Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 241, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 22, 1914 Page: 4 of 8
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BALL’S KEYNOTE SPEECH
LEADER OPENS CAMPAIGN
(< onttmied troui page J» i
wet district* to "Let us alone and we
will let you alone." who. under the in-
spiration of the breweries and liquor
dealer* in the State and out of tin* State
nre continually agitating tin* prohibition
question by paying poll taxes for \otcr*.
meddling in politics and pulling otf local
option elections in number* dry counties
whenever there mtiiis a cliam-c to catch
the prohibitionist* napping.
We are going to have submission on
our ballot* in the July primaries and I
•hall do uiy utmost to help earn it. If
it carries and tin* legislature refuse* to
obey the will of the jssqde I will in and
make it so warm for the brewery and bar
room interest* by law* whieh will run
the gauntlet of the ooirts that even they
will be asking to let lln* people vote.
If the amendment l*e submiti**d. p«*nd
ing it* fate I shall take up other public
business including amendment* to our
election laws that will help n* to get a
fair elect ion. honestly constructed and re
turned and prevent the liquor interest*
from n>iug money a tin* y lid in 11*11 to
overrule the will of the |**op|e.
If submission doe* not carrv. 1 *hal!
regard it as the expression of the will
of the people to postpone tile question
of statewide prohibition and shell pt<*
ceed to deal with tin- liquor question by
•ueh regulatory law* .1* in in' judgment
and the judgment of tin- legislature are
lawful and whieh will Im-si minimize tin-
evils of the* business until Texa* gets
ready to dissolve parltier>liip la-lwceu
saloon and State.
There are differences opinion among
prohibitionists upon question of law and
method* of proo-dure as to the most ef
feetitr way to deal with ihe lttquor
question. It is fair to prohibitiouists and
auti prohibitionist* alike that i *lum!d
define my position regarding -*'tin- of the
measure-* upon who-lt stn !t dilfcretne*
have ari*en. Chief among tin in nre si t
utory prohibition the fixe and ten mile
law. Healed package law and national
prohibition.
STATUTORY IM.’Oll ITloX.
1 do not favor statutory prohibition
and that being uiy |*»»«.i10*n I could onto
of course allow it to lieonne a law unlc»*
the legislature should p >> il over my
rote. Further l would not !*«• willing to
risk the fate anil success of statewide
prohibition u|m*ii a statute around which
every political mutest wan'd In- fought
for years t«• come to iln- obscuration ot
every other public quo lion and w ii«-h
its op|NUicnfii v.oidd constantly di*cr»‘d
it in the hope of its nullilication or re
peal. instead of In ing i *muciled by its
}M*ruiancut plate in the muMiiutioii.
1 shall not go into a legal argument
about its constitutionality. Sulfin* it *«*
•ay that the constitution provide* ih.it
“tiie legislature shall pas* adequate law*
whereby the vole* of any county or sub
division thereof city or town may from
time to time vole to determine whether
the sale of intoxicating liquors dial I I*
prohibit it'd within muIi presi-rils-d lim
itn.”
I do not believe that the legislature
cmn obev tin constitution which com
mauds them to allow the |*eople of conn
ties sulsliv isioiis. cities and towns to
role <w» any <|iusiioii by passing a si.i
lute that tlu-y shall not vote. Mv posj
lion on siatutorv prohibition U not a
new one. At the great prohibition rally
at the Dallas Stale Fair Oeloln-r !•*
Urns. | declared my Ih*Ii«-l that statutory
prohibition could mq be had *** long as
our 1*M*aI option law - muaiued in the
constitution and I have not changed my
views since the! time.
FI \ I <*i: Tl X Mill: I AW.
To accomplish the same purpose that
statutory prohibition would it has Im-cii
urg<sl by many that we pas- a live or
t«u nub* law would b*- statutory prohibi
tion ill effect as il would deny parlieu
la tly tv* rv countv or town in this Stale
the right to vote from tone to time to do
torntine whether or not the sale of liquor
tihould Ih* prohibited.
It would In* lawful to cin-mnscrilie the
sale of IU|tio| in any one of iln- subdivi
•ion* named but it would not In- lawful
to destroy the constitutional right of
th* x hiiIhIiv isioiis by such a measure s
that liquor could not In- sold in any way
therein even il a majority of the qiiati
lied vote* so desired.
