USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume II > Part 7
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As the time approached for the nomination of candidates for the suc- ceeding campaign the leading members of both the Hogg and Clark factions, realizing that it would be a matter of great concern with demo - crats generally, in view of the increasing strength of the "people's party," concluded that it was to the interest of the party that these dissensions should be healed that the party might present a united front to the oppo- sition. To this end a conference was had between Mr. Matlock, repre- senting the Clark faction, and Mr. Baker, representing the Hogg faction. and a joint meeting of the two executive committees was called to meet at Dallas on March 19, 1894.
In addition to members of the respective committees a large number of prominent democrats from all parts of the state attended the meeting to aid by their counsel and advice in producing harmony. The meeting at Dallas lasted for two days, and it was with extreme difficulty that those who favored harmony between the two factions were able to agree upon a plan by which the party might be re-united and which should involve no sacrifice of principle on the part of any democrat nor the imposition of any terms calculated to bring humiliation to anyone who had parti- cipated in the contest between these two factions. After much delibera- tion and discussion a basis of agreement was adopted by which the executive committee of the Clark faction was to cease its activities, and that the executive committee of the Hogg faction should constitute the only recognized democratic state executive committee ; that the execu- tive committee presided over by Mr. Matlock should be dissolved and that the call for the next democratic state convention should be issued by Chairman Baker and his committee and all good democrats were appealed to to unite in cementing the party and promote its success.
The campaign of 1894 was fairly opened early in May with six candi- dates for the democratic nomination for governor, to wit : John D. McCall, C. A. Culberson. Heber Stone, John H. Cochran, S. W. T. Lanham and John H. Reagan. All of these candidates made an active canvass throughout the state, and although all were avowedly within the demo- cratic party and advocates of its principles, as they respectively under- stood them, yet there was a wide divergence of opinion upon many of the vital issues both of state and national import. They were all what was called free silver men, advocating the free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of sixteen to one.
From this it will appear that the statement made earlier in this chapter is demonstrated, that the issue before the people was frequently one of men rather than of measures and that the choice between these men would be a question of personal preference. Judge Reagan's long and distinguished public career, his advocacy of the creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission, was calculated to make him very strong before the people and particularly the older citizens. Mr. Culberson's fidelity to the policies of Governor Hogg and his administration as attorney- general, his vigor and youth, rendered his candidacy formidable. Mr. McCall's record as comptroller gave him a substantial following among conservative business men. Mr. Lanham's congressional career, his mag-
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netic eloquence and general popularity with all classes gathered to his support an extensive influence throughout the state. The following of Heber Stone and J. H. Cochran was negligible. The exceeding activity of the populist party at this time made it evident that a mistake on the part of the democrats would add very materially to the voting strength of the populists. The convention assembled at Dallas on August 14, 1894. Judge J. R. Fleming of Baxter County was selected temporary chairman, and the usual committees on credentials, permanent organization, platform and resolutions were selected by senatorial districts. While these com- mittees were at work, the principal candidates for governor, Messrs. Reagan, Lanham and Culberson, were called upon to address the con- vention, and responded with speeches of considerable length and vehe- mence. There was considerable delay in perfecting permanent organiza- tion, and it was the afternoon of the following day that the committee on credentials and organization made their report, which was promptly adopted. W. R. Hamby, of Travis County, was elected permanent chairman, and other minor offices were filled. Then came a new and unprecedented proposition to a democratic convention, to wit : The aboli- tion of the two-thirds rule, which had been in force since 1832. This proposition was made by the adherents of Culberson, again demonstrating the truth of the assertion earlier made in these pages that men, and not measures, were the dominant influence in Texas politics. There had been an earnest and lengthy contest over this matter in the committee on permanent organization, but it finally declined to report either way, leaving the question to be fought out and decided by the convention.
