Democratic Party in El Paso

• Sonnichsen, Pass of the North  p. 193 Charles H. Howard, Missouri lawyer, exceptional mostly because he was a dedicated Democrat,  came to town in 1872 to do battle with the entrenched Republicans.  He joined with Cardis (who controlled the Mexican vote) to run against James P. Hague for district attorney in 1872. 
   
• p.348-353  In 1892 Mexicans from second ward were forced to vote democrat.   in 1883 party affiliations were still unimportant.  both Democrats  and Republicans united to petition Joseph Magoffin to run for mayor again.
   
• p.350 most powerful man among Democrats was Charles R. Morehead  and the influence of the "Morehead Bank Gang". 
   
• March 17, 1889 EP Times article -- both parties conducted primaries shortly thereafter for the first time in history.  Krakauer vs. Morehead  1889, first excursion into full scale party politics.  fraud/corruption  Krakauer won, republicans took city hall by siege, Krakuer was discovered not to be an American citizen, special election June 29, democrat Richard Caples was installed and got HIS citizenship papers the day before the election   
   
• El Paso Times article July 8, 1888  Democratic County Convention held yesterday.  Procedings, delegates to be elected, Cleveland endorsed.  Party lines to be drawn.  4:2 3 columns.   
   
• Out of the desert - the historical romance of El Paso but cited in the Sonnichsen book, p. 220  Haven't seen.  
   
• Politics at El Paso, 1850-1920  by Jack Vowell (Master's Thesis)  Looks very good, but I haven't seen it yet.   
   
• Forty years at El Paso, 1858-1898. by W. W. Mills p.149 mentions Charles Howard.  may be more.  I haven't seen this. 

page compiled by Rachel Murphree Last updated 01/22/2008