The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-10-04

on the subject, either personally or by letter.
l never alluded TO the subject unless in reply
10 some one who first mentioned it to me.
These letters of Ireland were brought so fire.
quently to my notice'by friends from a dis
lance that determined to put stop at once
to this, his fourth effort, to forestall an ex.
preston ofre choice for senator, and wrote
him that letter in March denouncing his con-
duct in fitting terms. This was nay last COM
munication to Ireland either by letter or IN
person. .'h. .,
Reporter see, governor, Judge Ireland,
in his interview with the San Antonio Tx
press, says that if he had published your let
tiers pending the senatorial race their Publica-
ton would have defeated you. How about
this?
Governor Coke - This is all stuff and non
sense and in perfect keeping with poor Ire
lands recent performances before the public.
Why, as for their publication, Ireland made
his race solely upon these letters. They were
submitted to the inspection of anybody that
wished to see them, and very much doubt
that there is single democratic member of
the fifteenth legislature that did not read them
or hear them read. A distinguished district
Judge informed me only the other day that his
representative brought home Photographic
copy of one of them and showed it to him.
Ireland made better use of them by his slnu-
Gus course than could have been made had
they been published in the newspapers, for
then the absurdity of his position would have
been fully exposed.
Reporter - Did your friends in the legisla-
ture know about these letters?
Governor Coke-Certainly. In the early
days of the session of the Legislature all the
papers relating to the matter were submitted
to caucus Of my friends and supporters in
the Legislature, about fifty being present, and
they were informed that if a single man pres
ent saw any reason why should not be can
didate I would announce my withdrawal in
the papers of Austin the next day. There was
an unanimous expression from the body that
there could be no improperly in my candidacy.
l became candidate, with what result is we'll
known, receiving, on the last ballot, two-thirds
of the Democratic members of the Legislature,
all with full knowledge of what had passed be-
tween Ireland and myself, and Ireland got the
balance of his party, along with most OF the
negroes and Radicals. My recollection is no
negro voted for me-not one.
Reporter-Judge Ireland seems to squirm
considerably under the lash OF the press?
Governor Coke-Yes; the poor fellows
contortions are at times pitiable and at times
amusing. Ia MS letter 10 INC Ilouseou hsS
he alternately begs and DULLES, and finally
winds up with a mathematical calculation,
proving that he and Hobby never swindled
the state out of but $72oo, and that sum is
too small for all this fuss. 1t other words it
struck me as an attempt to reduce the offense
from Grand larceny to petty theft. This is
about as ridiculous as his attempt to drag me
into the wallow which has about submerged
and covered him from public view. His
whines over his defeat for senator are not re-
sponsive to the issue. He should whine out a
better defense to the present charge against
him than he has yet done or submit in silence,
like man, to the just castigation he is re-
ceiving.
Thanking the Governor for his courtesy and
the very full and satisfactory information he
had given upon a point of general interest,
our reporter then took his leave