Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-25
CHAIRMAN FINLEY
Writes an Open Letter to the
Democracy Of Texas
ON THE EXPULSION OF MR.COLE
The sub-Treasury Fiasrantly Undemo-
cratic--The Foe which the Democ-
racy of Texas Must Throttle
in the Next Campaign.
70 the Democracy o, the State Of Texas.


] have been requested by the chairmen of
several county Democratic executive COM
mittees, for the guidance of such com
mittees, to give my views upon the action
of the Dallas county Democratic executive
committee in requesting and obtaining the
resignation of one of that body (Mr. Cole
upon the ground that he is an adherent and
advocate of the "sub-treasury' theory;
and in order that one letter may serve as an
answer to all. l write this Omen letter to the
Democracy of the state at large.
During the last campaign, in answer to
the inqiery of what qualifications should adj
nit one to the primary councils of the
party. wrote the following advisory letter:
TYLER. TEX, Feb. 3, 1890
Editor Corsicana Observer
DEAR SIR-Your favor of the list, asking me
to state the qualifications that should prevail
in the admission OF persons into the primary
councils or actions of the Democracy. has Oeen
received and considered, and in reply beg to
say:
l. A man should be a Democrat who partici-
pateS in Democratic primaries
g. He should reside in the locality where the
primary is held and possess the general qualiti-
cations OF a voter.
8. Where it is thought necessary to protect
the party against its enemies getting into its
councils or participating in its primary action,
the local executive committee should provide
the method, being careful to exclude no Demo-
Graf who openly espouses the principles of the
party and is willing to support its action by
voting for its nominees.
4 In the case OF conventions, it is usual and
proper TO pledge the delegates 10 the support
of the action OF that body, and the action OF the
party generally: in the case of primary cleo
lions the party voting thereat should be able
to satisfy the officers OF the election that he
will be a qualified voter in that locality at the
next election, openly announce his belief in the
principles OF the Democratic party. and pledge
himself 70 support the party nominees.
The party has not, either in its national or
state Organizations, announced any castiron or
liked rules to govern admission into primaries,
but trusts to the loyalty and discretion of its
members in local organizations TO protect its
primaries from intruderS, and at the same time
10 freely and gladly admit into her ranks and
councils ali Democratic voters. however recent
their conversion.
In April following the state Democratic
executive committee, ut regular called
meeting at LampaSas, approved and adopted
my letter rs its own expression upon the
subject. June "a, 1890. in an open letter to
the Democracy on the subject of secret po-
litical organizations, said:
No man who owes fealty TO another political
organization should have any voice in De mo
cratic councils, and il there be any such anlaG-
onistic organizations in particular localities
seeking admission into Democratic primaries,
the solemn duty rests upon the Democracy OF
such places 10 keep out the wolf in Sleeps
clothing and preserve the purity of Demo
cratic expression.
In August succeeding, the Democracy of
Antonio. Endorsed and adopted the express
Sions of its chairman as just aud correct for
the government of the party. 1t may, there
fore, safely be assumed that these are the
latest deliberate expressions OF the Democ-
racy of the state touching the matter of the
government of its organization, and they
Should be adhered to upon all points upon
which they legitimately bear.
At the time of the meeting Of the last
Democratic state convention the bill, now
known as the ''sub-treasury bill, had been
introduced IN the congress of the United
States, but no political party or organiza-
ton in Texas had espoused the support of
the measure or become open advocates of
the principles involved. AT that time the
effects of such measure upon the business
interests Of the country, and the political
principles underlying such legislation had
attracted much attention and discussion on
the upart OF public men; and our Texas
senators and representatives in CONGRESS,
without an exception, / believe, Ind, through
public prints. strongly condemned the
measure as unwise, visionary and disas
trous in its effects. and the principles upon
which it was based grossly undemocratic.
In the light of the tendency OF this meas
ure, the general public discussion of its
principles and effects. the almost unani-
nous condemnation of il by the leading
Democrats of the country, as rank in its
terry obnoxious to the oldest and most fun
damental tenets of Democratic faith. the
state Democratic convention spoke the
voice of the Democracy of Texas upon such
legislation in the third plank of its platform
as follows:
That on this principle we oppose any tariff
duty for other purposes than revenue only.
We oppose the collection and distribution by
the Federal government OF any money in aid OF
the educational systems of the different states,
or any OF them: or in any way o. advancement
or loan to suy citizen or class, upon any sort Of
security. whether government bonds. CONNER
cial, farm or other products. We oppose the
election law recently passed by the Republican
house OF representatives. ana condemn all the
recent Entertainments by the Federal judiciary
upon the power OF tie states.
No one then doubted the fact that the
Democracy of Texas had declared its oppo-
sition to the principles of the .'sub-treasury
BILL and all legislation of a like nature; all
understood what was meant by .'any adj
vancement or loan to any citizen or class.
upon any sort of security, whether govern
ment bonds. commercial, farm or other
products The sub-treasury bill was not
PANIED. but It's vital element was, and this