732 



TEXAS. 



The regular Democratic convention, in session at 

 the same time in another hall, with about 1,000 

 delegates, also elected a delegation to the national 

 convention. The resolutions were strongly in favor 

 of free coinage, a strict construction of the Consti- 

 tution, the political equality of citizens, freedom of 

 conscience, separation of Church and state, freedom 

 of the press, and tariff for revenue only, " sufficient, 

 with other taxation, to meet the expenses of the 

 Government economically administered, so as to 

 render it unnecessary to increase the public debt in 

 any form whatever " ; they condemned the extraor- 

 dinary expenditure by Congress of over $515,000,- 

 000 and the alleged unnecessary employment of 

 Federal officers and employees ; demanded the " sub- 

 mission of constitutional amendments to the sev- 

 eral States which will authorize Congress to pass an 

 income-tax law (unless such course should become 

 unnecessary by the overruling of the decision of 

 the Supreme Court of the United States), to the end 

 that the wealth of the nation may be compelled to 

 bear its just share of the expenses of the Govern- 

 ment " ; opposed monopolies and trusts and all class 

 legislation, demanding equal rights to all and ex- 

 clusive privileges to none ; opposed the issuing of 

 interest-bearing bonds in time of peace, national 

 bank issues, and excessive pensions ; and demanded 

 that the national debt be paid. 



Delegates to the national convention were in- 

 structed to favor the nomination of Richard P. 

 Bland. 



The second regular Democratic convention met 

 in Fort Worth, Aug. 18, with comparatively a small 

 representation. The resolutions approved the ac- 

 tion of the national convention, and on State affairs 

 approved the existing administration, promised 

 economy in State Government, demanded reap- 

 portionraent of judicial districts, a law requiring 

 express companies to maintain general officers 

 within the State, a new lien law, reform of criminal 

 laws, and especially revision of jury laws ; favored 

 reforms in the fee system, amendments to the " fel- 

 low-servant " law, and sale of public-school lands ; 

 opposed the leasing of convicts to corporations, and 

 promised equal rights to all. The nominations 

 were : For Governor, Charles A. Culberson ; Lieu- 

 tenant Governor, George T. Jester ; Attorney-Gen- 

 eral, Martin M. Crane; Treasurer, William B. 

 Wortham ; Comptroller, R. Wat Finley ; Commis- 

 sioner of General Land Office, James M. Carlisle ; 

 Superintendent of Public Instruction, Andrew J. 

 Baker; Chairman Railway Commission, John H. 

 Reagan ; Railway Commissioners, Allison Mayfield 

 and L. J. Story ; Justices, W. L. Davidson and Le- 

 roy G. Denman. A proposition from the People's 

 party for a division of electors was rejected. 



At the convention of the Gold-standard Dem- 

 ocrats in Waco, Aug. 25, resolutions were adopted 

 condemning the action of the national convention, 

 and repudiating the national and State nominations. 

 Of the action of the State convention, they said : 

 " We condemn the methods adopted by those who 

 have been interested with the management of the 

 affairs of the Democratic party in Texas, they hav- 

 ing used the same solely for the purpose of retain- 

 ing the present administration in this State, by 

 which the Democracy 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." 



Delegates to the Indianapolis convention, candi- 

 dates for presidential electors, and a State Execu- 

 tive Committee were chosen. No State ticket was 

 formed. 



The first Republican State Convention met in 

 Austin, March 24. There was a contest between 



the partisans of McKinley on the one side and 

 those of Reed and Allison on the other. A chair- 

 man in favor of Allison was chosen by a vote of 

 407 to 205. The Committee on Credentials did not 

 report until the 26th. when a platform was adopted 

 which said, in relation to the currency : 



" We reaffirm the historic adherence of the Re- 

 publican 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 

 trade, all of equal value, interchangeable one for 

 the other, every dollar resting on gold coin as the 

 only money of final redemption. The Republicans 

 of Texas declare this to be in their deliberate judg- 

 ment the only basis for a large and liberal circula- 

 tion of money and for the maintenance of universal 

 confidence.'' 



The delegates selected for the national conven- 

 tion were all for Reed or Allison : and therefore 

 after the adjournment, the .McKinley wing organ- 

 ized with a large number of delegates and chose 

 representatives for the national convention, in- 

 structing them to support him. 



The Reform Republicans, the so-called " Lily 

 Whites," held a State convention at Houston, 

 April 20. Delegates favorable to McKinley were 

 chosen for the national convention, but no in- 

 structions were given. Following are the main 

 features of the platform : 



We favor bimetallism, the use of gold and silver 

 coin as money of ultimate redemption. We favor 

 the immediate calling of an international monetary 

 and reciprocity conference for the adoption of an 

 international agreement. We believe in a protec- 

 tive tariff that, will renew a market for American 

 wages for American workmen." 



This made 3 delegations to claim seats in the 

 national convention. The McKinley delegation, 

 chosen March 24, headed by Dr. John Grant, was 

 seated. At the Republican convention, held in 

 Fort Worth, Sept. 9, no State ticket was named. 

 The Chairman of the State Executive Committee, 

 E. II. R. Green, was authorized to appoint a com- 

 mittee with full power to direct the campaign. It 

 was understood that the special purpose of this com- 

 mittee was to effect fusion with the Populists and 

 " Sound-money " Democrats. The national platform 

 and candidates were approved with great enthusi- 

 asm. In reference to State affairs the resolutions 

 said: 



"We unqualifiedly condemn the present admin- 

 istration of affairs in the State government of Texas 

 through its various agencies, and unite in calling 

 unto all good citizens of the State, irrespective of 

 party, to join together in a determined effort to 

 drive the present so-called Democratic party from 

 power in our beloved State, and give to our people 

 a wise, honest, economical, and pure government. 



"We recommend the enactment of appropriate 

 laws for the development of a system of irrigation 

 in the semi-arid regions of the State. 



" We insist that laws should be speedily enacted 

 extending to our colored youths the opportunities 

 of university education. 



" We favor a vigorous enforcement of the crimi- 

 nal laws of this State, irrespective of persons, and 

 demand that the procedure governing appeals in such 

 cases be reformed with a view to the speedy determi- 

 nation of the correctness of convictions without re- 

 gard to technicalities, and in this connection we 

 denounce in unmeasured terms the resort to mob 

 violence against persons charged with, but not con- 

 victed of crimes." 



The delegates to the national convention of the 

 People's party held a caucus July 18 with the party 

 leaders, and agreed to support for President Paul 



