Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-02
At SAN ANTONIO.
Report Of the First Days Proceedings
of the Southwestern Texas In
migration Convention.
One Hundred and FIftJ Delegates Pres
ent from Thir:y-nine Counties,
Purposes Of the Gathering,
Convention Unanimously Decides to Take
Action in Regard to a Dsep wa,or
HarbOr for Southern Texas.
san Antonio,s Uonvention.

Special to the Gazette.
SAN ANTONIO, TEX, Feb. The
Southwest Texas immigration convention
met in this city this morning at 10 O'Clock,
with over 100 delegates, representing
stata, in attendance. The convention
vas called to order by President William
HuermsnI of the San Antonio board Of
trade.
The delegates were welcomed IN an
eloquent address by Colonel Il. B. An
drewa, one of the vice-presidents Of tue
late immigration convention held at Dali
las. Colonel Andrews explained that it
was not the aim or intention
of the southwestern convention
to Sntsgonize or IN any manner
interfere with the general state move
ment started as Dallas. On the contrary
this convention was intended as auxiliary
to the work of the state central commit
tee, but there was widespread feeling
among the people of the southwest that
they had been Disseminated against by
the DSllas convention, notably in the
matter Of the formation Of the executive
committee and the resolution pertaining
to deep water. 1t was on account of this
feeling that the southwest had called this
convention for the purpose of organizing
for itself and pushing vigorously the mst-
ter of immigration.
At the conclusion of Colonel Andrews
address, Hon. j. F. Miller, eX Congress-
man from the Gonzales district, was
elected temporary chairman. The necss-
sary committees to perfect organization
were then appointed, after which an ad-
iournment was taken until O'Clock.
On reassemblipg in the afternoon, the
committee on permanent organization re-
ported in favor of ex-Congressman Miller
for chairman sgainst ex Governor John
Ireland. The report Of the committee
was unanimously adopted. The officers
are: e-presidents, ]. B. Wells of
Cameron county, L. a. L.pross Of L1-
vaca, V. Weldon lof Dewitt, E. A. Alice
OF Webb, John 81. Clark of Uvalde,
Charles S;hriener of Kerr and
n. B. Andrews of Baxsr; Sec
retsries, John II. Copeland OF
Baxar, A. G. Pickett, Jr., Of Wilson, snd
81. Il. Alvey of L.vaccS; sergeant az
arms, J. N. Stagner Of Caldwell.
After efecting permanent organization,
quite debate was occssioned by reso-
luton introduced by Terrell of Bexar,
calling on the chairman to appoint = CON-
mittee on deep water. The resolution
was strenuously opposed by Wells Of
Cameron and Tsrver Of Webb, who con-
tended that the convention was not cslled
to consider the matter OF deep wster.
Terrell, Russ and Andrews Of BeXar,
aud Mitchell Csrruthers aud others from
Neuces spoke in favor Of the resolution.
After considerable spsrring and cross
firing, and sitter large number of
amendments intended TO defest the reso-
luton were lost the convention decided
by an Overwhelming majority to consider
the question of harbor Improvement for
southern Texas and the chair accordingly
appointed committee fer the purpose.
Colonel John F. Elliott, secretary OF
the State Executive Immigration COM
mittee with headquarters ct Austin, was
visitor to the convention, and his pres
ence in the hsll was the signal for an out
burst of great applause. Colonel
Elliott responded to calls
TO- speech and delivered an able address
Of half hours length in which he con-
graduated the convention on the object of
It's meeting aud predicted that San An
tonic was destined at no distant day to be
the most important city in Texas. Col
onel Elliott's speech was warmly re-
ceived. The real work of the convention
will begin tomorrow. A hard fight on
the deep water question is expected.