REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS 
 The First 50 Years

(Grand Opera House) SAN ANTONIO, September 18 and 19

The action of the State executive committee in expelling the bolters from the Waco convention brought matters to a head. A Hawley campaign committee was appointed, and at a meeting at Austin, August 21, organization was extended by the appoint ment of congressional and senatorial committees for the purpose of waging an anti-Green campaign in every part of the State. A telegram from Congressman Hawley, who was also National Republican committeeman, was received at the opening of the convention in which he said, "The convention assembled repre sents the great heart and purpose of Republicans throughout all Texas." About a month later the National Republican com mittee recognized the Hawley convention. On October 18, the State executive committee reshaped the State ticket as set forth below.

Officers: Chairman pro tempore, C. M. Ferguson, of Lamar; permanent, Walter T. Burns, of Harris. Secretary, pro tempore, Joseph Tweedy, of Tom Green; permanent, C. L. Humber, of Brazos.

Nominees for State Offices: Governor, R. E. Hannay, of Waller; Lieutenant-Governor, John B. Schmitz, of Denton; Attorney-General, J. McCormick, of Dallas; Comptroller, Joseph Tweedy, of Tom Green ; Treasurer, C. K. McDowell, of Dickens ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, C. G. Brewster, of Webb; Superintendent of Public Instruction, David J. Abner, Jr., of Guadalupe; Railroad Commissioner, Charles B. Peck, of Harris; Supreme Court, J. M. McCormick, of Dallas, and F. B. Stanley, of Tarrant; Court of Criminal Appeals, Charles A. Boynton, of McLennan.

Parties in Texas 439

Presidential Electors: State at large, Paul Fricke, and Wil bur F. Crawford; 1st Congressional district, H. F. McGregor, 2. William R. Roberts, 3. H. C. Manning, 4. Robert A. Oaldwell, 5. Henry E. Taylor, 6. C. W. Starling, 7. Alex G. Armstrong, 8. William Henry Christian, 9. Carl Beck, 10. Harry A. Griffin, 11. William Westhoff, 12. Thomas S. Brockenbrow, 13. William B. Worsham.

Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Senatorial district, W. E. Singleton, 2. H. F. Pierce, 3. J. C. Gibbons, 4. A. Acheson, 5. J. W. George, 6. AY. H. Atwell, chairman, 7. B. F. White, 8. C. C. Flanagan, 9. S. W. Younger, 10. A. M. Morrison, 11. J. H. Childs, 12. M. M. Hayiies, 13. Theodore Miller, 14. E. B. Mentz, 15. U. W. Allen, 16. Charles B. Peck, 17. J. R. Gleed, 18. J. S. Shurmack, 19. J. C. Cain, 20. T. L. Wren, 21. J. D. Leonard, 22, 0. S. York, 23. J. 0. Luby, 24. J. S. F. Kerr, 25. J. A. Smith, 26. C. 0. Harris, 27. T. J. Darling, 28. blank, 29. Capt. Kindred, 30. J. S. Carter, 31. J. B. Schmitz.

PLATFORM 1

[1] Believing that the majority of the people of Texas are honest in thought, ready to give justice, and willing that worthy accomplish ments should be applauded, we here and now make public recognition of the glorious stewardship of President William McKinley. His matchless American policy has been an honorable, reliable guard to the interests of his countrymen, whether they were at home or in foreign lands. In common with the other millions of beneficiaries, we pledge to him and Theodore Roosevelt our united support to the end that the first four years of the new century may bring as many bless- ings to the people as did the last four years of the old.

We remind the voters of Texas that the Republican party both promises and performs. In 1896 business was stagnant, depression had walked unchallenged through commercial, agricultural, and manu facturing interests. The people were bowed down with sorrow and broken obligations. The cry for relief was heard by the Republican party and they shouted in answer that Hope heralded the dawning of a bright day, that if the party of Lincoln and Grant was placed in power labor would again be healthy, the looms should sing, the wheels turn, smokestacks resume their business, the clink of gold be heard on the counters of trade, and products of the soil bring good prices. The people believed; they had heard, believed, and been rewarded many times before. The Republican party was restored to power, and with the counting of the vote that assured the change began the building of fires in the furnaces, the opening of factory doors, the removal of the "crown of thorns from the brow of labor," the busy work of multiplied capital, the payment of just, reasonable, and living prices for products of the field and flock, and thus our hopes met with fruition. We are not an ungrateful people; we, therefore, exclaim, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into a second term."

