Legislative Messages of Hon. James V. Allred, Governor of Texas 1935-1939 Page: 8 of 263
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by
treacherous official hands thrust above duty to confer on the favored
few immunity from all law. Texans will participate in the crime."
My friends, these principles are eternal and everlasting. They fit
changing conditions of life and are fully as applicable today as when
they were uttered.
One of our leading newspapers in a recent editorial said:
"Texas is essentially a community of virtuous people. They do not
want the grosser liberalism of a New York, a Chicago, or a New Orleans.
My friends, a vast majority of the people in Texas are not going
to be overrun by a vicious minority. Gangsters, bandits, thugs and
thieves, and their pardon-peddling accomplices higher-up, have no place
in the clean life that Texas needs.
Primarily, it is the duty of local officers to enforce the law. As
Governor of Texas it is my duty under the Constitution to "cause the
laws to be faithfully executed." I am going to perform that duty and
I want you, my friends, to call upon your local officers to enforce the
law. If they fail to do so, I want you and your representatives and
senators to back me up in the performance of my duty. I pledge the
good officers and decent citizenship of Texas that once these law violators
are behind prison doors they will receive clemency only when entitled
to it, based on merit, and merit alone.
The people have a right to change any law by a majority vote. I
have no fear of any change the people may so make or approve. But,
so long as laws are on our statute books, they must be enforced.
The problems of Texas are too many and too varied and too complex
for further discussion here.
In considering these, or any other subjects, I expect to be guided and
controlled by the enunciated principles and platform demands of our
Party, in the light of my oath of office. In any matters wherein it
may be my duty as Governor to advise with the Legislature, I will
at all times act in the interest of the "Fair Deal" for six million Texans.
Every problem of government has been intensified by economic conditions
prevailing throughout the country. My friends of the Fortyfourth
Legislature, this unparalleled flow of events has brought us
together today with a common responsibility. We must have a maximum
of cooperation and forbearance by the various departments of government.
It
is my constitutional duty to advise from time to time. I so shall
do, submitting timely questions as fast as the Legislature is ready to
act. The custom is old-fashioned, but I believe inaccurate, whereby
the Governor places before the Legislature at one time a complete program
for a session in an undigested and cumbersome manner. As I
counsel with the Legislature from time to time, I pledge you that six
million stockholders in Texas shall be taken into our confidence.
The day of political trickster, the day of "closed-door" logrolling,
the day of patronage trading, the day of political sniping, the day of
political sabotage-these days, all of them, should pass out with the
fogs of yesteryear. The sunshine of truth should come through open
doors so all may see just how this government is carried on.
To the Legislature I propose a working partnership between the
executive and legislative branches of this government in the interests
of the people. At all times I shall welcome suggestions from members
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Allred, James V. Legislative Messages of Hon. James V. Allred, Governor of Texas 1935-1939, book, 1939; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth3899/m1/8/?rotate=90: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .