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City Executive The Men by whom our city affairs are directed The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, December 9, 1888 pg. 1 H. TONE - MAYOR H. Tone, Esq., is one of Denison's earliest pioneer citizens. He came to the city (or rather to its prospective site) when there was nothing here but woods and ambition, and there is no chapter in the city's book of progress in which his name is not written. He made the first conveyance of Denison dirt that was ever made, and has continued to maintain its precedence in this line by doing the great bulk of the aggregate conveyancing business. The strength and flexibility of his memory are a marvel to his friends, and it is with no unwarranted effusiveness that he has been called a walking encyclopedia of the city's history. He was first elected to the City Council in April 1874, where during six successive terms he labored indefatigably for the city's interest. In April of the present year his name was put in nomination for the mayoralty, and after the warmest municipal campaign in the history of this city he was elected to office by a handsome majority. Mr. Tone's vast knowledge of municipal affairs, and particularly of Denison's history, coupled with his eminent executive ability, fit him in a distinguished sense for his present responsible position, and Denison's observant citizens will agree with us when we steal a phrase from the country editor, and say, "He is the right man in the right place." I.M. STANDIFER - RECORDER Among the men filling the official stations in the gift of the city we have none more worthy of remark than Mr. I.M. Standifer, city recorder. Mr. Standifer is most emphatically a Denisonian. His citizenship dates back to the city's infancy, and with the exception of the terms spent at college his residence here has been uninterrupted. It was here that he studied law, from here that he went to the University of Virginia to complete his college course, here he returned when that course was completed, and here he was in 1880 admitted to the Grayson County bar. During the eight years he has been in practice he has met with a success such as indomitable courage and sterling worth alone can win. Step by step he has advanced from one stage of honorable recognition to another until there is no practitioner at the Grayson County bar whose opposition is more apprehended, or in whose judgment greater reliance is placed. In his practice he unites the audacity of youth, with the circumspection of mature years, and scores his achievements by methods which are a striking mixture of prudence and intrepidity. As a speaker he is ready, cogent and convincing, and his effect upon the jury is best attested by the brilliant victories he has achieved throughout the State in important civil and criminal cases. He was elected to his present responsible position in April of the present year, since which time he has gained the same notoriety for the justice of his judgments that he formerly enjoyed for his legal knowledge and skill. D.O. HAUSE - CITY ATTORNEY Major D.O. Hause, Denison's popular city attorney, has been a prominent figure in the legal arena of Denison for the past six years. He came to Texas from Illinois in 1883, and established himself in Denison, where his marked forensic talents and distinct legal ability secured for him at once an ample and lucrative practice. In 1885 he was elected to the charge of the city's legal affairs - a capacity in which he has distinguished himself for a soundness of judgment and wealth of professional resource which has saved the city many a vexatious lawsuit and secured her victories in unavoidable cases where the chances were all against success. Conspicuous among these well-earned triumphs may be mentioned the Refrigerator bond suits, which for so many years harassed the city. These suits were first brought in 1876 in district court at Tyler, where the varying judgments they were carried through term after term of court, until upon the creation of the Dallas District in 1879 they were transfered there. At the time of Major Hause's election they were already a well recognized feature at each court term of this court, and with no prospect of reaching a conclusion, were dragging their weary length along. Upon this vexatious legal involvement Major Hause put a quietus in two distinct victories, the last, in May of the present year, ridding the city effectively of the incubus she had been carrying for years. Evidence of his diplomatic skill might be found in his settlement of the Welsh damage suit, in which a claim of $13,500 was made against the city by reason of detective bridge near the Star Store. By Major Hause's close attention to this case and his energy in getting up the evidence for the city, only judgment for $250 was rendered against the city. But this is only one among many circumstances pointing in the same direction. Major Hause has been most indefatigable in defending the city's interest, and in doing so, it is but just to state he has sacrificed much of his private practice. The Gazetteer is not appraised of the Major's intentions respecting another candidacy, but feels constrained to say that should he offer again for the position, no more able or worthy candidate can be found. N.S. ERNST - CITY TREASURER Mr. N.S. Ernst, the popular custodian of our city's finances, would furnish an excellent text for a sermon on the ways of achieving success. Mr. Ernst came to Denison in October 1883 as a clerk in the employee of the State National Bank, then just established in the city. He did not try at once to coerce the town into an appreciation of his abilities, but by a zealous application to the duties of his position, was not long in making apparent the value of his services. With the recognition of his worth by the directory, promotion came, which being carried forward as his merits have deserved, he is found today vice-president of the institution, as well as a member of its directory. In 1885 he was elected city treasurer, and two years later was returned to the same office by acclamation. The eminent personal traits and business qualifications which have conspired to his advancement in a business sense, have operated to his advantage politically. His administration of the city's finances has been such as his well-established integrity and pre-eminent knowledge of accounts had led the people to expect, while his personal dealings with the public have been reciprocal in a marked degree. He has never poised as the man who "asks no favors and extends none," but penetrated with the conviction that this is a world of co-operation, he disdains no courtesy that is kindly offered, and refuses no aid that he can conscientiously afford to bestow. These characteristics have led to preferment in mediocrity, and their possession by Mr. Ernst, coupled with the highest order of executive ability, augurs for him a future of which his present eminence is but the beginning. 
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