San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-03-27

lC = III OCu CGdlCS u lhI al my. ull-
der command of General L. c. Freye, is
still laying over at Finley, a station on
the Southern Pacific thirty-siX miles east
of Ell Paso.
The railroad company refuses to allow
the men to ride on the cars, and reports
state that the men are in starving con-
dition. Finley is small station of about
twenty five people, and the army, which
numbers about seven hundred, is without
provisions, and no prospects of receiving
any, unless they are moved from their
present location.
The Southern Pacific has sworn out
writ of injunction at Maria to enjoin the
men from interfering with any Of the
company's cars.
General Superintendent W. G. Van
Week, OF the Southern Pacific charges
that Governor Hogg refuses to protect the
railroad company's property from being
invaded by "tramps" and says If the
governor refuses TO protect the company
the United States will be called upon
TO furnish troops 10 enable the railroad
company to move the United States mail
trains.
To this Governor Hogg replies:
so we find this railway company, by
this cruel, inhuman act, undertaking TO
crime for the sole purpose of having them
punished. This is as complimentary to
the Industrial army as it is reprehensi-
BILE in the company. They have to be
forced by starvation in a desert to violate
the law so that the company can get the
advantage of them. This superintendent
gives it out that when this condition is
reached he will have the United States
troops act If the governor does not pro
tect their property In the first place,
there is no man in connection with the
federal troops, or that has any
authority to call them into SER
vice, who would be so weak as
to be engaged by such methods in sub
verting the purpose of the army. In the
second place it would not be permitted by
the state of Texas. No armed force. while
l am governor, will be permitted to shoot
down men who commit no greater crime
than tramp and beg TO keep from starry
ing. II these men were violating any
criminal law of our state | should unheSi-
tatingly have them arrested and punished.
But they are not. There is no criminal
law in Texas, or any other state, so far as
| am advised, that furnishes man or any
set of men for taking free rides in pc pies
carriages or in railroad cars. Ii man
fOrcibly gets in my carriage TO ride l
can use such force as may Oe necessary
to put him out; or, | can enJOln him or
sue him for damages through the courts.
| cannot prosecute him as criminal,
for there il no law defining such act as
OffenSe. Such is the status of railway
company. 1t has its civil remedy against
treSpaS>er>, OF it can use such reasonable
force as may be necessary to eject them.
1t Is no more the duty OF the governor
to keep standing armed force to protect
the railroads from trespasseS by the so
called rrampS than to keep guard over
private carriages or stage coaches or OK
wagons or street cars or at hotels or at
private residences to prevent the intru-
sion Of these same tramps. l believe In
the impartial enforcement of the laws
and practice what | advocate in this
respect. Every honest railway manager
knows this and in his honest moments
will admit it. There is no sentiment
In me on this subject nor do
make any distinction between persons
or property in performing my official
duty. Every honest man knows this.
Railroad property and passengers have
always been and will continue 10 be pro-
tected against criminals by the Texas
authorities And as the Southern Pacific
company has brought these men. into
Texas 1t can carry them on through the
state unless they wish to remain among
us and become citizens, which | hope they
will do. If, however, it chooses to Starve
them into violation Of the criminal code,
as it publicly proposes to do, then the
state of Texas will teach that company a
lesson that its very laxative superintend-
ent and its whole official corps will never
forget"
Governor Hogg says that as the rail-
road company brought the men into
Texas it is the duty of the company to
take them out. He also says: Il
am informed that the railway COM
pany has hauled them to a barren
desert on its road and switched them off
on a side track where they can get
neither water nor food. Under this man
Van Weeks orders l understand these
700 men are to be starved and famished
until they are forced to capture a passen-
ger train, rob it's passengers, and OBJ
struct the United States mall