The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-04
sherins' Association of Texas.

The third annual session OF the sheriff s
association OF Texas convened at Craddocks
opera house, yesterday.
At II o'clock the meeting was called TO
order by Sheriff Corwin, Of Travis county
president of the association. j. B. Kirk, sec
rotary, proceeded to call the roll, and the
following members, answered to their
names w SAustin, Rockwell county; } w
Butler, Smith; D Corwin, Travis; j P Kirk,
Travis; r | Long, Erath W NJ Moon. Dial
las; O NJ Noble, Harris B + Pegues, Wo d
CT Russell, Banco; s NJ Strsyhorn, vii.
hanson; j p Williams, Wood; William )
Warden, Collin; II Welch, Msrion j 4
Lucy, State Troops; J 7 Hamm, VanZsndt;
w Seaman, Cameron; E A Glover, Duyali;
n j Ross, Hunt; S W Smith, Hopkins; K !
Chandler. Trinity; 7 h Jackson, Limestone;
NJ Mast, Nacogdoches.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
President Uorwin then delivered the follow
ing address, which was ordered spread upon
The minutes of the meeting.
| cannot refrain from 9gain expressing the
Qualification and pleasure that this meeting
affords me. IT'S the third time since tho or.
ganizntion of this association that the genial
md friendly faces of many Of you have shed
their light upon and cheered our friendly and
business deliberations since have had the
honor to preside over you.
Notwithstanding the many difficulties that
you, as peace officers, have to contend with
and the obsta lies that have continually pre-
sented themselves to prevent the full fruiton
of our pes we have reason to congratulate
ourselves upon our partial success, at least OF
our efforts to bring about u better state of at
fairs in those departments of local govern
ment, which depend largely upon the efforts
aud efficiency of the constabulary ofthe state.
refer to the apprehension of criminals, the
execution of the criminal laws and preserva-
ton of the peace.
This improvement is no doubt largely at
tributed TO the promptness and earnestness
with which the sheriffs have tried to aid
and assist each nther, when called upon to do
SO, in the discharge Of their official duties,
which result naturally follows the better ac-
quaintence and more intimate relation with
each other since our organization.
The statistics will show that during last
year, although it cannot be said that crime
was on the increase, yet the harvest OF
criminals was unprecedently large. More OF
them have been caught and convicted than
in any previous yer, and cannot doubt that
if the state legislature had seconded your
efforts BY much needed legislation
a great work would have been already ac-
complished, and so many Of the old true ard
Sal Of ha or AZ "a
now be voluntarily stepping down and out
In looking back over the history of the
last two years past, n; il relates to the mat
ter pertaining to the business of the sheritls OF
the state of Texas, and then viewing the fu'
ture in tho light of that past, it is plain
enough to be seen by every sensible, think
ing man, even though he may be politician
partially blinded by partisanshp, that now
is the time, and this the golden opportunity
to redeem our grand and greatly abused
state from the whitening curse Of law.ess
ness.
The peoplear alive to the importance o.
this thing; the iures in most place
are doing their duty MS well rs can bl
expected under " feartuly defective crimina
law Indeed, if we may Judge by the mum
Der of cases reversed and sent lack BY til,
court of appeals, they are doing more thar
their duty, by sometimes supplying littl,
| law, when ii is needed to fulfill the ends o
| Justice.
In is impossible to overestma,e the bene
tits that would follow the redemption of gu
state from the stigma Of lawlessness.
How is this grand object to be accom-
plished
The people are anxious, the officers ar
eager, but tho law is weak and the means ar
wanting.
Gentlemen, if | rightly understand Ia
purposes Of this organization, you are her
to-day to confer with each other and earne.tl
consider what can BIZ done to accomplish
this end, and then to assist with all of YOU
energies to do it.
When we consider the facilities for escap
from Justice afforded criminals by the vas
extent of the sparsely settled territory With,
the limits of our state and Immediately ada
cent, and how easy it is for them to flea 70
refuge beyond the reach of the law office
with his Limited facilities for pursuing
and when We consider the great humble
of law. breakers who infest the country AN
engage in their nefarious business with skill
and boldness worthy of laudable enterprise
and knowing AS we do, that whatever acto
we take, and whatever efforts we put fort
must be ut our own risk, and to great exten
at our own expense, we cannot help feeln
that the sheriff, as the legally constitute
chief peace officer of his count,
stands before his people appal
emily n perfect Hercules in strengt
and power to protect the people, but in faC
handcufed, shackled and crippled by Law
Neither can we help thinking that it il no,
time for the state of Texas to come to th
rescue, and, through all her governments
departments, stand by, sustain and encourag
the constabulary force. Let the state furnis
the "siuews of war" ard the authority c
law, and the officers will no doubt furnis
the muscle
When we see criminals escaping VI
} whipped of justice because we have not tn
means and cannot afford 10 pursue them, an
/. | when wa have at our own ayppnsa hrcu rrl