San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-17
OFEICIAL TYRANNY.

1t is only from a sense of duty to
the public and with deep regret that
we express our apprehension of the
high-handed course of Mayor Elmen-
,dOrf in using the police at the Mis-
sion Garden Republican mass meet
ing on last Tuesday night in favor of
the Allison-Cuney faction of the Re
publican party. AS an individual
Mayor Elmendorf has an undoubted
right TO choose his political bed fell
lows and to join any party, or faction
of party; yet, while we freely ac-
cord him this individual right, we ut
terly deny his right as mayor of San
Antonio to use the police in public
meeting of citizens to aid a preferred
faction to get possession of a Republ-
can mass meeting. AS mayor, Mr..
Elmendorf had no lawful authority
to employ the police to help out the
Allison-Cuney faction at Mission Gar
den last Tuesday night.
The call of DIR. Clifford was not for
a mass meeting of lAllison-C Quincy Re
publicans exclusively, but for a mass
meeting of the Republicans of Bexar
county without regard to fractional
names or connections. Under this
cali every Republican in. Bexar coun-
ty had lawful right to attend the
mass meeting at Mission Garden. and
therefore his presence there being
lawful the mayor had no right to use
the police to eject persons from that
platform.
Tho .irnrnN or nd faass Of hn
case are as follows:
DIR. Clifford, as chairman of a coun-
ty executive committee. called Re-
publican mass meeting at Mission
Garden on the 10th inst. at $50
O'clock p. m. The Republicans as
sembled at Mission Garden pursuant
to the call, and as DR.. Clifford failed
to put in an appearance at the pre-
scribed time, Judge A. J. Evans, at
$40. rose and nominated Mr.. Joe
Beckmann for temporary chairman,
which motion, being seconded, was
put to vote of the meeting and de-
clared carried. A secretary was then
nominated and elected and the meet
ing was declared duly organized and
open for business.
Mr.. Evans and every other Repub-
lican i'm the meeting had the legal
right to place in nomination persons
for temporary chairman and secre-
tary. so as to organize the meeting
for business. There was no breach
of the peace nor violation of the law
in this nomination and election of
temporary officers. No. other persons
We're placed in nomination for tempo
rs,r nfHnnrS Of fhn rNnntin0
After the nomination and election of
temporary officers and the formal
opening of the convention for business
DR.. Clifford appeared on the stand in
n great furry of haste and excitement
and ignored the temporary organiza-
ton which had already been effected.
He alone disturbed the meeting and
inaugurated disorder
Suppose DR.. Clifford had not arriv-
ed till 0 o'clock, was the meeting to
wait, ION Bonded knee and with bated
breath" until his royal highness ap-
peared? Or suppose he had not up
peared on the scene at all that night,
were the citizens there assembled dis
abled from organizing the meeting
and transacting business? Such an
assumption would be unfounded and
therefore untenable. 1t would make
DR.. Clifford dictator from whom no
appeal would lie and would degrade
each and every Republican in BeXar
county to the level of a slave.
The temporary organization. with
Mr.. Beckmann as chairman, was right
and proper at the time and under the
circumstances, and consequently DR..
ATp ,fa al 90 fslxy
in the wrong in their subsequent pro-
ceedings.
Had DR.. Clifford's call been for
meenting of the Allison-Cuney fac
ton exclusively all other Republicans
would either have stayed away from
it or figured only as spectators. Three
was no such restricted cali.
In order to put the Allison-Cuney
faction in control of the mass meeting
Mayor Elmendorf used policemen to
drive and force from the stand the
persons who contend the temporary
officers had already been elected and
indicted into their offices. The POI
licemen assaulted Mr.. ]. z. Newc0mb
and pitched him off the stand in n vio-
lent manner. They hustled and as
saulted other citizens In violent and
unlawful manner. Mayor Elmendorf
had not the least shadow Of authority
for thus using the police to put his
faction in control Of the meeting and
his conduct deserves severe censure.
The people can not be too jealous Of
their personal liberty nor too prompt
in condemning Mayor Elmendorfs
high-handed enthusiastically Lam
tern.
BIG STRIKE IN BUEN0S AYRES.
Npy YorL, mo IA Sneciol to