The Abilene Semi-Weekly Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 101, Ed. 1 Friday, December 31, 1915 Page: 5 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 20 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
J.
TUB AM&glfB XBPOftCTH AWLWHI T13CM.
fcV
"TfT
- I II I 'I
Open Letter to Wagstaf f
Legislative Record Vigorously Assailed.
Some Chronology
&
i
..
Abilene Testis Dei'embor 29th !)lu.
s 11UN. J. at. WAUSTAFF
Abilene Texas. '
While I like you personally nave a high regard
for your great legal ability and adinirp your phe-
uotninal success as a corporation attorney 1 can-
not endorse ydu as a people's legislator In the
short length of time allowed me in joint debate I
couldn't mention half of the criticisms your legisla-
tive record justly deserves hence to make same
public i must use the press.
Uu December tith t published in the Reporter a
copy of Win. A. Sharp's letter to ybu Wherein he
lold you that before the Antis of Ninirod promised.
you their support lie wanted to know "If they
could depend on you to vote against every prohi
bition question that might arise in Congress" and
u copy of your letter replying to Sharp wherein
you told him that if elected you Would vote against
NATION WIUirpltOlHMTlON and against
amendments submitting NATION WIDE i'KOlIl-
IUTION whether lb n u.-h .n chance of carrying
it Or not and inn in you liuther said that wo
didn't have time to fool with the prohibition cpies-
lion In Congress and that no sensible man believes
that a National Prohibition Amendment ebuld be
carried." I asked you to explain the above ita well
as your inconsistent position in the tf3rd Legisla-
ture in voting with such prominent antis as John
II. lurby and August llaxthausen of Houston Her-
great while would one be passed and then in a
garbled ineffectual form.
1 realized that the only way to secure reforms
was to scud some capable well-posted lawyer to
the legislature with court-reform as bis mission
and n determination to accomplish what he was
sent after and I selected yoit as the man.
Without consulting you or letting you know
anything about it on January 19lh 1912 1 drew
up an announcement announcing you for the leg-
islature and personally took same to 4T business
men of Abilene whom I induced to sign it and J
had it published I At my own expense) m the Abi-
lene Dailv Keporter January 10th 1012 which an
tiouiu'ement stated tlfat COURT REFORM was the
most important thing to be considered in the 33rd
Legislature and that you were selected as the one
to get it and was therefore aiinbunccd.
In The Abilene Reporter in its issue of Tuesday
February 13th 1912 you accepted the said nomina-
tion and agreed to run ond after stating that you
thought there-would be Koine constructive legisla-
tion on prohibition and that you would vote to
preserve and strengthen our prohibition laws yob
then staled: "In my judgment however' the par
amount issue before thorfcxt legislature will be
the reform of our civil and criminal court proceed
ure. Every intelligent voter knows that something
is wrong with our court procedure and that our
methods of trying and disposing of law suits arc
antiquated expensive and uncertain and far be-
hind the nge in which we live. There is a demand
uard bchwemimim and Otto uhrmuud of San irom the administration of our courts thrtt legisla
Antonio and Louis J. Wortham and Cant.; it. 13
Paddock of Ft. Worth in electing an anti-Speaker
in keeping the vote for Speaker secret to proteet
other back-sliding pros and in thus protecting the
Jut uresis of saloons railroads and corporations
jmrally.
Oil .December 7th in BOX-CAR type and a three
column space you published as an excuse ( ?) for
not explaining that as n paperirtieles cost so
much perliuc you couldi: t '..fford to answer in
ilium but would do so in Uebate. '"No politician
en run for office wijlhout savitig.ihe newbpupers a
whack at him and you can't expect them to take
down your speech and pub! U your dope gratis as
a news item when it is from a sale of their space
that tlicy supply their U'b'en with bread and meat
Now 1 want you to answer thib article and" if you
haven't the price J will lend you the money. But
(wtr$y your excuse was not seriously made for
when you recently sold out your interest in the
Abilene Water Lights and lee System "it
was -generally reported that you cleaned up a net
I profit of f500U. Now sprinkle a little df this
"easy money" on the. deserving press.
ImiMmuch as you have offered as credentials for
your dumouraey ami? legislative record the fact
that I supported you in your first race it imy be
interesting to the public to know why I supported
you ami bow you came to run ami the fact that
1 unused you to lie anuouneeu lor uie legismmie
ami ou a "court-reform platform hence the follow-
ing chronology.
As soon as 1 was elected District Judge 1 began
working zealously and earnestly for court-reform J Not u single
our system being antiquated technical expensive ami form recoil
and fifty year behind the times and among other the two or thre
things I advocated the following:
- (1) To abolish reversals whore no substantial
Itijustiua had been done.
