The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-07-08

9Olu lot ldACS III Ap'Nf iioNN 49, $500
COPY go that it showed an exact reversal
of the facts-the copy proving the lands
were sold to the state-the amended re-
port (which was not copied, but only the
original unamended) showing they were
sold TO individuals. Such a mistake was
most glazing and seemingly unpardon-
able, as il the mistake had not been dis
covered before other and conflicting
rights to these lands had been acquired,
the comptroller's Office would have been
most seriously, if not criminally, embar-
raised. Colonel Swain, at that time, was
indignant at such carelessness, and de-
cided at once to dispense with the services
of Mr.. Bacon; but after numerous ex-
plantations with that gentleman, and be-
cause of very earnest importantly he was
prevailed upon to let him remain in the
office.
With these concessions in his favor, the
question comes: has Mr.. Bacon's conduct
of business been of that efficient and con-
scientious nature the comptroller, because
of the past, had a rignt to expect, and he
as man possessed of a proper sense OF
gratitude, should certainly have guaran-
teed? Colonel Swain says not, claiming
that he has been negligent in his duty and
careless in prompt attendance at the Office
Mr.. Bacon, in published letters, denies the
charge of negligence, and the issue is
made up between them by Bacon charging
the dismissal to political motives, because
he had nominated Mr.. w. NJ. Brown to be
the chairman of a precinct convention.
Such a charge, in the light of the facts as
here detailed, and in the light of expe-
diency is puerile in the extreme. Colonel
Swain being candidate for the governor
ship, it was very ill-advised for any clerk
to become delegate to the state conven-
ton; for favoring Swain 1t would be, at
least, indicate for Swain to have him
to act, and opposing Swain, he should
rather prefer to stay at home
than, with base ingratitude,
assaIl man to whose appointment he
owed his support. If Mr.. Bacon belonged
to the latter class, and had, against the
wishes of Col. Swain, as made known to
his clerks, allowed himself to be elected a
delegate, other questions excluded, Col
Swain owes it to him thus to relieve him
of embarrassment in the case. But tax
ing this fact in connection with his his
tory in the office, it seems Swain, by his
notice of dismissal, not only favored Ba'
con, but conserved the good of the office
All this, upon tho supposition that Bacon'f
nomination of Brown for chairman of O
precinct convention, meant Bacon's undi
viied attack upon Swain. But, this is
neither admitted nor believed to be true
Mr.. Bacon has always professed the warm
est feelings of regard for Col. Swain, MOI
has anything, before the notice of dis
missal occurred to account for any change
in his views. This being true, in this
grasping age of ours, and where men art
always suspected of doing the selfisf
thing, if Bacon opposed Swain, it was tt
SWANS interest to continue him in Office
and placate him; if supporting him, il
surely was not to SWANS interest to make
an enemy of him by dismissal. No
Political capital cannot be made out OF
the comptroller's action-it must stand
where all uninterested people will place
it-upon what Col Swain thought to be
his duty to the best interests of the comp
trollers Office.