press of the State and also a copy sent to the family of the deceased. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1916 FORT WORTH, May 23 The convention was well attended; one correspondent called it "the largest and whitest" Republican State convention held in many years. Officers: Chairman,, Eugene Marshall, of Dallas. Secretary, John D. Van Demark, of Harris. Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, H. F TVTacGregor, of Harris; Phil E. Baer, of Lamar: Eugene Mar- Parties in Texas 617 shall, of Dallas; C. W. Johnson, of Young; R. A. Harvin, of Brazoria; William McDonald, of Tarrant; C. L. McDowell, of Val Verde; R. S. Legate, of Grayson. Presidential Electors: State at large, Eugene- Nolte, of Guadalupe ; James Field, of Burnet ; Charles R. Bone, of Jeffer- son ; Fred Matthies, of Guadalupe ; District Electors. J. J. Dick- erson, J. C. McBride, W. A. Hawn, M. A. Taylor, C. W. Beck, C. C. Martin, Ben Sass, J. Sam Angier, E. M. Tracy, J. M. Cope, J. C. Eakin, J. E. B. Stuart, Henry Ingerton, Nat Sulz- bacher, Frank C. Blane, and F. M. Morton. Committee on Platform and, Resolutions: William H. At- \vell, of Dallas, chairman, D. H. Morris, G. W. Eason, H. H. Duncan, M. A. Taylor, M. G. Brooks, H. A. Griffin, David Abner, R. A. Harvin, William White, T. J. Darling, H. Zweifel, Otis Bacon, Marshal Smith, Eugene Nolte, R. B. Slight. PLATFORM 1 1. The convention came out for protective tariff, in the payment of the expenses of the Nation. 2. The so-called "trust and industrial" laws were condemned as legislation calculated to drive capital into hiding and deprive labor of an opportunity to make an honest and legitimate wage. 3. As a return to the English espionage and picketing system, the continued multiplication of officers and commissioners to "smell, probe, and report," was condemned by the convention. 4. That the "blowing hot and cold" policies of the administration cease and the honor of the flag at home and abroad be maintained persistently. 5. That the shiftless indecision of the present administration, re- sulting in the loss of American lives on the high seas and in Mexico, be condemmed and that an adequate army and navy be maintained by the United States. Additional Resolution The delegates to the National convention were instructed to vote for the reelection of MacGregor as National committeeman. lr The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News and Fort Worth Record, May 24, 1916. A verbatim report of the platform has not been found. 618 Platforms of Political DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1916 SAN ANTONIO, May 23 and 24 The principal contest before the convention centered about that plank of the platform declaring against National prohibi- tion; second to this was the choice of National committeeman. As the opposing factions were almost evenly matched the con- test was warm. This convention not only accepted the district delegates to the National convention and the district nominees for presidential electors, but instructed the districts to nom- inate one each of the delegates at large, to be confirmed by the convention. Officers: Chairman, W. C. Wear, of Hill. Secretary, Charles J. Kirk, of Hams. Temporary officers were made permanent. Delegates to *the National Convention: State at large, 1st Congressional district, J. M. Buford, of Titus; 2. Stewart R, Smith, of Jefferson; 3. Robert L. Warren, of Kaufman; 4. Lee Clark, of Hunt; 5. Harry P. Lawther, of Dallas; 6. Charles H. Mills, of Navarro; 7. Fred E. Pabst, of Galveston; 8. John H. Kirby, of Harris; 9. Will T. Bagby, of Lavaca; 10, Paul D, Page, of Bastrop; 11. James E. Ferguson, of Bell; 12. Louis J. AVortham, of Tarrant; 13. F. F. Hill, of Denton; 14. Frank C. Davis, of Bexar ; 15. John N. Garner, of Uvalde ; 16. J. W. Gog- gin, of El Paso. District Delegates: 1st Congressional district, W. G. Thorn- ton, of Hopkins, and Tom Scott, of Lamar; 2. Beemaii Strong, of Nacogdoches, and 0. M. Stone, of Jasper; 3. P. K. Birdwell, of Smith, and Latcn Stanberry, of Kaufman; 4. Ben Vaughan, of Hunt, and E. J. Smith, of Grayson; 5. R. A. Watkins, of Dallas, and T. F. Thompson 1 , of Ellis; 6. Luther Johnson, of Navarro, and Scott Reid, of Limestone; 7. J. B. Stubbs, of Gal- veston, and J. M. Young, of Harris; 8. II. B. Rice, of Harris, and J. M. Moore, of Fort Bend; 9. A. R. Rucks, of Brazoria, and I. E. Clark, of Fayette; 10. Ed R, Sinks, of Lee, and Q. C. Murray, of Burleson; 11. Allan D. Sanford, of McLennan, and C. W. Goddard, of Bell; 12. J. R. Ransome, Jr., of Johnson, Parties in Texas 619 and E. B. Ridgeway, of Tarrant; 13. R. E. Huff, of Wichita, and J. W. Sullivan, of Dcuton; 14. A. W. Secligson, of Bexar, and C. L. McCartney, of Brown; 15. blank; 16. J. D. Jackson of Bre \\ster, and C. C. Higgins, of Scurry. Presidential Electors: State at large, Marshall Hicks, of Bexar; Cullen F. Thomas, of Dallas; Henry D. Paulus, of La- vaca; Hamp Abney, of Grayson; 1st Congressional district, *R. P. Dorrough, of Bowie; 2. J. P. Adams, of ; 3. George B. Thompson, of Henderson; 4. Owen P. Smith, of Collin; 5. Frank W. Wozencraft, of Dallas; 6. Lee C. Kirgen, of Free- stone; 7. Fred Stevens, of Liberty; 8. G. W. Kayser, of Mont- gomery; 9. J. R, Kubena, of Fayette; 10. Robert J. Eckhardt, of "Williamson; 11. Edgar M. Mann, of McLennan; 12. T. A. Wytlie, of Parker; 13. J. 0. Wood, of Collingsworth ; 14. J. T. Sluder, of Bexar; 15. blank; 16. Dan M. Jackson, of El Paso. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, A. C. Stewart, 2. C. E. Shepard, 3. S. D. Wright, 4. J. W. Bailey, 5. L. A. Clark, 6. Cullen F. Thomas, 7. J. M. Ed- wards, 8. T. W. Davidson, 9. Charles H. Mills, 10. J. M. Alder- dyce, 11. R. L. Henry, 12. J. R. Astin, 13. T. B. Greenwood, 14. Rev. W. J. Crawford, 15. T. P. Buffington, 16. S. J. Winston, 17. J. II. Fricke, 18. A. Haidusek, 19. John M. Mathis, 20.. A. C. Baldwin, 21. W. M. Fly, 22. W. 0. Murray, 23. J. B. Wells, chairman, 24. J. F. Carl, 25. R. E. Thomason, 26. J. K. Rector, Jr., 27. James E. Ferguson, 28. J. M. Wagstaff, 29. David E. Decker, 30. Louis J. Wortham, 31. C. V. Terrell, secretary. PLATFORM 1 Resolved, [1] by the Democrats of Texas in convention assembled, that we cordially indorse the administration of Woodrow Wilson, and we indorse the candidacy of Thomas R.. Marshall for Vice-President and believe him to be a fit running mate for Woodrow Wilson in the en- suing presidential campaign, and the delegates to the St. Louis con- vention are hereby instructed to vote for the ncmination of Woodrow Wilson and Thomas R. Marshall. [2] That we indorse the administration of Governor James E. Ferguson and commend him for his fidelity to the pledges he made to 1( The proceedings of this convention are taken from the San Antonio Express, May 24 and 25, 1916. 620 Platforms of Political the people and the efforts he has put forth for the industrial develop- ment of our State. We especially commend him for his wise, timely, and courageous cooperation with the President of the United States in dealing with the vexatious problems growing out of the Mexican situation. [3] That adhering to the fundamental Democratic principles, that every State has the right to determine the qualifications of its own voters, we declare our unalterable opposition to female suffrage, through an amendment to the Federal Constitution. [4] That the Democratic party has steadfastly maintained that every State possesses the power to regulate and control its own police affairs, and in accordance with that view we declare our unalterable opposition to any amendments to the Federal Constitution withdraw- ing from the States of this Union the right to determine, each for itself, whether the manufacture and sale of liquor shall be permitted or prohibited within its jurisdiction. We agree with President Wilson when he said that "any self-governing community which constitutes a social unit should have the right to control the matter of the regula- tion or withholding of licenses." Additional Resolution Resolved, that we congratulate the Nation on the fact that at this time of world-wide stress it has as its chief executive Woodrcw Wilson, a patriotic, wise, calm, and fearless American, 'firmly to maintain the rights of our country. We call upon Congress to strengthen and uphold the hands of our President by speedily providing and main- taining an adequate and efficient army and navy, the better to protect and safeguard the rights of our citizens, both at home and abroad, and to maintain inviolate the sacred honor of the Nation. MINORITY REPORT We, a minority of your committee on platform and resolutions, here- by submit for your consideration the following report: 1. Resolved, by the Democrats of Texas, in convention assembled, that we cordially indorse the administration of Woodrow Wilson and expressly give our approval to the constructive acts passed during the four years in which he has been chief executive. 2. We rejoice in the unsullied record of the Wilson administration, because it has redeemed with single-hearted fidelity its platform pledges to the American people. 3. We indorse the domestic policies of the Wilson administration as broad and progressive, its businesslike and statesmanlike policies, crystalized into wise and helpful laws that have become chapters of achievement for our country's good, unsurpassed for a similar period in our country's history. Parties in Texas 621 4. The Wilson administration has revised the tariff, not upward but downward, and framed a measure, without fear of special interests or favoritism to pet industries, in behalf alike of the consumers and producers of the land. 5. The Wilson administration has enacted an income tax law, the fruition of Democratic faith for twenty years, that compels just con- tribution from swollen wealth for the support of government and lightens the burdens resting on the backs of the great masses of the people. 6. The Wilson administration has established a regional reserve banking system, whose purpose is to decentralize the power of money and dethrone the money power, and whose effect, as already demon- strated, is to emancipate credits, provide a flexible currency, and make money panics forever impossible. 7. The Wilson administration has strengthened our anti-trust laws and stood, not for their suspension by executive caprice through politi- cal bargains with malefactors of great wealth, but for the vigorous enforcement of those laws by criminal prosecutions of conspicuous violators in the courts of the land. 8. The Wilson administration stands for a rural credits system that will secure a sure market for .sound securities of American farms, provide needed credits on reasonable terms for American farmers, and encourage the improvement and ownership of homes by the homeless millions of the land. 9. The Wilson administration stands for the creation of an Ameri- can merchant marine, adequate in this day of duty and opportunity to carry the products of American farm and factory to the eager markets of the world. 10. The Wilson administration stands for the speedy enactment of a law that shall regulate and control campaign contributions in presi- dential elections, to the end that special interests shall no longer raise unlimited slush funds, in return for governmental favors, to debauch the electorate in doubtful States. 11. The Wilson administration, entitled as it is to unqualified com- mendation for its record in handling domestic concerns, compels yet more the people's gratitude because of its foreign policies. Broadening the scope of the historic Monroe doctrine, it has stood for a Pan-American spirit that would cement all the republics of the Western Hemisphere. Amid unprecedented perils, with half the world on fire with the flames of war, Woodrow Wilson has safeguarded this Nation's honor and preserved this Nation's peace. Borrowing the patience of Washington, the sagacity of Jefferson, and the courage of Jackson, amid plots and marplots, at home and abroad, during days when one impetuous, half-baked utterance would have drawn this country into the maelstrom of war, the governments 622 Platforms of Political of the earth have waited on and heeded his words, as he spoke the last word for National dignity, international law, and human liberty. Believing that Woodrow Wilson is the friend of peace and good will toward all nations, declaring ourselves the foes of one step toward militarism or imperialism by this Republic, opposing the enlistment of one soldier or the building of one battleship more than is necessary for National defense, we stand for adequate military preparedness, now and hereafter, for the protection of American integrity, honor, and- territory, whether from aggression across the seas or marauders across the Rio Grande. 12. Finally, because his administration has been clean, because he has kept the faith, because of his unsurpassed record of competency and accomplishment, because higher than concrete achievement is his lofty spirit, because of his scholarship and statesmanship, because of liis vision and his patriotism, because of his purity and poise of intel- lect, because of his masterful leadership of his party and his broad Americanism above party, because as the Nation's head he ims Kept his head amid the tumult of the world, because within himself he is a platform, commanding the confidence and support of the great body of the American people today the Democracy of Texas but voices the heartbeat of the united and militant Democracy of the country as it unreservedly and enthusiastically indorses Wcodrow Wilson, the in- comparable citizen and faithful public servant, and hereby instructs its entire delegation to the National convention for Woodrow Wilson for renomination for President of the United States. 13. Recalling with pride the conspicuous if not controlling in- fluence of the Democracy of Texas, through its spokesman in the Na- tional convention, in bringing about the nomination of Woodrow Wilson four years ago, we hereby record our appreciation of the recog- nition of our State by President Wilson in calling to his cabinet three of her favorite sons, and further congratulate our Burleson, Gregory, and Houston on their useful and faithful service to the country in the administration of their departments of the National government. 14. We recognize the honest and divergent views of our fellow Democrats in Texas and throughout the Union on the question of woman suffrage and prohibition of the liquor traffic by amendment to the Federal Constitution; we recall that heretofore one's conviction on these questions has not been made a test of his standing or loyalty as a Democrat; we believe it unwise, inexpedient, and tending to jeopardize Democratic success in the coming National campaign at this time to inject these mooted issues into the deliberations of our Demo- cratic conventions, State or National, as a tenet of party faith; there- fore, we deprecate and oppose any platform proposals by advocates or opponents of these questions and hereby instruct our delegates, whether district or from the State at large, to vote as a unit against any effort by either side, from whatsoever source, to place any declaration of Parties in Texas 623 .any kind for or against prohibition or woman suffrage in the National platform. CULLEX F. THOMAS, WALTER J. CRAWFORD, T. B. GREENWOOD, J. M. WAGSTAFF, L. A. CLARK, T. P. BUFFIXGTOX, J. W. DAVIDSON, C. H. MILLS, C. V. TERRELL, . J. M. ALDERDYCE, J. M. EDWARDS, A. C. BALDWIN. We, the undersigned members of the minority, for ourselves, hereby indorse that part of the majority report which indorses the adminis- tration of Governor James E. Ferguson. J. M. ALDERDYCE, J. M. WAGSTAFF, C. H. MILLS, A. C. BALDWIN, T. P. BUFFIXGTOX, WALTER J. CRAWFORD. The minority report was voted down by the convention. National Committeeman for Texas: William Poindexter, of Johnson. GERMAN-AMERICAN ALLIANCE, 1916 AUSTIN, June 28 About two hundred delegates attended the convention. ''While it was the opinion of some prominent men of German descent lhat the meeting of the Alliance should not have been held, the majority opinion was that it was necessary on account of the resentment felt by many German-Americans toward the National administration and to issue a call to them to partici- pate in the Democratic primaries and vote against submission/' Officers: Chairman, Hugo Moeller, of Bexar. Secretary, Theo Mueller, of Bexar. Committee on Resolutions: Paul Meerscheidt, of Bexar; F. C. Wcinert, of Guadalupe; Gus A. Heilig, of Dallas; G. &. Spielhagen, of Bexar; Albert Hellberg, of Harris; Julian Stap- pcr. of Cibolo. RESOLUTIONS 1 WHEREAS, the Anti-Saloon League of Ohio, through its Texas repre- sentatives, is again attempting to foist upon the people of Texas an 1 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Austin American :and Austin Statesman, June 29, 1916. 624 Platforms of Political unnecessary campaign on the question of statewide prohibition, thereby creating strife among the citizenship of this State, when they should be in thorough harmony and of one accord for the material advance- ment and upbuilding of this State; and WHEREAS, the citizenship of this State of German descent have always vigorously maintained that no government can endure that does not maintain the highest degree of individual liberty to the citizen, con- sonant with good government; and WHEREAS, the continued efforts of the agents of the Anti-Saloon League, aided and assisted by a portion of the Democrats of this State, to commit t the Democratic party of this State to the doctrine of state- wide prohibition, which we contend is undemocratic and not in keep- ing with the fundamental principles of free government; and WHEREAS, the question of the adoption of a constitutional amendment for statewide prohibition will again be submitted to the Democratic voters of Texas on the 22d day of July, 1916; now, therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That we condemn the continued agitation of this ques- tion by the Anti-Saloon League and their followers, and their further attempt to measure every man's qualifications for office in Texas by his position on the question of statewide or nationwide prohibition. 2. That we urge all citizens of Texas of German descent to go to the polls on the 22d day of July and register their vote against statewide prohibition, as they have always done heretofore. And we further urge them to vote for those who are aspirants for office who have in the past and now uphold this principle of democratic government, should they otherwise be qualified for the position to which they aspire. WHEREAS, the subsidized press of the country has in every possible way tried to humiliate the loyal citizenship of the United States of German birth by continually referring to them as "hyphenated Ameri- cans," which term is both repulsive and an insult to every foreign-born American citizen, as well as those who are born Americans of foreign- born parents; and WHEREAS, certain people designedly for political purposes are con- tinually using such objectionable terms in speaking especially of the German-born citizens of this country, thereby trying to create strife between them and the people of other nationalities who are citizens of this country, as well as those of native American birth; and WHEREAS, the citizenship of Texas of German birth have contributed of their brain, wealth, and blood both in war and in peace to the up- building of this State and Nation, and have heretofore contributed the best blood cf their race to the upholding of the constitution, laws, and traditions of this Republic, and stand ready now and at all times to- do our full duty as American citizens, both on the battlefield and in the forums of peace; and WHEREAS, such terms as "hyphenated Americans" is particularly ob- jectionable to us, for the reason that we are American citizens first Parties in Texas 625 and above all, and yield to no one in our fealty to this government and its institutions; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that we condemn in no uncertain terms those who for any reason use such objectionable terms as above quoted or dispute the loyalty of the American citizen of German descent. That while we sympathize with Germany in her struggle for national existence, we owe our first duty to this government and its institutions, and we saj most emphatically that we have never been found wanting either in war or in peace to do our full duty as American citizens. SOCIALIST STATE CONVENTION, 1916 TEMPLE, August 8 In accordance with the practice of the party, candidates for State offices and the members of the platform committee were selected by a referendum. The candidates were "legally" nomi- nated by a mass meeting held at Temple, August 8, 1916. The platform suggested by the committee was adopted by a refer- endum of the dues paying membership. Officers: Chairman, Patton McCord, of Yoakum. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. B. Triplet. J. B. Yarbrough, J. R. Scroggins, Benton Kelsey; District electors, J, T. Morris, J. C. Harrat, R. A. Smith, E. B. Hadsell, U. Moes, T. R. Pheythian, J. L. Hicks, J. A. Wood, George Kelley, J. T. Johnson, J. T. Echols, Martin Ludal, J. J. Jones, J. D. Carmiehall, E. T. Higgins, H. J. Parker. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, E. R. Meitzen, of La- vaca ; Lieutenant-Governor, Nat B. Hunt, of Tarrant ; Attorney- General, Clarence Nugent, of Erath; Comptroller, W. T. Flow- ers, of Collingsworth ; Treasurer, W. J. Bell, of Smith; Com- missioner of the General Land Office, G. A. Lambreth, of Wheeler; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. A. Freeland, of Cherokee; Railroad Commissioner, E. Bellinger, of Bexar; Commissioner of Agriculture, Joe F. Hudspeth, of Haskell ; Supreme Court, B. H. Gibson, of Tarrant; Congressmen at large, Arch Lingan, of Jefferson, and W. D. Simpson, of Eastland; United States Senator, T. A. Hickey, of Lavaca. Committee on Platform: T. A. Hickey, of Lavaca, chairman. 40328 626 Platforms of Political PLATFORM 1 Preamble. The Socialist party comes before the people as the only party of, by arid for the producing masses a. party that wants nothing else and cares for nothing else than the complete political an'd eco- nomic triumph of the working class. It says to all workers: "Withdraw from the Democratic party and all other political organizations ether than the Socialist party, for such parties cannot represent your interests. They uphold the prevailing rent-interest-profit system and therefore can no more help representing the interests of the exploiters that profit by that system than the Socialist party, whose historic mission it is to abolish landlordism and industrial despotism, can help taking its stand with the wageworker and working farmer who are oppressed by that system." We hold that it is almost trite to recount the robbery and oppression of the many by the privileged few that the prevailing capitalist system entails. In every State in the Nation and in every nation in the world, whether it be in trust-ridden America or in blood-drenched Europe, the evil fruits of that system are apparent. Nor is it necessary to set out in detail the fact that this oppression has reached its climax in usury- ridden, rack-rented Texas, due largely to the unhindered control of the State for fifty years by one political ring, resulting in a greater measure of landlessness and homelessness than in any other State in the Union, despite the fact that only one-fifth of the arable land of the State is cultivated and 117,000,000 acres of good, tillable land is held out of cultivation land that is used by the owners for no other purpose than 10 rob the rising generation and the generations yet unborn; land that is beyond the reach of the 1,250,000 Texas tenants, and passing further out of their reach each day. The State platform of the Socialist party is in line with all national and internaiional Socialist platforms, all of which have for their basic principle this statement: "Collective ownership and democratic man- agement of all things collectively used, and private ownershop and pri- vate management of all things that are in their nature private." Comprehended in that principle is the idea that the world and all that is in it belongs to the living; no dead hands of the dead past shall decree that one or a few shall own the earth and crowd out the many that have the same right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Contained in that principle is the idea that land is the gift of the Creator to all mankind and must never be monopolized and that to that end the taxing power of the State be so used that the holding of land be overtaxed and the use of land be undertaxed, with the final object that no one would hold any more land than he could use. fl] Collective Ownership. Collective ownership, wherever practi- x This platform is copied from a broadside issued by the party during the campaign. Parties in Texas 627 cable, by municipal, county, or State governments, of gins, compresses, oil mills, cotton and wheat mills, warehouses, elevators, packeries and other industries as well as public irrigation and drainage projects. [2] Land Plank. The scientific grading and classifying of all lands; necessary for the support of a family exempted from taxation, and all land privately held in excess of that amount to be taxed at its full rental value, all to the end that occupancy and use be necessary as a valid title to land. [3] Money Question. Legislation that will materially cheapen money fcr the creditor class of the State: Penitentiary sentences for usurers and forfeiture of amounts due. The establishment of banks owned by the people, and in connection therewith the creation of a rural credit system, all to the end that actual farmers and wage workers may borrow money at the best pos- sible terms. [4] Industrial Demands. A stringent law against blacklisting, making it a felony. An effective workingmen's compensaticn act; an eight hour day. Prohibiting the employment for wages of all children under the age of eighteen years. State convicts shall be paid a monthly wage, which shall go to the support of their dependents. That no private detective agency shall be allowed to operate in Texas. [5] Court Reform. To the end that equality before the law be- come a fact in Texas we advocate radical reform of court procedure, including revision of the jury system so that juries in justice, county, and district courts be drawn respectively from adjoining precincts, counties, and districts; also that district judges and attorneys be elected at large and required to serve in other than their home districts. Abolishment of the fee system. We favor the free administration of justice; the creation of the office of common counsellor in each county in order to furnish free of charge, competent legal counsel for all persons unable to defend their rights in the courts, civilly or criminally. [6] Political Demands. Equal and unrestricted suffrage for men and women, including the removal of poll tax qualifications. Provisions whereby absentees may mail their votes for all political officers, local and general. Abolishment of the State senate and of the governor's veto. Proportional representation in the house of representatives along industrial lines, so that farmers represent farmers, wage earners rep- esent wage earners, etc. The enactment of franchise, corporation and inheritance taxes. [7J Educational Demands. Free textbooks printed by the State. A more effective compulsory education law. 628 Platforms of Political Destitute children to be fed and clothed at public expense. A more efficient educational system in all branches of learning, systematized and arranged to meet the every-day requirements of the masses. Education from the common school up to the highest State college to be absolutely free to all, including board to students at public expense. [8] Public Welfare. Free medical and surgical attention for all, and the establishment of a public sanitarium in each county where treatment will be furnished at public expense. [9] Insurance. Compulsory State, life, fire, sick, accident, and other insurance. Pensions to mothers who are without the support of the natural bread-winners. Liberal old age pensions to men and women over the age of. 60 years. [10] Liquor Question. Realizing that the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, as now licensed and conducted, is a curse arid this curse is due to the profit therein, we demand that the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors for profit be made a felony and liquor be only made and dispensed by the government under such restrictions as the people may prescribe. PROHIBITION STATE CONVENTION, 1916 DALLAS, August 8 The State Prohibition convention met at Dallas. The attend- ance did not exceed fifty. There was no Prohibition ticket in the field in 1914. The executive committee presented the draft of a platform; no platform committee was appointed. Officers: Chairman, E. H. Conibear, of Dallas; secretary, A. A. Phelps, of Dallas. Presidential Electors: State at large, J. L. Campbe 1 !,. of El Paso; J. D. Stocking, of Donley; H. W. Reinecke, of Hidalgo; S. M. Baird, of Matagorda; 1st Congressional district, W. R. Swan, of Titus ; 2. Thomas Brown, of Jefferson ; 3. Fisk M. Ray, of Wood; 4. J. M. Amlin, of Fannin; 5. D. P. Williams, oJ: Dallas ; 6. Joe B. Reed, of Brazos ; 7. J. H. Meek, of Galveston ; 8. Willis Weaver, of Austin; 9. J. W. Vogan, of Braxoria; 10. F. F. Bledsoe, of Travis; 11. "J. M. Thompson, of McLennan; 12. N. Montgomery, of Johnson; 13. W. F. Heller, of Randall; Parties in Texas 629 14. A. L. Home, of Lampasas; 15. William Gerhardt, of Nui^es; 16. L. P. McCroary, of Jones. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, Dr. H. W. Lewis, of Dallas; Lieutenant- Governor, Dr. J. A. Richardson, of Baylor; Comptroller, L. M. Hewitt, of Brazos; Treasurer, J. A. L. Me- Farland, of Denton; Commissioner of the General Land Office, H. L. Winchell, of Eastland; Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, Oscar Hudson, of Jones; Railroad Commissioner, J. E. Lindquist, of Callahan; Commissioner of Agriculture, L. J. Winters, of Refug'io; Congressmen at large, I. E. Teague, of Grayson, and E. G. Cook, of Wichita; United States Senator, E. H. Conibear, of Dallas. PLATFORM 1 The Prohibition Party of Texas, in state convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty, for our insti- tutions, and for the multiplying signs of early victory for the cause for which our party stands, in order that the people may know the source of its faith, and the basis of its action, should it be clothed with governmental power, asks the votes of the people on the following declaration of principles: 1. We endorse in total the National platform adopted at St. Paul, and pledge our unqualified support to the candidates there named the matchless Hoosier statesman, Hon. J. Frank Hanly, and the peer- less Southern educator. Dr. Ira D. Landrith. We emphasize particularly the following planks from the National platform: [Here follow the planks from the National platform on "Prohibition," "Suffrage," "Peace and Preparedness," "Mexico and the Monroe Doctrine," and "Capital and Labor."] We denounce the "invisible government" which today controls the Democratic party of the State by means of which the will of a major- ity of that party is controlled and beaten on all moral questions by a minority, and that minority always standing for the things that debase and degrade rather than upbuild the manhood and womanhood of our State. We call attention to the ludicrousness of the present situation in the Democratic party in this State, wherein two bitter anti-pro- hibitionists are contesting for prohibition votes for United States senatorship. Why not support the Prohibition party nominee and send a real prohibitionist to the United States senate? *The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Dallas News, August 9, 1916. The platform is copied from a folder issued by the party during the campaign. 