REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS 
 The First 50 Years

AUSTIN, March 24-26

The efforts of the managers of the several candidates for the presidential nomination to line up the largest number of dele gates resulted in many contests. Much depended upon the action of the credentials committee. Apparently the McKinley supporters were in the majority, but a combination of the Allison and Reed men, under the leadership of N. W. Cuney, captured the temporary organization of the convention. The attendance was very large. Rumors that there would be a split preceded the assembling of the convention.

Officers: Chairman, N. W. Cuney, of Galveston. Secretary, D. C. Kolp, of Wichita. The temporary officers were made permanent.

Delegates to the National Convention: State at large, N. W. Cuney, W. M. Makemson, E. H. Terrell, H. C. Ferguson.

Presidential Electors: State at large, G. G. Clifford, of Bexar, Eugene Marshall, of Dallas.

Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, B. Ripsdorph, 2. P. J. Dennis, 3. Webster Flanagan, 4. C. M. Ferguson, 5. R. M. McConnell, 6. J. M. McCormick, 7. L. B. Kinchion, 8. Dr. W. E. Davis, 9. Henry C. Gray, 10. R. B. Hawley, chairman, 11. R. B. Rentfro, 12. George B. Jackson, 13. J. C. Minton.

PLATFORM

1. We reaffirm the historic adherence of the Republican party to sound finance. We demand an honest dollar of greatest purchasing power for every class alike. The largest issue of gold, silver, and paper compatible with security and the requirements of the trade, all of equal value, interchangeable one for the other, every dollar resting on gold coin as the only money of final redemption. The Republicans of Texas declare this to be in their deliberate judgment the only basis for a large and liberal circulation of money and for the maintenance of confidence.

[2] We reaffirm the American doctrine of protection. Under its influence every legitimate enterprise will revive, labor will be employed, and the earning power of every laborer in every field will be enhanced. We denounce the Democratic Gorman-Wilson bill as a pre- tense and a fraud. Professing a reduction of the tariff, it struck down the greatest interest of the South, which for thirty years has been protected under Republican administration. We demand the reenactment of a tariff which shall provide ample revenues for the expenses of the government and secure for American labor in every part of our country protection against the invasion of the products of the pauper labor of Europe and of Asia, where children of tender years and every member of every family are required to labor on starvation wages without education and without hope.

[3] We are in favor of the maintenance of every American right as defined by the Monroe doctrine, and sympathize with all people struggling for liberty, but we oppose the unnecessary acquisition of new territory, or the involving of our country in foreign complications as contrary to the traditions and history of our country.

[4] We view with satisfaction and pride the growth of Republican sentiment in the South and, relying on the force of a healthy public opinion, demanding fair and honest elections, we believe that further legislation on this subject by Congress is undesirable and unnecessary.

[5] We view with alarm the character of much of the foreign immigration now entering our country and demand the enactment of more stringent laws, fixing a standard of requirements for all immigrants, based upon moral and physical health and intelligence.

Additional Resolution

[6] Resolved, that we demand that wool, hides, cattle, sugar, and lumber shall be provided by Congress with that character of protection which these great industries warrant and require.