The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-10
COLONEL JOE RICE
Has Warm Champion Down at Gal


To the Editor Of The Posi-,
Galveston, Texas. October 9 with
Crane out Of the running then what shall
we sccf'- Houston Post
A dispatch from Dallns IN this morning
Post is captoned. "Langham is Hopeful,
and n clause In the dispatch ronds: "Colo.
mel Lanham is delighted because Of Hon.
NJ. NJ Cranes determination not 10 run
for governor and confidently expects 70
sweep all Of North Texas into his column "
The question arises, is Colonel Lanham
himself doing all the sweeping SO far In
advance Of an election on even conyen-
tlon2 If SO, he must be in woful want Of
the office OF governor lie Is at present
congressman, but that II seems, Is not "A
sufficient honor TO rest upon, with n
craving for OniCc in the ascending scale,
equal to the craving of oliver Twist Tor
soup, he calls for more. He does not wait
for an lntimatlOn from the people that he
is wanted. lie proceeds to announce ID M
self MS superior timber. ana concludes mat
the judgment of the masses must ucces,
sarlly tally with his own. !, for one pro
test against this assumptions and object 30
THIS method OF stamprdlng the counties
into one Following so far In advance Of
any political necessity. II nyadcs the pre-
rogatlve Of the people 10 make their choice
without the coercye force of aggressive
individual campaigning
40 not uthA tolNutl LNuNNn dDllltltA,
nut no Texan can today boast a monopoly
OF abilities No modern Aston of the four
fold shield towers, Tenorlffc-ikc. above his
peers in our State today. There is not n
county In the entire state that can not
furnish a citizen with capacities and vir-
tues qualified for the office Of the States
executive
SO far there has not been heard any great
clamor Of the people for Congressman Ian
ham. Then why should he love s dread
clamors counterfeit" for the office Of gov
ernori This practice Is yiolntlye Of the
traditions Of purer politics that the offlce
should seek the man. II Is true that the
principle Of too tradition is oftener vo-
lated than honoTed but when II Is honored
is selected for n high office he dId not
seek sense OF satisfaction and plensurn-
Bile surprise comes 10 tho ordinary citizen
who Is not professional politician.
There should be n change iu another re-
bpect. For years our governors have all
been lawyers. II does look as though the
time OF the business man should come next
There Is no complaint against the legal
profession; II is an honored and an hon
orable calling; loved by all Of It's yotaries,
but most by those who are least rewarded
IN It's nelds-of whom many could say as
Goldsmith said Of poetry
That fouudst me poor at first and kcepst
me So"
but who cling TO II nevertheless for the
high aims and noble purposes OF It's calling.
Men selected from that profession would
honor any office In the gift Of the people.
But the ablest lawyer In the land will not
arrogate to himself or 10 his profession,
all the business sense. public virtue and
intellectual acumen requisite In a governor
OF the State OF Texas. Let the peopls
throughout the State indicate their choice
for governor from among the business men
In their respective communities that when
the time arrlya for the selection OF a car
dldate by the State convention the selec.
tion VIII not he limited 10 one or two men,
who have hecn struggling for a year or
more TO draw all eyes upon themselves.
For one. respectfully submit TO the people
OF Texas for the office Of governor the
name Of Captain Joe $. Rice. who Ia known
through the broad expanse OF Texas ana
loved wherever he Is known. Cor his genial
worth. for tho clcArness and accuracy OF
hts intellect. for his rigid uprighin ness for
the serenity Of his temper and for the
beDeYOlence Of his heart
John A. Kirllcks.