I do liot Is-lievc that We eon Id go
around the eon.* tilution indirectly in this
wa». any more than I Iwdieve that we
(•(Mild lot il full in the faee by statutory
prohibition and I could not sign such a
Jaw if it were |»n**cd.
i have beiii n*k(*d n» to laith of I licsc
propositions if I could not sign them 1
passed and let the court* decide. I would
In* w tII***11 t" do thi* i| I were in doubt
about th-ir con-litutiunality but eon
diiifd a* I am I could mu ofcourse.pas*
up my oath of office for judicial deei
•ion. ....
Wo fjlll f ffiM* III I* t»r i ot l.bl
or close th in altogether by a s.-it.-d
package law. VYe can take iheiu «»i*f of
residence district* and by appropriate
legislation about which there can In- m»
doubt do the In-*i wo can until we gel
tin* const it i* tonal amendment. We • an
purify our ebation law* and prevent the
liquor iutit'sts troiu controlling oat i*d
Itirtk
nation M I'RtHI IRITIOX.
The action of the Fort Worth nus-tiug
fn endorsing the joint ro*<dtilicn for
uubuiiwHion of a constitutional amend
Uieiil for national prohibition lui* caused
some Tex t* prohibitioiiisis io Inm-oiuo
alarmed Mild anti loader* are declaring
ft an effort to commit the Ih-nusralie
liarty to national prohibition and to de*
• irov‘ (states right* The prohibitionist*
of Texas will no more *cck t<* commit
the Democratic partv »«• U mainlined t<*
the doctline that Democracy stands for
tlie limn soil sale of liquor any w lu re in
jiicie* United State*.
»
I ladieve a Democrat can advocate or
oppose either local prohibition. State pro
liibition or national prohibition and I
do not ladieve it to lie pr- per to make a
Democrat's |N-.sition on the question a
tes! of Ills Democracy.
As lor myself I have never aligned
myself with tin* national prohibition
iiio\‘inent. I have no sympathy with ih-*
legalized liipior traflie iu ; ny Si:t!e in
this I'nion. but I la*lieve it be t to tre.it
tile State .is Hi* social unit and by Stale
prohibition adopted by State authority j
drive out from their honh r* the bus:*
• less t»f selling liquor.
The u;;tiou.;l government In* already
surrendered the eolitrol of liquor selling
in dry* territory to the Stales and ilmt
lia* gone far to remove object bum to the
• pe • i properly deal with
the question l».*ci*u>e of interstate eom
litem* laws. I extu'd a Dili l«* Is* passed
i' mgr* *s in tlit* near future Jo pr *vi-'e
igailist the issuatie* «*f li«*ciisi*s t* deal
er^ in liquor dry territory.
Having these views. I eauuot join with
tin* large army of ardeul prohibitionists
in a campaign for national prohibition.
While I think they are clearly within
their lights in <>-|MMi*iug the eause of
national prohibition. I do not iliink it
tin* wisest and Im*s| plan bv wliieh to
drive the liquor traffic from f all the
Stales bill I do lieliove I lie way Io do il
is to vote it out Slate by Stale.
II may Ik- claimed that I should have
declared myself u|*oii national prohibi
lion at the I'orl Worth meeting. or op
po*e«) |||c passage of I In* resolution offer
. d. The Fori Worth ••meting was t ailed
to endorse a candidate f«»r tiovernor ami
tlm county mass nieetiugs bad declared
with practical unanimity for me. Tin*
Fort Worth meeting carried **ni llieir
wishes ami after I had made my speech
of acceptance in wliieh I did not declare
tor national prohibition the resolution
asking !"ongre»s t«* submit a national
pr* liibition amendment to tin* ronstitii-
Iion was presented by that great teni|M-r
alive advtteale Mrs. Nannie \\. t urlis.
I km w tin* resolution was going to
Ik- preseule |. Iieeuuse she showed it to
me. I did not objeet and I had no right
to object as it was entirely pnqier for
the delegates then* to vole for the l*eso
lution if tliev saw fit
I am a tirm Isdiever in States rights
but I do not assent to the view* of many
of niv friends who ladieve that advocacy
of national prohibition is equivalent to
advocating the destruction of Stales
rights. There is ample mom f«»r debate
i is io its wisdom and for obj«*ctioiis to
it is an iinneeessaey or unwise reach
iiig out «d federal power but national
orohibition loiibl never come exmpt in
• lie m inner provided by the States wln-n
tin- Fit ion was form**d. That method re
(iiires two thirds of both llou*es of t on
gi-.-sv to submit and three fourths of all
s'.tates to ratifv any amendments to tin-
oiislitulion. ami this plan was assented
to by the Slates when our government
was established. It would therefore. Im-
ho nn.it subversive "I States rights to
iibqd national prohibition in that way
I hail it wa» |o amend the constitution so
as to elect t'nited Slate* senators by di
reel vote of the |s*o|d»\
l»K*l<MT:.\Tlf l*.\RTY AND I'ROIII
IHTIOX.
