San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-02
THE THREE CANDIDATES.
To the Express.

hN HOtNho VI ptlll AhitOlllO slAt INV
presented with three complete tickets
to choose between at the coming city
election. AS to the candidates for the
minor offices, including the board of
aldermen, are presumably in sympa-
thy with the candidate for mayor on
each ticket we can judge of the char
acter of the entire ticket by cOnSid-
ering the qualifications for office of
the man who heads it.
EX-Mayor Callaghan is entitled to
first consideration, inaSmuch as he
was mayor of San Antonio for eight
years and has left behind him re-
cord which may naturally he presum-
ed to represent him and to be a fair
indication of what we may expect if
he should again be elected. When he
assumed the charge of the city's af-
fairs everything was in such shape
as to allow of marked Announcements
in every direction. The credit of the
city was unimpaired, and the power
to create debt was practically unlim-
tied. Municipal improvements We're
demanded and later on cheerfully vOt-
ed for by the taxpayers. Mr.. Gala
CHAN awaited himself of this spirit of
progress to inaugurate a wild career
of municipal extravaganza, the full
extent of which we are now only able
to fully realize. His reign was one
of personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and pOlit-
zeal power. Every function accorded
the mayor and council was used to
perpetuate the Callaghan faction in
power and it was Il saturnalia Of ring
rule which will not fade from the
memory of the people until the condi-
tons it brought about have been en-
tirely righted Mr.. Callaghan was
turned out of office by an indignant
people, and when he again came to
the surface as Il candidate in 1895 he
was again showed under, beyond re-
cOvery, it was thought, notwithstand-
ing the immense influences brought
to bear to secure his reelection. 1t is
with some admiration for the mag
nificent nerve of the man that the peo-
pie see him again in the rank of can
didateS and the extent of this nerve
is better realized when the people are
made fully aware of the influences
which are behind his candidacy. These
influences it is unnecessary to say are
not those beneficial or valuable to the
people. They are, on the contrary, a
constant menace to the public well
fare.
We have a new man with us this
wear Mr.. Augustus Levy asks that
the people put him and his friends in
control of their city affairs. Mr..
Levy comes forward on Il platform
which promises anything and every
thing which the human mind can devise
as Il vote catcher, but he offers us no
guarantee that these promises can
be fulfilled. In fact the conservative
business men of San Antonio are fully
aware that many of Mr.. Lewy's
promises are impossible of fulfillment
and this makes them suspicious of the
entire batch. 1t is also well known
that Mr.. Levy is ambitious politically,
He represents a faction in the court
house which is anxious to fasten its
power on the county be securing con-
troll of the city. Mr.. Levy poses as
reform candidate. when in truth
he represents the political element in
city politics, pure and simple, and it
Is as n politician that he has always
been before the people. His candida
w is a bold political scheme, Matched
in ambition on his part and despera-
ton on the part of those behind him.
1t is too thinly disguised, however, to
be successful and the people are not
apt to take him seriously.
Mr.. Henry Elmendorf. our present
mayor. is candidate for reelection
and there are many reasons why he
is the strongest and most logical re-
fuge for the voters of this city. He is
one of San Antonio's successful bust
ness men and has been identified with
the progress of the city for many
years. AS mayor pro TEN he served
MS well, and it was with a realizing
sense of this fact that he was chosen
mayor two years ago by n handsome
majority. When he took hold of the
affairs of the city he found terrible
condition confronting him. 1t was
enough to daunt the strongest mind.
He commenced to straighten out mat
tiers, however, as he would have tack
led a similar condition in a mercan-
tile concern. He used his personal
credit to get money with which to
carry the city until taxes should
come in. He put over $4,000 into the
place where the sinking fund ought to
be, In the first year of his admins
tratiOn he spent $4,000 less than the
budget had appropriated. The second
year of his administration he ran thn
city for $780, 900 less than it cost the
first year and the good work is now
going on from day to day. He has
paid the interest on the city bonds as
it has come due and has refused TO
borrow high rated money to pay Tuit.
ming expenses when the city had just
debts owing to it sufficient for the
purpose. His administration has bean |
fearless in it's economies, as can he |
found out by questioning some of the !
political scemers who have tried 10 |