San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-12
PERSONAL POLITICS.
A Plea For a New Deal and a
Clean Sweep in Local
Matters,

COI 6ne Ddtly Ll6HTs
With the probable view of test
ing the public pulse, the astute
statesmen who are popularity sup
posed to carry the political offices
of Bexar county in their coat-tail
pockets, have "fired the opening
gum of the campaign ten months
in advance of the election, and in
an evidently "inspired" article
published in the Express of last
Thursday, the announcement is
made that the perennial differences
and divisions between the sachems
of the Six Nations have been annie
ably settled, and glorious love-
feast enjoyed under the beatific in
fuences arising from the incense
waited heavenward from long
pull at the calumet of peace.
With confidence born of long
continued power, and without the
slightest thought or consideration
for the wishes of the people, the
offices are parceled out for distribu-
ution at the coming election, the
only apparent hitch Ringing upon
the propriety of whether the pres
ent incumbent of the district clerks
office shall be hOnored with a seat
at the official board, or whether
his defeated opponent at the cleo
ton in 1894 shall be "vindicated"
by an invitation to take his seat.
And this is the condition of politi-
cal affairs in enlightened Bexar
county!
The outlook for a vigorous. in
telligent, impersonal campaign,
based upon rigid alignment of
party lines, is not encouraging.
With charming candor and
naivete, we are told by the EX-
press that "the reported division
WAS about as follows: County
Judge Callaghan, Sheriff Camp
bell, Treasurer Froboese, Assessor
Huth, on one side; and County
Clerk Smith, Collector Cassiano,
Commissioner Dwyer and few
minor officers on the other side,
with District Clerk Lewis and
District Attorney Levy on the
outside" Here you have it. "You
pays your money and you takes
your choice" But under which
king or potentate shall we elect to
serve?
So far as the moral honesty and
integrity of the various gentlemen
named are concerned, no objection
can be urged. They are honest,
and they are competent. But
does this fill the measure of de-
mand that should invest them
with a life tenure in the public
offices of the county? If so, re-
publican form of government
had as well be abandoned. The
gentlemen named, or at least a
majority of them, have been Office
holders since "time whereof the
memory of man runneth not to
the contrary" They should be
turned out to Craze and given an
opportunity to enjoy a well learned
rest.
A taste of public office and a pull
at the public teat, let the amount
of tactical nourishment received be
never so small, creates a raging
thirst, an Unsuitable appetite, to
forever cling thereto. Hence, the
continuous mention of our present
city collectors name in connection
with future political preferment,
and the carefully groomed and
adroitly circulated rumors that
our handsome eX-State senator has
a bee of congressional breed Sc
ductively buzzing about his ears,
while storm signals are hoisted
and a safety anchor heaved to
windward, in the shape of the dis
trict attorneyship, in the not i'm
probable event the over-zealous
bee might inadvertently be forced
to buz its own requiem.
/ opine, however, that Mr.. Lewis
will hardly commit political hari-
kari by seriously offerlng as can
didate for congress against Judge
Noonan, for he must know that
his election would be impossible,
while defeat would mean political
death. Among the democracy of
San. Antonio there are possibly two
geatlemen who could defeat Judge
Noonan. 1t is hardly necessary to
add that the names of those gen.
tlemen are John James and James
L. Slayden. 1t is almost positive
that the former would not accept
the nomination and make the race
against Judge Noonan, and it is
extremely doubtful if the latter
would, unless the conditions were
more favorable than existing cir
cumstances would indicate. Either
would intelligently and capably
represent the district. Mr.. Stay