The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-02-25
FELLOW CITIZENS Of SAN ANGELO

JrlCkS ana ways OF my friends
! who are urging us to vote for the
levy of the school tax on the Goth
inst, which is calculated to de-
ceive many well-meaning, honest
people, that ] am constrained to
say something against the vote
going in that direction.
In all my lifetime. and my ex-
perience in local governmental
affairs is considerable, / have
never stood behind the bush to
make my battle for the rights of
the people, nor have / engaged in
night caucuses TO work against
the best class of people with
whom / live and associate. |
have always believed that all
battles in which the results of an
election were to effect my people,
ought to be fought in the open.
In that way the people are en-
abled to understand what issue is
presented and how best to protect
their interest. 1t is in that
spirit that | write this address.
| have no i'll will against u single
man who favors the levy of this
tax, nor of any man who is IN
favor of continuing the city
government in its present status.
And what | may say is not intend
ed to be i'll any sense personal,
but deal with what appears to be
facts.
In the first place, ! believe it
to be fact that the fighting being
made for the levy of the tax at
present Is merely ostensible, and
is not for the best interest of the
town. l believe also that this
fight has behind it the purpose of
avoiding, on the one hand, a
solid, substantial and permanent
school, having all the advantages
which the State of Texas intend
ed to give us, and on the other
hand it is made to be used as o
bludgeon to beat us to death in
the election to dissolve the city
government on the Bird proximo.
Now let us look at the first
proposition: The main spirits, |
mean those having the greatest
power, through long standing in
the community, backed by great
wealth, and those who have the
power by reason of great activity,
are the same spirits, who, when
the people were demanding that
an independent school corpora
ton, about one year ago, should
be adopted in the highest interest
OF the schools, were found fight
ing it to the death and forcing
upon us a city government. They
said then, to establish q city
government, would, as long as it
lasted, prevent us from the great
benefits to be had under the wise
Independent school corporation
system. Why? Because the law
did not provide for the establish
ment of such an incorporation
over city government with
population of over 5000 people.
So determined we're they, to de-
feat these splendid school benefits
which they were entitled to under
the law, that they put their hands
i'll their pockets and sent one of
their strongest men to Austin
under the misrepresentation that /
had gone to that city to get the
Legislature to pass such an incor-
poration act. Thus, they mani.
tested beyond all doubt their
purpose to defeat any school
proposition which might embrace
the twenty-five square miles
which the Legislature of Texas
intended the school children of
San Angelo should have.
Not only SO, but by the election
of seven trustees, by the author
ity of the city council, they re-
p9aled the old city tax Of 20 cents
which the children of San Angelo
had enjoyed since 1884. Thus re-
ducing the taxable area to the
limits Of the present city. They
had learned how to get rid of all
this tax which tor so many years
had so largely contributed to the
support af our public school.
Now does any man doubt, that,
with the above facts before them,
it is the purpose of our friends to
defeat the best interest of our
public schools in order to save
the suburban property holders
from contributing q small por-
ton of the benefits which accrue
to them In the enhancement of
values to their property, by
reason of having good srhq9is
and a growing town near them!
Again, why are those outsiders,
holders of suburban property go
active and diligent to carry this
election2 Is it not because by
no R,,atrotip inc tbio n;+,, ..o..z