Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-02-13
CONVENTIONS.
A Correspondent Writes Pithy Let
ter in Favor Of a Pree-for All
Ii tbe EdlLor % ID aasetlo.

10 tbs Editor OF the Gazette.
TuB GAgETTE and your correspond |
emit, "RepublicAn,n in your last issue |
appear TO sgTes that a nominating |
convention is the proper method n
select candidates for city offices, with
the object Of eliminating corruption
ard dishonesty In our selection OF city
officials. II the city offices were filled
bv fcouudrels trhding on the good
name Of the city for their personal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT the idea would be com
nlendable, but as none OF the city ON.
Gers have been accused or suspected OF
dishonest practices, and doing great
amount Of labor for the small pitiance
in the way Of salary they receive, ana
doing ii well, there would to be no
good reason why the manner OF cleo
ton should be changed
Your idea appears to be TO prevent
the possibility OF Republican getting
an Office, and your correspondents
wishes the Republican candidates TO
make martyrs OF themselves and be
sacrificed in the name OF the grand old
party by showing their devotion 70
principle when there IL no possible
chance OF success, provided party
nominations would secure party
vote.
Let us conalder what charges Of cor
ruption or dishonesty, N any, have
ever been brought against the Repub-
licaDs who have held ofiice or now
hold office In the city. Has there ever
been g more devoted man ~ citizen,
or RB an Oilicer, to the interest Of the
more able snd efficient man than Capt.
Alex Ander, one Of our present board OF
aldermen, without mentioning others
Of the same pOliics2 They were
elected mainly by Democratic votes,
the latter named gentleman being OPP
posed by two OF the most prominent
Republicans In his ward ana met with
lukeWaTm support from other kepub'
licans, and owes his election to ma
iOrity OF Democratic votes The Demo-
Gratis aie represented by Peter Smith
"a mayor, whose name In Synonymous
with that Of progress and improve
ment, and has been the means OF an
limited credit to the city, and among
! comparative strangers II 10 now an un-
! decided question whether the city IL
Peter Smith, and Its mayor Fort
| Worth, or vice vsr-a. Among the
aldermen EYe the names Of some who
! would creditably Il place in a much
higher legislative body. The small
pay they receive "a councilmen might
be construed by less honest and ps.
triotic men TO be a good reason that
they were there for dishonest and cor.
rupt purposes, but they have done
nothing that could be construed on the
face OF IL to be other than what they
supposed 10 be for the greatest good oil
the greatest number Of tho people.
| II conventions always selected the
best men v no offered for political posi-
tions 1t would he good argument fol
nominations But, is 1t not q fact
that availability Is the most impor
tant point considered instead OF abil
ity and honesty Another considera
ton before calling a convention TO pc
leCt a candidate, where the candidates
are all known To the voter, IL, can
convention select for your choice Of
my choice man to vote for, better
than we can ourselves? 1.-THE Repub
licsns as arule have been guilty Of cor
/, rupt practices in the offices the,
have tilled, releERte them 70 the shade
of oblivion, politically, 10y nominating
the best Gen. Josiah Timber yOu cat
trot out, or ~ one OF the political as
piTants expressed il in nominatin
convention OF this city, II you NOM
nate q "yaller dOgn all good Democrat
will vote for him.
1 believe the voters want an Opel
field and free race. Let the qualifi
cation for Office be honesty and sbilit
instead Of trickery in manipulating
, convention. The question: Of dee
Wster nj Galveston, intentale CON
merce and u high or low tariff, shoul
not he considered important In the 81
lection OF men 10 grade strs cts, bull
sidewalks and inspect sewers.
OIn RADTgAI..