El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-19

Says Col. Andrew Jackson Houston,
Prohibition candidate for governor Of
Texas. in his letter of acceptance:
A crisis has been reached in the at
fairs of our state, when it has to be de-
cided whether the government of Texas
shall be controlled by the people or
by the liquor interests and other pro-
tected trusts.
To the minds of the unprecedented it
is evident that there is a large major
ity of the people of Texas who are in
favor of prohibiting any intoxicating
liquors from being made in, OF shipped
into, Texas, Those who are opposed
even to the submission to the refereh-
dunn vote by the people of a prohibition
amendment to the constitution, requir-
ing the enactment of prohibitory laws
have given a defiant warning that, if
it is submitted, they intend to exert all
their influence and power to defeat its
adoption. Prohibitionists have conf
dence that it will be adopted by a de-
cisive majority, therefore, the question
of equal Importance to the lawabiding
people of Texas is to begin with this
campaign TO prepare for the enact
ment and enforcement of the necessary
laws to carry out the purpose of such
an amendment to the constitution.
The liquor interests were sure of their
power to nominate the candidate for
governor from the Democratic and Re-
publican parties. but they could not
name the candidates for the 1egisla-
ture. There, prohibition was victo-
rious. But what of the two anti-prohi-
bition candidates for governor =?
O. B. Colquitt was nominated by the
anti-prohibition boss of the Democratic
party and J. o. Terrell was nomi-
mated by the anti-prohibition boss of
the Republican party, therefore. the
fusion Of those two parties against
prohibition constitutes the anti-prohi-
bition party:
Slur on 100000 Republicans
Mr.. TerreIs party is more concerned
about federal offices than about state
affairs, and his expressions are not i'm
portant
Mr.. Colquitt has made many pledges
of loyalty to the anti-prohibition party.
Those pledges have been published in
his speeches. None can doubt that he
is just as sincere, as he is candid in
his anti-prohibition declarations
Relative to local option, he has said
''On this subject I repeat what 1 said
four years ago in my opening speech.
l have in the past voted against call
ing such laws into use and on princi-
pie see no difference in county and
state prohibition, except as to the ter
ritorial scope of the law and in it's
application
No Reliance on COIquitt.
With the well known opposition of
Mr.. Colquitt to the use of the state
rangers to assist the sheriffs, it is evil
dent that if the county officers are un-
able to overcome the lawless element
in a county, the lawabiding citizens
oraT iaf he or g,
is governor.
Upon the principle of the initiative
and referendum, he declares his opin-
ion as follows: There has sprung up
in Texas in the very recent past an in
novation, born of political cowardice
and political hypocricy Last year
there was an agitation for state wide
prohibition. There were men then and
there are men now, on both sides, who
were making money out of the agita-
ton / doubt if it would now be an is
sue except for the mercenaries on both
sides of the question 1 do not favor
the initiative and referendum"
With his pronounced opposition to
the freeman's right of invoking the
initiative and referendum, the people
could never hope for relief from op-
preston
Certainly to entrust the enforcement
of prohibition laws to any man whose
convictions and sentiments are so in
tolerant toward not only the principles
Of state wide prohibition, but even of
local option, would be simply an aban-
donment by prohibitionists OF the
cause for which they have contended so
long and have suffered so much.
The candidate for the anti-prohibition
party has given full warning to the
fcf Of
elect him, land he cannot be elected
without them), he will use his influ-
ence as governor to defeat the propos-
ed amendment.
While prohibition is not the only is
sue in the campaign, it is the para
mount issue, because there can be no
purity in government while it is under
the domination of the liquor interests
and of other trusts.
If the people intrust me with the du-
ties of governor of Texas. 1 will enter
upon the discharge of those duties in
perfect harmony with the legislature,
not only upon the question of prohibi-
ton, but in an earnest effort to bring
all the state institutions up to the
highest standard of efficiency.
Public Schools.
The fathers Of Texas bequeathed to
posterity a permanent free school fund,
larger by far than that in the history
of any other country; Notwithstanding
that fact Texas stands low in her
school system when compared with
that of some other states. Every pat
riotic Texan has hoped to see our state
take rank with the most advanced, yet
we have allowed this magnificent free
school endowment TO operate as real
misfortune, instead of the blessing it
was intended to be by those who gave
it. Official reports show that our city
schools have a great advantage over
our country schools. Except where
school districts have been established,
those in the country are under exclu-
sive control of the state. The term of
the country school averages only five
months while that of the city school is
nine months. The age limit has proved
to be too narrow. 1t is now from seven
to seventeen. Whether the minimum
age should be lowered or not, the max
imum ought to be raised. Only by