The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-19
WIEN COKE BECAME COyFpNoS

NV ioi'"'N- t''tf Tom Major Ceorr
zimp s'man Of Austin was written 70 q
sclai iriend % Houston, and riys, pr
teres,lnr Information In regard !, y''ae ~
that hapnened In Texas when ssenu
sttonpted 20 hold the ruhsrnator =, Jaw
military force: eaAn by
Austin Texas. February 6.--To s,vo III
full history Of what happened du,,., sou
exciting times OF reconstruction wouIs rs..' .n'
coed deal Of time ! was shcrfr r,.s sss .a,.
until 1876. except during the lima ~. ~
required to reconstruct me. 'Aa'
When the general decapitation a, 60.
county officials was going on befora CO.. sAa
Throchmcrton went out Of office. 80. W
nv reclamation and took II myxeIf i l., "
thihkinT II was reflection on me Il / sta,.s
GAY longer than the chief executive 49,
We were warm personal trends And =.
and we're elected on the same political ,,s''
form; the governor read II.
AS COON os he had finished reading !, ~.
out laying word be tore II to piec.. u-I--
! asked him what be was doing Ia ,..,'..'
II tore 10 that paper because | DOM -.
you to resign. You must STAY an Ia. =
they let you. You can be Of more ~. =.
to your people in the sheriffs office ,bsn q
anv other canacity." which proved tru. !.
was only out seven or eight month"; 49,.
the next election. when l was reelected ~
as far as know and could learn was shor.
the only democratic official In the STATE
am sure I was the only democratic sheriff
AT that time we all had to be Registered IN
order to vote. and as the registration boarS
was selected for their antagonism to the IA
and respected citizens. and carpetbagsers ana
scallawags. with negroes at premium. III.
board OF registration would disfranrbis.
enough of Southern people and Confedet,s
soldiers to elect or defeat anybody tbev
thought proper. was again reelected III
year Judge Coke was elected governor. I
had then served under Governor Throckmor.
tons administration. Governor peasA
General REYNOLDS military GOVERNOR, Gov.
ernor A. j. Hamilton and Governor payl.
all republicans except Governor Throckmor.
ton. When Judge Richard Coke was electA3
we all knew what the Davis administrators
was and by whom the laws were admins.
tered. The State police were an important
factor in the State and a great many people
and counties felt and had to put IN with
them and their overbearing and insoent be-
havlor. Taxes were levied on individuals
and counties to maintain these cutthroats and
murderers. who frequently arrested old and
inoffense men. through spite or In order
to create disturbance for an excuse 10
quarter some OF the State police. ~
~
Such was the state OF affairs up to the inau
guration of Governor Coke, who WAS elected
by an overwhelming majority over Governor
Davis. who by fraud beat Governor A. ]. Ham.
iltou. We we're at that time as near civil war
in the State Of Texas as we we're In 1861. Tho 4
people were tired of being buldozed, brow.
beaten or murdered by imported assassins,
and they made UP their minds that the gov
ernment or officers elected by the people
should be installed, no matter at what cost.
Governor Davis, although overwhelmingly
beaten, made bold to say that he would hold
on to the office that he would be supported
and kept In office by Federal bayonets u
necessary. This was the state of affairs three
DAYS before the time came TO inaugurate Judss
Coke as governor. Senators and members d
the house and great many influential cid.
zens from all over the State came to Austin
to see the inauguration OF the elected onceit
The excitement was no more intense " ts
recent Kentucky muddle than we had IN ~
city of Austin, the capital OF Tsxss W
A caucus was held by the wisest and MOI:
influential men n the city hotel at Ausun
of twenty-five or thirty men to decide o. !
plan Of action. ] was called into the COUNCIL II
because great deal depended ON my scuow
as a peace officer, and what side might ,3M.
Governor Ireland was acting chairman, y
introduced me. He told the council TN, ~
first term OF sheriff l served under nin z
district Judge: he was sure that would a
what was right as an otficer or the iaw ~
would execute IL, no matter under wnat vi
cumstanees. He asked me then II kney ~,
was elected governor OF the state; 70 wnis l.,
responded. "Richard Coke" was then asked
il Governor Davis would send FOR ne 70 A.
sst him as a peace officer TO keep coks oui
Of the capitol, what action | would taks,
stated that would not only refuse . s sss.
him. but would do all could 70 ASSIST Juuss
Coke to be inaugurated, If there were ms9
and guns enough in the county. All ASKS
was not to be hampered wltn orus.s srs
countermands. was certain u me asnssw
mept was left with me as sherin ana pssss
officer we would do all that had to be ao,s
in a legal form. The first thing DID Vas
swear in about fifty deputy sner,ns, apS
ordered them to report to me wen a vmes =
all directions in a bunch, and as soou $ N, ny
got there ! sent a sufficient NUMBER 70
senate chamber and the rest 70 the houte y, y
Representatives, with strict orders no. % =,
anybody in without positive orders Nv" ~
~
AS soon as Governor Davis saw tnas
number of armed citizens we're gatnef'ns
the capitol he ordered his adjutant seIsta+
Frank Britton, to call out the Travis hns~
the only military company we bad IN the eis'
to reinforce the State police and nesross
held in the basement Of the capitol, Oap's.
Mather was captain of the Travis h'nes' ~
he nade it convenient TO be sick wnen oiu..
were received TO march his company 81 oS
at double quick to the capitol and fepvh
Adjutant General Frank Britton. Firs'
tenant A. S. Roberts took commanu
marched the company 10 the cspl'oh
knew every officer and man in inc ooiA
personally. l met them at the capiloi
asked Lieutenant Roberts to hai' u. .,a
pany, aud as sheriff of the county s uuamit,ius
the officers and men as posse .'ahsyeA
to help me keep the peace, when W. ,ullding
| marched them up into the capt,. .n, - olsss
gave Roberts orders how ana whele * Inc
his sentinels. We had possession tas nas -
capitol except the basement, wneis, ~ st5ts
Davis and his staff were Win a.,snssntps
we're being made some one drove Il rs
ale In the tube hole OF each cahhLoN nsw a.
done by party of friends 10 tne .nrthink
ininistration, 1t did not amount 70 ,.rt 81 shs
as | moved the cannons right ~ tiss-fhs fl0
capitol steps and got man 70 '''''
through into the cannon. ,.. and IN
went to see Governor Davis iwic II. noics
vted him TO leave the capitoi wi'p MI IA rs
and negroes before II was too iats, - "a 'frca |
stubborn and held out, expectns, ,rsIs we're
the Federal government. MY s,s, sentineh
81 the head OF the stairs. Ds, Thers ~
little communication between upslar.s oe
basement when Coke was ina .lsa and ott9
nand was made for the executive - m for
Oficts. which Davis refused 70 p, 90 th
seyeral days. The excitement 81 "a weep ~
that II was a hard matter iol III bssensent