Within !Ii«* ranks • *1 lln* Democratic
party nearl' JH counties hnxe been made
dry iiuilrr Di'iKiH'iMli*' laws and tin
j evils of tin* Ii«t*a«*r truffle g "cuily less
•tied. and all Ihtiiiim* of the prohibition
agitation. The charge that I am Irving
to commit tin* I>« luncratie imtiy to ci
ther Stale nr national prohibiti«»n is in
fan* nf my record.
In lxvs. a> a nniiilH-r nf tin* platform
committee at I'orl Worth 1 sat ii|* until
three o'clock at night lighting the Heart
nf O.ik plank offered In .fudge < lark de
daring |»mhildlion uiuh Mineral ie. and vc
toed for the >iihst 11 ute tdatik offend In
i Statewide prohibitinuid Senator Sain
Hell Mavex declaring that **A man's
view* on prohibition should not affect
his pat tv standing."
Ill I IN is a f Sail \ Utnnin. when tile pro
liibi i initial s were in <-• mi 11 •»! of the Stale
eonveiitinn. I urged the plank declaring
that “the Itetnneratii parly was not
therein i*nmntitled for nr against State-
wide prohibition." for which the pmliihi
limi majnriiv in that convent ion tiiinni
Ulntnly voted.
\fter I am nominatei’ in the •fnlv nri
mi tries and submission has carried I
will Is- at the August eimvotll inti of the
I*• nuMiatie nartx. favnr’ttg tin* same
nlank wltiih wasQuioHlcd at San An
! lOlliedi tile tight of a Ii V I )e|||n
i-ral ill Texas In \n*e to keep open saloon*
in all this Stale or in anx Hart if it.
•illhough I regard the * tbsui as hii mi
mitigated <xil and none claim there is
in; virtue in il but I detix their right tn
sax that a man cannot Ih* a iVinncrat
ad vote to xvi|H* out the saloons any
where upon Hod's fnolstnll wh**re child
re it are born men and women live where
homes are bitibbd. >cIiih»|* tat gill nr
eh U relies ereetisl.
A BI SINKSS ADMINISTRATION'
!l circled Hnxertinr I shall regard nyx
m If as a trustee for all the |M*nple of
Texas and not for anx class of tin* |*en
pie. charged with the duty of giving an
hniu-s! economical and biisiucs> like ad
taiist ration of State affairs in all its
brain lies
I will have no friends to reward nr en
cinies to punish at the expense of tin*
Itcople nr to the detriment of public
servin’ ami business and not polities
will affect and control tuy course of eon
illli'l.
A State has sometimes Inch likened
unto a corporal inn in xxho lt every eit izen
is a common stockholder and in which
ihere ate no preferred ‘hares. If this sim
ih* Is- apt. I will try and demonstrate
that Texas is a corporation with a soul
conducted ttpoi» the basis that the wel
fats* nf everx individual citizen is the
collet rn «*f all the State.
T \XATIOX.
Oonsjstcni with gixM| and efficient got
ernmeiit and the old i gal ions and mvds
of the Slate. ta.Xt ' will Is* kept a* low
as |H»s>ible. ad appliisi. without waste o«
0
fc
[
extravagance to public purposes only
ami nothing will lie left undone by in*; in
weeing that tin* (MHiple get a dollar's
worth for every dollar paid into the pub -
lie treasury.
Our people are virtually interested in
the unimuit »»f their taxes as well as
what Itceoincs of their taxes and unwise
or unnecessary taxatio nltas never f*»un*l
favor with thus** who bear their burden
but I am one «*f those who Iwdieve that
our |w*ople as a whole cheerfully vote t«*
lax themselves f**r all worthy purjs»'(*w.
wh**n convinced of the nen**sitv therefor
and assuml that their taxes will *se hon
esily and judiciously expended and tin*
lnH.ks k«*p» so that tliey can know where
their money has gone.
Our supreme court recently decided
that the approval *»f a distri**t judge
not an ‘accountant and without time to
ihvesliealc the ar<*ouuts **f a public of-
ficial. w ts final the comptroller not am-!
ih‘»rlz*«l to r« jeet or tin* ireattrer to re
fuse te nay smh aeeonnt when presented
in ii* ’’sene** of pr*w»f *d fraud. This
illustrat* i the necessity for a better 'VS
t ent of protecttug tin* State against the
payment of mono} improperly.
