Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-02
TIE ezETrE. woRTH TEXAs TUESDAY ooToBER q 1894

htc ~ CRIME SUBJECT 10 prosecution.
Against every conspiracy 20 commit a
felony che law prascrlbcs suitable pen-
nltles. Every willful obstruction 20 a
train or Injury 20 an engine Is crime
The plank rccognizes 10 the fullest
extent the right OF labor to oreaniac
Capitalists organize; professional men
organize; business men organize; rail-
roads orEanize, farmers crganixe; then
why should not labor organizer
Some say this ninlh plank IA In
tended 10 prevent strikes. This Is n
strained construction. You had an well
say that II IL aimed to prevent rail-
road companies from dismlsslng any
laborer before the end Of the month
or the close OF the year after he has
set IN TO work. Right here wish to
state 20 you that, with very slight ex-
ccptlon, during my administration OF
four years there has not been a dol
lars worth OF property destroyed. nor
human being Injured in this state az
the result OF u labor strike. In the
only two or three instances OF strikes
they have been, 30 far as l have been
informed, without violation OF law, and
there could be no law drawn 10 make
their acts criminal Without involving
almost every association OF people In
peril as criminals. So long as the pov.
eminent permits poolA, trusts, business
combinations and associations. labor
organizations from necessity win live.
When by law all other organizations
ana combinations Affecting trade are
dissolved or destroyed we may cN-
poet labor organizations also TO ceaec
for then there viii be no necessity for
them.
Texas. through wholesome laws, has
destroyed traffic pools trusts and other
consplracies against trade; and she has
otherwise done Justice by labor The
consequence is that very little dam
nge or injury has resulted 60 the public
from labor organizations or labor
strikes. TO avoid terrible CONSEQUENCES
to commerce and to the cltlgena. the
purpose evidently VI the ninth plank
IS 20 authorize or require the leglaa-
tui'e 10 create a board OF arbitration
mat VIII settle differences between
railway corporations and their emf
ployes' AZ any rate, this Ia Il reasonable
construction Of that platform. not UNI
favorable TO labor. and In the light OF
the past IN tustlilable. because labor,
as such, In this state has done nothing
that would cast uponslt the imputailnn
OF crime. our laws can hardly he made
stronger with Justice 10 the public.
Tor the punishment or ordinary Grim
mai onensea. AT no time TO my lnpwl-
edge during my administration have
labor organizations assaulted poraons
or injured property. AZ no lime could
they have done so had they desired.
without being subjected on Information
as other criminals TO Just puulshment
under the laws ! would enforce them
rs quickly as against others. They
know II.
In all respects am opposed TO crime
and the violation OF our penal code! ana
hore publicly say that / find no ais
position on the part OF the lahorinp
men OF this state, as an organization
or otherwise In the cause OF labor. 10
destroy persons or property or 10 vlo-
lnte the laws. There are loafers, mem
dleants ana a floatlng criminal element
who take advantage or every strike To
rush to the front ana violate the law
and lay II at lahors door The bubble
without better Information, become In
censod, supposlng that labor organiya-
lions are ut the bottom OF these crimes
Labor, therefore, is Improperly accred-
ited win the wrongs Il has not COM
mittod, If the laws we have shall CON
tnue TO be faithfully executed, and a
board OF arbitration Is created under
and In obedience to section o. and the
statutes prohibiting pools. trusts. oon-
apiraclea against trade and the impor.
tation of paupor labor are given full
force and effect the people OF this
state need not npprehend clashes be-
tween capital ana labor. nor organized
labor against their employers. The
Popullsls efforts TO make political gain
out OF this ninth plank are about ma
futile as their declaration TO own the
railroads OF the United States Is non
sensical and foolish
Tenth pinnk-Niobs.
The tenth plank reads az follows.
ana IL certainly goo one;
~. We hold To the theory that gov.
ernment was Instituted for the protec-
Won OF me, liberty and property. and
thet II faila IN It's purpose when II de-
MES that protection to every citizen OF
class of citizens We view with grent
apprehension the growing tendency To
set at defiance the laws for tho protec.
ZION OF lie and property, and demand
OF. our legislature such amendments OF
this law as inny DO found necessary,
and OF the executive officers the use OF |
all the powers OF the state when nee |
essary for the suppression OF lawless- |
ness ana the protection OF the human |
lives OF our citizens and an classes OF |
property within this state"
No better plank could have been nut |
IN the platform than this II strikes
directly at the evil 10 suppress which |
during my four ycars administration |
the executive powers have been ear
nestly, faithfully employed our civil
ana criminal codes In most reRpoots are
Ahilt NbilliAltt NiplttpulN una tillru= |
cious. protecting The Hives and property
OF tho citizens in my message to the
legislature last session l pointed out
the main effect OF our law, which can
and VIII be cured II this tenth plank
shall be suitably Observed 10 my
mind the greatest objection 10 our pc
nal code lies In It's weakness In not
suitable measures for the
suppression OF mobs, The wanton,
cruel, lnhumhn execution OF defense
less citizens and prisoners by murder
ous bands OF criminals ia an outrage
upon civilization that should be sum
mnrily suppressed To do this. our
laws must be amended a mob execu-
llon ~ n murder execution. Lynchcrs
are murdcrera. Mobs are bands OF
Murdcrerg should have
heir neolos broken. This Is the way 20
stop them. a band OF men that goes
10 n Jail takeA out q prisoner white
,r black. aud hangs him. Is composed
II blood thirsty murderers who pos
Tess no respect for constitutional guar
mites. or the stability OF tho govern
nent, or the lives OF human belnga.
rhey arc cowardly, criminal outlaws.
rhey can not be depended on TO en-
'orce the laws through the courts OF
he country II one OF them should
get ON a jury he would DO too criminal
n heart TO execute II criminal accord
ng to law. He would prefer to sneak
round with a band Of towards ana as