The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-08
CAPTAIN REICHARDT TALKS.
Statement Of the Chairman Of tn
City Executive Committee.
AS TO WARD PRIMARY MEETINGS
eho Chairman Says the Places for Hold
Ing Them Were Not Designated
by Him.

A Post reporter called on Captain r. a.
Reichardt yesterday and asked him X he
had anything to say, as chairman Of the
city democratic executive committee. In re-
gard to the resolutions adopted by Judge
lienry Brashear's friends and published In
yesterdays Post.
Yes, / have something TO say" ne re-
Piled. Il think the resolutions demand
reply from me. and l have prepared
statement, which is about all have 10
FAY On the subject"
The following is the statement referred
To the Democratic Voters OF houston:
In the press OF today appear a set Of res
olutions apparently promulgated by the
supporters of Judge Henry Brashear's can
didacy for the msyoralty. in which several
statements arc made that do injustice TO
me and the members of the city democratic
eecutivs committee.
1t Ia a fact that a petition was presented
TO tho executive committee, and that the
signatures to same were said 10 number
over Zoo. This petition asked that the
committee should change the night pr!raa-
rles AS ordered 20 day primaries, eut u
this was not done the day OF holding the
primaries should he changed from satur-
day night 10 some other night. for the
reason that the first named night would
on account OF business. prevent many per
sons from attending who Otherwise would
participate. This petition was read and the
decision OF the COMMITTEES was - favor OF
change OF date from Saturday night
March n. TO Thursday night. March Is 10
dcferanoc, doubtless, 10 the prayer ci the
petition that the date should be changed
The act OF the legislature IN reference 10
the holding OF day primaries provides no
machinery for Bsich priraries--,lo means 10
pay judges have tickets prepared. rent
fhsl sr ~ Rssrttj q ~ fc
the opinion Of persons competent 10 SPEAK
tnnt the law regulating day primaries is q
no account, because an ofiey-se against tire
election regulations 20 be a crime IN the
eyes OF the law must be committed AZ an
election TO select officers. whereas the pri-
riarits only select candidates and fix no
responsibility beyond the nomination
hence the crudeness Of the law Is lutenst-
ned and / believe IS Of 10 avail.
The resolutions state that The chairman
Of the executive committee "hy himself
nAm~d the place whero the primaries shall
BE- held fl the various wards OF the city.
Tslls Is an error. inasmuch az at the first
meeting Of my committee 1 requested mem
bers OF the various wards 20 select a place
as large and as comfortable ga could be
prpcurei IN their respective precincts and
report their selection TO INC IN order that 1
could designate these places In my call for
she general primaries, This, believe has
been tie custom for a number of years
BY both tbs chuirmen OF the county ard
city executive committees, and IS alto
Eeiher regular aud in order. and at no pre-
yiols time has this privilege OF the COM
mH'ss heea questioned. In fact. q Is the
absolute duty OF the committee 10 do 50.
ana no harm can thereby possibly accrue
10 any ore The places 50 far named were
selected by the members Of the various
wards and not by me. Again. It has FOR "A
number OF years been the custom for the
member az there be but one or for the first
named II there be two Of tie executive
committee representing the various pre-
cincts 10 make an preparations for the
holding Of the primaries and TO call the
primary to order for the selection OF
temporary chairman only. Such have been
my instructions 70 my committee. and
therefore IN no sense Of the wori can II be
said that a member of the executive COM
inittee prrsides ut the meeting unless u
should so happen that the voters present
select HIM for that duty. Again. I venture
the assertion. AMI do not believe II can be
successfully controversial, that there does
not exist q single instance OF where the
city primaries last held, elected president
10 serve for two years This J admit was
in former years the practice bat dtscou-
tlnued, and correctly 80. some years ago.
SAY correctly 50. because. In my opinion.
40 primary gathering has the right to die
tate to the primary to be hold several years
hence who shall DO iia presiding officer.
Only where nm organization Is effected by
the actual membership roll can such action
be taken and he binding.
The resolutions further state that my
~cmmltfec has ordered the city police 10
stand guard In The primary hall" etc. In
view Of tho number of unwarrantcd asser-
lions contntaed In the resolutions It does
not surprise me that they should find fault
with my committee IN our cndcavors 10
surround the primaries with every safe
guard for the maintenance Of peace and
prevention Of injustice to any one II APP
gears that discomfort mainly prevails
among The supporters OF Judge licrry
Brashear at the action taken by the ox-
ecut1ve committee. leaving the Inference
TINT the opponent of Judge BraHhear Ia
Nors tho night primaries The facts are
that before tho first meeting of the execu-
tive committee, both Judge Brashcar and
Mr.. VI. u. Rice cmphatcally expressed
themselves to me AZ favorlng all day pri-
maiies. and expressed the hone that the
executive committee would 30 decide. But
the democratic party OF Houston, through
its representatives. tho executive commit.
tee. have twice declared themselves In "a
Nor OF night primaries. and tho supporters
OF Mr., Rice. however great their disap-
pointment may be. quietly acquiesce and
loyalty stand by their party Respectfully.
j.. A. Rechardt.
Chairman City Democratic Executive
Committee.