[2] We commend the gold standard as the correct solution of the money question. We commend a protective tariff. We commend an open door policy with nations that buy our products. We commend the policy which cares for the soldiers who cared for their country. We commend the. men who protect United States soil and the United States flag, whether the soil and flag be on the Eastern or Western Hemisphere. We commend our President and those who stood by him in Congress for their magnificent conduct of the war with Spain. We believe the government was and is right in its dealing with Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. We have no sympathy for those who advocate the furling of the flag, and who refuse to accept the responsibilities and benefits that are the legitimate results of a righteous war.

[3] We denounce, as inimical to the best interests of the people of the State of Texas, the ring rule succession that has prevailed in the Democratic party for the selection of State officers.

[4] We reaffirm our demand for a fair election and an honest count, , and to this end insist that the Australian or some other system of registration and ballot for the voters be adopted for the entire State.

[5] In view of the great injustice wrought to certain important interests in our State, notably the live stock interests, we demand that the railroad commission be removed from partisan politics, and that it be composed of representative members of the leading parties of the State.

[6] We denounce in unmeasured terms the formation of trusts and unlawful combinations of capital in restraint of trade, and we de precate the incompetency of Democratic legislators, out of which has grown the passage of statutes that permit the reincorporation of such trusts as may be the special wards of Democratic politicians.

[7] We condemn the calling of special sessions of the legislature to remedy alleged grievances, thereby entailing upon the tax payers additional burdens of taxation.

[8] We commend to the National government the arranging of appropriations for the improvement of the international waterways of the State of Texas, and especially urge the speedy completion of the Buffalo Bayou and Port Arthur improvements, in the interest of commerce. We also believe that Federal assistance should be rendered to the people of the western portion of the State in storing flood waters for the purpose of irrigating their arid lands.

[9] We especially urge all Texas congressmen to vote and work for the early completion of the Isthmian Canal.

[10] Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the grief-stricken people of Galveston and its adjacent territory. The loss of life and property appalls us, but the same strong hearts and hands that have builded so well we bid again take cheer, and extend our assurance that the people of Texas will assist in replacing everything within their power.

[11] We earnestly indorse the congressional and political career of the Hon. R. B. Hawley, and applaud the good judgment of the people of his district in electing him as their representative, and trust that he will be returned to Congress to the great benefit of his district and the State at large.

[12] We favor the enactment of a just and equitable libel law.

[13] While we deplore all crime, we especially deprecate what is known as lynch law, and recommend that the punishment of all crim inals be by due and speedy operation of law.

[14] Believing in the preservation of party integrity, and that all enactments of law that ultimately result for the good of the people come from thorough party organization and from a respect for the duly elected representatives of the people, and further believing that our great commonwealth has suffered because of the outrages of which we have here complained, and that what we now suggest would be beneficial to all of our people, we most earnestly invite the cooperation of each and every citizen, irrespective of past political affiliations, to unite with us in our efforts for the grandest party in the greatest State of the mightiest Nation of earth.

State Executive Committee: Cecil A. .Lyon, of Grayson, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, H. G. Goree, of Cass; 2. J. A. Hurley, of Hopkins; 3. C. M. Ferguson, of Lamar; 4. C. A. Lyon, of Grayson; 5. W. T. Roach, of Hunt; 6. blank; 7. J. W. Wolf kill, of Gregg; 8. C. C. Flanagan, of Rusk; 9. Henry Dillman, of Navarro; 10. A. M. Morrison, of Ellis; 11. C. A. Boynton, of McLennan; 12. J. A. Myers, of Brazos; 13. Theo. Miller, of Henderson; 14. Charles R. Bone, of Jefferson; 15. U. W. Allen, of Walker; 16. Henry C. Ferguson, of Harris; 17. George E. Neviells, of Galveston; 18. M. V. Stapleton, of Colorado; 19. W. E. Dwyer, of Washington; 20. T. L. Wren, of Travis; 21. L. D. Simmons, of Hays; 22. G. R. Townsend, of Victoria; 23. James Durst, of Nueces; 24. George H Noonan, of Bexar; 25. Joseph Tweedy, of Tom Green; 26. Marshall Smith, of Brown; 27. J. E. Williams, of Hamilton; 28. D. G. Hunt, of Eastland; 29 J. E. Lutz, of Wilbarger; 30. F. B. Stanley, of Tarrant; 31. George A. Knight, of Montague.