The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-28
IS OPPOSED TO A CONVENTION
FORMER GOVERNOR HOGG THINKS
CONSTITUTION Goop ENOUGH.
Texns TINT the Corporations only
Want "a New Organic Inv.

Austin. Texas, anuaJry 27.--The follow
ing proclamation was handed out today for
publication by Mr.. Hogg of the law Arm OF
Hogg & Robertson of this city:
To the People of Texas.
warn you against the present move
ment to have constitutional convention
called. II is formidable and strong, aud
deserves active resistance. Unless you at
once take steps to prevent 1t, you will
probably soon havA the call thrust upon
you, and 1t will then be too late to avert
the calamity. While many patriotic, good
men have yielded to the localized pressure
OF special interests. upon the superstition
that it is the viii OF the people and there
fore favor the scheme, there is not the
least doubt that at the bottom of the
movement is the invisible, intangible, sub
tie corporate spirit. which covets your
rights or aims at freedom itself from legal
restraint The railroads want the COM
mission destroyed. The stock jobbers want
the railway bond and stock law abrogated
The land spectators wnnt the alien land
law repealed The monopolsts want the
corporation land law changed. The boom
ers want the municipal bond law modified
and the limitations on the power OF taxa
lion in cities removed. The money
changers want the homestead exemptions
left out The uote-shayers want usury
abolished The iand-grabbers want the
hester scourged back The protection
lists want the manufacturers exempted
from taxation. The conspirators against
trade want the antitrust Inv buried. The
Incorporated press want a liberal libel
law. The ceDtralists want an appointiye
judiciary. The disappointed ambitious mon
want NEW deal" in the hope of little
better luck in the future shuttle.
On all these questions, so important and
vital TO the masses, the present consti-
tuition is strong and clear in its limitations
on the legislative power, and can not he
strengthened or improved but may be
weakened or destroyed.
II a new constitution is made, II must
necessarily change the old one in some
material particular. or IL were useless to
have It. What important change do the
people want in the present constitution?
Did any candidate for State office, or any
political convention last year point II out
ard declare for 1t? No!
The people are sovereign, and all move
ments to change their government or or
ganic law should begin with and take shape
from them. Last year they expressed their
will and outlined legislative policies
through their platforms. Did you. in this
way OF by any other usual method ex-
press dissatisfaction with the present coll
stitution? No! Should you want such
convention held. 1t will be ample time TO
say SO through the primaries and b. rpso-
luton in the next State political conven-
discussed before you.
In general way, the advocates NJ this
convention contend tlsit the constitution IL
a "back number. and out OF date" To this
IL may be answered that II has served
well for over twenty years, and that our
conditions have become settled mud adapted
TO it; that any important change In II now
would produce many new and perpiexing
issues which It would take the courts, pcr.
haps twenty years longer 20 adjudicNe.
BY that time. the class OF gentlemen who
always want the constitution changed. could
again plead that 1T Is back number, ana
out of date" and so tho disturbance Of
settled conditions would be renewed 10
the ANNOYANCE and distress OF the masses.
The people are safest when they have
learned to know their constitution, ana
jealousy guard against its change.
Again the hue and cry go up tnat the
present judicial system Is too expensive
and cumbersome aud should be abrogated.
Tho answer TO this Is: First. that IT ls
the creature of constitutional amendment
and can be corrected. II necessary. by the
same method; second. that the question OF
the expenses in this respect is ieit aimost
exclusively within Legislative control; ana
third that we have now q distinguished.
able. incorruptibie Judiciary, who have neen
elected by the people and against whom
no lust criticism can be offered
while the people are 81 home following
their usual yocations, confidently relying on
their duiy elected representatives. to 90
Justice TO all interests this city is com
parativeIy full Of lobbyists representing
tome or ali Of the special classes that are
Interested in changing some or all o. these
most wholesome constitutional restrictions.
II Is safe TO say that nineteen out 81 twenty
~ these members Of the third house are.
heart ana soul head and %or hand . for mould ,n
rv,,,,c oninion IN favor Of H. Unless coun-
fer action be taken their sinister twadaie
may be mistaken for the imperious VOICE
OF the people 49, ,..
that have been sdopfed and have s,ooa
she test under IT. are the hest IN the unns1
STATES TODAY. and II appearz N me. ana
therefore say TO you that the c.essn, move
~ ~ some or all Of them, J therefore
sussest thai II some Ds ras sas
de- rnnw tbat when they want their
constitution changed tssy i, M ,' w. sui, Il
rcctions. through their primary lnslrnc-
ticrs. 8 70 when ard how The duest'ce