San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-01-24
CHARTER OF THE REPUBLICAN
ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY
OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

December z 1894, adopted the following
charter:
Whereas, / Our city government for
years past has fallen into the hands OF men
who at the very least have been wanting
in wisdom and experience, in municipal
government; and who have plunged our
city into an enormous debt, ana hXed
taxation upon our property hOluers,
which If Increased must lead to ruin and
bankruptcy, and have borrowed large
sums of money, and disbursed the same
in waSteful and unsatisfactory manner,
creating a general opinion that such dis.
bursements have been largely directed
to controlling our city elections, ana
keeping certain men In power; and
Whereas, 2. During such time above
there has existed in our city no organiza-
ton OF the Republican vote, and said
Republicans being unorganized have gen.
orally stood still, but in some Instances
aided in setting up in our city personal
government, based upon corruption and
hired votes, and of men not held to duty
or responsibility by any one OF the great
parties of the country; and
Whereas, g. Whilst we do not claim that
strict party government is best for our
city, we do declare that we firmly believe
that our city can be better governed on
party lines than at present on lines OF
personal corruption and bargain and sale
of votes.
First Proposition. for the
purpose Of electing good honest and ca
pable men to all city offices, and for the
purpose Of curtailing our enormous city
expenses; and dispensing with the en-
ployment of city pets, and abollshing
useless city offices and agents, and seeing
that every dollar disbursed by the city
shall return dollar in benefits, and Tor
the purpose of securing fair city cleo
tions and honest voting and counting
votes, and to reduce our city taxes 10 the
lowest limits, and welcoming new set
tiers to our city and for other good po-
litical purposes. we do hereby create
q political Executive association TO be
known and called The Republican EX-
ecutive Association of San Antonio. Tex
as" composed of fifteen voting Republl-
cans, to be selected at the next meeting, as
it may direct, and which association shall
now be and is hereby installed in position
and shall hold their places for two years
from this date, and until their successors
shall be selected by general mass meet
ing of Republicans of the city, called for
that purpose; and should said association
fail or refuse to call such mass meeting
within one month after the expiration OF
the said two years, then said association
shall itself cease to exist.
Second Proposition-Said Republican
association shall have succession as above
and shall nave power, and IL shall be
buGlT uuUl W vi kdulLC SOiOSN
from their number a chief man and sub
chief man, and a scribe, and purse
keeper, and such minor helps as they may
chose, and shall ill vacancies in their
body, and in case of tie vote the affirm
alive shall prevail.
Third Proposition-That said Republi-
can Association shall at once proceed TO
vigorous and thorough organization OF
the Republican voters of the city, and
speedily cause the names OF every such
voter to be enrolled, and shall have power
and are hereby authorized to organize in
each ward and each voting precinct OF
said city, such sub associations OF Re-
publican voters as may be necessary and
convenient, and confer such powers ana
duties thereon as they may determine.
Fourth Proposition-That said Repub-
lcan association shall make reasonable
rules and regulation for their Ivern-
ment, and alter, amend and change the
same; but no rule or regulation shall yio-
late this charter of pc wers; and the right
to alter this charter exists only In gen.
aral mass meeting Of all Republicans OF
said city called for that purpose.
Fifth Proposition-Said association
shall call all public meetings OF the par,
ty on full nOticeiof time and place; ana
no member of said Republican Executive
Association shall hold his place in said
association and at the same time be
candidate for an office.
Sixth Proposition-Said Republican EX-
ecutive Association shall faithfully guard
the purity of our ballot boxes and our
voting to the end that all legal voters
shall vote, and their votes to be counted,
and that no illegal votes be cast or count
ed, under penalty of prosecution; and
shall have power by subcommittee or
otherwise to investigate any and all
charges of corrupt or illegal practices by
officers, and generally exercise such
powers and duties as are usually exercised
in this county by political executive com
mittees, but In nowise interfering with
our existing Republican Executive COM
mittee of Bexar County, save that said
Republican Executive Association shall
exercise plenary political powers inside
the city limits.
Seventh Proposition-Said Executive
Association shall seasOnabiy call gather
ings of the Republican voters of said city
previous to all general and special
elections, for the urpose Of naming men
tosfill such offices to be voted for, and
should said Republican Association fail,
neglect or refuse TO perform this last
mentioned duty, as penalty SaldiEXec-
utive Association shall cease to exist for
any purpose. and all powers thereof shall
revert to the Republican voters iof the
city.
Eighth Proposition Said Republican
Executive Association shall have power
by a two thirds vote to eXpel from their
body any member thereof who may prove
himself UNIV orthy Of the trusts imposed
in him or disloyal to the provisions OF this
charter, or cease TO hold and maintain
the principles of the r publican party,
and each member of said association shall
upon first meeting, write and sign and file
with the scribe his pledge upoe honor to
faithfully carry out the provisions OF this
charter.
Ninth pronosition Said Executive as
Sociation shall never use or attempt to
use any money or valuable thing, or
promise, to corruptly influence votes, and
Shall rigidly discountenance such prac-
tices on the part of the Republicans of the
city; and shall fully carry out the motto,