(2) Requiring Court's charge to ba given be-
i'oru argument ami objections not thou made waiv-
0 Agreement or nine jurors m civil eases to
gonsUtuto verdict thus eliminating hung juries and
mistrials it
(4) Allegations not denied under oath taken as
confessed which Mould save thousands of dollars
" lit useless expense of trials.
ifi) Stopping thu indiscriminate jitumioiiiug ot
iweless witnesses saving both expense and iueon
ywifouui to men women and uhildrun
(0J That all witnesses be paid milcage-and per
(?) That pay of jurors bo increased from $2. to
SU nnd mileage allowed. '
8) Furnishing all jurors with wiiututy beds
MIllI KHllt.S.
tQ) Abolishing special venires except in eases
Where the State is going to ask for capital puiusli-
m HO) Siting venires from venire-lists and not
makinu regular jurors who have already performed
twrviee perform double service. (
fill Permitting Court tj discharge any juror
fn irv. when hick or in emergency and let re-
malum" jurors render verdict
r do) "Permitting the jury tolDseiiss Uio-pTeuf
nut's failure tb testify the same as any other wit-
yes.
m own io eair-uoirift'oiivi'uuuu uij
judges in Texas tdiniet at AustinJfS
12 1!12. I kept tlmiintter nlivijjjr
the Convention in rue Daily PressVi:
nti That whenever the defendant puts his
A44 . ... ;p. ; hi. lM.lutlf as a wit-
frfle on tin simimi iu i" " .
tss then to lH-ruiit the State to cross examine- hoi
MiliUlfftttiirwortliecaw.
Ferlevtlllg ni" w ""' .-". T .;
. . nil
r V fiimieatiou lv striking out the one word iiaoit-
V .Ztorv anil ubsolitIj worthless.
m(W VmnOhi sentene on! w h ease where
is the firt offense ana iiw lvl"T&rrj
less than the
after iwena
Mhu-h would btop frivolous appeals.
Tt each ;Ion of the legislature I have sent
'X hU .-.siuai tu tbv vurioiK vmbcre. and had
ampubied iu the Dad l mu only m a
tors can no longer ignore. The people have grow u
weary of the law's delay ami the enormou ex-
pense of running our courtg)and are demanding
that mere tecliiiiealituSXnnlF'no longer impede the
administration ol .lustiue. And you pledged your
best efforts towards seeiifcing court refer
ter 1 annouueed you and) catted you
course 1 bad to support-you
In the Fall of 1912 1 wrte to
Judge in Texas unging themo meea conjrffftio
ami agree upon ieeucu coif t reiprminiu act
gather in making suggestjbns-tothe legisla
Alter much worK 1 sucjcUeir in getungMtvc
judges to authorize hiqM) sign their njuArwith
m own to ealMLotvft Ji'onveutiou ottUrllistrict
cembur
advertising
uul writing
personal letters to all the district judges urging
their attendance and all the appellate judges Aver
invited to attend. ' - - w
On December 12 1912 the first and
vention of District Judires in Texas am0T at Aus
tin Judge Browning of AumrUJm'iug elected
President ami myself as Sceifatry and with the
help and assistance of judges from the Supreme
Court the Court of Criminal Appeals and various
of the Courts of Civil Appeals we worked togeth-
er for two days and agreed upon needed reforms
embracing most of the matters hereinbefore men-
tioned and Judge Barry Miller of Dallas was
chosen as our Representative to place them before
the 5prd .Legislature.
Not a single measure was passed in the nfunner
ommeiided by the district judges ami
e subjects that wore passed were in
such a garbled form they availed nothing.
While running for the legislature at the Lyce-
um Theatre on Friday night June 21st 1912 you
had a joint debate with Hon. W. J Cunningham
report of which was published in the Abilene Re-
porter on Sunday June 23rtl 1912. The Reporter
quotes you as saying that you entered the race for
theTegfslaturc on the platform that the crying nPed
of Texas injudicial reform and that you would ad.
vacate the abolition of the courts of Civil Appeals
and that you further stated that even though .Take
Welters should carry Taylor County by u plurality
vote you would not vote for him.
Now Jake Wolters was then running ou identi-
cally the same "kind of platform you are now run-
ning qn Then what was there about Jake that
you couldn't stomach 1 Jle was backed by the iden-
tical fellows with whom you afterwards ran and
voted iu the Legislature?
