the principles and policies of the Democratic Party. He was essentially broad-minded and was widely regarded for his Christian charity and civic minded principals. He was regarded as a "dyed-in-the-wool" Democrat. As well as working for the newspaper, Blaylock was the commissioner of police from 1903-06, for the Dallas Police Department between 1901 and 1904, as well as serving as both police and fire commissioner between 1913 and 1915. He performed these jobs as a gift to the people of Dallas, declining a salary. After serving as Park Commissioner, he served as City Administer and Finance Commissioner from 1919 until 1923. He served as Finance Commissioner at the time of his mayoral nomination in 1923. January 31, 1923, the executive committee of the Dallas Citizens Association, a nonpartisan group which felt strongly that municipal government should not consist of citizens who had allegiance to a national or special party (the Klan in this case), dubbed the ticket for their nominee the "Blaylock Ticket," and the "Harmony Ticket". Much to their surprise, the Democratic party also nominated Blaylock on a full Democratic ticket. The candidates were announced Feb 7, 1923. Blaylock was puzzled as to what to do, and chose to accept the nomination from his party. The Association withdrew his name and substituted Marvin E. Martin. The "harmony" quickly vanished and a full-fledged mudslinging campaign got underway. The Dallas Citizens Association painted the Democratic candidates as either members of the Klan, or sympathetic with the Klan through the use of a questionnaire distributed to candidates(1). As Finance Commissioner, Blaylock continually stated in his speeches, that "We are trying to conduct a decent campaign with out mud slinging. I feel the Democratic candidates all have the best interest of all the people Dallas at heart and will administer the government for all the people with out any special favors for any"(2). April 3 brought the public to the polls. On April 4, the headlines read: "Entire Democratic Ticket Headed by Blaylock is swept into Office"(3). Mayor-elect Blaylock had won by a 2-1 majority. "It was a landslide; an avalanche; a Texas Tornado that swept the opposition into a slough of utter defeat. Old man Blaylock ran like a greyhound after a jackrabbit"(4). Prior to and during his mayorship, he supported and nurtured the first Dallas city plan developed by George Kessler in 1910. The articles in order are: Article 1. Origin