REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS 
 The First 50 Years

SAN ANTONIO, August 8

This convention marked the reunion of the Progressives and Republicans in Texas.

Officers: Chairman pro tempore, Tom J. Darling, of Bell; permanent, E. E. Diggs, of Childress. Secretary pro tempore. John van Demark, of Harris, and Charles W. Beck, of Hill.

Nominees for State Offices: Governor, R. B. Creager, of Cameron; Lieutenant-Governor, Jerry L. Hickson, of Cooke; Attorney-General, G. N. Harrison, of Brown ; Comptroller, Tom J. Darling, of Bell; Treasurer, C. 0. Fowlkes, of Val Verde; Commissioner of the General Land Office, A. H. Johnson, of Eastland ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. G. McClain, of Ellis; Railroad Commissioner, Dupont B. Lyon, of Grayson; Commissioner of Agriculture, Alvin Horborth, of Guadalupe; Supreme Court, J. Walter Cocke, of McLennan, and Charles A. Lord, of Jefferson ; Court of Criminal Appeals, O. .S. York, of Galveston ; Congressmen at large, Charles A. Warnken, of Harris, and M. A. Taylor, of Fannin; United States Senator, Dr. A. W. Acheson, of Grayson.

Committee on Platform and Resolutions: D. H. Morris, of Cass; R, H. Dunn, of Jefferson; E. Breen, of Wood; Dr. W. A. Acheson, of Grayson; B. F. Crews, of Ellis; J. W. A. Clark, of Navarro ; George W. Burkett, of Anderson ; H. F. MacGregor, of Harris, chairman ; Oscar B. Nau, of Lavaca ; W. A. McElroy, of Hays, secretary; M. M. Patterson, of McLennan; II. J. Zweifel, of Bowie; George A. Knight, of Montague; G. N. Harrison, of Brown; H. D. Jeffries, of Webb; U. S. Goen, of El Paso.

PLATFORM

The Republican party of Texas, in convention assembled, at San Antonio, August 8, 1916, pledges the support of a reunited party to its distinguished National standard bearers, the Hon. Charles E. Hughes, for President, and the Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, for Vice-President, of the United States, and to the nominees of the Republican party for State, district, and local offices. It reaffirms its faith in the constructive principles and policies that have made the United States under Republican National administrations the greatest Republic. It reasserts its mission to continue the work of National achievement and commit the American people to that standard of excellence expressed by its presidential nominee, standing single-mindedly with him for an America, conscious of power, awake to obligation, erect in self-respect, prepared for every emergency, devoted to the ideals of peace, instinct with the spirit of human brotherhood, safeguarding both individual opportunity and the public interest, maintaining a well-ordered constitutional sys- tem adapted to local self-government without the sacrifice of essential National authority, appreciating the necessity of stability, expert knowledge, and thorough organization as the indispensable conditions of security and progress; a country loved by its citizens with a patriotic fervor, permitting no division in their allegiance, and no rivals in their affection. America first and America efficient.

It indorses and approves the indictment of the Democratic National administration in its dealings with Mexico, made by the Republican presidential nominee in his acceptance address. It extends its sympathy to the people of the nations of Europe at war and to our people who are connected by ties of kinship or friendship with those engaged in strife. It is opposed to the doctrine of the gospel of hate and favors every effort to obtain an honorable peace. It specially commends the work of the League to Enforce Peace and to establish an international tribunal to enforce among all nations a permanent peace.

It favors as agencies of progressive development supported by appropriate laws: The protective tariff policy for the protection of the American farmer, laborer, and manufacturer and for the stimulation of industrial activities. The establishment of a tariff commission to investigate and recommend rates; adequate preparedness to insure the preservation of peace; efficiency and consistency in conducting our foreign relations, that the lives and property of American citizens be not sacrificed through incompetency; the preservation of the constitutional guarantees of individual liberty and the protection of individuals in the enjoyment and ownership of property at home and abroad.

A return to a representative democracy in selecting public officers by limiting the primary system to the selection of local officers and delegates to nominating conventions. We denounce the primary election laws of Texas, devised by the Democratic party to perpetuate its power. It has proved a failure as an instrumentality of government; rendering it impossible for the office to seek the man; opened a fertile field for the demagogue; enabling a small minority to elect men to office, and rendered costly campaigns in which the issues are isms, and the arguments slander and vituperation, and has deprived the Democratic party of the control of government and placed it in the hands of a faction of that party.

[Here follows a verbatim copy of paragraphs (c), (d), (f) to (r) of the Republican platform of 1914.]

[The next paragraph in order of the 1914 platform is copied verbatim with following exceptions: The ninth sentence has been added to, so as to read: "Extravagant fees have been paid and legalized graft has been dominant." Following sentence has been interpolated between the two sentences at the end of the paragraph: "Open charge is made by Democrats against officials of the State, and official mismanagement shown justifies a change."]

[Planks 1 and 2 of the 1914 platform are copied verbatim with following addition to the latter: "We urge the necessity for greater attention being paid to industrial and vocational education in the public free schools of Texas."]

[Planks 3 to 11 of the 1914 platform are copied verbatim.]

Providing that amendments to the constitution of the State, and particularly those creating great public interest like the prohibition and women's suffrage questions that are nonpartisan, should be submitted to the voters at special elections on years that general elections are not held, and that same may not be constantly agitating the public to the detriment of other important matters affecting the welfare of the State, and when submitted shall settle the question for a definite term of six years.

We commend the patriotic service rendered to the State of Texas in a nonpartisan way by the Economic League in its campaign of education attracting to the public attention the many existing abuses and needed reforms in our laws and the administration thereof and the need for constructive leadership.

State Executive Committee: Phil E. Baer, of Lamar, chairman.