Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-15
FOR THE STATE SENATE.
HON. LEE RIDDLE or noon a
CANDIDATE.
His view. on stnte Issues Expressed
to n Gazette Rcportcr--ror Hor-
ace Chiffon for United states
senator--what He Thtniss.

StAAANOA NAiAH Nte-Af foA AhtAA h0NAAk ANN
of,ce for the past two TERMS she will
leave 1t to be filled this time by one OF
the other counties In the district Two
candidates have announced for the
place, Hon. Lee Riddle of Granbury
and Hon. Il. b. Hood OF Parker. Both
have served as members OF the logis-
lature.
Nr. Riddle was in the city Sunday
on his return from Arlington where he
spoke Saturday and was seen by q
| Gazette reporter, who questioned him
in regard to the issues involved in his
race. He has a warm place In the
hearts Of Fort Worth people because
of his enthusiastic fight for Fort Worth
In the contest for the location OF the
civil court OF appeals. 1t will be re-
WONDERED tina. after that successful
contest he was called upon TO respond
to the toast "Fort WORTH at u dim
ncr given to members OF the legislature
and made response that would have
done credit TO the most loyal and gifted
OF our home speakers.
| Discussing his candidacy and the is.
sues OF the senatorial canvass, MIR
Riddle said:
II am candidate before the Demo-
cratic Convention for SHE o.lico OF state
senator from the ThIrtia.h senatorial
| district, composed Of rairlnt, Hood,
| Parker and Somerville, counties. My
home is now and has been since 1885,
| In GranbuIy, Texas. Tna Democrats NJ
| my county have manitested = dlspori-
| ton 10 support me IN the coming cleo.
| tom. and having ambition which
| vihrntcs in perfect accord with that
| sentiment IL was but natural for me
TO do like other men would do under
| similar circumstances. l realize that
IA public office Is u public trust" re-
| posed by the people In their agents.
Also that whenever the people have
| deliberately considered any question or
| issue, aud have determined that II
shall be disposed OF In u certain way,
IT then becomes the solemn duty OF
their agents TO perform their will or
| retire from office.
Acting upon this principle, l shall
hold myself ready 10 honestly en-
| deavor at all times, II elected. to do the
| Will of my constituency Whenever such
| viii Is expressed. II a case should
arise In the course OF legislation upon
| which no dee ision had been rendered
by the people, then | should USE my
best Judgment and strive TO do the
right.
81 wns in the Legislature. member
of the house, when the present rail-
way commission was enacted | heart
| lily lndorsed Il then and gave IL my
UNQUALIFIED support. ! think IL Is 1nc
Of the best commission laws In the
United States. Its validity. under the
| constitution, Is now on trial IN the
Supreme Court Of the United States. II
II stands the tcst well and good. II
suits me as II is. But II the decision
OF that court Is against II. then l am
for such amendments only MS shall
| conform It's provisions 10 ouch decision.
This is, In my judgment, the true way
20 make railroads blessing TO the
public, whom 1T is their business TO
serve.
II indorse fully the railway bond bill
eracted by the Twenty-third lcgisln-
ture. Under this law. what roads nre
| hereafter built in Texas will be cen
structed for the money they Will make
| IN hauling passengers and freight aud
not, rs mas too often been the case
In the past. FOR enabling their owners
and others TO flood the country with
fictitious bonds and gtoct ana thus
| acquire to themselves IN few years
| enormous sums OF Individual wealth.
leaving the road 20 be blood-sucker
at the vltals OF the common people.
BY an efficient and honest administra-
tlon of these two laws the dangerous
| doctrine OF governmental ownorahlp of
| railroads can be averted, and the spirit
of nationalism now becoming no pre-
valent In this land OF the free and
home OF the brave be driven from the
confines of our beloved stnte.
In these trying times every man
should practice economy. II should
commence at the home OF the individ-
ual and 1ow out from thence through
| all the ways and places OF business
to bless like the river OF waters all
who touch Its healing spray. Just an
few officers as can rightly transact
the states business should be chosen.
And when ] say this ! mean such a
number as can discharge the duties
OF the state by laboring the same
number OF hours per day. and for
such salary as would he required OF
and paid to them for the same char
acter OF labor In the private walks OF
life Efficiency and Industry in the
public service should predominant rath.
err than peacemaklng for the accom-.
modations and qualification OF personal
and political friends. II elected shall
give this subject u candid investiga.
ton, with view TO fewer Offices and
more efficient and industrious men.
"There is another matter OF impor-
lance in the consideration OF economy
Under our present laws II man steals
1--WE different horses, In i've different
counties and is convicted. and hif
| punishment asHessed at five years IN
each case, while in the aggregate his
full term would be twenty-five years
yet he Will serve out the fun sentencs
In nve years. BY this method tho vn.
rlous officers are paid for their services
in 1--WE cases, while the state Furnishes
the culpiit In only one. This Is q most
glaring extravaganza, and should bt
corrected. II elected shall undertak,
20 do IL.
"The present method Of working
state convicts within the waits and on
siste farms has my hearty approval
| Prd shall be glad 10 see the tlms
GENE when all our convicts can be en-
ployed either within the walls or on
the farms. a good many persons oh
ject to the farm method because they
say the state is utilizing his labor FOL
PROFIT. But when the enormous cx-
pense Of enforcing the criminal law OF
the state H. oonaidered. we wake M
10 the fact that there Is no profit IN IL,
| There IL not one faion in one thousand
| from whom the state ever collects ths
cost Of his prosecution. The great ma
jorlty OF them are comparatively poor
and unable 10 pay. Those who havs
homes and families are protected b,
the exemption laws, and hence tn,
| honest people Of the state are taxed e
nay for putti-.; cuiprits In the peni
\ t.fa -. Il