The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-14
THE OLD ALCALDE AGAIN.
HE FORMALLY ANNOUNCES AS
AN INDEPENDENT CAN
DIDATE.
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE0F Texas
A Letter Received in This City Yester-
day Stated That Fact Unequivocally.
The Battle is On Now to Il Finish
in November.
(From Tuesdays Daily.l

Inc war Is on now TO the Dlttef end,
be the consequences what they may.
The Old Alcalde has officially announced
his candidacy as an Independent Demo-
crat for governor and he throws his
gauntlet smack into the center of the
political arena, where any and all Corners
can have an opportunity of taking it up.
That is, if they dare. 1t is presumed
that he crowd who have been endeavor-
ing in vain to choke the Old Alcalde off
the track ever since his letter was pub
lished in The Statesman will now renew
their efforts to belittle his candidacy and
try and play upon the credulity of the
people to show them why "the old gen
tleman," as they see fit to term him.,
should not have their suffrage. They
can spare their trouble and their
strength. The Old Alcalde is not half as
weak physically as some would like to
make out that he is, but on the contrary
he is quite able physically and mentally
to make the whole gang" hunt their
retreating places post haste.
A gentleman in this city was yester-
day in receipt of letter from Governor
Roberts in which he unequivocally an
nounced himself as an independent can
didate for governor. There are no
strings tied to the announcement and
even the most skeptical could not doubt
but what the old gentleman meant bust
ness. Among other things in his letter,
he says: 81 am a candidate for gov
ernor of Texas, independent of the silver
party organized by the Dudley commit
tee and of the computation convention
that will meet in Fort Worth in August
that will only count up the votes coming
up through the returning board-the ex-
ecutive county committee-from the pri-
maries to ascertain who are nominated
as candidates, said executive officers dis
pensing thereby with any voting for that
purpose and also with the time honored
Democratic two-thirds rule. If there
should be two candidates for any of the
said Offices voted for in the said prima-
ries." Further on in his letter the Old
IL
well known Texas Democrat and will
run in the old well known tracks of that
party TO promote the good local self
government of this state as a practical
federal issue that is now sought to be
made the test in controlling the election
of its officers, who, when elected, will
have nothing to do as state officers, as
relating to such issues"
Thus does the Old Alcalde state his
platform in a nutshell and so plainly
that those who may run may read.
When one of the ex-governor's friends
in this city was last night informed of
the fact that the Old Alcalde was
squarely in the middle of the road, his
joy knew no bounds. He said that he
was glad the fray was on and as to the
result of the contest he could see no
doubt but what the Old Alcalde would
be winner by big lead. This gen
tleman also suggested that with Col.
Giddings or d. c. Giddings, Jr.,
on the Old Alcalde's ticket for
second place the ticket would be al
most invincible in that it would then
consolidate both factions of the party.
1t now behooves the friends of the pres
ent administration to bestir themselves
if they are going to say anything to the
Old Alcalde. In n very short while he
will be running so far ahead of them
to successful finish in November that
the only way they can communicate with
him will be by means of long distance
telephone.