KIHVATIONWL AFFAIRS.
Thomas Jefferson. when «*v*dving his
political system was intent upon the
prohfcui of edit* at ion. ileelttritig that "A
system of general in struct ion retelling
•very dcwci iption of «mr cit izens from the
richest to the poorest as it was in** ear
lies! so it will I*** lh** latest of ;t|| public
concern* in which I -hull |*ermit mysel*
to take an int**r«*st.**
Tin* Declaration of Texas iudc]K*u*len«*c
declared it an axiom in fwditieal science
that ••unless the ]M*ople are educated it
i- idl«* to «*X|H*el a eontiuiiaue** of «*iviS
lilwrty or th** capacity of self govern
ill**id.” and the Congress *>f tin* new l*c
public was required to provide by law a
general wystem *d education.
Tin* fathers «*f tin* Republic |*r*»vi«l***l
tuaguifi* cut grants of land for public
s**lnwd purpose' and planned a great uni
versity as Thomas Jefferson did the es-
tablishment of the I’niversity of Virgin
ia.
Tin* educational progress of Texas has
not kept pai-e with such ideals ami exam
pie: has tun kept pace with our progress
and development in population and
'wealth or with agricultural commercial
and industrial development; li it bad. il
literacv would Ik* banished as far from
us as has Ih*oii tyranny and «l«*s|w>lisni.
Among lh** f**rty « iglit Stales **f the
American I'uion Texas is in area first;
|K»pulatioji. fit 1 It; assess* *| v alnation. cigh
th: «‘X|M*nditures for seluwd puriwis**. as
|M-r wealth. «*ight**enih: in high s* hools to
relative uiimlK*r in elementary schools.
' thirty-second: school attendance thirty
third; vain** of school plants thirt} sixth
length of s«*Ii«k»| vear and c\|N*ndittirc
|h*i* child. thirty ninth: nuiulwr of s«*h<Kd
• lays |w*r child forty senm i: children en-
rolled in si ImhiIs. forty sixth and in gen-
eral tank as to *• In* atiotial affairs Tex
as statidw thirty eighth in the nation.
\»*** w»* willing l*» remain s** near tin*
loot wh«*n T**xas should be at the head
of the class in devotion to miivcr'nl cd
neat ion?
ror\Ti:v smooi.s.
The wise builder look* to tin* strength
and sufficiency of tin* foundation uj*on
which a great edifiii* is to Im* creeled. A*
the common or public schools in country
town and city are the institution* upon
which we must primarily <le|M-nd for at
least a practical education government
authority and educational thought should
Im* devoted to increasing the length of
the term the enrollment of pupils and
the cffieicurv ol these hash forces in the
edueation.il world.
Tlie present constitution tax limit of
otic on the tllHI tor school purposes ill the
eoiniuoii school ami imlcp. ud< lit school
district* of the Stair should Im- removed
*o tli.it *uc|i districts may tax themselves
if they *ee fit. as much as a dollar on
tile ■'fltMt for t lie eillle.it ion of their child
ren.
The rural high school law pissed by
the last legislature was a step in the
right direction but experience has dent
on*!rated that it need* and will need
amending and developing so as io meas-
ure no to the possibilities and op|»ortuii-
ities which can Im- afforded by rural high
s» londs in placing a iihcral education
with agriculture domestic economy and
industrial training emphasized within
tIn- reach of tin- more than Timhmhi chil
dren in Texas who Ii\«• in the country.
rOMITI.SORY KlUVATloX.
In illiteracy Tcxn* stands thirty fifth
ft tuny g tile forty eight Stales of the Knion
and nearly one half her chil Iren of
si |i<m>| age are daily out of sch<Md. Manx
contended in the past again*! the right
la tax a man's pro|M-rtx for uuixers.il
education whether lie *ctit children to
school or not. but that opinion has In-
come almost obsolete. Thougliful men and
women e «-ry w hen* demand contribution
from pro|M*rty owners to educate their
own or oth**r |M-op|c‘* children in order
that our citizenship may In- enlightened'
and ignorance banished
If (hi* pritieiide Im- sound and the
Stale and community provide school
houses and funds enumerate the chibl
rcn and offer to all the Imixs and girls
• f Texas the opportunitx for an cditra-!
tiou. it ought not to n-st with the par
cuts or guardians of the children to deux j
them this right.
