San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-09-16
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saving.

becoming evident TO the intelligent masses
of our people and the necessity for a
thorough understanding Of the working
of the new law before the day OF election.
The ballot practice is receiving the at
tention of our citizens and will, il pur-
sued until the election thoroughly educate
the voters as to the new law.
That there will be efforts made and
schemes. cOncOcted TO evade and perverJ
the real meaning of the law is more than
likely, but If the intelligent people ear
neStly endeavor to see it enforced we can
confidently expect great reform in our
elections.
A taxpayer calls attention to an item in
the last city council proceedings: the city
gives away the contract for electric lights
for three years without advertising for
bids, at the same old price of 500 per
year for each light
The taxpayer states that this same
light could be furnished at a cost of 1854
per year by the city owning its own plant.
If there is a city in the union so thorough
Iy controlled and grabbed by private cor
porations than this we don't know it.
We pay more for our water, our light,
our car fare, our money to run expenses
on, than any city in America. We have
the most inefficient city government. the
poorest excuse for public improvements,
and the most outrageous use OF public
patronage and get less for our money than
any city in the union. Will the day of
relief dawn when the next city election
comes around; or will our people sit SUI
pinely in their seats and complain that
they can do nothing because a local pO-
litical fairgrounds up the Mexican vote
and claims the right to rule oyer us.
1t is a very pleasant thing for our Mex
lean population TO turn out in public pro-
cesSiOn, headed by our mayor. and march
through our streets, tiring. of sky rockets.
1t is the day Of Mexican Independence,
and corresponds with our Fourth Of July.
and is proud day for the Mexican.
The fact stareS us in the face that these
people are far from being genuine citizens
of the United States; they are still citi-
zenS of Mexico, Notwithstanding the
fact that they have been per-
mited to exercise the right TO
vote under the loose administration
by our naturalization and election laws.
set led, and that our elections be purged
of illegality and fraud.
1t is simply a question of law; there is
90 need for exercise of national or race
prejudice, these people are part
of our own community, enjoying
all the rights, privileges and blessings Of
I\Our cOuntry-the protection OF our laws,
the advantages of our institutions. to all
80, i,h Nyalannn IF fhay n N
be- naturalized as citizens, why don't
they comply with the requirements OF our
naturalization laws: il they are Ineligible
because Of race distinction, 1t Is crime
against the state TO permit them to vote
and exercise a controlling influence in
our local government.
The pride of a people in the land of
their nativity; in the history of their
race: in their achievements for human
liberty and progress, is cOmmendabe
and natural. Mexican Independence day
is a bright page in the history OF the
Mexican people:
But it would be well if they studied the
institutions of this country and became
thorough Americans. and not remain SO
purely MeXiran in their ideas and ways.
Mexico is today only military deSpoJiSm
onterow this condition of government il
D IsSibIe within a generation or more.
One thing is certain the present loose
character of citizenship pertaining tS our
Mexican population must be remedied
The light esteem in which the right of
the franchise is held by the MpXicanS. the
ease with which they are handled by
their leaders, the total absence of poll
Teal or partizann motive. the entire
Ignorance of the questions at issue
in our election contests the blind follow
ing of the influence of money upon their
actions, makes them a most dangerous
element in our community. because they
aid and in fact place in power officials and