Changes

Flanagan was a member of the state's Constitutional Convention of 1875.<ref name=tshabio/><ref name=civilwartoreform/>

Flanagan was a member of the state's Constitutional Convention of 1875.<ref name=tshabio/><ref name=civilwartoreform/>

According to former U.S. senator [[Thomas C. Platt]] in his 1910 published autobiography, Flanagan was a [[Stalwart Republican]] delegate among the "Old Guard" 306 who supported the nomination of [[Ulysses S. Grant]] to a nonconsecutive third term in the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 U.S. presidential election]].<ref>Platt, Thomas C. (1910). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Autobiography_of_Thomas_Collier_Plat/6a1YAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=powell%20clayton The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Platt], p. 122. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 25, 2023.</ref> During the Republican National Convention, when a [[Massachusetts]] delegate advocated a plank in support of "thorough, radical, and complete" civil service reform, Flanagan famously declared:<ref>Reeves, Thomas C. (1975). [https://archive.org/details/gentlemanbosslif00reev/page/n195/mode/2up?view=theater Gentleman Boss: The Life of Chester Alan Arthur], p. 173. ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved May 25, 2023.</ref>

According to former U.S. senator [[Thomas C. Platt]] in his 1910 published autobiography, Flanagan was a [[Stalwart Republican]] delegate among the "Old Guard" 306 who supported the nomination of [[Ulysses S. Grant]] to a nonconsecutive third term in the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 U.S. presidential election]].<ref>Platt, Thomas C. (1910). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Autobiography_of_Thomas_Collier_Plat/6a1YAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=powell%20clayton The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Platt], p. 122. ''Google Books''. Retrieved May 25, 2023.</ref> During the Republican National Convention, when a [[Massachusetts]] delegate advocated a plank in support of "thorough, radical, and complete" civil service reform, Flanagan famously declared:<ref>Reeves, Thomas C. (1975). [https://archive.org/details/gentlemanbosslif00reev/page/n195/mode/2up?view=theater Gentleman Boss: The Life of Chester Alan Arthur], p. 173. ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved May 25, 2023.</ref>

{{cquote|Texas has had quite enough of the civil service. There is one plank in the Democratic Party that I have ever admired, and that is, 'To the victors belong the spoils.' After we have won the race as we will, we will give those who are entitled to positions office. What are we up here for? I mean that members of the Republican Party are entitled to office, and if we are victorious we will have office.|||Webster Flanagan, June 1880}}

{{cquote|Texas has had quite enough of the civil service. There is one plank in the Democratic Party that I have ever admired, and that is, 'To the victors belong the spoils.' After we have won the race as we will, we will give those who are entitled to positions office. What are we up here for? I mean that members of the Republican Party are entitled to office, and if we are victorious we will have office.|||Webster Flanagan, June 1880}}