I therefore favor eom|s*l|ing s«hmd at 1
Hilda no* bx every child in Texas not nl 1
ready attending either private dcuotuiaa
tional or public school*. to an extent that
xvill o|m*ii the d«sir of opimrtunity to ev- *
cry Im.x and girl denied oducutinal ad
vantages. Terms. Itiii-liiious. exemptions
and restriction can Is- worked out of the
way in every practical way adapted toj
l«M-al conditions in city town or conn
t rv.
HltillKK IXST1TI TIoXS of I.KAKX
I XtI
Not only should a common school edit
cat ion Is- within the rea* h of every chibl
in Texas but the privilege of a higher(
education must not Is* left to the *on*
and daughters of the well to do. A broad
i
!<
#
uvenue should In* optuied to every ambi
I ion ui* young man or woman leading to
tin* cmiminie* u|«on which sit every
hraneb of learning and from which stu
dents may go lortli to elevate the stand
ard* ot eitixciishi|i ami honorably com
jN*te for preeminence in all spheres of
iiuiiian activity.
”1 favor ample provisions for build
iligs and maintenance lor the State nor
mai s* Ii«n>|s. College of Industrial Arts.
Agricultural and Mechanical College and
the I’niversity of Texas. Their annual
support should l>e provided for by an
apjMtrtionmeiit from Taxation s|N*cifie
ally provided by law . howing just what
amount is to In* ap|Nirtio*icd for earh
character of institution and thus take
them out of polities and male them in
impendent of tin* varying attitudes o*
caprices of legislators or executive ap
proval or veto
"Convinced that lie* Ih*s| iutcreis «»i
the Texas ('diversity and the Agricul
In nil and Mo-lianical college demand
their complete separation. I stand for a
policy that will pro|H*rly equip and sus
lain both these institutions in tin* great
work for which they were csiabli'h**d.
At the university any young man or worn
an. whether tin- child of wealth or ot
parents of moderate means or working
their own way should In* aide to obtain
an education equal to the Ih-s| to In* had
in aiiv universitv in sinv State.
• • •
The Agricultural and Mechanical col
lege should In* made wlial its name im
plies a great college where a lilN*r»l edn
ration can In* had- with its greatest j;
tivities de\ot«*d to scientific and pra<
Ileal iraiuing in the arts of agrieitllure.
horticulture. s|<< U raising and median
ies. Texas is big enough for ImiIIi iiisti
I ill Unis and rich enough to plan* them
in the forefront of institutions of their
kiud.
Our State normal scIuniIs have done a
wonderful work for the cause of cduca
tbui and in providing our public *ck«sd
Willi efficient teachers. well nplipped for
tin* discharge of their mission in life. I
lived in lluiilsvilic when under tin* in
spiralioli Of the old alcaide tin* S 1.1
Houston Normal Institute was founded
I rim rriiicmticr when m its early history
a diploma tnuu that institution was
questiimed. but during my service ii|Mm
the local ls»ard I saw time conn* when
the rural selnsds and city a Insd'
liiroiighoiil tin* Stale wen* demanding
its graduates as teacher*.
I advocated tin* establishment of the
I teuton Normal ili^. San Alarms Net
tii.J and tin* Northwest Texas Normal.
When a maioritv ot mv fellow lowiismeii
feared. in tin* beginning that the parent
iionual located at Huntsville would b*
injured by the addition of like ilistilll
lions.
In I!Hni at Waco as chairman of the
siilM-ommittcc on platforms. I put in tin*
plank for the establish men I of tin* Col
lege of Industrial Arts now hs-ated at
I teuton.
A> president of tin* Huntsville school
board for many years and a uicitilicr id
the bs-al bo.* id of llu* SalH 11 oi|s| oil
Noruial. I was brought int«» intimate a**
social ion with * nr educational interests
ami lenders of ediicntbilial llioiigiil in
Texas and learmtl much «*f the need*
and workings of tin- public ami high
scbiHils the normals and other edn a
tiotial institutions which will greatly
help me in tin* discharge of official duty
as <iovcriior.
I: I. I: KM OS Y \ A BY IN ST ITK T1 OX s
The pat riot ie |M*<*p|e «»f Texas desire
ample provisions made for tlf«* safely and
*>i|»|*ort of our institutions for the blind
and deaf and dumb; homes for the t'on
federate soldiers and willows for our
orphan charges and juvenile training
sehonl. and f«>r the epibptie colouy and
asylums for the insane ami I am in
In-arty sympathy with sueh sentiment
and pur|*o*e.
