The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-03-02

iONtfnoi NppNllri W. WV PlppApNNlNe H''
that there will bp several strong candidates
before the convention, none OF WI nom vii
have majority on tho llrst few ballots, and
| II tho race for tho nomination should narrow
down between Gov rnOr Roberts ana
another candidate don't think there will be
amy combination either for bis nomination
or defeat,
Reporter What are your views ~ 10 the
policy of Governor Roberts mad his hdnlnls'
tpliun generally
Mr. GIbbs-l believe that the Governors
policy OF "pay NJ you co. lsn good ono Ia
theory but has been 10 certain extent I'M
practicable, because tho amount Of revenue
necessary 10 pay Interest on the public debt
aud create sinklng'fund left with tho pres
ent rate Of taxation too small n mnIgn for
other expenses Of Government. To DO sue
cessul NJ this time II would require higher
rate Of taxation, but three or four years
more of prosperity aud development would
have mado II possible without curlalllng the
schOol or other necessary lnnds.
Reportor-Whal ure your views on tho
bpIl-puneh law
Mr., Gibbs i don't believe that the boil
punch law can or will ever ba enforced with
uut system Of espionage, foreign 10 the
80 ius Of tho American people, and that 10
| long M II II u law II will make the revenue
from that source loss than II would other
wise be- II moreover has The effect Of lcmpl-
Ing mon 10 dishonesty and ~ citation of tho
law
COLONEL !. u, SIMPSON.
leporter-Colonel Simpson, what are
your views Us TO the two-thirds rule Should
| II be- abrogalcd IN State aud National CON
yentons or noty
Colonel Simpson, believe that tho ma
joriy Of duly appointed delegates should
| make nominations, and that the tWo-thrds
rule should bo abrogated In all conventions,
| The enforcement OF the two.thlrds rule has
been productive Of discord, division and dis
appointment, aud In my judgment has sub
served no good purpose, This rule Is ut va
riance with Democratic principles, which
authorize majority to control, and enforce
with great emphasis An absolute acquiescence
in the expressed will Of tho majority. JEFF
lerson was the pronounced advocate of such
policy The defeat of the candidates pre-
lorred by tho people has often been tho re-
suit Of this rule.
In National conventions the abro-
cation of the rule confem upon the South
the right TO nominate the President. But
few Northern States are Democratic, while
we are solldly SO, If the tA o-thirds rule OBJ
tained, the Northern Democracy, holding
vote possibly somewhat over one-third, would
paralyze our efforts to nominate, and could
force us to terms. If the rule be dispensed
with, tho South, by her great majority Of
votes, is absolute master Of the situation.
Reportcr-What effect in your opinion
would the abrogation Of the rule by the. next
State convention have onthe denomination Of
Governor o. NJ. Roberts?
Colonel Simpson-lt is quite likely that
the abrogation of the two.thirds rule would
result in the prompt denomination Of Cover
nor Roberts, lie seems to be gaining
strength, and it is believed that if the con-
yention were held to-day, so scattered
and unorgOnized is the opposition TO him. he
would push through.
Reportcr--Whut are your views as to the
policy of Governor Roberts and his admins
iratiou generally.
Colonel Simpson-lf Governor Roberts
could indicate greater liking for public
schools could find but little to otherwise
crtcisc. SO impressed am with the measure
as to the Importance of popular education
that | cannot look upon his eXcelency's
apathy or opposition TO free schools with
satisfaction. | cannot presume TO animal
vert upon the Governors views towards
schools, for he has, never to my knowledge,
expressed them, and ! may, in miscon-
ceiving his motives, do him in
Justice. II he actually believed
that the revenues of the Government we're
inadequate to its support, with the withdrawal
of one-iourth for education, it was proper to
curtail the appropriation. If this was the
sole basis of his supposed opposition, he cam
not be harshly ensured. IT. however, he
knew las the logic of events seem to
have shown that. the State could support
the three coordinate departments of the
Government as well rs the free schools, but,
seeking through his secret hostility to the
system to overthrow it under preense of
economy and inadequate revenues, he vetoed
these proper appropriations, then ! believe
the prevailing sentiment of No tn Texas does
not and will not appreciate his action. Peo-
pie are disposed to put different constructions
upon the Governors conduct, and he seems,
like wise politician, to be willing to let
these constructions work out their own saliva
ton. The Governor does not affirm or deny
his opposition to public schools, and leaves
his policy to be interpreted according to the
bias of each individual who may seek TO elu-
cidate it.
wish to say now what should have said
in response to your first and second ques-
tons that there is and must continue to be
An inherent viciousness in all conventions
which fail to express the recorded will of
primaries. The policy Of soliciting unn-
structed delegates is improper and un-Demo-
pratip and a. n poliCV shOull no lnnunr he