Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 21, 1900 Page: 1 of 16
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53
Vol XX No. 25.
DALLAS. TEXAS, THURSDAY. JUNE 21,1900.
$1 Per Annuo*
THE COMING STATE CAMPAIGN.
Suggestions for a Proportional Repre
sentative Ticket.
Editor Mercury:
The state campaign is on. And the
question arises, How shall the forces
opposed to the present reigning state
oligarchy be concentrated like the al-
lied powers concentrated and co-operat-
ed at Waterloo for the overthrow of
the "Terror of all Europe," somewhat
like Jefferson and Hamilton over Burr
and Washington co-operation in 1776
for the overthrow of King George
That this concentration is absolutely
necessary for the overthrow of our
present inopportune and derelict, state
bovernment is evident to all conserv-
ative men.
These are two propositions that no
considerate citizen, unless he be* a
mere thick and thin portion of the
present ruling oligarchy, can deny:
1. There is an absolute and outcry-
ing necessity for "seeing the books" of
our state government, so long kept by
one set of interested and incompetent,
if not corrupt, partisans. The seeing
and balancing of these books would,
without the least doubt, show millions
of acres of school land short, million
of dollars of school funds bottled up
and idle in the treasury valuts. all pub-
lic lands in an utter state of chaos; all
tax laws for raising revenue utterly
partial and discriminating against mer-
itorious classes of citizens; the judicial
system so clogged that it has become
an absolute obstruction to the admin-
istration of justice; all public elemosy •
nary institutions, such as that for lu-
natics, deaf and dumb, etc., in a bad
condition and not fulfidding the noble
missions for which they were intend-
ed. In fact, there is no doubt that "the
seeing of the books" of our state gov-
ernment would fully establish the ab-
solute truthfulness of the plank in the
Democratic national platform of 1883,
which says that "All history proves
that a long continued lease of power
in the same hands breeds inefficiency
and corruption."
2. That no even half-sensible man
can but see that in order to overthrew
this inopportune and derelict state ol-
igarchy there must be a union of all
voters in Texas who, utterly regardless
of partisan prejudice, only desire good
government. Such a union is demand-
ed by every distafe of judgment and
justice, demanded by common sense
and founded on the divine law that the
wisdom of the children of this world
should be coupled with the graces of
the children of light.
Otherwise, Napoleon continues to
reign and to ravage; and King George
continues to rule and despoil, regard-
less of the Jeffersons and Hamiiltons
and Washingtons.
For one, I am distinctly in favor of
all voters in Texas who have reason
to believe that a betterment of our
state government is desirable, if not
absolutely necessary, uniting for the
one sole purpose Of trying to alter
change or abolish the manifest evils
with which we are beset, and in place
of these evils make a united and honest
endeavor to substitute such bood as
will be acceptable and beneficial to
men who desire good government for
good government's sake.
The move can be based on the
grounds of wise policy or expediency;
or on principle, which is altogether
righteous.
An altogether wise and "ighteous
principle is that of proportionate rep-
resentation; that is, that all parties
should be represented in the govern-
ment councils in proportion to their
numbers and interests.
This principle applies to the busi-
ness meetings of all joint-stock comp-
anies.
For disregard of the principle that
taxation and representation should go
together, was the leading conipaint of
1776 against King George. No man can
oppose this principle of giving each
and all a fair and equal show for h'.s
goods, who has mere ordinary regard
for his neighbors' rights, to say noth-
ing of his neighbors' welfare. None
but selfish, pin-headed and pig-headed
partisans of the devilish "holier thun
thou" sect, who desire to dominate
over their neighbor without his con-
sent, can oppose it.
Then, let a state ticket be selected
in the coming campaign in Texas, bas-
ed on the principle of proportional rep-
resentation. Let this ticket take the
fleid against any and all brass-collar
partisan tickets, and Napoleon, arro-
gant with long lease of power, will go
down before the allied forces of good,
honest Populists, Republicans. Demo-
crats and Socialists.
So far as I am concerned, I would
prefer such a ticket to a straignt brass-
collar party ticket of even my own par-
ty. I know that a government run by
such a force would be better for the
people than one run by a select co-
terie of partisans of one party.