630 Platforms of Political We declare that the Democratic party in the Nation, while in power, has continued the license system, just as 'has the Republican party. Nationally, it is 10,000 miles from prohibition in any form. In Texas, the legislation secured through the Democratic party has been without any help from the party organization, but rather in spite of it. For years, despite a supposed majority of 'prohibitionists' within the Democratic party, the anti-prohibition forces have controlled the administration. Prohibition, to be effective, demands not only the law, but the administration of the law. And a cardinal political prin- ciple is that no party that is seriously divided in its own membership over a vital issue like prohibition can be trusted to deal fairly with that question when elected to power. We pledge a business-like administration of the affairs of this State; the abolition of useless offices, bureaus and committees; econ- omy in the expenditure of the public funds; efficiency in government service; and to give the best possible attention to our educational and benevolent institutions. In short, we promise an honest admin- istration of government in the interest of all the people. If elected to power, we pledge not only the submission of a prohibi- tion amendment to the people for their adoption, but we pledge the whole power of the administration toward its adoption, and its rigid enforcement when adopted a thing that can not be hoped for through the party now in power. In conclusion, this is the day of opportunity for the American Nation. The triumph of neither the Republican nor Democratic party is essential to our safety or progress. The defeat of either will be no public misfortune. They are one party. By age, by membership, by tradition, by platform and by candidates, they are the conser- vative party of the United States; while the Prohibition party, as the promoter of every important measure of social justice presented to the American people in the last two generations, and as the originator of nearly all such legislation, remains now the only great progressive party. The patriotic voters who compose the Democratic and Republican parties can, by voting the Prohibition ticket this fall, elect the issue of National prohibition. To those in whatever party who have the vision of a land redeemed from drink, we extend a cordial invitation to join with us in carrying the banner of prohibition to Nation-wide victory. State Executive Committee: P. F. Paige, chairman; A. A. Phelps, secretary; Dr. H. W. Lewis, Arthur A. Everts, J. How- ard Williams, E. H. Conibear, Rev. J. C. Mason, P. L. Russell, Charles E. Rose. State Central Committee: State at large, IT. L. Winchell, of Eastland, and J. L. Campbell, of El Paso; 1st Congressional -I is- Parties in Texas 631 trict, J. G. Riddle, of Titus; 2. A. J. Houston, of Jefferson; 3. Rev. Robert Hill, of Smith; 4. I. E. Teague, of Grayson; 5. S. T. Green, of Ellis; 6. L. M. Hewitt, of Brazos; 7. R. Mc- Gregor, of Galvcston; 8. C. W. Ransom, of Harris; 9. L. J. Win- ters, of Refugio; 10. S. H. Brown, of Caldwell; ll.W.B Thomp- son, of McLennan; 12. S. R. MeElreath, of Tarrant; 13. C. A. Read, of Potter; 14. C. C. Jamison, of Burnet; 15. John A. Horger, of Medina; 16. J. E. Lindquist, of Callahan. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION, 1916 SAN ANTONIO, August 8 This convention marked the reunion of the Progressives and Republicans in Texas. Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Tom J. Darling, of Bell; permanent, E. E. Diggs, of Ohildress. Secretary pro tempore. John van Demark, of Harris, and Charles W. Beck, of Hill. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, R. B. Creager, of Cameron; Lieutenant-Governor, Jerry L. Hickson, of Cooke; Attorney-General, G. N. Harrison, of Brown ; Comptroller, Tom J. Darling, of Bell; Treasurer, C. 0. Fowlkes, of Val Verde; Commissioner of the General Land Office, A. H. Johnson, of Eastland ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. G. McClain, of Ellis; Railroad Commissioner, Dupont B. Lyon, of Grayson; Commissioner of Agriculture, Alvin Horborth, of Guadalupe; Supreme Court, J. Walter Cocke, of McLennan, and Charles A. Lord, of Jefferson ; Court of Criminal Appeals, O. .S. York, of Galveston ; Congressmen at large, Charles A. Warnken, of Harris, and M. A. Taylor, of Fannin; United States Senator, Dr. A. W. Acheson, of Grayson. Committee on Platform and Resolutions: D. H. Morris, of Cass; R, H. Dunn, of Jefferson; E. Breen, of Wood; Dr. W. A. Acheson, of Grayson; B. F. Crews, of Ellis; J. W. A. Clark, of Navarro ; George W. Burkett, of Anderson ; H. F. MacGregor, of Harris, chairman ; Oscar B. Nau, of Lavaca ; W. A. McElroy, of Hays, secretary; M. M. Patterson, of McLennan; II. J. Zwei- fel, of Bowie; George A. Knight, of Montague; G. N. Harrison, of Brown; H. D. Jeffries, of Webb; U. S. Goen, of El Paso. 632 Platforms of Political i- . PLATFORM 1 The Republican party of Texas, in convention assembled, at San Antonio, August 8, 1916, pledges the support of a reunited party to its distinguished National standard bearers, the Hon. Charles E. Hughes, for President, and the Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, for Vice-President, of the United States, and to the nominees of the Republican party for State, district, and local offices. It reaffirms its faith in the constructive principles and policies that have made the United States under Repub- lican National administrations the greatest Republic. It reasserts its mission to continue the work of National achievement and commit the American people to that standard of excellence expressed by its presi- dential nominee, standing single-mindedly with him for an America, conscious of power, awake to obligation, erect in self-respect, prepared for every emergency, devoted to the ideals of peace, instinct with the spirit of human brotherhood, safeguarding both individual opportunity and the public interest, maintaining a well-ordered constitutional sys- tem adapted to local self-government without the sacrifice of essential National authority, appreciating the necessity of stability, expert knowledge, and thorough organization as the indispensable conditions of security and progress; a country loved by its citizens with a patriotic fervor, permitting no division in their allegiance, and no rivals in their affection. America first and America efficient. It indorses and approves the indictment of the Democratic National administration in its dealings with Mexico, made by the Republican presidential nominee in his acceptance address. It extends its sym- pathy to the people of the nations of Europe at war and to our people who are connected by ties of kinship or friendship with those engaged in strife. It is opposed to the doctrine of the gospel of hate and favors every effort to obtain an honorable peace. It specially commends the work of the League to Enforce Peace and to establish an international tribunal to enforce among all nations a permanent peace. It favors as agencies of progressive development supported by ap- propriate laws: The protective tariff policy for the protection of the American farmer, laborer, and manufacturer and for the stimulation of industrial activities. The establishment of a tariff commission to investigate and recommend rates; adequate preparedness to insure the preservation of peace; efficiency and consistency in conducting our foreign relations, that the lives and property of American citizens be not sacrificed through incompetency; the preservation of the constitu- tional guarantees of individual liberty and the protection of individuals in the enjoyment and ownership of property at home and abroad. A return to a representative democracy in selecting public officers by limiting the primary system to the selection of local officers and dele- a The proceedings of this convention are taken from the San Antonio Express, August 9, 1916. / Parties in Texas 633 gates to nominating conventions. We denounce the primary election laws of Texas, devised by the Democratic party to perpetuate its power. It has proved a failure as an instrumentality of government; rendering it impossible for the office to seek the man; opened a fertile field for the demagogue; enabling a small minority to elect men to office, and rendered costly campaigns in which the issues are isms, and the argu- ments slander and vituperation, and has deprived the Democratic party of the control of government and placed it in the hands of a faction of that party. [Here follows a verbatim copy of paragraphs (c), (d), (f) to (r) of the Republican platform of 1914.] [The next paragraph in order of the 1914 platform is copied verbatim with following exceptions: The ninth sentence has been added to, so as to read: "Extravagant fees have been paid and legalized graft has been dominant." Following sentence has been interpolated between the two sentences at the end of the paragraph: "Open charge is made by Democrats against officials of the State, and official mismanagement shown justifies a change."] [Planks 1 and 2 of the 1914 platform are copied verbatim with fol- lowing addition to the latter: "We urge the necessity for greater attention being paid to industrial and vocational education in the public free schools of Texas."] [Planks 3 to 11 of the 1914 platform are copied verbatim.] Providing that amendments to the constitution of the State, and par- ticularly those creating great public interest like the prohibition and women's suffrage questions that are nonpartisan, should be submitted to the voters at special elections on years that general elections are not held, and that same may not be constantly agitating the public to the detriment of other important matters affecting the welfare of the State, and when submitted shall settle the question for a definite term of six years. We commend the patriotic service rendered to the State of Texas in a nonpartisan way by the Economic League in its campaign of educa- tion attracting to the public attention the many existing abuses and needed reforms in our laws and the administration thereof and the need for constructive leadership. State Executive Committee: Phil E. Baer, of Lamar, chair- man. 634 Platforms of Political DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION, 1916 HOUSTON, August 8 and 9 The convention was in control of the supporters of Governor Ferguson. The only contest made was over the question of ex- cluding or including "submission" in the platform. Officers: Chairman, David E. Decker, of Hardemaii Secre- tary, Charles J. Kirk, of Harris. Temporary officers were made permanent. Nominees for State Offices: Governor, James E. Ferguson, of Bell; Lieutenant-Governor, Will P. Hobby, of Jefferson; Attorney-General, Ben F. Looney, of Hunt; Comptroller, H. B. Terrell, of McLennan; Treasurer, J. M. Edwards, of Runnels; Commissioner of the General Land Office, J. T. Robison, of Travis; Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. F. Doughty, of Falls; Railroad Commissioner, Allison Mayfield, of Graysonr Commissioner of Agriculture, Fred W. Davis, of Cooke ; Supreme Court, Nelson Phillips, of Dallas, and J. E. Yantis, of McLennan ; Court of Criminal Appeals, W. C. Morrow; Congressmen at large, Jeff McLemore, of Harris, and Daniel E. Garrett, of Harris; United States Senator (as no one of the candidates received a majority in the. primary election, a second primary was held, when Charles A. Culberson received the nomination.) Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial dis- trict, R. P. Durrough, of Bowie; 2. J. K. Brim, of Hopkins; 3. J. Frank Parish, of Fannin; 4. Andrew L. Randell. of Gray- son; 5. 0. H. Rodes, of Rains; 6. Murphy W. Townsend, of Dallas; 7. R. M. Smith, of Wood; 8. S. R. Thrasher, of Gregg; 9. R, S. Neblett, of Navarro, chairman; 10. D. W. Odell, of Johnson; 11. S. P. Brooks, of McLennan; 12. J. R. Astin, of Brazos; 13. G. C. Clegg, of Trinity; 14. W. P. Hobby, of Jeffer- son; 15. W. L. Hill, of Walker; 16. J. F. Wolters, of Harris; 17. A. R. Rucks, of Brazoria; 18. I. E. Clark, of Fayette; 19. 1 A vacancy occurred on the Railroad Commission by the death of Hon. William D. Williams, October 1, 1916. The right of the State executive committee to nominate a candidate was contested ; Charles H. Hurdlestor was elected. Parties in Texas 635 J. B. Price, of Bastrop ; 20. R. J. Eckhardt, of Williamson ; 21. F. C. Weinert, of Guadalupe; 22. A. B. Davidson, of DeWitt; 23. Archie Parr, of Duval; 24. J. F. Carl, of Bexar; 25. C. B. Hudspeth, of El Paso; 26. Scott Woodward, of Erath; 27. J. N. Fallas, Bosque; 28. John Meyers, of Palo Pinto ; 29. Mike Kerrigan, of Hardeman; 30. Marshall Spoonts, of Tarrant; 31. J. W. Chancellor, of Montague. PLATFORM 2 We, your committee on platform and resolutions, beg leave to report for your approval and adoption the following platform: 1. The Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled at Houston, in the year 1916, reaffirms its faith in, and pledges anew its devotion to, the time-honored principles of Democracy as taught and secured by the founders and fathers of this Republic. 2. We cordially and heartily indorse the National Democratic ad- ministration under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson, and we confidently congratulate the Nation upon the unswerving devotior and honesty with which the Democratic party has respected its pledges and maintained the ideal of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Upon the record made, we earnestly ask the voters of the United States to support the National Democratic ticket at the coming election in November. 3. In order that those living in States remote from Texas may know the real feelings of the citizens of Texas, upon whose ears the tocsin of war has sounded, upon whose ears the hoofbeat of the cavalry horses has fallen, in whose ears the crack of the rifle and the shout of the American has rung in the controversies with Mexico, we, the Demo- crats of Texas, are glad of an opportunity to openly and unanimously indorse the Mexican policy of President Wilson, and we sincerely ap- prove the caution, the wisdom, and the patriotism which he has exer- cised in dealing with the trying and troublesome conditions that have sorely taxed his patience in the conduct of our international and in- dustrial relations with Mexico. 4. The test of statesmanship is accomplishment. The proof of ac- complishment is the expression of the people's commendation. Meas- ured by this test, subjected to this proof, Governor James E. Ferguson reaches the highest standard. Two years ago, on a platform which voiced a determination to serve the people's cause by bringing to an end in Texas a period of agitation without results, and to bring in an area of constructive and remedial legislation, he made his first cam- 2 The proceedings of this convention are taken from the Houston Post, August 8-10, 1916. 636 Platforms of Political paign. The education of helpless and dependent children, the gentle and sympathetic ministration of the State to the care and comfort o{ the blind, deaf, dumb, and insane, the dawning of a day when a proud and prosperous people will no longer permit these wards of the State to suffer in county jails and in inadequate buildings, are some of the ennobling functions of the government brought into exercise during his administration. In his second campaign, the one just closed, he has renewed his promises and enlarged his assurances that the bless- ings of education shall in this State be so extensive as to be equally available to those in plentiful circumstances and to those without the means to procure these advantages. For this forward movement, for the pledge that in Texas government is not now a burden but a bene- faction, we give Governor Ferguson and the thirty-fourth legislature full credit. We most heartily commend and approve the record al- ready made, and urge the Democratic voters of the State to reelect and return him to the high station he now so fittingly fills. 5. We urge upon the legislature in making appropriations for the support and maintenance of the various departments and institutions of our State government to clearly itemize all such appropriations, so that the people may be fully informed as to the purpose for which any appropriation is made. 6. Agriculture being the foundation of all wealth and civilization, and Texas, whose citizenship resides mainly on the farm, being the most important State in the Union, we urge upon the legislature to give careful consideration to the legislation affecting our great farm- ing masses. To this end, we earnestly recommend to the coming legis- lature the following: (1) A careful investigation of the present warehouse law and its practical workings, its advantages and disadvantages, with a view to makipig such additions or changes as may be necessary to enable the farmer to gather his crop and prepare and store same for market at the least possible cost and inconvenience to himself and others. (2) Such laws as are necessary to more surely prevent and prohibit pools, combines and trusts from fixing the price of all farm products, having in mind especially the fixing of the price of cotton, cotton seed, cotton seed meal, cotton seed oil, cattle and hogs. (3) Such laws as are necessary to more fully furnish information concerning the management of the farm, the scientific cultivation and preservation of the soil, the improved methods of breeding and raising beef and dairy cattle, as well as the profitable raising and rotation of crops. (4) Such laws as will enable the raisers of truck garden, orchard, and other perishable products to market same beyond the limits of the State promptly, without sacrificing the value of said perishable pro- ducts in freight rates or commission charges. 7. We pledge the Democracy of Texas to a just and liberal policy Parties in Texas 637 toward the demands of organized labor, to whom the Democratic party has and can always look for help and cooperation. We especially recommend an eight-hour working day for all classes of labor where same is practicable. We deem it as much the duty of the government to prevent the con- fiscation of labor as it is to prevent the confiscation of property. We again reaffirm that in all departments of the State, ccunties, and cities where women are employed that they receive the same sal- ary as men employed in such capacity where the service rendered is the same. To bring about a more general employment of labor, as well as a speedy development of our State, we gladly indorse the "Buy-It-Made-in- Texas movement." We recommend such changes or amendments to the present work- men's compensation law as is necessary for attaining prompt and fair settlement for injured employes and such amendments and changes as are necessary to meet any legal objections to said law. 8. We welcome the investment in Texas of foreign capital, and assure it the full protection of our laws. We fully realize the great necessity of a liberal finacial policy toward outside capital in order that our many natural resources may attain their proper and full development. 9. We urge upon the legislature the moral obligation resting upon our people to properly care for the insane. We urge the next legisla- ture to make adequate appropriations to erect a new asylum having necessary capacity to take care of every insane person now in the jails of Texas or likely to be for next ten years to come. If half a million dollars is necessary for such purpose, we then recommend the appro- priation of such sum or any part thereof as may be necessary to so provide for the insane. We also recommend such additional appropriation as is necessary for the completion and equipment of the State institution for the care of the feebleminded, now in course of construction. 10. We declare that popular and general education of the masses to be the first duty of the government, not as a matter of charity, but as a matter of duty and necessity for the perpetuation of its own exist- ence. Realizing this great responsibility, the Democracy of Texas, in convention assembled, points with pride to the educational legislation now upon the statute books of the State, especially the legislation passed by the last legislature, and here pledges itself to secure the passage of such additional laws as will put Texas in the first rank of education. Among others, we especially recommend the following: (1) The appropriation by the next legislature of $2,000,000 for the aid of the rural schools to be expended in the same manner as the $1,000,000 appropriated by the last legislature for the same purpose. (2) The increase of the constitutional limitation which will permit 638 Platforms of Political districts to levy a tax sufficient to provide more suitable buildings and better maintenance of schools for nine months in each year. (3) A reasonable increase in the salaries now paid teachers in the public schools, in order to induce more men and women to make teach- ing their life work, which will result in greater efficiency. (4) Liberal appropriations for the maintenance of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, the normal schools, the College of Industrial, Arts, and the State University, including their maintenance during the summer terms, said appropriations to be fully itemized. (5) The printing of school books in Texas, where same can be published and purchased approximately as cheaply as elsewhere, qual- ity and workmanship considered. (6) Necessary laws providing for textbooks for use in the public schools, at expiration of present contracts, so that same may be fur- nished at lowest possible cost. 11. We urge upon the incoming legislature to give serious and care- ful consideration to the matter of building and maintaining State and county highways by the levy of a tax on automobiles and other motor vehicles, said fund to be equitably divided between the State and counties. We recommend the creation of a highway commission, to be paid a reasonable salary and traveling expenses, with powers to fix and establish standards and specifications for building public roads and to locate same, when built by the State, and with powers to employ State convicts in building State highways, all to b*e paid out of the tax on automobiles herein mentioned. 12. We recommend that the legislature give consideration to the penitentiary system and make such changes in the law governing same as may appear to be necessary. 13. Without undertaking to even advise what shall be done, we again call attention to the pressing necessity of some kind of reform or change in our judicial procedure. We believe that something must be done to prevent the laws delay if the dignity of, and respect for, the courts are to be continued. 14. We recommend the submission by the legislature of a constitu- tional amendment exempting from taxation all factories engaged in the manufacture of cotton or worsteds or woolens in Texas for a period of ten years. 15. In order to safely and more surely maintain the purity of the ballot, we recommend the passage of new laws or the amendment of the present laws, more clearly defining the purposes for which candi- dates for office may spend money in campaigns for office; and said laws to provide for the greatest possible publicity during the campaign of the amount of money spent by the candidates and the source from whence derived, and providing for severe penalties for violations of said laws. We believe it is better to control the manner and purpose of using campaign funds than to undertake to control the amount Parties in Texas 639 which would aid the dishonest and hurt the honest man who would seek office. Again we emphatically denounce the campaign liar and demand that it be made a penitentiary offense for any person to make an untrue statement about any candidate for office. 16. In the interest of the public health, at this particular time, we earnestly demand the maintenance and support and retention of our quarantine rights and powers, and recommend to our legislature that it make liberal appropriations for the support of our coast and border quarantine service. We also recommend the passage of such additional laws as will prevent the spread of contagious diseases, and as far as possible insure our people complete immunity from sickness and epi- demics. 17. We recommend that the legislature endeavor to correct the abuses of the present fee system for the payment of county, city, and precinct officers. 18. We demand the most liberal and adequate appropriations for the support and maintenance of the Live Stock Sanitary Commission of Texas. We demand liberal appropriations for bounties on wild animals that prey upon the herds of the State. We demand liberal appropriations for tick eradication, and think that $100,000 for such purpose would not be too much. 19. Home-owning and home-building being one of the essentials of a prosperous and patriotic citizenship, we demand that all notes repre- senting, and hereafter given for the purchase of a homestead in the town or county, and drawing not more than 6 per cent interest per annum shall be exempt from taxation. 20. We demand that the thirty-fifth legislature make adequate ap- propriation for the maintenance of an efficient ranger force in this State to the full quota allowed by law. 21. We recommend to the thirty-fifth legislature and urge it to. enact a law which shall provide: That no political party in this State in convention assembled shall ever place in the platform or resolu- tions of the party they represent any demand for specific legislation on any subject unless the demand for such specific legislation shall have been submitted to a direct vote of the people and shall have been ordered by a majority vote of all the votes cast in the primary election of such party; provided, that the State executive committee shall on petition of ten per cent of the voters of any party, as shown by the last primary election vote, submit any such question or questions to the voters at the general primary next preceding the State conven- tion. Said petition shall be signed by the adherents of the political party to whom said petition is be presented and shall give the county and postoffice address of each signer thereto, and certified to under oath by the tax collector of the county from whence said petition is signed that the persons signing the same are qualified voters as shown by the tax rolls of the said county. Said petition shall be filed with the State 640 Platforms of Political chairman of the said political party not less than thirty days before same shall be acted upon by the said State executive committee. In order to make the foregoing effective, we recommend to the legislature the enactment of laws fixing suitable penalties for any person who violates the same by reason of signing such petition more than one time, or any person signing same who is not a qualified voter at the election to which same is proposed to be submitted, or who shall sign any such petition for the submission of any such question to any political party of which he is not a member. 22. The Democrats of Texas, in convention assembled, desire to eir press their sincere appreciation of the able and patriotic services rend- ered to the Democracy of Texas by the Hon. Paul Waples and the Hon. Charles J. Kirk, Chairman and Secretary of our worthy State Demo- cratic committee. 23. We recommend that the thirty-fifth legislature so amend the present primary election laws as to provide for the nomination of mem- bers of the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and Courts of Civil Appeals by conventions to be held not later than the second Tuesday in September preceding the general election at which such judges are to be elected. 24. We condemn the practice of commissioners' courts and city councils in the issuance of long-term interest-bearing warrants, com- monly known as anticipation warrants, and recommend that the legis- lature make such investigation as necessary and enact such laws as they consider necessary to stop the practice except for emergency pur- poses and that their power in that respect be limited and made specific. 25. WHEREAS, the State of Texas has reached a point where onl Agricultural and Mechanical College is insufficient for the rapidly developing interests of the State; and WHEREAS, the development in West Texas is such that the experi- ments of other sections do not meet the needs of that section of tho State on account of differences of soil and climatic conditions; there- fore, be it Resolved, that the incoming legislature is hereby requested and in- structed to provide for the establishment of a branch Agricultural and Mechanical College and that a separate and distinct appropriation bt made to maintain the same, the same to be located at some point in West Texas west of the 98th meridian, and the location to be decided upon in a manner that will be fair and just to all interests con- cerned. 'Additional Resolutions 1. We give our hearty approval to the efforts now being made to secure the navigation of all streams in Texas that are worthy of im- provement, as well as indorse the movement of reclaiming the flood districts of the State and all necessary surveys. Parties in Texas 641 That we indorse the work of providing for deep water ports on the Texas coast, also the plan to complete the intercoastal canal, and we urge our representatives in Congress to give their support and coopera : tion to these movements. We suggest our willingness to aid the Federal government in all enterprises intended as beneficial to the rivers for navigable purposes or to remove obstructions therefrom which tend to hinder the navigation of the streams of Texas or tend to obstruct the streams in such a way as to increase the danger of overflow in said streams. 2. WHEREAS, the decision of the United States Supreme Court, in what is known as the Shreveport rate case, gives the Interstate Com- merce Commission the right to strike down a State-made rate, in a case of discrimination between an interstate rate and a State rate, not- withstanding the fact that the State rate may be a just and reasonable one within itself; and WHEREAS, if such is to remain the law, the right of a sovereign State to regulate its lines of railway transportation will be seriously crippled, if not destroyed; and WHEREAS, the platform of the Republican party, recently adopted at Chicago, contains a plank which boldly declares for the abolition of State railroad commissions; therefore, be it Resolved, that the Democratic party of Texas, in convention as- sembled, is irrevocably committed to the doctrine of the right of a State to regulate purely State commerce, and that we, the Democrats, declare our steadfast opposition to further encroachment by the Fed- eral government upon the rights of the State to regulate purely State commerce, and that the representatives in Congress from Texas are instructed to support and vote for any measure that has for its object the perpetuation of the right of a State to regulate purely State com- merce. 3. Biennial elections impose a heavy and unnecessary expense upon the taxpayers, disturb normal conditions of material development in the manifold activities of the State, and tend to encouragement of political agitation and discord without any substantial advantage to our citizens, and we recommend to the legislature the submission to the people for their approval of a constitutional amendment providing, for four-year terms for all State offices. 4. [The committee also reported a resolution of condolence upon the death of the Hon. Jonathan Lane.] MINORITY REPORTS I The undersigned members of the committee on platfrom and resolo tions respectfully present to this convention the following plank, which was presented to the committee on platform and resolutions and voted 41328 642 Platforms of Political down by a majority of said members, that it may be added to and become a part of the platform, when adopted, as an amendment thereto: We demand that the members of the thirty-fifth legislature be and are hereby instructed to adopt a joint resolution, submitting to the people of the State, at some suitable time in 1917, a constitutional amendment, providing for the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, barter and exchange as a beverage of intoxicating liquors within this State, in accordance with the instructions of the majority of the Demo- cratic voters voting thereon at the Democratic primaries held through- out the State, July 22, A. D. 1916. In support of this proposed plank, the attention of the convention is called to the fact that the statutes of Texas have provided a method by which members of a political party can initiate and pass upon th questions which they desire become a part of the law of the land, an4 to authorize political parties to incorporate planks in their platforms, when the will of the voters of such party has thus been ascertained. In our judgment, it becomes the plain duty of the representatives of a party in convention assembled to obey such law and carry out the will of the people, as expressed. Twice before submission of such a constitutional amendment, since the passage of such laws, has been voted upon by the Democrats of Texas in their primaries and upon it being, ascertained that a majority of the Democratic voters in such primaries had voted for such sub- mission, two Democratic State conventions have, in response to their will so expressed, without controversy or objection, incorporated the demands thus made by the people in the party platform. The refusal of the majority of the members of the platform com- mittee to comply with and register the will of the Democrats in their primaries, compels us to bring the matter before this convention and let it determine whether or not the expressed will of the Democratic voters of Texas shall be repudiated or not, and the law providing for such expression made a nullity and a mockery. W. L. HILL, S. P. BROOKS, A. H. RANDELL, D. W. ODELL. This minority report was tabled by a vote of 524% ayes to 299% noes. II We, the minority of your commitee on platform and resolutions, beg leave to report the following amendment to the fifteenth plank in said platform: Amend the same by striking out the last paragraph thereof, which reads as follows: "We believe it is better to control the manner and purpose of using campaign funds than to undertake to control the Parties in Texas 643 amount, which would aid the dishonest and hurt the honest man who would seek office," by adding in lieu thereof the following: "We be- lieve it wise to control the manner and purpose of using campaign funds and to limit by law to a reasonable amount the sums of money spent by candidates and their supporters, that the selection of our public officers shall express the deliberate and unpurchased will of the people." D. W. ODELL. This minority report was tabled by a vote of 573 1-3 ayes to 200 2-3 noes. State Executive Committee: Paul Waples, of Tarrant, chair- man; 3 1st Senatorial district, A. C. Stuart, of Bowie; 2. C. E. Sheppard, of Hopkins; 3. Pat Warner, of Lamar; 4. R. P. Head, of Cooke; 5. J. P. Yates, of Hunt; 6. Homer B. Fisher, of Dallas; 7. W. N. Jones, of Wood; 8. Sidney S. Baker, of Panola; 9. John S. Callicutt, of Navarro; 10. W. M. Odell, of Johnson; 11. Joe Cavitt, of McLennan; 12. W. C. Boyett, of Brazos; 13. J. H. Painter, of Houston; 14. V. H. Stark, of Orange; 15. W. N. Foster, of Montgomery; 16. John Lang, Jr., of Harris; 17. James B. Stubbs, of Galveston; 18. L. H. Mache- mehl, of Austin; 19. D. C. Giddings, Jr., of Washington; 20. Lloyd P. Lochridge, of Travis; 21. John C. Jones, of Gonzales; 22. W.. E. Fowler, of Goliad; 23. J. K. Wells, of Cameron; 24. Claude V. Birkhead, of Bexar; 25. Milton McCarthy, of Tom Green; 26. E. B. Hendricks, of Brown; 27. A. R. Eidson, of Hamilton; 28. Guy R, Holcomb, of Jones; 29. Will A. Miller, Jr., of Potter; 30. J. W. Mitchell, of Tarrant; 31. A. D. Rodgers, of Wise. Paul Waples was accidentally killed, November 16, 1916. At a meeting of the State executive committee, January 16, 1917, V. L. Shertleff, of Hill, was elected State chairman. 644 Platforms of Political APPENDIX: ELECTION STATISTICS 1. VOTE FOR GOVERNOR, 1845-1916 Year Candidates County Party Vote Total 1845 J. Pinckney Henderson. San Augustine. Democrat 7,853 James B. Miller Fort Bend Democrat 1,673 Scattering 52 9,578 1847 George T. Wood Liberty Democrat 7,154 James B. Miller Washington. . . Democrat 5,106 Nicholas H. Darnell San Augustine .Democrat 1,276 J. J. Robinson Scattering 1,221 14,757 1849 P. Hansborough Bell. . Washington. . . Democrat 10,310 George T. Wood Liberty Democrat. . . . 8,754 John T. Mills Red River Democrat 2,632 21,696 1851 P. Hansborough Bell. . .Washington. . . Democrat 13,595 M.T.Johnson Rusk .Democrat 5,262 John A. Greer San Augustine . Democrat 4,061 Ben H. Epperson Red River Whig 2,971 Thomas J. Chambers. . .Liberty Democrat 2,320 Scattering 100 28,309 1853 Elisha M. Pease Brazoria Democrat 13,091 William B. Ochiltree. . .Nacogdoches. . Whig 9,178 George T. Wood Polk Democrat 5,983 Lemuel D. Evans Harrison Democrat. . . . 4,677 Thomas J. Chambers. . .Liberty Democrat. . . . 2,449 Jon W. Dancy Fayette Democrat 315 35,693 1855 Elisha M. Pease Brazoria Democrat 26,336 D. C. Dickson Montgomery. . .Know- Nothing. .. 17,965 M. T. Johnson. Tarrant. ..." 809 George T. Wood Polk 276 Scattering 26 45,412 1857 Hardin R. Runnels Bowie Democrat 32,552 Sam Houston ..Walker.. .Independent. 28,678 61,230 Parties in Texas 645 VOTE FOR GOVERNOR, 1845-1916 Continued Year Candidates County Party Vote I Total 1859 Sam Houston Walker Independent. Hardin R. Runnels. . . . Bowie Democrat. . . . Scattering 1861 Francis R. Lubbock Harris Democrat Edward Clark Harrison Democrat Thomas J. Chambers. . .Liberty Democrat. . . . 1863 Pendleton Murrah Harrison Democrat Thomas J. Chambers. . .Liberty Democrat. . . . Scattering 1866 J. W. Throckmorton. . . Collin Democrat. . . . Elisha M. Pease Travis Republican . . 1869 Edmund J. Davis Nueces Radical Re- publican . . . Andrew J. Hamilton. . . Travis Conservative Republican. Hamilton Stuart. . , . Galveston Democrat. . . . 36,227 27,500 61 21,854 21,730 13,759 17,511 12,455 1.070 63,788 57,343 31,036 1873 Richard Coke Edmund J. Davis. . , . . McLennan .... Democrat. . . . . Xueces Republican 1876 Richard Coke McLennan Democrat. . William Chambers Chambers Republican 1878 Oran M. Roberts Smith Democrat. . W. H. Hamman Robertson Greenback. A. B. Norton Dallas Republican Scattering 1880 Oran M. Roberts Smith Democrat. . Edmund J. Davis Travis Republican . W. H. Hamman . . . Robertson . . . Greenback. 49,2771 12,168] 61,445 I 39,901! 39,092 380J 79,373 , 85,549 42.633 128,182 ,150.581 47,719|198,300 I ,158,933 55,002 23,402 1882 John Ireland Guadalupe. . George W. Jones Bastrop Democrat. .. Independent- Greenback. Jerome B. Ro'bertson . . . McLennan .... ? , 99 166,101 64,382 33,721 150,891 ,102,501 334 237,436 264,204 253,726 646 Platforms of Political Year VOTE FOR GOVERNOR, 1845-1916 Continued Candidates County Party Vote Total 1884 John Ireland. Guadalupe Democrat. . .212,234 George W. Jones Bastrop Independent . 88,45( A. B. Norton Dallas Republican . . . 25,557 326,241 1886 Lawrence S.Ross McLennan Democrat 228,776 A. M. Cochran Dallas Republican . . . 65,236 E. L. Dohoney Lamar Prohibition . . 19,186 Scattering 102 313,300 1888 Lawrence S. Ross McLennan Democrat 250,338 Marion Martin Navarro Fusion 98,447 348,785 1890 James S. Hogg Smith -Democrat 262,432 Webster Flanagan Rusk Republican . . 77,742 E. C. Heath Rockwall Prohibition. . 2,235 342,409 1892 James S. Hogg Smith Democrat 190,486 George Clark McLennan Democrat. . . .133,395 Thomas L. Nugent Tarrant Populist 108,483 D. M. Prendergast Limestone Prohibition . . 1,605 A. J. Houston Dallas "Reform" Republican . 1,322 Scattering 176 435,467 1894 Charles A. Culberson . . . Dallas Democrat 216,373 Thomas L. Nugent Tarrant Populist 159,676 W. K. Makemson Williamson. . . ."Regular" Republican. 57,147 J. M. Dunn Hopkins Prohibition . . 21,295 John B. Schmltz Denton "Reform" Republican. 5,304 Scattering 1,076|460,871 1896 Charles A. Culberson. .Dalles Democrat 298,528 Jerome C. Kearby. .... Dalles Populist 238,692 Randolph Clark McLennan Prohibition. . 1,876 Scattering 682 539,778 1898 Joseph D. Sayers Bastrop Democrat 291,548 Barnett Gibbs Dallas Populist 114,955 B. P. Bailey Harris Prohibition . . 2,437 G. H. Royal Lampasas Socialist Labor 552 Scattering -. 62 409,554 Parties in Texas 647 VOTE FOR GOVERNOR, 1845-1916 Continued Year Candidates County Party Vote I Total 1900 Joseph D. Sayers Bastrop Democrat 303,586 R. E. Haiinay Waller Republican. ..112,864 T. J. McMinn Bexar Populist 26,579 G. H. Royal Lampasas Socialist Labor 155 Scattering 6,155 449,339- 1902 S. W. T. Lanham Parker Democrat 266,076 George W. Burkett Anderson Republican. . 65,706 J. M. Mallett Johnson Populist 12,387 G. W. Carroll Jefferson ...... Prohibition . . 8,708 Scattering 3,273 359,150 1904 S. W. T. Lanham Parker Democrat 206,167 James G. Lowden Taylcr Republican. .. 56,865 Pat B. Clark Red River Populist 9,301 W. D. Jackson McLennan . . . . -Prohibition . . 4,509 Word H. Mills Dallas Social Democrat... 2,847 Frank Leitner Socialist Labor 552 Scattering 170 2gO,411 1006 Thomas M. Campbell. . .Anderson Democrat. . . .149,105 Carey A. Gray Fannin Republican . . . 23,771 C. A. Atchison Grayson "Reorgan- ized" Rep. . 5,395 George Clifton Edwards Dallas Socialist 2,958 J. W. Pearson Ellis Prohibition . . 2,215 A. S. Dowler Socialist Labor 260 183,704 1908 Thomas M. Campbell. . Anderson Democrat 218,956 John N. Simpson Dallas Republican. .. 73,305 J. C. Rhodes Van Zandt Socialist 8,100 E. C. Heath Rockwall Prohibition . . 243 William B. Cook Socialist Labor 148 C. L. Martin Independent . 3 Scattering 9 300,764 648 Platforms of Political VOTE FOR GOVERNOR, 1845-1916 Continued Year Candidates Coimty Party Vote Total 1910 Oscar B. Colquitt Kaufman Democrat 174,596 J. O. Terrell Bexar Republican . . . 26,191 Reddin Andrews Bastrop Socialist 11,538 A. J. Houston Jefferson Prohibition. . 6,052 Carl Schmidt McCulloch Socialist Labor 436 1912 Oscar B. Colquitt Kaufman Democrat .... 233,073 Reddin Andrews Bastrop Socialist. . . , C. W. Johnson Young Republican. Ed. C. Lassater Brooks Progressive. A. J. Houston Jefferson Prohibition . K. E. Choate Harris Socialist Labor. . 25,258 22,914 15,741 2,353 398 218,813 299,737 1914 James E. Ferguson Bell Democrat 175,804 E. R. Meitzen Lavaca Socialist 25,083 John W. Philp Dallas Republican. . . 11,411 P. M. Ethridge Dallas Progressive. . 1,794 K. E. Choate. Harris Socialist Labor 590 Scattering 27 214,709 1916 James E. Ferguson. . . . Bell Democrat. . . .296,667 R. B. Creager Cameron Republican . . 49,118 E. R. Meitzen Lavaca Socialist 14,580 H. W. Lewis Dallas Prohibition . . 3,200 Scattering 17 363,582 2. VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, 1848-1916 Tear | Party | Vote Total 1848 Democrat 10,668 Whig 4,509 15,177 1852 Democrat 13,044 Whig 4,995 18,039 1856 Democrat 31,169 Know-Nothing I 15,639 46,808 Parties in Texas 649 VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, 1848-1916 Continued Year 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 Party Vote Total Democrat . 47548 Constitutional Union 15,438 62,986 Liberal Republican ... 66546 Republican 47481 Straight Democrat 2580 116 607 Democrat 104 803 Republican 44,803 149 606 Democrat 156 428 Republican .... 57 893 Greenback 27405 241 726 Democrat 225,309 Republican 93141 Prohibition 3,534 Greenback 3321 325 305 Democrat 234 883 Republican 88422 Union Labor 29459 Prohibition 4,749 357,513 Democrat 239 148 People's Party 99688 Republican 81,444 Prohibition 2165 422445 Democrat 370,434 Republican 167 520 People 's Party 79572 "Gold" Democrat 5046 Prohibition . 1.78 6 624.35 650 Platforms of Political VOTE FOB PRESIDENT, 1848-1916 Continued 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 Republican 121,173 People's Party 20,976 Prohibition 2644 Social Democrat 1841 Socialist Labor 160 414,131 Democrat 167,200 Republican 51,242 People's Party 8,062 Prohibition 4292 Socialist 2,791 Socialist Labor 421 234 008 Democrat 216,737 Republican 65,602 Socialist 7,870 Prohibition 1,634 People's Party 994 Socialist Labor 176 Independent 115 293 128 Democrat . . . 221 589 Republican 28,853 Progressive 26,755 Socialist 25743 Prohibition 1,738 Socialist Labor . . 442 305,120 Democrat 285,980 Republican 64673 Socialist . . . 19 011| Prohibition . 2,057! 371,721 Parties in Texas 651 3. POLL TAX PAYMENTS Year Number 1908 561,838 1909 556,893 1910 535,352 1911 548,631 1912 571,961 1913 520,394 1914 , 606,765 1915 1916 588,382 These totals are copied from the Dallas News and the Texas Almanac, published by the News. The News estimates the num- ber of exemptions at fifteen per cent of the paid poll taxes. 4. VOTE CAST FOR GOVERNOR AT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY Year Candidate Vote Total 1906 T. M. Campbell 90,345 M. M. Brooks 70,064 0. B. Colquitt 68,529 C. K. Bell 65,168 294,106 1908 T. M. Campbell 202,608 R. R. Williams 117,459 320,067 1910 0. B. Colquitt 146,526 W. Poindexter 79,771 Cone Johnson 76,050 R. V. Davidson 53,187 J. Martin Jones 1,906 357,440 1912 0. B. Colquitt 219,808 W. F. Ramsev. . 179,857 399,665 652 Platforms of Political 1914 J. E. Ferguson 236,952 T. H. Ball 191,952 Leopold Morris 6,656 434,903 s 1916 J. E. Ferguson 237,869 C. H. Morris 171,888 H. C. Marshall 6,571 416,328 5. VOTE ON STATE-WIDE PROHIBITION Year For Against Total 1887 129,270 220,627 349,897 1911 231,096 237,393 468,489 6. VOTE ON QUESTION OF SUBMISSION BY LEGISLATURE OF A PROHIBITION AMENDMENT TO STATE CONSTITUTION Year For Against Total 1908 142,614 139,335 281,949 1910 154,716 125,962 280,678 1914 155,801 177,822 333,623 1916 174,435 172,332 346,767 *The figures for 1914 are taken from the Dallas News, August 6, 1914. 1. INDEX TO NAMES Abbot, Jo., 186, 353. ALby, M. E. f 54. Abercrombie, L A., 93. Abercrombie, W. C., 367. Abernathy, M. G., 280, 520. Abner, David, 151, 176, 617. Abner, David J., Jr., 438. Abney, Hamp, 619. Abney, J. G-, 280. Abney, John, 434. Achison, Alex W., 4?9, 488, 489, 491, 631. A< ker, , 215. Acres, J. C., 176. A dair. W. A., 264. Adams, A. D., 306, 308. Adams, Earl, 287. Adams, J. G., 432. Adams, J. M., 218, 423, 472. Adams, J. P., 619. Adams, J. Q., 147, 148. Adams, J. T., 462, 563. Adams, Jed C., 497, 504, 520. Adams, Jesse, 424. Adams, Jesse M., 472. Adr.ms, Joseph, 504. Adams, Tom, 558, 563. Adams, W. S J., 93. Adams, Z. T., 209, 211. Aakins, John, 498. Acikins, W. L., 462. Adkisson, G. J., 350. Adler, H. C., 491, 576. Agnew, E. L., 317, 339, 342, 371. Ahrenbeck, William, 154. Aiken, R., 327. Akridge, R. P., 498, 519, 554, 573. Alderdyce, J. M., 619, 623. Aldi edge, George, 353, 366. Aldwell, W. L., 272. Alexander, C., 491. Alexander, D. M., 546. Alexander, F. B., 209. Alexander, F. P., 182. Alexander, J. M., 263. Alexander, J. P., 229, 251. Alexander, L C., 209, 218, 258, 280, 323, 350, 352, 353, 363. Alexander, R. J., 470. Alexander, Richey, 514. Alexander, William, 102, 155. Allen, E. B., 187. Allen, F. C., 556 Allen, H. H., 85, 87. Allen, J. A., 274. Allen, J. K., 314. Allen, J. L., 44. Allen, James R., 379, 423. Allen, Noah, 554, 597, 614, 615. Allen, Richard, 118, 120, 141, 148, 151, 155, 176, 177, 190, 195, 214, 215, 234, 272, 359. Allen, Robert B., 526. Allen, U. W., 439, 441, 458, 477. Allen, W. A., 93. Allen, W. H., 371 Allen, W. J., 615. Allen, W. M., 231. Allison, J. G., 284, 286. Allison, William B , 357. Alsbury, Alex, 251. Alsbury, E. P., 380, 384, 396, 397, 400, 423, 453, 454, 472. Altbayer, Philip, 252, 338, 361. Alterman, C. F., 251. Amlin, J. M., 628. Amory, Nathaniel, 56. Anderson, A. H., 538. Anderson, A. L., 577. Anderson, D. C., 359. Anderson, Ed., 345. Anderson, J. E., 109. Anderson, J. F., 216. Anderson, J. M., 248. Anderson, James M., 93, 124. Anderson, M. A., 564. Anderson, T. R., 391. Anderson, T. Scott, 68, 93. Anderson, Tom, 292. Anderson, W. R , 98. Andrew, G. W., 338. Andrews, B. N., 500. Andrews, E. L., 252. Andrews, Frank, 290, 384, 452, 46:>, 496. Andrews, H. H., 438. Andrews, John L., 481, 482, 552. Andrews, Mrs. John L., 552. Andrews, R. G., 416. Andrews, Reddin, 424, 527, 546, 564, 648. Andrews, T. D, 310. Andrews, Thomas, 347. Andrews, W. H., 155, 195, 214. Andrews, W. L., 174. Andrews, W. T., 432. Andross, Walter A., 68. Angel, E. L., 392. Angell, E. H., 554. Augier, J. Sam, 617. Ankrim, Joel L., 51, 56. Antle, Velmer, 573, 601. Ai-tony, E. L., 353, 366. Antony, William, 390. Armistead, George, 500. Armistead, W. T., 182, 384. Armstrong, A. M , 305, 361. Armstrong, Alex G., 439. Armstrong, George W., 432, 521, 526 Armstrong, J. T., 361. Armstrong, James, 122. Armstrong, James R., 51, 93. Armstrong, M. L., 95. Armstrong, R. A., 483. Armstrong, Robert, 232. Armstrong, W. E., 367. Armstrong, William, 109. Arnold, G. W., 330. Arthur, Chester A., 214, 215, 216 Asl-ury, A., 301, 302. Aschenbeck, J. C., 527. Ashby, H. S. P., 293, 297, 298, 314, 316, 332, 334, 380, 453. 654 Index to Names Ashe, J B., 28, 29, 52. Ashford, J. G., 462. Askew, Richard L., 93. Assig, Dr. , 154. Astin, J. R., 503, 607, 619, 634. Atcheson, J. T., 361. Atchison, C. A, 647. Atchison, D. D., 85, 88. Atkinson, E. W, 554. Atwell, B. D., 305. Atwell, William H., 337, 360, 439, 459. 475, 486, 514, 538, 574, 617. Aubrey, William, 205, 390. Ault, John S., 158. Austin, Norris, 51. Averill, W. C, 474, 498, 556, 574. Aycock, Thomas P., 78, 144. Ayres, Ben P., 290, 503. Ay res, R. C., 481. Backus, W. H., 470. Bacon, E M., 124. Bacon, Otis, 617. Bacon, W. P., 95. Bycon, William, 526, 537, 588. Baer, Phil E., 576, 605, 606, 616, 632 Baer, R. B., 303. Bagby, B. C, 84. Bagby, Will T., 618. Bagley, N. G., 174. Bailey, A. B., 378, 379. Bailey, B. P., 305, 306, 308, 336, 379, 409, 410, 446, 478, 481, 483, 646. Bailey, D. R., 588. Bailey, E. H., 363. Bailey, G. F., 176. Bailey, Joseph W., 279, 353, 370, 401, 404, 407, 416, 461, 492, 496, 503, 507, 509, 510, 533, 536, 549, 585, 619. Bailey, W. H., 416. Bailey, W. J , 428. Bailey, W. L., 465. Baillio, F. B., 389. Bain, J. W., 349 Baines, G. W., Jr., 248. Baird, C. W., 434. Baird, G. W., 349. Baird, J. W., 335, 424, 454, 461. Baird, James E., 281. Baird, R. B., 371. Baird, S. M, 628. Baird, W. T., 234. Baker, A. H., 588. Baker, Andrew J., 311, 339, 384, 466, 503. Baker, Benjamin M., 147, 221. Baker, C C., 554. Baker, D. P., 574. Baker, F. H., 514. Baker, H. A., 554, 571, 573, 597, 615. Baker, Horace, 223. Baker, J. K., 537. Baker, Jess, 543. Baker, John B, 478, 498, 601, 615. Baker, John W., 453, 454, 478. Baker, Julius A., 202. Baker, M. A., 251. Baker, M. N ., 538. Baker, Sidney S., 558, 562, 643. Baker, Thomas H., 141, 155. Baker, Tyler A., 514, 554, 574. Baker, W. J., 574. Baker, Waller S., 310, 322, 330, 331, 465. Baker, Walter E., 486. Baldwin, A. C., 619, 623. Baldwin, D. J., 85, 87, 141, 155. Ball, A. J., 98, 124. Ball, Albert, 52. Ball. John J., 322, 384. Ball, T. A., 601. Ball, Thomas H., 258, 310, 353, 415, 427, 447, 461, 504, 508, 543, 546, 557, 652. Ballard, J. T., 515. Ballinger, Henry, 215. Eallinger, Thomas J., 339, 342, 390. 447. Bankhead, R. M., 115. Banks, W. F. 359. Banks, W. M., 327. Baptist, E. D., 411. Barbee, James G., 416. Barber, A., 411. Barber, Bryan, 453. Barbour, W. W., 330. Barden, E. B., 514. Barden, T. C., 141. Barefoot, G W., 345. Baiker, Bob, 465, 520, 533. Barker, Joseph, 51. Barkley, Lon M., 602, 606. Barlow, G. W., 486, 602, 606. Barnard, H. E., 221. Barnes, J. W, 311. Fiarnett, Joe, 297. Barnwell, John, 503. Barrett, James W., 511. Barrett, T. M., 574. Barrett, W. J., 248, 306. Barren, S B., 105. Barry, A. R., 280. Barry, Bryan T., 211, 222, 258, 353, 356. Barry, Buck, 543. Barry, J. B., 396. Bartholomew. E. C., 514 Bartholomew, W. T., 432. Bartlett, Church J., 557. Burtlett, F. W., 474. Bartlett, G. T, 554. Bartlingck, A., 308. Bass, C. L,., 504, 508. Bass, J. D., 280. Bassett, Ben H., 109, 144, 182, 198. Bates, James, 173, 218 Bates, Joseph, 197, 237. Battle, C. J,. 242. Battle, William C., 93. Baughman, Theo., 411, 458, 478. Baxter, J. H., 500. Baylor, John R, 190. Beach, E. E., 615. Beach, George N., 349, 376, 377. Beach, H. L., 614. Beach, L. K, 256. Beale, R. C., 268. Beall, Charles, 242. Be-all, F. J., 462. Beall, J. H., 527. Beall, Thomas J., 158, 174. Beall, William, 389. Beard, B. B., 193, 280, 310. Beard, Thomas F., 549. Eeasley, John C., 339, 342, 371. Beatty, E. L., 462. B-atty, Lee, 354. Index to Names 655 Beauchamp, Mrs. Jennie Bland, 244, 254, 255. Reauchamp, S. A.. 244. Beazley, S. W., 93. Feck, Carl, 439. Beck, Charlie W., 489. 606, 617, 631. Beck, Harry, 409, 437, 556. L>eckham, Clifford G., 557. Beckham, R. W.. 111. I >dell, A. T., 186. Her, Carlos, 465. Bee, Hamilton P., 56, 58, 65. Beer, Joe, 564. Bthrens, H, 308. Belden, Samuel, 558, 562. Bell, A. J., 416, 432. Bell, Alden, 310. Bell, Charles K., 218, 404, 447, 651. Bell, James H., 95, 100, 112, 114, 117, 141, 177, 190. Bell, John, 87, 88. Bell, John G., 177- I-.fll, P. Hansboroiigh, 32, 64, 68, 644. Bell, R. V., 301, 332, 380. Bell, T. J., 174. Fell, Thomas, 497. Bell, W. D, 416. Bell, W. G., 532. Bell, W. J., 483, 484, 513, 527, 529, 564, 590, 625. Bellinger, Edmund, 410, 420. Bellinger, Eustace, 484, 514, 527, 529, 590, 625. Bemusdoffer, J. V., 249. Benge, G. C., 95. Bennett, A. P., 115. Bennett, Grant R., 390, 391. Bennett, T , 300. Bennett, W. G., 371. Bennick, A. R., 190. Bennington, John, 323. Benson, Ellis, 85. Benson, James U., 391. Bentley, A. L , 397. Bentley, D. E., 221. Bentley, H. U, 199, 332, 379, 380, 396 461, 472. Berny, A., 109. Berry, A. W., 56 Berry, E. A., 504. Berry, J- F., 186. Berry, J. T., 211. Berry, W. D., 326. Betts, G. W., 263. Beverly, W. T., 356, 371, 404. Bewley, S. B., 127. Bickett, John H., 432. Bickler, Jacob, 308, 323. Bickley, W. P., 564. Bieberstein, , 154. Bierbower, J. C., 573, 601. Bigelow, I. B., 50, 56. Bigger. J. C., 252, 292. Blgham, R. C., 367. Billings. William, 176. BJllingsley, J. S., 513. Billingsley, W. H., 180. Binkley, C. C., 95, 115, 195, 214, 215 217, 231. Einyon, W. A., 423 Birdwell, P. K., 618. Bii knead, Claude V., 452, 537, 643. Birmingham, H. P.. 268. Birthright, C. E., 298. Bisland, J. B , 550. Black, M. G., 465, 550. Black, S. E., 93. Black, W. H., 615. Blackburn, W. A., 514. Blackshear, W. S., 247. Blackwell, S. L., 557. . Blain, J. L., 244. Blair, W. B., 305, 338. Elaine, J. R., 434. Blaine, James G., 215, 222, 230, 231, O O O Blair, R. J., 141, 143. Blair, T. O., 248. Blake, J. W., 287, 318, 339, 342, 356, 370, 389, 394, 395, 401, 415, 447. Blake. Thomas P., 69, 174. Biake, Thomas W., 69, 174. Biake, W. P., 426, 454, 472. Blalock, E. B., 452, 462, 469. Blanchette, Lee, 416. Blanding, J. M., 311. Blane, Frank C., 617. Blankenbaker, J. B, 459, 474. Blaser, Carl, 564. Bk.dsoe, A., -116, 117, 118, 121. Bledsoe. F. F., 628. Bledsoe, Joseph, 220, 353. Blessing, A. T., 481. Bliss, Don A, 290, 317, 371. Blocker, F. B., 182. Blount, Eugene H., 557. Bicunt, F. R., 254. Bleunt, J. B., 371, 389. Bicunt, Stephen W, 220, 237, 241, 505. 546. Blcunt, W. H., 215, 242, 252. Bluitt, B. R., 409, 411. Blythe, W. T., 93. Board, A. G, 356. Boaz, H. A., 546. Boerne, R. H., 264. Boettcher, J. O., 614. Bogart, Samuel, 44, 49, 50, 51, 56, 58, 72, 87. Boggs, James, 273 Bolton, John H., 287. Bomar, J. E., 366. Bond, H. P., 552. Bonds, W. L., 483. Bone, Charles R, 441, 458, 477, 538. 617. Bonner, B. F., 588. Bonner, D. H. L., 453. Bonner, E. R., 144. Bcnner, Thomas R , 127, 175, 186, 197, 220, 237, 248. Bonner, AY. B.. 141. Bonner, Will H., 537. Bookout, John, 182, 258. Boon, Harry, 335. Boone, H. H., 109, 147, 174, 310. Bocne, Hood, 557. Booth, Dewitt C, 144, 174. Booth, George M., 486, 498. Booth, J. W., 208, 211, 220. Booth, W. L., 199, 231, 242. Booty, A. J., 124. Borden. Henry L,., 554, 571, 572, 573, 601, 614, 615. Border, John P., 74. Bessy, F., 377. Bottorf, J. T., 353, 363, 416. Botts, Thomas B., 367, 370, 391. 656 Index to Names Bounds, E. W, 577, 584. Bourland, H. A., 305, 481. Bcurland, J. R., 306. Bourland, William H., 19, 43, 44. Bowden, Frank W., 65. Bower, E G., 186, 198, 280. Bowers, D. P., 173. Bowers, M. H., 127. Bowers, R. G., 478. Bowers, T. M., 163. Bowlby, S., 155. Bowles, Frank R., 322. Bowman, J. Hall, 405. Bowser, O. P., 353. Box, J. C., 526, 546. Box, John, 93 Boyd, A. E., 483. Boyd, J. A., 434. Boyd, J. H, 332. Bcyd, J. R., 564. Boyd, James, 147, 163. Boyd, L. L., 615. Boyd, W. R., 416. Boyett, W. C, 643. Boyles, F. M., 427. Boynton, C. M., 238. Boynton, Charles A., 409, 438, 441, 458, 459, 474, 477, 498, 515, 597. Boynton, George H., 416, 470, 503. Boynton, J. E., 255, 256, 305, 306, 488. Boynton, J. W., 572. Brachfield, C. L., 504, 508, 577, 584. 587. Brackenbraw, L. B., 394. Brackenridge, George W, 546. Brackenridge, John T., 218, 220. Bradford, H., 378. Bradford, J. W., 488. Bradley, G. S., 462. Bradley, E. J., 481. Bradley, J. L., 293, 314. Bradley, Joe S , 314, 316, 384, 400. Bradley, O. W., 302. Bradley, Tom C., 447, 452. Bradshaw, Amzi, 93, 147, 175, 182, 186, 202. Bradshaw, J. W., 229, 231. Brady, E. W., 176. Brady, John T., 199, 229, 264, 272. Bragg, J. R., 615 Brahan, R. W., 93, 537. Bralley, Francis M., 533, 577. Bramlette, William A., 280, 462. Branch, E. T., 78, 80, 81. Brashear, John, 85. Braubach, P., 154. Breeding, Enoch, 206. Breedlove, C. R., 311, 318. Breen, E., 631. Breen, Thomas, 303, 337. Breitz, A. C., 290, 371, 447. Brelsford, H. P., 389, 396, 504. Brewster, Calvin G., 234, 252, 438. Brewster, H. P., 174. Brewster, T. T., 434. Bridges, M. D., 392. Brigance, A. F., 389, 401. Briggs, G. W., 248. Briggs, R. C., 558, 562. Brim, J. K., 634. Brinkley, S. A., 564. Briscoe, John T., 558. Bristol, A. B , 190. Britton, F. L., 14 J. Britton, Forbes, 72, 74. Broaddus, A. S., 81, 93. Brock, James, 354. Brock, W. B., 266. Brockenbrough, Thomas S., 413, 439. Broiles, H. S., 246, 256, 257, 260. Pronson, E. A., 305. Broocks, Travis G., 44. Brooker, W. H., 248. Brooks, F. W., 615. Brooks, John H., 174, 389. Biooks, M. G., 617. Brooks, M. M., 401, 465, 503, 651. Biooks, R. A., 606. Brooks, R. E., 427. Brooks, Samuel P., 546, 634, 642. Erosig, H., 154. Broughton, E. T., 109, 124, 127, 144. Brounson, J. S., 298. Brown, , 147. Brown, A. J., 276, Brown, B. W., 208, 209. Brown, George P., 458. Brcwn, H. P., 310, 391. Brown, J. D, Jr., 526. Brown, J. M., 242. Brown, J. N., 272. Brown, J. R.. 564. Bicwn, J. W., 211. Brown, John, 43. Brown, John Henry, 89, 93, 172. Brown, John L.., 462. Brown, John M., 85. Brown, Peyton, 390. Brown, R. G., 526. Brown, R. T., 520, 526, 557. Brown, R. W., 520, 526. Brown, S. H., 631. Brown, Thomas, 445, 481, 500, 532V 552, 628. Brown, Thomas J., 158, 218, 258, 264.. 276, 280, 287, 339, 401, 465, 533. 577. Brown, W. E., 26-6. Brown, W. P, 391. Brown, William M., 202, 416. Browne, L. H., 290. Browning, J. N., 238. 240, 264, 339, 342, 401, 427. E] owning, R. J., 223. Browning, W. R, 564. Brownrigg, R. T., 72, 73, 74, 75, 81,. 89, 93. Fr o'wnson, L., 418. Broyles, M. H., 459, 489, 556. Bruce, Dan, 420. Bruce, L. N, 238. Bruce, M. T., 442, 444. Bruckmueller, Joseph, 152, 154. Brueggerhoff, W., 152. Brunner, John L., 588, 614. Brush, W. B., 515, 602 Bryan, Beauregard, 290. Bryan, G. W., 144. Bryan, Guy M., 15, 26, 50, 58, 81, 317. Bryan, Lewis A., 52. Bryan, Louis R., 427. Bryan, Moses Austin, 147. Bryan, Walter S., 201. Bryan, William J., 385, 403, 407, 417,. 425, 428, 495, 506, 521. Bryant, A. M., 141, 176. Bryant, C. W., 116. Bryant, G. T., 529. Eryant, S. A., 414. Index to Names 657 Buchanan, J. P., 533, 550, 577, 586. Buchanan, N, 290. Buchanan, S. H., 329. Buck, J. G. H., 380. Buckaloo, J. T.. 405. Buckler, J. A , 339, 342. Buckley, C. W., 75. Buckner, John W., 190. Buffmgton, J. C., 371. Buffington, T. P., 619, 623. Buford, J. M., 618. Bugbee, Thomas S-, 498. 514. Bullock, W. H., 280. Eumpass, J. K , 98. Buneau, A. E., 199. Bunton, John W., 158. Burbridge, Thomas B., 302, 330, 347. Burch, B. W., 379. Burch, L. J., 416. Bdrditt, H. N., 93. Burford, Nat M., 58. Burge, Alex, 215, 305 Bulges, Richard F., 521, 526. Burges, W. H., 174, 186, 197, 218, 258, 504, 508. Burgess, George F., 310, 416, 462, "533. Burgess, J. A., 488, 519. Buigess, J. L., 391. Burk, C A., 498, 515. Burk, John R., 58. Burke, C. C., 326. Eurke, J. W., 302, 460, 491. Burke, John L., 574. Burkett, George W, 251, 305, 409, 434, 437, 455, 460, 498, 514, 519, 542, 554 571, 573, 601, 615, 631, 647,. Burkhart, William H., 215, 242, 260. Burks, Hilton, 588, 614. Burl, , 100. Burleson, A. B., 72. Burleson, A. S., 622 Burleson, Edward, 12-14, 71. Burleson, Dr. R. C., 306, 335, 378. Purnet, David G., 12, 109. Burnett, J. C, 478. Burnett, J. H., 576, 606. Burnett, J. L., 112. Burnett, J. R., 177, 302. Burney, George E , 58, 109, 111. Burney, J. G., 380. Bi.rney, Marshall, 318, 379, 380. Burney, R. H., 344. Burns, , 208. Burns, Hugh, 486. Burns, J. C, 462. Burns, J. R., 176, 195. Burns, M. F., 574. Burns, S P., 247, 262, 354. Burns, Waller T., 413, 433, 438. Burress, C. A., 262. Burroughs, G. W., 556. Burroughs, James M., 65, 93. Burroughs, Sam R , 322. Burt, R. E., 483, 500. Burton, J. L., 231. Bi:rton, John I., 93. Burton, W. E, 190, 195. Burton, W. T., 157. Burton, Walter, 302. Bush, W. N., 290. Bushick, Frank H., 405, 432 462 Buster, Sterling, 497. Butler, , 407. Butler, E. A., 263. Butler, J. E., 462, 520, 526. Butler, J. W., 301, 329, 347, 498. Butler, James P., 120. Bv-tler, S. P., 100. Butler, T. B., 520, 526. Butler, W. P., 327, 347. Buttlar, August, 152. Butts, J. J., 370. Eyrd, William, 84. Byrne, , 103, 104. Byrne, T. C., 231, 234. Cabeen, D. H., 497. Cabiness, R. H., 379. Cage, Bruce C.. 514, 515. Cage, R. K., 147, 148. Cahill, Jack, 564. Cahill, Thomas, 511. Cain, B. B., 389. Cain, Henry B., 393. Cain, John O., 347, 439, 489, 491. Caldwell, A. H., 405, 411. Caldwell, C., 95, 143. Caldwell, C. C., 141. ' Oaldwell, J. R., 478. Caldwell, John, 68. Caldwell, N. C., 157. Caldwell, Robert A., 439. Caldwell, W. N., 339, 342. Caldwell, Will, 317. Calhoun, A. W., 290, 292. Calhoun, E. Foster, 75. Call, E. O., 379, 384. Oallan, Austin, 601, 602. Callan, James, 533, 577. Callicut, John S., 643. Galloway, J. M., 279. Calloway, L. M., 379. Calmore, Charles, 231, 286. Calvert, Robert, 80. Calvin, E. A., 469. Cameron, Donald, 115. Cameron, R. A., 264. Cameron, W. D-., 190. Cameron, William, 264. Camp, A. L., 447. Camp, B. W., 287. Camp, J. L., 144. Camp, L. B., 95. Camp, L. P., 50. Camp, W. R., 322. Campbell, A. H., 190. Campbell, C. M., 157, 212, 215. Campbell, J. B., 601. Campbell, J. L., 552, 553, 570, 628, 630. Campbell, J. M., 371. Campbell, L. L., 302. Campbell, L. R., 500. Campbell, Robert C., 93. Campbell, Robert F., 252, 302. Campbell. T. J., 175. Campbell, Thomas M. 238 401 447 452, 462, 492, 507, 520, 521, 546, 557,' 558, 562, 647, 651 Campbell, W. H. 190 Cane, N. M., 216. Canes, W. W., 546. Cannon, B. F., 323. Cannon, Fenton, 367. Capps, William, 405, 416, 462. Garden, George A., 344, 415, 497, 524 Cardwell, John, 209. Carhart, J. W., 303, 597. Carl, J. F., 619, 634. Carlisle, J. M., 317, 339, 385. 42 328 658 Index to Names Carlisle, John G., 369, 375, 549. Carlock, M. D., 462, 558, 562. Carmichall, J. D., 625. Carnahan, G., 530. Carne-3, G. W., 379. Carries, J. J., 367. Carney, John, 500, 513. Carpenter, Harry L., 462, 497. Carpenter, J. B., 128. Carpenter, J. L., 401, 404. Carpenter, R. E., 550. Carpenter, R. W., 317, 371. Carper, W. A., 349. Carr, , 214. Carrigan, A. H., 287. Carrington, D. C., 186. Carroll, B. H., 248. Carroll, George W., 306, 308, 336, 444, 480, 481, 483, 500, 647. Carroll, J. A., 209, 237, 240, 241, 258, 266. Carroll, J. S., 483. Carroll, John W., 163. Carrothers, A. J., 379. Carruth, A. J., 262. Carruthers, A. B., 380. Carson, W. H., 338. Carson, W. R., 214. Carswell, R. E., 462, 466, 470, 537, 558, 562. Carter, B. A., 504, 508. Carter, Champ, 105, 128. Carter, Erastus, 120. Carter, E. H., 497. Carter, George W., 104, 107, 109. Carter, J. D., 306, 308. Carter, J. H., 470, 513, 514. Carter, J. I., 478. Carter, J. S'., 439. Carter, S'am T., 157. Carter. W. Frank, 120. Cartwright, J. W., 144. Cartwright, Mathew, 268. Caruthers, B. F., 29, 52. Caruthers, S. R., 187, 190, 199. Caruthers, W. P., 264. Carver, W. Y., 416, 432, 504, 508, 533. Casey, Lewis F., 93. Gate, Horace M., 218, 241, 258, 265. Catts, W. H., 411. Cave/E. W., 105, 107. Gavin, E. D., 384. Cavin, T. S., 427, 447. Gavin, W. J.. 186, 209. Cavitt, Joe, 643. Cazneau, William L., 43. Chaisson, Charles J., 615. Chalmers, John G., 43. 44. Chalmers, W. Leigh, 75, 158, 164, 173. Chambers. E. S., 280, 427. Chambers, Ed., 172, 197. Chambers, John G., 93. Chambers, Thomas J., 43, 44, 56, 69, 93, 109, 129, 644, 645. Chambers, William, 93, 141, 155, 176, 177, 195, 260, 645. Chancellor, J. W., 588, 607, 634. Chancy, A. W., 215. Chandler, Fred W., 187. Chapin, D. B., 504. Chapman, J. L., -500. Charlton, N. B., 56, 58, 74, 93. Chase, , 109. . Chase, Fred, 301. Chase, Jesse A., 615. Chase, W. R., 176, 195. Cheaney, J., 478. Chelvia, J. M., 489. Chenoweth, James Q., 174, 186, 198. Chernin, Fannie, 530. Chesley, A. A., 221, 287, 311. Chessher, Dan S., 384, 416, 497. Chesterner, J. C., 363. Chew, J. C., 105. Childs, J. H., 439. Chilton, F. B., 182. Chilton, George W., 68, 72, 74, 78, 93, 174. Chilton, Horace, 249, 257, 287, 317. 