The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-11
Speaking Last Might.

Speaking Last Night.
Last night there was speaking at the cor
nsr of Main and Lamar streets, in the inter-
est of Judge Good for mayor. The fret
speaker was
Mr.. BURNETT,
LAWYER OF this city and Greenbacker in his
politics. He talks iluently, is possessed OF a
full, sonorous voice, and makes his point, in
we'll rounded periods. He set out
by saying that he had nothing
personal against Judge Thurmond, the so,
cal relations exiting between them being
pleasant, but as he looked upon this contest
for the msyoralty Is simply one between two
men, ho selt it to be his duty as 3 citizen Of
Dallas to support that gentleman whom he
believed TO be best suited to the position
and who would best enhance the interests OF
the city. He was sure no man would have
any hesitancy in saying that Judge Goo wa.
the better qSalilled and the better
suited for mayor Of the two
gentlemen aspiring for tho position.
He had heard no reason urged by any nd,
herent Of Judge Thurmond for his support
of that gentleman save thst no had been
badly treated by the city council. The coun.
Gil was legally organized body, and pro-
seeding in its actions under the law Al
created by the law making power, the
legislature Of the state. What il had done
in the matter of removing Judge Thurmond
from the office Of mayor WAS legally done.
The validity of the act had been
tested by Judge Thurmond, first
before Judge Bledsoe, of a
neighborng district and before Judge Al.
bridge of this district, and both these gentle
mon had promptly decided that the power Of
such removal as tho one in question wai
given solely by tho legislature to tn city
council, that 1t was constitutional, and that
no court had tho jurisdiction to interfere with
the action of the council. Judge Thurmond
himself had admitted this fact by his appeal,
not to a higher court as he had said he
would do, but by his appeal to the
people. Who WAS it the people had author
lied to pronounce upon the law Of the land
Was It not the judges Of the courts, who
they themselves had elected? The people
of this country nor no other country never
had submitted to their adjudication the valid
ity and constitutionaity of law. Such au.
thority Is vested alone in the courts of the
country, and the courts, so far as the case
had been tested, had decided adversely to
Judge rhurmond. II this fact was admitted,
then it must be admitted that Judge Thur
mond WAS out of Office and the race WA. mar
rowed down to the simple question, of who
was the better man for the position and who
c uld say that Judge Good was not vastly
Judge Thurmond's superior for mayor Of
Dallas This law was passed by the legi,ls.
turs of the state and every man who took
office under it, did so with knowledge
Of its existence, and WAS bound
under his oath to support it
If the law is obnoxious to the people and
they desire the power of the council abridged
in this particular, the Legislature is the only
power TO dot.
WO have given above briefly the substance
OF Mr.. Burnett's speech, but he Of course.
elaborated his points much more fully than
we have done. The next speaker was
JUDGE A. t. WATTS,
AuiloNou III SpcuCH III WHlCn ne conceived
TO be the law upon the subject. He quoted
from different legal authorities to prove the
right of the council to remove Mayor Thur.
mond from office. Judge Watts speech was
temperate, he combining himself for the most
part to the law, and his remarks were well
received.
THURMoND's SPEECH.
Judge Thurmond addressed a good-sized
crowd ut the Union depot, in tho third ward,
last night He defended himself against the
city council and reviewed at length hesction
taken by that body in busting him from Of
iIce tie spoke of the attempt he had made
to carry out his promises to the people to re-
move the lewd houses, and charged that lust
rs he was on the eve of communicating them
hat tho council had tied his hands in regard
% removing the houses of ill.repute bv, in
reality, licensing the scarlet women by passing
resolution to the effect that they should
not be Tin moro nor loss than So month.
Six of tho board of aldermen, he alleged,
oerjured themselves. They had threatened
lin with impeachment. Marshal Morton
had refused to OBEY his orders, which he con-
'eved to be to the interest of the
'ity, and the council had winked
u MS deiylng his Instructions.
lie charged that the members of Y o council,
ave Alderman Hunt, represented rings, such
IS railroads, water-works, etc. Ex-Alderman
Jsdwell, he said, as we'll as
Alderman Wheelock and Tillman, had
insisted on his finding those who came before
lin on the charge of being drunk and other
minor offences higher than he was wont to
10, but he had refused to impose unrc asona.
Die fines upon these unforutnates, for he was
worn to subserye and while he was lonieut
With them yet he was guided by the law.
The speaker criticised the council asa body
It length, and rehearsed the charges pre-
erred against him by Marshal Morton and
he police, commenting on the same. If re-.
elected he would work to the interest of the
'eople, whom he expected to vindicate them
elves against the action of the council on
lsxt Tuesday, the day of the election. 1t
vas fight between the people and tho couu-
III, and the remedy was in the hands OF the
,eople.