San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-16
STILL US BLACK BOYS

A classic phrase was coined by the
street commissioner of the present adj
ADMINISTRATION. 1t was "Us Black Boys.
1t became the trade mark for inefficiency
and bungling in city affairs. 1t became
synonomous for deficits, chickering's, pet
ty squabbles, wasted time and high taxes,
To "Us Black Boys" belongs all of the
odium attaching to the Black admins
tration. 1t was "Us Black Boys" who
spent the money that depleted the city
treasury and left San Antonio with TN
kempt, dirty streets, unrepaired pave
ments and paralyzed public service.
To "Us Black Boys" goes the credit
for the ingenious scheme Whereby the
little home owner of San Antonio had
his property valuations raised to double
or more, out of all proportion to the
valuations on business property owned
by friends of the administration in the
downtown section.
1t was us Black Boys" who solemnly
pledged the voters of San Antonio be-
fore election that they would reduce
taxes and who could not find anathemas
enough to hurl at the preceding admin
istration on the question OF taxation.
Yet they put the highest taxes on San
Antonio in the city's history and spent
the money for what?
aus Black BOYS" stand for city
political machine based upon petty jobs
even down to the day laborer resulting
in a grand jury investigation of at least
one case.
"Us Black Boys" with only one term
in office, lacked the nerve to go before
the greatest jury on earth, the people
at the polls, with their record. They
were afraid to run in the face of the
showing they had made. They dared
not face the people and be asked the
|question: "Why didn't YOU keep the
promises you made"
Confronted with this dilemma, five
inexperienced men were. put forward for
city office. They are to receive the
support of "Us Black Boys" and such
voters as can be influenced by the pres
ent city administration. Behind them
are the men who used the Black admin
istration for all it was worth and who
helped more than any other single clc-
ment, to bring about the downfall of
"Us Black Boys"
This ticket starts the race handicapped
by the Black administration to which
it must look for its chief support. 1t
starts the race handicapped by being
obliged to tell the people why o. B.
Black and his colleagues raised their
taxes after pledging to lower them. 1t
starts the race compelled to deny the
VERY administration that brought the
ticket into being and to whom it must
look for any support it may receive in
a political way. 1t starts the race dis
credited by the company it keeps.
This ticket is merely "Us Black Boys
re-incarnated, carrying the Black ban
ners, running on platform of higher
taxes, broken pledges and inefficiency
in office. In view of what Black has
done, it can not promise anything be-
cause it can give no guarantees that il
will keep its promises any better than
Black has kept his promises
In the face of such situation, it is
small wonder that the voters are openly
and publicly proclaiming that they want
no more experiments at the city hall
If San Antonio is to be saved from
utter Bankruptcy and taxation system
that will confiscatc private property. Tho
present regime must be cut short at tho
polls. The election of the Black tickle
merely means repetition of "Us Blacl
Boys" and Generalization in city affairs
San Antonio can not afford it.