The present lioverinir has declared tin*
Blind Institute a lire trap and it i*
know of all men that our eonnty jails
an* crowded with the insane many of
whom may he denied a restoration to rea-
son by lark «»f prompt rare and treat
meut.
Before the close of niy first leim pro-
visions will In* made to take awav llii-
menace to oar sightless wards and hou*«*
them in a fire proof building: tin- Inna
ties will In* taken awav from the county
jails and provisions made for the epi
leptlr insane now confined in jail- and
i mkadmit ted either to the asylums or tin*
wpileptie colony.
<bir penitentiary system Is in a deplor-
able conditio Hand its affairs show a tre
nn-ndous defieit and a huge debt out
standing. I liv«*d at lliiutsville. when*
the fir-t |H*niteutiarv wa- located. when
the whole system was lcn*4*d to inditid
mils and through many State adiuinis
trations after the State t«Nik charge and
I had op|M»rtiinitv to know much of its
workings.
It has Ins*u bank though all tin* years
to keep |Mdili<-s from entering into petti -
tentiary management. and steps miisi b •
taken which will guarantee business
metliods. humane treatment of prisoner*
keep |M»|iti«* out. prevent np|H»iutmcut*
In-ing made a* reward for |Mditieal pm
In»*<*•> and pul tin* |N*niteiitiaries upon a
self sustaining basis
I do not lidteve that the present *o<
tern is a wo A a Me one or that any lioi-
ei'imr or stal.. administration can make
a thorough liireess <»f |ieuitciitiary af
fairs unless iehanges an* made. An
amendment the eonstitutiou will la*
necessary Is ■»n- the !s*s| system ran Is*
ilevisisl. as iAiI.t the -on-titMlion now
three coiiimi-A'.iicr*. with e»|ital power
are vented wiA||u. absolute management
of its affairs^
I can urn promise as Mr. Ferguson
has. to ap|M»int three farmers si« eoiu
missioiiers to run the |N*nileiitiarie*. a*
there an* now three eomiiiis*iniiers in of
fi«*** ap|M>iute«l bv Governor t'ohpiitt. ami
if eoufiriueil two of them will lie etl
titled to hold over niul oulv one «ip|sjtiit
meiit rail In* made. lteside*. I would iml
go into of fill* pl<*d god ii ap|N>int three
commissioners from any ela** of our |n*o
pie. hut would ap|Niilit men lielieved bv
me to In* 1n**i «| ii a I i f i«*« I to diseli urge their
duties regardless nf their t wen pa lion.
Nor 10 I •*.\|N*ii to have the time as
Mr- Ferguson thinks be would have to
go down and siae up tin* moles or see i
how the earn* and eoiton and eorn is In* i
ing planted am! i-ullivated. although I
am a pretty gissl judge of a mule and
followed the plow ami know bow to faiiiu
I util tile <*oiist it iltidli rail In* changed (
it will In* mv purpose to improve i*ou
ditioiis by eiMi|N*ration with the offieial*
ebarged with |N*uiteiifiary management
under the present law. pas* *urh amend
ments to the law as may Ik* neivssary to
make the prisons self sustaining. si*e
that prisoners are humanely treated ser
geaiit* and guard* chatged oulv with the
eustiNly of the prisoners to and from
work ami prnrliml fanner* plant! in
ekarge of the artual work of making
imp' grv*v:u ii|h»ii Stall* farms for Sial<*
account.
Among other things that I shall urge
will In* lils*ral commit! nt ion of time to
•onvi -Is for gooil behavior s. that they
kill thereby eut down ilu*ir sentences bv
g mI i mluet at least one third and kliow
that |< r every day** violation of diseip
line they* will have to stay in prison ten
« ays longer. I would also open the il<N>r
f lp>|s* to life prisoners as a reward lor
. eh*a r reeord.
Iiieorrigilu * prisoners should In* *apa
rated from t:.-'t offenders and emmets
-tv it tearing a v illinguess to n form so
that the influema's of hardemsl erimiiials
will not defeat l*u* objeet of the law to
reform as well a punish
I believe that my great business
should have an ex. eiitive head and do
not lM-lieve that three men with evptal
utiihoriiv ran sifeessfullv mu anv l»u*i-
* • •
lies* and the |M*iiitetifiarv system i* one
of the gieatest ami most diversified
business propositions in tin* Stale.
