Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-19
THE CONVENTION.
The Forenoon Session, and What 1t Ac-
complished Yesterday.

THE CONVENTION.
The Forenoon Session, and What 1t Ac-
complished Yesterday
Promptly at o'clock yesterday the dis
trict and county attorneys assembled in the
courthouse, were called to order and pro-
ceeded Immediately to the transaction of
business at the point where adjourn
ment the afternoon before had put a
stop to the proceedings. From 9 O'Clock
till 10, the hour set for the address of well
come to be delivered by Attorney T. j.
Powell of this city, the time was consumed
in discussing resolution which had for
its object the making of the willful
shooting into public or private
amendments and substitutes were made to
and for the resolution, which had been re-
ported favorably upon by the committee on
resolutions. Discussion was at last slipped
by Mr. Powell offering as a substitute for
all former suggestions that the codifers
who are now at work revising the
penal code be requested to examine
some revision of the law on this particular
miSdemeanor At this point regular work
was suspended and after the young lady
members of the North Texas normal had
entered and were seated. Attorney Powell
was introduced by Chairman Meyer
After few appropriate words Of open
ing MIR. Powell said:
Il deem it peculiarly fitting that the first
meeting in movement of this kind should
be held in city that needs but asuggestion
to be first in everything that tends to the
advancement of the material or moral in
terests of the state.'' Referring to the
fact that the deep water movement origi-
naied In Fort Worth, he then said, 'And
when the legislature Of the state refused to
make an appropriation to have Texas repre-
scented at the Worlds Columbian exposition,
Fort Worth, with characteristic enterprise,
and energy inaugurated movement that
will eventually have Texas represented at
the great exposition in manner correspond
ing to her vast and magnificent resources. {"
The speaker then spoke of the pride the
citizens of Fort Worth felt in their local in
situations, and that general welcome was
extended to the convention, whose object
was Endorsed, not only by every reputable
lawyer in the state, but by every patriotic
citizen who loved his state.
Mr.. Powell next proceeded to review
briefly and generally the Improvement in
the administration of the criminal statutes
of the state during the past ten years, which
he ascribed to two causes. First-the ele-
walton of the standard of public prose-
cutors secondly and mainly, the steady
growth of public opinion in favor of the
suppression of crime and the punishment
OF criminals. He spoke of the influences that
have swayed and controlled the verdicts of
juries and asked the attorneys of the con-
vention if they had not felt that influence
behind them, demanding the acquittal of
criminal that should have been convicted.
Dwelling at length upon the power of
public opinion in the administration of the
law, the speaker then said: THE impor-
lance of this meeting in a general way is
very great. You are here in response
to that growth of public opinion
that has been assisted and fostered by the
public press until it demands reform in
the enforcement of the law in Texas.
Governor Hogg's declaration that crime
must be punished in the state, was respon-
sive also to the same thing, and the great
moral forces of the state are behind this
convention, wishing it success in the end
aimed att
After dwelling upon the great extent of
border civilization. the proximity of the In
dian Territory, which was characterized as
"a haven of refuge for the criminals of the
entire country" and the easiness with
which criminals escaped into Mexico on
the southwest, he said that, everything
considered, the prosecutors of Texas
had done well, but that the hour
demanded that more should be done; that
public opinion was ripe for needed reform.
He deprecated such outbreaks as the de-
stated that sometimes it was necessary for
revolution of this kind to scatter stag
mated forces feeding upon the foundations
of organized society.
The speaker then spoke Of the loop-holes
of escape in the trials in felony cases, and
expressed a wish that some means could be
devised to strip such trials of the cobwebs
and hair-splitting distinctions to be found
in the statutes and decisions. Referring
to the fact that no law could be more vigor-
ously enforced than was. demanded by public
sentiment, the speaker stated that the heart
of the people of the state was all
right; that the substantial under-current
was now in favor of the strict enforcement.
of the law; that the people, as body, were
He illustrated this by refer
ence to the electoral commission, how the
people accepted the decision Of that extra
ordinary tribunal in peace when scarcely a
word was needed to plunge the country into
the horrors Of civil war.
In conclusion, Mr.. Powell paid a compli-
ment to the ladies, and stated that it was
the home influences and woman's purity
that was educating the masses up to bet
ter enforcement Of the laws of the state;
that it was for them that mankind labored,
and that without them the great garden Of
Texas would indeed be wilderness.
When Mr.. Powell had concluded his well
come, D. ". oouie VI OpSadr county, VINO
had been chosen to respond to the remarks
of Mr.. Powell. was introduced to the
audience and in his characteristic style
he thanked the speaker preceding him
for the generous words of welcome and the
hospitable reception that had been accorded
the attorneys while sojourning within the
confines of Fort Worth. He then proceeded
to eulogize the city, touched on the objects
for which the convention had assembled,
reviewed the political status Of the country,
and closed by thanking the convention for
the privilege of being allowed to tender its
thanks to the worthy citizens Of Fort
Worth for the entertainment Of the last two
days. The speakers ramHas were toned