San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-29
TIE Daily tiqht
FRIDAY. JANUARY 20, 1897.
POLITICAL PEPPER.

For the Daily Light:
The Express says: Taken as
whole, the gentlemen composing the
Elmendorf and Callaghan tickets rep
resent the better element of the peo-
ple and command their respect" OF
course: and the Express might as
truthfuIly have added, that taken as
whole, the gentlemen composing the
Elmendorf ticket represent the better
element of the people and will COM
mand their support.
Under which kings will the tax
payers of San Antonio declare to be
governed-Thad and Jose, or Bryan
and Nat? What prospect under Ell
Their!
Less than three months ago Mr..
Levy was reelected for the term of
two years to an office which is gener-
ally understood to net him from $4,000
to $4,000 per annum. At the same time
Judge Callaghan was reelected to a
position variously estimated to yield
him an annual income of from $1,000
to $1,000. Now, why have they so sud-
denly tired Of these juicy plums? Why
do they seek to release themselves
from the trust so complimentary be-
slowed upon them by the people in or
der to assume the office of mayor, a
position carrying with it increased la
bors, weightier responsibilities and a
salary of only $500 per annum? That
is a question each and every taxpayer
should ask himself
Is their motive purely patriotic and
unselfsh or have they or their friends
some colossal scheme undeveloped by
which some one is to profit at the ex-
pense Of the people? This is an util-
itarian age, and mems motives and
public acts are subject alike to criti-
cism and suspicion.
Why do Attorney Levy and Judge
Callaghan desire to relinquish their
present comparatively easy and prince
ly remunerative positions to take up
the cares, burdens and responsibilities
Of the mayors office at a salary less
than half that they now receive? Will
any one tender a satisfactory and rea-
sonable answer?
This is not the usual season that tou-
rists and pleasure seekers cross the
ocean to enjoy the sights and scenes
Of the world. Yet our distinguished
fellow citizen, Colonel George w.
the stormy pillows of the At
lantic, and at a time too, when his
presence here in San Antonio would
seem to be imperatively demanded.
Perhaps he hugs the delusion that
such trip may tend to impress the
voters Of San Antonio that really he is
not interested in the success of a GER
tain mayoralty candidate. II he la
bors under that delusion, there are
none in San Antonio who do.
The Express says: 1T is true that
he (Callaghan) greatly increased the
public debt" while acting as mayor.
For once the Express has given utter
anCe to statement which will be re-
ceived with unanimous approval. It
is so seldom that such an event &C.
ours, that seemingly undue haste is
manifested in giving public acknowl-
edgement Of the same.
Those who believe that the Water
works company is disinterested
spectator in the present triangular
mayoralty contest will be rudely de-
ceived in the event Mayor Elmendorf
should be defeated. The election of
either Of his opponents would be a Sc
rious menace TO the interests of the
people, as far as their water rates are
concerned. And that's no lie."
The San Antonio National bank has
had the use and control of the cfty's
funds for the past twelve years, during
which time IL has received nearly If
not quite 100000 in the way of inter-
est. Does not fair play as well as
sound public policy suggest a look at
the books and a distribution Of the pie
and patronage?
What assurance have the people that
the divisions apparent upon the sur
face between Thad and Nat and Jose
and Bryan are on the square? This
is not the first time that the public
have been assured that there was a
split up"between this model quartette
Of reformers and yet when the time
came for the distribution of the pie