Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-01-13
NEFF LAUNCHES
CUBERNATORIAL
CAMPAIGN HERE
Waco Candidate for Governor
Goes Before the People
for Their Support
ON CONSTRUCTIVE LINES
Makes His Appeal on Basis Of
Individual Fitness

Pat NJ. Neff of Waco. candidate
for the nomination for governor be
fore the democratic primaries July
"a, last night at the Cameron county
court house launched MS Lower Rio
Grande Valley campaign.
Mr.. Neff is conducting his cam
paign along original lines. He is the
first democratic candidate for gov
ernor TO personally conduct his cam
paign in the Rio Grande west Of the
Pecos river. and the first TO enter the
Lower Rio Grande Valley on the same
mission. He is proceeding without a
campaign headquarters, or cam
paign manager, going personally be-
fore the people. he said last night. to
appeal for their support 10 permit
him to enter the governors office,
unfettered and under obligations TO
none except to the people.
Considering the weather, the mud
dy condition of the streets, and par
ticularly the sidewalks approaching
the court house, a good-sized audi
ence greeted Mr.. Neff in the district
court room. There were present so
odd people, with perhaps a third of
them women, all prospective voters.
Mr.. Neff said his appearance in the
Valley marks the first week Of a cam
paign that will carry him throughout
the state. in order that he may meet
the people and discuss with them
their needs and become familiar with
local conditions as far as possible. His
campaign will be continuous from
now until the day of the primaries.
He took occasion to predict, during
the course Of his address, that the
Lower Rio Grande Valley. in the
course of the next few years, viii
become the richest section in the
United States. This, he declared.
was no mere campaign flattery, but
he actually believed it. and had de-
monstated his belief practically by
owning forty acres Of Valley land,
(which is not for sale" he an
nounced.
Mr.. Neff was introduced to the au-
dience by Judge r. w. Seabury Of
Brownsville, co-legislator in 1907
with Mr.. Neff. Judge Seabury said
that during his service in the legisla-
ture, when he and Mr.. Neff were
deskmates, he had had an unusual OPP
portunity to know the man, and de-
clared that he was worthy of the high
office to which he aspires.
Outlining his platform, Mr. Neff
said in part:
The political and social institutions
of other lands exclude the laudable
aspirations of those to fame and for
tune unknown. There the accident
of birth. and not merit, shapes ones
career. Here, however, our forefath-
ers carved from the wilderness Of the
west a new republic. and with the
blood of the American revolution
wrote forever into our country's ban
ner that proud inscription: Equal
rights and equal opportunities to
all"
In Texas no boy born at the foot
of the ladder need remain there 1t
his courage. his character and his
ability enable him to climb the lad
der Therefore. with no apology on
my lips. standing upright and fear
less in the sovereignty Of my citizen
ship, | have announced my candidacy
for the second highest office beneath
the American flag-the governorship
of Texas.
| believe our American republic,
with its written constitution and rep
resentative democracy. constitutes
the most perfect system Of govern
ment ever evolved by the brains Of
men. Plated by Washington and
jefferson and immortalized by bat
ties fought and victories won from
Lexington to Chateau Thierry. it will
move on TO bless mankind.as long as
gravity swings the planets and the
rivers run to the sea.
am a democrat. The democratic
party is as old as the government. Il
is the party of the constitution and
the party Of the people. Its princi-
ples are eternal. We can always fol-
low the candle beams of democracy
back to the fundamentals of our gov
ernment. Believing in the tenets,
tradition. history and achievements
of the democratic party. | am proud
that seek this high office as plain
democrat.
Face 20 the Future
and Back to Past.
While | gladly salute the glories of
the past. no galaxy of men, however
great, who wrought wisely hundred
wears AGO. could forecast the prob
lens Of this big day. Therefore, as
Continued on page six.l