The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-13

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cent convert to the commission idea.
There is no denying this fact. Two
years and a half ago Gov. Hogg was
opposed to the commission. The rail.
road commission idea has been grow
ing in Texas for FIVE or six years, aud
perhaps longer than that, and at the
time that the commission idea
excited the first attention, it was being
sgltated in other states, some of WHOM
adopted amendments to their con-
situations or created commission by
statute. There is no doubt that the
demand for commission came large.
ly from agricultural districts, and the
farmers deserve credit for forcing
the adoption of the commissio
measure. Judge Clark became con-
verted to the commission idea after
the people of Texas had voted upon
the constitutional amendment pro
viding for the same. lie thought
that there we're good reasons why
the commission was not the proper
way OF reaching the evils of railroad
inpositions. There was at one time
in Texas large majority of the peo-
pie who thought as he did, but when
1t was submitted to vote it was
adopted, aud since that time Judge
Clark has recognized the sovereignty
of the people and has submitted to
their verdict He thinks like all
free thinking men, who, as a rule, do
not follow but lead the domain Of
thought, that a law affecting such
great interest cannot be made per-
feet in short time; that it is always
subject to correction and amend
ments, ard that it will, probably be
some years before it is perfect law,
and he has seen fit to criticse it as
statesman. The effect of such crlti-
cism ultimately will be to bring those
very reforms that become necessary
in order to make law perfect, but
Governor Hogg was just as much
opposed to the commission two years
aid haif ago as was Judge Clark,
but he changed his opinions just in
time to reap polit cal and pecuniary
benefit. He was not the leader Of the
commission idea. No man dares say
he was He was the follower. He
followed the people. Judge Clark at
the time did not see fit to
follow the people. They had
not at that time expressed them.
selves at the polls. 1t was SIM
ply voices in the air, expressions in
the newspapers, rumors and the like,
and being of that strong cast of mind
he did not yield readily and waited
until the constitutional amendment
was voted upon. Now which of these
two men should pose before the pub
lie as a statesman, and which of them
deserve the most consideration and re
spect2 The man who changed his
opinions in order to reap the benefit Of
political preferment, or the man who,
like General Lee upon his last battle
field in Virginia surrendered to over
whelming numbers and accepted de.
feat gracefully and afterwards be.
came a worthy member ofsociety and
typical American citizen? Is there
any reason for doubling the sincerity
of Judge Clark's conversion any more
than that Of Governor Hogg? Judge
Clark has always been able to sustain
his reputation at home and abroad
for truth and veraoity, and he has de-
clared that he favors the commission
but with some changes that he thinks
would be for the better, and he further
adds to the strength of his position by
acknowledging the sovereignty of the
people in the exercise of their night to
elect commissioners, while Governor
Hogg is advocating their appointment.
There is very much more noise made
about the commission than there is
any necessity for 1t is a fixture
and will never be eliminated from
the laws of the state unless, after it
has been thoroughly tested, it should
prove to be a failure. There are
many things worthy of general cen
sideration IN connection with public
affairs that should engage the attention
of thinking men. If it be true that
the commission is safe, then the next
thing to look to Is the many other
interests of the state, and to see if
Gov. Hogg's career for the last eigh'
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