San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-06-13
AN IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN
GATHERING.

To the Daily Light:
The meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Republican League clubs
of the state to be held at the Southern
hotel in this city on the 10Th inst, will
be a very important affair for the Re-
publican party of the state. The fact
that the Republican party of this state
has had no tangible, reliable organiza-
ton, has been so palpable that the
party has not been deemed worthy of
a place in politics of Texas. Yet there
is no denying the fact that there are
over one hundred thousand Republi-
cans who can be relied upon to come
to the polls on election days. The alb
sence of Republicans in the Legislative
halls is largely due to the lack of or
ganization; the present Legislature on
ly contains four Republicans. 1t would
be better for the state if the Republi-
can party could be organized and made
factor in our political affairs. Now
1t is only a convention organization
without power at the polls. The Re-
publican League club organization has
become the great fighting body of the
Republican party in the northern and
western states. In the southern states
the negro contingent seems to have re-
fused to go into the league organiza-
tion, mostly because it enforces party
discipline which Sambo finds interferes
with his personal liberty, for he cher
ishes the right to trade his vote on elec-
ton day, no matter how good Repub-
lican he has been at conventions. The
league organization, has excited con-
siderable jealousy on the part of the
regular party organization, but, COM
posed as it is, of young men, it is held
in respect. Considerable struggle is
being made by politicians to control
the club organization. Gov Tanner OF
Illinois heads the delegation to the Ma
tional convention at Detroit. On this
subject the Chicago Times-Herald
says:
The surprising feature of all this is
that the governor and his friends
would have anything to do with the
league. The seasoned politicians OF
the state have always sneered at the
league as an organization of amateur
politicians Last summer the state
machine did it's best to throttle the or
BdHlZdtlOn because IL was getting &c
feel its strength and would not bow
to the machine. The first step in that
direction was taken when Ira c. Cop
ley, of Aurora, was made its president
Today, however, the governor and his
friends took complete possession of the
organization. The construction put
upon this action here is that the gov
ernor wants to use it in, building up a
new machine of his own"
The executive committee which
meets in this city will elect delegates
to the Detroit convention. Texas is
entitled to 6S delegates, which large
delegation will cut no small figure in
the national convention, especially as
Mr.. E. II. r. Green will enter the list
as a candidate for president. Some of
the most distinguished Republicans in
the nation are candidates, and the De-
troit meeting will be the most impor-
tant political gathering Of the year.
Mr. Green, no doubt, sees in the league
clubs a medium through which the
Republican party can be organized in
this state and win be the first Texas
state chairman 70 recognize their ef-