The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-09-11
ARGUING THE QUESTION.

The Austin Statesman wants
captains of industry
So do we all.
But before we give expression to
| the wish should we not consider
| what we have to offer captains of
| industry? We have a superabund-
ance OF raw material---we say super
abundance because enough OF 1t goes
J to waste in field and mine and for
est every year to make the state
prosperous beyond the power OF
figures to express. Also we have un-
developed resources that, to quote
the esteemed Statesman, ARE the
marvel OF the world"
But what of that and these?
When we lay the predicate for
cheap money, with which to build
| factories to convert our wealth of
| raw material into the manufactured
| product and to extend transporta-
ton facilities to our undevsloped re-
sources, what happens?
! Somebody comes along with a bill
designed to compel life insurance
companies, with millions of dollars
| in eternal quest of the sort of in
vestment and securities that return
a small rate OF interest because they
are strong and conservative to .au-
thorize the state to name amounts
to be invested and to designate
where their securities shall be de-
posted for taxation; and, when
these companies protest, they are
told to get out of the state If they
can't obey the law. All this before
the law is signed, or is law.
And it follows that the companies
do get out, and that they stay out.
In the meantime the business men
of the state who build factories and
promote development, when they get
together and protest, are told that
they are representing the enter
ests," and are warned to stay out
of politics.
If these business men cry out in
their resentment and distress for
fewer laws, all the family of politi-
clans below forth from the stump
that they are in league with the cor
porations to devour the people.
If anybody pleads for encourage
ment to outside builders of railroads
they are told with the utmost COM
placency to lest Texas capitalists
build railroads into undeveloped re-
gions, as If Texas capitalists ever
built a mile of railroad within the
state without going broke, except
when they unloaded their venture on
outsiders.
The Statesman knows these things
are true and that they are not over
drawn.
: But We will agree, and we hope
we are not mistaken, that the signs
| for the future betoken more sanity
and less political buncombe and
claptrap in dealing with the econo-
mics of factories, industrial enter
. prise and railroad construction.
For one, the Star proposes to see,
If possible, that the thirty-first leg
islature does not forget or ignore
the ninth plank in the platform that
pledges the democratic party OF
Texas to a recognition of 1.-The ne
cessity for the construction of many
miles of new railroad to bring into
market and use at an early date our
unoccupied lands, the timber grow
ing thereon, and the minerals and
other valuable deposits therein, and
heartily invites the construction
thereof under proper regulations
and guarantee protection by Just and
fair laws intelligently and honestly
administered"
The Statesman asks, in its plea
FOR captains of industry, Shall we
advertise Tor them? Why, certainly
in the only effective and honest
way-by sane end constructive leg.
islation. That and nothing else will
produce them from among our OWE
people or tempt them to come in
from the outside
We can pirate about resources un-
til doomsday, but until We hold out
the olive branch of peace to capital
in sensible and just legislation ir
: which the demagogue and the cor
poration baiters shall have no hand
we will advertise in vain.-Fort
Worth Star.