St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-10-04
The Speaking
penton tTex..l Monitor, Sept. 81.

Denton (Tex.,) Monitor, Sept. 81.
Last Saturday being the regular APP
pointMent of the candidates Tor c0anty
Judge and attorney, a mum Der OF clt2Zens
met at the court house. Mr. Z. Y, Bell,
candidate for representative, was III
vited to speak first, and he entertained
the gathering crowd by defining bis po-
sition on the lease law. He was re-
sponded to briefly by DR., Everett, free
grass candidate for the same office. Mr..
A. C.. Owsley, took the floor and made
an interesting argument why he should
be selected as the next county attorney
and regretted that his opponent Mr.. L.
D. Ferguson, was not present. Mr.. 5.
NJ. Bradley opened the ball tor county
Judge. After briefly enumeEatIng the
duties of the Office, he dwelt at consider
able length on the school question, ana
stated among other things that the law
made it the duty of the county to visit
the public schools of the county, and
deliver lectures, and that he would do
so il elected. Stated that lie had no
relatives of influence or newspapers to
assist him, that he had no broken bones,
old sores, or war record to show to the
public, but that he was running upon
his individual merits, it he had any,
AIr. ID. n DOdSOn next took the floor
and announced that he was candidate
for county judge, and that while he re-
GREETED that he was not an orator, yet
he did not regard that as . necessary
qualification for the bench. Stated that
he was 80 years old, came tn Texas when
a boy, loved his adopted State and had
done what he could to build mp her ma
terial interests. Located III Denton
little over eight years ago, and believed
he had established u reputation for non
.esty, sObriety aud industry; that he
had married here, and that his children
insured, at least, a personal interest IN
the cause of education. That he was
admitted to the bar about six years ago;
that while his practice had been small,
IL was as large as he had desired, hav-
ing had other business which demanded
his attention. But his legal business
had been properly attended to- and he
felt proud of his record. Had some ex-
Derience upon the bench in small way,
was Justice OF the peace in Clay county
about two years ago, and held the city
courts here as city recorder, and after
ward as mayor. Believed he could save
much time in the holding of the county
court by cutting OF useless debates, and
by being more discrete in the granting
GOALluuduGCGs
All parts OF the county and again plcdg-
ed himself to look we'll after the cOun-
ty business, and to let the people know
what was being done for them
by the commissioners court, and where
their money went. That he felt qeali-
fled for the Office, had been preparing
for it long time, would give his whole
attention to the discharge of his duties.
In conclusion he requested the support
of all good citizens and promised a
clean, open and economical administra-
ton of county affairs for the next two
wears il he was elected. Mr.. It. nj. |
Yates, the present eneumbent, nextl
spoke. Stated that affairs were in bad |
shape when he was appointed, that he |
had labOred hard to straighten them up, |
that the Legislature had made pack !
horse Of the county judge and expected |
him to carry everything. That there |
we're ninety schools in Denton county, |
and thatit would take ninety days to |
visit them and that Mr.. Bradley would |
find that his promise to visit the schools |
could not be carried out because the |
terms OF school would expire ten days |
before he got around. He believed he
knew the duties of the office better than
any living man, had done the best he
COuluS anu HUpSU UAlOy WOuAU SAFo AlAu
another trial. Mr. F. NJ. Ready, candi-
date for tax collector, next announced
himself and among other things said
that be hoped the people would not mo-
nOpolize all of the offices, and that he
thought no more than fair to give his
,lass-farmers-a showing, occasionally
N the distribution of the Offices. Good
lumor and the best of feeling seemed
o prevail among the candidates.