San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-21
CONTRIBUTED SCRAPS.

county bosses and county ring.
The bosses and the county ring
Of Bexar have had the votes by
the umbilical cord 10, these
many years. They have led the
people about like SO many cattle
with rings in their noses. Every
voter in the county is fully aware
Of this disgracetul fact,
Is it not disgraceiul to citizens
Of a free country, who proudly
claim to be free and independent
men, full of manhood and manli-
ness, to tamely suffer three or
more county bosses to rule and
govern the county just as though
it was their private property and
the voters were their slaves.
There hangs the picture, and the
voters should scan and scrutinize
it closely.
Who chooses all the district and
county officers in Bexar? The ring
bosses. 1t is not at all necessary
to name them all the voters
know who are the bosses.
If a citizen can get on the ring
ticket, whether he is popular or
unpopular competent or incom-
petent he is sure of being elected.
Has not this been the history of
the county for about fifteen years?
The best, most competent and
popular citizens in the county are
defeated, unless they run on the
ring ticket. Has not that been
the case for years? Every voter
knows it to be the case.
None except the creatures and
adherents Of the county ring can
obtain so much as a pitiful SUBJ
ordinate office. He cannot get on
jury even as special juryman;
nor be appointed as temporary
bailiff, not be appointed as an ap-
praiser OF an estate or as a COM
missioner to divide property, or a
jury commissioner, or Judge, or
clerk Of an election.
There are a parcel OF hangers
on Of the ring, that have been fed
out OF the public crib for years in
subordinate positions.
They have performed no work
and had no business, but have SUBJ
sisted on the subordinate positions
given to them by the ring. And
they appear to have a vested right
TO these places. Is this not liter.
ally? Does not each and every
citizen in the county know who
are these same hangers on? Tis
useless to name them.
The ring chooses every county
officer except one county commits.
sioner. The ring put them on its
ticket, and that was equivalent to
an election.
The ring elected one district
judge and the district attorney, in
1894, in addition to the county
officers, by simply placing them
on its ticket. Every voter is aware
OF this fact.
If a man aspires to an office
in Bexar, it Is waste OF time and
politeness, on his part, to court
the people and solicit their sup
port. He will never make the
connection" by counting the peo-
pie.
His only chance OF obtaining
an Office is to get on the ring
ticket. II he is able to do that,
he "is in the swim" and on the
crest of the wave; but if he op,
poses the ring, he sis in the SOUP
tureen."
Every voter knows this is a
correct photograph of the condi
ton Of things in Bexar. Every
voter is aware Of the fact here stat
ed none will dispute it, but many
Of them appear to be the bonds,
men and slaves Of the ring bosses
and afraid to thwart or Oppose
them, in anything whatsoever
In 1889 the constitutional con.
vention of Pennsylvania was
about to attach property quail
fication to the right OF suffrage
when sturdy and practical Ben.
jamin Franklin took the floor
Mr.. President, ain order to illus.
trate this matter let US suppos,
that none but those who own
jackasses are entitled to vote, ant
as l want to be voter, l purchas,
a jackass. Well vote without the
least bit Of trouble at the frs,
election. But before the next elec-
ton comes around, my jackass
dies, and l cease to be a voter
Now do | or the jackass vote;
while he lives, vote but when he
when he dies, cannot vote"
Now If man is elected so LONG