370, 401. Chisum, Isham, 93. Ohoate, K. E., 588, 648. Christian, B. F., 144. Christian, E. G. f 498, 542, 554, 571, 572. Christian, W. L., 353. Christian, William H., 439. Churchill, Melvin C., 500. Claiborne, John M., 197, 211, 475. Clardy, Mrs. M. -M., 285. Clark, , 109. Clark, A. A., 258. Clark, Addison, 244, 284, 332. Clark, B. M., 268. Clark, C. E., 577. Clark, Edward, 19, 50, 645. Clark, F. B. S., 314. Clark, F. P., 290. Clark, George, 158, 173, 220, 249, 251, 257, 258, 310, 316, 322, 329, 339, 342, 350, 353, 363, 366, 367, 389, 390, 549, 646. Clark, G. B., 488. Clark, H. T., 235. Clark, H. W., 568. Clark, I. E., 416, 618, 634. Clark, J. W. A., 631. Clark, James, 287, 384, 390, 452. Clark, John H., 174. Clark, L. W., 434. Clark, Lee A.. 427, 462, 546, 558, 562, 618, 619, 623. Clark, Pat B., 298, 424, 472, 647. Clark, Randolph, 231, 248, 254, 306, 378, 478, 501, 6.46. Clark, V. M., 462. Clark, W. H., 339, 342. Clark, William. Jr., 93. Clarke, J. W. A., 489. Clay, John O., 366. Clayton, A. B., 564. Clayton, J. A., 93. Clayton, W. T., 305, 306, 308, 336, 378, 379, 481. Cleaves, F. L., 215, 229, 231. Cleaves, Frank, 242, 327. Clegg, G. C., 607, 634. Clements, Reuben R., 65. Clements, William, 287. Clemmens, W. E., 334. Clendennin, A. J., 290. Clendennin, W. H., 452, 465, 503, 577, 584, 587. Cleveland, Charles L., 93, 163, 175. Cleveland, Grover, 221, 238, 252, 258, 259, 266, 313, 338, 340, 342, 346, 349, 354, 367, 369, 375, 425, 549. Cleveland, John S., 163. Cleveland, W. H., 79. Cleveland, William, 223, 224. Clifford, G. G., 357, 434, 475, 478. Clifton, H. F., 215. Index to Names 659 Cline, H. B., 394. Clinton, C. A., 554. Cloar, E. G., 418. Clope, L. A., 148. Olopton, A. G., 93, 209. Clopton, Lucius C., 50. Clough, Georg-e, 348. dough, Jeremiah M., 56, 58, 84. Clymer, M., 500. Cobb, J. B., 256, 262. Cobb, Zack Lamar, 557. Cobbs, T. D., 461. Cochran, Dr. Arch M., 177, 193, 195, 232, 242, 251, 302. 337, 352, 646. Cochran, H. B., 418. Cochran, John H., 197. Cochran, John L., 221. Cochran, T. B., 287, 311, 371. Cock, John, 614. Cocke, J. Walter, 554, 555, 574, 602, 631. Cocke, John W., 514, 519, 538, 542. Cockrell, Fred, 371. Cockrell, J. V., 248. Cockrell, Joseph E., 416, 432, 492. Gofer, Robert E., 546. Coffee, John, 251. Coffee, John F., 206. Coffee, Maurice, 218. Coffield. Charles A., 371. Coke. Richard. 93. 107, 127, 158, 174, 233, 267, 356, 427, 549, 645. Coker, L. B., 500. Colby, George B., 338, 361. Cole, Murray, 120. Cole, S. H., 458. Cole, W. R., 300, 473. Coleman, W. S 1 ., 197. Colfax, Schuyler, 113. Collier, John, 453. Collins, , 263. Collins, A., 453. Collins, A. R., 214. Collins, G. K., 491. Collins, Jasper, 416. Collins, Mrs. Josephine, 532. Collins, N. G., 264. Collins, R. M., 326. Collins, T. P., 51. Collins, V. A., 396, 424. Collins, W. B., 547, 550. Collins, W. W., 234. Collins, Walter E., 533, 587, 612, 614. Colquitt, Oscar B., 318, 322, 330, 447, 520, 533, 542, 549, 576, 584, 607, 608, 648, 651. Colson, G. A., 378. Colwell, A. H., 345, 359. Colwell, F., 361. Colwell, R. E., 347. Colwick, A. M., 453. Combs, Henry, 336. Compton, M. J., 504, 508. Cone, C. A., 316. Cone, J. B., 300. Cone, J. C., 216. Conibear, E. H., 432, 445, 446, 478, 481, 500, 513, 530, 568, 628, 629. Conine, R. E., 290. Conkling, Roscoe, 253. Conkrite, A. H., 353. Connallee, C. U., 36. Connally, Tom, 462T Conner, W. C., 264. Connor. E. S., 326, 330, 353, 363, 366, 367, 369. Connor, S. S., 514. Connor, T. H., 401. Connor, W. F., 486, 601, 602. Converse, E. V., 615. Conway, J. T., 500. Cook, Ben, 533, 550. Cook, E. G., 552, 629. Cook, H. F., 481, 500. Cook, J. G.. 268. Cook, J. W., 290. Cook, James E., 93. Cook, Richard V., 174. Cook, W. D. S., 128. Cook, William B., 527, 647. Cooke, Gustave, 79, 163, 249. Coombs, A. J., 554. Coon, R. P., 588. Cooper, D. H., 478. Cooper, J. C., 483. Cooper, James, 552. Cooper, James B., 176. Cooper, L. W., 115, 176, 177, 190, 214, 216. Cooper, M. S., 401. Cooper, Oscar H., 237, 265. Cooper, S. B., 287, 401, 404, 415, 427, 465. Cooper, S. B., Jr., 504, 508, 537. Coopwood, Bethel, 145, 173. Cope, J. M., 617. Copeland, J. B., 542, 576. Corbin, J. M., 280. Coreth, F., 308, 323. Corley, A. P., 356. Cornelius, W. P., 533, 588. Corning, A. F., 215, 223. Coss, John N., 148. Cotter, G. W., 305. Cotton, A. E., 124. Cotton, J. M., 390. Cottrell, J. D., 447. Cousins, R. B., 465, 492, 520. Cowan, J. C., 103. Cowan, W., 100. Cowden, C. W., 501, 553. Cowell, J. A., 199. Cowen, M. L,., 281. Cox, E. Tom, 297. Cox, George H., 553. Cox, John H., 416. Cox, John J., 428, 462, 464. Cozart, H. M., 52. Crabbe, E. G., 538. Crabbe, R. H., 554, 615. Oraddock, John T., 322, 330. Crafts, W. A., 155. Craig, A. W., 241. Craig, R. K., 242. Crane, Charles J., 615. Crane, Ed., 614. Crane, Martin M., 258, 279, 317, 339, 384, 401, 403, 557. Crane, William Gary, 231. Cranfill, J. B., 244, 246, 248, 254, 256, 285, 286, 306, 335, 336, 378, 410, 432, 446, 478, 481, 500, 502, 512, 513, 543, 552. Crank, W. H., 109. Cravens, J. E., 58. Cravens, N. A., 238. Crawford, F. E., 323. Crawford, J. T., 276, 300, 316. Crawford, John E., 311, 317. Crawford, M. L., 205, 353. Crawford, T. J., 51. Crawford, W. B., 260, 262, 263. 660 Index to Names Crawford, W. L., 158, 173, 238, 367, Crawford, Walter J., 526, 619, 623. 389, 390. Crawford, Wilbur F., 252, 301, 345, 347, 413, 439. Creager, R. B., 631, 648. Crenshaw, Jasper, 314. Crews, B. F., 601, 631. Crider, Dan C., 529, 654. Crier, J. M., 470, 484, 513. Critchlow, W. E., 500. Crockett, John M., 94, 128. Croft, W. W., 105. Crooks, , 323. Crosby, Josiah F., 74, 81. Crosby, Stephen, 55, 63, 75. Crosby, W., 223. Cross, A. J., 391. Cross, E., 100. Cross, W. B., 123, 148. Crouch, J. P., 481. Crow, M. R., 318. Crowley, Miles, 493, 504, 508, 533, 550, 558. Crozier, A. B., 208. Crozier, A. R., 211. Crumpton, R. S'., 607. Oulberson, Charles A., 218, 287, 317, 339, 353, 370, 384, 386, 403, 461, 492, 496, 533, 535, 536, 549, 557, 613, 634, 646. Culberson, David B., 109. Cullom, John H., 389, 396. Gulp, George H., 588, 607, 614. Cummings, B. Y., 606. Cummings, Sam, 155. Cuney, Norris Wright, 148, 151, 155, 157, 176, 195, 212, 214, 215, 229, 242, 251, 252, 272, 301, 345, 357, 359, 392. Cuney, P., 44. Cunningham, A. S., 19. Cunningham, Bryan, 206. Cunningham, J. F., 606. Cunningham, L. C., 256, 306. Cunningham, S. C., 378. Cureton, C. M., 423, 424, 426. Cureton, S. C., 224. Curry, E. P., 416. Curtis, E. P., 447, 452. Curtis, S., 100. Gushing, E. H., 68. Cypert, J. J., 458, 477, 486, 488. Dabbs, Helen L., 298. Daggett, E. M., 201. Dailey, A. B., 335, 478. Dailey, T. H., 326. Dailey, Tom, 486, 602. Dale, L. A., 607. Dale, Matt, 84. Dale, W. H., 151. Dalrymple, W. C., 98. Dalwigk, G., 154. Daly, Andrew, 8i5, 87. Daly, John, Jr., 573, 601. Damon, H. G., 284, 306, 335, 482, 444, 481, 500. Dancy, Jon W., 65, 72, 77, 93, 644. Daniel, Irwin, 363. Daniel, I. A., 558. Daniels, , 51, 109. Daniels, E. A., 281. Daniels, G. W., 474. Daniels, P. D., 576, 602. Daniels, R. D., 437. Daniels, S., 602. Daniels, W. T., 247. Darden, Fred J., 144, 158. Darden, Stephen H., 69, 124, 147, 158, 174, 182. Darling, Pat, 571. Darling, Tom J., 439, 455, 617, 631. Darnell, A. L., 141, 143, 155, 157, 246, 303. Darnell, Nicholas H., 644. Darrow, N. G, 306. Darwin, J. L., 474, 511. Dashiel, George R., 208. Dashiell, L. T., 357, 371, 384, 493, 520, 526. Daug-herty, .W. H., 369, 546. Davenport, J. H., 237, 240, 241. Ravenport, Thomas G., 93. David, H. A., 290. Davidson, A. B., 416, 447, 452, 492, 520, 533, 607, 634. Davidson, A. H , 93. Davidson, C. G., 567. Davidson, Charles, 493. Davidson, Robert V., 447, 465, 492, 520, 651. Davidson, Sam, 475, 488, 498, 519, 542, 554. Davidson, T. G., 143. Davidson, T. W., 557, 619, 623. Davidson, W. D., 266. Davidson, W. L,., 317, 339, 447, 520, 607. Da\is, , 109, 215. Davis, Alf, 81. Davis, A. L., 606. Davis, B.. H., 163, 198, 258. Davis, Charles, 326, 367, 533. Davis, D. F., 115. Davis, E., 256. Davis, Ed., 338, 361, 394. Davis, Edmund J., 95, 108, 112, 114, 116, 117, 120, 135, 142, 155, 176, 177, 179, 190, 195, 197, 206, 212, 214, 215, 294, 427, 645 Davis, Frank C., 497, 618. Davis, Fred W., 607, 634. Davis, G. C., 401. Davis, G. W., 71. Davis, H. K., 337, 360. Davis, J. O., 478. Davis, J. S , 405. Davis, J. T., 350. Davis, J. W., 606. Davis, James, 44, 50, 56, 62. Davis, James H., 314, 396, 607. Davis, Jefferson, 469, 549. Davis, John L., 577. Davis, John W., 367, 389. Davis, O. S , 201, 310. Davis, Robert A., 174. Davis, S. M. C., 347. Davis, W. B., 558, 563. Davis, W. E., 301, 357, 359, 392. Davis, W. H., 474. Davis, W. L., 465. Davis, W. O., 363, 367, 389, 390, 391. Davis, W. W., 229. Davis, Waters S , 303. Davis, William B., 52. Daws, &. O., 380. Dean, J. M., 242. Dean, Midlay, 182. Dean, P. W., 339, 342. Index to Names 661 Dean, W. L., 432. Dearmon, T. S., 454. DeArmond, R., 174, 237, 258, 264, 363. DeBruhl, John, 148. Debs, Eugene V., 349, 418. Decker, David E., 533, 588, 619, 634. Decker, J. M., 394. DeCordova, Paul, 68, 74, 75, 158. DeCordova, Phineas, 78. Deen, C., 93. Deen, S. W., 342. Degener, Edward, 95, 114, 116, 141. Deger, L. E., 394. DeGraffenreid, R. C., 258. DeGress, J. C, 215, 252, 254, 272, 302. DeLisle, L. C., 81. Dellums, Henry, 458, 475, 477. Delmage, C. E., 511. DeMontel, Charles, 93. DeMorse, Charles, 44, 50, 144, 209, 221. DeMorse, L. C., 211. Denman, LeRoy G., 339. Denman, W. L., 211. Dennis, D. F., 254. Dennis, I. M., 389. Dennis, N. W., 318. Dennis, P. F., 433, 437, 491. Dennis, P. J., 357. Denny, I. N., 74. Densmore, J. H , 416. Denson, James, 263. Denson, W. B., 248. Dent, Z. A., 231. Denton, A. N., 176. Denton, Ben H., 389, 395. Denton, J. M., 147. Derrick, W. H., 276. Devine, J. M., 65. Devine, Thomas J., 93, 124, 182. Devine, W. H., 211. Devlin, Harry, 190. Diamond, William W., 93. Dibbrell, J. A., 371. Dibbrell, James B., 248. Dibrell, J. B., 447, 452, 607. Dlckenson, John, 52. Dickerson, J. J., 301, 474, 617. Dickinson, A. S., 488. Dickinson, C. C.. 258. Dickinson, Henry, 102. Dickson, C. A., 455, 519. Dickson, Daniel C , 44. Dickson, David C., 36, 37, 56, 62, 63, 64, 77, 644. Dickson, J. L., 177. Dickson, J. W., 157. Dickson, John T., 550, 607. Dickson, W. L,., 437, 491. Dickson, W. T., 311. D:es, W. W., 416, 504. Diggs, E. E., 576, 602, 606, 631. Dillard, F. C, 268. Dillard, John E., 124, 174. Dillard, W. W., 344. Dilley, J. M., 195, 215. Dillman, Henry, 441. Dilworth, R. S., 521, 524, 557. Dittlinger, N. V., 498, 514. Divorman, S. W., 601. Dix, John, 119. Dix, John J., 318. Dixon, Sam H., 287. Dixon, W. C., 199, 201, 208. Doak, A. P., 389. Doak, N. P., 504, 508. Doane, Rufus, 56, 58. Dobbs, A. M., 564. Dodd, Thomas W., 248, 266, 311, 497. Dodson, B. H., 157, 195. Dodson, J. D., 573, 601. Doe, R. W., 486. Dohoney, A. P., 432. Dohoney, E. L., 124, 129, 199, 231, 244, 254, 255, 285, 286, 293, 298, 314, 316, 332, 335, 432, 646. Dollard, J. H., 300. Donaho, J. B., 218. Donaldson, John, 254. Donavant, William, 326. Donelson, John, 93. Donley, Stockton P., 124. Dcnohower, C. H., 394. Dooley, M. A., 19, 44, 50, 56. Dorchester, C. B., 475, 519. Den emus, John W , 405. Dorn, A. J., 158, 174. Dornblaser, O. F., 424, 454, 472. Dorrough, R. P., 619, 634. Doubleday, C. S, 330. Dougherty, Edward, 93. Dougherty, J. R., 493. Dougherty, J. S., 353, 357. Dougherty, T. W., 182. Doughty, Walter F., 607, '634. Douglas, Warren, 201. Douglass, J. P., 124, 127, 158. Douglass, W. P. H., 62. Douthitt, W. F., 314, 316, 511. Dove, W. F., 513. Dowler, A. S., 497, 647. Downes, James E., 322. Downey, Edward, 122. Downs, J. E., 258. Downs, J. W., 144. Doyle, J. N., 268, 290. Doyle, W. E , 427. Drake, C. C., 314, 359, 405. Drake, Carl F., 475. Drew, Byron, 310, 356. Drew, W. P., 254. Dreyer, H, L., 470, 527, 529. Drummond, J. H., 607, 614. Dryden, Whit, 3*94. Duck, C. A., 574, 602, 606. Dudley, Fred S., 462, 526, 533. Dudley, J. W., 526. Dudley, James G., 238, 344, 362, 364, 365, 370, 390, 503, Duescher, E. H , 418. Duff, F. J., 533. Duff, R. C., 461. Duffy,' M. S., 218. Duffy, T. J., 323. Duggan, Thomas H., 50, 56, 81. Dunbar, William, 85. Duncan, A. A., 478, 500. Duncan, Charles, 497. Duncan, H. H., 617. Duncan, John M, 353, 370, 376, 416, 427. Duncan, S. D. A., 314. Dunham, Cyrus M., 330. Dunham, Joseph H., 93. Dunlap, Andrew, 235. Dunlap, J. S., 615. Dunlap, W. W., 81, 84. Dunlop, E. L., 311, 344, 353, 363. Dunman, M. J., 474. 3D 662 Index to Names Dunn, B. F., 174, 176. Dunn, Bascom, 550. Dunn, D. F., 186. Dunn, G. R., 280. Dunn, J. M., 335, 378, 646. Dunn, J. W., 223. Dunn, L. E, 330, 347. Dunn, R. H., 486, 631. Dunn, T. A., 218. Dunstan, H. D., 199. DuPont, F. L., 308. Dupree, J. L,., 280. Durarit, John W., 81. Durham, D. W., 297. Durham, George J., 112 Durham, W. W., 314, 316. Durrett, John B, 533, 537, 558. Durst, J. W., 409, 441. Durst, James H., 56. Duval, Thomas H., 44, 55. Dwyer, Edward, 290. Dwyer, Joseph E., 173, 198, 202, 218, 268. Dwyer, T. A., 72. Dwyer, T. H., 360. Dwyer, W. E., 330, 409, 441, 458, 459. Dyer, John, 332. Eager, J. J., 472, 474. Eagle, Joe, 396. Eakin, J. C., 617- Earl, Ed., 266. Earle, S. G., 384. Earle, S. L., 52. Earley, Elbert, 93. Earnest, R. H., 290. Eason, George W., 574, 602, 617. East, Ed. H., 571. East, George H., 488, 519. Eastern, S W., 390. Eastham, L. C., 588. Faston, J. C.," 216. F.aston, W. E., 252. Echols, J. R., 564, 625. Eckhardt, Robert J., 619, 634. Eckman, W. K., 488. Ector, Mat D., 58, 72, 74, 147, 174. Eddy, Z. Williams, 50, 51, 55. Edmonds, G. W., 397. Edmondson, C. L., 557. Edmunds, J. H., 500. Edwards, A., 262. Edwards, A. B., 504. Edwards, B. E., 50, 58. Edwards, D. M., 280. Edwards, George Clifton, 483, 514, 647. Edwards, H. H, 93, 564. Edwards, J. M., 577, 607, 619, 623, 634. Edwards, James M., 497, 526, 557. Edwards, Peyton F., 147, 220. F.dwards, Thomas L, 276, 278. Edwards, W, R., 274. Edwards, W. W., 519, 542. Eichblatt, P. A., 564. Eidson, A. R., 462, 614, 643. Eidson, J. A., 223. Elam, J. W., 105. Eldridge, T. L., 262. Elgin, John E., 264, 323, 542, 556, 574, 601. Elgin, Tom A., 202, 241. ElTett, N. A,, 141. F.iliott, George W., 461. Ediott, J. D., 123, 124, 127, 148, 174. Elliott, J. F., 262, 298. Elliott, W. H, 390, 391. Ellis, H. E., 389. Eilis, V. O., 202. Ellis, Volney, 186. Ellis, W. H., 272. Ellison, J. L., 405. Ely George B., 481. Emanuel, E., 290. Errerson, Dan R., 475, 574. Emmanuel, C., 338. Hmmett, W. P., 258. Emory, Fred C., 483, 500. Engelke, F. A., 154. PTi;gland, A. R., 306. English, J. D., 272. Epler, Miles, 378. Epperson, Ben H., 51, 54, 69, 88, 95, 109, 111, 144, 174, 644. Epperson, J. L,., 220. Erath, George B., 56, 128, 129. Erhard, C., 152. Ernst, Albert, 475. Erwin, S. L., 465. Estis, John P., 209. Etheridge, F. M., 571, 597, 615, 648. Etheridge, W. G., 260, 262. Eudaly, M. T., 500. Eule, William, 308. Evans, , 215. Evans, A. H., 51, 557. Evans, A. J., 100, 115, 176, 252, 290. Evans, B. Q , 416. Evans, C. I., 515. Evans, C. J., 105. Evans, Charles, 158. Evans, F. V., 564. Evans, G. L., 537. Evans, PI. G., 462, 465. Evans, Lemuel D., 20, 26, 43, 44, 50, 63, 71, 107, 141, 644. Evans, Onesimus, 51, 55. Evans, R. D., 488. Evans, R. H., 339, 342. Evans, R. J., 232. Evans, S. P., 395. Evans, Sam, 199, 262, 298, 414, 453, 472. Evans, T. O., 472. Evans, William F., 50. Everall, , 264. Everts, Arthur A., 444, 446, 481, 482, 500, 513, 530, 552, 630. Everts, Mrs. Arthur A., 552. Ewing, E. F., 78. Swing, James T., 127. Ewing, Mrs. John, 500. Exall, Henry, 218, 241. Fagan, John C., 462. Fain, Earl, 588. Fairbanks, Charles W., 632. Fairbanks, H. W., 446. Fairbanks, J. J., 394. Faires, R. O., 354. Fall, John N., 93. Fallis, J. N., 537, 634. Fant, J. C., 588. Farish, , 215. Farish, Oscar, 68. Farley, Joe, 396. Farmer, W. E., 206, 256, 273, 298, 418, 420, 442, 444. Farrar, Bowd, 607. Index to Names 663 Farris, William F., 163. Faulk, Henry, F64, 590. Faulk, J. J., 354, 465, 533, 537. Faust, Joseph, 344. Fayle, William R., 100, 112. Feagin, J. C., 557. Featherstone, W. F., 514, 538, 571, 554 Fee, H. A., 513. Fee, Mrs. H. A., 527. Feeney, John H., 93. Feige, Karl, 418, 420. Felder, M. M., 398. Felker, James A., 201. Ferguson, , 215. Ferguson, C. M., 242, 251, 301, 329, 345, 357, 392, 413, 438, 441, 459. Ferguson, H. C., 248, 252, 254. Ferguson, Henry C., 318, 330, 347, 354, 357, 405, 411, 412, 413, 433, 441. Ferguson, J. S., 109. Ferguson, James E., 606, 608, 618, 619, 623, 634, 635, 636, 648, 652. Ferguson, Lee, 607. Ferguson, R. L., 572. Ferguson, W. M., 193, 199. Ferrell, J. R., 601. Ferris, John W., 218, 266. Fewel, W. J., 363. Field, Drury, 93. Field, James, 617. Field, Scott, 287, 310, 558, 562. Fields, B. W., 601, 615. Fields, W. A., 353, 370. Fields, William, 44, 58. Files, J. O., 326, 330. Finch, H. A,, 344. Finch, Harvey, 574. Finger, George W, 220, 257, 401. Finlay, O. E., 209. Finley, D. M., 470. Finley, G. B.. 526, 588. Finley, George P., 145, 238, 363. Finley, J. W., 279. Finley, N. W., 205, 217, 220 265, 267. 290. Finley, R. W., 339, 384, 401, 465. Firebaugh, W H., 475. Fires, A. F., 416. Fish, L. B., 251, 290. Fishback, L. F., 452. Fisher, A. S., 237. Fisher, Homer B., 643. Fisher, Mrs. W. J., 500. Fisk, Charles A., 615. Fitzgerald, Hugh N., 550. Fitzgerald, J. W., 447, 469. Fitzgerald, W. W., 567. Fitzsimmons, Joseph, 117. Flack, James, 416. Flanagan, C. C , 252, 409, 413, 439, 441. Flanagan, J. W., 69, 95, 120, 121, 177. Flanagan, Webster, 141, 176, 195, 215, 216, 251, 252, 254, 290, 292, 301, 302, 303, 345, 357, 359, 392, 455, 458, 462. 486, 556, 646. Fleming, D. H., 303. Fleming, J. F., 215. Fleming, J. M., 248. Fleming, J. R., 218, 237, 323, 338. Fleming, J. T., 157 Fleming, J. W., 215. Fletcher, William, 366. Flewellyn, R. T., 276. Flint, A. B , 280. Flournoy, George M., 81, 89, 93. Flournoy, John W., 452, 470, 497. Flournoy, W. M., 208. Flournoy, W. W., 174. Flowers, W. T., 590, 625. Floyd, S. W., 314. Fly, A. W., 367, 389. Fly, Bon W., 533, 577, 586. Fly, G. W. L., 290. Fly, W. M., 619. Fly, W. S., 211, 258, 287, 317. Folts, L. W., 248. Forbes, R. M., 127. Ford, H. C., 405. Ford, Henry, 318. Ford, J. B., 202, 205. Ford, John S., 44, 55, 58, 69, 93, 144, 173, 174, 176. Ford, L. W., 211. Ford, R. L., 218. Ford, Spencer, 93, 147, 353. Ford, T. W., 221. Ford, Thomas, 155. Ford, W. H., 248. Fore, J. A., 292. Foree, Kenneth, 462. Foreman, Joe, 190, 249. Forrest, J. B., 211. Forrest, O. P., 218. Fort, T. W., 205. Forty, C., 206. Foscue, F. F., 81, 109. Fosque, P. H., 577, 586. Foss, J. M., 247. Foster, Alexander G,. 486. Foster, J. G., 367, 369. Foster, J. H., 397. Foster, L. L., 218, 221. Foster, R. C., 237, 390. Foster, Samuel, 262. Foster, W. A., 558, 562, 643. Fowler, A. J., 51, 69. Fowler, W. E., 643. Fowlkes, C. O., 631. Francisco, A. B., 380. Frank, L. N., 221. Franklin, G. F., 242. Franklin, M. B., 182. Franks, W. B., 554, 573. Frazier, J. C., 409, 437. Frazier, J. M., 280. Frazier, Lee, 462. Frazier, M. M. C., 454, 511. Frazier. M. W., 423. Frazier, W. W., 347. Freodman, Rube, 455, 488, 498, 515 542, 554, 573, 615. Freeland, J. H., 567, 625. Freeman, A., 336. Freeman, Fred, 546. Freeman, G. C., 481. Freeman, J. K., 558. Freeman, Jacob, 148. Freeman, W. H., 384. Freeman, W. W., 442. Fricke, Arthur, 519. Fricke, J. H., 619. Fricke, Paul, 252, 413, 439, 474, 478. Friedheim, J. B., 180. Fritz, F., 360. Frost, Thomas C., 93. Fry, A. J., 157. Frymeier. E., 264. Frymier, B. F., 218, 223, 237. 664 Index to Names Fulcher, C. H., 298. Fulton, G. W., 264, 339, 342, 344. Fulton, R. Li., 124, 127. Fulton, R. S., 504, 537. Gaines, Fred H., 353, 366. Gaines, J. W., 465. Gaines, Mathew, 148. Gaines, Reuben R., 158, 237, 265, 339, 427, 492. Gaines, T. W., 305. Gaines, Thomas, 293, 297, 299, 314, 316. Gaines, v. B. P., 81. Gaines, William P., 218, 366, 391. Gaither, Gordon, 469 Gaither, James C., 172, 202, 221. Galloway, Amos P., 93. Gambrell, J. B., 445. Gammage, F. W., 205. Gammage, T. T., 52, 54, 208, 218. Ganahl, Charles, 81, 93. Gano, J. T., 198. Gano, R. M., 248. Gardenhire, A. B., 498. Gardner, C. W., 157. Gareisen, O., 152, 154. Garens, Louis, 513. Garland, G. T., 121. Garner, J. M., 511. Garner, John N., 395, 416, 432, 462, 618. Garner, John T., 511. Garnett, J. H., 211, 242. Garnett, M. H., 367. Garnett, Mose W., 217, 241. Garrett, C. C., 202. Garrett, Daniel E., 577, 634. Garrett, O. E., 546. Garrett, W. B., 344, 362, 416. Garrison, J. A., 479. Garrison, John L., 342. Garrison, John T., 339, 342, 465. Garrison, T. A., 469. Garrison, T. G., 211. Garrow, H. W., 389. Garvin, George T., 416. Garwood, H. M., 249, 322, 353, 401. Gary, Harnpson, 452. Gary, Thomas, 221. Gass, W. T., 276. Gaston, J. L., 434, 474, 556, 574. Gaston, M. A., 129. . Gatewood, W. W., 371, 401. Gathings, J. J., 128. Gay, Bettie, 298. Gay, J. B., 314, 316, 380, 384, 470, 513. Gear, M. R.. 371. Geers, Charles W., 144/147, 202, 256. 260, 268, 275, 367, 389, 391. Geiser, D. H., 511. Gentry, A. M., 85, 87, 98. Gentry, N. A., 607. George, Charles, 519. George, J. W., 439. George, J. Collin, 462. George, R. F., 306, 336. Gerhardt, William, 532, 553, 629. Gehres, A. W., 552. Germany, Julius, 537, 543. Gibbons, J. C., 439. Gibbons, John C., 489, 556, 574, 601 606. Gibbs, Barnett, 220, 396, 646. Gibbs, J. M., 190. Gibson, A. W., 268. Gibson, Ben F., 511. Gibson, Ben H., 625. Gibson, D. C., 474. Gibson, E. J., 391. Gibson, Fenton M., 85. Gibson, G. R., 208. Gibson, J. B., 303. Gibson, J. E., 418, 442. Gibson, T. J., 266. Giddens, T., 418, 420. Giddings, D. C., 105, 173, 218, 249, 257, 258, 264, 310, 311, 313, 318, 322, 323, 339, 342, 353, 389, 432, 447, 462. Giddings, D. C., Jr., 643. Giddings, G. H., 104. Giddings, J. D., 78, 111, 144 173 Gideon, W. J., 519. Giesecke, A., 308. Gilbert, C. E., 290. Gilbert, J. P., 423. Gilbert, S. L., 237. Gilden, E. B., 314. Giles, B. C., 242. Giles, William M., 147, 202 237 Gill, A. S., 384. Gill, W. M., 434. Gillespie, C. C., 105, 141. Gillespie, Charles B., 322. Gillespie, G. W., 254, 292, 303, 305. Gillette, L. E., 158. Gilliland, D. B., 379. Gillis, John, 338, 361. Gilman, A., 367. Givens, George W., 198, 199. Givins, Demos, 242. Glass, Hiram, 267, 289, 371. Glass, T. C., 280. Glaze, Ed F., 488. Gleed, J. R., 439. Glover, R. J., 329. Godbold, N. W., 500. Goddard, C. W., 618. Goddin, M. H., 141. Godfrey, George A., 201. Goen, U. S., 571, 597, 631. Goeth, A. C., 308. Goff, E. W., 513. Goff, James B., 246, 254, 284, 306, 335 3 r '8. Goggan, James M., 405, 416. Goggin, J. W., 618. Gold. P. E., 470. Golden, P. H., 293, 298. Goldman, E., 152. Goldthwaite, George. 147. Gooch, John Y., 182, 223, 289. Goode, John J., 68, 158. Goodell, L. P., 338, 360. Goodgame, John C., 163. Goodman, L, 527. Goodman, J. L,., 322. Goodnight, C., 501, 553. Goodrich, Benjamin B., 54. Goodrich, W. E., 249. Goodson, G. H., 202. Goodwin, G. J., 127. Goodwin, G. W., 401. Goodwin, Micajah, 56. Gordon, G. H., 470. Gordon, J. F., 100. Gordon, Joe W., 206. Goree, H. G., 359, 441, 458, 475, 477, 488. Index to Names 665 Goree, R. E., 597. Goree, Thomas J., 175, 186, 322. Goss, D. F., 384. Gossett, M. H., 339, 342, 462, 465. Goug-h, J. R., 401, 404. Gould, G. H., 209. Gould, R. W. B., 554. Gould, Robert S., 93, 107, 111, 174. Gould, Robert S., Jr., 238. Gowdey, H. C., 246. Grabel, R. E., 444, 478. Grace, Charles D., 217. Graeb, August, 488, 519. Graham, Frank, 290. Graham, Malcolm D., 75, 81, 89, 93. Graham, Morgan S., 527, 564. Graham, R. H., 79. Graham, Robert, 93. Graham, W. J., 265. Cranberry, Stephen G., 332, 380, 424, 253, 397, 473. Grant, A., 248. Grant, J. H., 367. Grant, John, 345, 347, 359, 538. Grant, Josiah, 54. Grant, U. S.. 113, 121, 142, 148, 151, 178, 191, 197. Graves, F. R., 322. Graves, J. D., 378, 379. Graves, R. L., 147. Graves, R. T., 78. Graves, Spencer, 477 488 Gray, A. M., 556. Gray, Carey A., 458, 477, 486, 488, 497 519, 538, 542, 554, 571, 573, 615 647 Gray, Edward, 401, 416. Gray, Henry C. ( 357. Gray, James, 530. Gray, Peter W., 51, 93, 105. Grayson, Gus, 182. Grayson, Mrs. J. E., 552. Grayson, O. L., 491. Greeley, Horace, 142, 147. Green, , 215. Green, B. H., 314. Green, Edward H. R., 393, 409 411 412, 413, 435, 437, 438, 454, 455, 459^ 460, 489. Green, Frank, 151. Green, George D., 424. Green, George H., 477. Green, Joseph F., 574. Green, John A., 93. Green, N. O., 129, 158. Green, R. A., 363. Green, R. B., 466. Green, S. T., 631. Green, W. B., 475. Greene, H. R., 393. Greenway, C. F., 310. Greenwood, Charles F., 520. Greenwood, J. J., 85. Greenwood, T. B., 492, 546, 619, 623. Greer, E., 81. Greer, Eugene, 554. Greer, G. E., 423, 447. Greer, Hal W., 260. Greer, John A., 19, 43, 44, 56, 644 Greer, M. R., 287 Greer, R. A., 447, 470. Gregg, G. W., 180. Gregg, John, 93. Gregory, D., 100. Gregory, T. W., 401, 462, 557, 622. Greiner, G. O., 337, 338, 361. Greiner, John G., 452, 470, 497. Greiner, Lee, 469. Gresham, Newton, 453 Gresham, Walter, 264, 265, 353, 520 526. Griffin, Charles, 101 Griffin, J. M., 268 Griffin, W. N., 498, 542 Griffith, W. D. 193 Griggs, A. R., 248. Grimes, t,d F., 242 Grimes, Jesse, 19, 44, 56, 75, 87 Grimes, S 1 . F., 223. Gr c innan > Arch, 344, 389, 546, 557, 558 562. Grinnan, J. S., 588, 614. Grinstead, H. L,., 51, 68. Griscom, E. C., 488 491 Groce, G. C., 339, 342, 558, 562 Gross, Abe, 533. Gross, J. J., 158, 174. Gross, Sam L., 573. Gross, W. L., 511. Gross, W. S., 349. Grothaus, L. C., 232, 303. Grouch, J. P., 500. Groves, W. V., 552, 568, 570. Grubbs, R. M., 290. Grubbs, V. W., 496 536 Guenther, H., 58. Guessaz, O. C., 550. Guest, George M., 459, 498 Guinn, J. D., 326. Guinn, M. E., 493. Guinn, R. H., 158, 186, 202, 209 Guion, John D., 607, 614. Gunter, Jot, 223, 404. Gurley, E. J., 248. Gurley, J. M., 475. Gussett, W., 218. Guy, J. M., 513. Hackworth, S 1 . A., 214, 556. Hadsell, E. B., 625. Haefling, W., Sr., 305, 308. Hagen, L., 367. Haggard, D. P., 244, 246. Haggard, J. M., 564. Haggarty, John T., 268. Hague, J. P., 290. Haidusek, A., 202, 205, 209, 395, 462, 547, 619. Haidusek, George L., 504, 547. Hain, George W., 303. Hain, Sam L., 338, 394. Haines, John T., 290. Haines, John W., 44. Haines, T. W., 379. Hakes, W. H., 195. Halbert, J. L., 163. Hale, - , 337. Hale, P. S., 452. Hale, V. W., 350, 352, 353. Hall, A. B., 121. Hall, B. W., 100. Hall, C. A., 274. Hall, E. F., 186, 211. Hall, E. R., 363. Hall, Ed., 557. Hall, George, 393. Hall, J. A., 85. Hall, John, 574, 576, 601, 606. 666 Index to Names Hall, John A., 84. Hall P. W., 100, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 143, 216, 229. Hall, R. M., 237, 265. Hall, R. W., 322, 416, 521, 526. Hall, W. L., 607. Hall, Walker, 546. Hall, William, 201. Halling-er, H. M., 418. Hallmark, W. P., 571, 573, 597, 601, 615. Hallon, D. P., 254. Halowell, J. R. S., 254, 292. Halsell, W. J., 244. Hamblen, E. P., 318, 322, 401, 465. Hamblen, W. P., 144, 322. Hamby, W. R., 338. Hamill, Fred P., 521. Hamilton, A. B., 452. Hamilton, A. C., 615. Hamilton, Andrew J., 50, 65, 72, 94, 107, 112, 114, 117, 122, 128, 129, 136, 140, 645. Hamilton, Frank, 359. Hamilton, J. A., 434. Hamilton, J. E., 564. Hamilton, J. J., 148, 190. Hamilton, Jeremiah, 176. Hamilton, Morgan O., 116, 117, 121, 128, 129, 140. Hamilton, N. O., 317. Hamilton, Seth W., 574. Hamilton, T. J., 317. Hamilton, T. P., 416. Hamman, William H., 124, 182, 186, 187, 199, 244. 246, 254, 255, 286, 645. Hammond, Alfred, 418, 470. Hamner, J. M., 511. Hampe, F., 268. Hampton, J. W., 54, 55, 56. Hampton, Sam J., 314, 316, 397, 418, 420, 442, 444. Hancock, Bradford, 432. Hancock, D. H., 336, 378, 379, 409, 410, 432. Hancock, George, 103, 104, 105, 128. Hancock, Hugh B., 302, 330, 347. Hancock, John, 63, 69, 71, 98, 104, 107, 109, 111, 198, 202, 208, 2.49, 264. Hancock, Lewis, 350, 353.' Hancock, Winfield S., 104, 198. Hanger, W. A., 416, 466, 493, 533, 576, 607. Hanna, J. K. P., 211, 314. Hanna, John, 127. Hanna, Mark, 459, 461. Hanna, Robert, 180, 199, S77, 614. Hanna, T. B., 216, 252. Hannay, R. E., 405, 438, 497, 498, 514, 554, 615, 647. Hanselke, , 215. Hanschke, Robert, 394. Hansell, Bob, 475. Hanson, C. H., 263. Hapgood, K. N., 573, 601, 615. Harbert, R. W., 437. Harboth, William, 514. Harcourt, John F., 81. Harcourt, John T., 68, 75, 128, 140, 148, 350, 353. Hardeman, Thomas M., 58. Hardeman, William M., 74, 77. Hardeman, William P., 93. Hardie, J. E., 552. Harding, Henry C., 486. Hardwicke, S. P., 533, 577. Hardy, C. &., 280. Hardy, D. H., 371, 416. Hardy, Hammet, 370, 391. Hardy, Rufus, 350, 352, 353, 363, 366, 367, 369, 390, 391. Hare, S'ilas, 202, 205, 208, 209, 218, 220. Hare, Silas, Jr., 497. Harle, J. L., 332. Harman, L. G., 158. Harmen, W. H., 206. Harms, E., 206. Harper, A. J., 401, 504, 508, 533. Harper, J. C., 511. Harper, J. M., 344. Harper, Sid C., 379, 384. Harper, W. B., 143. Harpold, C. L,., 550. Harrell, R. D., 202, 205, 310. Harrett, J. C., 567, 625. Harriman, Job, 418. Harris, . 109, 413. Harris, A., 223. Harris, Ben T.. 147. Harris, C. O., 345, 439. Harris, D. B., 332. Harris, D. R., 367. Harris, E. F., 462, 497. Harris, F. A., 349. Harris, G. B., 379, 397, 418, 424, 513. 6 arris, Harry, 347, 438. arris, J.' O., 432. Harris, J. T., 411. Harris, John A., 303. Harris, John W., 87, 88. Harris, M. C., 323, 357. Harris, Mose C., 538. Harris, Sam, 95. Harris, Steve J., 256. Harris, Thomas, 144. Harris, W. P., 458, 477, 498, 606. Harris, William H., 281. Harrison, B., 614. Harrison, Benjamin, 272, 291, 302, 327. Harrison, Chester, 452. Harrison, G. N., 498, 514, 554, 631. Harrison, J. D., 237. Harrison, James, 85. Harrison, R. B., 574, 615. Harrison, Richard H., 287. Harrison, T. A., 69. Harrison, Thomas, 144. Harrison, W. L., 478, 483. Harrold, R. D.. 241. Hart, Barney B., 220, 353. Hart, Hardin, 95, 190. Hart, Juan S., 357. Hartley, O. C., 77. Hartley, R. K., 73. Hartman, A. R., 280. Hartman, Martin, 511. Hartup, C. W., 157. Harvey, H. S., 201. Harvey, W. H., 338, 361. Harvin, R. A., 195, 617. Harwell, T. F.. 500. Harwood, A., 98. Harwood, J. M., 174. Harwood, T. F., 223. Harwood, Thomas M., 74, 80, 209. Haschall, , 109. Haskell, O. S., 511. Hasmer, B. C., 363. Hassell, H. M., 479. Haswell, Tyler, 459, 474, 554, 571. Hatch, Francis L... 44, 50. Index to Names 667 Hatter, S. D., 369, 391. Haughton, R. O., 254. Haupt, Henry, 141. Hawkins, George, 195, 216. Hawkins, Sam. 550. Hawkins, W. H., 504. Hawkins, William E., 577, 607. Hawley. E. W., 452. Hawley, J. H., 538, 556. Hawley, John B., 409. Hawley. R. B., 290, 327, 345, 357, 406, 411, 412 J 413, 414, 433, 438, 441, 454, 455, 459, 460. Hawn, W. A., 617. Hay, S'am D.. 56. Hay, W. L., 558. Hayes, J. M., 513. Havers, John P.. 93. Hayes, R. H., 297, 298. Hayes. Rutherford B., 191 Haynes, A., Jr., 529. Haynes, Harry, 248. Haynes. James J., 455, 498. Haynes. John L., 102, 112, 115 117. 143, 157, 216, 232. Haynes, John T., 254. Haynes, M. M., 439. Haynes, T. J., 564. Haynie, H. H., 75. Haynie, L. B.. 280. Hays, B. F., 158. Hays, F. M., 128, 141. Hays, P. J., 572. Hay-;, W. L., 314. Haywood, R., 100. Hazlewood, J. G., 175. Hazzard, Prince, 515. Head, H. O., 221, 248. Head, R. P., 643. Headley, A. M., 475. Hearn, J. H.. 500, 513. Hearne, J. W., 251, 301. Heath, E. C., 218, 284, 306, 308, 335, 336, 378, 409, 410, 432, 446, 478, 481, 482, 500, 512, 568, 646, 647. Hector, James P., 122. Hefley, W. T., 310, 366, 369. 390, 391, 537, 588. Heilig, Gus. A., 623. Heiman, J. H., 264. Hellberg, Albert, 623. Heller, Ed. S., 337. Heller, W. F., 500, 513, 532, 553, 628. Heller, Mrs. W. F., 500. Helm. T. H., 303. Henderson, E. J., 258. Henderson, H. E., 371, 404 432, 462, 469. Henderson, J. C., 280. Henderson, J. N., 492. Henderson, J. Pinckney, 19, 58, 68, 74, 644. Henderson, James W., 32, 34, 44, 50, 56, 98, 105, 107, 111, 122, 124, 127, 144. Henderson, Jerome W., 378, 379. Henderson, John M., 557, 558, 562. Henderson, John N., 209, 218, 237, 249, 339, 427. Henderson, Nat, 527, 537. Henderson, Nat Q., 455, 474. Henderson, R. M., 129, 158, 211, 264, 363, 367, 389, 390. Henderson, R. W., 354. Henderson, T. H., 281. Henderson, T. S., 268, 311, 401, 546. Henderson, Travis, 353, 384, 427. Henderson, W. O., 427. Henderson, W. F., 56. Henderson, W. \V., 174. Henderson, William, 366. Hendricks, , 44. Hendricks, E. B., 643. Hendricks, S. J.. 218, 344. Hendricks, Thomas A., 221. Henne-sy, P. H., 242. Henning, A. F., 423. Henry, A., 100. Henry, F. M., 186. Henry, J. L., 265. Henry, John R., 182, 209. Henry, Robert L., 289, 384, 395 415 557, 619. Henry, W. C., 56. Hepperla, J. C., 81. Herbert, C. C., 78, 98. Herbert, Philemon T., 93. Herd, G., 514. Herndon, W. S., 173, 174, 197, 198. Herring, J. A., 533. Herrington, Joseph, 51. Hertzberg, , 58. Hervey, A. S., 186. Heslep, J. R., 388. Hester, H. L., 293. Hewitt, J. S., 297, 300. Hewitt, L. M., 568, 570, 629 631. Hickey, B. F., 290. Hickey, G. M., 305. Hickey, J. M., 305, 329, 347. Hickey, James, 298, 299. Hickey, T. A., 564, 625. Hickman, John, 500. Hicks, A. W. O., 93. Hicks, E. S., 310. Hicks, Henry C., 77. Hicks, J. L., 625. Hicks, Marshall, 427, 493, 557, 619. Hicks, R. H., 462. Hicks, W. P., 174. Hickson, Jerry L., 606, 631. Higginbotham, T. L., 500. Higgins, C. C., 619. Higgins, E. T., 625. High, R. A., 474. Highsmith, Charles, 503. Hightower, W. E., 252. Hildebrand, H. E., 533. Hill, A. P., 186. Hill, Bart, 391. Hill, Benjamin F., 69. Hill, D. G., 339, 342. Hill, E. P., 322, 344. Hill, E. Pinckney, 173, 174, 206. Hill, F. A., 98. Hill, F. F., 401, 404, 452, 533, 618. Hill, F H., 554, 571. Hill, George W., 65. Hill, Isaac L., 56, 85. Hill, J. G., 265. Hill, J. Gregg, 526. Hill, J. J., 175. Hill, J. W., 389. Hill, James E., 209, 238, 267. Hill, L. O., 481, 504, 508. Hill, Marion, 390. Hill, R. J., 367, 389. Hill, Robert, 631. Hill, Thomas N., 588, 614. Hill, Thomas B. J., 93. Hill, W. L., 557, 634, 642. Hillendahl, Theo., 316. 