The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-06
GOVERNOR ROBERTS CAPITALIZATION

vored Capitalization or power IN his hands,
We do not propose to say thing on this
subject that we cannot prove by the record,
and we shall refer to the exact spot in the
record where the proof can be found. Dur
ing the regular session oflthe sixteenth legis-
lature, he recommended that an amendment
to the constitution be passed empowering the
governor to appoint district attorneys. For
proof Of it, see his message Of January q,
1870, to the legislature. The exact words he
used we give, that we may not in the slight
est degree misrepresent him. He says; can
other amendment Of the constitution that |
respectfully recommend is that district attor-
neys be appointed by the governor in each
Judicial district, to hold their office for four
years, removable at the pleasure of the gov
ernor, and TO be given the same salary as the
district judge, without any fees of office"
AT that time there were twenty-seven judi
Cial districts, now there are thirty-two. A
compliance with this request would have
given him the patronage commanded by
thirty.two district attorneys, who would have
been his ardent supporters, no matter
how Objectionable his administration, for over
them he would have held in terrorism his
power to remove them, and if any district
attorney failed to be his energetic henchmaR,
he could have been removed to make place
for friend, who could admire and support
the administration. There are few distrc
attorneys in the state appoint ed by Governo
Roberts, and we challenge any person to
name one Of them who is not his ardent sup
porter for reelection, who is not working to
that end. With this appontive power
in his hands, he would have selected
influential lawyers in each district, because in
huential lawyers could have served his inter-
ssts best. That this recommendation of the
governor might be carried into effect, we see
a bill introduced in the house of representa-
tives by Mr.. Green Goodson, of Hamilton
county, providing for the appointment of
thirty-two district attorneys, increasing the
number of judicial districts from twenty
seven to thirty.two. This bill did not, as the
governor recommended, provide for the pay
ment Of the same salary to district attorneys
that district judges receive, but it named
$500 as their salary, with the fees of office,
thus entailing an expense of $4,000 on the
state, and it provided for the abolish
ment of county attorneys, and authorized
the governor TO remove district attorneys ut
will. To show further his desire for con-
centrOtion of power in his hands, it is mat
ter of record that his friends introduced
bill empowering him to remove the heads
of departments not elected by the people.
Now, suppose these measures had become
laws! What would the consequences have
been: He would have had the appointment
and removal at will of thirty.two district at.
torneys and five district judges, there having
been five judicial districts created by
the sixteenth legislature, the Judges
of which the governor did APP
point, and he would also have had authority
to remove the secretary of state, assistant
attorney general and the superintendent of
the blind, deaf and dumb, and lunatic asy-
lums. This would have been centraliza-
tion of power and patronage in his hands I'M
precedented, and in its tendency, subversive
of the liberties of the people. 1t is but rea-
sonable, but human nature that he should
appoint to these positions gentlemen who
chsmpioned him and his cause. He did
remove the superintendent of the lunatic
asylum, and it was certainly not for want of
capacity or of attention to duty. OF the FIVE
judges appointed by him, two we're
state senators who had favored his
policy on the school gu 'stion in the
sixteenth legislature, and to the vacancy in
the deaf and dumb asylum he appointed rs
superintendent another state senator, who
had sided with him on this question in the
extra session. Are we not justified then in
the belief that all his appointments, had he
been clothed with the patronage he desired
and asked for, would have been in his own
interest? With all these gentlemen, breathing
the breath Of official life by his will, and his
will alone, would he not have had power
in securing the perpetuation of his tenure of
the governorship almost if not quite invinci-
BILE? The Democratic party has condemned
this tendency to Capitalization, and
one man power, in the Republican
party, for years and years, and with
coed cause too, and we ask now, il
il is wrong in the Republicans, is it not more
so in Democrat, and Democrat at that,
who holds the exalted position of governor
of state ? 1t is one of the fundamental
principles of Democracy that all power is
derived from the people and to advocate
otherwise is undemocra,ic. II is preroga-
tive of the people to choose their own Of
fcers, and the liberties of the people
are best preserved by making
the fewest encroachments possible
upon such prerogstives. That people which
is least governed is generally the best
governed, and when the power of the govern.
ment remains in the hands OF the people
being kept out Of the hands Of one man, YOU
will find perfect freedom, or as nearly so as
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