Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1908-06-19
pAviDsoN's OPENING SPEECH.

Attorney General Robert Vance Da
wilson made his opening speech II
his campaign for reelection at Corsi
cana Saturday It. was splendid re
view of his record since going into OF
flee. and every man who is disposed
to be fair in deciding on his vote IL
this important race should read the
speech and see what Davidson has II
say in his own behalf. To be sure
the readers of such papers as the
Houston Post, Austin Statesman ant
Fort Worth Record will have to Dor
row a real, newspaper to get the
speech, as none of these organs had
the fairness to print the speech
There was too much in contradiction
of their statements concerning this
public officer to allow them.sto print
it. 1t shows the spirit of such, ma
chine organs, and the people will moi
fail to take note of it.
Mr.. Davidson reviews his rec,
ord in the office, and says it is case
of the trusts trying to defeat the
state right at a time when the state is
clinching victory over them. He
gives such facts and figures as nc
man should be willing to pass by
without serious thought.
Concerning the opposition to him
from certain sources, the attorney
general uses the following language:
1T is needless for me to rehearse
here the history of another branch OF
the Standard, the Waters Pierce Oil
company, and its blighting effect on
this state. All men know the strug
gle of the people against it, all men
know that its head is H. Clay Pierce,
who stands indicted in this state for
false swearing and is now a fugitive
from justice. When he sued out a
writ of habeas corpus in st. Louis
after-his arrest, the state wds- R5t
represented there. One of the assist
ants from my office, who happened to
be in st. Louis taking testimony in
the Waters Pierce case, appeared in
the federal court and prevented Pierce
taking snap judgment upon Texas by
requesting a postponement of the
hearing until the governor could des
ignate some one to represent the
state, which the court granted, and
when the arguments were subsequent.
ly made the court refused to discharge
Pierce. Governor Campbell has de
nounced his resistance of the process
of our courts and declares he will eX-
haust the resources at his command
to bring him to trial before a Texas
jury. The supreme court of the Unit
ed States has said he must come
This department may be called upon
to aid in such prosecution when he is
brought here, and | being in posses
sion of the facts and evidence relat
ing to his case, it can easily be appre
ciated why Pierce should wish
change in this office and one less ia
miliar Herewith installed, and one
who has said he would not use such
evidence in the trial of any criminal
case, Notwithstanding the fact that
the state must rely upon the docu
mentary, evidence which have secur
ed for a conviction. The state cannot
compel the attendance of witnesses
residing beyond its borders. The doc
uments in my possession bear Pierce:
genuine signature and were audited
by the Standard Oil company. Ii
Pierce is convicted these documents
must be used, yet my opponent has
denounced them and said he would
not use this evidence.
Therefore, when their secret cam
paign of SANDER and abuse failed in
its purpose to drive me from my post
as some of the other trust organs
daily predicted would occur, they re-
sorted to ends never before attempt
ed in the history of any country. They
timed their attacks just at the time
when | appeared before the supreme
court at Washington to argue the
Waters Pierce Oil receivership case
and sent many copies of the paper to
members of congress and other public
men in dastardly effort TO humiliate
the officer of the people and destroy
is influence before the supreme
curt for the benefit of the Waters
Pierce Oil company. Such stroke at
lie vital interests of the people and in
rehalf of a criminal corporation was
never before attempted and should
arouse the indignation of every pa
riotic citizen. This attack delivered
Or an obvious purpose was the con-
summation of the desperate conspir-
5cy which they deliberately planned
md shows you what an officer must
endure, if he be faithful to. the peo-
ple's interest and antagonize the