In mv judgment the constitution
should In* amended to provide for u
board of |M*uiieiitiary direetors of not
less than five melllls*rs. elected or ap
|Hi>ut<*d from different sections of tIn-
state. with term* so expiring that not
less than I wo-thirds would have e\|N-ri
eiiee and anpiaiutaio-e with |teniteiiliary
affairs. This latard should select an rxe
eiitive head as general manager of the
|H*niteiitial ies. .t a salary to In* paid mil
of ih«* earnings suffieieiit to command
the services of one competent to manage
a large and complicated business and
Ibis executive bead should In* selerlni
without dictation from tin* Governor.
The board of director* a ml gi iteral
manager should ap|H»iut all neeessary of
licers heads of departments and Mibord
inale*. without any tight upon tin* part
of tin* Governor to have a voiee in such
aiHMiiiitmeiits.
Then* will In- iio diffiriilly in securing
I hr servi»*cs of aide and g«*odi Hi Sell- ill
this State to serve u|»n sueh a board of
|N‘iiitenliar> direrti rs for a iiouiiiial
consideration and give the eharueter of
service that Itonrds of directors do to
other great business interests every-
where We were able in the past to com
ilia ml the service* of sueh men as Sena
tor Urntciis. Waller Tips tienerul Op
|w*nbcimcr. Mr. Ilik.-. .fudges liill and
Ramsey and other able men. to till these
plaees. and there can Is* found among
tin* Itc-t business men. farmers or law
yer* in this Stale a thousand men will
mg at all times to patriotically -erve the
Slate as luemliers of -ueh Isianl. as all
their time would not In* mptim! for
-ueh scrv i«t*.
LAW UK FORM
l'liblk* thought. National and State
h is of late years lieeti directed to and
fiN-iis«-d n|hin the crying imil for simpli-
fying our «*oilr* of civ il and eriiiiuiul pro
••vdiirc. removing ^s far a- possible |i*eh
ideal obst rue*ions ami delays uttemlaiit
upon legal proceeding-.
The press has done more than ayn oth
er agency to |Nmnd this <|itesttioii into
the public mind and the time is ri|N* for
a sane and effect ire reorgan i/at ion of
legal procedure. Our district and ap
|N-llate juilgi - have made suggestions and
rules liar a-siN-ialiiuis have made recoin
uiendalions and our legislatures have
link* led with the subject trying to patch
up an unworkable system. "V
Much can In* done without constitu
itonal change* but it will U* necessary
to make some change- in tin* const itu
tion if the lies! results would Is* had. Our
courts have in*t tin* time and others will
not take it. and tin* legislature can not
tiring about sati-fiielorr changes.
Our entire system of civil ami criminal
pr<N-cdurc must In* simplified over
hauh-d and made workable- I do not
favor the multiplication of i^fieials- or
tin* Uiinrccssury rx|icndittire of public
money but it i- the part of wisdom to
s|N-nd money to save money as well as
to bring about any n**eded reforms.
I have in mind asking tin* creation of
a Law Reform commission. to In* com
|Nised of not less than three nor more
than five able lawyers fully c«|iiip|M*d
for this great ta-k. and rcvpiiriug them
to give their exclusive attention to the
work. If the legislature agre-s with me
I will have the law rvspiire this cum Hi is
sion to In* selected from a list of lawyer-
named by tin* Supreme court of Texas
from which 1 will ap|Nunt the nrer***ry
iiiiiiImt Isdievetl hr me to In* the most
lion mg lily eq«iifq**l for a work of this
•haractcr ami will a* readily appoint
lu'inHi a malt who has opposed me tor
he inMiiination as one who gave me hi'
ntp|»ot. if in my judgment he is better
it ted tor the task.
If 'll eh commission In* authorized it
-an more qurkly comprehensively and
N-tiir do this work and save it* cost to
lie |»eople of Texas every mouth* in *m
-evsling years to say nothing of the wel-
arr of society Iwiiig advanced tiy npiily
justice and check* upou its miscarriage.
If my viws should not prevtul* I will
•oojM-raie as far as |Missitde witTl our
-oiirts and the legislature in making
• mil changes ami improvement* as ean
*• had through those agencies.
TIIK KKK SYSTKM
t’los-ly related to the subject of law
reform is the fee question. In my judg-
ment an Weal system wutiid he to have
every offliial paid a fix**l salary as the
reasonable value for services mr formed
*o that no official would have a is i uni
cry inter* sj in his official work except to
irn his salary.
This is not a new though with me.
