The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-28
THE FIRST SPEECH
IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR
REELECTION.
COMMISSION THE ISSUE.
A Very Elaborate Statement Of the Whole
Railroad Commission Questionable
His Platform for the Future-An
Able Document.

tween 5000 and 10000 people assem-
bled here today to hear Governor
Hogg's opening speech. They came
from all points of the compass anG
represented every walk and calling il
life. Three special trains loaded dowr
to the guards came in this morning
Tarrant, Dallas, Hunt, Rockwell anC
nearly every county in East Texa;
was represented. The banker, the
merchant, the lawyer and the mar
with the hoe, in great numbers were
present. The weather was cool ano
pleasant.
The speaking occurred in fine
grove and the vast audience gave
rapt attention and manifested theil
sympathy with the speaker by theil
unstinted and tumultous applause
At the conclusion of the speech mag
nificent dinner was spread which was
highly relished by all present. 1t was
sober, orderly and fine looking
crowd and not an unpleasant Incl
dent marred the day. He said:
Fellow Citizens: In the strongest
feelings of gratitude l acknowledge
the honor OF your presence to lend
encouragement to the campaign / am
Just entering for reelection to the
office of governor. 1t is always re-
freshing to an officer who knows he
has done his duty to meet those from
whom he received his trust. L am
glad once more to stand face to face
with the people. The day is not far
distant when it will be established
that every public servant before he
is reelected to an office, shall render
to his constituents a plain account of
his official acts, supported by the rec
ord. In grand, growing state like
Texas, equal in territory to New York
Massachusetts and ten other states of
this Union, with vast and varied re-
sources familiar to you all, it is quite
important that public officers, espec-
tally those at the head of
state affairs shall 60 among the
people to correctly inform them of
the condition of their government.
For the honor of my native state; for
the respect due the office / hold; out
of regard for the unblemished record
of the Democratic party, l shall avoid
personalities in this campaign and
will, under ALI circumstances, attempt
to draw attention to live issues that
should be settled in the exercise of
wisdom, mistaken by appeals to pas
sion or prejudice. Neither SANDER
nor vituperation shall escape my lips,
for the spirit of violence has no place
in my heart or feelings.
Here followed an elaborate review
of his course as attorney general and
as governor; and then the present
campaign is taken up.
What is it that creates the great
commotion now going on in political
circles against your present state Off
GERS? What fish is it that so reck-
lessly stirs up and muddies the
political waters? What is the
trouble? Look back and read
plank six of the platform.
There's the hitch. wa Do you
hear any one complaining
of the pledges to restrict land
efficient system of public free schools;
to establish Confederate home; or to
require separate coaches for whiteand
black passengers over the railways?
Do you hear any amendments pro-
posed to laws passed in obedience to
those pledges? Do you hear anyone
say they are unconstitutional. No.
Then what is it creating all this dis
turbance? Of all those six planks af-
fecting state affairs within the plat
form there is one, only one, the result
of which has produced the disturb
ance now agitating the public mind
in this campaign. Read section 6
carefully and you cannot mistake the
cause. The people declared for
IAN AFFECTIVE RAILWAY COM
MISSION"
and they got it.
The people may be deceived, but the
truth nevertheless remains that COM
clothed with sufficient power
to prescribe and maintain reasonable
rates for the regulation of railways is
the leading issue in this campaign
Opponents to the measure deny this.
They say the people have declared for
a commission throug hthe constitu-
tional amendment; that it is a back
that it has come here to stay,
and they have no disposition to do
more than have the law "moditiedn
and certain sections of it removed.
Before you believe such statements
read the constitutional provision and
see what foundation there is for them.
Here it is: l read section 2 of article
10: Railroads heretofore constructed
Or which may hereafter be constructed
IN this state are hereby declared pub
tic highways and railroad companies
carriers. The Legislature
shall pass laws to regulate
freight and passen-
ger tariffs, to correct abuses and
prevent unjust determinations and
in the rates of freight and
passenger tariffs ON the different rail-
'oads in this state, and enforce the
same by adequate penalties; and to
he further accomplishment of these
objects and purposes may provide and
establish all requisite means and agen-
lies invested with such powers as
nay be deemed adequate and advisa-
Dle."
DO you observe, it nowhere mentions
- 4 II