The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-07-05
A Much Needed Reform
To The Statesman.

10 The statesman.
An incident occurred during tn
session of the present convention
which is to the fair minded voter sim
ply an outrage, and serious patent,
and an everlasting menace to the
purity and unity Of the great Demo-
cratic party. During the balloting
for justices OF the peace for precinct
No. it was noticed that the vote of a
certain ward was not cast according
to the explicit instructions given by
an overwhelming majority of the
voters of that ward in primary assem-
bled.
The resolution instrucling in this
case as adopted by that primary,
plainly and positively, instructed the
delegates to vote first, last and all the
time for a certain candidate for justice
OF the peace, all of which they did not
do, but the delegates from that ward
voted only once the entire vote of the
delegation for this certain candidate,
that being the first bsllIt. The result
of that ballot when announced,
showed that the candidate had res
ceived considerably over one-thlrd, in
fact nearly one-half Of the entire vote
ofthe convention. On second ballot the
certain candidates name being still
before the convention, these go called
representatives Under explicit lDstruc-
ton OF the maj rtty Ut votes in their
ward actually gave msjOrity Of their
entire I0te to an .thef Cand date, Civ
ing only minority Tor the candidate
for whom they were instructed TO vote
first, last and all the time, and on
every succeeding ballot thereafter
their vote showed loss to their in
Etructed candidate.
This is certainly satire on the
Wanted purity of the Democratic
party and the constitutional rights of
every voter in this great free country.
Can anyone s1lve the problem and
eIucldate the inquiripg voter, why
this thusness? Delegates elected by
q majority Of voters in ward or vot-
ing box and sent to the county or pre-
cinct convention are supposed to be
the representatives plainly instructed
and directed (if they are go instructed)
to express and vote the sentiment and
voice of majority of voters in their
ward or voting box. They are but
servants under explicit orders and
direction, and have no more right to
vote their personal opinions, trade or
barter their votes than they have to
take the same liberty with the goods,
property or chattels of their fellow
citizens. Their duty is plainly
marked out and they are entrusted in
all honor to perform the same with
fidelity.
In the opinion of the writer the only
cure for the existing evil of instruction
violating is to invoke legislation. Let
the legislature make laws governing
primary, precinct and county conven-
tiOns regulating them, and establish
rules for the order Of business. mode
OF organization and manner of ballot
ing, and as to who shall participate in
these conventions. AS it is now the
object and aim of these conventions
and the will and sentiment ola major
ity of III 9 the vo.ers is Tuthlessly trod.
den down and affairs are manipulated
by Cheques of so called prominent and
powerful" ward politicians. Why
powerful? There is 8 menace in the
very word. Has not every voter an
equal right OF choice in the selection
OF officers for this government? Why
should bulldOzing, and cheek and
brass be permitted to assert pre-
dominance? The fault clearly lies
with the people Themselves, they are
the power" not one man, nor a few
men, but with a majority of meu in
expressing their will and preferences.
II is we'll known that after the will
of the people is not only ignored but
&C ually suppressed, under the pres.
ent pernicious operation of the system
now vogue. Great assistance is rem
dered this system by the refusal of
fair minded, unobtrusive voters