The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-08-10
MAJORITY REPORT


or the Credentials Committee OF tho Con-
gressional Convention mt Cleburne, fer-
talning to the Dallas County Contest
Your committee have been unable to
agree upon a unanimous report regarding
the contested delegation from Dallas coun-
ty. A majority of your committee beg
leave to report as follows, to-wit.: We have
patiently and carefully considered the var
ious and complicated question presented
before US on the unfortunate controversy,
deyotpg over three hours TO hearing OF
testimony and argument by both sides re-
specCiyely, and from the facts adduced are
clearly of the opinion that neither oil tne
delegations alone represent the democra-
cy of Dallas county, and to exclude eltner
would be to deprive large portion OF them
of representation in this body. A heated
and exciting canvass was carried on, during
which animosities were engendered, ana OH
the day of the primary meetings, such. gross
Irregularities were practiced as to seriously
impair the representative character OF
many OF the delegates chosen,
which was especially the case III
Dallas; shows that four precincts
in the county, to-wit: Hackberry, spring
Chapel, Trinity Mills and Eagle FORD helu
no primary meetings at the time and place
designated for such, and ut subsequent
date aud without proper notice meetings
we're held and delegates were chosen who
did not represent the sentiments OF their re-
spectiye precincts. In one precinct meet
ing was held in an open field at lhreshlnS
machine two miles from the regular lneet-
ing place of the democracy OF The precinct,
and upon not more than fifteen minutes
notice. All of said precincts instructed for.
Crawford. We find that great irregularl-
ties were practiced in the ward meetings In
the city of Dallas, and more particularly so
in the first and fourth wards. In the tlrst,
at least three persons were elected dele-
gates who have heretofore affiliated with
vhe opposition to the democracy, ana per,
sons of such character openly worked ana
voted at the primary meeting, IN tne
fourth'Nard, one meeting had been held ana
a tie vote cast, after which they adjourned
until Monday night following, when, as
the testimony shows, one of the most dlsor-
derly meetings was held that has ever been
known in the history of politics in the state
All the testimony shows that The crowd
was very large, and that threats, intlmlda-
ton, and in some cases, open violence was
freely restored to, one OF the Judges teSti,
position, while the Judge on the opposition,
who was republican, was unmolesteh;; IL
was also proven that ladder was used to
gain admission to the building from the
rear without passing the judges, while 1t
was freely charged and not denied that
many votes were cast that were lllega',
which fact becomes entirely patent 10 us
when we consider that the entire ueno
era .ic vote of the ward at a holly-contested
election was 225, white at this primary
meeting it was 377, showing net increase
of 1852 votes, which becomes matter
of establishment when we consiEcr
that the entire vote of the WARD
including all parties, was only 430, which
had been nearly evenly divided between
the democracy and the opposition, ana no
,idence was adduced to show any very
great change of sentiment among the voters
theJe. When the time of meeting OF the
county convention arrived, the proof clearly
shows that Mr. Harris, the regular CHAIR
man of the democratic executive commlt-
tee of the county, was present ana az,
tel lpted to organize the convention, al q
Immediately upon calling TO order mo-
ito was made TO elect DR.. Crowdus cDalr-
man, to which objection was made TIL AFTER
the roll call of the prec 'ncts, which was Or
dered by Mr.. Harris. AT this juncture pro-
tests were offered to be read and hied
against the delegates from the first and
fourth wards i'll the city of Dallas, and from
the precincts Of Haekperry, Eagle Foro,
Spring Chapel and Trinity Mills, partlc-
pacing in the proceedings OF the coun y
convention till the questions a1lectl.
their rights to seats had peen H.
those whose seats were uncontested. To
this proposition the friends of Mr.
Crawford would not agree, and all the tesll-
mony shows that a scene OF the widest con-
fusion existed, which was Joined IN ana IN,
creased by the numerous lobby gathered
outside, during which every effort to pe
heard by the friends of Wellborn was iutlle
and always met by cries Of sit down put
him out, - and other expressions entirely
FOREIGN TO good order and diguihed behav-
Tor. Alter this confusion had lasted Ior
more than an hour Mr. Harris, the char
man of the democratic executive commit
tee, who was still in the stand and VMnly
irving to get order, made the statement
that he could not organize the convention
unless he could get order, whereupon ne
invited all delegates who were IN favor Oh
organizing an orderly, democratic cohVen-
ton TO come across the hall into the county
court room, 10 which place he was followed
by delegates representing thirty-elght
uncontested votes of the county VINO
regularly organized and conducted a
democratic convention, Whine IiAOSe
who remained also organized con-
yention and went through reg
ular form Of proceedings. Now, the quss'
lion that presents itself, was under the
ocraiic convention and represented the
democracy of Dallas county. TO which we
answer that neither alone represented the
democracy Of the county. one convention
was re Zularly organized by the chairman OF
the county executive committee ana went
through a regular order Of business, the
delegates all being regularly elected ana
occupying their seats without protest,
while the other convention was composed
Of the balance of the delegates, among
whom were fifteen whose right TO partlci-
pate had been denied, and your committee
think, with a fair show Of proof
Of their ineligibility. Had the
delegates whose seats were
protested against been denied participation
in the temporary organization IL would
have lett them but thirty-one votes. In
other words, one convention was composed
of thirty ght and the other Of thirty-one
regularly elected and unprotected dele
gates. neither Of which held a quorum,
vet both regular delegates. We believe
that Il was entirely right and proper TO
protest against any questionable delega-
ton participating inthe Temporary organl-
zation tall the questions affecting their
rights had been settled. as il would be
manifestly unjust TO allow them 10 vote on
the questions that virtually settled their
own iDeligibility. We also believe that u
was entirely competent for Mr.. Harris 70
have invited the delegates b accompany
him 10 the adjacent county court room 20
avoid the noise and confusion. But all the
DELEGATES not going, 1t left either con
ventiOn without a legitimate quorum,
and neither representing the democracy
a the several precincts Of the county.
Il pr0uer 10 say that the testimony on
severkl points was conflicting and some
times directly Opposite, but We believe
that the prep0nderance Of testimony y ~
favor of the position We have assumed.
We therefore recommend.
Firsi-Thnt both DELEGATIONS from the
county q Dallas be seated on the ilogr q
this convention. and that the vote Of the
eynufr g eQusliy divided between The two
We End tie following nstned Eentleinel
drIv accrriite1 e. delegates from srid
r0urfv, W. J. Befiert0n, John II Cgcn-
rns. Clsrles Pred Tucker, = L; Lsgrar 4,