The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-20

CHlcA tollttIu
POLITICAL TRUSTS AND COMBINES.
| declared IN my platform that In my
Judgment the greatest danger which to-
day threat. ned tho liberties OF the people
was trusts, aud that the most dangerous
of them all were political trusts and |
stand ready TO defend that declaration.
Whom the day shall ever como In this
Republic that few men can agree among
themselves as TO who shall fiji the Offices
and thus dictate to the people, our officers
viii have ceaaed 20 be servants OF the peo-
pie, but Will be their masters When the
power and patronage OF Office can be iuc-
cessfuliy prostituted TO seli-aggrandi6e-
ment, the danger is near
Oiiice was never TO bo given for such
base purpose. patronage was never in
tended TO DO so used, but man Is weak
ana luil OF ambition, aud is prone to use
SUCH methods to promote selfish ends. 10
forever remove from us all suci! dangers 4
advocate an amendment TO our constitute
ton, extending the term of all state Off
GERS TO four years and dlsquallfying an
incumbent TO hold any office Tor two years
next after the expiration of his term, and
thus TO secure TO the people the Whole
TINE and energies OF our public servants;
as II is now, when you elect Il man for two
years. he liz hardly Installed in Office be-
Tore he begins his campaign to succeed
himself or get better offce, and at least
one third OF his term of ofhce is expended
IN oanvnssinG mt The same time drawing
a salary out OF tho taxes gathered from
tho hard earnings of labor Besides IL
has come TO be universal custom with
inc democratic party to give man a sec
ond term as n kind of Endorsement
Then why have the trouble, time and
expense OF two elections? Let's rive them
four years, and they will give their entire
pfne 10 the public scrvico, make all their
appointments looking alone to the public |
good, and can never use their mower and |
to secure their own succession |
" TO gain promotion, and official trusts |
NH be heard of no more forever 1t was |
grand exhibition OF patriotism when that |
,reatest commOner since Jelforson--W j.
Bryan--decared, among his first utter |
Lnces when he was nominated at Chicago, |
nat he would not accent second term of |
ne great office Of president fearing. ma he |
hen declared, that the greed of power |
night enter his heart and cause him to bo |
influenced In the discharge OF his duties |
W tho ambition to succeed himself What |
more powerful argument could l bring for |
ward TO sustain my contention than tho |
lights and popular liberty. II he dared not
rust himself and stood awcd In the face
y such temptation, what may we not fear
rom men OF less capacity, less devotion TO
liberty! | would ask. IL there not already |
90 much evidence in Texas of this danger
or us to close our eyes and refuse to see
/!
plead for fair chance TO every man
man, every bravo. ambitious boy. To
ain the highest honors In the gift of the |
tate. ] have always been proud TINT 7 |
ias born In free land. where every man
onld strive for the Hottest fame--tbe
ighest goal, but when, at the Cbloago
onvention. / saw young man. n prlvate
l.lzen poor In purse. plainly dressed
nm no influence to back him, with tho I
oncentrated power of the office holders
gainst him. by tho strength OF his own
enius and the daurtless courage of
obio manhood, and the cause OF right
IN the proudest place In the Gift of his
reht party, | said In my heart "Trulv
'merican sovereignty Is not vain thing
no was prouder than ever of my coun-
COMMISSION LAW AND OTHER RE-
FORMS.
! stand committed. In my platform. IN
phold and enforce the railroad commits
ION law. and anti-trust laws. now ,pon
ur statute books. and as before said /