Let us have suggestions and action
on above lines.
In case we find that partisanism is
not altogether submerged and swept
away by a turbid flood of partisanism.
or that there is yet left some \*ho have
the courage of their convictions, to
hue to the line of getting a government
of the people, for the people, and by
the people, in place of a government of
the politicians, for the politicians and
by the politicians, and such will make
an effort on lines herein indicated, I
suggest a plain and practicable way of
getting such a ticket in the field.
Thomas B. King.
Stephenville, Tex., June 12.
WILL WIN IN THE END.
There is not now and never was a
sensible reason why any man who is
dissatisfied with the conditions which
environ productive labor, should vote
for any candidate put forward by eith-
er of the old parties, is an open co 1-
fession that you have been acting con-
trary to your best judgment in advo-
cating these reforms. It is an endorse-
ment of all the evils you have com-
plained of and adds strength to the
element which for years has been the
enslaver of the common people. Many
a good Populist influenced by personal
regard for some good man, has de-
bauched his conscience and lowered
his self-respect by going into the old
party primary, merely to "aid a
friend" in his effort to secure a place
at the old party pie counter. Shame
on such men! It were far better to
refuse to vote in the general election
thon to vote for either of the tickets
put out by the authors of all our trou-
bles. Whether McKinley or Bryan be
elected in November, there will be no
beneficial legislation enacted. The
same people who have gotten this
country into the present unsatisfactory
condition, will continue the methods
and measures which brought it about.
The true reformer will persistently
and intelligently continue to advocate
those measures which his judgment
dictates to be for the best good to all
the people, and will refuse to be drawn
into the meshes of the net set for
him by designing demagogues. Fideli-
ty to principle is far more honorable
than friendship for individuals.
WHO WILL SECOND THE MOTION?
methods in politics and will continue
to do so as long as life lasts.
I endorse your course in exposing
the Bradley-Tracy-Davis plot to sell us
out again to the Democracy.
Now, having cleansed the house,
"thrown over the transom" the vermin
and filth that produced the well-nigh
fatal disease known as Fusion, let us
go to work in earnest for success.
As a starter in the right direction, let
us select an honest and sober man to
run for governor. To get my support,
he must be possessed of these two
traits. We want no playing practical
politics. We are waging a battle for a
great principle. Hence we need to di-
vest ourselves of all the barnacles that
have fastened themselves on the hull
of our ship of Reform.
While we have a number of men who
are well qualified to fill all the offices,
as a party we are so poor that there
are-very few in our ranks able to nrtfker
the race for governor. So, to overcome
this great drawback I want to make
this proposition: Let us nominate that
tried and true Populist, J. M. Perdue!
A purer man does not live. But I
know that he is not able financially to
make the campaign. So I propose to
be one of 1000 men to contribute $1
towards a fun of $1000 to enable hii.i
to make the race. The money to be
sent through the Mercury and turned
over to Bro. Perdue the day he is nom-
inated.
What say you, brothers? Speak out
quick through the Mercury.—G. Mal-
com, Malkoff, Texas.
4,
THE INDIAN FAMINE.
I am now in my 81st year, having
been a voter 60 years. For 45 of the 60
years, I voted the Demcratic ticket. For
15 years T have advocated cleaner
Many big-hearted, charitable pers-
ons are donating liberally in aid of
the suffering millions in India, little
considering there are storehouses and
graneries in that country bursting
with food. The cause of the suffering
is not because there is no bread in
that country. It is because the land-
lords and other lords have reduced tho
circulation of money in India till a
man's wages will not bring bread suf-
ficient to keep him and his family
from starving. It Is said the govern-
ment is offering work to the laboring
people on the public roads and other
Internal projects. Here are the wages
the receive:
An able-bodied man .. 3 cents per day
Women 2% cents per day
Children 2 cents per day
No work no pay, and no money no
grain. The American philanthropists
are expected to bring up the deficit
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Park, Milton. Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 21, 1900, newspaper, June 21, 1900; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185856/m1/1/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .