Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1909-01-15
ASKS VOTE ON PROHIBITION

Recommends the Amendment Be Sub.
mitted During Present Year to the
End That This Question May Be
Disposed Of Without Further Delay.
Austin, Jan. 14.-In both senate and
house the biennial message OF Cover.
nor Campbell was read today.
The states executive reviews at
length the work of his administration.
concluding with number CT recon-
mendations
The legislators are informed that
the state is running on cash basis
and the people prosperous; that the
laws are being enforced and as a rule
obeyed. The governor goes on to say
that The laws enacted and the re-
forms wrought under the present ad-
ministration in behalf of the great
masses OF the people of Texas have
Deen under fire for nearly two years
and have repeatedly received the EN-.
phatic endorsement of the Democratic
voters OF our state and have been ap-
proved and reaffirmed by, the organ
ized Democracy In convention as
sembled. The platform of the on
position party demanded the repeal
or modific"'ion Of many OF these i'm.
portant lG"s. and that party. its can
didates and its platform were repudl
ated and defeated b. about $50. 600
majority. Desperate IS have been
employed by sinister agencies to dis.
credit these laws and TO defeat the OBJ
Grafton OF these reforms. but the peo
pie have willed otherwise and the
laws have come TO stay Such changes
as may be sought by the friends OF
the laws to strengthen them and 10
facilitate their more beneficial and
effective operation and which may he
dictated by experience, may, with pro-
priety. be made. but these laws were
demanded by the people. they were
enacted by their trusted representa-
tives. and in spirit and substance they
should stand"
AS to Full Rendition.
On this subject the governor saws.
The county tax rolls for 1906. 1907
and 1908 disclose the gross inequali.
ties obtaining throughout the state
prior to the recent tax legislation. and
they further show that an earnest ef.
fort was made in the large majority
OF the counties to comply with the
laws respecting rendition. assessment
and equalization. In a few counties.
however the law was little short of
unconscianpble. These counties re-
ceived the full benefits Of the reduc.
uons in the state ad valorem tax rate
from 20 cents to 6 Ia cents. and the
state school ad valOrem tax rate from
% cents to 10 % cents. and received
the full benefit increase in the amor.
tionment OF the available school fund.
but by the derellction and disregard
of duty on the part Of their trusted tax
officials, they contributed practically
nothing 10 the increase OF values re-
suliing In such general good This is
SO manifestly unfair and unjust that
an effective remedy should be speedily
provided by law"
Public Health.
Attention is called to the twelfth
plank OF OF the Democratic party OF
Texas last platform, which recon-.
mends that our state health depart
ment be granted adequate authority
and ample means TO properly safe
guard the public health" and urges
this demand be complied with. The
state health department is commend.
ed for its able and faithful admins.
tration."
Oil and Rice.
Legislation that will protect the oil
and rice industries is suggested. par.
ticularly the fixing and regulating OF
charges OF canal and pipe line com.
panies.
Prohibition Submission.
Under this head Governor Campbell
quotes the fifteenth plank of the state
Democratic platform OF 1905, which de-
mands the submission by the Thirty.
first legislature of vote to the peo.
pie of Texas OF constitutional amend
ment, for adoption or rejection. pro.
hibiting within the state of Texas the
manufacture. sale. gift. exchange and
intra'state shipment of spirituous,
vinous and malt liquors and medicated
bitters capable OF producing intoxica.
ton except for medicinal and sacra.
mental purposes. He also calls atten.
tion to the rest OF the plank. which
calls for vote on this question during
1909, which further declares a vote
FOR or against the amendment shall
not be considered test of Democracy
as ii Is not the purpose OF this con.
ventlon TO commit the Democratic
party for or against state prohibition"
The executive recommends that this
demand be complied with. stating that
the Republican party, which declared
against submission. was defeated by
over s150,000 majority. 1T therefore,
seems TO me that party integrity and
party safety demand that Democratic
members of this legislature redeem
the party pledge and obey the will Of
the people OF this state II Is not
question OF expediency and II makes
no difference how Democrats view the
question Of state prohibition. A mans
position upon state prohibition is not
involved in the platform demand. but
when Democrats by Their votes place