The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-11-04
The Party Does Not Antagonize Honest Capital.
Progress in Texas
Hon. E. W. Harris of Greenville, Democratic Nominee
for State Senator Fifth District on the Past and
Present Policy of the Democracy.

fictitious issue Is proven In the courts OF
the country. / grant YOU that this stock
ana bond law was not passed soon enough,
but 1t Is not too late to attempt to rem
edy conditions which grew out of the
remarkable inducements offered to out
side capital in the earlier periods of the
STATES history. Let's get rid of this
dishonest and unjust tax upon the COM
merce Of the State This stock and bond
law has not retarded railroad building in
Texas. There have been constructed since
Its enactment, over 1000 miles OF road,
and its stock and bond issues baye been
upon an honest basis. The policy Of the
democratic party with reference to the
issuance of fictitious stock and bonds by
railroad corporations is also one which
the republicans and their sympathizers
would no doubt reverse were they given
an opportunity. The principles embodied
IN the proposed constitutional amendment
is merely an enlargement of the principle
of the stock and bond law.
OTHER LAWS.
The policy of the democratic party with
reference to tn econtrol of these corpora
tions is still further indicated by the en-
actment of law prohibiting the giving
Of rebates and other unjust dlscrimina-
lions by railroads or their receivers This
law prohibits, under heavy penalties ths
making OF special raec. rebate, draw
back or other device, or Che giving of anu
undue advantage or preference to any
shipper, or the discriminating in any
manner for or against any one. This
law applies to corporations the old dem
ocfatlc doctrine of equal rights to all
and special privileges to none The
larger shippers. those who had been re-
ceiving special consideration. at frst
we're not pleased With this law, but the
rmailer ones and the people generally
We're gratihed with the change The re
publicans would naturally reverse this
policy because their party is welded TO
the idea of special privileges 20 tho
wealthy and powerful classes.
To further induce capital to come TO
Texas, to provide wide open field for
speculation. we would have the repeal
% such statutes as the municipal bond
law and we would have again the crea
Won of unlimited public indebtedness OF
cities, encouraging extravaganza and
with Imitation. Since the passage of this
law the bonds of cities are issued upon
a more honest and conservative basis
ana the taxpayer and the investor are
alike protected.
To secure this great influx of outside
capital such principle as is enunciated
in the alien land law would have to
go, likewise that contained in the law
regarding land corporations. The aliens
and the great corporations would re-
eeive most liberal treatment from men
like Green We're they in power. They
would give undisputed title to the soil
OF Texas to aliens and great corporations
and ia their greed for gold would sacri-
fee abe welfare of the individual citi.
zen. Under their rule the privileged and
powerful classes would fat1en upon The
sacred heritage of the people. They
would welcome absentee iand,ordism and
corporate monopoly that would oppress
the people and violate the spirit of the
constitution
This capital would also be invited by a
speedy repeal of the antitrust law and
pools, trusts and co:--piracies would be
permitted to control the prices OF artl-
cles aud business in this State The or.
Sani2ation OF these combinations and
monopolies would be encouraged and per.
United TO absorb uprestrained the earn
ing OF the people The trust is The spe.
eal charge of the republican party and
the relentless war which has been waged
by the democratic party of this State
upon these oppressive combinations
would be known no more.
In this republican seheiue OF inducing
foreign capital such an old fogy statute
as the hccles teas Jaw would have to go,
FOR the first thing in order would - 2
constitutional convention which would
make 1t possible to turn Texas loose"
upon the most unrestricted plan. In fact
numerous wise and benehcent laws, en-
acted for the protection of the people,
would have to go and that speedily.
The Confederate pension law would
not stand a day in the presence OF this
crowd, and the home for the disabled
confederates would become remlns-
cence early In their regime
With the exception OF the last two
mentioned, the above laws represent the
chrystalized policy OF the democracy OF
Texas with reference to the control Of
corporate wealth and every sanderous
charge that Texas laws are illiberal to-
ward capital Is based upon them So II
the progress OF Texas has been retarded
by democratic legislation. II capital
has been inundated these are the
laws in the main, which are TO be held
responsible. These, then. are the laws
which She republicans, and those who
are opposed to the dominant democracy
OF the State would repeal ms an induce
ment to secure larger influx OF popula-
tion and capital. Are the people OF TeXas
ready to part with these laws? They will
answer with their ballots.
REGARDING TAXATION.
: The policy CT the democratic party wi h
', reference TO taxation has been to equal
! lie the burdens OF government upon Just
: and scientific basis. Keeping the same at
,, the lowest rate consistent With the needs
I of an economically administered state
r government II has been The policy Of
the party to reach all forms Il PROPERTY
i especially those classes which usually es-
cape taxation. Franchise and other taxes
are assessed against railroads. express
companies ard other corporations Money
notes, bonJf and other evidences of credit
are taxed/and stll further efforts win bs
} made " reach Intangible and hidden
forms OF wealth. The tax law OF ISL
I has peen OF great benefit TO the whole
neooie as II has forced the chronic Do.
) lIFduenf and the willy tax dodser to settSp
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