668 Index to Names Hillsman, J. C., 481, 483. Hiner, John H. ( 462, 558. Hobart, , 392, 394. Hobb, F. M., 157. Hobby, Alfred M., 93. Hobby, Edwin, 248. Hobby, Will P., 470, 492, 606, 634. Hodges, G. P., 280. Hodges, Jake, 310, 317, 371, 416. Hodges, S. H., 249. Hodges, William, 322. Hoffmaster, James, 391. Hofford, J. T., 481, 483. Hofheinz, Fredrick, 486, 538, 574. Hogan, J. R., 437. Hogan, Shell, 389. Hogg, James S'., 211, 237, 265, 286, 287, 310, 316, 317, 325, 329, 330, 347, 370, 496, 549, 646. Hogg, Joseph L., 93. Hogshead, J. M., 206. Hohrath, Albert, 521, 524, 526. Holcomb, Guy R., 643. Holland, F. P., 371. Holland, J. H., 151. Holland, J. K., 56. Holland, N., 158, 173. Holland, S., 72. Holland, S. H., 511. Holland, W. C., 205. Holland, W. H., 148, 195. Holler, J. M., 554. Holliday, William, 361. Hollingsworth, O. L., 158. Hollingsworth, S. B., 129. Holloway, W. C., 470. Hoi man, H. C., 483. Holman, W. S., 557. Holmes, H. B., 483. Holmes, Willis, 231. Holt, J. J., 93. Holt, O. T., 218, 258, 310, 317, 339, 342, 353, 371, 493. Homan, W. K., 231, 248, 260, 345. Honey. George W., 118, 120. Honeycutt, A. B., 526. Hood, A. J., 50, 58, 65, 77, 78, 249. Hood, R. B., 503. Hood, W. J., 344. Hooker, James, 93. Hooks, F. M., 511. Hooks, W. J., 318, 371. Hooper, A. J., 124. Hopkins, C. L., 588. Hopkins, F. N., 542, 554. Hopkins, George C., 574. Hopkins, S. H., 371. Horboth, Alvin, 631. Hord, Edward R., 56, 74, 93. Hord, H. O., 384. Horger, John A., 513, 631. Horn. W. E., 100. Hornberger, J. G., 434. Home, A. L.. 500, 532, 570, 629. Horner, Joe M., 511. Hornsby, John W., 416. Horton, Henry, 254, 255. Hostraser, Charles, 498. Hottman, W., 542. Houching, W. A., 242. Houssels, R. E., 459. Houston, A. J., 290, 303, 530, 546, 552, 568, 570, 631, 646, 648. Houston, A. W., 218, 238, 241, 367, 504, 577. Houston, D. F., 622. Houston, Joshua, 251. Houston, Reagan, 390. Houston, S. W., 489. Houston, Sam, 11-14, 20, 26, 27, 32, 37, 40, 41, 51, 68, 74, 80, 85-88, 89, 549, 644, 645. Houx, N. P., 380, 396, 526. Hovenkamp, E., 231. Hovey, S. B., 498. Howard, , 238. Howard, J. W., 180. Howard, M. B., 462, 465. Howard, Russell, 93. Howard, Volney E., 32, 43, 50. Howden, G. F., Jr., 483. Howell, G. A., 109. Howell, H. C., 384. Hoyl, A. C., 93. Hubbard, A. G., 280. Hubbard, Richard B., 65, 81, 144, 158. 174, 182, 198, 202, 353. Hubbell, Frank, 529. Huddleston, Charles H., 634. Hudgins, W. P., 363. Hudgins, W. T., 390. Hudson, Oscar, 629. Hudson, R. W., 218, 258, 290, 427, 557. Hudson, William, 175. Hudspeth, Claude B., 576, 634. Hudspeth, Joe F., 625. Huff, R. E., 345, 452, 462, 557, 619. Huff, S 1 . P., 311, 357, 371. Hufford, George B., 511. Huffman, August, 542. Hughes, A. O., 557. Hughes, Charles E., 632. Hughes, H. R., 552. Hughes, J. H., 413. Hughes, Peter H., 366, 588, 614. Hughes, R. E., 190, 199. Hughes, Thomas P., 93. Hughes, W. E., 127, 280, 350, 352. Hughs, C. M., 498. Hull, W. P., 244, 246. Hultzman, B. U., 349. Humber, C. L., 438. Hume, F. Charles, 310, 318, 389, 390. Humphries, J. H., 249. Humphries, R. M., 262. Hungerford, S. B., 329. Hunt, D. G., 434, 438, 441. Hunt, E. P., 359. Hunt, John F., 564. Hunt, Marshall, 359. Hunt, Nat B., 470, 513, 590, 625. Hunt, P. B., 405, 556. Hunter, H. J., 175. Hunter, O. S., 573, 601, 614. Hunter, William, 434. Hurley, J. A., 345, 392, 441, 519, 538. Hurley, Mike C., 514. Hurley, Thomas J., 264. Hurt, James M., 98, 174, 202, 209, 265, 339 Hutcheson, J. W., 93. Hutchins, J. H., 69. Hutchins, J. V., 206. Hutchinson, C. W., 538, 554, 571, 615. Hutchinson, J. C., 144, 182, 198, 287. Hutchinson, W. A., 215. Hutchison, W. E., 180. Hutchison, W. T., 305. Huth, Luis, 80. Hyatt, F. A., 264. Hyde, A. O., 77, 78, 80, 84, 85. Hyman, J. H., 218. Index to Names 669 Hynson, George W., 232. Hynson, H. C., 220. Imboden, Wiley M., 371, 395, 533. Ingerton, Henry, 617. Ingerton, W. H., 515. Ingraham, George F., 205, 258, 267, 384. Ingram, A. B., 254. Ingram, George F., 238. Ingram, W. J., 190, 576. Ions, Penrose N., 558, 562. Ireland, George, 572. Ireland, John, 93, 128, 140, 144, 163, 173, 198, 208, 220, 229, 264, 310, 54>, 645, 646. Ireland, John C., 145. Irion, R. A., 50. Isaacs, A. C., 258, 384. Isaacs, Leonard, 223. Isaacs, S. J., 465, 493. Isbell, Thomas D., 504. Jack, Tom, 198. Jackson, A. S., 458. Jackson, Andrew, 175, 293, 351, 367. Jackson, B., 215. Jackson, C. J., 314. Jackson, D. W., 201. Jackson, Dan M., 619. Jackson, George B., 302, 357, 413. Jackson, Hugh, 208. Jackson, J., 300. Jackson, J. D., 619. Jackson, J. L., 554, 573, 601. Jackson, J. Stonewall, 491. Jackson, M. G., 371. Jackson, N. P., 371. Jackson, W. D., 244, 255, 256, 284, 306, 336, 378, 478, 647. Jackson, Z. T., 571. James, B. O., 345. James, E. L., 190, 199. Jameson, W. S., 497. Jamison, C. C., 631. Jamison, E. S., 109. Jamison, J. G., 389. Jamison, J. R., 478. Jamison, W. S., 384, 416, 428. Jefferson, John R., 211. Jefferson, Thomas, 175, 219. 293, 311, 323, 367, 404, 463, 549. Jeffries, H. D., 631. Jenkins, Charles H., 206, 223, 314, 316, 332, 380, 462, 465, 493, 521, 526. Jenkins, Cooke, 148, 151. Jenkins, J., 276. Jenkins, J. S., 290. Jennings, Henry J., 297, 298. Jennings, J. W., 163. Jennings, R. L., 391. Jennings, Thomas J., 93. Jennings, William H., 174. Jester, George T., 339, 384, 447. Jeter, J. R., 205. Jewett, H. J., 19, 43. Jobe, Will H., 530, 532. John, George E., 511. John, R. A., 447. Johns, Clement R.. 65, 74, 75, 81, 129. Johnson, A. A., 248. Johnson, A. B., 190. Johnson, A. H., 631. Johnson, A. J., 252, 292. Johnson, Andrew, 98, 111. Johnson, B. H., 416. Johnson, C. N., 242. Johnson, C. W., 302, 574, 617, 648. Johnson, Cone, 353, 363, 367, 465, 503, 504, 510, 533, 537, 546, 557, 558, 562, 577, 584, 587, 651. Johnson, F. J., 205. Johnson, Frank, 458, 459. Johnson, G. W., 483. Johnson, H. D., 231. Johnson, J. D., 473. 'Jehnson, J. H., 472. Johnson, J. M., 497. Johnson, J. R., 206. Johnson, J. T., 625. Johnson, Jeff., 371, 395. Johnson, John, 262, 263. Johnson, Lewis, 542, 554, 574. Johnson, Luther, 618. Johnson, M., 242. Johnson, M. T., 32, 34, 67, 74, 75, 87, 98, 644. Johnson, M. W., 366. Johnson, Moses, 44. Johnson, O. F., 477, 488, 514, 542, 573. Johnson, S. E., 297. Johnson, Sam M., 232. Johnson, T. F., 202. Johnson, T. L., 248. Johnson, T. W., 574. Johnson, Tom B., 337, 338, 361, 394. Johnson, Thomas J., 65. Johnson, William H., 95, 155. Johnston, Fred B., 416. Johnston, J. T., 280. Johnston, R. M., 322, 330, 344, 384, 389, 396, 447, 465, 508, 586. Johnston, W. M., 147. Jones, , 109. Jones, Anson, 12, 14. Jones, B. L., 504, 508. Jones, C. P., 574. Jones, E. A., 202, 248. Jones, Evan, 235, 260, 268, 380. Jones, F., 93. Jones, George W., 85, 98, 109, 112, 144, 262, 474, 576, 645, 646. Jones, H. H., 292. Jones, H. P., 473. Jones, Henry F., 263, 400, 426. Jones, Ira P., 556, 573. Jones, J. B., 173. Jones, J. Martin, 651. Jones, J. J., 625. Jones, J. O., 310. Jones, James H., 127, 144, 198, 202, 326, 390. Jones, John C., 643. Jones, M. P., 349. Jones, Morgan, 434. Jones, P. M., 264. Jones, S. M., 305, 338, 361. Jones, T. D., 247, 263. Jones, T. N., 247, 248, 267, 289, 546. Jones, W. D. C., 493". Jones, W. G., 264. Jones, W. P., 275. Jones, Walter N., 614, 643. Jones, William E., 68, 69, 95. Joppich, Adolph, 588. Jordan, A. N., 85. Jordan, J. T., 308, 336, 379, 478, 481. Jordan, L. G., 254. 670 Index to Names Josselyn, Robert, 111, 144. Jowers, W. G. W., 56, 63. Joyce, J. T., 105. Joynes, J. R., 265. Judd, E. T., 615. Jungmichel, J., 154. Justiss, A. N., 469. Kalteyer, G. H., 249. Kane, H. B., 359, 392. Karber, H., 154. Kariaziewicz, J. E., 418. Karlsburg, Harry, 542, 573. Kaufman, David S., 20. Kauffman, J. E., 310. Kay, C. M., 504, 508. Kayser, G. W., 619. Keaghey, J. S., 344. Kealy, L. M., 574. Kearby, J. G., 186, 221, 260, 276, 279. Kearby, Jerome C., 380, 424, 646. Kearby, M. S., 481. Keeling, Walter A., 452. Keenan, C. G., 58, 62, 74. Keidel, William, 58. Keith, C. M., 481. Kelley, George, 625. Kelley, R. L., 434. Kelley, W. R., 542, 57'3. Kelly, C. O., 85. Kelly, M. C., 572. Kelly, W. C., 93. Kelsey, Benton, 625. Kelsey, Emma G., 590. Kelso, Winchester, 384. Kelsy, W. A., 254. Kemble, A. A., 350. Kemble, W. S., 558, 562. Kemp, J. A., 276. Kendall, C. H., 144. Kendall, J. S., 401, 427. Kendall, W. A., 218, 221. Kendall, W. C., 574. Kendrick, B. J.. 317. Kennard, John R., 158. 182. Kennedy, A. M., 384, 508. Kennedy, L. D., 513. Kennedy, R. T., 179, 193, 198, 199, 201 211. Kennedy, Roy, 491. Kennedy, T. M., 554, 574. Kennon, M., 249. Kenyon, B. B., 347. Kenyon, W. C., 574, 602. Keppard, John, 117, 120. Kepple, George E., 571, 597, 614, 615. Kern, John W., 521. Kerr, J. S. F., 439. Kerr, R. N., 229. Kerrigan, John, 418, 444, 472, 514. Kerrigan, Mike, 634. Kessinger, W. B., 513. Kessler, A. L., 256. Kettner, Francis, 115. Keys, , 405. Kidd, J. A., 218, 3B3. Kilgore, C. B., 163, 202, 237, 249 Killough, Isaac G., 122, 158. Kimble, James, 242. Kimble, Richard, 462. Kimmons. W. R., 360. Kincaid, W. A., 330. Kinchion, L. B., 357, 434. Kindred, , 439. Kindred, J. C., 290. King, C. R., 231, 254. King, J. B., 310. King, J. C. J., 248. King, J. M., 462. King, John, 189, 201. King, John J., 427. King, John M., 314, 397. King, R. Y., 279. King, Thomas B., 384. King, W. E., 405, 488, 491. King, W. W., 389. Kingsbury, R. B., 115. Kingsbury, R. H., 353, 434. Kingsbury, W. G., 345. Kinkaid, J. H., 554. Kinney, H. B., 232. Kinney, Somers, 77, 109, 123. Kirby, J. C., 199. Kirby, J. E., 29, 52. Kirby, John H., 241, 461, 537, 618. Kirgen, Lee C., 619. Kirk, Charles J., 612, 618, 634, 640. Kirk, Lafayette, 280. Kirkpatrick, E. W., 379, 396 511. Kirven, Carter, Jr., 550. Kirvin, O. C., 264. Kittrell, Norman G., 158, 311. Kittrell, P. W., 69. Kleberg, M. E., 390. Kleberg, Robert J., 405, 416, 462. Kleiber, John R., 371, 376. Kline, Henry, 242, 302, 303, 337, 360. Knapp, J. D., 570. Kneese, Oscar, 100. Knight, George A., 252, 345, 347, 441, 458, 478, 631. Knight, H. M., 289. Knight, M. W., 266. Knittel, H., 308. Knowles, W. D., 285, 286, 306, 335. Knox, T. A., 212. Knox, W. E., 147. Koch, , 154. Koester, T., 93, 152, 154. Kohl man, , 154. Kolp, D. C., 290, 301, 302, 303, 330, 345, 347, 357, 392, 405, 411, 413, 438. Kone, Ed R., 223, 322, 384, 466, 503, 520, 533, 577. Kratz R., 322. Kretz, H., 218. Kubena, J. R., 558, 619. Kuechler, Jacob, 120, 155, 177, 187, 190, 197, 199. Kulow, G., 154. Kurth, J. H., 474, 488, 514, 554. Kuteman, R. B., 279. Kuykendall, J. W., 442. Kyle, Claiborne, 56. Kyle, S. C., 615. Lacy, W. M., 258. Lamar, Mirabeau B., 11-14, 84. Lamb, W. R., 260, 263, 279, 293, 297, 298, 314. Lambert, Will, 208, 218, 237, 249, 265. Lambreth, G. A., 590, 625. Lamkins, A. C., 190. Landes, Daniel, 54, 111. Lands, A., 141. Lane, Alex, 195. Lane, C. E., 447, 465, 497, 526, 607. Lane, E. R., 182, 209, 310. Index to Names 671 Lane, H. K., 242. Lane, Hunter P., 577. Lane, J. Felton, 492. Lane, Jonathan. 317, 322, 330, 339, 342, 371, 376, 401, 415, 520, 524, 52C, 533, 547, 550, 558, 563, 577, 586, 607, 641. Lane, Walter P., 533, 577. Laney, E. P., 570. Lang, John, Jr., 643. Lang, W. W., 158, 179, 193. Langmoor, J. E., 318. Lanham, G. W., 310. Lanham, S. W. T., 202, 446, 465, 467, 493, 524, 647. Lanham, W. S., 530. Larkin, P., 305, 330. Lasater, Ed. C., 488, 498, 519, 538, 542, 554, 571, 572, 573, 648. Lasker, M., 390. Lassiter, W. H., 390. Latham, E. B., 444, 513. Latham, F. W., 72, 93. Lathrop, A. S., 129. Latimer, Albert H., 95, 117. Latimer, H. R., 124. Lauderdale, C. L., 344. Law, F. M., 246, 247, 248, 285. Lawhon, J. C., 56. Lawrence, W. H., 155. Lawson, F. M., 454. Lawson, Henry M., 50. Lawson, L. F., 186. Lawson, T. N., 453. Lawther, Harry P., 557, 618. Lawther, R. R., 211, 223. Layne, M. E., 532. Lea, Pryor, 93. Leader, W. Y., 232, 234. League, H. B., 144. Leather, D. N., 438. Leatherman, J. H., 143. Ledbetter, Hambleton, 85, 95, 100. Ledbetter, J. S., 357. Ledbetter, W. H., 182, 211. Lee, F. L., 498. Lee, Fitzhrugh, 407. Lee, William, 301. Lee, Z. S., 299. Lefevre, Arthur, 447. Lefteller, L. B., 423. Legate. R. S.. 305, 574, 576, 617. Leggett, K. K., 220. Lehmann, C. F., 432. Lehmann, Hugo, 152. Leisewitz. P., 154. Leitner, Frank, 481, 647. Leland, W. W., 80. Lemon, Hubbard, 614. Lenert, George E.. 550. Leonard, J. D., 439. Leonard, S'. J., 254. Leonard, W. A., 81. Leonard, W. M., 488. Leonard, Wade B., 554. Leslie, Frank, 254. Les^ing, W. H., 268. Lester, James S., 93. Lesueur, C. M., 93. Leton, T. S., 279. Letzerich, Otto, 488, 519, 542. Leverett, M., 266. Leverton, C. A., 314. Levi, Leo N., 353. Levy, R. B., 202, 280, 465. Levy, Rich, 317. Lewelling, Thomas, 51. Lewellyn, J., 526, 577. Lewis, Asa M., 32, 50, 74, 77, 84. Lewis, H. W., 629, 630, 648. Lewis, J. L., 311. Lewis, Perry J., 367, 427, 452, 557. Lewis, S. L., 504, 508. Lewis, W. H.. 363. Lewis, W. W., 155, 190. Lewis, Walter D., 454. Lewis, Yancy, 310, 558, 562. Leyendecker, T. F., 154. Lidey, H. W., 147. Lightfoot, Henry W., 173, 175, 248, 258. Lightfoot, Jewel P., 533. Lignan, Arch, 625. Likens, T. M., 94. Lillard, George, 546. Lillard, L. D., 223. Limbocker, I. M., 574. Lincoln, Abraham, 243, 293, 549, 574. Lindheimer, F., 77. Lindner, M., 290. Lindquist, J. E., 629, 631. Lindsay, J. M., 98, 218, 390. Lindsay, Lewis B., 538, 554, 571, 615. Lindsay, S. A., 391. Lindsey, R. J., 52. Link, J. B., 254, 256, 286, 306. Linn, E. D., 218, 249, 258, 268. Linn, Ed., 367. Linn, J. J., 68. Linn, John E., 322, 344, 371. Linthicum, W. P., 262, 263. Linton, W. N., 199, 330, 347. Lippard, John H., 100, 187, 190. Lipscomb, G. B., 144, 198. Little, J. L., 462. Little, John B., 550. Little, R. H., 423. Littlefield, George W., 550. Littlefield, J. H., 175. Littlejohn, R. P., 267. Littleton, C. C., 498, 459, 538, 554. Littleton, John, 93. Littleton. M. W., 389, 459 Lively, M. T., 461, 577. Lochridge, Lloyd P., 614, 643. Locke, M. F., 93. Locke, W. J., 141, 157, 176, 177. Locke, W. W., 390. Lockett, A. T., 345. Lockett, Henry, 390. Lockett, O. L., 223, 371. Lockett, R. R., 310, 416, 447. Lockett, S. C., 481. Lockhart, J. B., 519, 542. Loe, J. T. W., 247, 263, 274, 316, 335. Loeffler, Gustav, 154. Loessin, A. F., 498. Lofton, Oliver, 93. Logan, G. W., 336, 378, 379. Logan, J. D., 144. Logan, John A., 230, 231, 233 Logan, Mark, 427, 446. Logan, O. J., 415. Loggins, John M., 469. Lomas, W. M., 286. Long, B. C., 242. Long, George B., 424. Long, J. B., 363. Long, J. H., 384. Long, J. L., 384. Long, John, 58. 672 Index to Names Longley, A. H., 102, 141. Longman, J. E., 264. Longworthy, R. O., 442, 470. Looney, Ben F., 492, 543, 576, 606, 634. Lord, Charles A., 631. Lory, J. J., 500, 513. Lott, E. E., 50. Lott, Uriah, 264. Love, O. N., 434. Love, E. J., 554. Love, G. H., 85. Love, R. M., 427, 447, 465. Love, Thomas B., 447. Love, W. D., 462. Love, W. H., 301, 329, 411, 437, 574. Lovejoy, J. L., 141, 155. Lovejoy, John, 371, 389, 405. Lovet, Henry, 511. Lowden, G. W., 345, 460. Lowden, James G., 392, 411, 433, 434, 436, 455, 460/475, 647. Lowe, W. H., 556. Lowrey, Sam, 462. Lloyd, H. D., 330. Lubbock, Francis R., 65, 72, 78, 81, 182, 202, 208, 221, 237, 265, 496, 549, 645. Lubbock, O. L., 317. Lubbock, Thomas S., 68, 93. Luby, J. O., 216, 392, 405, 439, 458, 478. Luckett, P. N., 93. Lucy, J. E., 452. Ludal, Martin, 625. Lueders, F., 308. Luitwieler, Lewis, 359. Lunday, R. W., 93, 94. Luse, J. E., 423. Lusk, R. M., 258. Lutz, J. E., 361, 413, 441, 458, 478, 486, 488, 498, 519, 556. Lyday, D'. E., 335, 384. Lyday, S'. S'., 280. Lyle, H. Q., 481. Lyles, R., 550. Lynch, John, 311. Lyon, Cecil A., 405, 409, 441, 454 455, 458, 459, 460, 477, 487, 488, 497 499, 519, 542, 553, 554, 555, 570, 573, 601 616. Lyon, Dupont B., 614, 631. Lyon, O. T., 215. Mabray, E., 50. Mabray, H. P., 98, 127. McAdoo, J. D., 176, 197. McAleny, W., 470. McAndrews, G. C., 434. McAnulty, Mrs. Alice, 376. McArdle, J. H., 186. McBride, J. C., 617. McBride, T. S., 554, 571, 572, 597. McBride, W. P., 442. McCain, W. B., 409. McCall, F. A., 289. McCall, George A., 238, 240, 241. McCall, J. L., 176, 290, 397. McCall, J. M., 69. McCall, John D., 237, 265, 287, 317. McCampbell, A. J., 606. McCampbell, Andrew, 458. McCan, J. F., 574. McCann, Bernard, 303. McCart, Robert, 258. McCarthy, Ed., 554, 573. McCarthy, Milton, 614, 643. McCartney, A. L., 466. McCartney, C. L., 619. McCarty, B. J., 553. McCarver, W. H., 252. McCasner, W. H., 290. McCauley, A. J., 434, 437, 455, 458, 460, 489. McCauley, C. M., 504. McChristian, Harrison, 301. McChristy, W. D., 526. McOlain, John, 115. McClain, W. G., 631. McClarty, F. C., 43. McClarty, John, 78. McClure, Robert, 367, 389. McClusky, B., 77. McCollum, A. R., 557. McComb, J. E., 197, 209, 220. McCommon, T. T., 322. McConnell, H. H., 215, 305. McConnell, R. M., 357. McConnell, Thomas, 359. McCord, Felix J., 163, 384, 557. McCord, Patt9n, 590, 625. McCormic, Michael, 85. McCormick, A. P., 95, 112. McCormick, G. W., 302. McCormick, George, 176, 182. McCormick, J. M., 216, 301, 345, 357, 392, 438, 475, 514, 554, 571, 573, 601, 614. McCormick, R. M., 357. McCown, , 155. McCoy, , 69. McCoy, John C., 147, 173. McCoy, Sam C., 216, 254. McCracken, O. A., 416, 588, 614. McCraven, William, 93. McCraw, Thomas M., 93. MacOready, E. D., 268. McCroary, L. P., 629. McCuistian, H. J., 424. McCuistian, H. M., 472, 473, 474, 511. McCulloch, H. E., 109, 124, 301, 332. McOulloch, M. C., 301. McCulloch, R. A., 511. McCutcheon, W. S., 360. 554. McDaniel, Jerry, 353, 366, 369, 390, 391. McDaniel, Lodowick, 195, 229, 231, 232, 242, 254, 292, 301, 302, 327, 337, 360, 458, 475, 515. McDonald, H. D'., 202, 266, 310, 353, 366. McDonald, James, 267, 289, 357, 391. McDonald, John D., 252. McDonald, John W., 120, 121, 216, 242, 272, 290. McDonald, William, 617. McDonald, William M., 330, 347, 411, 412, 433, 434, 436, 437, 489, 556. McDonnell, H. J., 491. McDougall, E. A., 249. McDowell, C., 576, 606, 617. McDowell, C. K., 438, 556, 576. McDowell, E. A., 258, 322, 577, 586. McDowell, James K., 231, 290. McDowell, L. S., 488, 519, 542, 554, 576, 606. McElreath, S. R., 570, 631. McElroy, W. A., 554, 631. McFadden, Alf, 550. McFadden, Mrs. Alice, 513. McFaddin, J. N., 199, 256, 260. McFarland, J. A. L., 478, 629. Index to Names 673 McFarland, J. F., 570. McFarland, T. J., 323. McFarland, W. P., 218. McFarland, William, 85. McGar, Hiram. 413. McGary, Dan S., 109. 123. McGaughey, W. L., 287, 317. McGee, George F., 366, 390. McGee. T. D'., 310. McGinnis, W. G., 474. McGowan, A.. 85. McGrady, J. G., 538. McGreel, Peter, 105. McGregor, Claude P., 574. MacGregor, H. F.. 303, 360, 361, 394, 439 455, 553 556, 574, 605, 616, 617, 631. McGregor, John S., 405. McGregor, R., 631. McGregor, T. H. t 607. McGuire, J. E., 530, 532. Machemehl, L. H.. 613. McHugh, T. J., .190, 195. Mcllwaine, A. G., 322, 330. Mclnnis, L. L.. 344. Mclntosh, H. F., 379. Mclntosh, William, 93. Mack. J. H., 263. Mack, Theo., 323. McKane, R. H., 326. McKay. A. X.. 519. McKay, D., 155. 158. McKay, Gilchrist, 93. McKee, S'cipio P., 100. McKeever. J. J., 158. McKenzey, F. O., 254, 255, 256. McKenzie, , 162. Mackey, W. B.. 483. McKinley, J. S., 500. McKinley, William, 357, 359, 360, 392, 394, 406, 407, 410, 412, 413, 434, 439, 455, 459, 461, 476. McKinney, A. T., 202, 221, 258, 318. .Mrivinney, J. M., 371. McKinney, J. W., 327, 460. McKinney, John, 262. McKinnon. A. P.. 249. McLain, J. R., 218, 221. McLane, John, 118. McLaughlin, Chat. E., 187. McLean, J. P., 322. McLean, William P., 144, 147, 172, 401, 446. McLeary, J. H., 182, 202, 220, 258, 310. McLemore, Jeff, 607, 634. McLemore, John T., 405. McLemore, M. C., 129, 147, 405, 486. McLendon. J. S., 248. McLeod, Hugh, 69. McLeod, John D., 50. MrLester, G. P., 527. Mi-Mahan, M. V., 141. McMahon. A. G., 258. McMahon, T. H., 102. McManus, C. A., 256. Mi-AIanus. W. M., 292. McManus, William, 305, 330, 338. McMeans, C. A., 298. McAIeans, S. A., 344, 357, 389. McMillan. Benton, 492. McMinn, T. J., 293, 380, 396, 453, 454, 472. 647. McMurray. T. J., 503. McXeal, Thomas, 211, 258, 266, 558, 562. McXealus, James C., 503, 537. 43328 McXulty, B. F., 389. McQuiston, H. L., 597. McRae, John D., 558. McRae, Taylor, 300, 301, 511. McReynolds, R. A., 405. McVeal, William. 434. McZeal, , 411. Madarasz. L. W., 290. Madden. J. W., 546. Maddox, John F.. 550. Maddox, R. E., 389. Maddox, W. B.. 280. Maetze, E. G.. 258. Maier, F. J.. 526, 537. Maiorana. Frank. 527, 530, 588. Majors. P. C., 199. Makemson, W. K., 290, 302, 327, 329, 345, 357. 646. Malcom, G. W., 453. Malevinsky, M. L., 367. Mallett, J. M., 314, 453, 461, 472, 511, 647. Malloy, A. G.. 154, 176, 195, 302. Malloy, F.. 195. Malone, George, 413. Malone, J. M.. 254. Malsch, M., 158. Maltby, Henry A., 93. Manchester, W. Z.. 434. Mangum, T. F., 462. Manley. John H., 85, 87. Mann, Edgar M., 619. Mann, M. W., 337. Mann, W. H., 118. Mannan, F. G.. 513. Manning, H. C., 439. Manning, Wentworth, 335, 378, 486. Mansfield, J. J.. 577. Maples, J. A., 500. Marbach, John, 474. Marchbank, H. D., 109. Maricle, O. P.. 572, 615. Marioule, Lodovick, 201. Maris. C. H., 345. Marr, D. P., 206, 221, 237, 287, 317. Marr, H. S., 511. Marsh, D. C., 121. Marsh, Henry B.. 344, 371, 492, 546. Marshall, A. S., 174. Marshall, Bart., 497, 514, 542, 571, 597, 614. Marshall, C. C., 615. Marshall, Eugene, 272, 357, 573, 574, 616. Marshall, H. C., 652. Marshall, J. B., 274. Marshall, J. M., 424. Marshall, Jesse, 93. Marshall, John, 37, 38, 40, 68, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79. 80, 81, 84. Marshall, Thomas R., 577, 619. Marshall, W. E., 418. Martin, , 248. Martin, A. D., 279. Martin, A. F., 442. Martin. B. D., 174. Martin, C. C., 617. Martin, C. L.. 647. Martin, C. W., 322. Martin, Clarence. 462. Martin, E. M., 303. Martin, E. W.. 214. Martin, J. A., 218, 390. Martin, J. C., 251, 305, 338. Martin. J. C. C., 478. Martin, J. D., 483. 674 Index to Names Martin, J. E., 229, 247, 260, 262, 263, 314, 379. Martin, J. R., 366. Martin, J. W., 208. Martin, Louis, 497. Martin, Marion, 202, 208, 218, 254, 260, 314, 332, 646. Martin, N. C., 514. Martin, T. J., 554, 571, 573, 597, 601, 615. Martin, T. O., 322. Martin, Thomas, 85. Martin, W. B., 314. Martin, W. W., 220, 221. Mason, D. N., 359. Mason, George, 144, 158, 173, 174. Mason, Harry, 416. Mason, J. C., 630. Mason, Sanford, 117. Massett, J. P., 246. Masterson, A. E., 503, 462, 470, 503. Masterson, Harris, 497, 538, 615. Masterson, James, 158. Masterson, William, 462, 497, 526. Matheny, M. P., 244, 254. Mathes, W. M., 235. Mathews, A., 432. Mathews, J. J., 258. Mathews, W. M., 276, 278. Mathis, A., 401. Mathis, John M., 558, 619. Matlock. A. L,., 220, 258, 266, 326, 330, 331, 350, 352, 366, 367, 391. Matthaei, W. A., 514, 538, 554, 573, 601, 615. Matthews, J. C., 248, 323. Matthews, J. H., 323, 363, 521, 526. Matthews, W. H., 380. Matthies, Fred., 617. Mattier, D., ?48. Maupin, Sam B., 423. Maverick, Sam A., 74, 105, 107, 111. Maxey, A. G., 551, 552. Maxey, James M., 93, 109, 144. Maxey, Rice, 503, 543, 546. Maxey, S'. B., 127, 144, 163, 233, 258. Maxwell, O. T., 357, 371, 416. May, A. W., 154. Mayer, Pierce, 615. Mayes, Will H., 576. Mayfield, Allison, 339, 342, 385, 401, 405, 533, 634. Mayfield, Earl B., 577, 607. Mayhew, J. R., 557. Maynard, A. L., 330, 347, 411, 437. Maynard, Frank, 409. Maynard, W. H., 252. Mays, Melton, 371. Mays, Richard, 405, 416, 462, 546, 557. Mead, G. P., 218. Meade, G. H., 311. Meek, J. H., 552, 570, 628. Meeks, T. B., 498. Meerscheidt, Paul, 623. Meisner, M., 216. Meitzen, E. O., 301, 332, 380, 552, 564. Meitzen, E. R., 484, 514, 527, 529, 590, 625, 648. Melson, J. M., 526, 533. Melton, W. T., 504. Menard, A. L., 290. Mentz, E. B., 439, 455. Mercer, W. H., 558, 562. Merchant, W. S 1 ., 465. Meriwether, J. S., 470. Merriman, F. H., 56. Merritt, Clarence, 557. Mertz, C. W., 254. Messmer, W. S., 242, 254, 292, 327, 330, 345. Metcalf, J. F., 256. Metcalf, W. B., 314. Metzler, A., 303. Metzner, Charles, 141. Meusebach, John O., 50, 55. Meyenberg, J., 308. Meyer, F., 564. Meyer, J. F., 326. Meyer, J. L., 390. Meyers, John, 634. Middlebroock, J. W., 311. Miebach, Charles, 308. Mierow, Charles, H16. Mikniewics, Paul, 529. Milham, J. L., 78. Miller, 377. Miller, Barry, 326, 427. Miller, Daniel, 274. Miller, F. J., 418. Miller, George P., 206. Miller, James B., 44, 644. Miller, James Z., 247, 248, 516. Miller, L. S., 292. Miller, L. T., 234. Miller, N. F., 267. Miller, Owens, 424. Miller, R. D., 552. Miller, S. S., 254. Miller, T. G. P., 483. Miller, Theodore, 405, 413, 439, 441, 458, 459, 477, 486. Miller, W. A. H., 181, 187, 189, 198, 199 323 Miller, Washington D.. 30, 35, 51, 54, 55, 56. Miller, Will A., Jr., 550, 607, 643. Miller, William Goodloe, 93. Millican, J. H., 176. Milliken, C. B., 574. Milliken, W. O., 293, 297. Millroy, William G., 367. Mills, Albert N., 68, 93. Mills, O. C., 28, 51, 52. Mills, Charles H., 492, 557, 618, 619, 623. Mills, J. J., 293. Mills, J. S., 120. Mills, John T., 43, 64, 65, 644. Mills, Roger Q., 69, 144, 249, 259, 549. Mills, Sumter R. G., 65. Mills, W. W., 115. Mills, Word H., 446, 470, 647. Milner, Robert T., 223, 287, 371, 401, 404, 416, 462, 492, 520. Milton, George, 326. Mims, Charles, 497. Miner, Fred W., 141, 176, 177, 190, 195, 232, 290. Minter, W. J., 572. Minton, J. C., 357. Minton, W. H., 453. Misener, E. R., 601. Missell, Hardie P., 537. Mitchell, J. F., 310. Mitchell, J. W., 249, 614, 643. Mitchell, P. C., 201. Mitchell, W. A., 418, 529. Moch, K J., 2-80. Mock, H.'B., 461, 557. Moeller, Hugo, 623. Moes, U., 625. Moffatt, John H., 72. Index to Names 675 Moffett, F. G., 526. Moffett, J. W., 339, 342. Monk, James, 201, 208. Monroe, Armistead T., 117, 155, 176. Monroe, C. J., 301. Monroe, M. L., 190. Montague, Charles, 176, 186. Montfort, August, 187. Montgomery, Andrew, 85. Montgomery, Charles, 231. Montgomery, J. T.. 493. Montgomeiy, N., 628. Moody, G. W., 470. Moody, J. J., 317. Moody, W. L., 173, 416. Mooney, J. C., 314. Mooney, John L., 454, 511. Moore, A. W., 71, 98, 129. Moore, Bart, 326, 330. Moore, Eugene. 371, 432, 447, 452. Moore, F. W., 390. Moore, George F., 174. Moore, Henry, 155. Moore, Hugh N., 551, 552. Moore, J. M., 223, 513. Moore, John M., 405. 416, 432, 618. Moore, L. W., 124, 172. Moore, Lewis M., 93. Moore, Monta J., 322, 330. Moore, N. B., 329, 345. Moore, N. J., 158. Moore, P. B., 366. Moore, P. J., 148. Moore, T. M., 390. Moore, T. W., 474. Moore, Thomas, 84, 93, 248. Moore, Thomas C., 93. Moore, W. A., 206. Moore. W. B., 100. Moore. W. C., 418. Moore, W. D., 199. Moore, \V. E., 316. Moore, W. F., 367, 390, 558, 562. Moore, W. G., 247. Moore, W. T., 201. Moore. W. W.. 504. Morehead, H. S., 537, 550. Morehead, J. D., 256. Moreland, Q. T., 452, 470, 497. Morgan, James, 85. Morgan, Simpson H., 51, 55, 58, 68, 74, 77, 80. Moroney, James, 384. Morris, C. H., 652. Morris, D. H., 498, 519, 542, 554, 576, 606, 617, 631. Morris, G. G., 418. Morris, G. H., 488. Morris, J. R., 491. Morris, J. S., 235. Morris, J. T., 625. Morris, Leopold, 652. Morris, Ned. 356. 371, 416. Morris, W. W., 500. Morrison, A. M., 439, 441, 574. Morrison, J. H., 143. Morriss, Will A., 526. Morrow, J. H., 199, 235. Morrow, John H., 409. Morrow, W. C., 432, 634. Morton, Frank C., 617. Morton, Levi P., 272. Morton, O. W., 337. Morton, W. E., 252. Moseley, A. L., 345. Moseley, J. M., 411, 489, 491. Moses, Dayton, 405, 432, 576. Moses, Norton, 182, 318, 357, 371. Moses, W. B., 469. Mosheim, Emil, 577. Mosley, N. S., 254. Moss/B. F., 93. Mott, M. F., 391. Mueller, Alfred, 527. Mueller, Henry, 308. Mueller, Theo., 623. Mulcahy, M. J., 201. Mulkey, E. M., 601, 615. Mullen, E., 338. Mullen, Marion, 290. Muller, John, 93. Mullins, M., 347. Mullins, S. G., 244, 254, 255, 284. Mullins, Sheppard, 100, 117, 118. Mundine, T. H.. 85. Munn, D. A., "264. Munson, M. S'., 182, 209. Murchison, D. H., 607. Murchison, Daniel, 95. Murchison, J. M., 526. Murchison, W. H., 493. Murdock, J. G., 306. Murphy, A. J., 474. Murphy, J. C., 462. Murrah, Pendleton, 77, 645. Murray, B. C., 326. Murray, Carlos, 206. Murray, Q. C., 618. Murray, Thomas H., 173, 175, 186, 205, 211/217, 223. Murray, W. L., 317. Murray, W. O., 466, 619. Murray, W. V. T., 552. Murrell, Jesse C., 526. Myers, Frank A., 519, 542. Myers, J. Allen, 441, 458, 477, 498, 538. 554. Xabors, W. J., 472. Xagle, W. M., 489 Nance, A. J., 280. Nash, D. W., 504, 508. Nash, John D., 98. Nash, T. F., 465. Nash, Thomas J., 93. Nau, Oscar B., 631. Nauendorf, A., 93. Neal, George D., 344, 446, 465. Neal, J. F., 478. Neal, W. A., 481. Neblett, R. S., 634. Neel, T. C., 93. Neely, M. H., 248. Neighbors, Robert S., 26, 50. Neill, James, 198. Neill, W. R., 367. Nelms, Frank, 529. Nelms, W. W., 380. Nelson, A. L., 475. Nelson, A. W., 98. Nelson, Allison, 93. Nelson, J. L., 356. Nelson, O. W., 497, 530. Nelson, Richard, 195. Nemitz, C. H., Jr., 326. Neumann, Phil, 308. Neviells, George E., 441. Nevins, John A., 303. Nevins, W. S., 338. Newcomb, James P., 114, 141, 176, 195, 229, 303, 338, 394. Newell, G. G., 489. 676 Index to Names Newell, O. S., 554, 571, 597. Newman, H., 298. Newman, Theo., 530. Newsom, James F., 93. Newton, S. G., 155. Newton, S. T., 176. Neyland, R. R., 249, 326. Neyland, W. M., 93. Nichols, E. B., 93. Nichols, H. B., 77. Nicholson, A. J., 93. Nicholson, E. P., 93. Nicholson, J. C., 310. Niece, J. R., 330. Nix, John G., 301, 424. Nixon, S. M., 452. Noble, W. S., 564, 567, 590. Nolan, M. J., 198, 201, 215, 229, 247. Nolle, Eugene, 363, 478, 498, 601, 617. Nolte, Walter, 455. Noonan, George H., 441, 458. Norman, A. P., 432, 458. Norman, Wyatt-T., 557, 577. North, J. H., 329. Norris, F. O., 546. Norris, James M., 93, 98. Norton, , 252. Norton, A. B., 141, 155, 176, 190, 195, 232, 234, 302, 303, 360, 645, 646. Norton, E. W., 303, 360. Norton, J. H., 394. Norton, J. M., 292. Norton, M. P., 75. Norton, W. N., 232, 338, 360, 394. Norwood, A. O., 254, 255. Norwood, Ewing, 488. Nowlan, S. G., 56. Nugent, C. W., 503. Nugent, Clarence, 424, 472, 567, 625. Nugent, Thomas L., 248, 260, 314, 332, 646. Nunn, D. A.. 109, 129, 173, 217, 238, 241, 326, 352, 353, 390'. Nunn, E. E., 577. Nunn, W. M., 201. Oatis, M. A., 206. Oatman, B., 314. Obenchain, Alfred T., 93. Obenchain, C. E., 567. Ochiltree, Thomas P., 78, 81. Ochiltree, William B., 18, 34, 51, 52, 54, 72, 93, 644. Odell, D'. W., 371, 415, 427, 452, 634, 642, 643. Odem, D., 462. O'Brien, George A., 155, 231, 303, 338. O'Brien, George C., 462. O'Brien, George W., 289. O'Brien, S. D., 276, 278. O'Bryan, W. C., 290. O'Byrne, John, 260, 262, 293, 297, 316, 379. O'Connor, , 147, 148. O'Connor, D. M., 330. O'Neal, H. F., 163, 199, 229, 371, 401, 504, 508, 526. O'Neal, Hardy A.. 339, 342, 353, 492, 504, 546. O'Neil, A. H., 405, 475. O'Neil, Harry H., 404. O'Neil, John, 280. O'Neill, A. J., 515. O'Quinn, W. B., 432. Ogden, Charles W., 455, 458, 475, 486, 497, 498, 514, 515, 538. Ogden, Wesley B., 176. Oldham, Williamson S., 38, 55, 56, 65, 75, 93. Oliver, A. C., 432. Oltorf, J. O.. 344. Oltorp, P. C., 462. Onion, J. F., 354, 371, 384, 395, 401. Opp, Fred, 310. Oppenheimer, J. M., 498, 606. Oppenheimer, Julius, 576, 60], Orgain, B. D., 206. Orr, John, 276. Osborn, O. J., 511. Osterhout, J. P., 195, 231, 242, 254, 292, 302, 392. Oswald, Fr., 58. Otterbein, Charles A., 418. Ousley, A. C., 276. Ousley, Clarence, 461, 504, 508, 533, 558, 563. Owen, Clark L., 56. Owens, B. W., 306. Owens, Edward, 570. Owens, G. W., 336, 378. Owens, Joe A., 223. Owens, T. B., 190. Owsley, Alvin C., 310, 339, 342, 462, 577, 614. Pabor, W. E., 264. Pabst, Fred E., 618. Pace, Alfred E., 68. Pace, S. A., 504, 5}0. Paddock, B. B., 182, 198, 322, 326, 330, 352, 367, 389. Page, Paul D., 503, 521, 524, 526, 537, 607, 618. Page, W. B., 249. Paige, P. F., 479, 481, 500, 512, 513, 530, 532, 552, 630. Painter, J. H., 643. Palmer, A. C., 470. Palmer, E. A., 58, 78. Palmer, G. L., 474. Palmer, J. T., 572. Palmer, R. J., 93. Palmer, W. A., 497. Palmer, William, 201. Pannell, H. G., 85. Pardue, P. H., 322. Paretti, Mayo, 349. Parish, J. Frank, 634. Park, Milton, 423, 424, 453, 454, 461, 511. Parker, Alton B., 464, 466. Parker, F. J., 50, 51, 95. Parker, H. J., 625. Parker, Isaac, 78. Parker, J. A., 453. Parker, J. F., 292. Parker, J. H., 576, 606. Parker, John, 310. Parker, W. E., 120, 155. Parker, W. R., 462, 527. . Parkhouse, George F., 530. Parr, Archie, 526, 537, 588, 634. Parrish, E. L., 326. Parrott, R. B., 248. Parson, William H., 56. Parsons, A. R., 155. Parsons, J. H., 65, 98. Parsons, W. H., 81, 105. Paschal, F. M., 371. Paschal, George W., 65, 68, 80, 88, 112. Paschal, I. A., 50, 95. Index to Names 677 Paschal, Sam, 85. Pasco, G. W., 216. Patillo, W. S. f 513. Patrick, George D., 186. Patrick, Henry D., 72. Patten, , 141. Patten, George W., 157. Patten, Nathan, 116, 121, 215, 292, 330, 574. Patterson, M. M., 631. Patterson, Millard, 530. Patterson, Otto I., 538, 554, 572. Patterson, R. R., 511. Patterson, S. W., 378. Patton, George M., 437, 460. Patton, M. M., 491, 576, 606. Paulus, D. A., 504, 508. Paulus, Henry D.,-619. Payne, D. M., 550. Payne, J. B., 254. Payne, Jonathan, 211, 287. Payne, W. M., 93. Payne, W. K., 93. Peak, Howard, 275. Pearre, C. G., 175. Pearson, E. J. E., 411. Pearson, J. W. 478, 479, 481, 483, 513, 647. Pearson, P. E., 127, 163. Pease, Elisha M., 19, 32, 34, 36, 37, 40, 43. 