The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-02-01

Third-The demand for law to re-
strict the execution of bonds by towns,
cities and counties to actual public lie
cessities.
Fourth-The adoption of a law to
prohibit the ownership of lands for
horticultural, agricultural and specu'
lative purposes by corporations.
Upon these four issues the campaign
for the Democratic nomination was
made. 1t is doubtful if reference to
! the exciting scenes of that eX-
citing contest is calculated
to revive pleasant memories.
My allusion to them is only to point
out the causes that led to the division
and show that they are no longer in
the way. No doubt thaG on personal
grounds many Democrats, while hav-
ing deep love and great respect for
other members of the ticket, could not
Swallow it" on my account. WHAT
led them to such extreme distaste to
me is matter for which l have no
concern, nor does it now involve the
interests OF the party. Sufficient it is
70 admit that "Hoggism" in 1892.
either for or without cause, Tepelled
many orthodox Democrats who had
never before assaulted their party
and led them to bitterly oppose its
nominees. This issue will be out of
the coming campaign for the reason /
now say in the presence OF this as
blage, as | announced at San An
tonic in 1890 in accepting the Demo
cratic nomination, repeated at Hous.
ton in 1892 in accepting the second
nomination of the party. and reittfr.
ated in my inaugural address in Aus
tin in 1898, that in reaching the office
of governor have gone to the summit
of my political ambition. There is ho
other office in the gift OF the people
of this state that covet, have ambi-
tion for or could accept Now finally,
and for good, in view of the frequent
mention of my name in connection
With third term for the governor
ship and for the U aited States senator
ship, | tell you, gentlemen, that for
reasons satisfactory to myself, consist
ent with the public good, would not
accept commission 70 either if teud-
cred me on a silver platter or in any
other way. In the first place, as
have declared and repeated, in serving
two terms each as attorney general
and governor, l have reached the
highest round OF my political ambi-
toD; and if for no other reason, the
pinched poverty into which | have
drilted as a public servant would lead
me to the necessity of returning to
professional pursuits at the meridian
of life, where l can have more of the
comforts and less of the hardships
than has ever been my lot in
public office. Higher still as to the
third term is the respect due to the
grand precedent set By my venerable,
honorable predecessors who in justice
to themselves, out of obedience to the
common law of the party, have not
sought and doubtless would refuse the
nomination to the office of governor
for third term. 1t would be strange
indeed should l so far forget my obi-
cations to the public as to break or at
tempt to disregard this party law,
equal almost to constitutional lnhi-
bition, which is so wholesome for the
perpetuity of the rights and liberties
of free people. When the time comes
that our liberty loving citizens shall be
so far misled as to set the precedent
of a third term for the chief executive
of the United States or of the grand
empire state of Texas, they will live to
reap in bitterness of disappointment a
harvest of barren regrets Rotation
in office is the route to liberty. rhe
reverse leads to centralism and the de
structlon OF the rights of the people.
SO far as am concerned let the third
term question forever rest.
At no time in my life have L ever
desired to enter the dom aiu of federal
politics or to hold office under the gov.
ernment. While they are high and
responsible and of the deepest inter-
est to the people, yet my ambition has
been in another line and has been graf.
flied to my entire satisfaction. 30: l
have never been, directly or indirect
ly, a candidate for the United States
senate, am not now, intended not to
be, and would not accept it if it were
rendered to me unanimously by the
next legislature. So then, my friends,
if "Hoggism" was disturbing factor
in the last campaign, L am glad to an
nounce to you that the impediment is
now removed from the laudable eff
forts at harmony and concord this
year.
AS to the three other issues over
which 90 much strife was engendered,
they are now settled, sealed
and delivered to the peonle
by statutory eT ,tment in accordance
With my pledge and the platform de
| mands in the last campaign.
The railroad stock and bond bill de-
| fines corporate franchises; provides
for making public the value Of rail-
roads; makes effective section 6, article
70 of the constitution of the state OF
Texas, relating to the issuance of
stocks and bonds; declares the effect
Of judicial and other sales of railroads;
limits the amount of sto ks and bonds
and other indebtedness that NAV be
issued by such companies; regulates
the manner of issuance, registering
and securing the same, prescri5es pen
altes for violation OF the provisions
of the law; aud places them under the
supervision of the railroad commission
and the attorney general. While |
shall not enter into discussion of this
statute, it is sufficient to ssy that now
it is not only not an issue, but has
proven acceptable to the people and to
railway promoters and Investors. Per-
haps my advocacy of this law provok
ed more opposition and disturbance in
local politics than any other measure,
[ a,-+oijo of +bo railroad commission