Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-05-13
for a wonderful degree of stubborn

for a wonderful degree of stubborn
ness, if not for being downright hard
headed. They had the recommends
tion of the outgoing Governor against
them. Though l do not feel that /
would be doing Governor Stone JUS
tice to say that he unqualifedly en-
dorsed the endowment bill, for he
warned the representatives that its
constitutionality was doubtful, and I
have too much faith in the integrity
of Governor Stone to believe that he
would undertake to force such a
measure upon the Legislature regard
less of their constitutional convictions.
The fact It's that his own warning shows
to the contrary. But be that as it
may, each Representative must act
for himself.
And the bill had behind it the whole
power of the present administration.
am far from holding the University
responsible for all that was done to
force this measure upon the people.
For member who voted against the
endowment bill soon learned that
he had lost cast with his excellency.
1t had good majority of the Senate
behind it and strong force in the
House. Among that force in the
House was the speaker himself,
though must do the speaker the JUS
tice to say that he made the most
conservative speech that was made
by the friends of the bill, never claim
ing for once the constitutionality of
the measure, nor word of ridicule of
those who respected their constitu-
tional obligations. The fact Is that
Speaker Farris in his whole admins
tration impressed it upon representa-
tives that the constitution was the
safeguard of the people and our only
safety lay in the regarding of its
obligations He would say that man
who lightly regards his obligations
renders himself unworthy of trust in
any legislative enactment. 1t was
only the determined, unmoved stand
taken by the friends of the constitu-
tion that defeated the endowment bill.
Nor was it a party measure. Repub-
licans were against Republicans,
Democrats against Democrats, and
only the fact that the enemies OF the
bill had the constitution upon their
eide gave them the victory.
1t might be stated here, that so
clearly was it demonstrated that the
constitution forbade the passage of
this bill, that most persistent effort
was made to call a convention to
adopt a new constitution. This was
recommended by the Governor and
supported by the champions of the
endowment bill, among whom were
President Jesse. And had it not been
for the determined opposition of some
of those very men who opposed this
bill, the people would have had the
expense of constitutional conven-
ton thrust upon them. And I will
add further, that before I get through
with these papers, will show that
had the administration and the State
Senate supported the measures passed
by the House with half the persistency
they did the endowment bill, there
would have been an abundance of
money in the treasury to have met all
deficiencies without increasing the
valuation of property. But to have
passed these bills would have robbed
the friends OF endowment of the only
weapon they had to fight with, a
deficiency in the treasury.
know very well that when a man
objects to anything asked for by the
University, he is branded by certain
class as an enemy to the institution.
1t seems to be the stock in trade,
especially of those who make sport
of the constitution, or of the man who
would regard his oath, to call man an
enemy and hold him up to ridicule.
But will brave all that and tell few
facts regarding appropriations.
will state that am friend of the
University, and did it come within the
scope of my papers, / would explain
what kind of a school think it should
be. will say would have it all that
the word University implies. No
place for idlers, incidence, indiffer-
ence or extravaganza, but where boys
and girls of pluck and nerve and back
bone win distinction upon merit alone.
1t is charged that the appropr1a-
tions of the seth General Assembly