Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-07-10
Some Spicy Extracts from the Jour-
rails Of the Constitutional Con-
vention Of 1875.
The People Informed as 10 How the
General yOted-Ns Chance for
RepadlatIsn This Time.
Mech Of the DISQUALIFICATION on tho ears OF
Democrats Due 90 the Prohibition
Question.
rom our TraveIlng Correspoadent

In politics. 10 hasn't been long since
Gen. Ross found It necessary 70 declare
that the talk about bis opposition TO the
lease law vas balderdash aud that be was
better lease-law man than Swain. After
his interview and his speech at Sulphur
Springs, both Of which were strong In
their denuncIatiOn Of the operations OF
the lease, this was indeed very, very
funny.
10 the same speech wherein he pro-
claimed himself slmon-pure lease-law
man, Ger. Ross expressed the opinion
that there was enough law on the statute
books, with reference 70 the railroads, 70
remedy, II enforced, all the abuses Of rail-
road corporations. This was understood
to be his position on the railroad prob
lem 10 contsadistinction 70 that OF
Col. SWain, who, preceding him, had de.
clared in favor Of a railroad commission.
After bis speech got into print Gen. Ross
read, pOudered and came 70 the cOnclu-
sion that another Reputation was neces-
sary. he denied having said there was
enough railroad law on the statute books
already, but failed 10 state explicitly what
be did favor, and whether OF not he
favored a railroad commission
The general Is reported as having said
IN n recent speech that he had never voted
for railroad subsidy. This Is not lick at
the reporters, but AZ the records; doubt
less they, ike the reporters, can stand II
II the general can.
sO3fE INTERESTING HISTORY.
Here are some choice extracts from the
journals Of the constitutional convention
Of 1875, Of which Gen. Ross was q mem
Der:
On page 42s will be found the report
OF the committee on public lands Sec
ton three Of the report begins thus
"1he Legislature shall have no power 10 |
grant any Of the public lands of this state |
to any railway company except upon the |
following restrictions and conditions, |
etc The restrictions which follow pro |
hibit the granting Of more than sixteen |
sections OF land % the mile, with several /
provisions of minor Importance.
Page go; Mr.. Nugent (the present |
district Judge offered an amendment 10 /
the above report, striking out all after |
the word company" 50 as to make sec
ton three read thus 1.-THE legislature
shall have no power TO grant any OF the
public lands OF this state to any railway
company
Page G2i Mr.. Nugent's amendment
was defeated by a vote Of - ayes to 40
nays, Gen. Ross yotibg in the negative.
Page $685. Mr.. Crawford offered
substitute for section OF the report OF
the committee on public lands, which
provided for the disposition OF the public !
domain In four methods, the fourth OF |
which was; "FOr the encouragement Of |
ana 20 aid In the construction Of rail- |
roads" II provided for railway subsl- |
dies Of sixteen sections TO th5 mile and |
far ia location .f sol /
Gates IN alternate sections, the |
alternate section to 20 TO the |
school fund. This substitute was
adopted and Incorporated into the consti. |
tuition, and under II we're obtained many
millions Of acres which Texas, through |
her legislatures, has given 10 the rail |
roads.
What was II Gen Ross said? have
never voted for railroad subsidy.
What do the records say2
Page G29 Mr.. Crawford's substitute |
WAS adopted by vote OF 83 to 80, Gen. |
Ross voting in the affirmative.
Had Gen. Ross voted In the negative the
Crawford substitute would have been lost
by vote Of 38 to 82.
Gen. Ross vote established the system
OF land subsidies to railroads, embodied
In the constitution OF 70.
Gen. Ross not only voted for the Craw-
ford substitute, but solicited other mem.
bers Of the convention TO vote for IL. This
statement is made on the authority OF
gentleman who was In the convention
and who was asked by Gen. Ross to vote
for the subsidy clause.
WITHOUT HOPE.
BY the way, have II on good authority
that Gen. Ross has almost lost hope OF
his own nomination for governor, and that
he has made the prediction several times
OF late that dark horse will be the noun
inee.
AS TO THE PRomBITIoNIsTs.
Much Ct the dissatisfaction which is
undoubtedly felt by many cool Demo.
Gratis with the Democratic party ~ due to
its course, or rather the course of its
leaders, with regard to the prohibition
question II may az well be recognized
now that this IL an Issue which will not
down even should the Democratic party
declare Ia convention against prohibition,
The moral sentiment Of the people has
been largely arrayed IN favor OF the trial
OF tos an experiment, and when the
conscience OF the masses has been
touched II Is useless to talk of party A
strong conviction obtains among the PEG.
pie AZ large that this Is q question OF such
f'NhAAAt lhANttniH W tAtu luulNluudi LnhE |
II should be settled by the
whole people at the ballot-box !
and not by few score OF !
representatives elected ON other issues. |
Many of those who are opposed to prohi- |
billion and will vote against II are will |
Ing, even anxious, for the mater TO be |
submitted TO popular vote because they
wish 70 get rid OF disturbing influence |
In politics, and also because they are
Democratic enough TO acquiesce IN the |
will OF the majority. II Is the sheerest
folly for politicians 10 blind their eyes to |
the fact that there Is an overwhelming
popular sentiment which demands the |
submission by the legislature OF
rRomDIToRY CONSTITUTIONAL
amendment 10 the people 20 be voted |
on at separate election, disconnected |
from all partisan questions. The anti
prohibition leaders permitted a golden
opportunity 70 pass 10 refusing
70 take this step when the
matter was trst agitAted Then such
an aUauHtnapk x,snuld haun l,nau a..tt..