The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-04-11
CONVENTION ON NO CONVENTION,


oided democratic majority, while there
IL still strong, and by no means TO be
desplsed, republican minority There
il no disgusting tho TACT that there are
numerous democratic asplrants for
every office 10 be- filled, while there will
be but ono republican, This clrcum'
stance points very strongly 10 the
almost absolute necessity for both u
county aud district convention, on We
may wake up one line morning IN Mo-
yember and find that In strong demo
cratic county and district, we have a
complete complement Of radical officers
No true party man, no true democrat,
who IL worthy 10 hold office under ilS
auspices wishes 10 see this, or wishes to
risk II, Nor do we think Any such
man will oppose the calling of formal
convention, TO be preceded by tho nee'
essary party caucuses and primaries
Much has been said and written
against CONVENTIONS but we have yet to
zee IN adequate argument prevented
against them, N IL the old struggle
against order aud dcccncy, TO oppose
tho convention We aro Of those who
prefer 10 SEQ every thing even politics.
conducted In an orderly and decent
manner, The finest army on earth IL
doomed to swift and sure defeat when
IL enters tho field against
perfect organization without
competent, and lawfully chosen leaders,
Even our boosted republic must have u
head, leader who has the show Of Ie'
galily in his choosing A ship must have
u captain, Indeed, there ~ no earthly
enterprise where numbers are used TO
accomplish It's purpose where the rhlois
not OF the utmost importance, SO II il
in party politics, If we would triumph
m u party, We must not run across the
rule which has become necessity in
every other case,
We have both county and a district
executive committee, Both will be
derclct in plain and important duty
If u formal call is not made for con-
vention, the resulting convention will
be derclict, to nm equal degree il IT
fails 10 give the party candidates of unN
exceptional fitness for whom to vote,
We would not object TO see strong,
decent aud legitimate opposition made
to this sort OF local democratic organi'
cation. Opposition is tho lito of poll
tics, M il is of trade We court II hes
cause II entails greater degree OF care
and iaithlulneso upon the servants Sos
lectod at the ballotSboA. 1t il nm earn
est that their political conduct will be
closely scrutini1ed 10y watchful and ca.
ger opponents, eager to detect the least
flaw in their official conduct. An army
unopposed grows careless of iIs conduct
1t is only dire necessity which inN
duces sleepless watchluness When
there a is no enemy in front
no pockets are thrown out.
The people want every officer who disN
burses or receives n part of the revenue
wrung from them by taxation, watched,
and that very closely and vigilantly.
We have lately hud some startling ins
stances of the nee essity for this check
upon officials of both high and low de,
gree. 1t don't hurt an honest democrat
to watch him. and nothing will do this
so eilectuolly and 80 sleeplessly rs n
strong opposition. The present Jugs
handle situation in Texas is anything
but conducive TO the best good of either
the state or the democracy.
All this we say, well knowing at the
same time that no convention and q
free race would serve our financial in-
terests rs paper better, because, with
u scramble race there would be more
money paid for announcements and
tickets, Journals doN not often get
credit these days for going against their
interests, but in this case the principles
involved are so important and the in-
terests so grave, that they cannot be
measured by money standard. Hence
we favor the convention system at some
cost to us, and we fear, with little cost
to the selfNinterest of some prospect
i've candidates who misdoubt their
own chances before party tribunal of
this kind but who may slip in if there
is half dozen candidates in the field.
We do not want to see the scenes of
our recent municipal election repeated
on the broader field of the county
and district this fall We have
many important positions to fill, and
we have many good men tor the purt
pose. Let us meet in convention and
calmly determine who is the best, and
then bend every honest energy to se>
cure their election. This 10 The HER~
ALDs position in the coming, us it will
be in all future struggles of the kind.
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