After several hours of debate the roll was called by counties resulting in 480 votes for the abrogation of the two-third rule and 374 votes for the retention of the same. The next struggle was over the platform. The committee on resolutions had consumed much time and labor trying to arrive at a conclusion satisfactory to the contending views of the committee, but in vain. The result was two reports representing the ideas of the majority and minority members of the committee. The majority report was signed by its chairman and seventeen others, while the minority report was signed by J. W. Blake and twelve others. The prin- cipal point of cleavage between these two reports was on the monetary question. The majority report followed closely the utterance of the national platform on this subject, while the minority report favored the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of sixteen to one. A spirited and able debate was indulged in, which lasted for several hours. It was long past midnight when the final vote was begun by counties and the majority report was adopted. This was regarded as a victory for those who represented the Clark wing of democracy in 1892, and they were correspondingly jubilant. Notwithstanding the late- ness of the hour caucuses of the Lanham, Culberson and Reagan dele- gations were held before the delegates retired for the night. At the Reagan caucus it was determined that his chances for nomination were too remote to justify his continuance in the contest. When the convention assembled the next morning nominating speeches were made, and after the withdrawal of Reagan ballotting commenced, which resulted in the nomination of Culberson, with George T. Jester, of Navarro, for lieuten-
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ant governor, M. M. Crane, of Johnson, for attorney-general, A. J. Baker, of Tom Green, for land commissioner, R. W. Finley, of Smith, for comptroller, and W. B. Wortham, of Travis, for treasurer.
The populist party presented as candidate, Thomas L. Nugent of Tarrant and Marion Martin of Navarro for governor and lieutenant governor respectively. The republicans had two tickets in the field, known as the "Lily-Whites" and the regulars of "Black-and-Tans." J. B. Schmitz of Denton and W. W. Mann were the candidates of the "Lily-Whites," with J. K. Makemson and R. B. Renfro for the "Black- and-Tans."
That the full import of what follows may be understood by the general reader the fourth plank adopted by the convention is submitted in full.
"We held to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money of the country, and the equal coinage of both metals without discrimi- nating against either metal or charge for mintage; but the dollar unit of coinage of both metals must be of equal intrinsic and exchangeable value, or be adjusted through international agreement, or by such safe- guards of legislation as shall insure the maintenance of the parity of the two metals and the equal power of every dollar at all times in the markets and in payments of debts, and we demand that all paper currency shall be kept at par with and redeemable in such coin. We insist upon this policy as especially necessary for the protection of the farmers and laboring classes, the first and most defenseless victims of unstable money and a fluctuating currency."
The campaign opened vigorously and was continued with unabated zeal until the election. Mr. Culberson made his opening address at Goliad. He announced in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the ratio of sixteen to one. This was regarded by the sound money wing of the party as having repudiated the platform on which he was nominated, which again supported the statement made earlier in these pages that men rather than measures exercised the greater influence in the selection of public servants. This action on the part of Mr. Culberson produced considerable feeling in party ranks and some defection among democrats and was the cause of a somewhat reduced vote for Mr. Culberson.
The result of the November election was as follows: Culberson, 297,167 votes; Makemson, the regular republican nominee, 54,520; Schmitz, "Lily-White" representative, 5,026; Thomas L. Nugent, pop- ulist, 152,731 votes. This is the largest vote the populist ticket had re- ceived up to that time, and is accounted for by the defection in the ranks of the democracy caused by the abandonment of the democratic nominee of the democratic platform. Mr. Culberson's administration met with the approval of a majority of the citizenship of the state. Among the more prominent laws passed was that of regulating the holding of primary elections of political parties and to prevent illegal voting at the regular elections.
During the summer of 1895 a sensational incident occurred which gave Governor Culberson much notoriety throughout the country. Arrangements had been made in the early part of the year for a prize
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fight between two noted pugilists, J. J. Corbett and Robert Fitzsimmons; which was promoted by a noted gambler and citizen of Dallas in October of that year. The moral element in the state entered a vigorous protest, and the courts were resorted to to prevent the fight. A test case was made at Dallas before Judge Hurt, of the Court of Criminal Appeals, who held that there was no law to punish prize fighting in Texas. The governor called the Legislature in special session on October 1, 1895, for the purpose of enacting an adequate and explicit statute on the subject. The legislature promptly passed the desired law, and this ended the matter so far as Texas was concerned. The fight was transferred to Mexico, at a remote point opposite Langtry on the Rio Grande, where a few enthusiastic sportsmen attended the contest.
At the first meeting of the Legislature under Culberson's adminis- tration the primary election law was enacted. The bill was drawn by Hon. A. W. Terrell, one of the most prominent and talented of the bar of Texas. He devoted much time and labor to its preparation. When it was introduced in the House of Representatives numerous amendments were offered by men who were ambitious to leave the impress of their genius on the laws of the state, regardless of their value, or whether they would improve the original bill. By the time they were through, the author of the bill would not have recognized it and disclaimed responsibility for it. It was one of the most intri- cate, complex and unintelligible pieces of legislation ever written in the laws of any state. Few, if any, who were charged with its execu- tion, understood it or were able to say how it should or could be carried into effect. It was many years, and after amendments were made by succeeding legislatures, before it became a "workable law."
The original intention was to give the electorate an opportunity to select their public servants. But it had just the opposite effect, the people have no means of selecting their public servants. All that they are permitted to do is to vote for the least objectionable of the men who offer for office. One result was to foist upon the public men of inferior attainments and fitness for the office they seek. Another, and a very serious effect, was to increase the expense of their candidacy. Men hesitate to become candidates because of the enormous expense. To illustrate: It costs a candidate for governor from $20,000 to $75,000 to be elected. The office pays $4,000 per annum. The same proportion follows every office in the state, counties or municipalities. It is one of the most pernicious statutes ever enacted. The primary system has been engrafted on the statutes of most of the states. The slogan, "Let the people rule," caught the imagination of the masses and they are the sufferers.
The convention in 1896 renominated Culberson and Jester for governor and lieutenant-governor, respectively, and N. M. Crane for attorney-general.
There was a spirited contest over the financial plank of the plat- form, but the free-silverites won by a handsome majority.
Culberson's second administration was devoid of any special feature of public interest worthy of mention in this narrative.
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The democratic convention, called to select delegates to the national democratic convention, met in Galveston and resulted in a dual set of delegates that were termed the "Goldbugs" and "Free- silverites."
When the national convention assembled in Chicago it was evident that the goldbugs had no prospect or chance of being seated, and their credentials were withdrawn, leaving the field to the free-silverites. As is well known, W. J. Bryan of Nebraska, was nominated as candidate for president, which resulted in a split in the democratic ranks and a subsequent convention nominating Palmer and Buckner to represent a sound money wing of the party.
The populists nominated for governor, Jerome G. Kirby of Dallas, confessedly the strongest man they had ever presented to the elec- torate of Texas. The ensuing election resulted in Culberson's receiving 298,528 votes and Kirby, 238,692, which was the high-water mark of the populist party in Texas.
The contest for the office of governor in 1898 was one of the most spirited and hotly contested in the history of the state, with the single exception of the Hogg-Clark contest in 1892. The leading candidates were Joseph D. Sayers, then a member of congress, N. M. Crane, attorney-general of the state and Col. R. M. Wynne, of Tarrant County. Before the canvass was concluded, Crane and Wynne with- drew from the race and Sayers was nominated, with J. N. Browning, of Potter County, for lieuteant-governor and Thomas S. Smith, of Hill County, for attorney-general.
Barnett Gibbs, of Dallas, who had been a prominent and leading democrat all his life, abandoned the democratic party and ran as a populist candidate. At the ensuing election Savers received 285,438 votes and Gibbs 107,088 votes.
Sayers' administration was devoid of any feature of general inter- est. Matters of state moved on smoothly and satisfactorily to the public, so that when the convention of 1900 met at Waco in August of that year, Sayers, Browning and Smith were renominated by ac- clamation.
There was a spirited contest in the convention over the platform. Hogg and Crane leading the free-silverites and Smith and Senator Bailey the sound money wing of the party. Again the free-silverites were in the majority, and their financial views were adopted.
The republicans nominated R. E. Hanney for governor. At the following election Sayers received 267,337 votes, Hanney 121,173 votes, which was the largest republican vote ever cast in Texas up to that time.
As in the preceding term of Governor Sayers nothing of promi- nence or special interest developed. Sayers made a conservative and most people thought a wise executive.
The only feature of special interest with which he was associated resulted from the Galveston storm of September 8th of that year, which, as well known, practically destroyed that beautiful city, caus- ing a loss of more than 7,000 lives and many million dollars of property. Governor Sayers went to New York to lay before the
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people of that city the desperate conditions of the people of Galveston, which resulted in the chamber of commerce of the State of New York and the merchants' association of the City of New York sending a steamer loaded with supplies, in charge of Thomas B. Corwine, for the relief of the people of Galveston. One favorable result of Gover- nor Sayers' visit to New York was the formation of a strong com- mittee of the prominent business men of the state and City of New York which visited Texas the following spring to investigate the economic conditions in Texas.
The committee traveled in a special train and was met at New Orleans by a delegation of Texans, who escorted them through the state. They spent nearly a month in Texas, Visiting the principal cities and towns from the coast to Red River, and their report was very favorable to the state and its industries and did much toward establishing better relations between Texas and the business interests of the east. Governor Sayers was highly commended for the part he took in bringing about this result.
In 1902 the democrats nominated S. W. T. Lanham, of Parker County, for governor, and George D. Neal, of Navasota, for lieutenant- governor, and C. K. Bell, of Tarrant County, for attorney-general.
The republicans nominated George W. Burkhart, of Anderson County, for governor. The populists nominated J. M. Mallett and the prohibitionists, G. W. Carrow. At the ensuing election the demo- cratic ticket received 269,676 votes, the republican 65,916, the popu- lists 12,387 and the prohibitionists 8,768 votes.
The most prominent legislative enactment during Governor Lan- ham's term was the passage of the intangible assets law, by which a commission composed of state officers were authorized and em- powered to assess against the several railroads of the state such an amount as, in their judgment, was just and equitable and represented the value of their franchises separate and apart from their tangible property. To this was added the market value of outstanding bonds and stocks, thus converting a liability into an asset. This law was hotly contested by the railroad corporations in the courts of the state, but was finally decided to be constitutional.
In 1904 Lanham and Neal were renominated for governor and lieutenant-governor, respectively, and J. G. Lowden, of Taylor County. and Sam Davidson, of Tarrant County, were nominated by the repub- licans for the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor, respectively. At the ensuing election the democratic ticket received 167,200 votes, the republican ticket, 51,242 votes.
The second administration of Governor Lanham was marked by conservatism and without any feature of unusual public interest.
There was a spirited pro-convention contest in 1906, at which Thomas M. Campbell, of Anderson County ; O. B. Colquitt, of Dallas County ; C. K. Bell, of Tarrant County, and S. P. Brooks, of Mc- Linnan County, were the candidates.
It was soon apparent that the following for Mr. Brooks was in pronounced minority. It was not thought that his name would be put before the convention, but the delegate who had been selected to
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make the convention speech in behalf of Brooks insisted on placing him before the convention. On the first ballot Campbell led by a very large plurality, and Colquitt withdrew from the race. A second ballot between Campbell and Bell resulted in the nomination of Campbell.
A. B. Davidson was nominated for lieutenant-governor and R. V. Davidson for attorney-general. The republicans nominated Cary A. Gray for governor. At the following election Campbell received 283,942 votes and Gray, 42,169 votes.
Campbell's administration was productive of more legislation of a general nature than had been witnessed in Texas for a number of years. Among the innovations advocated and carried into effect was a diversion of a large sum of the permanent school fund for the con- struction of a state railway from Palestine in Anderson County to Rush in Cherokee County, in which latter place was a branch of the Texas penitentiary and an iron deposit which had been promoted and operated with indifferent success for a number of years. Arguments of the proponents of this innovation were that it would afford trans- portation of the products of the penitentiary and be instrumental in the further development in the iron mines. The railway has been a stupendous failure from its inception up to date. Every year has shown large and increasing deficits, which had to be met from the general revenue of the state. Efforts have been made from time to time to dispose of the property by sale or long lease, without avail. It served to demonstrate the fact that government management of railroads is not a success.
Another prominent piece of legislation was the enactment of what was known as the Robertson Insurance Law, which provided that the insurance companies doing business in Texas should deposit a large percentage of the securities derived from the investment of premiums received on Texas policies in the state treasury. This resulted in the withdrawal of twenty-one of the most prominent insurance companies from Texas. Several efforts have been made from time to time to secure the repeal of this statute, but without success.
In 1908 Campbell and Davidson were renominated for governor and lieuteant-governor, respectively, and A. B. Davidson for attorney- general. John N. Simpson, of Dallas, a life-long democrat, accepted the nomination of the republican party for governor. R. R. Williams, an obscure blacksmith living at Cumby in Hopkins County, was an- nounced as an independent candidate for governor. This was looked upon as a joke by many people, but as the canvass proceeded it be- came evident that a very large number of the democrats of Texas who did not approve of Governor Campbell's methods of administration were going to vote for the "village blacksmith," and Governor Camp- bell and his friends proceeded to make a very spirited canvass in his behalf. When the day of the election came a great many democrats, not relishing the idea of defeat, deserted the Williams' standard and voted for Campbell, who was elected by the smallest vote that any democratic nominee ever received up to that time. It was a severe rebuke to Campbell, from which he has never recovered.
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Notwithstanding the personal popularity of Colonel Simpson, the republican candidate, he received only about 70,000 votes.
One favorable result of this election was that Campbell's second administration was more conservative than his first.
In 1910, O. B. Colquitt was again a candidate for nomination for governor, at which time he was successful, having for his running mates A. B. Davidson a's lieutenant-governor and Jewell P. Lightfoot for attorney-general. J. O. Terrell, of Baxer County, was the nominee of the republicans. At the ensuing election Colquitt received 173,993 votes and Terrell 26,107 votes. Colquitt's administration of his first term was devoid of any special interest.
In 1911 the Thirty-second Legislature enacted a suspended sen- tence law, by the terms of which a jury, finding the accused guilty. might assess a penalty with the proviso that its enforcement should be suspended pending the good behavior of the accused, and that in the event he was accused of any other violation of the law that the suspension would be abrogated and the sentence enforced.
There was a strong opposition to this law, and a test case was carried to the Court of Criminal Appeals, which, however, sustained the law. The result has been very unfortunate and a large number of criminals convicted of crimes and misdemeanors have been turned loose upon the community without punishment ; many of whom failed to profit by the leniency granted them and continued to violate the laws.
After a spirited canvass in 1912, in which W. F. Ramsey, of John- son County, was a contestant for the nomination, the latter running on the prohibition platform, Colquitt was a successful candidate by a majority of little more than 40,000 votes. Will H. Mayes of Brown County, was nominated for lieutenant-governor and B. F. Looney for attorney-general. C. W. Johnson, of Young County, was the nominee on the republican ticket and Mr. Redden Andrews, candidate of the socialist party, which for the first time made an organized effort for recognition. The vote at the general election was Colquit, 229,176 votes ; Johnson, 21,221 votes, and Andrews, 16,785 votes.
The second administration of Governor Colquitt's was spectacular from start to finish. He endeavored to engraft upon the statute books several innovations of a drastic nature. Among the most prominent was an effort to establish a Texas State Bank.
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