Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-12-10
IN OUR
VALLEY
R TOWNSVILLE held a different
- e;tv alac+;c. a. .L

hOWNSVILLE held different
city election the other day.
Different" to the older residents of
the city rather than to the new.
Back Of 1914 city elections in Browns
vile were quite spectacular affairs.
There were two parties. one known
as the Reds" the other as the
"Blues."
On the night before election day
there were parades. Red fire was
used by the Reds. The Blues also
made themselves heard. If the route
of the parades happened to bring them
together, there were busted" noses
and other personal damages, physical
The next morning the two factions
lined up at the polls. One line was
made up of "Reds, the other "Blues. :"
Each side wore appropriate badges. The
lines continued until the voting was
completed. Each side voted man, al
tefnately.
The line that held out longest. as
some. recall it, was the victor in the
election.
In addition. there were Texas rang
ers with rifles. Local peace officers
were there a-plenty. Cowponies can
tered hither and thither.
Yes, elections in Brownsville were
spectacular in those days.
Some newcomers wonder how it is
THAT many Of our local political leaders
seem to know exactly what to expect
of particular voter when he sees him
go to the polling place.
It's simple. Most of them had their
baptism Of fire" back in the early
days when local politics was almost
part of their schooling. They grew up
with our Texas Mexican citizens, went
to school With them, into campaigns
with them. Merely by observing they
came to know what any certain voter
would do under given set of circum-
stances
And the reason for it all was that
back in the early days of Brownsville
the principal industry here was not
farming, but holding public office of
one kind or another. st
Living was serious business then
Lima Brothers. Ii years, writes de-
scription in the Weslaco News of what
he believes the Valley will be in 1885.
Sin 1885, says syoung Brothers, 'the
Valley-will have changed its name to
Delta. And IL 1t grows in the next ten
years, compared TO the last three it
will be a wonderful place. 1t will be
covered with network of railroads,
which will be much better for trans
portation. making il cheaper and quick
er service.
"Our county road Mile Five will be
Il 10, al,
from our county park at Llano Grande
to Mile Is, which will have beautiful
town there.
with every accommodation for the vast
amount of visitors and homeseekers
than anywhere in the world.
"Bay east of Brownsville with its
two miles of lovely beach, will be the
most secluded and beautiful place, with
its many summer cottages where the
Valley residents can spend their vaca-
tions and drink in the breeze from the
Gulf of Mexico.
Point Isabel will be our most won
derful harbor, where large ships from
England, Scotland and Germany will
bring US their merchandise and we will
send them the products we raise in
the Valley. such as cotton, corn, hemp.
lemons, oranges and grapefruit. the
best grown anywhere in the world, and
we will also send them canned goods
for the Valley will be full of canning
factories, to use up the surplus vege-
tables"
Young Brothers also foresees mills
for the manufacture of ginghams and
much Of the yard goods that is being
shipped in now.
1ney are bringing up brilliant
young industrialist UP there at Wes-
laco.