Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-21
The AttOrney-General Opens His
Campaign on His Native Heath.
Texas Must Either Regulate Her Rail-
ways or the Railways will Soon
Regulate Texas.
A Clear Outline of the Policy Re Would Pursue
were He EIeeed Governor Of the
Lone Star State
OPENING THE CAMPAIGN .

RUsK, Tex. April 19.-The following
was the speech of Attorney General
James S. Hogg here to-day opening the
campaign for governor Of Texas:
FELLOW CITIzENs-Acting on the invitation OF
committee from Rusk and in obedience to
natural impulses, 1 am here where was born, at
the playground of my childhood to begin among
my lifelong friends and associates formal
canvass of the state as a candidate for governor.
Just after the war when merely a boy, many
of you will remem Der left these familiar scenes
and generous people to cast my lot among
strangers in another county. How they have
trusted and treated me, ask them. Look am ong
this vast concourse and you will see many OF
those good people hundred miles from their
homes taking part in this demonstration. They
have been drawn here by ties Of affection that
are too strong for dissolution, too pure for
others than friends, to bear. To them I di-
rect you for an account OF myself IN all
the walks of life since left you so many years
ago. AS day laborer and penniless printer
theyreceived me to their fresideS and cheered
me on. In the journalistic field they gave me
generous, liberal support and made my paper q
success. They trusted me with the positions of
road oversesr. justice of the peace and county
attorney; they Joined with five other counties
in making me their district attorney; and after
wards they generously contributed their full
strength In electing me attorney general-the
office now hold. How I served in the first po
sitiop, every hand who worked under me will
cheerfully testify. now, but they complained
then when the full measure of the law was being
complied with. 1t is ever so. However, when
hardships over and the good results of duty
faithfully performed are seen, men cease to
grumble. am not ceEsured now for having
done my duty then. How 1 conducted the offices
of justice of the peace and county commits
sioner may be seen by reference to the docketS
and financial records of Wood county.
When the commissioners court, of which
I the head, took charge of that then
rodlNy IlHo T1z
found floating debt of over $50, 600; taxes at
seventy-fve cents on the SI00; and scrip at
twenty-five cents on the 90. Within thirty
months we diminished the debt to less than
$1,000: reduced the taxes to twenty-five cents on
the 500; and increased the scrip to par. 1t was
all done by the law, under the law and accord
ing to law, without imparing the rights of any
individual or abridging necessary public de
mands.
attorney for one term, atthe END of which was
promoted, by election, to the position of dis
trict attorney. Ask any person white or black
of that county, or from any, one OF the SIX
counties that composed the district. if any
favortlsm was shown criminals OF any kind. or
If official delinquency was ever complained OF
against me. Felonies and all classes OF mis-
demeanors received full attention under the
law, according to law Ask the people over
there what was the effect their general well
fare. Ask them if Indicators did not ''Stand
scattering while peaceful citizens got their
righteous protection.
To duty a lawyer is called when he accents
employment. His profession in marked de-
gree teaches him fidelity to his clients cause.
When he has no engagement, no client, he fol-
lows the course of his training and usually
stands with the law as he finds it. Added to the
professional obligations so deeply laid upon me,
have taken, IN each Office that have held and
the one now hold, an oath to support the con-
stitutio and laws. That 1 have kept faithfully
the obligation Of lawyer to his client, and the
oath of Office as well, my conscience and the
great God who guides our destinies can best
Judge.
In returning here to you, my friends. offer
i aS ATTORNEY
the state for your inspection.
This invitation is made without reservation.
While doing so read every letter, opinion, plea
and document that have written or drawn. No
one shall be sighted orrefused access to single
book or item in the office. The law requires all
my official letters, opinions and acts to be kept
of record; and it has been strictly obeyed. So,
hereafter, there will be excuse for men to
speak of my deeds without being able to pro-
duce the records. II they do, it is well to dis
count what they say about ninety per cent. and
allow the remainder for campaign gas. If any
OF them wish to discuss my record (and there is
plenty of it, let them do so like men. If can
not meet them, then Just public, on hearing
will, in yindication of its own honor, condemn
me. If 1t contains single d1sreputable act you
should, out of respect for the good name you
bear as just, honorable people, condemn me
as an unworthy son OF Cherokee.
The very section of the constitution which
creates the Office of encouragement requires
him to look after private corporations. It says
''He shall especially inquire into the charter
rights of all private corporations, and from time
to time, in the name of the state, take such &C
ton in the courts as may be proper and neces-
sary to prevent any private corporation from
exercising any power not authorized
by law
Within forty days after I qualified I took
action under this provision Of the constitution,
and have continued to operate under it actively
and effectively ever since. My first work under
companies, generally called wildcat con-
Germs. Then there were about forty of them OPP
Grating in Texas in violation of Law. By the aid
of an efficient and faithful commissioner of in
surance, through the courts effected the exter-
mination of every one OF them within twelve
months. Many good men were innocently
in the service of those companies Some4of them
may vet regret the loSs.of lucrative positions by
the rigid enforcement efthe law, but they all
to Rejoice at the general public good effected as
the result. By this work fthe Commissioner in
forms me, the people have been saved at least
: The railroad from Sabine Pass to Beaumont
had ceased to Operate. For months no traits OF
any character were run between the two points
a distancgsf thirty miles. 1t was the only road
to the PasS, and the company refused to operate
it down there. Complaint Was made to me and
construct, equip and operate the road. Since
that time it has been doing its duty to the pub
tic without complaint
You all remember the s'Texas Traffic Associa-
tion2' Perhaps you do notI It was q combIna-
ton OF nine railroads OF other states with all the
"a drosds in Texas except one line. under CEN
tras management. In other words IL was
pool to control the railroad lines OF the state
and their connections outside, so as to maintain
Under the agreement Of all those railroads, an
executive committee, selected by them, arbi-
trarily 6xCsc the rates traffic having origin or
destination within the state of Texas. In the
absence Of that committee, one man, c3lled
commissioner. had the power (which he
freely exerciscd) to raise or lower the rates on
every article OF commerce received or shipped
by the people Of this state. By that agreement,
under severe penalties, railroad belonging TO
The combination could at will reduce rates be-
low the schedule fxed by the executive commit
tee or the 'tcommis zcner;' but at pleasure they
could be raised as high as the company
carrying the tranic wished Thus the railroad
companies were protected against competition,
insured good rates. rendered Indifferent 10 their
Obligation to the public and lad to believe their
power was superior to law Commerce was at
their mercy, without a representative on thesI
commit tessor voice in the regulation of rates
1t al. With al this, many peoples and iniuen-
tial journals commended thst. sach Atpoolo was
good for the country; that commerce needed
equality Of rates." that Competition was
death to trade;' that combination was far
better than competitions and that the rail-
roads would be ruined and capital driven out of
the country II wsr was made on this modern pet
Of railroad magnates.
Acting under the constitution, without prece-
dent. in the face of formidable opposition. I
enioined and finally succeeded in dissoiving and
breaking up that association. Fol-
lowing its destruction Was the rgsnization ofthe