The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-06-07
Twelve Pages.
"AUsTIN'5 SHAME AND THE STATES
MISFORTUNE"

Under this heading the "Texas Land
and Immigration Journal" a weekly paper
published in Dallas, and of which Mr..
John f. Elliott is editor, had in its last
issue most shameless and outrageous i'm
parchment of Austin. After INDUCING in
n number of platitudes and great deal
of cant, its editor writes as follows:
For these reasons, and for a still better
one, that of right and justice, the Journal
has heard with keen regret and often with
deep humi iation, the structures, the CEN
sures, yea the denunciations, that are
visited on Austin, our capital city, by
citizen and stranger because of alleged
Shameless and often outrageous treatment
during the dedication and drill week.
How true or how extensive were the
impositions and exactions, the extortions
and maltreatment of visitors, We say not,
but il is notorious that recital o meny
individual and many particularized in
stances is made by such large number
of people who were personally present in
AUSTIN that there must be foundation for
the very serious charges. For instance, it
water were 40 inadequate or wholly omit
ted that guests were compelled to pay 10
cents per glass for it. 1t is charged that
meals worth only 80 cents were com
pc led ut 50 and more, and that where
about 30 cents was required the bread
was mouldy and the meat tainted. 1t is
charged tn Vt street railway fares were put
ND TO 20 cents in the face of the law allow
~, ha vtr "A that
the authorities had to finally come
to the relief. IL is charged that the
proverbial hack extortion out Heroded
Herod with $50 for five block
drive. IL is charged that 20 cents
was collected from guests for the
use OF the toilets and urinals, which were
made frequent of use because OF com
plants produced by bad food, until the
imposition was overthrow by the mill
tary. 1t is charged that gambling, in al
its forms, from the little round revolving
table of the montebank OF the street cor
ner to the grander one of the aristocratic
professional, was constantly permitted on
the leading Avenue and on the drill grounds
right under the nose of the governor, the
mayor and the Goddess that presides at
the top of the capitol. 1t is charged that
the soldiery, who added such attractive
features TO the occasion, If, intact they
were not the exclusive attraction, were
confronted with many costs for what had
been proclaimed would be free to them.
II is charged that one company, the very
flower of the military in the exceeding ex-
cellence of their youthful RIGHTEOUSNESS
and skill, was sought to be defrauded of
we'll earned and legitimately wrested prize
for the best zouave drill i'll their line.
And indeed columns of sucl charges
could be written. Whether these charges,
II they be correct, are true because of in
advertance, indifference or incompetency,
makes no difference, they do exist, and
are loudly echoed the state aad couAtry
over.
Last weeks work injured Texas, aud
has probably woefully damaged Aus 10 for
the years to come. Whether man deals
with his fellowmen ina business ttansac
ton, or a city deals with a number of in
vited guests,it must always be remembered
that there is future to it all, and deep
down in the memory is filed for future
reference the acts of courtesy or the deeds
of wrong.
Austin is not alone involved in this IN
state, since what was done at the capital,
especially under the circumstances OF the
dedication and the drill, to which the
world was invited with every assurance of
ample provision for comfort, will be put
down by the guests as representative of
the citizenry of the state and their con-
duct. For this reason the press of the
state are interested in making it known
that Texas laments the fiasco at Austin.
OF these charges there is but one, and
one only, that is known to be true. The
street car company had at great expense
laid about two miles of track just for
the purposes of drill week, and it then
charged for two days 20 cents to and
from the drill grounds. This was stop
ped the third day of the drill and the
street car company lost great deal of
money, even with its tariff of 20 cents
and afterwards 10 cents. Gambling was
not allowed, but games of chance were
exhibited on the drill grounds, and if
Mr.. Elliott's friends were gullible
enough to be bit, he should spare them
some of his copious fund of advice for
future reference.
The whole article is so palpably malioi
Gus on account of its untruthfulness that
cause should be sought for the
spirit that prompted its writer
to vent his spleen. Mr.. Elliott
is the last man to abuse Austin withont
good cause. He is too much indebted TO
our city for unmerited courtesies to
play the role of the migrate. 1t was due
him, and it was doubly due Austin, that he
should have looked well into these charges,
sifted them to the bottom and proven