The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 14, 1897 Page: 5 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
'W*
SOUTHERN MERCURY.
«V
A Sick Democrat.
railroads, able to employ compromise
lawyers!
Dr. S. H. Stout said to a News report-
er yesterday:
"For the first time during a profes-
sional career of nearly fifty years I
have been called on to pay what it de-
nominated an occupation tax. In other
words, for pursuing a profession whose
mission is a humane, I am commanded
to pay a tax to the state of Texas and
the county and city of Dallas. Of
course, I expect to pay it, as I have al-
ways been a law-abiding man, and the
sum ot $7.50, the aggregate amoiint of
tbese several items of the tax, is too
smaM a stim for me to go to law about.
But I will cheerfully make a contribu-
tion proportioned to my ability to fight
the constitutionally of the law in the
courts of the state. For the tax is un-
just. The levying of it is a form of
class legislation.
"The mission of medicine of medi-
cine as a profession is a humane one,
and as such its practictitioners do more
charity, estimated by the amount of
fees to which their services entitle
them, than do all other persons pur-
suing any calling or profession in civ-
ilized communities. For what reputa-
ble physician or surgeon refuses to at-
tend the poer of his neighborhood?
Most of our charity hospitals are offi-
cered by physicians and surgeons who
as consultants give their services grat-
is. If an accident or an unexpected
wounding from any cause occurs, the
nearest physician called in would be
disgraced in the estimation of the by
standers if he refuses to go to the aid
of the patient because his fee is not
secured before his makes use of his
skill that may save a fellow-being or
ameliorate his suffering.
"In the event of a devastating plague
of any kind, physicians are expected to
stand their ground and fight it at the
risk of their lives and oftener at the
expense of their purses, which are
rarely plethoric with money. Yet the
great state of Texas has gone back
upon the traditions and customs of en-
lightened civilization, and inflicts an
injustice upon the practitioners of the
most humane profession known to it.
For it can be demonstrated that its
deeds of charity excel in number, and
if measured by a pecuniary standard in
money value, all that are done in any
any and every community by churches,
eleemosenary institutions, secret socie-
ties and asylums supported by munici-
pal and state legislation.
"On the score of humanity and pub
lie policy the law imposing this hein
ous tax ought to be wiped out of our
statute books, and I believe it will be
if the test is made in the courts of last
resort. Were I twenty-five years
younger I would by individual action
force that test by refusing to pay the
tax. It remains to be seen whether the
test will be made by my juniors, who,
I think, will be derelict in their duty
to themselves and the community if
they do not do it."
Dr. Stout has passed his three score
and. ten and perhaps has voted more
Democratic tickets than any man of
his,age, but has weakened on the Texas
brand of Democracy. Under the occu-
pation tax law the rich corporations
have been let down easy, but the doc-
tors and chicken peddlers have caught
It in the neck along with many other
people who are struggling for a living.
0ft, that we wen all Southern Pacific
Keeping Mum!
A dispatch to the New York World
from Washington says:
Senator James K. Jones, chairman
of the democratic national committee,
says he wlll.take no part in the mu-
nicipal contest in Greater New York.
He disclaims any responsibility for
the action of Secretary Walsh in in-
dorsing the candidacy of Henry
George, merely remarking that as an
Individual Walsh had a perfect right
to take whatever action he considered
proper.
When asked as to what course he
would pursue regarding the situation
in New York, he said:
I do not think it within my duty
to assume any authority in this mat-
ter for "the national committee. As the
chairman of the national committee I
do not propose to be drawn into it, for
I have no authority to speak for the
committee and it would be impossible
to act as an individual and sever my
own personality from my position as
chairman.
There is no occasion for me to in-
dorse or disprove the nomination of
either Judge Van Wyck or Henry
George."
In regard to the letter said to have
been written by Senator Jones to Sen-
ator Murphy, in which he is reported
as advising against a reaffirmation of
the Chicago platform by the New York
state convention, said the communica-
tion sounded very much like what
either he had written or said to some
one in New York, but he said if it was
written it was not his intention of
having it used as it was used in the
New York meeting.
From the editorial page of the Dem-
ocratic organ published at Hearne,
Tex., we clip the following suggestion
as to the way the negro vote should be
handled. We call especial attention to
this paragraph, so that our negro vot-
ers may know the animus that lies
back of the pretended fairness of dem-
ocrats. Here is the paragraph. Read
it to your colored neighbors and ask
them if they can ever vote for a party
that endorses such methods:
"In our opinion bulldozing is better
than a dishonest ballot. One is man-
ly, and the other is despisable and low
Tell a negro he can't vote, but don'i
advise him to go to the polls and then
steal his vote. That's bushwhacking
a form of warfare popular among
greasers and jayhawkers. But there is
still a better way to purge our politics
of the contaminating presence of the
black voter. It is legal disfranchise
ment. Bulldozing begets disorder and
brings the law into contempt. A dis
honest ballot is demoralizing, corrupt
ing and debeauching and detrimental
to every interest of organized society
and civilized government. Either
method may bring temporary prosper
ity and peace, but just as sure as there
la a supreme ruler who presides over
the destinies of nations, either, will act
some day as a boomerang. What
needed, and very much needed is an
organic law that will disfranchise, on
an enduring basis, the mass of igno-
rance which, despite the asseverations
of our optimistic friends, la a contin
uous menace to good government."
discuss economic and political Ques- en it either strength or encouragement
step quickly forward and reap the bene-
ots.—West Texas SentineL
tions, you live in a red neck neighbor-
hood. If you have one and don't attend,
you are a third-class American citizen.
Every interest is combined and get to-
gether in their business except the pro-
ducer. When he moves in that direc-
tion the official class befuddles and
stampedes him by tricks. A smart man
or woman in the school house club ed-
ucating the producers between times
would protect him from his own ignor-
ance;
It is a safe rule in planning for the
erection ol a corn crib or in estimating
the capacity of an existing crib, to allow
two cubic feet for each bushel of corn in
the ear. Thus, a crib 30 feet long, 6
feet wide and 10 feet high, will hold 900
bushels of ear corn. In estimating the
quantity of shelled corn in the crib, it is
a rule to allow 14 pounds per bushel for
the weight of the cob in the fall, and 12
younds in the spring. A bushel of corn
in the ear will, thereiore, in the fall,
weigh seventy pounds, and in the spring
sixty-eight pounds.
The farmer who raised grain and
meat to live on and to spare, and made
the rest of his living at aome, can't be
squeezed by New York and Liverpool
sharpers depressing the price of cot.
ton. He Is able to pile his cotton. If
he has any spare money he can right
now make more money uuying his un
fortunate neighbor's cotton than the
man makes who raised it. Study the
freight and the home industry ques-
tions and discuse them in your school
house clubs. It Is your Ignorance and
Indifference that makes you victims.
How many lawyers who did not even
appear on record in the Southern 1 a-
cific hold-up got some of the fines paid
toward a plea of guilty entered? Gov.
firm need at least couiuge
enough to appear on record in entering
the compromise plea. The Austin syn-
dicate had charged that the railroad,
for two years, had persistently defied
the law. The Houston Post, which has
always been recognized as the organ
of the Southern Pacific, supported the
Austin syndicate and approved the
compromise. School-house clubs should
go to the bottom of this outrageous
yielding to railroad power.
So far no Austin democrat has an-
swered this question: Who issued the
bogus bonds that took over one mil-
lion of dollars of the children's school
money, and what officers certified these
bonds into the treasury of Texas to
replace the cash? Is your member
of the legislature too ignorant or too
much of a ring democrat to answer?
Teach your children to ask this ques-
tion.
If the people during this winter
would discuss economic and political
question and the doings of officials In
the spring or summer after the official
class have had their convention, they
might have one and see if they have
power enough to remedy political evils.
There will never be any solid economic
or political reform from any other
source.
* > ',
It roo have no school boast stab to
.. ¿ m
Tne most detestable class in every
greatreform, of church or state,are those
who ridicule and jeer at the little band of
enthusiasts who push the movement into
popularity, and then without having giv
The average former is not near so help-
less or foolish as he thinks he is, and he
and his boys and girls will find this out
when every school house has its club for
the discussion of economic and political
questions. The official class and the
commercial class tell him that he and
his family should associate more with his
mule. The Mercury advises them to as-
sociate more with each other in school
house clubs. You are dominated too
much by losing economic methods and
by politicians who are organized to plun-
der industry. Take up in your club the
subjects of intensive .farming, home in-
dustry and economical government.
Chairman J. S. Woods of ihe populist
executive committee of Kaufman county
has called a meeting of the populists of
county at Kaufman, November 2, for the
purpose of thoroughly reorganizing for
the approaching campaign. Every ac-
tive populist in the county should at-
tend.
Political parties, the church nor anything
else will take the place of the school
house clubs. Let the people agree to
meet once a month and discuss econom-
ic and political questions that affect their
happiness and prosperity. Do this with-
out fail, before there is any party excite-
ment.
A libel suit for #10,000 has been en-
tered agn.inst the Southern Mercury by
Maj. Buck Walton. Hogg & Roberson
are attorneys for Walton, while Jerome
Kearby has been retained as counsel for
the defendant.—Jacksonville Banner.
The Mercury is pleased to note that
the Mineóla Courier has been unjustly
criticized by the populist press for a par-
agraph reflecting on Ohio populists. We
were satisfied that Bro. Pyle was misrep-
resented.
The Austin ring seem to think that the
average Texas voter is a fool or can be
bulldozed very easily. For want of
school house clubs the people have giv-
en some cause for this official con-
clusion.
The Jacksonville Banner has eighteen
pages full of lands advertised for tax sale.
This shows how prospersty is progressing
under the Austin gang, and it also shows
how pie is distributed.
The paper mills at Sugarland, Tex.,
are turning out daily six tons of wrapping
paper—said by all paper men to be first-
class for butcher, hardware and grocery
purposes.
Too many lawyers and bankers in con-
gress; too many farmers cursed with
mortgages; too many working men out of
employment—Weatherford Leader.
Howe'er it bp, it seems to me,
'Tis only noble to be good;
Kind hearts are more than'coronets
And simple faith than Norman blood.
—Tennyson.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Park, Milton. The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 14, 1897, newspaper, October 14, 1897; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185730/m1/5/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .