El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-11
EASY To REACH
THE CONVENTION
CITY NOWADAYS
Delegates 80 and 35 Years
Ago Used to Ride Horse
back Hundreds of Miles.

Before the railroads made a net
work of lines throughout the broad
state of Texas the delegates and Wis
tiers TO the Democratic state cOnven-
lions often rode horseback for two
and three weeks TO reach the city
where the meeting was held Those
from the remote sections Of the Lone
Star state left their farms or the small
hamlets where they resided on morse
back, in wagons or other cOnVeyances-
They drove across mountains and
plains TO reach the east Texas cities.
where all the conventions in those
days were held
Today the Democratic delegates and
visitors TO the FL PasO convention
were Whisked into the union depot on
the Golden State limited. the Sunset
limited, the Cannon Ball and other de
luxe trains Of the Rock Island, the Cal
weston, Harrisburg a. san Antonio and
the Texas & Pacific railroad lines
There is a great contrast from the
manner in which the Democrats this
week reached FL Paso and those who
went TO Austin and Galveston so and
IS years ago
All Come By Rail.
While every Democrat who arrived
in FL Paso for the present convention
came by rail, there are many who
found II necessary 10 ride horseback
Or drive a team from the remote sec
tons where they reside to the nearest
was this ride over 100 miles, whereas
in former years delegates often rode
900 miles TO the nearest station.
Among the prominent Democratic
leaders Of the state who is attending
the FL PasO convention is Jonathan
Lane Of Houston, one Of the foremost
attorneys in the state Mr.. Lane has
been attending Democratic state con-
yentions in Texas for s. years and he
can well remember the days when a
majority Of the delegates rode horse
back 10 the nearest railroad TO reach
the east Texas convention cities.
When Mr.. lane attended his first
state convention at Galveston in 1882.
the railroads were just beginning TO
stretch their arm through the pass
OF FL Paso to the Pacific. Since that
time there has been many thousand
miles Of rails laid in the state OF
Texas which links practically every
county seat with the larger cities Of
the state
Lane Grows Reminiscent.
When seen by a Herald reporter
last evening at the PasO del Norte hO-
tel and asked for an interview on the
early state convention days Mr.. Lane
gave a very interesting talk OF his
earlier experiences TO Democratic con-
ventiOus. He said:
While my first convention was held
az Galveston in 1852. 7 can we'll re-
member those held in previous years.
The Galveston Democratic convention
Of 1852 nominated John Ireland as
governor Of the state Of Texas
In those early DAYS there were no
primaries held The delegates came
to the convention and nominated one
OF the more prominent Democratic
statesmen Of Texas for the position
OF state executive. A majority OF these
delegates came uninstructed and there
was generally a merry battle OF bal
lots when IL came time to nominate
Flowery speeches were made by the
aaaMH HsmH-
rancher and the bacl-wOOdsman-
1000 to 5000 Delegates.
There would be from 1000 to 5000
delegates at these conventions and
they generally made things merry
while the convention lasted. A ma
jority Of them would drive or ride
horseback a majority OF the distance
from their homes to the city where
the convention was held Many Of
them would come attired in their high
top boots. others wore chaps. some
were attired in frock coats and others
IN prince AIberts- There were all man
uers and modes Of dress in those DAYS,
but the spirit Of the Democratic con-
ventions then was very much as it is
today
THE next Democratic state conven-
ton 1 attended was held at Galveston
and the third at Austin The eastern
section Of Texas was then growing
rapidly and the railroads were being
lated sections But the delegates and
visitors from the western part OF the
state still found II necessary to use
the cowpony TO a great extent to reach
the railroad lines"
Never Misses n Convention.
Mr.. Lane has probably attended
more Democratic state conventions
than any other Democrat now at the
FL PasO meeting. He has not missed
a single state gathering Of his party
in 30 years and he expects to be pres
ent at the next convention.
This is the first Democratic state
convention ever held in Fl Paso. and
for this reason there are more west
Texas Democrats in attendance than
at any other convention held by this
party. The railroad lines run through
nearly every section OF the western
part of Texas now and It is a much
easier matter for the delegates and
visitors to reach the convention citv
than it was 80 or 40 years ago.
COMMANDS TEXAS TROOPS.