More than a *piarl»*r «*f a century a;.** I
tis.k office a* mavor of llnut-v Hie. with
• *
the tinder*!.niditig that the nut dial re
colder lily attorney. ami citv *eet»tiiry
ami treasurer 'lumhk. receive liv-l sal
aries ami no fees. amf*iln- mayor ami al
dermal) only nominal pav l*»r meeting*
iml that system is still ii»* Use Hunts
ville ami has proven very sin-e.-sf'il
I huve never joined however j*. the
wholesale eoioleiuuation of oar inthlu
• •♦filial* who have under the .law ttec'i
depend* III lurgclv nIM»n fee* Tor the i
siip|H*rt although aware that amice tin-
fee system there have l»cen utility abuses
ami inequalities and no doubt collection
of nut.iw fill fees.
\Ye have had many groat t Inventors
of Texas and I am not advised thill any
of tin in favored an absolute abolition
of I lie fee system although they have
stood for reform and again*! the abuse
of the system
The last legislature passed an act by
which sheriffs and all cither county **f
ficers were substantially redm* d as to
possible omi|NHsati*n». but a* the law
do*-- not go into effect until Hecetnlier.
Mill many may not have In*c| aware of
it* passage*.
Conditions differ widely in main of the
counties o’ the Slate ami it would I*- dif-
ficult. if not iuijmssfh|c to adjust our-
selves to a salary basis for all public of
fleial* without creating a great financial
burden ii|hmi some nullities. and iierhap*
affecting efficient service.
The constitution would have to Is*
amend'd to put al! officers ii|smi ji sal
ary ba'is even in the largest nmntic*.
In main counties in this State for in
stance Harris where I live tin- re
sources of the count V aild revenues from
fn* paid by litigants by the State a.al
by offenders in misdemeanor r:i**. are
sifflcicnily definite and certain to war
rant the county in going upon a ta-iary
basis exclusively unless it be in some
•»f the sin.ill preciur!-'. where there is
very little business.
It may lie possible to no claws'fy the
Imsi lies*.
It may be possible to so classify the
counties a* in soim- to have all officer*
upon a fixed salary while in other conn
tie* it mnv be netvssarv to have certain
officers paid salaries and other* allowed
rcc-. »
If I :• m Governor ii will Ih* my purpost-
fa h ive adopted a sv *h in whereby even
nffieer in the stale where |Htssilde. will
Ih* paid a fixnl salary letting all fiws
earned bv his office go into Ih • proper
treasury and if as to certain officer t»r
j conn tic- it is necessary to allow fei*s ra-
ther than salaries the law should guard
against improper or excessive fees.
If I am Governor it will he mv pur
|H i-e to have adopted a system w hereto
even officer in the State where possible
will Is* paid a fixed -alary letting all
fees earned lo his offiei* go into the prop
•r treasury and if .is to certain officers
or mu ii lies it is neccnsan to allow fees
raiher than salaries. ihe law -honld
guard against impro|M*r or csrcssltre fees.
mil 1*1 lltAT ION* LAWS.
Texas has Ih-cii a pioneer in effective
regulation and control of public service
n»r|s»rations and proterting the people
against eombjuatioiis in reslraaint of
trade but Texas has never lawn hostile
in any improfH-r sense to capital or mr-
|m.ration-. We have a gissl issle of law*
well enforced and no departure will Ih*
math* therefonn inconsistent with the
principles which they represent.
Tin re is a campaign on to rc|H*-i| tin*
|{ols>rtsoii law or amend it. and the argu
incut is ii sis | that the big life insurants*
companies which withdrew from the
Slate lMwan.se of its passage will return
and loan large sums of money to Texas
farmers on long linn*. am| ul low rates
of interest if |H-rmit led to do so.
Before these large companies withdrew
they took -ixt> four million dollar* oat
of tin* State in premiums and when lhe>
left they had le-- than one million did
lars ioamsl on Texas real estate and
prarticalh nothing on farms.
Thirtv four ontsUle companies now do
ing business in Texas under tin* Kolierl
-on law have about Iweiilv seven inillion
dollars loam"*! on Texas real estate.
The Texas noil panics orgn nixed »inee
tin- l.ols-rison law was pa»s*d have near-
ly twenty million dollars kmnc«| on Tex
us securities.
Sinn* these big life insurances raan
panies withdrew they have ls*#n getting
their premiums from Texas |Hdicy fc.«M
*rs and saved the g |s*r cent tax. which
is the average lax of all the States and
Texas polity holders have paid fnll
rali-s. Some Islievc that if the Ib.lsrt
-on law was re|s*a led the large torn pan
i«*s would buy railroad komla uud enable
I* untinued on page 7.;
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Slattery, Martin J. Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 241, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 22, 1914, newspaper, April 22, 1914; Brownsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1375959/m1/4/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .