The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-29
HOUSTON. SUNDAY. JAN. 20, 1900.
TN ENTY-SlX PAGES,
px.cov. noee,s PROCLAMATION.

Ex- Governor Hogg has formulated his
opposition to a constitutional convention
~ tho shane of az, address ito the people
of Texas"
1t Is a very remarkable document III
addition to a severe formality, 1t wen nieh
anproaches the due solemnity' stage sup
ncsed IN attach to rigid ofiicialism. In
word II is pitched like proclamation ana
suggests, arraigns and admonishes WIN
that degree of familiarity born OF conn
dent assurance of superior rights ana priNi-
leges In that line.
Unfortunately for the argument OF Gov
ernor Hogg II what he says can DC ea'ieu
an argument, his entire contention ana M
OF his high sounding alarms are pasea on
false premise. He says:
warn YOU against the present moyeme1s
to aaye eonstttntlonai con na aeseryes nct,ve
resistance Unless you at once take s.eps ~, so .
prevent II, you will probably soon nave me ne
call thrust upon you, and IL VIII theh NO wv
late to avert the calamity.
This is positive misstatement OK the
case. The only proposition before the iegls-
lnture. or that has been made from any
source, is that the question of the calling
Of constitutional convention shall DO
submitted to the people for their deter
mination at the polls This being true, Gov
ernor Hogg In the use OF the language
quoted above must necessarily have In
tended one of two things--frst to pref
udice the issue by unfairly stating the
case; or, second, that he would regard II
as calamity for the people OF Texas to
,-.,.., - 10 ha nnlte
and determining by their ballots for them,
selves whether or not they would like to
have q new constitution.
But proceeding on this false premise
Grverner tiogg goes on to say:
While many patriotic, good mon have yield
cd to the localized pressure OF special inter
csts upon the superstition that II Ia the vii
OF the people. aud therefore favor the scheme
there il not the least doubt that at tho bot
tom OF the movement In the invisible, intangi
bic, subtle corporate spirit, which covets you
rights or aims Mt freedom itself from legal re
sfaint The. railroads want the commission
destroyed, The stock tobbers want the rail
way tond and stock law abrosated. The Ian
apeeuators want the allen land law repealed
The monopolsts want the corporation lard n,
changed. The boomers want the municlpa
bond law modified and the limitations on N
power OF taxation u cities removed Tn
money-changers want the homestead eXeml
lions left out, The note shavers want usur
abolished. The land-Erabhcrs want the ''nes,
the manufacturers exempted from taxation
The conspirators against trade want the anti
trust law buried. The Incorporated press wan
n .iiberal'' libel law, Tho centralists want n
appointive Judiciary. The disappointed amb
tious men want new deal IN tho hope
littls better luck In the future shuttle.
It is alloretLer probable. II indeed It b
not absolutely certain. that II Governo
Hogg were &c be called up7n by any com
pe,ent authority to make good. unde
oath or upon honor. any one or more Q
the above assertions he could not do OF
To be so we'll advised OF the desires an
purposes OF the corp rate aud kindred In
terests of Texas us to BIO able to speak b
auihoritatiyely on the subject would lmpl
degree Of intimacy with these interest
which no ono understands Governor Hog
to occupy No sensible person will b,
lieve. therefore. that he Is prepared /
substantiate this Wholesale nrraignment
In fact, most people will be Inclined t
accept the gentleman's hysterical effor
at It's face value, leaving the question I
motive TO future development. This wi
Gene In good time.
The gentleman CLAIMS. 1t Is understood
that he was born In q storm" Possibly b
has been quiet too long of late and TIL
latest ebullition may simly mean reas
sertion OF frst nature. II would be har
70 account FOR 1t In any other way