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

E. Evans, general agent of the confer
| ence for education. states In discussing
our free schools: "The average term
for schools in the country districts is
only Ill days, and in the Independent
| districts l54 days. and an average in aIl
districts 124 days, which is % DAYS less
than the average school term for ali the
states OF the union. Over 200C schools
in Texas run less than five months aud
391 schools have terms of less than
three months. Out of 1858 children
of scholastic age residing in country dis
tricts, an average of AZ out OF every
100 were absent from school each day,
and II out OF every 100 children did
not even enter school,"
COIquit Promises Nothing.
In his speech at Dallas the other
night, Mr.. Colquitt declared for legis-
lative rest. He declared he had asked
the people of the state what laws they
wanted passed. and they answered
none. The audience which he adj
dressed at Dallas, according to the re-
port, was of a similar mind, and re-
peated again: GIVE us a rest" The
poor fellows have been chased so long
by Texas lawmakers that they really
do not know that they are entitled to
fair treatment. They DO not know that
the government was made for their
benefit, and that the sum and sub
stance of all laws ought to be the well
fare of humanity.
1 regret to say that I cannot assist
in this program of standing still. In
fact since that speech was made
some of the worst legislation that
Texas has ever known has been passed
by Texas legislature at the command
Of Gov. Campbell. If Mr.. COlquitt in
sists on such a program, L shall insist
or worrying him occasionally by a
suggestion that he ought to do better.
I insist that our laws should be made
similar to the laws of the progressive
states of the union, and that it is silly
for Us TO forbid all trusts from doing
business in Texas, while we are buying
from these same trusts the products
which they manufacture elsewhere. L
wish them to come down and help us
pay our taxes.
1 heard a man say last week that he
did not want to see Texas trust ridden
like Pennsylvania. 1 have a little
scrapbook which I carry along with
me- and 1 pulled it out and read to
him the statement which 1 recently
copied from a Democratic Pennsylva-
MIA paper: Pennsylvania is entirely
free from debt, and with the annual
revenues exceeding those of any pre-
viOuS years, we can challenge any
other state or sovereignty in the world
for such another example of prosper
ity and thrift Only those who give at
tention to the public business are at
all conscious of the excellence of the
fiscal system Of the state. The ordi-
nary citizen is scarcely aware that he
is contributing anything to the ex-
penses of its government. Indeed, he
contributes very little directly. the
burden of taxation falling on him only
within his own county or city. The
state derives it's revenue principally
from the corporations it has created |
by a system so simple and economical
that it has never been oppressive or
obstructive. and yet has provided more
than abundantly for all public require |
ments"
Worship of Party.
Fellow citizens, you have devoted |
the greater part of your life to the |
worship of something which you call |
2 political party. According to all /
definitions, it is not a political party. |
because political parties are associa !
tions of people who think alike on cur |
rent political topics. 1 fear that in |
your devotion to what you call party /
you have lost sight of the devotion |
which you really owe TO your country. |
1 also fear that this devotion to party |
has overcome your better judgment !
and the better judgment of the people |
of Texas, and that by reason thereof |
industry in Texas has been paralyzed !
and financial injury inflicted on our
people
In speaking to you tonight I have
not attempted to play upon your pas
sions, but 1 have appealed solely to
your judgments. If you think like 1
do, I want you to have the courage to
vote as [ do. 1 do not wish you to
vote with me or for me unless you
think 1 am right. Republican success
in Texas will mean much to this state
in industrial development, and will
bring money into the pockets Of all
the people Aside from that, it viii
give you better government, because
those states are governed best where
the contending parties are more nearly
equal in strength.
Nearly half a century has passed
since the bugle blasts of Appomatox
were hushed, but you know, and /
know, that dislike Of the north is the
only cord that holds southern Democ-
racy together today. For almost half
g century southern statesmen domi-
mated the union. and yet for nearly
half a century they have had practic-
ally no part in its councils. 1t is your
fault, and yours only. You can not
raise statesmen by feeding them on the
husi<S of dead memories. You must
teach your boys to consider living is
sues if you wish them to become rulers
of men. If Texas should go Republic