El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-21
No POLITICAL
PEACE FOR
TEXAS
Colquitt's Campaign Slogan
Is Drowned in the Noise
of Conflict.
PROS PROMISE TO
MAKE THORNY PATH
eBy w. d. Hornaday).

Gov. O. B. Colquitt, which was a pop
ular propaganda during the recent
-carpaign. winning for him the support
of the conservative business element,
stands good chance of being shat
tered into smithereenS before his ad-
ministration is many weeks old In
fact. the Legislature has already play
ed havoc with the Colquitt campaign
slogan, and Mr.. Colquitt himself seems
to be more anxious for political
scraD than for the political peace
which was a rallying cry during the
heat of the recent political contest
through which he passed.
There are several conditions which
are contributing to the unusual politi-
cal excitement that now exists in state
legislature and administration circles.
In the first place, Gov. Colquitt
strapped on his fighting spurs a couple
of weeks before his advent into the
executive office and tackled rough
fashion attorney general J. P. Light
foot or, rather, notified the latter or
his intention of doing certain things
when he became governor which Mr..
Lightfoot thought would interfere with
the duties of his department and he
came out in an open newspaper as
sault upon the incoming governor.
Cause of III Feeling.
On the face of things this i'll feeling
between Colquitt and Lightfoot was
due to the announced policy of ColQuitt
to interfere no more than was necessa-
~ with the legitimate business inter-
ests of Texas AS a feature of this
program he thought it best to notify
the attorney general that as governor
he would no longer give his official ap
prevail of expense accounts for prose-
cutting certain lines of cases, such as
antitrust suits, land suits and for
unusual expenses in securing evidence
against and prosecuting sOcalled social
clubs for alleged violations of the
liquor laws. The attorney general
has been having at his disposal fund
of S25, 900 for use in these special lines
of work objected to by Colquitt, and,
naturally, in order to effectively car
~ out his plans of suppressing the
activities under that appropriation the
governor has but to see that the pres
ent legislature does not renew the ap-
preparation. The efforts of his polit-
ical friends in this direction has pro-
duced a considerable of an uprising in
the legislature instead of that body
pursuing an even tenor of harmony.
At this time there is no indication
that there Will be any patching up of
the political feud that exists between
Gov. Colquitt and attorney general
Lightfoot It is even limited that the
governor will ignore the attorney
generals department when it comes to
seeking legal advice on the multitude
of questions that will naturally arise
from time to time during his admin
istration and that he will be guided
in his acts that require a legal inter
probation by a private attorney whom
he will employ for the purpose.
Mr.. Lightfoot, on the other hand, is
apparently just as determined as ever
to continue his prospections of all al
legged violators of the law that come
under his jurisdiction, irrespective Of
what the views or policy of Mr.. Col
quit may be in regard thereto.
Situation Embarrassing.
Governor Colquitt is embarrassed
by the situation which exists in the
legislature. 1t is Gov. Colquitt with
his veto power on one side and the
prohibition majority in the house and
senate, all solidly against him, on the
other. The intense bitterness that
was engendered between the pros and
ants in the senate during the period
just preceding Colquitt's Inauguration
when the ants, although in minority,
ruled it over their opponents with a
high hand, will probably last to the
end of the present session. This i'll
feeling BODIES no good to Gov. Col
quits legislative plans. 1t is assured
in advance that the prohibitionists in
the legislature will lay all the thorns
possible in his official pathway.
While Gov. Colquitt is bound by the
Democratic primaries and the state
convention to, abide by the PROPOSE
ton to submit to a vote Of the people
a proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton providing for statewide prohibi-
ton, he has announced that he will en-
far he "a ie-r q or
the adoption of the proposed amend ,
ment after it has been submitted by the
Legislature He has no veto power in
the matter of proposed constitutional
amendments and the legislature alone
is charged with the responsibility Of
placing such propositions before the
people.
The assurance that the question of
statewide prohibition is to be fought |
out upon the stump and determined at
the polls during the next few months, !
and that Gov. Colquitt is going to be |
an active participant in the contest on
the side of the ants, makes the pros !
in the legislature very unfavorabIy i
disposed towards him.
Notwithstanding the fact that Gov. |
Colquitt made his campaign as an ]
arti-prohibitionist and on the platform |
of political peace and legislative |
rest the prospects at this time are
favorable for the passage of more bills /
by the house and senate than any pre-
vious legislature for a long time and /
unless the governor should exercise his /
veto power to a very unusual degree it /
seems probable at this time that there /
will be no Legislative rest for the /
people.
Besides the political unrest that is /
caused by the legislature, there is !
more or less interest already being |
taken in the contest that is to take
place two years from now in which /
the anti-Bailey men will make a
strong effort to place senator J. w.
Bailey. upon the retired list of office
holders. The coming reapportionment
of the state into congressional and
other districts is also a subject that
will cause more or less political tur-
moil.
Everything considered. Gov CoIquitt
has entered upon an administration
that promises to be far from that Of
political peace and legislative rest"