The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-20
A RIGID TEsr Z
~ Whnt Mr., Daniel Watson Asks the
Committee to Make.

"ii "arcus'. ieNaS. February 1S.-Thl
beginning OF strife in the democratic part,
OF Texas dates back to the time when tn,
people OF the party took matters into theil
own hands, asserting their rights and as
Stunning control for the party, and nance
that gallant patriot and statesman, Jane,
s. Hogg, the party's standard bearer. Fol
some years prior to this date this preroga.
/ tive. of the people had been usurped by
few corporation lawyers and n small CO.
tere OF politicians at the county seats Of
each county. When the people realized
that they had been betrayed and delivered
bodily over to ayaricc and greed, they
arose in their righteous Indignation and
| drove these untrustworthy leaders from
| power and installed in their siead men
/ whose every motive was prompted by a
desire to see the people ruse. What did
| these ex-self- constituted leaders dog Did
| they, like the true democrats thep pros
/ fessed to be, fall into line with the party
and help TO push it's new leaders OH to VIC
tory? II is u well known fact that they
did not. 10 the contrary, under the lead
| ership OF George Clark, a.. l.. Matlock,
Jonathan Lane and Others a systematic
war was made upon what they We're
| pleased to term the Hogg administra-
| ton" George Clark announced as n can
| didate for governor, subject to the action
OF the democratic party. Clark men all
over the State received instructions to bolt
at the primary conventions when they
failed to carry counties where they could
make any show OF strength at all. This
part of the programme was carried out TO
the letter Hogg carried Hays county with
a good majority, yet In the face of these
facts contesting delegation of Clark men
was sent to the Houston convention. At
Houston canvass of the delegates who
were in the State convention under instruc-
lions disclosed the fact that Hogg had car
ried the primaries by an overwhelming ma
iority. Did our good democratic (?)
brethren stop there? Not much. They
bolted at Houston and the Honorable War
wick Clark was nominated by rump con-
vention at Turner hall.
Nor was this ALL A few weeks later
Candidate Clark and his ticket fell into
the arms of Wright Quincy, the saddle COL
ored dusly son who was at the time boss
OF the republican party. These lovers and
followers OF Jefferson's teachings formed
coalition with the republican party-tiat
party which deluged the South i'll blood,
that party which has for thirty years laid
the blighting hand Of class legislation upon
the South; that party which would place
baycnets at the ballot box and deprive our
people of their liberty dehase Southern
manhood and place ignorance above intel
loot by inflicting negro domination upon
liberty-l loving people. These are the per-
sons from whom George Clark accepted a
second nomination. The issues were re-
ferred to the people, and at the November
election James S. Hogg was triumphantly
elected, thereby receiving yindication
and placing the stamp OF approval upon
his official acts by the people. Then came
the Dallas harmony meeting. Oh, but II
was great love feast! The daily papers
told us that Jim Hogg and George Clark
fell upon each others neck and figura-
lively speaking, they wept copiously, but
neither said. Now let me die George
Clark is reported as saying in speech.
lin Hogg is a better democrat than
am, which statement no man in Texas
ever doubted. Jim Hogg is reported as
saving, Yes, boys, we will welcome You
back into the democratic party; we need
you for ballast. but you can not man the
sails OF the old boat nor hold the helm.
Ballast only. but how did this work? Just
as soon as they were comfortably quar-
tered in the old democratic ship. under
their old leaders they turned mutineers
and tried to seize forcihle control of the
old craft and wreck IL upon republican
shoal. Failing in this. true TO traditions,
they holted again and landed with all four
feet into the republican party, where they
ought to have been all the time. and whore
they ought to remain for a man who viii
deliberately walk up to the polls and vote
for Mckinley and Hobart should have no
seat at democratic councils.
That Dallas harmony meeting cost the
democratic party $4,000 votes, for 1t
brought about that straddle in the State
platform which drove $4,000 free silver l6
to democrats into the populist party. AT
this point wish to emphasize the fact
that / was opposed TO the Dallas harmony
meeting and foresaw the disastrous results
I,
disturbing and inharmnnious element II
was so easy to get back into the party shat
these elements feel at liberty TO bolt and
support republican candidates and plat
forms when they fail TO dictate terms in
rhe democratic primaries. For the second
time, without leave or license, under the
leadership of Clark ct al they have quit
the party, and for one desire to see them
stay with that party which affords tkem
more congenial resting place We can
fight two enemies in the open field with
a greater show of success than one traitor
under the cover of our own proteetiott
The democratic State executive commit
tee will meet at Dallas on the I'D OF this
month. II will be their duty among other
things to prescribe rules for governing the
primary conventions and making a test as
to qualifications to govern participants in
those primaries. II is my opinion that no
man who does not lndorse the Chicago and
State platforms and who failed 10 vote for
Bryan should be allowed 10 participate In
the primaries. Some will argue that such
policy will tend 10 diminish party
strength throughout the State. ! contro-
vert che statement Can the party 10
that which 1t has not? il is self-cyidene
fact that the party was without this sup-
posed strength at the las, election, for the
fusion ticket OF Mckinley and Kirby WIS
voted by those who are clamoring for
recognition in the democratic party now.
Again, by barring out those with repub-
l.san IDEAS and principles, we VIII gain
many thousand populist voters, who are
really at heart democrats and VINO would
he only foo glad 10 get back into the house
Of their fathers, We viii gain many more
than we can lose. even II our Mckinley
democrats could be induced to stay with
u.s. ana we would have much the hes. OF
the bargain. Let US put those who have
PLAYED US false upon qhe stool OF repent
ance-take them back upon probation. and
have them show their faith by their works
nv voting the democratic ticket at least
one time before taking them again INTO
~.,e,,o;,r Daniel Watson.