The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-30
A FINAL WORD TO VOTERS.

FINAL WORD TO VOTERS.
a municipal election should always be serious
matter for il determines the character of the govern.
ment which is 20 administer for two years the public
affairs of the c'ythe protection Of life and property
the preservation Of health the conduct OF schools the
management or regulation Of public utilities, the main
teuaua' ot highways the hundred and one things that
aGeet rao business the employment and the comfort Of
0F"s tzen. Surely these matters concern us all di
r"oy and vIfaliy-concern us separately as well as
eoHe.tva.y for the humblest man who depends upon
hs daily labor tor his daily bread as wen as the rich
-aH whose material interests affected by good or
bad government. comes in touch hourly with some de-
ra.ta."t oi the municipality. The street he walks on
F give him safe footing may cripple him for life
ort.neE as IT Is repaired or neglected The house
b. Uses in with all its precious family treasure may
5e destroyed or preserved accordingly as the fire de-
nar.maut Is y.gant OF negligent His home may be
INVADED by burglars boy rapsts or be made secure
a kings castle. accordingly the police department
is efficient or inefficient And he is "a taxpayer as
truly as his landlord for an included in the rent
taxes Insurance and repairs Consequently he is
equally coHcerued with those whose names are on the
assessment rolls in an economical administration OF
his city government
However IT may De viewed neither the rich man
nor the poor man escape the burden of city gov.
ern"eu- 10th are bound alike in duty and seIf-nter
c-t Io make as light orderly and as benehcent az
possible
I' i" 'rduar. municipal election rs a serious mat
.". pending election in Houston is a soemnly mo-
W.h.oHt matter by the record it is shown that for
#.. the affairs of the city have been conducted with
thee most reckless extravaganza until today the as.
s,aamen and the tax both the highest Of any
city I'm Texas. Still the treasury is bankrupt Money
had to be borrowed TO pay policemen and aremen their
salaries and public school teachers have worked three
months without receiving a dollar of compensation In
other respects the administration is equally scandal.
GUS Waste arrogance and nefhclency are written all
over the municipal government.
The party now in power is the party seeking q nau,
lease OF life There is not the virtue of new can
didates nor the promise OF new methods but with nm
paraeled mpudence they offer for election the men
who have been most conspicuous in bringing about the
present condition. and they make no apology for what
they have done. They bra2enly propose to continue
hgh taxes and to increase the burden debt TO award
contracts to favorites to continue the fire police and
health departments the auxiliaries of the political
machine TO perpeuato the snars the disorders and the
scandals that have made Houston the reproach OF the
state
Mr. Stewart the candidate for mayor has been di.
recty and indirectly the legal counselor OF the ctv for
all This disgacefu period and his recommendation for
promotion rs loss of the market house property
through his laundering and a miserable assortment NJ
a.
others of which cost the city more than they yielded
revenue though his fees and the organs outrageous
bulls for publication sacredly guarded and reig
lously collected And he tops this record with an ie
sal tax compromise the estate in which he is in
erested reducing the due from $3.50 10 $4,000
ana settling il with pavement coupons and a fresh
claim for 10 per cent fees
In the face of this record he stands before the COM
munlty without apology explanation and asks TO be
vested with the greater and graver responsible
lues OF ehief executive And former Mayor Brashear
Win All the directing and controlling men and forces
Oh tne ring stands behind him-preciseIy where they
WIN stand throughout his term OF office If Houston
should so FAR forget herself as to elect him mayor
but stewart is no longer element in the election
de Is but the rallyng point of the ring His case is
hopeless They never expected to elect him
Ihey have adroty used him to another end. They
nave sought to center public interest around him N
create great connection and exhaust the energies OF
the reform movement upon his foredoomed head in
order that they might coverty elect majority OF the
board OF aldermen who can and win eeetuallv mega
tive the best efforts Of the mayor
Ihere is the vulnerable spot in the reform eampairn
today and is vital spot Colonel Holt will he well
nlsh powerless without wothirds majority OF the AL
dermen in accord with his views and pledged to work
in harmony with him.
Let US make no mistake Let US lay aside any per.