The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02

4 os't M fos Office Usder That
4 system.


Corsicana, Texas. December 3l.---Tho
Post correspondent has frequently in tho
past attempted to interview W. j. McKie
somewhat on the political situation and
especially as TO whether he had at all con-
sidefed the suggestion OF his friends that
he shou1d stand for the democratic nominal
tion for attorney general OF the State. but
TO these approaches Mr.. McKie has uni
fornily replied in o pleasant way, but said
nothing to the point.
Today. however. IN answer to the direct
question whether he would be a candidate
Tor attorney general in 1898. MI aiclSic
made the following statement:
The matter has been suggested in a
most pleasant way TO mo u great many
times In the past six months by some Of
my friends here and elsewhere and con
Tess candidly TO having given the matter
some serious consideration in the last few
weeks. but TO take such a step. being an
entirely new ono In my experience, never
having held or sought any Office In iny
life, find quite difficult; but. however iay
desires may incline me, | feel quite sure
will not be n candidate fla primary election
Is rosortod 10 for the selection Of cahli-
dates for che party; because II an 0sa1e
holder should Oppose me | do not iacl !
would stand ghost OF d chanca'n nor would
any other non office holding citizen.
Il would like to ace The convention syA-
TEN because IL lis tho good old democratic
way; The representative citizens and dam
ocrats OF every community come into coun-
ell iirst In their Counties thence. as a
magnificent body 81 men in State conych-
ton, untrammeled, intelligent and IHtii-
otic ready to serve tho whole people. and
able and willing to measure tho merits OF
both the ms and the outs, and thus with
good opportunity select the best and most
available men Tor the various pcsittons of
& trust; tho main reasons for opposing nri
mirdy elections are. "a Experience has
taught us the petuie won't turn ont aud
vote In such eicothuE. besides many vote
not entitled TO participate In purity co,nn-
clls, and who would not be pGtmittGd to
do So In IA well organized and con lucIed
convention On The syatem absolutely re-
qiires uiinost the putting forward as the
nominee some man who iR an announced
candidate for the Office and who has sab
united his name to be voted upon. This
m9y be pleasing TO candidates. but the
people are not benefited by this situation
The convention syspam gives the people,
the opportunity TO select the best material
available, whether candidates or not tthis
Is surely dcmocratc). Thus verifying the
idea that the Office may seok the man;
this lis not possible In II primary election
t3) Because Ia a PRIMARY election no phi
vate citizen need submit his name where
no has an oftlcchnding opponent FOR the
very obvious reason that the ;fsan In ofiico
"a known TO all the people, this can mol
bs said of any man out Of office. In
word, primary elections work strictly In
tho interest OF tho offccholaing eiasa who
are again candidates for position.
1T Is q theory OF our government that
tho lstimbiest private citizen may aspire 10
the highest Office in the land. but ibis
where the method Of selection liz u primary
election, Is an empty privilege. and ono
without hope OF reward In n large State
like Texas because It II impossible to cover
70 large A territory as Is necessary TO piset
all the people; apd In a primary personal
shaking OF hands Is necessary, and tho
old time candidate will always get there
because he began to do tho noedful somu
time before.
Nov. the idea embodied here Is not
Intended either az q reflection on or critI-
eism of the many distinguished men In
office. because Il u freely admitted that
many OF our strongest and most patriotic
men all over the land have gone from ono
office TO another, using the prestige OF the
first or present office to get the next; but
don't let our party managers in Texas
adopt system that simply elects the man
Of the widest acquaintance. The non o.
fccholding man may have {, chance to mako
his merit known (lf he has any, TO II eon-
vention OF unlnstructed delegates; Of
course. the convention viii know the office
holder SO each under this system are
treated fairly. getting all the strength their
standing or ability entitle them Co.
III ! should become u candidate sor at
torney general, | nm clad and willing for a
convention to compare my personal aud
professional standing with whomsoeyer
should offer against me II am ontclassad
should go down; but ! don't care to enter
n race under a system whereby | would
be defeated II my opponent happened TO
know moro people on the Rio Grapic and