REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS 
 The First 50 Years

The split in the Republican party was adjusted amicably by the chairmen of the two factions ; Dr. Cochran withdrew in favor of ex-Governor Davis. In his address at the opening of the State convention, Chairman Davis advised that body to pay less attention to National affairs and to devote more attention to Texas affairs.

Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Wm. Chambers, of Chambers; permanent, E. J. Davis, of Travis. Vice-Presidents, Alex Lane, of Harrison; Webb Flanagan, of Rusk; Geo. Hawkins, of Dallas: T. J. McHugh, of Robertson; Richard Allen, of Harris; W. M. Burton, of Fort Bend: A. Siemering, of Bexar;

F. Malloy, of Marion ; B. H. Dodson, of Hopkins ; Lock McDaniel, of Grimes. Secretary pro tempore, N. W. Cuney, of Galveston ; permanent, Richard Nelson, of Galveston.

Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, E. J. Davis. Webb Flanagan, A. B. Norton and W. H. Holland ; 1st Congressional district, G. M. Dilley and Wm. Chambers, 2. A.G. Malloy and W. H. Hakes, 3. C. C. Binkley and D. A. Robertson, 4. J. G. Tracy and W. R. Chase, 5. N. W. Cuney and R. A. Harvin, 6. A. Siemering and E. H. Terrell.

Presidential Electors: State at large, J. R. Burns and J. P. Newcomb; 1st Congressional district, S. D. Wood, 2. F. W. Miner, 3. W. H. Andrews, 4. P. Osterhout, 5. Julius Sehutze, 6. Wm. Westhoff.

Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. G. Tracy, chairman, fifteen members whose names have not been found.

PLATFORM 

We, your Committee on Platform and Resolutions, beg leave to report that, after a full consideration of the resolutions submitted to us, report the following, and recommend their adoption:

1. We hold it to be the duty of the United States government to secure to every citizen the free exercise of the elective franchise in all elections for President and Vice-President and members of Congress.

2. We are in favor of the use of both gold and silver as currency, but we believe that a dollar, whether of gold or silver, should approximate to each other in value as nearly as possible.

3. We do not consider it expedient for this Convention to make nominations for State offices, but we delegate to the State executive committee the authority to call a future State convention to decide on that subject, if, in their opinion, the public sentiment shall hereafter indicate that a convention is desirable.

4. We hold the following to be among the highest duties of our State government:

(1) To establish an efficient system of free public schools, to be supported by a liberal appropriation of the public revenue in addition to the income of the permanent school fund.

(2) To give efficient protection to every citizen in the State in the free use and enjoyment of all the rights guaranteed by the constitution and laws of the State, among which we recognize the enjoyment and free expression of their opinions upon all subjects.

(3) To suppress and punish all violence and mob law of every description, both of which have heretofore been so common as to bring disrepute upon our State, and we regret to see that such acts have often occurred without any sign of official rebuke from the chief executive, whose duty it is to see that the laws are faithfully executed.

(4) We also hold it to be the duty of the State government to invite and encourage immigration to our State.

5. That we denounce the Democratic party of Texas for in- flicting upon the people of the State the obnoxious measures known as the present Sunday and Bell Punch laws, regarding the former as restrictive of personal liberty, and the latter as a" piece of jobbery, projected in the interest of speculators, and that we favor the reenactment of the Sunday law previously in force.

6. That we denounce the present occupation tax and the manner of collecting the same as oppressive and unjust.

7. That the Democratic party of Texas deserves the* censure of all good people of. the State on account of the reckless, extravagant, expensive method by which the party has attempted to administer the State government since it has had control of the same, as particularly instanced in the creation and establishment of use- less and expensive offices, which are created solely for the purpose of rewarding political favorites without regard to the public necessities or the wishes of the people.

Additional Resolution

[8] While the Republicans of Texas, in convention assembled, recognize the fact that U. S. Grant is the first choice of the Republicans of Texas, it is deemed inexpedient to give delegates to the Chicago convention any other instructions than to vote as a unit in the ballot for President.

State Executive Committee: E. J. Davis, chairman.

MEETING OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1

Exercising the powers conferred upon it, the State executive committee met at Hearne on August 25, 1880, and named the following candidates for State offices: Governor, E. J. Davis, of Travis ; Lieutenant-Governor, A. Siemering, of Bexar ; Attorney-General, J. A. McAdoo, of Washington; Comptroller, S. D. Wood, of Smith; Treasurer, J. W. Thomas, of Collin; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Comal; Judge of the Court of Appeals, J. B. Williamson, of Harrison.

An executive campaign committee, too, was appointed, with power to enter into agreements with other parties.