San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-26

The State Republican convention
Ibetter known as the Reform Re
publicans of Texas, assembled al
the Auditorium and was called tC
order by State Chairman L. P
Gooden at 1890 o'clock. There
were about 200 delegates present
including about 80 colored dele.
gates. All of the senate rial
districts were represented, in.
Guiding the fartherest sections OF
the state, delegates coming from
FL Paso and the Panhandle, on the
extreme northwest; Denison and
Paris, on the north; Jefferson,
Orange, Beaumont, from the
northeast and extreme east; also
Central, West and Southwest Tex
as were represented.
The attendance OF about one
hundred handsome ladies during
the entire proceedings added grace
and dignity to the occasion a
scene never before seen in political
convention in Texas.
State Secretary James P. New
comb read the call for the conven-
ton, and Mayor Baldwin Rice, Of
Houston, delivered the welcoming
address, who said it was source
of qualification to him to be called
upon to address convention COM
posed of such representative men.
At first he was a little abashed
when pinning on republican
badge as he had been nurtured in
Democracy, but they were all labor
ing for what they conceived to be
the common good of the country.
He conceived that it would be bet
ter for the state for the parties to
be more evenly divided, and from
this standpoint he wished the
movement success. If the repub-
lican party were stronger it would
cause the dominant party to enact
better laws and close party con-
tests generally inure to the benefit
Of the people at large. He said he
wished there were 5000 delegates
in the hall, so as to put the demo-
cratic party on it's mettle, to the
end that more wholesome laws
would result.
The address was favorably re-
ceived and warmly applauded.
w. III. Atwell, of Dallas, one OF
the fiowery young orators OF Texas,
responded for the republicans. Mr..
said:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gen.
men, Fellow Republicans:-Doing
humble obeisance to the worthy |
mayor who has so eloquently and
broadly united with his royal well
come the earnest wish that the re-
publican party might grow in
Texas until its number and
strength equsled that Of the demo.
cratic party, beg to assure him
that his wish but expresses the pa
triotic hope Of every delegate to
this convention. Believing in the
integrity and intelligence Of Texas
people, we have gathered the re-
spectacle business republicans into
this grand organization and rely
upon the good judgment OF voters
who desire to better themselves
and their country. We claim the
yray.haired republican, the young
the Grand Army repub-
.ican, and the business republican.
We have no invitations for those
who are convention republicans ,
ind democratic voters. Many in
his good assembly were in Texas {
when it tried mans soul to be a {
yet, through abuse, ]
through adversely and prosperity,
hey have ever held to the grand !
I'D party at whose feet all the con- 1
,tructive legislation of the county
avs. And today they join a grand &
Lmen to be able to sit in a repre-. s
orderly republican con- t
,ention. t
"We have here in this magnifi- Z"
;ent hall men who have come
miles to attend this con G
west, north, south, east {
md middle Texas, each and all bent
Inon\ the one idea of redeeming {
he stalte of his home from democ- t
acv,r fTithering hold. {
o. genial, generous, gracioas r
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