Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-02
TEXAS DELEGATES
CUESTS|N CAPITAL
Goodwin Mission Hears OF
Districts Troubles on
Visit Here.

Visiting Washington yesterday to
tell the Capital all about Texas. the
1875 good will' tourists of the Lone
Star State, headed by Gov. Dan
Moody, heard more about the District
of Columbia than their spokesman. in
necessarily limited time, were able to
impart concerning their own state.
1t was at a luncheon given in their
honor at the City Club by the Wash
ington Chamber Of Commerce, shortly
after they reached Washington from
Baltimore, that the goodwill men pur'
posed to talk Texas. But because
their special train was 20 minutes late
and because of scheduled meetings at
the United States Chamber OF Com
merce and at the Department OF Com.
merce, and because of a welcome
address by Robert N. Harper, chair-
man of the special luncheon commit
tee, their speaking program was cur
tailed.
Mr.. Harper's address, however, prob
ably was responsible for the fallure OF
the Texans to say as much as they
might have intended, for it was not a
short speech and it was fraught with
the proposals, hopes and grievances
of the District in its appeal to an audi
ence Of voting citizens.
Called "N0 Mans Land"
Declaring that he had intended to
welcome the visitors to Washington,
but that he changed his mind when he
reflected that since Washington is the
Texans city such a welcome would be
a "gratuity without meaning or ell
feet" Mr.. Harper at once Launched
into a statement of conditions here by
which residents of this city have no
voice in the making of their laws.
Next the speaker told the Texans Of
the present scheme of taxation In
force in the District, asserting that
Washington desires a fixed proportion
of Federal Government assistance in
the payment of local government ex-
penses. So we'll were these two con-
ditions outlined for the visitors that
Gov. Moody, when he finally spoke,
declared that for it's residents Wash
ington seems to be mo mans land ="
while for the citizens of other sections
of the country "it is every mans
land"
Mr.. Harper's third point" was a
direct appeal to the Texans to erect a
permanent State building here, which,
he commended, would have far greater
value to the State than the temporary
buildings erected at expoSitions. He
concluded with an inclusive outline or
the interesting and historic features
found in and about the District. with
an expression of regret that the Tex
ans were leaving the city so soon. and
would therefore be unable to view the
Capital as it should he viewed.
Tt,11 Cofn Coils IF Fort Worth
spoke Immediately after Mr.. Harper,
and with a nervous glance at his
watch announced the plans for the
remainder of the Texans stay here.
He then explained the purpose of the
goodwill tour as a purely business
proposition in which a "dignified WIS.,
ualization of Texas" is being at
tempted.
Out to Talk Business.
eve are, for the most part, business
men out to meet business men for the
purpose of talking business with
Them" he asserted, and added with
emphasis, Ito talk business and moth
ing else"
Judge Sells statement, while it con-
tanned no mention Of the charge, was
construed by some local men to be in
answer to a New York newspaper
which accused the Texans Of touring
the country in an effort to boost Gov.
Moody politically.
Gov. Moody himself was then intro
duced by Judge Sells. He, too, re-
minded his audience that thine is
passing" and he brushed Mr.. Harper's
address briefly. He smilingly charac-
terized the District of Columbia as a
mo mans land for it's residents" and
To- far
citizens represented here in Congress,
and he took the opportunity to declare
that, Notwithstanding this, Texas re-
mains Gods land"
IF you want one vote in 400"
the youthful governor observed smil-'
ingly, "well, don't suppose any par
ticular harm can come out of it: in
fact, some good may come from it.
Not Pioneer Country.
Gov. Moody declared he wanted to
correct the impression that Texas was
still pioneer country. While it holds
fast to the spirit Of the pioneer and
the pioneers ruggedness of character,
the governor contended today the
State has also the same culture that
other States possess. He reviewed
rather quickly the advantages of liv-
ing in Texas and frankly solicited the
Investment of capital there.
Following the luncheon the party
visited the United States Chamber of
Commerce, where Judge Edwin B.
Parker, chairman of the board of di-
rectors, welcomed the Texans to the
temple dedicated to the service of
mankind and placed at the disposal of
able, earnest and public-spirited men
of all sections Of the country as a
place in which to examine, to analyze
and to solve economic and business
problems"
Later the goodwill tourists visited
the Department of Agriculture, after
which a sightseeing tour of the city
was made. During the evening the
Texans were free to do as each pre-
ferred, and at 1870 o'clock they board
ed their special trains for Pittsburgh.