Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-12
THE FIDDLER WILL ne TO PAY.

foIt W Iln, rep. IL
Editor Gazette:
l have noticed with surprise and re-
gret the course OF the Gazette In lend
ing Us sanction 10 the "ukase' or opin'
ion recently Issued from the attorney
generals othcn concerning the election
or aldermen In cities. There " cer-
talnly nothing IN tho history of the
suffrage question IN Texas 10 Justify
the opinion, but II indOrAed by the
press OF the state II may result In great
injury to the cities OF Texas, Article .
Of the constitution OF 1915 and 1866 hXed
the qualification and gave 10 every
elector the right 10 vote In his own
county. cry or town; also In any county
In his district FOR district oiilccrs; or In
any county where he might be for state
officers, The constitution OF 1863, 0rti.
the United states OF the age OF q years
ana upwards, not lab9rlns under the
disabilities uumed IN this constitution
without distinction of race color or
former condition, who shall be resi-
dent " this state at She time OF the
adoption OF tubs constitution or who
shall thereafter reside In this state one
year and In the county In which he
offers TO vote sixty dnys preceding any
election, shall be entitled to vote for all
officers that are now or hereafter may
be elected by the people"
Under this constitution, which says
that every rlector shall be entitled to
vote for all officers elected by the peo-
pie, members Of congress, state sena-
tors and district Judges and attorneys
were all elected by districts the electors
voting only In their respective districts,
county commissioners by commissions
ers' precincts and justices OF the peace
and constahles In their own precincts,
and not by the county at large. II
MIL NO itt.V
constitution the general law for the in
corporation OF cities having 1000 in
habitants or over was passed ON the
18th day OF March, 1875. (Suyles Early
Laws. article Ill3). h'hls was an elab-
ate act OF 2Oi articles, designed to meet
the wants of any city organized under
the American idea OF free represent
ativc government. Fort Worth and
other cities organized under special
| laws prior thereto adopted this general
! charter In lieu Of their special charters,
as provided by the law. (Reylsod
| Statutes, 3iO) Under its provisions the
municipal government consisted OF a
| city council composed of the mayor
| and two aldermen from each ward
! Qb. 3iD. The aldermen We're to be
elected By the qualified voters OF each
| ward, respectively, and the ballots OF
| each ward were to be taken Rcpar-
ately. ARTICLES SAG and $40 Tho
council could alter, Increase or dimin.
| iah the wards, provided all wards
should contain ms near as practicable
tile same number OF votes ub. aSD.
Such was thc law regulating the election
OF aldermen In all Texas cities when
| the present constitution was ndoptel,
In 1876. Article 0. section ., OF this
constitution declares who shall be quail
flied electors aud requires that all cleo
| tors shall vote In tho election precinct
/ Or that's VpainanRRU Ion.
yides that all qualified electors OF the
state as herein described tsection y
| who shall have resided for ak months
| Immediately preceding an election
within the limits of any city or corpor-
ate town shall have the right TO vote
for mayor and all other elective OIL
GERS Under this constitution j. w.
Ferris and c. $, West, who had both
been members OF the convention that
framed II, were appointed by Governor
Roberts with George Clark to codlfy
the civil laws OF the state. Three more
learneS and competent lawyers could
not have been found In the state, As
the result OF their labora we have the
Revised Statutes now In force adopted
by the Sixteenth Legislature In 1879.
The entire act ot 1875 was carried into
ard Is part OF said statutes (see Re
vlscd Statutes, articles $40 TO bli, In
clusivel and has ever since been held
s nm, 'rSa,ed ny every executive lesiale-
ment OF he stato eover,m %,,r u ol ~
law or the land and no citizen OF the
state has ever asked to have the cleo
I'VE itahnn,se ehiarsed' IL WIS The
ia secure TO every elee,ar M, 1"s r,sSt 90
vote for all officers who were voted
for In hls precinct and, II In a city or
s9 NSti,n 70 n Ncss iVr n, ehe mayor ana al
or precinct, Tor every ward in a civ
was a voting precinct 1t must be re-
memhered mat written constitutions
rnles hut so as ~ SSu NY .Sehn ,h1.
purposes and the ends OF government.