The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 8

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

was chosen to fill the unexpired term. Stephen Boyard, a leader
of the Guaraches, was serving as city marshal. The city offices
were held by members of both political factions; the city
marshal and two aldermen were of the Guarache faith, the
mayor and other officials being of the Bota persuasion. From
the start the campaign showed that it would be a bitter politi-
cal fight and a close election. According to the Laredo Times
of February 28, 1886: "The municipal campaign so far has
been under the rose, but for all that there has been a world
without end of wire-pulling, mining and countermining; and
no man knows absolutely sure the foundation of his standing.
The next few days may develop some things, though from
present appearances it is all going to be one way. Boyard may
pull through, but he is the only one."
As the campaign grew warmer, both political factions held
regular weekly processions, making political speeches and
shooting and creating excitement. The Botas resorted to the
old time-honored custom of making a noise, by shooting anvils.
The Guarache party was more fortunate; J. Z. Leyendecker, who
had formerly been postmaster at Laredo, had come into pos-
session of two old cannon that had been brought to Laredo
in the early days to use against the Indians, and later saw
service with the Confederate forces in Laredo. These cannon,
after their apparent usefulness had ceased, had been placed in
the ground, muzzle down, and used as hitching posts in front
of the post office. The Guaraches took one of these cannon out,
mounted it on wheels, painted it a nice yellow color to simulate
brass, loaded it with powder and fired it off during their torch-
light processions. They even put a red shirt on one of their
followers and had him act as cannoneer. In this way more
noise could be created and more dignity was lent to their pa-
rades. As the campaign waxed warmer, the feeling became
more bitter; at times the processions of the two parties would
come in close contact with each other, and it was only by the
timely intervention of the cooler heads that physical combat
was avoided. The saloons did a thriving business with the can-
didates and the prospective voters, causing the Laredo Times
in its issue of March 7, 1886, to remark: "Laredo gets mashed
on the Anheuser-Busch beers every election; and the demand is
so great as never was. Election bums are pouring in from
the country, and stand in lively expectation just in front of
every bar in town."