Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-20
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SOUTH TEXAS PLAN

1T was great mistake" said a rail-
way man yesterday, that the people
OF Texas made when they voted that
constitutional amendment last year
which made the state railway commits
sion elective.
1T may surprise you to hear a man
connected with railways voice such
sentiment but l believe I but express
the sentiments of nine-tenths OF the
railway people OF this state when
say there was a mistake made some
where.
II am free TO confess that at one
time totally different idea prevailed.
but things were different then so far
as our interests are concerned. There
was bitter antagonlsm between the
railways OF the staate and the com.
Mission born of mutual distrust and
Misunderstanding. We looked upon the
commission as great agent of coniis.
cation. ushorod into existence for no
other purpose on earth but In obedi.
ence to the popular clamor for relief
from evils which existed In the major
extent In the Imagination OF those who
had an AK to grind.
And the commission, when 1t opened
up for business at the now stand, was
reforms are accomplished slowly. They
manifested too much disposition 10
| take the bovine by the horns and wres-
| tie him into an acquiesence IN too
| radical reforms. Then came the In
| junction suit. which brought both sides
| 10 realization of Just where they
were at. and better understanding
has resulted all around.
| railways have begun to recognize
| the commission as permanent instl-
| tuition, with many features attached
| that are II positive advantage, Conf
dence In the integrity and fairness OF
| the present commission has hardly
been established before the announce
ment IL made that perhaps but one OF
| the present board will be candidate
| for reelection. and the question OF who
shall constitute the next commission
has become the leading political ques-
| tlon OF the day.
81 viii tell you honestly that be-
lieye from present Indications that the
| nomination and election Of the commits
sion will overshadow that Of the Eov-
| ernor next year. The duties of my
position recently called me to South
| Texas, and ! was brought directly In
contact with much OF the inner busi-
ness and political circles Of that sec
tion. without any desire to be proml.
nent In the matter, or to figure in II In
any way. will say that South Texas
ana by south leNhs L mean more par
ticularly the coast country-is more
alive today to the necessity of repre-
sentatlon upon the next commission
than any other question that can pos
sibly be injected in the next state cam
pagn.
I'm the language OF one Of their
shrewdest manipulntors 10 me, give us
the commission and we don't care who
gets the rest OF the ticket or what is
put In the platform And there Is
reason for this. The coast oitles-to
be more spe inc, Houston and Calves
ton--have been shorn of much of their
past glorles by the operation OF pres
ent conditions. 1t has resolved itself
into plain matter OF dollars and
cents, and when you touch a mans
pocket you invariably hit the window
to his heart and soul.
mo; l don't think those people Will
make an open fight on those lines. 1t
would not be good policy, But I %
think that In the effort to right what
is conceived to be common wrongs
Galveston and Houston viii bury minor
animositlcs and lend every energy In
the direction indicated.
what could they dof Well, all is
fair In love. war and politics IS an
aphorism largely predominant In this
day and time. 1t Is easy enough to
form alliances on the reciprocity plan,
and l think that IL the contemplated
line of operations. | think too that
there IL q great deal OF justice in the
South Texas Idea. That Is the source
from which cheap traffic rates orlgl-
mated In Texas, and while the balance
OF the state has contributed greatly to
the growth and development OF those
cities, 1t was but n natural or concoml-
tant result attached to fortunate loca-
tion and getting there first,
81 am great believer In the
eternal principles of Justice, and never
stop to figure on strength In matters
OF that kind. II cause Is Just and
legitimate II never falls TO evoke at
least my sympnthles.
As l remarked before, South Texas
has an abiding faith IN the Justice
of their cause. They feel that great
injustice has been done IN the past,
and they are simply determined to
right the wrong as far as possible.
ayes, sir. II South Texas can obtain
what she wants on the commission, you
can wager all you are worth on the
fact that they don't care much where
the balance OF the lightning strikes.
81 expect TO go down In that section
again soon, and will be In a better
position to Judge Of conditions from
such developments as may come under
my observation.
"And the railways7 oh, we are neu-
trail In these things AS said before,
we believe now the election of the
commission is a mistake. We are sat.
istied with the present commission and
seriously doubt the ability OF the state
| to produce any Improvement"