San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-07-10
County Attorney ClInts Example.


County Attorney ClInts Example.
Under the above caption the Calves
ton News, of the 2lst, presents a
strong argument in favor of the
nomination of Mr. Clint for Attorney
General. At the time of this writing,
we know the fact that Mr.. Clint is not
candidate for the position named,nor
do we know how Dallas county could
well spare his services; but if, with
out any effort upon his part, after the
fearless and contentious discharge
of the prosecuting duties of lower
spere, the people of the state in con.
vention should say to him "come up
higher" we do not well see how he
could resist the call or we could
refuse to give him up, for the redson
that in the position of Attorney
General he could do the greatest
good to the greatest number. The
argument of the News is as follows:
"The success of County Attorney
Clint, of Dallas, in prosecuting the
gamblers for open violation of the
law against gambling, obtaining
convictions both in the court below
ard in the court ofappeals, is a lesson
by example which can not be too
deeply impressed upon other county
attorneys and upon county officers
in general throughout the state.
County Attorney Clint has demonstra
ted that open gambling in the city of
Dallas can be suppressed, and what
is Of more importance he has tested
the power of the state through per-
fectly legitimate instrumentalities to
enforce laws which have been practi-
cally defied in Texas from the day
they were enacted. His success is
the success of the moral power of the
state government. 1t is a vindication
of the judicial department of the
government. If the laws against
gambling can be enforced, it is time
to enforce other penal statutes which
have also been evaded or defed. If
the power of money and the power
of whiskep, the grand army of bum
mers, employees, strikers and drum
mers of the wealthy gamblers can be
overcome by single devoted officer
without special aid or encouragement
from the state, it will be less difficult
to overcome other lawbreakers who
have heretofore enjoyed immunity.
The gambling houses of the Texas
cities represent large amount of
money, and they directly and indirec-
thy occasion q great deal of suffering
and crime. If their money will not
buy the privilegn of demoralizing and
debauching their victims and en-
ployes, why should the murderer's
money buy for him the privilege of
killing his victims? Why it SO fire.
quently does is because few such
lawyers as County Attorney Clint are
in the employ of the state. That
there so few Clints prosecuting for
the state is because the state does not
pay enough to secure their services,
and because the law-defying element
is permitted to participate in the
election of the states prosecuting
attorneys. If the people want the
laws enforced they must employ men
able and willing to prosecute criminals.
A man who understands that his
election is due to the support or
consent of a law defying element,
however competent he may be, is not
willing to offend those by whose COM
plaisance he fills the Office. He can
not be enthusiastic for the enforce
mends of the law, and he will not
enforce it. About this matter ex-
governor Roberts was time and again
when governor importunate for
change His idea was that the state,
being Yealthier than the wealthiest
lawbreakers, could afford the expense
of having the best lawyers of the
country in its employ, and that they
should be appointed and not elected.
Since twice at least the people have
rejected his recommendations upon
this point, some other method for
securing able attorneys must be adop-
ted. One that suggests itself is to
create an incentive which will equal
that of large salary, and the devo-
ton to duty which impels County
Attorney Clint and a few others, by
promoting successful prosecutors to
higher offices. If the Democratic
party of Texas should nominate
County Attorney Clint for attorney
general, for instance, the encouraging
effect of such a recognition can be
easily conceived. County attorneys
are generally very poorly paid, and
their devotion to duty must partake
of an impoverished quality; but once
elevate their Office as stepping-stone
to something much higher and better,
and vigor in the general administra-
ton OF the penal laws would proba-
bly, ensue. But unless some recogni-
ton Of this kind is extended, county
attorneys generally will not be likely
to view with exclamation, or with an
impetuous spirit of emulation, County
Attorney Chnt's success. They will
be expected to follow his example.
and this to many or mosi of them in
the cities may mean defeat in the
courts and at the succeeding cleo
tons