The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1906-03-06
PERJONAL REflINIJENCE OF
GOV JAMES STEPHEN HOOO
By WILLIAM BlUE
8, WILLIAM j. BlJlE

lost fortunes he never forgot the in
lerests of Texas and his loyalty 10
the plain people" as he loved to
cali them. was oniy equalled BY their
confidence In and love for him In
Het came on tn. now famous free
silver campaign was editing the
Enterprise and was one al the "sil-
ger cranks" of that day. The state
executive committee of the Demo-
cratic party was OF The same mind
and J, passed some radical rules con
corning the manner of holding pri-
maries and who were eligible 10 par
ticlpate therein The Ellis county
committee was about equally divided
! on the subject, bat when meeting
was had majority was found oppos-
, ed to the state committees program
and resolution passed opening the
primary to everyone and without
piedging allegiance 10 the nominees
of the party The silver adherents
were furious After a consultation
mass meeting was called the intent
being 10 denounce the action of the
committee. refuse 10 accept it, and
SET mp new committee and call sep
arate primaries. This plan did not
appeal TO me, but was In woful min
GRITTY ! wrote Governor Hogg the
situation begging him to make
public address in Waxahachie on the
/ date OF our mass meeting and to at
| tend that meeting. After little cor
fespondence he agreed TO do so and
the announcement was made His
| friends took charge of the arrange
ments and a large canvass was spread
in the old East End park Governor
HoSg came in on the morning train,
bringing several friends with him
Our mass meeting was to be held at
II O'Clock At % O'Clock confer
| ence was held in the parlors of the
Rogers hotel in which the situation
was fully discussed, the Governor act
ing as adviser. suggested that the
silver men should accept the action
, of the county committee, organize
| and go into the PRIMARIES and capt
ure the organization. Any other
course would put us in the attitude
OF boilers Governor Hogg approved
| my suggestions and | was directed TO
! frame resolutions to that effect to
be presented to the mass meeting.
| The resolutions were adopted and
! the "goldbugs as we then called
| them. remained out OF the primaries
| obey had called almost 10 man. In
/ the afternoon the Governor spoke to
/ several thousand people. The inter
| est was intense and he made one of
] his best speeches. At one point he
asked his hearers: How many of
! YOU ever saw gold dollar?" A few
| answered in the affirmative. Then
x,F \,
| a gold dollar?" Uncle Jessie Smith
who had ridden all the way from
Bristol TO hear the Governor, rose up
Hold if up SO can see it,. said tn
speaker Uncle Jessie did so. well
hy Gatlins, YOU d better keep it.
the goldbugs capture this electinoi
and adopt the gold standard You |
never another one. do no
know but | suspect Uncle Jessie ha'
! that gold dollar yet. For his time
and his effort Governor HogS would
not even accept his travelling eX-
penses He was a private citizen,
seeking no further political honors,
but he loved the plain people and was
ready 10 spend and be spent for what
he conceived their best interests.
He did not allow his personal
friendship TO warp his official or po-
litical Judgment In party matters
the success of the party wss dearer
to him than the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
his friends So when the convention
for national delegates was held at
Austin in June Governor HoSS was
called into the caucus of our delega
lion ! had not reached Austin, but
my name was suggested tor presl-
Dental elector from the old sixth
ldisirict. Governor iiogg objected,
He said I was too young, that ! was
not in position 10 canvass The district
and not being public speaker could
NOT meet opposition. The objection
prevailed The Governor was right
He WIS my friend, but not an the rN
peuse of the party welfare
IN 1898 he espoused he candida
e., OF savers against that of Crane
Some of General Cranes friends fell
the Governor had not been exactly
fair 10 his old ally and friend. Wa
a Crane partisan and OF course tel
a little bitter that Hogs inilueuc,
should be brown against him anf
this feeling was reflected ina severn
special ARTICLES published iu m" En-