The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-28

| ties. First. Il will give US strength ms
| being strictly non-partisan, less prejudice
VIII have 10 be overcome and we can far
| more easily draw from the best element
| OF each and every party. Second, 1t Is
only just to ourselves. for we have joined
| hands under the impression that this was
| to be strictly non-partisan organization.
| i take 1t for granted that we are made
| up of democrats, republicans. populists.
4 mugwumps, and gracious knows what,
whose common interest lies in an earnest
| desire for good city government. II we
| are to cooperate with any of the political
| parties, which is Ii to be? Can we do SO
without doing en- injustice to the members
| OF the party as parties not co-operated
| with IL. We can't well cooperate with an
| OF them-though we can ask them all to
| cooperate with us. In short, we can
| not do justice to ourselves, nor act con-
| sistently with our constitution otherwise
| than by nominating our own candidates.
Third, II we succeed, which believe we
can, we shall not only have secured good
| officials. but we shall have rescued the
city out of the hands OF partisan ring
rule. We shall have demonstrated that
| this can he done On a strictly non-partiSan
plan. and the good results which will be
| bound to follow will make this perma-
nent II ethod of electing city officials.
Now. my two main reasons for urging
! the bringing out of the candidates at the
earliest date are these: First. strength,
which invites success Second. Self-pro-
| lection. the first mighty instinct of nature.
| !. Stronghold is an old saying that the
early bird catches the worm, and this
seems to me particularly applicable TO our
| candidates, IL they would catch the office.
| In putting up men whose integrity ana
ability Will be unquestionable, we show
| our hand and strengthen our cause. Then.
| II our candidates arc out first, we have the
| Ia
| free 10 decide to vote for them. while II we
wait until the several political parties
! have put their candidates In the field Cor
even until the candidates themselves have
canvassed the field for the nomination.
many good votes will be lest by reason OF
| their having promised their support 10
them, or even where no direct promise is
given, by their having tactly decided on
| this or that candidate or party, to say
nothing of those who will be themselves
| UP by attending party primaries. And
! on this latter l would put much stress,
as If we do not by our actions show the
public that We are going to do something
| many Will be induced to attend the prima-
| ries in the hope of doing something there
! and viii thus be placed beyond our reach
as believe 1t an unwrtten law that those
| participating in primary are at least
| morally bound to support the candidates
SO nominated.
2 My second reason for urging the
! bringing out of the candidates at the
earliest possible date. as | stated before.
is self-preservation. 1t is feared by some
that an erdeavor may be made to control
! this organization by parties whose sole
| interest would be to further the cause of
| some pet party or candidates, 1t is OBJ
vious to all that we are not impregnabie.
! but to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
And now / will say to such as entertain
! fears on that score that to nominate our
/ candidates at the earliest possible mo-
| ment is tho best safeguard against any
| such danger, as once the candidates are
nominated. the incentive above alluded to
namely to further the cause of some
! pet party or candidates. would be re-
moved and with it, of course. any danger
of an effort TO control the actions of this
| organization for such purposes.
| Mr., Rood said II seems that after the
action had been taken the league had
now crossed the ruhlcon. Nothing
though has been done to bring the league
to the notice of the leading business men
and he moved that the executive commit
| tee invite, through the public print. all
| citizens of Houston to be present at the
meetings of the league to join and CO.
| oncrate with tho league In the object OF
good government Carried.
! Mr.. George H. Breaker said now that
! the league had taken decisive step and
| some action is to he taken to select Il
| ticket, he would move that when the
league adjourn It be to meet Thursday
| night. He has been informed that one
primary would be held February 10. If
the action of selecting ticket be deferred
two weeks, as 1t is intended it will be
| February 10 before the ticket would be
announced. The motion carried.
on motion of Secretary Bailey members
| were requested to subscribe any amount
they could for funds to defray expenses OF
printing.
Mr. j. o, Davis owed that n commit
tee of three members be appointed to in
| vestlglte the records of the various
county offices and "A similar committee to
Investigate tho records of city Offices
Tho following were chosen rs the com-
mitters:
TO Investigate county offlces--J. o. Davis
chairman; c. w. Bocock Norman c. Kit
trell.
10 investigate city records-J. A. TEN
pest, chairman; Il. b. Rood. A. r. Good
rich
~ think" said Mr. j. o. Davis, that
there are great many things in that
court house that viii be of interest to this
league and the people If we succeed II
digging them up
Dr. Broles said he believed the ap
pointment OF the committees superfluous
"If you will all do your duty we will b'
In there to examine those city books in
fident that II our committee will select ;
ticket of good people that the good citi
zens of Houston will elect them. | thnl
before this committee will be able to ge
Mt the books that our now officers vii
be elected"
Mr.. Davis said II the good government
league committee is not allowed to SCI
the books the league wants to know 1t
other people have tried to get ut thos
books, and we want to know 1t.
Mr.. Davis moved that all members o
the executive board who will have failc'
to sign the constitution at the next regu
lar meeting of the league. be dropped
from the list and others substituted. Car
red.
DR.. Rroiles moved that committee b
appointed to form the principles of tn
league into n pledge In condensed form
printed upon a slip of paper, These slip
could he scattered about the city. an
there being place for signature so tina
all who desire to support the good GOV
ernmcnt- idea can sign and send in T.
, the secretary. Carried, and Rev y. a
Rogers. DIR. BrQies and Il. b. Rood wer
appointed.