The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-12
Unpledged.

Travis county mas SET an excellent /
Example to the other counties of |
Texas in sending her delegates to SEN
Itorial, district and state conven-
ions unpledged, TO do the very best
hey can for all of her interests, and
o act purely and solely from the best
Judgment of each and every member
If the several delegations. She Sc
ected these gentlemen in the regular
and lawful way, and they have no
mean or doubtful status as representa-
lives of the people. Indeed, it is the
opinion of THE STATESMAN that no
finer delegations were ever selected by
a county convention since old Travis
was first organized, and no true
partyman but feels the utmost con-
fidence in advance, in any
line Of policy they may elect to per-
sue, ard it will be grandly ratified by
the people at home. These gentlemen
know the aggregate of the public
opinion they are delegated to repre-
sent, and they will reflect it faithfully
no matter if it happens to accord
with their own private views or not,
in every particular. We do not know
of single aspirant likely to come be-
fore either convention to which dele
gates were chosen Saturday who has
cause for any other feeling than that
of satisfaction, and that supplemented
by full confidence that
even and exact justice will
be done to all. The convention
on Saturday exhibited unmistakable
unity of purpose and fixed determi-
nation that good men alone would re-
ceive its support for public positions.
The counsels of the STATESMAN
against the old idea of trammeling the
delegates by pledges of all kinds, were
wisely listened to and the wisdom of
the policy will be perfectly apparent
when the day for decisive action ar
rives. Being the capitol county OF
the state and having large number
of astute and accomplished politi-
ticians, Travis has come to be regard
ed in some way and to a marked de-
gree as an example county. In this
way her action is doubly
important. Important first, as in
surfing the very best results, and i'm
portant also in supplying an example
of healthful and wholesome party ac-
ton.
Thkesult of Saturdays work was,
in some sense, revealment, but very
satisfactory in all things, except per-
haps in the single matter of district
attorney. Travis county has been
very generous in stepping aside for
Williamson in several matters, and
she fees no regret that she has done
so, only she would gladly have seen
her young, talented and devoted
attorney, Sheeks, stand more to
the front. He has made a
most excellent officer, and has
grandly vindicated the wisdom of the
choice his excellency made in that in
stance. She regrets that so excellent
an officer happened to stand in the
pathway of perhaps righteous re
sentiment for the removal of another
tavorite officer and excellent gentle
man to whom the people were pro
foundry and truly attached, and from
sufficient causes. But Mr.. Sheeks is
too true democrat to cavil, too excel
lent as a lawyer to feel very vastly in
jured and withal of too much goo(
sound sense to mourn over the fac
that the Travis delegation is mildly il
favor of that other excellent gentle
man, Mr.. Robertson Of Williamson
However, it would he but graceful
full thing for Williamson to do, tt
withdraw her favorite for the purpose
of permitting Travis to fifty reward
an able officer, who has most admir-
ably discharged every duty, and who
will leave behind him an official record
of which the oldest and most expert
enced prosecutor in the state might
be, very justly, very proud We dc
not mention these things in any cap
tious or fault-linding spirit. We wish
it distinctly understood that we ratifS
in every particular the action of the
convention on Saturday, and only
refer to it, In order to go OF
the record in favor of an officer
we believe, nay, whom we
know to be in all respects
worthy the confidence placed in him
by the people.
When the moment of action has
come the Travis county delegation tC
the state convention will be found
acting for the good of all the state
Objection might be made to the fact
that so many of the delegates are en-
ployees of the state government. In
deed, this ordinarily would constitute
an objection OF weight. but in this
instance it seems all right. The gen
tlemen named are recognized to he
representative of the democratic SEN
timent of the people, and altogether
above and outside Of any bias they
might be supposed to have by
reason of their employment
by the administration. at least
the STATESMAN is not afraid to trust
them, and that We apprehend will be
the verdict of all the people. How
ever, if the Fort Worth delegation
does not stand stoutly for free trade
representation to Chicago, it will fail
utterly to represent the dominant SEN
timent of the Travis democracy on
the subject of the tariff. We do sin
cerely trust that we will have only
the most satisfactory line of action to
report from there.
Blaine and Logan.