The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-04-25

agreed that since those able to give and
whose duty it was to give towards ena-
bling Austin to properly celebrate her
water and light victory had refused to
subscribe, that more than ever should the
poorer men make herculean effort to
save the city's credit. But while this
was all admitted, yet such absolute dis
of Austin's being so assanine as not to
seize upon with avidity this excellent
chance to make known to the world that
she had completed her great undertaking,
that it was decided as utterly not worth
the candle to attempt to do anything
towards getting up the regatta. Not
that it was doubted for a moment a re-
gatta could be successfully given, for there
are brave and gallant fellows in Austin
who will go down into their pockets and
even skimp themselves for the glory of
our city. But why should they be i'm
posed upon? Why should they be ridden
to death while the rich fellows with
stores to rent and property to be in
creased in value sit back and do nothing
to help on such public spirited move
ments? Why, these elegant gentlemen
seem to think it honor enough for Austin
that they consent to live here and grow
rich off our people. They look upon
the tax question in two ways. First,
that it is an outrage to assess any taxes
against them, in that they have built
stores and houses for Austin, and while
it may be true these stores bring them
in excellent interest on their investments,
vet think of what public benefactors
they have been in thus identifying Aus
tin with buildings and let that suffice
i'll place of their paying taxes.
Second-But if that most obnoxious of
all creatures to them, the tax collector,
does most righteously get from them
small part of their unearned increments,
why, they think they have done simply
wonders for the city and for anyone
to ask them to contribute to a celebra>
ton would be to commit q sacrlege.
So they insult those who call on them
for subscriptions.
So, while it was known that a regatta
could be gotten up from among the rent
ridden and publicly over assessed mer-
chants, two things decided the question
negatively.
First-lt was thought tn. rich had
been mean and stingy and grinding long
enough and it was thought to give them
a taste of not having things to enjoy that
are worked up and paid for by other peo-
pie. For all these fellows go to a regatta
when it is in full swing Oh! yes: they 90
and pay their little twO-bits or half-d0llar
to see the show and enjoy it just as much
as the man next to them who contributed
300 to help secure the regatta. 1t was
thought to be time to stop all that
Second-The work of getting up the re-
gatta would have devolved on two or three
and they decided their efforts in the past
had not been appreciated, and that some
body else could do the work this year if
they liked. 1t is thought that the time
has come in Austin when if anything is
done, it will be done as in other cities,
by a united effort of all the people and
not because some four or five men have
endured the burden of the whole commune
Il. The Statesman has nothing but praise
for tie n bic, sef-sacrifcing work of
these few in the past, but advises that in
the future they take hold only when
others do. And especially in connection
with this regatta question: The Statesman
in the name of Austin's genuine and pro-
gressive citizenship for, after all, thank
God, we have some of that kind wishes
to thank Mr.. John Crotty for the earnest,
conscientious. laborious and to him most
costly work he has done for Austin in the
past two years regattas. He has not
only given his time, his influence with the
oarsmen, (even last year personally guar
anteeing the prizes before the money was
raised) and the hardest kind of work,
but both regattas cost him personally a