Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-07-21

4 opposing candidates for sheriff, and
X. l.. Chaudoin Of Harlingen, candi-
date for county commissioner. Judge
Samuel Spears, opposing Mr.. Seabury,
was invited to be present in the ex-
peetation of a joint debate, but he
| did not attend.
Judge Seabury said, in part:
when received your invitation
last week, ! expected 10 address you
this evening and lay before you the
reason why the machine control Of the
democratic party i'm this county should
be az once terminated. Since then, 4
great change has taken place on the
face of the political situation. Judge
James Il. Wells has. on account Of his
growing age and infirmities and the
serious condition of his health, openly
withdrawn from the race, leaving the
field apparently to contest between
Judge Spears and myself. Apparent
~, | say, for in reality the question
Il still whether the machine control
of the democratic party shall be per-
petuated or terminated.
This will be disputed by Judge
Spears and his San Benito adherents,
many Of whom really believe that
Judge Spears position and mine are
not different. and that the only ques-
tions are personal ones as TO which
Of Us two is best fitted to be county
chairman and whether the chairman
ship should be at San Benito or
Brownsville. The position of the
Brownsville Sentinel, which is the or
gan of that little crowd or clique
that in recent years has surrounded
Judge Wells and to a large extent
controlled him, can leave no doubt in
ones mind that the machine is solid
ly back of Judge Spears In its issue
OF July 18th. containing the letter of
withdrawal of Judge James B. Wells.
the Sentinel says: The democratic
ideals and standards of Judge James
b. Wells and the Sentinel have been
and are identical. The withdrawal of
Judge Wells will not change
our steadfast adherence and unswerv-
ing allegiance to the principles to
which he has devoted his heart and
brain for more than forty years.
The Sentinel with all its heart and
voice subscribes to and promotes
those principles TO the end. And fur
thermore, those principles we, with
due humility, believe can best be sub
served by the election Of Judge Sam
uel Spears TO the position of chair
man of the county executive commit
tee, and to his election we pledge our
support Could there be clearer state
ment that Judge Wells, Judgs Spears
and the Sentinel stand for exactly the
same principles and ideals? Could il
be more plainly said that the machine
plans TO aid Judge Spears candidacy
with every means within its power?
But let Us look at the course OF
Judge Spears himself, and see wheth
er this support has come TO him un
solicited. As every man in Cameron
county knows. | had no aspirations 70
the office of county chairman. The
Sentinel itself reports that Judge
Wells has recently twice offered me
the position and that | have twice
refused il at his hands. In fact, this
is one Of the great indictments against
me, that | would not take the leader
ship by grace of the machine, but pre-
ferred TO take it only at the request
Of the people. The men who had un-
der my leadership carried the cause
of democracy to triumph in the pre-
cinct conventions on May lst against
the forces Of Baileyism upheld by the
strong support of the Sentinel and the
clique just mentioned, cast about to
find some one 10 again lead the fight
in these primaries against the machine
i'm order to restore the control of the
party TO the majority of the voters.
After had refused to take the lead
ership, to which both my wife and
were opposed, they solicited Judge
Samuel Spears. and also various 9th
ers TO become their candidate for
county chairman. Judge Spears
answer was that he would not make
the race against Judge Wells, and in,
this position he remained inflexible
until after |, yielding TO what appear
ed TO be the popular sentiment, had
decided tc enter the race.
Within few hours after | had fill
Continued, on page six.)