The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-17

OF my state, L cou-
fact, did nothing
night with Dick Wy
Cart" Loud laughtt
Regarding my visit
you who came to me wi
eyes, saying: "You mu
tin, if you love the state,
stop the legislation which
working our ruin.n At
clined, but afterwards rt
the matter and concluded
1 could. That man was B
drick, the president Of Hog
Alliance. Who else do you ST
met there? Why, J. L. Moody,
win, the Alliance editor, CuL
ham, Rufe King and a d,
other pronounced Hogg III
who ADDED their solicitatic
that I assist in framing or securing
legislation which would satisfy or re-
lieve the people. Kendrick said the
governor and other state officials
had mistaken their people and he
pleaded for Gods sake have the mat
ter set right. L told these gentlemen
that they must get q lawyer in
whom 1 had confidence before L
would consent to confer upon the
matters at issue. They named Tom
Blown but L declined to treat with
him as in my Judgment he was too
fresh. Thereupon they secured Terrell.
Through him the Alliance people
made every possible concession which
honorable men could make under the
circumstances. Note the result.
Terrell expressed satisfaction at the
| turn things had taken, and promised
peace within an hour, and he was
frank enough to confess during this
conference that all my statements
were God Almighty's truth. From
this conference Terrell went to the
state house, where all that had been
said in candor and fairness, with the
single idea of doing something for
which the people of the state would
immeasurable thank us was pre-
sented to the governor in
such a garbled way that the fight was
renewed. Peace was as far from con-
summation as ever. | tell you the
commission people do not want the
question settled They desire that
the old political sores shall be kept
open, and this confirmed me in the
opinion that it is high time to take
this power from the executive and put
it into the hands of the people. ZAP
plause.) There is not railway off
cial in the broad domain of Texas who
is not a friend of Governor Hogg and
who does not indorse his idea
of railway management. fl am elect
ed governor, l pledge you my word
that L will settle the railway problem
in one hour and Texas will be i'll at
the front with a ribbon in each hand:
The interests of the people are both
alike. Share the prosperity which jul
dicious legislation will surely bring in
its train. Their destruction means
ours as well and nothing is to be hop
ed for except a settlement of this great
problem under laws by which every
man and every corporation will and
must have equal and exact justice
melted out to him. Why should
we not let the railroads alone when
they are doing right, and only inter-
fere when they are doing wrong or are
engaged in violating the laws. we
ask the builders of these roads to come
here, and | now state as a result Of all
the foolish legislation of the past that
there is not 1000 miles of paying rail-
road in the state, and challenge the
commission to disapprove my asser-
ton. The issue stated concisely is
this: Shall Texas continue bound
and tied through ignorance, or. shall
she be free? Shall we continue to APP
prove line of policy which is
a shame and dishonor to the state or
shall we create legislation which will
place this grand commonwealth in
the leading position which she is en-
titled to and which she can and will
occupy.
The speaker referred to Governor
Hogg's recommendation for the pas
sage of an alien land law and said the
} governor had no more idea of legisla'
} ton than he, the speaker, had OF
music. He then criticised the gov.
ernors refusal to call the Legislature
together and said that the state never
was in a worse financial condition
than at present. The repeaI
of these Ubiquitous laws would release
the people. Their welfare demanded
it, yet the executive refused to con
vene the members Of the legislature
solely because he desired to keel
Horace Chiffon in the senate, and the
speaker claimed that this necessary
step was not taken until it was an
| nounced that George Clark was a can