San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-06-19
COOKS RECORD.
Down on Labor Organizations.
Denounces POwderiy as Liar, Coward
and Fraud.
LOOKING BACKWARD.

DALLAS, TEX, June CIV. A. Shaw,
Of the Texns Farmer, has been look
ing up Judge Cooks record, and
particularly that part of it wherein
he put himself in print in connection
with the great railroad strike in the
spring OF 1856. The following ex-
tracts from the writings and utter
ances OF Judge Cook, taken from the
files OF the Galveston News. will up.
pear in the next issue Of the Texas
Farmer, accompanied by spicily-
written comments by Mr.. Shaw.
In communication to that paper
Of March "a, 1885, Judge Cook said:
"The Knights OF Labor is nm or
ganization formed for the purpose
Of formulating and enforcing de-
mands against the rights and proper
ty OF others, which are not maintain
able nor recoverable by the law OF
the land, andis, therefore, necessarily
lawless and revolutionary"
In connection with the above
Judge Cook admitted that the great
evil was caused by the "exactions,
heartlessness and tyranny Of incor.
porated capital" This drew from the
GALVESTON News an insinuation that
Judge Cook was troubled with o
gubernatorial bee in his bonnet, to
which he replied in the same paper
under date of April 1, 1886:
II am not "a candidate for COVER.
nor), and have not the most distant
idea that any emergency can arise
which would make it my duty TO be
candidate for either the nomination
or the office. " My lack of per
sonal popularity and acquaintance
my comparative poverty, my I'M
feisned Discrimination to politics. the
wishes of my wife and children, the
great and unavoidable responsibilities
of the position, and my aversion tc
the fearful abuse and criticism, moi
to say ISLANDERS, heaped upon all mer
who have the hardihood to take high
places, deter me from any ambition
that way. If l were able to do sc
1 would pay the salary and add c
bonus of $4,000 to any other gentle
man who would hold the Office rather
than hold it myself"
In this communication Judge
Cook found it necessary, also, tc
explain his abuse of the knights OIL
Labor. He said:
II am neither Knight nor CAPT
talist, and wrote of their quarre!t
without bias or prejudice between
them, and with the solemn conviction
that unless the people take hold Of
10th of them, and in the exercise Of
their just righ is in this matter, com
pei both parties to respect the OBJ
legations they are under to the state
and her citizens, they themselves vii
be the sufferers.
On May s, 1886, another article
from Judge Cooks pen appeared in
the Galveston News, suggested by
the Haymarket riots in Chicago, the
responsibility for which he attributed
to the Knights of Labor. Among
other things he said:
"Powderly, who is m overrated
and hypocratical frand, comes to the
front with an indignant denial Of
responsibility for himself and his
followers of the direct, immediate
and necessary consequences Of hi:
and their lawless precpts and ex
amples. In my opinion he is a liar
because he is coward. He aud hi'
Irons, Blacks, Goldens, Washers an(
other conductors are the instigators
movers and expectant benefciarie'
of all this communistic dOviiment
When men organize to starve ant
torture people into compliance will
their one-sided demands, they ar
common enemies of mankind, anC
to be treated as such. No PEG
pie or government can afford to trea'
with incendiaries, assassins andplun
derers, while they hold in their hand
the blazing torch, the dynamite boml
and the fruits of their robberies
Surrender, unconditional and com
plete, should be first demanded, ant
after this Will be time to discuss thei
claims. Until they do surrender, lie
such forces as will compel it to b
brought down upon them, and lie
the contest be short, sharp and de
cisive. The Knights of Labor can
not shirk the consequences they, anC
they alone, have brought about
Not q drop of blood has beel
shed; not a groln has been wrung
not pang has been suffered, in a
this miserable business for which tn
Knights Of Labor are not direct!
and Immediately responsible. >
If Knights of Labor have not don