44, 50, 56, 62, 64, 68, 77, 95, 100, 112, 128, 129, 644, 645. Peat, C. M., 176. Peck, Charles B., 337, 338, 438, 439. Peck, E. R., 56, 69. Peck, William M., 93. Peebles, A. A., 470. Peebles, A. M., 542. Peebles, T. H., 379. Peers, Phil E., 326. Pedigo, H. C., 121. Pedigo, g. H., 574. Peeler, A. J.. 202. Pellerin, A. E., 513. Pendleton, George C., 209, 237, 249, 258, 265. 287, 446, 462, 466, 504, 510, 547, 550. Pendleton, W. S 1 ., 266. Penick, R. L., 537. Pennel, Mrs. Laura, 254. Penniger, R., 554. Pennington, Levi, 75. Penry, J. L., 558. Perdue, J. M., 229, 235, 263, 268, 276, 278, 297, 298, 314, 453, 454, 472, 511, 530. Peretti, Mayo, 349. Perkins, David, 303. Perkins, E. B., 182, 415. Perkins, G. B., 258. Perkins, J. J., 202, 310. Perkins, Tom C., 543. Perkins. W. W., 371. Perry, George F., 268, 318, 428, 493. Perry, George H., 311. Perry, H. T., 305. Perry, L. B., 249. Ferryman, L. R., 202. Ferryman, Sam R.. 218. 427. Peteet, Walton. 447, 452. Peters, C. H., 300. Peters, E. S., 300, 301, 314, 380. Petersen, R.. 143. Pettigrew, J. M., 454, 511. Peyton, J. W., 336, 379. Peyton, John B., 404, 416, 427. Pfeuffer, George, 128, 158, 163. Pharr, B. H., 445. Pharr, S. M., 532. Phelps, A. A., 628, 630. Phelps, R. H., 220, 238, 242, 323. Pheythian, T. R., 625. Phillips, Nelson, 416, 447, 520, 524, 526, 533, 577, 634. Phillips, W. C., 71, 229, 232. Phillips, W. J., 115, 121. Phillips, William, 115, 234. Philp, John W., 601, 648. Philpot, J. P., 260. Pickett, E. B., Jr., 503. Pickett, Edwin B., 84, 111, 124. 127. 147, 164. Pickett, G. B., 163, 217. Pierce, H. Olay, 509. Pierce, H. F., 439. Pierce, J. S., 500. Pierce, R. L., 481. Pierce, Winbourne, 357, 371, 415. Pierson, C. C.. 470. Pierson, P. W., 607. Pillod, Eugene, 418. Pilsbury, Timothy, 20. Finer, F. E., 287. Piombino, Joe, 527. Pirkey, S. H., 72. Pitkin, J. T., 478. Pitt, R. E., 223. Pitts, E. S., 81. Pitts, H. B., 318. Pitts, J. F., 215. Pitts, John D., 44, 81. Plato. Nelson, 176, 177. Pleasants, Robert A., 371, 401, 521. Plemmons, W. B., 389, 405. Plumley, B. Rush, 117, 177. Poag. W. R., 93. Poindexter, William, 330, 353, 363, 503, 543, 546, 577, 584, 587, 623, 651. Poland, W. H., 249. Polk, J. D., 326, 339, 342. Pollard, Charles Joseph, 481. Pollock, William C., 50, 65. Ponton, Thomas, 206. Pool, George F., 338, 360. Pope, Alex, 93. Pope, J. W., 127, 301. Pope, Thomas A., 327, 345, 514. Pope, Thomas C., 530. Pope, W. E., 497. Pope, W. H. f 223, 238, 240, 258, 265. Pope, Walter Scott, 558. Porter, H. A., 280. Porter, S. M., 607. Porter, & W., 550. Portis, David Y., 54, 56, 93. Portwood, D. M., 520, 526. Posey, J. W., 128. Posey, R. T., 77. Potter, C. B., 469. Potter, C. C., 266. Potter, O. L., 258, 353, 384. Potter, M. M., 58, 65. Pouncey, W. A., 470. Powell, Ben, 546. Powell, Ben H., Jr., 405, 452. Powell, F. P., 371. Powell, J. J., 301. Powell, R. H., 503. Powell, R. M., 81. Powell, T. H., 143. Powell, T. J., 155, 323, 352. Powers, Stephen, 68, 111. 678 Index to Names Prather, H. V., 478, 481, 500. Prather, Robert, 256. Prather, W. L., 202. Prendergast, A. C., 577. Prendergast, D. M., 77, 93, 129, 158, 237, 241, 247, 248, 284, 305, 306, 335, 378, 478, 500, 646. Pressler, J. M., 268, 290, 371, 395. Pressler, Paul, 154. Preston, Walter F., 93. Price, F. P., 93. Price, H. L., 434, 491, 602. Price, J. P., 462, 635. Price, R. S., 444. Price, Rufus, 129, 322. Price, W. A., 141, 148, 155. Price, W. D., 120. Price, W. H., 177. Price, W. W., 348, 349. Prichard, W. H., 298. Pridgen, R. S., 182, 186. Pridgion, O. F., 434. Priest, M. D., 247. Prince, R. E., 310, 427. Pritchard, W. R., 567. Pritchett, H. Carr, 287. Proctor, D. C., 147, 163. Proctor, F. C., 326, 390. Proctor, William A., 280. Pughes, W. F., 554. Pyle, W. H., 124. Quarles, James Hays, 322, 401, 415, 427. Quill, Dan, 489. Quinan, George, '56, 128, 174, 175, 208. Quintero, J. A. 81. Rabb, Sam T., 206. Raby, J. R., 384. Radney, W. L., 447. Ragland, A. M., 286, 306, 432, 481. Ragsdale, J. W., 238, 241, 503, 537. Raider, John, 529. Raines, James, 144. Rainey, A. T.. 80, 81, 93, 144. Rainey, Anson, 218, 223. Rainey, Robert W., 72. Rains, J. S., 187. Ramey, William Neal, 172. Ramsdell, C. T'., 361. Ramsey, F. T., 501. Ramsey, William F., 220, 287, 290, 370, 384, 395, 492, 520, 651. Ranck, James E., 95. Rand, W. H., 267. Randall, H. g. t 205. Randell, Andrew L., 558, 562, 634, 642. Randell, C. B., 371, 465. Randolph, Benton, 98. Randolph, Cyrus H., 75, 81. Randolph, H. C., 322, 384. Randolph, John O., 416. Randolph, M. L., 265. Randolph. M. Y., 221, 289, 317. Rankin, George C., 543. Rankin, J. D., 206, 223, 224, 229, 262, 298. Ransom, C. W., 553, 631. Ransome, J. R., Jr., 618. Rasbury, Charles, 462. Rasco, A. J., 552. Rathburn, J. C., 255. Rather, W. S 1 ., 109. Rawlinson, A. D., 473. Ray, Fisk M., 532, 628. Ray, G. H., 606. Ray, G. W., 615. Raymond, James H., 65. Rayner, J. B., 332, 384. Read, C. A., 552, 631. Reagan, John H., 51, 93, 105, 107, 109, 111, 144, 147, 158, 172, 267, 318, 353, 370, 371, 384. 385, 427, 451, 461, 462, 465, 469, 496. Real, Julius, 542. Record, J. K. P., 98, 115. Rector, C., 93. Rector, J. K., Jr., 619. Rector, John B., 216, 251, 301. Redd, J. A., 389. Redfield, David, 229, 327. Redwood, M. H., 232. Reed, John, 148. Reed, Joe B., 552, 628. Reed, John M., 370. Reed, Warren, 458. Reedy, D'. M., 423. Reese, Thomas S., 209, 242. Reeve, W. O., 248. Reid, Scott, 618. Reid, Whitelaw, 327. Reily, James, 28, 29, 52. Reinecke, H. W., 628. Reinhart, J., 100. Reisinger, M. W., 554, 571. Renfro, Robert B., 215, 252, 290, 292, 302, 345, 357. Renfro, W. B., 02. Renken, G. C., 349. Renne, Charles T., 267. Rennick, J. M., 279, 483. Reynolds, J. J., 121. Rhodes, J. C., 314, 470, 472, 513, 647. Rhodes, L. L., 275, 418, 470, 484, 514. Rhome, B. M., 242. Rhome, C. L., 488. Rhome, P. G., 93. Rice, B. H., 211. Rice, C. S., 570. Rice, H. B., 371, 415, 618. Rice, H. M., 390. Richards, A., 290, 292, 302. Richards, J. M., 543. Richards, John, 491. Richardson, D. D., 564. Richardson, F. I., 254, 272. Richardson, J. A., 629. Richardson, J. M., 371. Richardson, TV. H., 186, 258. Richbuzer, Francis, 85. Richer, W. C., 148. Richie, William, 100. Richter, H. R., 519. Riddle, Claud S., 470. Riddle, J. G., 631. Riddle, Lee, 310, 339, 342. Ridgell, P. T., 462. Ridgeway, E. B., 619. Rigley, J. W., 260, 263. Rimes, B. W., 147, 175, 182. Ring, H. F., 287. Ripetoe, Walter, 148. Ripsdorph, B., 357. Roach, I. N., 147, 209, 248, 280. Roach, L. D., 574. Roach, S. M., 454. Roach, W. T., 303, 360, 441. Robbins, John W., 401, 427, 447, 465, 546. Roberts, B. W., 229. Roberts, E. W., 242. Index to Names 679 Roberts, J. E., 513. Roberts, Oran M.. 89, 93, 98, 174, 182, 194, 201. 202, 279, 549, 645. Roberts, S., 155. Roberts, Samuel A., 51, 54. Roberts, T. B., 314. Roberts, W. A., 155. Roberts, William R., 439, 474. Robertson, E. Sterling C., 69, 93, 128. Robertson, Relix H., 266, 267. Robertson, George A., 497. Robertson, H. G., 218, 370, 492. Robertson, H. P., 211, 287, 371. Robertson, J. C., 52, 93, 147. Robertson, James H., 493, 521, 526. Robertson, James M., 287. Robertson, Jerome B., 56, 72, 79, 93, 645. Robertson, John W., 128, 211, 258, 322. Robertson, Joseph W., 290. Robertson, O. B., 254. Robertson, Sawnie, 287. Robertson, W. S'., 258. Robinson, D. A., 195, 231, 252. Robinson, Fred B., 395. Robinson, George, 350, 353, 363. Robinson, George C., 258. Robinson, J. A., 513. Robinson, J. J., 644. Robinson, J. M., 478. Robinson, J. W., 345, 359. Robinson, John, 279. Robinson, Joel P., 145. Robinson, S. T., 469, 497. Robinson, T. A., 576, 602, 606. Robinson, W. G., 155. Robinson, W. L., 298. Robinson, W. O., 299. Robinson, W. R., 332. Robison, Frank, 279. Robison, James T'., 520, 533, 577, 607, 634. Robison, Joel, 237. Robison, T. W., 242. Robson, John R., 88. Robson. W, S., 221, 371, 384, 389, 427. Roche, F. T., 389. Rock, Thomas, 68. Rockholt, George F., 556, 576, 601, 606. Rodes. O. H., 634. Rodgers, A. D., 557, 643. Rodgers, H. H., 459. Rodgers, M. O., 85. Roe, W. E., 206. Rogan, Charles H., 427, 533, 577. Rogers, A. G., 193, 199. Rogers, B. F., 235. 248. Rogers, Ben S., 405. Rogers, C. M., 209. 322. Rogers, Ed., 305, 335. 378, 478, 512. Rogers, F. P., 223, 224. 229. Rogers, G. W., 248, 254. Rogers, James H., 93. Rogers, M. M., 252, 411, 455, 458, 478, 574. Rogers, Robert H., 223, 242. Rogers, Mrs. S. A., 305. Rogers, W. B., 576, 606. Rogers, William P., 93. Roland, A. H., 413. Roosevelt, Theodore. 434, 439, 455, 459, 461. 463, 476, 486, 487, 489, 491, 498, 499, 519, 553, 554, 555, 570, 572, 598, 616. Roper, W. H., 418, 453. Rose, A. J., 211, 248. Rose, B. W., 367. Rose, Charles E., 630. Rosenthal, A. J., 215, 229, 242, 251, 252, 290, 301, 327, 413, 459, 475. Ross, B. F., 94. Ross, Edward M., 93. Ross, Lawrence S., 172, 237, '253, 259, 265, 270, 278, 469, 549, 646 Ross, R. L., 356. Ross, W. E., 432. Rosseau, M. T., 254. Rounsavall, R. O., 247. Rountree, Lee J.,, 370, 389, 396, 504. Rowell, T. D., 577, 584. Rowland, T. B., 359. Royal, G. H., 410, 420, 446, 527, 530, 588, 646, 647. Royder, T. M., 497. Ruby, George T., 100, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 141, 148, 155. Ruce, O., 221. Rucks, A. R., 618, 634. Rud. Warren, 302. Rudd, Jonathan D., 389. Rugeley, John, 93. Rugely, R. D., 311. Runge, Julius, 264. Runnels, Hardin R.. 41, 56, 64, 65, 72, 78, 81, 93, 98, 644, 645. Runnels, Hiram G., 43, 44. Rushing, J. N., 205. Rushing, J. W., 242. Rusk, Thomas J., 20, 36, 50, 68. Russell, E. A., 254. Russell, J. Gordon, 339, 342. Russell, J. M., 481. Russell, L. B., 363, 614. Russell, L. J., 242. Russell, Pierre L., 552, 630. Russell, S. H., 143, 155, 176. Russell, T. H., 157. Russell, Tom, 332. Russell, Thomas J., 157, 231. Russell, W. H., 158. Russey, J. A., 274. Rust, William M., 128, 389. Rutledge, J. W., 384. Ryan, L\ W., 576. Ryler, George W., 276. S'abin, C. B., 100. Sackett, Henry, 350, 353. Sadler, Ira B., 163. St. John, R. A., 470. Samuels, Sidney L., 390. Sanchez, Amador, 452. Sandefer, J. D., 546. Sanders, W. D., 550. Sanders, W. M., 491. S'ands, W. A., 151. Sanford, Allan D., 618. Sansom, Cooper, 557. Sansom, F. M., 209. Sansom, J. W., 491. Sargent, W. L., 317, 338, 353. Sass, Ben, 556, 617. Saunders, X. B., 95. Saye, W. L., 533. Sayers, Joseph D., 128, 147, 158, 163, 173, 175, 182, 208, 217, 218, 401, 427, 428, 448, 462, 549, 646, 647. Sayers, T. G., 268. Sayers, W. B., 158, 310. Sayles H., 264. Sayles, John, 69. 680 Index to Names Saylor, W. A., 120, 141, 143, 190. Scanlan, William, 182. Scarbrough, Ed B., 80, 84, 93. Schawe, O. E., 554. Scherffius, Henry, 223. Schlickam, F.. 118. S'chlickum, Julius, 58. Schluter, A. H., 279. Schmidt, Carl, 497, 527, 530, 588, 648. Schmidt, E. F., 308. Schmidt, Joseph, 514. Schmitz, John B., 290, 303, 337, 360, 394, 409, 438, 439, 455, 646. Schneck, J. W., 190. Schneider, A. C., 500. Schneider, Mrs. A. Q, 500. S-choolfield, William D., 62, 93. S'chorre, Max P., 519, 542, 554, 571, 573, 601. Schramm, Edgar, 258. Schreiner, Charles, 470. Schuettler, Otto, 497, 530. Schurmann, I. D., 470. Schutze, 'Carl, 229. Schutze, Julius, 115, 141, 152, 176, 195, 308. Schutze, L., 58. Schurz, Carl, 120. Scott, ., 28,0. S'cott, C. R., 201. Scott, D. H., 211. Scott, D. M., 201. Scott, E. P., 360. Scott, G. R., 100, 220. Scott, J. C., 384, 514, 515, 554, 571. Scott, J. D'., 248. Scott, J. W., 50. Scott, John G., 141. Scott, M. M., 371. S'cott, Sam R., 416, 503. Scott, Tom M., 557, 618. Scott, William T., 93. Scrogrgins, J. R., 625. Scudder, S. D., 390. Scurry, Edgar, 428. Scurry, Richardson, 50. Scurry, William R., 56, 65, 72, 93. Searcy, Tom A., 481, 483. S"earcy, W. W., 266, 390. Scale, E. B., 182. Sears, A. W., 474. Seat, B. B., 163. Seawright. S'. A., 615. Seay, E. B., 470, 550. Sebastian, W. P., 310, 354, 416 497. Sebrecht, G. L., 290. Seehorn, John, 416. Seele, Herman, 77, 252, 292. Seeley, J. O., 459. Seelig-son, A. W., 619. Seeligson, Michael, 80. S'eely, James R., 175. Seideman, Adolph, 550. Sells, Cato, 563. Senter, E. G., 370, 504, 510. Sessions, E. G., 379, 454, 511. Sexton, Frank B., 74, 81, 112, 173. Sewall, Arthur, 385. Sewall, W. J., 391. Seydler, F., 154. Shands, E. W., 144. Stands, N. E., 546. Shannon, D. W., 105. Shannon, J. A., 329. Shannon, W. R., 220, 221. Shannon, W. T., 521, 526. Sharp, J. Milo, 326. Sharp, W. B., 571. Sharp, W. H., 462. Sharpe, M. O., 491. Shaw, Gus 326, 416, 447. Shaw, J. M., 366. Shaw, James, 56, 95, 128. Shaw, James B., 55, 65. Shaw, W. A., 281, 317. Sheeks, David, 148. Shelbourn, J. P., 65. Shelburn, J. H., 249. Shelburne, J. A., 323. Shelby, J. O., 115. Sheldon, Ben, 538. Shelley, N. G., 144, 176. Shepard, C. E., 614, 619, 643. Shepard, James E., 93. Shepard, Seth, 127, 158, 218, 249, 310, 317. Sheppard, O. B., 75. Sheppard, John L., 287, 317, 353, 371. Sheppard, Morris, 577. Sheridan, P. H 101. Shermack, J. G., 216, 231, 254, 292, 330, 347, 409. 439, 459, 474, 486. Sherrill, B. V., 389, 452, 462. Sherrill, J. S., 223, 384. Shertleff, V. L., 643. Sherwood, Lorenzo, 64. Shetfall, Cooper, 573. Shields, B. G., 95. Shields, H. P., 303. Shields, Lee L., 310, 504. Shirley, Thornton E., 198. ' Shivers, John M., 514. Shoaf, G. H., 418. Short, D. M., 78, 79, 144. Shorts, R., 306, 308. Shropshire, E. L.. 186, 209. 218. Shropshire, H. C., 416. Shuford, A. P., 95. Shumate, William, 247. Siemering, A., 58, 120, 121, 152, 155, 190, 195, 197, 212, 214. Silverman, S., 420. Silvius, W. A., 546. Simkins, E. J., 218, 317. Simmons, John J., 546, 588. Simmons, L. D., 441, 458. Simmons, Lee S., 489. S'immons, T. J., 237. Simonds, , 546. Simpson, B. D., 182. Simpson, Cecil, 607. Simpson, D. W., 625. Simpson, French, 367. Simpson, H. F., 564. Simpson, James B., 158, 275, 276. Simpson, John N., 390, 391, 514, 647. Simpson, R. W., 389. S'impson, S. B., 221. Simpson, Sloan, 615. Simpson, William D., 484. Simpson, W. D., Jr., 470. Sims, C. A., 500. Sims, J. W., 56. Sims, M. L., 353. Sims, M. W., 266, 367. Sims, S 1 . W., 56, 69. Sinclair, B., 290. Singleton, J. M., 554, 571, 572, 573, 601, 615. Singleton, W. C., Jr., 290. Singleton, W. E., 347, 439, 615. Singleton, Will E., Jr., 514, 574, 576. Index to Names 681 Sinks, Ed R., 223, 287, 290, 317, 322, 618. Skillern, W. A., 454, 472. Skillman, W. F., 390. Skinner, Richard, 353. Slade. S. C.. 216. Slator, M. Damon, 558. Slaughter, George H., 121. Slaughter, R. F., 98. Sledge. R, J., 268, 332, 334, 380. Slight, R. B., 617. Sloan, J. M., 498. Sloan, W. W.. 306. Slosson, W. B., 360. Sluder, J. T., 619. Smallwood, Ed., 318. Smelzer, J. H., 265. Smelzer, Sam H., 404. 416. Smeltzer, W. F., 434. Smith, A., 95. Smith, Ashbel, 50, 65, 72, 74,' 105, 124, 144, 173, 197. Smith, C. E. F.. 530. Smith, Cecil H., 427, 462, 577, 584, 5S6, 614. Smith, D. Fort. 218. Smith, E. O., 258, 268, 353, 366, 493, 527. Smith, E. J., 262, 618. Smith, E. W., 513. Smith, George, 121, 520. Smith, George R., 339, 342. Smith, George W., 112, 116, 144, 145, 205, 287, 428, 498, 515. Smith, Gideon, 93. Smith, H. C., 481. Smith, H. E., 392. Smith, H. H., 254. Smith, H. M., 606. Smith, J. A.. 330, 345, 347, 439, 458, iTs, 498, 552. Smith, J. C., 85, 590. Smith, J. M., 262. 263. 276. Smith, J. Peter, 218. 366, 367, 390. Smith, J. Texas, 157. Smith, Jake, 199. Smith, John, 303. Smith, John R.. 366. Smith, Junius W., 94. Smith, M. A., 470, 484, 513, 527. Smith, Major, 458. Smith. Marshall, 441, 458, 478. 617. Smith, Nath, 69. Smith, Owen P.. 619. Smith, R. A., 625. Smith, R. B., 460. Smith, R. L., 359, 392, 433. Smith, R. M., 242, 258, 634. Smith, Sam S., 77, 93. Smith, Stewart R., 618. Smith, T. M., 268, 279. Smith, T. S., 268, 356, 371, 401, 427. Smith, Tom, 532. Smith, W. A., 280. Smith, W. Fort, 326. Smith. W. H., 418. Smith, W. R., 554, 562. Smith, W. P., 477, 511. Smith, William. 77, 292. Smithdeal. C. M., 497. Smither, Joseph, 62. Smothers, S. H., 151. Smyth, George W., 26, 32, 50, 68, 74, 87. Sneed, Alexander TV'.. 56. Sneed, Seaborn G., 68, 124, 127. S-need, Thomas E., 186, 221. Snodgrass, D. S.. 246, 254, 256. Sommer, A. M., 606. S'on, J. C., 504. South, I>. B., 483. Southwick, Stephen, 85, 87. Soward, Charles, 447. Spain, F. H., 452. Spalding, H. M., 251, 303. Spann, F. M., 607. Sparenberg, G. H., 498. Sparkman, L. C., 223. S'parks, James R., 211. Sparks, M. V. B., 81. Sparks, Sam, 492, 504, 508, 520, 533. Sparks, W. J., 94. Speak, John, 51. Spears, A. H., 607. Speight, J. H., 56, 68. Speight, J. W., 78, 80. Spell, W. E., 353, 416, 503, 520, 526. S'pence, Joseph, 117. Spence, R. C., 574. Spencer, Frank M., 311. Spencer, H. A., 187. Spencer, L. J., 455. Spielhagen, G. R., 623. Spillman, J. T., 332. Spinks, J. S., 218, 258, 280, 310, 432. Spivey, W. M., 186. 221, 249, 258. S'pooner, Thomas H., 427, 432. Spoonts, Marshall, 447, 634. Sporer, J. G., 268. Sprague, P. B., 474. Springer, Arthur, 303, 337. Springer, John W., 353. Spurlin, J. L., 389. Stafford, Josiah, 54. Stafford, R. N., 223, 310, 356, 395, 416, 550. S'tallworth, F. W., 573. Stamps, P. R., 254. Stanberry, Laten, 618. Standart, C. W., 338, 360, 361. Standifer, Ike M., 310, 389, 404, 416, 503. Stanford, M. S., 260. Stanley, O. N., 78. Stanley, Frank B., 434, 438, 441, 486. Stanley, J. H., 462. S'tanley, John R., 474, 475. Stansberry, L. D., 199, 384. Stanzell, Joseph, 514. Staples, S. L., 371, 384, 452, 504, 508. Stapleton, M. V., 441. Stapp, D. M., 58. Stapper, Julian, 314, 623. Stark, J. T., 554, 571. Stark, V. H., 643. Starling, C. W., 439, 498, 514. Starr, A. R., 258. Starr, Emery R., 289. Starr, James H., 107, 111. Startwell, W. L., 182. Stay, F. M., 474. Stayton, John W., 209, 265. Stayton, R. W., 310, 322, 330. Stedman, William, 69, 88, 95, 109, 144, 174, 197. Steele, H., 199. S'teele, S. A., 501. Steere, James M., 361, 394. Steger, Ed D., 537. Steid, W. H., 201. Steiner, George F., 576. Sleiner, J. M., 72, 74, 79. 682 Index to Names Stell, John D., 93. Stell, R. M., 78. Stencil, Jesse, 100. Stephens, A. D., 465. Stephens, J. D., 174. Stephens, J. W., 492, 520. Stephens, John H., 354. Stephens, John L,., 432. Stephenson. Albert, 462. S'tephenson, J. C., 248. Stephenson, John L., 452, 466. Sternberg, J., 256. Sterrett,. William G., 202. Stevens, C. F., 462. Stevens, Charles, 519, 542. Stevens, E. A., 432. Stevens, Fred, 619. Stevens, J. J., 141. Stevenson, Adlai E., 425, 428. Stevenson, John L., 452. Stewart, A. C., 503, 533, 619, 643. Stewart, Charles, 51, 93, 158, 175, 182, 202, 205. Stewart, Charles B., 50. y Stewart, G. W., 434. Stewart, J. E. B., 554, 574, 617. Stewart, J. G., 93, 292. Stewart, J. H., 252, 413. Stewart, J. J., 254. Stewart, Solon, 223. Stewart, U. S., 554. Stewart, William H., 58, 93, 272. Stewart, Willis, 391. Stickney, W. B., 254. S'tiles, Harvey C., 554, 571, 597, 615. Stiles, J. W., 242. Stiles, W. Z., 571. Still, H. C., 201, 206, 208. Stite, R. B., 574. Stockdale, Fletcher S 1 ., 78, 81, 93, 144, 158, 173, 174, 198, 209, 266. Stocking, J. D., 483, 500, 628. Stoddard, H. B., 369. Stone, D. C., 405. Stone, Heber, 371. ' Stone, O. M., 618. Stone, S., 322. Stone, Thomas H., 558. S'topple, W. W., 472. Storey, A. B., 339, 342, 401, 462, 504, 508, 526. Storey, H. B., 242. Storey, L. J.. 202, 218, 238, 318, 385, 427, 470, 492, 503. Story, John S., 69. Stovall, George H., 235. Strach, Robert, 527, 530, 588. Stratton, T. W., 390. Street, Robert G., 202. Stribling, O. L., 356, 558, 562. Stribling, Thomas H., 115. Strieker, A. D., 180, 190. ^Stringfellow, F. R., 209. Strong, Beeman, 618. Strong, J. M., 322. Strong Seth B., 305, 361. Strong, Sterling P., 432, 546. Strong, T. H., 339, 342, 357. Stroud, L. D., 366. Stuart, H. L., 432. Stuart, Hamilton, 19, 44, 104, 105, 107, 109, 111, 122, 645. Stuart, J. S., 105. Stubbs, James B., 503, 526, 537, 577, 588, 614. 618, 643. Suhler, William, 474. Sullivan, J. S., 105. Sullivan, J. W., 558, 619. Sulzbacher, Nat, 617. Summers, Hatton W., 577. Summers, W. M., 472, 473. &umner, Charles, 149, 151. Sumner, W. F., 121, 141. Surber. A. B.. 384. Sutherland, G. M., 276, 279. Sutherland, Hugh R., 558. Sutherland, John, 553. S'utler, J. B., 332, 334. Swain, William J., 163, 208, 221, 290, 318. Swallow, Silas C., 480. Swan, J. L., 470, 484, 513. Swan, S. G., 51, 52. Swan, W. R., 628. Swann, J. J., 405. Swartz. C. G., 530. S'wayne, James W., 357, 371, 415. Swearingen, P. H., 607. Sweeney, C. C., 186, 2,06, 218, 310. Sweeney, T. H., 258. Sweet, J. S., 538. Swinford, S. D., 337. Swinford, Sam T., 514, 538. S'wink, G. M., 201. Swisher, James M., 44, 55. Tabb, George, 144. Tackaberry, S. B., 223. Taft, William H., 499, 519. 538, 553, 555, 556, 570, 572, 573, 575. Tage, H. A., 268. Tait, G. L,.. 515. Talbot, J. M., 356. Talbot, J. W., 116, 141, 216. Tankersly, Sam G., 357. Tarleton, Benjamin D., 237, 287. Tarlton, William A., 69. Tarver, E. R., 326. Tarver, H. M., 327. Tarver, L. L., 301. Tarver, W. A., 558, 562. Tate, E. M., 265. Tatum, C. S., 266. Tatum, Reese, 614. Taylor, A. M., 202, 205, 218. Taylor, C. W., 558. Taylor, D. E., 552. Taylor, D. H., 500. Taylor, Daniel, 232. Taylor, E. W., 221. Taylor, F. S., 453, 511. Taylor, G. W. M., 484. 564, 590. Taylor, George R., 416. Taylor, Gus F.. 404. Taylor, H. A., 570. Taylor, H. M., 115, 157. Taylor, Henry E., 439. Taylor. J. J., 310. Taylor, J. L., 216. Taylor, M. D. K., 56, 75, 144, 158, 173, 182, 202, 258. Taylor, M. A., 617, 631. Taylor, M. I., 570. Taylor, Pleasant, 93. Taylor, Robert H., 69, 95, 141, 155, 214, 216. Taylor, T. B., 377. Taylor, T. C., 322. Taylor, T. H., 491. Taylor, T. M., 416. Taylor, Thomas U., 280. Taylor, W. A., 118. Index to Names 683 Taylor, W. S., 65, 85. Taylor, Ward, 198, 199, 206, 260. Teagle, C. A., 275. Teague, I. E., 483, 513, 532, 552, 629. 631. Teague, J. S.. 424. Teel, T. T., 202, 205. Teichmueller, H., 323. Temple, T. F., 306. Templeton, Frank, 265, Templeton, Howard, 238, 240, 258, 310, 339, 342, 461, 492. Templeton, J. A., 268, 371. Templeton, John D., 208, 221. Templeton, L. A., 143. Templeton, S. M., 285. Tendick, R. P., 120, 157. Terhune, E. W., 218. 241. Terrell, Alexander W., 74, 98, 127, 218, 258, 504, 510. Terrell, B. F., 332. Terrell, C. V., 395, 619, 623. Terrell, E. V., 462. Terrell, Edwin H., 195, 252, 347, 357, 411, 434, 438. Terrell, Fred, 411. Terrell, George B.. 462. Terrell, Henry, 302, 345, 405, 459. Terrell, Henry B., 607, 634. Terrell, J. J., 447, 465, 492. Terrell, J. M., 345. Terrell, J. M. L., 242. Terrell, J. O., 538, 554, 648. Terrell, John L., 369. Terrell, W. H., 302. Terry, B., 511. Terry, B. F., 93. Terry, C. E., 557. Terry, J. L., 246. Terry, J. M., 404. Terry, Nathaniel, 65, 72, 74, 77, 80, 84, 93, 124. Thayer, E. S., 232, 488, 519, 542, 572. Thomas, A. A., 357, 371. Thomas, C. C., 470, 607. Thomas, Cullen F., 353, 504, 510, 533, 537, 557, 619, 623. Thomas, Edgar B., 614. Thomas, G. G., 176. Thomas, Granville, 615. Thomas, J. B., 95. Thomas, J. N., 483. Thomas, James W., 117, 155, 197, 254, 272. Thomas, Rosser, 416, 452. Thomas, W. H., 94. Thomas, W. R., 201. Thomason, J. M., 231, 284. Thomason, R. E., 619. Thompson, E., 93. Thompson, George B., 619. Thompson, J. B., 268. Thompson, J. M., 553, 628. Thompson, James G., 93. Thompson, R. P., 182. Thompson, Richard W., 303. Thompson, T. F., 618. Thompson, Thad, 557. Thompson, Victor W., 123. Thompson, W. B. f 501, 631. Thompson, W. D., 54. Thompson, Wells, 98, 128, 147, 163, 182, 220, 221, 318. Thompson, William, 175. Thordy, William, 564. Thornton, D., 492. Thornton, D. T., 314. Thornton, J. M., 498, 519. Thornton, W. G., 618. Thrasher, S. R., 634. Threadgill, John, 223. Throckmorton, J. W., 28, 52, 77, 98, 99, 107, 109, 111, 129, 140, 158, 182, 198, 202, 257, 310, 645. Thurman, A. S., 371, 384. Thurman, Allen G., 266. Thurmond, P. C., 492. Tibbetts, J. G., 345. Tibbitt, J. S:, 302. Tibbies, Thomas H., 473. Timon, Walter F., 577, 586. Tinkham, D'., 274. Tips, Walter, 128. Tipton, S. J., 478. Todd, George T., 208, 238, 249, 276, 317, 396, 424, 472. Todd, L. L., 254. Todd, W. S., 93. Tomlinson, G. A., 345, 576. Tomlinson, S. G., 284, 306. Tooney, Ben, 371. Torbett, James H., 75, 78. Towne, Charles A., 425. Townley, M. D., 574, 602. Townsend, G. R., 347, 441. Townsend, H. A., 533. Townsend, J. H., 141. Townsend, M. H., 237. Townsend, M. L., 344. Townsend, Murphy W., 537, 634. Townsend, W. J., Jr., 497. Townes, John, 248. Tracy, , 377. Tracy, E. M., 617. Tracy, Harry, 301, 314, 397. Tracy, J. G., 117, 118, 119, 121, 143, 154, 176, 195, 212, 215, 229. Tracy, N. H., 300, 301, 317. Tracy, S*. E., 405. Tramblade, W. R., 514. Trammell, Tom, 588. Trau, R. F., 361. Travis, Phil O., 469. Travis, W. C., 100. Traylor, J. H., 218. Traylor, S. H., 264. Tremble, W. S., 498. Trenckmann, A. F., 128. Trenckmann, W. A., 520, 524, 526. Trezevant, J. T., 390. Trigg, B., 105. Trimble, , 52. Triplett, J. B., 564, 625. Trotter, Charles, 420. Trowell, A. B., 458, 478. Truehart, D., 128. Trupe, T. W., 491. Tubb, J. ,F., 554. Tubbs, H. J., 500. Tucker, J. B., 306. Tucker, S. H., 527. Tucker, W. H.. 144, 173, 197. Tuggle, E. B., 570. Tugwell, A. P., 254. Tullos, William, 418. Tunstall, W. V., 112. Turnbull. E. M., 297. Turner, J. H., 144, 366, 447. Turner, M. M., 554. Turney, M. M., 573, 601. Turney, W. W., 447. Turpin, T. J., 384. 684 lex to Turpin, T. W., 437. Tweedy, Joseph, 409, 438, 441. T'womey, Hasten, 268. Tyler, George W., 174, 220. Tyus, Benjamin R., 98. Ulmer, C. C., 500. Umdenstock, William, 176. Underwood, F. M., 190. Underwood, R. .H., 497. Upshaw, A. M. M., 54, 56, 58, 78. Upson, Columbus, 72, 74, 77, 109, 128, 129, 139, 322, 323, 353, 389. Upthegrove, Samuel, 163. Upton, W. F., 218, 220. Urwitz, Max, 303, 393. Utterback, B. M., 557. Vance, C. S., 326. Van Demark, John, 616, 631. Vanderlight, E., 359. Van der Stucken, Alfred, 514. Vandaver, J., 552. Vanmeter, C. H., 474, 511. Vandewort, F., 486, 574. Van Zandt, K. M., 163, 174, 248, 264, 352. Vardeman, J. J., 263. Varnell, W. M., 95, 115, 121. Vaughan, Ben, 618. Vaughan, F. A., 361. j Vaughan, Horace W., 465, 520, 526, 546. Vaughn, , 109. Veach, J. V., 293. Veale, William, 163, 367. Venney, Felix, 354. Vernon, J. A., 478, 481. Vesey, E. J., 481, 512, 513. Vivian, George S., 511. Vogan, J. W., 501, 553, 628. Vogel, O. G., 254. Vogelsang, N. M., 401. Vogue, C. G., 330. Voight, F., 158. Von Boeckmann, Edgar, Sr., 504. Vontress, Ed H., 80. Vowell, C. L., 520. Waddell, J. W., 69. Waddell, W. N., 504, 508. Wade, A., 100. Wade, Melvin, 232, 274, 275, 302. Waelder, Jacob, 65, 73, 84. Wagner, H., 338, 361, 434, 491. Wagner, Henry G., 557. Wagstaff, J. M., 619, 623. Wahrmund, W., 154. Waldrip, S. D., 477, 488, 514, 519, 538. Walker, A. S 1 ., 127. Walker, A. S., Jr., 344. Walker, Hamilton, 252. Walker, J. C., 211. Walker, J. J., 199. Walker, John, 144. Walker, Lee, 427. Walker, Lery, 503. Walker, R. H., 144. Walker, W. A., 564. Wallace, A. D., 199. Wallace, Ben F., 413. Wallace, David R., 144, 158. Wallace, E. A., 497. Wallace, H. H., 401, 404, 447. Wallace, W. R., 202, 205. Waller, Edwin, 78, 93. Waller, W. S., 478. Walley, I. W., 500, 532. Wallis, E. T., 157. Walsh, William C., 158, 164, 182, 202, 209, 221, 322. Walter, C. K., 260, 262, 297, 332, 397, 424. Walton, William M., 98, 111, 124, 127, 128, 129. 135, 140, 145, 158, 173, 322, 326, 380. Walworth, James 93. Wann, B. C., 190. Wangemann. A., 526 . Waples, Paul, 537, 588, 614, 640, 643. Ward, John L., 360. Ward, John W., 470. Ward, Matthias, 50, 64, 65. Ward, R. H., 93, 310. Ward, Richard, 81. Ward, W. B., 248. Ward, W. I., 247. Ware, James A., 147. Ware, W. B., 466. Ware, W. C., 369. Warner, Pat, 643. Warnken, Charles A., 486, 542, 573, 576, 602, 606, 631. Warren, Bates, 483. Warren, D. C., 482, 483. Warren, E. B., 235. Warren, Henry, 264. Warren, J. R., 588. Warren, Robert L., 618. Warren, W. H., 345. Warren, William, 93. Wascom, J. M., 182. Wascom, S. E., 175. Washer, Nat M., 597. Washington, J. H., 141, 148, 151, 155, 176, 231, 254, 292. Waters, C., 157. Watters, C. B., 606. Watham, B. S., 264. Watkins, A. B., 267, 287, 353, 389, 396, 452. Watkins, J. C., 93. Watkins, Royal A., 557, 618. Watkins, T. R., 300. Watrous, Benjamin O., 112, 114, 115. Watson, A. E., 390. Watson, B. F., 280. Watson, I. T., 513. Watson, Q. U., 558, 562, 563, 614. Watson, T. W., 615. Watson, Thomas E., 473. Watson, William, 363, 390, 498, 542, 554. Watts, A. T., 186, 363, 367, 369, 389. Watts, P. S., 262, 263. Wattson, G. F., 290. Waul, Thomas N., 65, 72, 81. Waul, W. B., 175. Wayman, R. H., 262. Wear, W. C., 344, 618. Weatherhead, W. W., 248. Weaver, James A., 173. Weaver, James B., 206. Weaver, Willis, 628. Webb, A. G., 543. W r ebb, B. R., 258, 317. Webb, J. B., 420. Webb, J. J., 148. Webb, James, 44. Webb, John L., 511. Webb, Robert M., 486. Webb, W. T., 470. Index to Names 685 Webber, W. H., 434. Weber, E. J., 588. Webster, E. C., 576. Webster, J. M., 378. Webster, L. B., 513. Weeks, J. F., 379. Wegner, E. W., 280. Weinert, F. C., 623, 634. Weir, Adolphus G., 64, 68, 72. Welch, O. H., 305, 447. Welch, Horace, 229, 231, 234. Welch. Stanley, 447, Welden, W., 202. Wells, J. F., 453. Wells, James B., 220, 258, 268, 389, 401, 404, 427, 432, 452, 461, 466, 493. 504, 533, 619. Wells, Joseph K. t 614, 643. Wells, R. G., 215. Wells, Stacy, 511. Wentworth, W. H., 155. Wertzner, C., 154. West, C. H., 264. West, Charles S., 98, 140, 148, 209. West, R. G., 306, 379, 553. West, T. F., 366. West. W. C., 208. Wester, J. M., 481. Westermark. B. S., 317. Westfall, William H., 163. Westhoff, William, 176, 195. 290, 303, 439. Whaley, F. J., 481, 483. Whaley, M. D., 69. Wharton, Earle, 615. Wharton, John A., 72, 81, 93. Whatley, L. A., 223, 287. Wheeler, A. Z., 489. Wheeler, E. M., 143. Wheeler, M. W., 157. Wheeler, Royal T., 75. Wheeler. T. B., 173, 237, 265. Wheelock, E. M., 115. Whetstone. G. W., 187. Whilley, S'. R., 397. Whipkey, S. E., 306. 308. Whitaker, H. M., 350. White, A. W., 437. White, Alex, 242, 292, 411, 434. White, B. F., 439. White, C. G., 303, 327, 345, 475. White, C. P., 326. White, Charles B., 504, 508. White, E., 434. White, E. E., 500. White, Frank M.. 72. 78, 95, 128. White, G. W., 78, 281. White, Hal. 445. White, H. E., 482, 483, 500, 513, 552. White. Ike !>., 537. White, J. C., 201. White, J. T., 306, 308, 336, 478, 479, 483. 500. White, Jesse, 85, 87. White, John, 537. White, John D., 552. White, John P., 174, 209, 265. White, R. C,, 248. White, Scott, 514. White, W. M., 290. White, William, 617. White, Z. T., 571. Whitehead, H. C., 256, 262. Whitehead, W. W., 163, 175. Whitfield. John W., 98, 109, 112, 164, 172, 173. Whitfield, M. J., 322. Whitman, M. J., 390. Whitman, W. P., 500. Whitmeyer, , 215. Whitmore, G. W., 115, 116, 155. Widmer, A. E., 377. Wier, Joseph P., 93. Wigfall. Louis T., 72, 75. Wiggins, C. C., 416. Wilbar, J. F., 473. Wilburn, A. J., 263. Wilcox, C. M., 235. Wilcox, John A., 69, 89, 93. Wilder, A. W., 155. Wiley, A. P., 68. 80, 84, 89, 93. AViley, J. E., 272. Wilhite, J. H., 500. Wilkes, F. B., 182. Wilkes, F. D., 221. Wilkes, T. D., 202. Wilkinson, Ed., 102. Wilkinson, F., 413. Willacy, John G., 504, 508, 521, 526, 547, 550. Willard, J. S., 567. Williams, , 44. Williams, B. F., 81, 112, 114, 116, 141, 148, 244. Williams, B H., 147. Williams, B. W., 286, 306, 308, 335, 336. Williams, Ben, 93. Williams, C. W., 306. Williams, D. A., 220. Williams, D. P., 446, 513, 570, 628. Williams, E. F., 87. Williams, Eugene, 520, 526. Williams, F. A., 427, 447, 520. Williams, F. R., 437. Williams, Fred, 453. Williams, J. Howard, 630. Williams, J. L., 215. Williams, J. Sheb, 537, 588. Williams, James N., 173. Williams, James W., 615. Williams, Joe E.. 441, 458, 478, 486, 488, 498, 519, 538, 542, 554, 572, 573, 597, 601, 614. Williams, L. W., 176, 177. Williams, Lud, 607/ Williams, M. W., 349, 384. Williams, Marion M., 379. Williams, N. B., 533. Williams, P. D., 532. Williams, P. P., 84. Williams, R. R., 651. Williams, Sam H., 157, 254. Williams, T. B., 465. Williams, W. A., 389. Williams, W. M., 529. Williams, William D., 533. 577, 634. Williamson, J. B., 141, 176, 195, 214. Williamson, R. M., 43, 44. Willie, Asa H., 144, 209. Willie, James, 65. Willingham, C. H., 405. Willis, F., 208. Willis, Henry, 143. Willson, Sam A., 163, 209. 265. Wilmot, E. P., 392, 405, 409, 437, 455, 538, 542, 554, 574. Wilson, A. C., 571. Wilson, C. J., 298. Wilson, D. G., 529. Wilson, G. H., 511. Wilson, G. W., 260. 686 Index to Names Wilson, George W., 472, 473. Wilson, H. B., 554, 615. Wilson, H. O., 458, 477, 515. Wilson, J., 177. Wilson, J. D., 302. Wilson, J. H. M., 306, 308, 378. Wilson, J. G., 264. Wilson, J. R., 462. Wilson, James O., 51, 55, 56, 68, 248. Wilson, Jason, 93. Wilson, N. S., 588. Wilson, S 1 . P., 339, 342. Wilson, W. H., 434, 470, 513, 567. Wilson, Webster, 409. Wilson Woodrow, 557, 558, 562, 577. 613, 619, 620, 621, 622, 635. Wilson, Mrs. Woodrow, 605. Wiltsie, A. R., 513. Wiltsie, T. E., 513. WJnans, G. M., 144. Winchell, H. L., 481, 629, 630. Wingo, E. A., 335, 378, 379, 409, 410. Winkler, A. B., 481. Winkler, Clinton M., 127. 144, 147, 174. Winn, Charles W., 100. Winn, E. E., 231. Winn, H. D., 437. Winston, S. J., 462, 619. Winters, J. N., 597. Winters, L. J., 481, 501, 513, 570, 629, 631. Wipprecht, Paul, 308, 367. Wipprecht, R., 152, 154. Wise, S. T., 378. Wiseman, Mrs. L. B., 570. Wishart, A., 231. Withers, D. B., 206, 208. Wofford, George M., 537. Wofford, John T., 500. WofCord, R. P., 503. Wofford, S. O., 503. Woldert, Theodore, 353, 390. Wolfe, J. A. L., 452, 520. Wolfkill, J. W., 441. Wolters, Jacob F., 416, 452, 462, 470, 634. Womack, A. M., 305. Womack, L. J., 311. Wood, G. C., 503. Wood, George T'., 44, 644. Wood, H. D., 379, 397. Wood, H. G., 332. Wood, J. A., 625. Wood, J. E., 588. Wood, J. J., 369, 390. Wood, J. O., 619. Wood, James. 258. Wood, S. D., 177, 190, 195, 197. Wood, T. D., 390, 537. Wood, W. D'., 84, 202, 209, 322, 323, 367, 390. Wood, William. 498. Woodall, L. T., 481. Woods, J. N., 597. Woods, J. W., 504. Woods, John, 218. Woods, W. H., 193. Woodson, L. J., 481. Woodward, J. L., 290. Woodward, Scott, 634. Woodward, W. H., 238, 240. Woodward, W. W., 81, 221. Woodward, Walter C., 577, 584, 587. Woodward, William, 68. Wooldridge, A. P., 367. Woolsey, S. M., 423. Wootan, J. C., 311. Wooten, Dudley G., 310, 317, 322. Wooters, J. C., 186, 267, 310, 311. Word, Jeff, 223. Work, Philip A., 93. Worley, S. T., 274. Worrall, J. R., 81. Worsham, W. B., 411, 439. Worsham, W. J., 231. Wortham, John L., 416. Wortham, Louis J., 618, 619. Wortham, R. W., 520, 526. Wortham, William A., 127, 175, 186, 220, 287. Wortham, William B., 317, 339, 384. Worthington, W. R., 532. Wozencraft, Frank W., 619. Wray, George H., 576. Wren, T. L., 232, 327, 338, 361, 439, 441, 458, 478, 488, 498. Wright, F. M., 573, 597, 601, 614. Wright, G. A., 264. Wright, H. P., 249. Wright, J. V., 256. Wright, S. D., 619. Wright, Sam J., 251, 290, 302, 305, 332. Wright, W. A., 428. Wright, W. B., 124, 127, 172. Wroe, John L,., 614. Wurzbach, Charles L., 145. Wynne, , 337. Wynne, Richard M., 237, 258, 264, 354. 384. Wynne, T. C., 318. Wyschetzki, A., 308. Wythe, T. A., 619. Yandell, William, 287, 289. Yantis, J. E., 614, 634. Yarbrough, John B., 564, 625. Yates, J. B., 614, 643. Yeager, E. F., 221. Yell, P. M., 157. Yell, R. M., 143. Yessen, J. R., 229. Yoakum, C, H., 248, 353. Yoakum, F. E., 254, 255. Yoakum, Henderson, 56. Yoakum, T. L., 244. York, M. G., 289. York, O. S'., 439, 475, 602, 631. York, S. P., 504. Young, Andrew, 199, 224. Young, J. M., 618. Young, James R.. 432. "Young, John L., 344. Young, P. M., 537. Young, Ras, 462. Young, S. M., 95. Young, William C., 44, 55, 58. Younger, F. E., 141. Younger, Thomas E., 141, 155, 157. Younger, S. W., 439. Zadek, Adolph, 152, 154, 157, 176, 242, 252. Zapp, Robert, 141, 155, 215. Ziegenhalz, Charles B., 576. Ziegler, George, 434. Zimmerman, P. G., 527. Zimpleman, George B., 353. Zoeller, A., 154. Zweifel, H. J., 617, 631. 2. SUBJECT INDEX Abolitionists, opposed by Texas Whigs, 53, 67; disregard State rights, 90, 91. Africanization of Texas threatened, 102, 106. Agriculture, disproportionate share of tax burden, 194, 284, 294, 346. Agriculture, Department of (U. S 1 .), Commissioner to be a cabinet offi- cer, 193; to be adequately support- ed, 194: (State), to be established, 495; liberally supported, 579, 609. Agricultural and Mechanical College, experimental farm to be estab- lished, 180; textile school to be established, 449; rebuilding 1 of mess hall and main building, 562, 569; liberal support of, 403, 430, 448, 534, 569; to be improved, 429, 495; board of directors to be removed from partisan politics. . 429, 449; veto of appropriation for barracks deplored, 540. See also "University of Texas, A. & M. College." etc. Agricultural and Mechanical College for West Texas, 640. Agricultural produce, dealing in fu- tures to be prohibited, 235; tariff protection for 252, 272; marketing to be facilitated, 612. See also "Cotton," "Marketing," and "Ware- houes." Agricultural resources to be adver- tised, 203. Alamo mission property, purchase of by State, 468. Allied People's party convention, 453. American party. See Know-Nothing party. Amnesty proclamation, a vote of thanks given the President, 111. Annexation, effect on political parties, 14-17; relation of Texas to the Union, 82-83, 89; articles repealed, 92. Anticipation warrants, issued by com- missioners' courts and city coun- cils, condemned, 640. Antimonopoly convention, 246; party. 332. Antiprohibition convention, 249, 547. Antisaloon league, criticised, 623, 624. Antitrust law enacted, 429; unsatis- factory, 572; legal and illegal acts to be defined, 603; law strength- ened, 623. Arbitration between capital and labor, favored, 243, 245, 255, 285, 315, 454, 531; law passed by Congress, 406; compulsory arbitration indorsed, 622; opposed, 561; State law t.i be broadened. 581; arbitration b0ard to be established, 430, 561. Armory, construction recommended, 111. Arms, right to bear, invaded, 134. Army, reforms recommended, 59; In- crease opposed, 402; favored, 406; volunteers from Texas to be re- tained in service after close of Spanish-American war, 408. Army canteen condemned, 409/ 410. Assembly, freedom of. 567. Asylum lands, gradual sale advocat- ed, 160; to be protected for use to which dedicated, 222. . Attorney general, law restricting his giving official opinions, criticised, 595. Automobiles to be taxed, 638. Back salary grab act, 156, 162. Baird independent school district case, 522. Ballot, secrecy to be guarded, 200; free ballot to be maintained, 210, 217, 221, 257. 261, 382, 399; official blanket ballot favored, 477, 600. See also "Elections." Bank deposits, guarantee of, favored, 521; opposed, 516, 524. Banks to be abolished, 60; State banks favored by Whigs, 53; banks of issue to be abolished, 333, 463, 464; subtreasury plan, indorsed, 295, 300; questioned, 312; system of branch banks opposed, 448; Federal tax on State banks to be repealed, 319; State banks to be established, 319. Banks, Federal Reserve, 621. Banks, national, opposed, 210, 257, 259, 261, 271, 274, 275, 284, 288, 295, 301, 319, 348, 368; monopolies, 194, 269; repeal of law demanded, 180, 188; law to be revised, 560; earn- ings, 269; issuance of notes, op- posed, 47, 236, 271, 312, 373, 386, 402; notes to be abolished, 184, 188, 227, 257, 261, 295, 268. Barratry, law against to be enforced, 576. Bell punch law, repeal demanded, 196, 200, 204. Birds, protection of, 613. Blacklisting, stringent law against, demanded, 454, 567, 593, 627. Blind, State school, to be fireproof, 604, 609. Boll weevil, means for combatting, 448. "Bombshell" Democratic convention, 37. Bonds (U. S.), to be paid in green- backs, 180, 184, 188; to be redeemed at once, 181, 184, 227; not to be exempt from taxation, 184, 188; no more to be issued, 188; no more gold bonds to be issued in times of peace, 333, 336, 354; no interest- bearing bonds to be issued in times of peace, 372, 386, 397. Bonds (State), to be funded and taxed, 189; no more interest-bear- ing bonds to be issued, 271. Bonded indebtedness State, county, 688 Subject Index and municipal not to be 1 increased except by vote of the people, 398; law on this subject, 429; annual reports on bonded indebtedness and sinking funds required, 429. Boundary, Texas-Mexican, attitude of Whigs, 19; of Democrats, 19-21, 48, 49. Bounty on scalps of predatory ani- mals, 408, 613, 639. Bounty on sugar, favored, 361; due to State penitentiary, collection fa- vored, 321, 325, 328; failure to col- lect, condemned, 383. Bounty system condemned, 321. Buchanan's administration indorsed, 84. Campaign expenses increased by pri- mary election system, 492, 600, 633; corporations not to contribute, 431, 494, 508, 560, 580; persons doing a licensed business not to contribute, 580; amount contributed by an in- dividual to be limited by law, 560; total amount of, to be limited by law, 600, 611, 614, 643; State to publish each candidate's platform, 600; purposes for which to be spent to be defined by law, 638, 643; ex- penditure to be made by candidate only, 600; statement of expendi- tures to be published before elec- tion, 508, 560; itemized statement to be filed, 430, 431, 494, 508, 560, 580; publicity for contributions and expenditures, 569, 580. Campaign lies, punishment for circu- lation, 580, 639. Capital and labor, equality before the law, demanded, 60, 188, 243, 262, 274, 320; conflicts between, 513. Capital driven out by hostile legis- lation, 327, 328. 489, 515, 516; charge denied, 522; needed to de- velop the State, 324, 325, 449; in- vited and protection assured, 539, 584, 609, 637. Capital punishment to be abolished, 60. Capitol building to be safeguarded by removal of explosives, 611. Capitol lands used to foster land mo- nopoly, 207. Carpetbagger, use of the word con- demned, 120. Catholic Church, Know-Nothing atti- tude toward, 70. Cattle industry, herd law opposed, 216, 222, 229; free grass, favored, 216, 220; exhausted, 239; protection of, 267, 346, 583, 613, 639; injured by railroads, 440. Chaplains, not to be employed by legislature and congress, 61. Charities, State board, to be created, 582. Child labor law demanded, 377, 419, 443, 449. 452, 454, 456, 485, 529 531 567, 593, 603, 627. Children, abandonment of by husband to be made an offense, 584; needy children to be .supplied with food, clothing, and books at public ex- pense, 419, 529, 567, 596, 628. Citizen, protection for abroad, de- manded, 57, 59, 220, 223, 240, 337, 392, 598, 603, 616, 620. Citizenship to be nationalized, 113. Civil rights, not synonymous with social privileges, 149, 151. Civil service, reform demanded, 146, 210, 450, 603; rules trampled upon, 304; to be inaugurated in Texas, 582. Civil war, results accepted, 103, 106, 109. Class conscious unity, effort to de- velop, 420, 591; class struggle ac- cepted, 443. Class legislation opposed, 153, 156, 250, 283, 291, 319, 323, 400, 489. Cold storage clubs, to be suppressed, 480. College of Industrial Arts, liberal support favored, 495. S'ee also "University of Texas, A. & M. Col- lege," etc. Colombia treaty denounced, 598. Colonial policy for the United States, opposed, 404, 417, 505; favored, 440, 457. Commercial treaties to secure mar- kets for American products, 194, 284. See also "Reciprocity." Communism denounced, 188, 210, 320, 324, 328, 347. Confederates, disfranchised, 100, 108, 110; excluded from office, 101; pro- vision to be made for disabled, 289, 320; pensions, 399, 408, 583. Confederate Home, to be established, 253, 292, 341; adequate support recommended, 344, 383, 388, 490; mismanagement charged, 399. Confederate Widows' Home, to be established, 495, 521, 535. Confiscation of property, 251. Congress usurped power of the peo- ple, 225-229. Congressman's campaign expenses, limited. 560. Conservatives, 95, 98, 105, 108. Conservative convention, 104. Conservative reconstruction conven- tion, 102, 105. Constitution (U. S.), supremacy of, asserted, 45, 46, 125; literal and close construction, demanded, 46, 66, 69, 125, 183, 288, 318, 339, 343, 534; violated by Northern States, 90; amendments to be maintained, 113, 118, 120; amendment by ju- dicial authority, 505. Constitution of 1869 (Texas), to be submitted to voters, 119; election postponed, 108, 119; adoption rec- ommended, 121 ; its defects, 164-168; of 1875 (Texas), adoption recom- mended, 161; constitution, con- demned, 177-178; procedure for amending to be changed, 594; such change opposed, 602. Constitutional convention of 1866, 94; of 1868-1869, 106, 107,117; exceeded its powers, 123; of 1875, advocated, Subject Index 689 161; candidates for, 16r,; work re- viewed. 165-172. Constitutional convention to be called, 265, 267. Constitutional Union convention, 87; electors, 88. Contempt cases to be tried by jury, 600. Convicts. State, not to compete with free labor, 181, 188, 200, 236, 255, 297, 344, 377, 448, 454, 457, 490, 576, lease system to be abolished, 213, 236, 243, 255, 283, 285, 307, 320, 338, 341, 377, 387, 476, 490, 600; will not return to lease system, 611; con- victs to be confined within walls of penitentiary, 185, 188, 239, 243, 285, 448, 454; convicts to work on farms, 448, 454, 569; opposition to convict farms, 457; convicts to be employed on public works,- 243; on State rail- roads. 299. 454; on public roads, 283, 329, 377. 457, 476, 490, 540, 576, 600, 611. 638; to manufacture tools and clothing for State institutions, 377; convict-made goods to be la- belled, 377, 569; convict shall re- ceive instruction. 297, 535; humane treatment. 529, 535, 540, 567, 595, 604, 611; bat to be abolished, 595; parole system to be extended, 595; family to receive convict's earn- ings above expenses of keep, 297, 307, 529, 560, 569, 595, 627; persons to be punished for inciting convicts to mutiny, 582. Convicts, county, to work on public roads, 382. 448; to be allowed not less than fifty cents a day, 383, 595. Cooperative farms to be encouraged, 566. Cooperative stores to be allowed to incorporate, 235, 246. Corporations to be protected, 239, 320, 372; chartered rights not beyond government control, 239, 245, 291, 307, 324, 372; favored by legislation at people's expense, 293; complain of restrictions. 516; insolvent, to be prohibited from doing business, 431, 494; creditors and stockholders to receive greater protection, 494; liability of stockholders in, 239; foreign corporations to sue in courts of State where they do busi- ness, 509; Federal control favored, 560; opposed, 563. Corruption in government charged, 87, 473; graft, 633. Cotton, sampling, grading, and ware- housing to be regulated, 579, 608; statistics of consumption to be collected, 580; to be accepted as collateral for loans, 613. Cotton mills favored, 426. 429, 611. Cotton tax. to be collected by State from general government, 383. County, indebtedness not to be in- creased without sanction of voters, 271, 283, 315, 381; law on subject, 429; anticipation warrants con- demned, 640; to have authority to engage in commercial business, 595. County lines and boundaries, to be established, 320. County superintendent of public schools, indorsed, 243. County treasurer, office to be abol- ished, 518, 576. Court procedure, judges to charge jury on the law before attorneys make argument, 581; sundry changes demanded, 585-586; pro- cedure to be simplified, 521, 611, 627, 638. Courts, criminal district, to be cre- ated, 223. Courts, U. S. See Federal Courts. Criminal procedure to be made effi- cient, 181; certain reforms demand- ed, 387, 393. Cuba, acquisition favored, 78; to be permitted to establish an independ- ent government, 402, 417; annexa- tion to be by mutual consent, 402, 417; Roosev.elt's policy toward, in- dorsed, 455. Currency, to be one kind only, 184; to be based on coin, 191, 210, 340; to be pure legal tender, 259, 261, 295, 333; to be issued by Federal government only, 507; asset cur- rency opposed, 448, 463, 464, 468; Aldrich financial bill denounced, 468, 560. See also "Greenbacks." Deaf, State school, to be enlarged, 609; vocational training to be in- troduced, 609. Debt (U. S.), to be paid, 97, 120, 156, 236, 261, 372; large sum paid in interest, 269; bonded debt not to be increased. 184, 188. See also "Bonds (U. &.)." Debt (State), increased, 380; reduced, 386; not to be increased except by vote of the people, 398. See also "Bonds (State.)." Deep water convention, 263. Democratic editors' convention, 122. Democratic party, on annexation, 15- 17, 19; on Mexican war, 19-21; ef- forts to organize, 17-36, 43; ar- raigned by rivals, 192, 196, 199, 207, 294-295, 327-328, 334, 380-381, 393, 397-398. 424-425, 437, 457, 596, 598- 599, 603; reorganization demanded, 365; reply to criticisms, 385-386; what it has accomplished, 386, 428- 429; no nominee of party has been dishonored, 448, 467, 535; heart of oak plank, 257; harmony meeting, 330; agreement, 339; platform of 1898 derided, 407; local option not a test of Democracy, 240; woman suffrage not a tenet of Democratic faith. 622. Democratic State conference, 394. Democratic State conventions, for a chronological list, 1846-1916, see "Table of Contents." Democratic State executive commit- tee, denounced. 364; repudiated, 367, 390; commended, 374; asks cities to compete for State convention, 395; action rescinded, 400; nominate 44328 690 Subject Index temporary officers for first time, 384; prepare roll of delegates for first time, 464. Democrats, "Gold," conference of, 350, 362; denounced, 354-356; State conventions, 366, 389; repudiate "Silver" Democrats, 391. Democrats, "Jeffersonian," conven- tion of, 300. Democrats, "Silver," State mass meeting-, 353; denounced, 362. Democrats, "Straight-Out," confer- ence of, 147. Departments, State, books and ac- counts to be audited, 476; employes of, to work nine hours a day, 185. Detective agencies, private, to be pro- hibited, 594, 627. Divorce laws, to be enforced, 480. Drainage districts, to be created, 584; drainage laws to be enacted, 583; levee and drainage work to be continued, 584. Dred Scott case, 79, 82. . Economic league, work of, commend- ed, 633. Economy in government, demanded, 111, 181, 184, 194, 211, 312, 368, 398, 463, 473, 476, 477; pledged, 185, 238, 344, 382. 386, 430, 467, 505, 531, 534; expenses reduced, 386. Education Bureau of, to have exten- sive powers, 596. Education, higher, very best to be furnished to the young men and women of Texas, 610. Educational affairs in Texas, a reflec- tion on the Democratic party, 596. Educational institutions, to be kept clear of partisan politics, 429-430, 449; to be generously supported, 448, 467, 569, 572, 578, 609. Eight-hour day convention, 273; eight- hour day favored. 297, 315, 334, 490, 507, 637; demanded, 382, 419, 430, 452, 454, 529. 567, 594, 627; granted to favored class, 295; sanctioned by Congress 406. Election laws, to be amended, 159, 295, 325, 477, 482. Election order, denounced, 134. "Election, primary, to be regulated by law, 341, 344; creation of a uniform system, demanded, 450; separate for whites and negroes, 394; to be held for purpose of nominating candidates and to settle issues over which there is serious difference, 396; to be limited to selection of candidates for local offices and delegates to nominating conven- tions, 632-633; primary election or convention to be optional with county executive committee, 400; to be held on same day throughout the State, 404, 431, 467; day fixed, 446, 450; test adopted, 400; test to be uniform, 494; blanket primary, 494. See also "Terrell election law." Electioneering in the interest of any candidate, to be prohibited, 430, 580. Elections, State troops guard polls, 119; practice denounced, 125; regis- tration laws, unfair, 159; expensive and irritating, 126, 164, 167; regu- lation of, belongs to State, 125; election judges vested with arbi- trary powers, 131; all parties to be represented among election judges and clerks, 391, 473, 477; ballot box not safeguarded, 126, 131; Harrison county methods, denounced, 398, 425; Mexican border vote, de- nounced, 398; Australian system favored, 275, 291, 297, 299, 440; de- nounced, 425; in cities of 10,000 and over, 289; place system to be abolished in favor of highest vote in selecting county and precinct officers, 532; election of 1875, sus- pended, 165; biennial, restored, 166; quadrennial, favored, 569, 641. See also "Elections, Primary." Elections, Federal, Force bill de- nounced, 305, 311, 313, 318; repeal favored, 343. Electoral commission, 183, 192. Eleemosynary institutions, liberal support recommended, 403, 428, 467, 448, 495, 604; management to be efficient and honest, 476; to be di- vorced from politics, 535; six-year term for board of managers, fa- vored, 578; State board of charities favored, 582. Employers' liability and employes' compensation act demanded, 5t>7, 584, 593, 603, 627, 637. Employes, protection of, fellow serv- ants act to be revised, 383, 387; safety appliances to be installed, 456. 603; inspection of mines, fac- tories and workshops, 419, 529. 567; women to be safeguarded, 603. Epileptic, care of by S'tate, recom- mended, 404; home built, 429. European war, 632. Execution laws, denounced, 228. Executive usurpation, charged. 125- 127, 129-135, 209, 323, 463, 505. Express companies to maintain gen- eral offices within this State, 386. Express rates, to be regulated by law, 267, 285, 307; rates on vege- tables to be reduced, 576, 612. Extradition treaties, repeal demand- ed, 59; political refugees, not to be surrendered, 529. Factories, to be encouraged by State, 116, 239; invited, 426, 429; produc- ing cotton, worsteds or woolens to be exempt from taxation, 611, 638; "Buy-it-made - in - Texas" indorsed, 637. Farmers' Alliance, 256. 260, 273, 281, 293, 324; conventions, 234, 268. Farmers' convention, 281. Farmers' institutes, appropriation for, 495. Farmers', laborers', and stock raisers' convention, 256, 260. Farmers' organizations, not illegal, 561. Subject Index 691 Federal courts, continuous increase in jurisdiction of, deprecated, 211; power of injunction to be limited, 507; too liberal in granting injunc- tions, 561; life tenure of office, op- posed, 288, 319, 343; indorsed, 291; encroach upon State's rights, 311. Federation of labor (State), 273, 275. Feeble-minded, State institution for, 637. Fees of office, to be replaced by fixed salaries, 189, 298, 307, 315, 333, 377, 383, 394, 531, 567, 595, 604, 612, 627, 639; reduction made, 386; reform a failure, 398; fee bill indorsed, 403; repeal demanded, 438; system to be remedied, 426, 430; wrong in prin- ciple, 595, 612; exorbitant, 633. Fire rating board law, repeal demand- ed, 535. 539. 569 581; repeal op- posed, 587. First National Bank of Austin, fail- ure of, 477. Fish and oyster industry, to be pro- tected, 522, 583, 613. Flood prevention, 456, 460, 477. 494, 592, 603; reclamation of overflowed lands, 585, 604, 640. Food, speculation in by trusts, to be prohibited, 271, 284, 307. Foreign entanglements, to be avoided, 52, 358; vigorous policy favored, 392. Free raw materials do not harmonize with protection of manufactured goods, 333, 373, 383, 534, 536, 597. Free trade, indorsed, 60; message of President Cleveland, condemned, 252, 337; approved, 258, 307. Freedmen, status of, 94. Freedmen's bureau creates discon- tent. 110. Freight rates to be regulated by law, 185, 194. 212. 222, 229, 255, 267, 270, 271, 285, 307; exorbitant, 270, 276- 279, 294; Reagan bill indorsed, 194; Federal regulation, 203, 236. See also "Express rates." Freight rate convention, 275. Frontier protection, demanded, 70, 79, 83-84, 146, 156, 178, 184, 189, 192, 200,205; protection denied to Texas, 90; administration denounced for failure to protect, 127; protection promised, 143, 161, 175; Texas to be reimbursed for money spent, 185. Fugitive slave law. repeal of, op- po--ed, 53. 66, 70. Fugitive slaves, recovery of, from Mexico, 79. Futures, dealing- in agricultural prod- ucts, to be prohibited, 236, 245, 284, 307, 312; gambling in stock and farm products to be prohibited, 509. Galveston county, State taxes, remit- ted, 450. Game to be protected, 613. Germans, join Democratic n^rty, 39, 40; mass meetings, 58, 151, 157, 308; 623; no German party, 59, 152, 309; declare their loyalty, 624-625. Girls' industrial school, to be estab- lished, 430; liberal support recom- mended, 448; board of directors to be removed from politics, 449. See also College of Industrial Arts. Government ownership, of cotton gins, cotton seed oil mills, cotton compresses, warehouses, grain ele- vators, irrigation canals, advocated, 529, 567, 627; of railroads, tele- graphs and telephones, 257, 261, 275, 296, 333, 383, 398, 425, 485; opposed, 288, 318; of land and public utilities, 592. Governor, veto power, to be abol- ished, 567, 594, 627; vote for (1846- 1916), 644-648; vote for candidates in Democratic primaries (1906- 1916), 651-652. Grange, State, demands, 179, 193, 211. Greenback S*tate conventions, 180, 187, 198, 206, 214, 223. Greenbacks, to be legal tender, 180, 181, 184, 188; to be issued by the government only, 181; to be ex- clusive currency of the U. S., 186, 188; retirement opposed, 184; sub- stitution by bank notes opposed, 354, 355; responsible for irrespon- sible fiatistic ideas, 268. See also "Currency." Habeas corpus, writ, suspended, 125, 132, 164; militia law repealed, 159. Harbors, on the coast of Texas, re- quired, 252, 253. 263, 267, 278, 302, 641; to be deepened and improved, 156, 341, 343, 383, 388, 393, 428, 447, 464, 496, 523, 607, Galveston harbor, 180; Port Arthur, 440; plans of U. S. engineers indorsed, 407. Hard times, 268-271, 307, 355; high cost of living, 561, 597. Hawaii, annexation of, indorsed, 406, 412. Health, public, to be safeguarded, 419, 612; sanitary laws demanded, 529, 567, 593; sanitariums to be established. 529. 567, 593, 628; phy- sicians and surgeons to be paid by State, 529, 593, 628. Health, State board, to be established, 431; to produce anti-diphtheritic serum and antitoxins, 518; to be strengthened, 522, 583, 612. "Higher law" doctrine denounced, 70, 91. Highway commission to be created, 575, 600. 638; highway engineer to be created, 338, 583; State high- ways to be constructed, 611. 638. See also "Convicts" and "Roads, public." "Hogg" amendments to the constitu- tion, .427, 432. Holidays, State, Jefferson Davis* birthday and John H. Reagan's birthday, 469. Homestead, to be exempt from forced sale, 60; to be furnished to land- less, 101; law not to be tampered with, 262, 271; number of home owners to be increased, 381, 592, 599, 603; to be exempt from tax- ation, 592; home owning to be en- 692 Subject Index couraged, 612; notes bearing six per cent or less received in pur- chase of home to be exempt from taxation, 639. Immigration, laws for encouragement and protection, demanded, 60, 153, 160, 196, 200, 204, 214, 292, 325; immigrants invited, 66, 111, 120, 123, 125, 151, 155, 188; constitution of 1875, unfriendly to, 177, 178; Democrats not opposed to, 203, 320, 321; laws to be strictly enforced, 392; felons and paupers to be ex- cluded, 70; Asiatic laborers to be excluded, 188; convicts and inmates of dependent institutions to be ex- cluded, 285, 307, 335, 358, 378. Imperialism, dangers of, 447; con- demned, 506, 622. Income tax, demanded, 60, 181, 189, 199, 228, 261, 294, 296, 307, 342, 402, 474, 567; law repealed, 188; income tax for Federal purposes, favored, 319, 372, 385, 560; law enacted, 621. Independence party convention, 510. Independent candidates, 206, 213, 214, 215, 230; not treated fair by elec- tion law, 473, 477, 513. Industrial commission, State, to be created, 572. Industrial congress, Texas, work of, indorsed, 535. Industrial education, provision for, to be made, 383, 426, 467, 567, 575, 578, 633; manual training to be intro- duced into the public schools, 456, 535; vocational training demanded, 596, 633. Industrial Workers of the World, 589. Inheritance tax, demanded, 60, 567, 627; law passed by Congress, 406. Initiative and referendum, demanded, 377, 378, 474, 480, 482, 485, 528, 531, 567, 600; used in Texas, 520; use opposed, 517; a S'tate issue, 561; six per cent of voters to be sufficient to demand submission of constitu- tional amendment, 594; referendum on laws demanded, 299. Initiative, referendum, and impera- tive mandate, demanded, 39,8, 419, 425. Injunctions in labor disputes, dis- countenanced, 561, 600. Insane, to be cared for by State in well ordered asylums, 213, 334, 388, 404, 490, 637; trial by medical board, 476; jails emptied of, 448, 476; additional room to be provid- ed, 583, 604, 609, 637. Installment plan of buying, purchas- ers to be protected, 377. Insurance, life and fire, wildcat com- panies to be suppressed, 476, 581; mutual and benevolent companies to be regulated, 581; Robertson law, denounced, 516. Insurance, State, accident, 485, 529, 628; sickness, 485, 529, 567, 628; employment. 485; life, 529, 567, 628; fare, 529, 567, 628; storm, 567; drouth, 567; to be compulsory for all workers, 593. Intercoastal canal, construction of, urged, 523, 562, 641. Interest, lower rate demanded, 295. Internal improvements (U. S.), atti- tude of Democrats. 48; of Whigs, 52; of Germans, 61. Internal improvements (State), rail- road building, 53; development of natural resources, 111, 116, 120, 123, 125, 142, 151, 239; constitution of 1875 considered unfriendly, 177; liberal appropriations favored, 456. International Railroad, lands granted en bloc, 207; lands exempt from taxation, 207, 233; lands squandered upon, 217, 233. Interstate commerce law, Reagan bill, endorsed, 194; passage of law urged, 236; law to be strengthened, 271; powers of State commissions not to be usurped, 506; Slate powers encroached upon, 641. Interventionist, opposed by Texas Whigs, 53. "Irrepressible conflict," propagandists of, denounced, 83. Irrigation, law to be enacted, 266, 393, 460, 468, 477, 583, 603; existing law to be amended, 494; Federal aid invoked, 440, 458, 604; State to establish irrigation plants, 592; charges of canal companies to be regulated, 522. Isthmian canal indorsed, 441, 447. See also "Nicaragua Canal" and "Panama Canal." Judges, election of, demanded, 59; election opposed, 291; nominations made for first time, 75; nominations by political conventions deprecated, 178, 265; nonpartisan nominations demanded, 599; to be nominated at separate conventions, 640; to be chosen at special elections, 518; judges not to engage in partisan politics, 510; district judges to be selected from the S'tate at large and to serve in districts other than where they reside, 627; salaries to be increased, 469, 518. Judicial system (State), unwieldy, 164, 399; of the constitution of 1875, described, 169-171; denounced, 177,192; radical changes demanded, 200, 203, 238, 425, 476, 495, 518, 568, 570, 575, 580, 599, 604. See also "Court Procedure." Jury, grand, to be abolished, 60, 275. Jury service to be impartial, 213, 627; law, denounced, 228, 230; to be amended, 387; system to be abol- ished, 595. Justice, administration of, to be free, 485, 595, 627; failure to repeal use- less laws interferes with adminis- tration of, 380; common counsellor to be employed, 595, 627. Juvenile offenders, to be placed in appropriate State institutions, 213, 240; courts to be clothed with ap- propriate powers, 494. Subject Index 693 Kansas, troubles in, 90. Kansas-Nebraska act indorsed, 66, 67, 70. Knights of Labor, 237, 256, 273. Know-Xothing party, 37-40; nominate State ticket, 63, 64; adopt platform, 68-71; abolish secrecy, 71. Labor conventions, 262, 348, 376. Labor day, celebration of, 275. Labor statistics, bureau of (U. SO, to be established, 236; commissioner to be a cabinet officer, 236; State bureau, to be established, 315, 377. Labor superior to capital, 243. Laboring class, welfare of, 185, 320, 324, 328, 337, 387; to be protected, 210, 222, 243, 245; destitution among, 268; out of employment, 274; those out of employment not to be arrested as vagrants, 334, 349; wages to be promptly paid, 230, 236. 297, 387, 400; importation of contract labor opposed, 188, 243; organization needed, 273, 377; bene- fited by tariff, 346, 358; conditions in factories bad, 443. See also Blacklisting. Land, alien ownership of, to be pro- hibited, 227, 235, 257, 261, 271, 295, 296, 301, 307. 315, 333, 335, 381. Land, public, homestead preemptions, demanded, 60; sale to be restricted to actual settlers, 60, 188, 227, 238,- 246, 289, 292, 296; settlement re- quirement to be enforced, 271; sale of alternate sections advocated, 160; grants in aid of public im- provements, favored, 123, 142; no grants to be made to corporations, 257, 261; squandered on corpora- tions, 156, 181, 188, 207, 216, 217, 224. 246, 294, 380, 398; lands grant- ed to railroads to be forfeited for noncompliance with their contracts, 227, 239, 246, 296, 307, 315, 333, 336, 592; lands obtained on account of switches and sidings to be recovered, 320, 341; innocent purchasers of such lands to be protected, 320, 321, 325, 341; public lands to be reserved for benefit of permanent school fund and homesteads, 200, 217, 255; certain titles attacked, 217; titles to homestead locations quieted. 429; redemption of land sold under forced sale, 381; specu- lation in, to be prohibited, 60, 235, 348, 551, 566. 592; vacant lands to be taxed higher than cultivated. 60, 262, 271, 294, 296, 551, 566, 592, 627; quantity cultivated by small farmer to be subject to minimum tax, 566, 592, 627. Land, school, lands appropriated, 167, 168; to be sold to actual settlers only 200, 204, 213, 228, 230, 235, 246, 255. 387, 399, 604; to be protected in interest of schools, 210, 222; ac- tual settlement required, 613; pur- chasers to be exempt from taxation for three years, 326; purchaser to pay tax on improvement and amount actually paid to State, 381; trespassing to be punished, 246; boundaries to be fixed, 320; lands to be leased, 216, 220, 222, 238; leasing large bodies, denounced, 228; lease opposed, 230, 246; long term leases of grazing lands, 346; opposed, 399; suits involving title to school land to be tried in county where land is located, 536. Land, University, sales of, 160; to actual settlers only, 213; to be leased, 238; lease of, opposed, -243. Land, U. S. public, to be leased but not monopolized, 603. Land corporations to be prohibited, 610; foreign corporations not to lease or buy public lands, 239, 307; corporations shall sell land to ac- tual settlers in small parcels, 271, 289, 296, 307, 319. Land monopolies to be prohibited, 222, 289; quantity of land corpo- rations may own, to be limited to quantity actually needed in their business, 222, 233, 296, 315, 325, 333; this restriction not to apply in case of overflowed and irrigated lands, 319. Land titles, law of limitation, to be modified. 334; use and occupancy to constitute sole title, 551, 552, 566. Land office building to be made fire- proof, 611. Landlord and tenant bill, 157. Lawlessness, deprecated, 140, 179, 272; suppression of, demanded, 196, 203, 273, 340; in Wharton county, 252; in Fort Bend and Washington counties, 272. See also "Lynching" and "Mob law." Laws, need to be simplified, 60, 194; "fewer and better," demanded, 516, 539; to be codified, 580. League to enforce peace, indorsed, 632. Legislature, prolonged its own term of office, 126, 130; members unjust- ly expelled or denied their seats, 126, 130; minority senators arrest- ed, 130; representation unequal, 135, 139; short sessions, favored, 156; special sessions, opposed, 425, 440, 534; decrease in number of mem- bers and increase in amount of pay favored, 522, 599; legislative inves- tigation of primary election irregu- larities, opposed, 540. Libel law, fair and just law, demand- ed, 426, 430, 441, 456; campaign lies, 580, 639. Liberty, individual, to be preserved, 323, 334; encroachment upon, 308- 310. License tax, in lieu of an occupation tax, favored, 205. Liquor, revenue on intoxicating liquors to be repealed, 255, 298, 299, 316, 501; all reference to sale of intoxicating liquor to be stricken from Democratic platform, 587; treating, to be prohibited, 587; government dispensary, demanded, 694 Subject Index 628. See also "Army canteen," "Bell punch law," "Cold storage clubs," "Local option," "Prohibition party," "S'aloons." Live stock sanitary commission, to be liberally supported, 613, 639. Lobbying to be prohibited, 493. Local option, law to be amended, 245, 299; to be strictly enforced, 297, 517; law indorsed, 316, 473, 483, 502, 540; to be fair to both sides, 488, 580; not a final solution of the liquor problem, 531. Local self-government, restoration of, in the South, 185; threatened by Force bill, 318; to be preserved, 324, 334, 534. Louisiana parishes, annexation of, 162. Lynching, condemned, 394, 441, 490; decrease of, 490, 570. Madison's report, 73, 78, 82. Marketing of agricultural, horticul- tural and live stock products, 337, 612, 636. Martial law, law conferring power, abused, 132; law repealed, 159. Mechanic's lien, law to be strength- ened, 236, 239, 275, 295, 297, 315, 320, 344, 387. Merchant marine to be encouraged, 584, 603, 621. Mexican war, immediate causes of, 19, 47, 48; prosecution, 19, 20, 47, 48; indemnity demanded, 48. Mexicans become Democrats, 39. Mexico, protectorate for, favored, 87; friendly relations to be cultivated, 259, 524; troubles along border, 162, 175, 562, 583, 620; inadequate pro- tection for Americans in, 570, 572; interference by U. S. in affairs of Mexico, opposed, 591; landing at Vera Cruz, 598, 605; Mexican policy approved, 635. Militarism condemned, 463, 622. Military department of Texas to be restored, 408. Militia, State, liberal support for volunteer guard, recommended, 409; appropriation for, to equal Federal appropriation, 518. Mineral land, to be taken over by State, 593; rights of State to be conserved, 604. . Mining law, to be enacted, 266, 583. Missouri Compromise line, 48; res- toration of, opposed, 66. Mob law, to be put down, 196, 393, 394, 404, 408; incited by defective laws, 380. See also "Lynching," "Lawlessness." Monetary convention, international, favored, 360. Money, gold and silver preferred, 47, 196, 210, 337, 340, 342, 354, 360; gold and silver the money of the consti- tution, 355; to consist of coin and treasury notes, all full legal tender, 271, 275, 307, 372; currency to be based on coin, 178, 337; bank issues criticised, 47, 236, 270, 354; substi- tutes, denounced, 226-227; value shall not fluctuate, 348; free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 advocated, 333, 343, 348, 355, 372, 386, 402; question to be submitted to a ref- erendum at primary election, 356; referendum denounced, 364-365, 370; free silver denounced, 350-352; no longer necessary, 464; sound money, favored, 346, 358, 406; single gold standard, denounced, 348, 354, 396; defended, 351, 358, 368, 375; in- dorsed, 392, 440; large increase in volume of gold, 464; pernicious legislation, 183-184, 188, 270; ruin- ous legislation, 185, 270, 293, 354; reform needed, 187, 295; specie pay- ment, resumption of, 178, 191, 270; repeal of act demanded, 180, 184, 188; act to be followed, 191. Money, public, handling of, 132; hoarding in the treasury, con- demned, 184, 207, 259, 270; large contingent funds opposed, 383; to be spent within the State when prac- ticable, 383, 403; to be loaned on real estate security, 257, 295; lend- ing, opposed, 318; depositories for, demanded, 487; appropriations to be itemized, 611, 635. Money power, overthrown, 47; con- centrated, 354. Monopoly, denounced, 188, 194, 210, 219, 225, 244, 255, 274, 282, 288, 312, 325, 332; antimonopoly convention, 246. Monopolies, syndicates and trusts, denounced, 281-282, 286, 506; are rampant, 565. Monroe doctrine, indorsed, 59, 220, 358, 402,417; acquisition of Hawaii, in harmony with, 407; broadened, 621. Morrison bill indorsed, 219. Mortgages, chattel, increase of, 270, 294. Municipal corporations, to be granted jurisdiction in criminal matters, 407; home rule for, 485; to be granted larger powers, 572; to have power to regulate saloons, 580; to be authorized to engage in com- mercial business, 595; anticipation warrants, condemned, 640. National defense, 622, 632. National parks, scored, 294. Natural resources, monopolized, 565; conservation of, 583, 603; develop- ment of, 637. Naturalization, 21 years' residence to be prerequisite, 70; ten years' resi- dence, 285, 307, 335, 378; no unrea- sonable impediments tolerated, 116, 125, 161. Navy, development of, favored, 402, 417; increase of, favored, 406; large appropriation for, opposed, 496. Nebraska Democratic platform, quot- ed, 506, 508. Negro suffrage, opposed, 98, 106, 110; political equality of, 98, 572; given Subject Index 695 right to vote, 100; results of first election, 107; efforts to deprive of right to vote, deplored, 435. Negroes, convention of, 148. Negroes, many murdered, 119; urged to acquire homes, 150; not to con- found civil rights with social privi- leges, 149; protection of person and property, 106, 110. 125; improve- ment of conditions of, urged, 361. Nepotism, Democrats charged with. 327, 476; opposition to, 450, 467, 489, 494. Newspapers, administration organs, 126. 131. Nicaragua canal, construction and operation by U. S., favored, 333, 346, 361, 397. 402, 406, 413, 417, 428. Nomination of candidates for office, Democratic, first made by conven- tion in 1856, 40; made by majority, 67. 580, 611; -candidates for city and county offices to be made by non- partisan conventions. 600; judges to be nominated by nonpartisan conventions, 599. Nonintervention policy of the Kansas- Nebraska act, indorsed, 66, 67, 70; policy endangered by Northern Democrats, 76; Dred Stott decision, 79. Nonpartisan convention, 260, 263. Normal schools, establishment fa- vored, 210; liberal support of, fa- vored, 534. See also "University of Texas, Agricultural and Mechanical College," etc. Occupations, unhealthful, women and children to be excluded from, 419. Office holders dominate Republican party, charged, 304. Officers, p*ublic, qualifications, 45, 153, 157, 205; no long period of resi- dence to be required, 116; appointed, 126. 131; law repealed, 159; ap- pointment and removal by Gov- ernor, discountenanced, 126, 205; direct election by the people, de- manded, except members of the cabinet and diplomatic corps, 59, 300; to be elected without reference to residence, 59, 627; corruption and peculation, condemned, 142, 161; not to serve corporations, 508, 509, 536, 561; recall of, by majority vote, demanded, 59, 485, 528, 531, 567, 594, 600; certain members of corporations and corporation law- yers to be ineligible, 316; all offi- cers, except judges, to be ineligible for reelection, 613; rotation in office favored, 262, 288; term to be limit- ed, 288, 319, 343, 381, 603; third term, opposed, 262; four year term favored, 569, 613; to invite close scrutiny of their acts, 510. Oil industry, harbor required in east- ern Texas for, 456; to be protected, 522; charges of pipe line companies to be regulated, 522. Orange Free State, sympathy for, in its struggle to maintain its inde- pendence, 415. Orphans' home, proper support, fa- vored, 344. Panama canal, 491, 506; zone fairly acquired, 598; repeal of toll exemp- tion, deplored, 598. Pan-America, union to be cultivated, 621. Party loyalty, 118, 121, 162, 175; pledge demanded of nominees. 67. Passes, free, issuance to public offi- cers, to be prohibited, 382; public officers, except sheriffs and consta- bles, to be removed from office for using, 399, 430; issuance of, to be prohibited by law, 404, 431, 450, 468, 473, 493, 508; constitutional amend- ment, demanded, 518; use of, to be permitted to. agricultural and com- mercial agents, 570. Patent rights, protection of purchas- ers, 194. Penitentiary system, a disgrace to the State, 295; farms to be pur- chased, 387; management to be divorced from politics, 535; six-year terms for managers, 578; expense of, to be reduced, 581-582; to be made self-sustaining, 611, 638. Pensions, Texas veterans, 162, 201; Federal soldiers, 373, 392; Confed- erate soldiers, 408; old age, 485, 593, 628; mothers', 628. Peonage, 490. People's party, vagaries of, 374; offer to divide presidential electoral ticket with Democrats, 384; "Middle- of the readers, " 396, 414, 423. Peoples' party State conventions, for a chronological list, 1891-1908, see "Table of Contents." Perpetuities, denounced, 288, 325; to be defined, 319. Pharmacists, State examinations for, 61. Philippines, retention of, opposed, 402, 404; annexation of, favored, 412; to be dealt with same as Cuba, 417, 506; protection of, to be guar- anteed by U. &., 417. Physicians, State examinations for, 61. Pierce's administration, indorsed, 57, 67. , Platform, pledge binding, 450, 475, 476, 561; carried out, 507, 521, 608, 620, 635; instructions of the people to be obeyed, 507, 537, 561; pro- posed that senators and represent- atives be bound by instructions of their districts, 523; rejected, 526; platform not to demand specific legislation unless such legislation be requested by a majority in a referendum, 639. Police, State, denounced, 125-126, 131- 132, 134, 164; law repealed, 159. Political disabilities, removal of, asked, 156. Political parties during the Republic, 11-17; ring rule, 381; conventions 696 Subject Index of, to have advisory powers only, 594. "Political peace and legislative rest," 535. Political societies, secret, denounced, 64, 65, 67, 241, 324, 457; S'ecret Le- gion of Kansas, denounced, 67. Folk's administration, indorsed, 47. Poll tax law, denounced, 200, 214; re- peal of, demanded, 485, 528, 567, 594, 627. Poll taxes paid (1908-1916), number, 651. Polygamy to be extirpated, 480. Pools and trusts condemned, 259, 267. Pooling freight to be prohibited, 236. Populist party. See People's party. Postmasters, election of, demanded, 59, 261, 271, 349. Prairie View Normal School, to be enlarged and developed into a uni- versity, 388, 393; to be liberally supported, 430, 448. President of the U. S., direct election of, demanded, 59, 257, 261, 271, 294, 296, 307, 313, 348, 378, 480; not to be eligible for second term, 298; not to send troops into a State ex- cept upon request, 373; vote for, 1848-1916, 648-650. Presidential primary, demanded, 560; campaign contributions to be con- trolled, 621. Press, liberty of, 97, 102, 567. Printing, public, reform asked, 156; to be done within the State, 383, 403. Privilege vs. the people, 559. Produce tax, repeal of, demanded, 180, 185, 188. Progressive party, a white man's party, 598; State conventions (1912- 1916), 570, 597, 614; invited to re- turn to Republican party, 605. Prohibition, State, evils of, enumerat- ed, 250-251; arguments for, 543-546; arguments against, 547-550; list of prominent antiprohibitionists, 549; sale of intoxicating liquors to be prohibited, 194, 316; legislature refused to submit constitutional amendment, 207, 245, 532; it should do so, 243; amendment submitted, 247| question ought not to be agi- tated, 259; submission, demanded, 502, 512. 520, 523, 530, 534, 634, 642; opposed, 517, 524-526, 540, 623, 624; vote on, 543, 608, 652; ought to be submitted at special election, 604, 633; not a tenet of Democratic faith, 523, 622; national prohibition necessary, 286; opposition to, 613 618, 620; vote on, 652. Prohibition S*tate conventions, for a chronological list of, 1884-1916, see "Table of Contents." Property rights, war upon, 324; must be protected, 325, 341. Public buildings, contracts for con- struction of, to be advertised be- fore award is made, 383. Public utilities, cities and towns to have the regulation of charges for gas, electric light, and water, 468; strict control or government owner- ship, 482. Puerto Rico, acquisition of, favored, 40*2, 406. 412; opposed, 404; terri- torial government for, 417. Purchasing agent, State, 429. Quarantine, for control of contagious diseases, 431; regulation to be turned over to Federal government, 518; such transfer opposed, 639. Race equality, doctrine of, denounced, 83, 91. Radicals, 94, 95, 98, 99, 100, 102, 108. Railroad, State, to be extended, 529; to be built from Red River to the Gulf, 398; convicts to be employed in constructing, 454. Railroad commission, amendment to create, indorsed, 265, 278, 279, 282, 288; refusal to indorse, 289; amend- ment opposed, 289; commission in- dorsed but commissioners to be elected, 301, 315, 319, 321, 324, 334; reduced freight rates, 386; indorsed, 403; criticised, 398, 407; to be abol- ished, 425; to be removed from party politics, 440; Shreveport rate case decision^ 641. Railroads, transcontinental, 54; con- struction of, to be encouraged, 156, 161, 213; land grants to, favored, 161; money subsidies, favored, 136, 137, 142, opposed, 161, 164; pro- vision of the constitution of 1875, 169; strict regulation of, demanded, 189, 210, 236, 270, 274, 278, 279, 282, 292, 328; to maintain offices within the State, 239; competing lines not to consolidate, 239; property rights to be protected, 383; basis employed for declaring dividends * to form basis of taxation, 236; valuation fixed by Railroad Commission to form basis for taxation, 569; relief granted to railroads to the injury of the public, 294; discrimination between shippers to cease, 388; giving rebates, to be prohibited, 189, 236, 508; to be made a felony, 429; conductors not to collect higher fares from passengers who fail to purchase tickets, 382; employes to be paid promptly in legal money, 377; separate coaches for white and negro, 289; double-headers, to be prohibited, 426, 430, 454; full crew bill, opposed, 591. Ranger force, to be disbanded, 229; not to influence elections, 457; to be liberally supported, 639. Reciprocity, recommended as a fea- ture of commercial treaties, 291, 302, 305, 337, 346, 360, 392, 487. Reconstruction, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 106, 107, 110, 121, 122; re- construction acts, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 113, 116, 120; President's plan, 99; military government denounced, 110, 123, 162; preferable to Radical misrule, 123. Subject Index 697 Redistricting, demanded, judicial, 382, 386; representative, 382; congres- sional and senatorial, 613; gerry- mandering, 207. Religious toleration, 66, 70, 71, 200, 308; religious oath to be abrogated, 61. Rent, amount of, on farm land to be fixed, 608. Renters' union convention, 551, 591. Representation, minority, to be rep- resented, 482; proportional favored, 334, 485, 627; basis of, in conven- tion, 76, 124, 141, 143, 154, 157. Republican league, 302, 336. Republican party, preserved the Union, 101; its history in Texas, 304; State administration charged with mis- rule, 125-127, 129-140, 164, 208; Fed- eral administration criticised, 145, 146. 148, 505; reduction of the State's representation in the na- tional convention, 605; State con- ventions, for a chronological list, 1867-1916, see "Table of Contents." Republican states, recognition and aid, by U. S., 59. Republicans, Liberal, 145, 146, 147. Republicans, "Reform" or "Lily White," 302, 326, 336, 360, 393, 458. Republicans, "Regular" or "Black and Tan," 302, 326, 336, 345, 357, 360, 392, 460. Republicans, "Reorganized," 488. Republicans, "Straight-Out," 232. Repudiation of debt, denounced, 113, 150-151, 153, 156, 161, 205; of debt incurred by States of the C. S. A., demanded, 97, 109. Rest days, one and one-half days each week, demanded, 594. Rice industry, to be fostered, 449. Riparian rights to be guarded, 449, 583. Rivers, to be made navigable, 343, 347, 383, 393, 490, 496, 523, 603, 640; Trinity, 347, 426; Brazos, 426, 512; Colorado, 431; Buffalo Bayou, 440; to be straightened and leveed, 592. Roads, public, improvement urged, 233, 325, 329, 448, 460, 476, 490, 495, 531, 540, 569, 583, 604; road tax abolished, 167; amendment author- izing, favored, 283; special tax fa- vored, 214, 338; road law denounced, 200, 228, 243; repeal demanded, 214; convicts to work roads, 283, 540; road convention, 280; road bonds to be voted by simple majority, 575; Federal highway from Ft. Sam Houston to Ft. Mclntosh, recom- mended, 585. See also "Convicts," "Highway Commission." Rural credit to be provided, 60, 604, 21, 626. Salaries, high, 164, 189; reduction of, 200, 298; to replace fees, 189, 200; county officers' salaries, 315, 333, 383. See also "Fees of office." Saloons, early closing advocated, 580, 587; cities to be empowered to fix earlier hours of closing, 580; to be kept out of residence districts, 580; occupation tax to be increased, 587. S*ee also "Liquor." Sand and shell, to be conserved, 613. Scholastic age, 6 to 18 years. 214, 333; 6 to 20 years, 315; 5 to 18 years, 382; 6 to 21 years, 425; 7 to 21 years, 454; districts levying a local tax to have right to extend, 579. School fund, payments made in Con- federate money, to be declared null, 115; fund squandered, 146, 160, 207, 217, 380; amount of, 168; debts due to, to be collected, 210, 429; hoard- ed in treasury, 295, 388; loan to counties, opposed, 217; loaned to penitentiary, 387; to be loaned to individuals on real estate security, 297; safe investment of, demanded, 399, 610; investment in railroad bonds, opposed, 325; in county bonds, 388; Jester amendment, op- posed, 325; denounced, 346, 398, 425; repeal demanded, 399; 403; repeal opposed, 408. School, public free, demanded, 61, 116, 153, 155, 160, 181, 183, 189, 196, 261; establishment of, promised, 101, 142, 147, 175; provisions of the con- stitution of 1875, 168; criticised, 177, 179, 193; support to constitu- tional limit, demanded, 200, 203, 204, 216, 222. 243, 255; improvement demanded, 298, 308, 315, 333, 490, 521; term of at least 6 months to be maintained, 289, 292, 296 315 320, 333, 340, 344, 382, 388, 394, 425, 437, 495; 8 months term, 212, 488; 9 months term, 321, 575, 638; 10 months term, 213; shortening of school term criticised, 380, 398; re- duction of per capita appropriation, denounced, 346; reply/ 386; compul- sory attendance, 61, 155, 159, 394 488, 490, 567, 575, 596, 604, 610, 627; religious instruction, to be prohib- ited, 61; physiological effect of alcohol, to be taught, 286, 296; agriculture, to be taught, 194, 212; instruction to be practical, 473; rural schools to equal city schools, 487; special support for, 637; rural high schools to be established, 534, 605, 610; free night school for adults, 567; free books, medical at- tendance, and food for needy chil- dren, 596; efficient county super- vision, favored, 578; separate schools for white and negro, 123, 210, 238; colored teachers for negro schools, 333, 347, 382, 388; colored trustees to take census of negro children, 399; negro teachers to serve on examining boards, 329; Blair bill, indorsed, 233, 243; Federal aid to schools a dangerous encroachment on State's rights, 219, 238, 288, 318. School taxes, amendment to constitu- tion authorizing levy of, indorsed, 210, 213, 517; levy by districts, 610, 638; levy by counties, 495, 578, 610. School textbooks, uniform, demanded 283, 292, 296, 315, 333, 377; bill,' 698 Subject Index indorsed, 403; law to be reenacted, 448, 494, 638; law denounced, 517; 540; sale at cost, demanded, 315, 399, 425; free, demanded, 295, 296, 377, 529, 567, 575, 596, 604, 627; dis- tricts levying a tax, to be author- ized to issue free textbooks, 579, 610; textbooks to be printed in the State, 610, 638. Schools, sectarian, not to receive State aid, 336. Secession, opposed, 51, 87; right of, asserted, 82-83; Secession conven- tion, 88; causes of, 89-92; null and void ab initio, 97, 108, 115; right of, abandoned. 109. Seamen, involuntary service of, to be prevented, 603. Sectionalism, deplored, 86, 90. Senate (State), to be abolished, 275, 294, 567, 594, 627; (U. SO, to be abolished, 275, 294. Senators, U. S 1 ., direct election of, demanded, 59, 257, 261, 284, 294, 296, 307. 349, 374, 388, 417, 428, 447, 474, 480, 506, 560. Sheep industry, ruin threatened by free trade, 252; protection of, 346, 583. Sheriffs, appoint too many deputies, 425, 426. Ship subsidy, favored, 291. Ships, free, favored, 210. Silver, remonetization of, demanded, 180, 188, 202, 343, 354, 355; demone- tization of, denounced, 348, 354, 355; free coinage of, 184, 202, 284, 294; free and unlimited coinage of, 261, 271, 288, 295, 300, 312, 319; to be legal tender, 184, 284. See also "Money." Single tax, 275, 299; indorsed, 348, 529, 552, 566. Slavery, negro, position of Democrats, 48, 49; of Germans, 60; compromise measures of 1850, 50, 53; in the territories, 66, 70. 79, 82, 90; in the District of Columbia, 66, 70; proper relation between whites and ne- groes, 83; abolition of, accepted, 109, 125. S'ocial Democratic State convention, 418. Social evil, legal sanction of, to be withdrawn, 480. Socialism, State, condemned, 324, 328; advocated, 418, 421. Socialist State conventions (1900- 1916), 442, 470, 483, 513, 527, 564, 590, 625. Socialist Labor State convention, 420, 530, 588; State ticket, 410, 446, 481, 497, 527. Southern convention, delegates to, 76, 83. Spain, attacks by, resented, 62. Spanish-American war, waged for humanity and not for conquest, 397; war tax denounced, 402; in- dorsed, 406; soldiers and sailors praised, 402, 406, 413; peace terms approved, 406, 412; appointments of officers made without partisan- ship, 407. Speech, liberty of, 97, 102, 106, 135, 196, 567. Squatter sovereignty, denounced, 81. State government, extravagance charged, 87. 136-139, 166-171, 178, 199, 294, 372, 380, 382, 398, 463, 473, 505, 575; retrenchment in public ex- penditures, demanded, 194, 199, 203, 301, 312, 325, 368, 372; many use- less offices, 164, 189, 196, 199, 325, 372, 380, 467, 473, 476, 516; books and accounts of departments to be examined by expert examiners, 476; powers of, encroached upon by Fed- eral government, 505. State investigating committee, report of, 457. Slate's revenue, deficiency in, to be avoided, 467; increase in amount of, 473, 489, 575; denounced, 403. Slate's rights, defined, 46, 51; touch- ing slavery, 48; insisted upon, 66, 69, 311, 318. 339, 343; rights of Texas in the Union, 82-83; invaded by Northern States, 90. Stock and bond law, demanded, 319; condemned, 575; amendments, fa- vored, 582; opposed, 587; issuance and sales of, to be regulated, 581; improvement bonds, 582. Strikes, deprecated, 188, 324, 328, 341; to be settled by arbitration, 243; railroads to operate regardless of, 299; interference by President of U. S., indorsed, 340, 346; regretted, 343; denounced, 349; a legitimate weapon, 349; strike breaking, 450. Subsidies of money, opposed, 146, 318. Suffrage, right of, not to be granted to unnaturalized foreigners, 70; a liberal policy to govern the grant- ing, 116; to be regulated by States, 110, 123, 125, 311; to be regulated by Federal government, 113, 118; clause in constitution* of 1869, reg- ulating suffrage, to be voted on separately, 119; provisions of the constitution of 1875, 167; universal manhood suffrage, 181, 200, 291; educational qualification, opposed, 540, 567; favored, 285, 601; property qualification, opposed, 399, 567, 594. Sumptuary laws, opposed, 153, 161, 204, 233, 250, 323, 328, 368, 457. S'unday law, repeal of demanded, 61, 153; indorsed, 194, 501; denounced, 196, 308; modification of, demand- ed, 200. Tariff, existing law approved, 46, 47; - for revenue only, 184, 188, 210, 219, 284, 288. 312, 368, 372, 386, 402, 463, 559, 562; protective, wrong in prin- ciple, 333; repeal of, demanded, 180, 210, 219, 259, 312; indorsed, 216, 233, 252, 291, 305, 346, 358, 392, 487, 555, 632; on wool, hides, and other Texas products, 272, 337, 358, 361; on lux- uries, 47; reduction of, 301; revision demanded, 506, 559; Mills bill, in- dorsed, 259, 266; Gorman-Wilson Subject Index 699 bill, denounced, 358; DIngley bill, denounced, 402, 463; Payne bill, 556. See also "Free raw material." Tariff commission, nonpartisan, 598, 602, 632. Tax, ad valorem, only just tax, 193, 213, 228, 243; franchise, 467, 495, 516, 627; on gross receipts and in- tangible assets of corporations, 467, 495, 516, 627; occupation, repeal of, demanded, 179, 188, 193, 196, 199, 205, 214, 233, 243, 399, 468, 474, 476, 495; repeal opposed, 426; to be re- placed by license tax, 205. Tax assessors and collectors, election of, demanded, 59. Tax commission, S'tate, creation of, demanded, 403. Taxpayers' convention, 128. Taxation, to be equal and for revenue only, 46, 60, 150, 156, 214, 219, 258; to be reduced to minimum, 143, 189; heavy, 164, 199, 380; rate in 1871, 137; rate reduced, 386; Sayers bill, denounced, 437; burden distrib- uted unequally, 294 ; to be equalized and prompt payment enforced, 429; collected under repealed laws, 133, 139; collection laws, denounced, 200; full rendition, demanded, 467, 468, 495; full rendition law, de- nounced, 516, 539; bona fide indebted- ness to be deducted from property rendition, 336, 426; double taxation, opposed, 381; land and improve- ment to be assessed separately, 334; home rule, 377; exemptions to be increased, 381; homestead to be exempt, 592; farming implements and mechanics' tools to be exempt, 233; notes and securities to be taxed, 381, 426. See also "Single tax." Teachers, State examinations for, 61; higher salaries, 596, 638. Telegraph and telephone companies to transmit each other's messages, 494; earnings of Western Union, 270, 274. Temperance, law, repeal demanded, 60, 153; restriction bill, demanded, 245; cause hurt by prohibition, 250; poverty a cause for intemperance, 596. Tenantry, increase of, 268, 551, 562; large proportion of population ten- ants, 442, 626; evils of, 561, 562; tool;--, teams and implements of, to be exempt from taxation, 529, 566; State to rent land at nominal rates, 566. Terrell election law, indorsed, 467; amendment, demanded, 473, 494, 512, 531, 580; criticised, 477, 480, 492, 575; denounced, 487, 517, 540, 633; too complex, 528. See also "Election, primary." Texas, division of, 48,108; denounced, 111; development of West Texas, 240. Texas and Pacific railroad, land do- nation, 217. Thanksgiving day, abrogation of, 61. Thurber coal mines and miners, in- vestigation of, demanded, 377. Tidewater, rights of public and pri- vate persons at tidewater, to be defined, 613. Timber, thefts of from public lands to be investigation, 592; lands to be taken over by State, 593. Trade commission, Federal, indorsed, 603. Trades unions, not to coerce laborers, 341; incorporation of, to be permit- ted, 235, 246, 561, 594; demand eight- hour day, 273; necessary to combat organized capital, 349, 420, 474, 485; must participate in politics, 444; legislature to give heed to demands of, 609, 637. Transvaal, sympathy for, in its strug- gle to maintain its independence, 415, 417. Treasury funds to be deposited fairly throughout the country, 506. Trusts, dealing in the necessaries of life, to be prohibited, 271, 288, 636. Trusts, pools and combinations in re- straint of trade, to be suppressed, 344, 346, 417, 440, 448, 449, 463, 473, 490, 496, 560, 608, 636; attempt to destroy, nonsensical, 444. Tuberculosis sanitarium, 541. Two-thirds rule, adopted at Demo- cratic State convention, 41; re- tained, 72. 75, 78, 144, 157, 182, 220; rejected, 217, 338, 384; urged upon national convention, 84, 198. Union, fidelity to, defined, 45, 46. Union labor conventions, 262, 348, 376. Universities, maintenance 'of, with free tuition, demanded, 61. University of Texas, organization and maintenance, demanded, 203; endowment with public land, fa- vored, 210; debts due to, to be paid, 210; endowment to be carefully husbanded, 213; early completion urged, 233; to be removed from political influences, 238; its branches to be endowed and maintained, 289, 320, 340; efficient maintenance of, 321, 344, 388; liberal appropriations recommended, 403, 430, 448, 495, 534; board of regents to be removed from partisan politics, 429-430, 449, 578; six-year terms for, 578; avail- able funds to be used for buildings and grounds, 449; inhibition to be removed against making 1 appropri- ations out of the general revenue for buildings, 578. University of Texas, colored branch, establishment of, urged, 233, 329, 346. See also "Prairie View Nor- mal S'chool." University of Texas, medical college, building to be erected, 579. University of Texas and A. & M. Col- lege, separation favored, 535, 578, 599, 604; division of permanent fund, 578; differences to be adjust- ed, 611. University of Texas, A. & M. College, 700 Subject Index College of Industrial Arts, and State normal schools, liberal and independent income, demanded, 535, 578, 610, 638; six-year terms for boards of, 578; permanent, fireproof buildings, 610; summer sessions, 610, 638; tuition and board to be free, 628; appropriations to be item- ized, 611, 638. Usury law (Federal), demanded, 257, 261; (State), demanded, 476, 627; is robbery, 270. Vacancies, failure to fill, 130. Vagrant law, not to apply to unem- ployed, 334, 349, 5947 Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, 51, 73, 78, 82. Vital statistics, to be collected, 431. Vote for governor (1846-1916), 644- 648; for governor in Democratic primaries (1906-1916), 651-652; for president (1848-1916), 648-650; for prohibition, 652. Voters, registration of, 94, 100; lists revised, 105; fear of coercion, 118. Voting, absentee, favored, 594, 627. Wages, enforced collection of, 400; to be protected, 477. Warehouses, needed, 294; State to lend money on farm products stored in bonded warehouses, 567; comprehensive system of, to be established, 579, 604, 608; law to be revised, 636. Washington's farewell address, 52. Waters-Pierce Oil Company, 427, 437, 499, 509. Water power, to be conserved and developed, 604. Waterways, inland, to be improved, 341, 383, 388, 428, 447, 464, 477, 506, 518, 523. Whig party, on annexation, 15-17, 19; on Mexican war, 19-21. Whitecapism, denounced, 404; de- creasing, 490. White man's government, 83, 92, 105. Wife, abandonment of, 584. Willacy bill, denounced, 480. Women in public service to receive same salary as men for same work, 610, 637. W. O. T. TL, 285. Woman suffrage, 263, 286, 485, 528, 567, 570, 594, 601, 627; by amend- ment to Federal constitution, op- posed, 613, 620. World's Fair commission, indorsed, 449, 469; exhibit to be preserved, 469. "Young Democracy," 202, 220. RETURN TO the circulation desk of any University of California Library or to the NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station University of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 DUE AS STAMPED BELOW OCT j 9 1992 LD 21-5m-l,'39(7053s7) f 488819 UN, JBRARV