Message of Governor T.M. Campbell to the thirtieth legislature of Texas, to which is appended the State Democratic Platform adopted at Dallas, Texas, August 13, 1906. Page: 7 of 27
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-7-under
existing laws, levy tribute and prey upon the people in proportion
to the sum of its obligations, no matter how largely disproportionate
they may be to the real value of its property. That the insolvent corporation
should enjoy no higher privilege than the insolvent individual
is a proposition which can not be refuted. The insolvency of the individual
from a business viewpoint is the concern of himself and his creditors
alone, while the insolvency of the corporation is the concern of the
public, and in obedience to the popular will the dominant political
party in its last platform declared in the following language that such
corporations should cease doing business in Texas:
"We demand the enactment of a law, or, if necessary, the submission
of a constitutional amendment to the people of Texas, defining insolvent
corporations and prohibiting the same from doing business in this
State."
It is earnestly urged that by immediate legislative enactment much
good can be accomplished in promptly dealing with this subject and
with the subjects of free passes, lobbyists and contributions by corporations
to campaign funds and to support legislative -lobbies. Ample
authority is given for these laws by the Constitution, but for safer and
more permanent relief these evils should be finally corrected by amendTents
to our Constitution. Such statutes as I recommend upon these
subjects for immediate relief will be under continual attack from selfish
interest brought under control by their honest enforcement. Experience
teaches us that the people are not always on guard, and when off their
guard the agents of avarice often attack and destroy their wisest and
best safeguard. If these proposed reforms are sound, as I believe them
to be, the people should have immediate relief by effective laws, and
they should also have an opportunity to write them into the Constitution
so that in their wisdom and permanency they can there remain until
removed by the hands of the people themselves. If in your wisdom
suitable laws are enacted covering these demands of the people here
under discussion, these statutory provisions will serve a useful purpose
until the people can by their votes incorporate the same into the Constitution.
These subjects are not new to the people of Texas. As early as the
year 1900 a constitutional amendment designed to safeguard the people
in these particulars was proposed by one who had been a Governor of
Texas, and one of the purest, most enlightened and progressive statesmen
of our time, the lamented James S. Hogg. The people by their
platform of that year endorsed the amendment and demanded the right
and the opportunity to vote upon the same, but this was denied them.
In my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the office of
Governor, I renewed the fight in favor of the amendment then and
now proposed, and in discussing it throughout the entire State in a
long and somewhat vigorous campaign before the people I heard no
word of opposition. Its opponents have never dared to go to the people
on the Hogg amendment. I promised the people that if honored by
them with the office of Governor my best energy would be employed in
an effort to have this amendment submitted to them for their approval
or rejection. Its spirit breathes in the platform upon which this Legislature
and Executive were elected, and moved by a sense of duty in
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Campbell, Thomas Mitchell. Message of Governor T.M. Campbell to the thirtieth legislature of Texas, to which is appended the State Democratic Platform adopted at Dallas, Texas, August 13, 1906., book, January 16, 1907; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5859/m1/7/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .