

TEXAS. 



683 



nominated a full ticket, as follows : For Gov- 

 ernor, Oran M. Roberts ; Lieutenant-Governor, 

 L. J. Storey ; Treasurer, Francis R. Lubbock ; 

 Comptroller, W. M. Brown ; Attorney-Gen- 

 eral, J. H. McLeary; Commissioner of the 

 General Land-Office, W. C. Walsh ; Judge of 

 the Court of Appeals, J. M. Hurt; Presiden- 

 tial electors (State at large), J. W. Throck- 

 morton and R. B. Hubbard. 



In deliberating upon the platform, there 

 was disagreement among the members of the 

 Committee on Resolutions, in consequence of 

 which two platforms were submitted to the 

 Convention, the one signed by twenty-four, 

 the other by seven members of the said com- 

 mittee. After the reading of both documents, 

 the Convention adopted the majority report, 

 which was as follows: 



The Democratic party of Texas, in convention as- 

 sembled, declare : 



1. We heartily approve the declarations of prin- 

 ciples made by the Democratic National State Con- 

 vention at Cincinnati, and cordially endorse its nomi- 

 nees, pledging them the united and enthusiastic sup- 

 port of thcT Democracy of Texas. 



2. We favor the free coinage and full remonetization 

 of silver. 



3. We favor such action by Congress, within its 

 constitutional power, as will prevent unjust discrimi- 

 nations and extortionate rates of charges 'for the trans- 

 portation of inter-State 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 con- 

 stitutional limits, justified by the financial condition 

 of the State. And we favor the adoption by the next 

 Legislature of appropriate measures looking to the 

 fulfillment of the constitutional requirements for the 

 organization and maintenance of u the University of 

 Texas." 



5. We repudiate as false the charge that the Demo- 

 cratic party of Texas has been opposed to immigra- 

 tion, and, while the Constitution prohibits the use of 

 public money for the support of a bureau of immigra- 

 tion, 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 pro- 

 tection in person and in property, and demand of the 

 General Government that protection for our people 

 thus exposed to which they arc 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 judiciary 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 responsi- 

 bility in that behalf. 



9. We demand the most rigid economy, consistent 

 with efficiency, in all the departments of the govern- 

 ment, and favor the reduction of taxation as soon as 

 the same can be safely done. 



The disagreement between the two reports 

 related chiefly to the system of public free 

 schools in the State ; to the sale of the State 

 school lands, in regard to the terms of pur- 

 chase and quantity sold to each purchaser; to 



the encouragement to immigration of foreign- 

 ers into Texas for settlement; and to the 

 protection of the sparsely-settled, unorganized 

 counties in the State. On these points the mi- 

 nority report seemed to express more denned 

 views in detail, and to require a more energetic 

 action on the part of the Legislature and the 

 Executive for the successful carrying out of 

 the respective measures. 



The Republican party assembled in State 

 Convention at Hearne, on the 25th of August, 

 when the nominations of their candidates were 

 as follows : For Governor, E. J. Davis ; Lieuten- 

 ant-Governor, A. Siemering ; State Treasurer, 



Thomas ; State Comptroller, S. D. Wood ; 



Attorney-General, W. O. Hutcheson; Com- 

 missioner of the General Land-Office, Jacob 

 Heuchler ; Judge of the Court of Appeals, J. 

 W. Williamson. 



The sheriffs of Texas held their annual con- 

 vention at Dallas early in August. In his 

 official address to the meeting, Sheriff Corwin 

 stated that a larger number of fugitives from 

 justice had been captured and brought to trial 

 by the State constabulary during the year than 

 in the preceding one. He pointed to the great 

 difficulties met with by a peace-officer in the 

 discharge of his duty, owing to the numberless 

 ways of escape open to criminals in the vast- 

 ness of the unsettled portions of Texas, and to 

 such facilities for evading arrest when pursued, 

 or conviction when arrested and held to trial, 

 as were afforded them by the criminal laws and 

 criminal procedure, both of which he averred 

 to be exceedingly defective. As the practical 

 discharge of a sheriff's duty, when pursuing 

 malefactors for arrest, and when holding them 

 for trial and punishment, gives him the best 

 means and opportunities for ascertaining the 

 defects of the penal law or procedure, with a 

 view chiefly to have these defects fully set fortli 

 and presented to the Legislature, and thereby 

 to secure a thorough correction of them, the 

 following resolutions were adopted by the Con- 

 vention : 



1. We disclaim all effort or inclination upon the part 

 of this association to increase the fees now allowed by 

 law to sheriffs, but we rely upon the wisdom of our 

 Legislature to so regulate them as to justly compen- 

 sate us for services rendered and money expended. 



2. We believe that the peculiar relations which 

 sheriffs sustain to the execution of the criminal law in 

 this State discover to them many defects therein 

 which would escape the attention of the most careful 

 and conscientious legislator, and that it is our duty as 

 well as privilege, as sheriffs, to call the attention of 

 our Legislature to such defects, to the end that in its 

 wisdom it may make such changes and corrections as 

 will promote "the prompt and faithful execution^ of 

 every provision of our penal code and code of crim- 

 inal procedure. 



3. Believing that the proper preparation of such 

 suggestions to the Legislature would require more 

 time and deliberation than this association can at pres- 

 ent bestow ; and believing it to be all-important that 

 such suggestions be so formulated as to present fully 

 and particularly the views of the sheriffs of Texas : 



4. We, therefore, suggest that this association ap- 

 point a committee of nvc to prepare a bill, or bills, 

 fully embodying the changes or corrections in the 



