Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-30

thought so tnab evening, ana after i'd
iourning over night and studying abont
II and comforting with others, which
was done at my suggestion, they were
of the same opinion next morning,
They were welded to no particular ar
rangement OF the names and concluded
TO let the ticket that had been adopted
remain and to also authorize the publi-
cation OF another, arranged in seven
columns, but with the name OF each
candidate in only one column. Ash
have said, they thought putting any
mans name on more times and
in more places than his on
ponents name was permitted In
20 upon the same ticket was unfair.
That II II was an advantage TO one 10
have his name on several times II was
proportionally disadvantage 10 his
opponent to have his name on a less
number Of times. After they had de-
cided TO publish 1900 tickets OF each
of the two forms mentioned, which
they did from their own judgment. |
then suggested that It made no differ
ence II we had half dozen forms. and
as many desired the seven column ticket
with the names of some candidates In
more than one column, to instruct the
clerk TO have printed 1900 of that
form also. They decided TO do Il for
the reasons above mentioned. And he
who In this day of prevalent disposition
TO impugn the motives Of others thinks
these commissioners were prompted by
desire TO do any man or set Of men an
injury does them an injustice, and
knows nothing of the honesty and in
tegrity of those men. Whether cor
rect or not they were honest in their
belief. So far us 1 was concerned was
willing TO instruct the publication of
the ticket desired by those at whose re-
quest the commissioners court was
called together. But the majority OF
the commissioners being OF the opinion
they were both that evening and next
morning, that settled the question.
Now what more could orshould have
done?
D. The ticket authorized to be print
ed by the commissioners court has no
binding force upon the presiding officer.
Any other form that the presiding OIL
Ger may see fit to stamp as au official
ballot can be used by voter
The presiding officer of each ward is
the final arbiter Of what shall be
stamped as an official ballot. He might
reject the tickets printed by order of
the commissioners court and IL would be
his duty to do so if he thought they did
not comply with the law. He may
stamp any other ticket by whatsoever
candidate or party presented as an of
fetal ballot, and 1t will be his duty to
do SO provided the same conforms to the
general requirements of the law. A
form OF ticket differently arranged
presented by each political party, II all
names be on IL and the same complies
with the law, should be, and no doubt
would be marked 'otlicial BALLOT" by
every presiding officer in the city
So each candidate or party can GER
tainly use any form of ticket he may
choose, Independently Of anything done
or not done by the commissioners court
The presiding officers will settle the
question as TO what is an official ballot.
That this is the law all who have made
an examination of 1t know, and have
always so stated to anyone with whom
/ have talked. Yet many got the inn
preston that the ticket published by
order OF the commissioners court was
intended TO exclude and would have the
effect OF excluding all others.
Having made this statement l will
not ask any questions nor make any
argument on the question as to the
Justice of what has been said and pub
lished OF my action in the matter here
in discussed. | will leave those ques-
tions for conservative men OF all politi-
cal faiths to ask and answer.
NY excuse for coming into print,
which / dislike 10 do, is, that the edi-
torials OF the two papers OF the city
avowedly favoring the county Demo-
cratic nominees, by the manner In which
they have criticised my action and
charged me with partisanship, aided
by some verbal statements, have caused
some men who have not Investigated to
suppose the real facts to be quite diff
ferent from what they are as above
stated. Erroneous Impressions made
whether by oral or published state
ments so far us they affected myself,
have, in the main gone uncorrected, for
the reason that have for nearly eight
weeks almost constantly been engaged
in the court room and am yet so en-
gagged. | have no time to correct any
wrong information, whether made
from misunderstanding OF the
facts or with the design
to iuiure me in the election now APP
DfOutnllR. III NAio ~ nus bRNh
no part of my purpose to criticise any
one else for any views entertained as
to what is the best form of ticket, bnt
only want my action to be judged in the
light of the facts as they are. All par
ties have enthusiastic men whose zeal
for their cause so warps their Judgment
as To cause them 20 misconstrue every
thing done by others. And good men,
when the passion of the hour has passed
away. frequently see that they have
Judged harshly the actions Of others.
But even in the hour Of hot blood and bit
ter contention and vituperation upon the
The sense Of iustise of the fair minded,
the considerate and the conservative.
Thanking you in advance for the
publication OF this statement, | am,
Respectfully,
w. ID. HARRIS.