The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-07
The Municipal Canvass,

According to announcement Judge John
j. Good, candidate for mayor, addressed a
large crowd of citizens last night at the cor
ner of Main and Lamar streets. A tempo
rary stand had been erectel in the street
from which he spoke. The gathering was
orderly, nothing occurring to mar the peace
of the meeting. The colored cornet band
discoursed several airs before the meeting
opened. Judge Good began by stating
that he had been called upon by large num-
Der of citizens during his absence to become
II candidate for the office, and it was only in
obeyance to their wishes that he entered
upon the race. The charges that had been
preferre against Judge Thurmond as MAYOR
were grave and they had been fully substan-
tiated. In his speeches Judge Thurmond
had not defended himself against these
charges, but had placed the council on trial
instead of attempting to refute them. These
matters were between Judge Thurmond and
the council, and with them he had nothing
to do. The charges preferred by Judge
Thurmond against the council were denied
by that body. There was va
III VIC OuCb VI InhNOr, ana
IT was for the people to say who should hll
1t. lie averred that the action of the council
was constitutional, and referred to the power
possessed by municipal corporation created
BY the legislature. The council had acted
legally in addressing the mayor out of office
The speaker quoted from the law to show
the consttutionality of the proceedings of
the council and the truth of his assertion.
The authority vested in the city government
to regulate its affairs was necessary, and being
necessary should be enforced. He Quoted
also from the city charter to prove the truth
Of the position he had taken to show the
power vested In the council to remove any
officer for corruption and incompetency,
whether elected by the people
or appointed to Office, and claimed that that
body could do it by passing resolution
declaring want of confidence provided two.
thirds of the council vote, for his removal.
In the case In question six out OF seven of The
counoilmen had voted for his removal, and
that it was in every respect legal. He alluded
to the course pursued BY Judge Thurmond
after he was ousted, and how he had invoked
to no purpose the aid Of Judge Bledsoe,
district judge Of Collin county, and Judge
Aldridge Of this district. Judge ThurmoS
had not answered the charges preferred
against him, but had attacked the council AL 4
appealed to the sympathies of the people
Aman should vindlcate himself BY the law o
the land and not through the passions of tbs
people. The law was tho guide, the measure
by which the acts Of the people of govern
ment are to be measured. According I,
Judge Thurmonds own statement durip,
his term of office as mayor, harmony had no
prevailed In the council. and the conseo uenc
was, that in the wrangling, the best interes
of the city had been neglected, and shout
the people re.elect Thsrmond like state O
affairs would exist for he was authorized :
state that none Of the aldermen would re
sign in case he was. With these fact
in view he could not see what good woul,
come of his being put back into an office fror
{ which he was removed. He did not propos
3 to pass upon the guilt or innocence OF Judg
r Thurmond, but where there was 50 mucl
J smoke there must be some fire. He had n
- friends to reward nor enemies to punish, an
\ would have nc favorites, but would met
J. out The law alike to all, no matter what hi
% 8 alton might be. Cheering The speske
9, referred to the early history of Dallas, an
A stated that no was q citizen when Dalla
Is was but a village Of three hundre
10 population. Judge Thurmond, hisopponen
had laid great stress on his being such
friend to the laboring man, yet be was be-
ter Judge Of what that class needed than ws
ls Judge Thurmond, for he had worked at III
ID shoemaket's trade for three years and hs
III followed the pillow. He would not appeal
those Of foreign birth for his support, but I