Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-04-22
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JEFF A
FORM
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Houston, Tex, April 21-The fol-
lowing is the platform, briefly
stated, on which JEFF McLemore pro-
poses to make his race for congress
man-at-large:
To the Democratic Voter of Texas:
In submitting to you my nme as a
candidate for the position of con-
gressman-at-large, subject to the ac-
ton of the Democratic primaries to
be held July 81, 1912, it is but just
and proper that, in asking your sup
port of my candidacy, that | should
dime myself clearly on the issues on
which | shall make my race.
1. | was born a Democrat, / have
been a Democrat all my life and !
expect to die a Democrat. | have al
ways worked for the success of the
democratic party; have ever bowed
to the will of the majority and never
in my life have | scratched a demo
cratic ticket, although it has fire.
~quently been my lot to vote for those
| opposed to the best of my ability
in the primaries.
2. | am, and always have been,
opposed to statewide prohibition.
and the experience of states thai
have given it a thorough trial, has
only tended to strengthen me in my
belief that it is wrong in principle
and undemocratic.
3. | am opposed to the initiative
and referendum as defined by the
populist platform of 1896 and as
now being advocated by certain dis
tinguished gentlemen who are seek.
ing favors at the hands of the Tex
as democracy; and | am also OPP
posed to the recall and imperative
demand, the fundamental principles
Of Socialism, and which are also be-
ing advocated by at least some OF
those alluded to above and who
claim to be democrats. | am ex-
pressly opposed to the doctrine of
initiative and referendum as applied
to national government, as it would
imperil the white race of the South
and make it possible for the enemies
of democracy, with the assistance of
the negro voters to repeal the Sepa-
rate Coach Law, and all other laws
for the control of the negro race
and thus carry us back 10 carpet
bagism and the days of reconstruc-
ton.
A. | can not express my views on
the tariff better than to quote from
the State Democratic platform
adopted at Galveston on August g.,
1910: Eve re-afirm the tariff de-
claration Of the Democratic State
and National platforms Of 1896, and
we expressly condemn the PROPOSE
ton to remove all duties from the
manufacturers raw materials 50
long as duties remain on the manu-
f%acturers' finished products" The
tariff is a tax, and | stand with
James S. Hogg, Charles A. Culberson
and Joseph w. Bailey for its equal
fair distribution.
5. ] am in favor of liberal APP
preparations for the development,
and maintenance of our
Texas seaports and waterways, and
| car not better illustrate my po-
sition in this respect than to quote
from the last Democratic National
platform: Water furnishes the
cheapest means of transportation,
and the national government, hav-
ing control of navigable waters,
should improve them to their fullest
capacity"
6. There is a great movement,
DOth nation ana statewide, looking
to the better conservation Of our
This will result in great
benefits TO our farmers. Much can
be done by the national congress to
aid. this work and. if elected, | will
devote my best efforts toward the
futherance of this great movement,
consumatiOn will be of such
untold benefit to our farming world.
These are my views in brief. but
on ] will state at greater length
my ideas of the duties that will de-
volve upon a representative of the
people in the federal congress.
JEFF McLEMORE.
Houston. Texas. April 20, 1912.