El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-24

ran communications must bear the
signature of the writer, but the name
viii be withheld if requested
PECOs AND SENATOR HUDSPETH.
Pecos. Tex, March %.
Editor Fl Paso Herald:
Free speech is forbidden by the Texas
senate when our honorable senator.
from FL PasO, goes on the warpath.
Some days ago the attention Of the
PecOs Commercial club was called to
the fact that a gerrymander was trying
to be put over in the Texas senate. rel
alive to the redistricting Of the con-
greSsiOnal district, and, inasmuch as the
PecOs Commercial club is composed OF
the representative citizens OF one OF
the best towns IN west Texas, and,
we, as voters. took it for granted that
we had some rights and privileges to
petition our representative, we directed
letter 10 each member Of the legis-
lature, also had this letter printed in
the state press, so the general public
might know the position we took rela-
tive to this gerrymander.
In the resolutions introduced in the
senate, by one member of that body
they have stated that letters written
Paso, and the "sOcalled- Commercial
club Of PecOs. have assailed- their hon
esty and integrity For the enlight-
eminent of the general public, we wish
10 publish our letter in full
Dear Sir We understand that an
effort is being made to 50 redistrict
the state along congressional lines as
70 place congressman " lillian r
Smith, of the 18th district. in a terri
tory where he is not known and thus
do damage TO that gentleman We
Fehemently protest against any such
action and say in all honesty and can
dor that we do not believe the people
OF this part Of Texas viii stand for
any such action Congressman Smith
= o ION q ~-Tr
created as not TO affect his interests,
and TO have him so placed in any new
district as will give him the OppOr-
tunity TO serve the people of his dis
tr1ct and west Texas
we do not believe that there is a
more successful or more painstaking
man IN Washington today than con-
gresham Smith, and we citizens Of
this section in this open letter appeal
TO you individually to do the right thing
IN this matter and protect the interests
not only of Mr. Smith, but of the people
OF the western part OF Texas
thanking YOU for your cOnsidera-
ton and feeling sure you will do
what IS right in the matter, We remain,
yours truly.
"PecOs Commercial Club.
BY r. NJ Harley, secretary"
We are not ashamed of this letter.
e DO not wish as commercial or
ganlzatiOn to formulate any demands
or to ask anything unreasonable OF
tne legislators who are making our
personally, nor to build Up any one in
dlvidually over another. but we do claim.
as citizens, the right to ask our repre-
SentatIVeS TO make laws for the best
interest Of our people
II the people who place these hon
OraDIe gentlemen in the places thew
mold have not the right to ask their
support In any honorable undertaking.
then We want to ask your honorabis
Iody OF gentlemen who does have that
right2
IN
the senate, We take IL as a warning
also to all other portions of The state
that hands Off viii be the SLOGAN OF the
IeXaS senate from this time on Pecos
believes in equal rights to all and sDe-
cal privileges to none, and. II her
clJlzenS have not the right of free
speech, then We say something is
wrong with reference to personal
matters in this conflict and with ref-
erence to- politics, We emphaficaIIv
state that neither Of these have ever
entered into our organization, and VII
Relative 70 the ''socaned. Commercial
Ciuo. OF Pecos, taking an active inter
est IN behalf of honorable William r.
smith, our representative in congress-
We are proud TO say that We have a.
sOclateo with Us in this. matter prac-
tlcaAly every town and We believe we
can say the majority OF all The -fffzzrq
in the present district and IN Ne 555
not nave the support of any one. we
.Ollu oelleFe that we were doing the
IlsnL lhlng IN this matter. Relative
TO our present congressman. We. believe
ne 7as represented all the people. as
IN an OF his work, he has shown this
without regard for his own feelings
or the feelings Of any certain nate 81
MS district Why should We no. a.
7 oters- stand back OF him and help him
N any way possible, provided we do
1oI use dishonesty in doing this We
3elleFe the people, as a whole, should
nave something to say relative to this
great subject OF redistricting the state
" oeIleEe Whss we have said above
Us aTlSnt as commercial organizatfOn.
PecOs Commercial Club.
BY K NJ Harkey. Secretary.