Did you ever muko an attempt to abolish the
courts of civil appeals? No. There were only six
when you were elected. You helped to create three
more so that we now have nine courts of Civil
Anneals of three judges each being. 27 judges
drawing $4000 each per year (their bulury having
been raised from $11500. During your service)
each oue of the nine courts having a Clerk a De-
puty Clerk a stenographer a Baliff and a Porter
besides an enormous incidental expense. ou also
raised the salaries of the judges of the Supreme
tfourf aiilthe Court Ot Criminat Appeals tctouOO.
each ner veav; and each and all ot tne anove appel
late Courts have a continuous vacation each year
on full pay during theiontlis of J11I3' August
and September. The opinions from the nine courts
of civil appeals are of frequent conflict are ab&o
lutely worthless aud these courts are a useless
mill-stone of expense tied around the neeKs ot the
people of Texas! Why didn't you make an effort
to wboluJi them as you promised to do
Very few district judges in Texas work over half
their tiuui an!I this fact is well known to the Leg
islature for it- is a frequent occurrence that it
grants District Judges permission to leave the
State on tull pay during the months of June duly
and August. While you were in tlie Legislature I
wrote a personal letter to each member and in
addition to suggesting certain court roforms I
wmt evidence of the fact that my dockets were up
but continued to create now courts to supply posb
tioiis for waiting lawyers. Since you liAve been
in the Legislature fourteen new district courts
have been ereatcd. when half of the tliatrict judges
if they would work could easily transact the busi-
ness. A district equrt means a judge at $3000.00
(fistriet attorney at $2300 and a stenographer at
1800.00 and the people ate paying the bills.
During the Regular Session this year the
House Journal shows that you were absent with
out excuse at o4 roll calls and that you were ab
sent with excuse at 37 roll r.nlls making a total
ol absences at 91 roll calls
Yon voted for the M. K. & T. Railroad Consoli
dation Bill and against all amendments thus per
mitting said Katy to gobble up the Texas Central
and other smaller roads
You voted to permit the Tsaiita Fe Railway to
buy and take over four other smaller roads.
You voted to liermit the 11. & T. C. Railroad to
bn the Hearne & Brazos Valley Railroad.
You voted to permit the St. Louis Southwestern
Railroad to buy the EnstewTexas Railroad.
You voted to permit the Texas & New Orleans
Railroad to buy uji a smaller railroad.
Yon voted to permit the El Paso & S. W. Rail
road to buy up n smaller railroad.
Notwithstanding that out of the salary of eaeh
railroad employe a certain amount is deducted
each month to maintain n hospital for silch em-
ployees you vigorously fought ami bellied to kill
the Hospital Bill which sought to give such em-
ployees some part in its management. And it was
openly charged on the floor of the House and in-
coiporated in the House Journal that the railroads
used part of tins hospital fund collected from em-
ployees to maintain the lobby at Austin which
loughl and helped to kill the bill.
You voted for the law which permits one tele
phone company to buy out another and which an
thorized the Independent Company at Abilene to
lake over the business of the Southwestern and
you voted down and helped to kill an amendment
which sought to submit the matter to a vote of the
people.
You voted and worked for the Gibson Bill which
sought to permit Insurance Coiujjjifiv who refus-
. . . mmr m
cd to comply with the JuwsFTexasund retuscd
Io pay their taxes and
in Texiuv-bht withtl
witjixnil paying anv
WHll
Jlitious n
to have a conl
When the uuiitnMhcraljfeiLJrilfact that
pain nnyjffffrTislatoillltr been caught
yists and fined uu-
oted against the rcsolu-
ce ascertain who the gamb
rs were but j ou were out-voted and the co
tee was created
mm.... .!..... ti.r. rni.....un. ...k...m0ri 1 1j
Paddock tthe legislator fromJWVorth) before
tiie House asking that J0m!c made to tell who
played poker AvithJjfpie admitting that he was
playing iu tlieWpwheu the police caught them
and ou jjWmit to make hiur tell and voted to
liselnyjnrthp comirtittce and the matter was thus
d up. Whyftlul you want to proteet Cunt
aildoelc inirt tbV others"? "Whs it because Von vo
ted with him so often!
The purpose of the Allison Bill was to prevent
intoxicating liquor.' from being shipped or trans-
ported into' local option territory. It took up an
enormous lot of time both in the Regular and Spe-
cial Session of the 33rd Legislature. It has cost
the State lots tjf money. Suehxn law could apply to
intrastate shipments but without the Vebb.Ken
you Hill passed by Congi-ess it could not be made
applicable to interstate shipments. Notwithstand-
ing that you wrote Mr. Sharp 'at Ninirod that Con-
gress has no time to fool with the prohibition
question aud that the liqnor question is wholly a
State matter oue of your first official acts in the
Legislature was to sigh Resolution No. 2 asking
Congress to pass the 'Webb-Kenyon JJill in order
that the Allison Bill could prevent interstate ship-
ments into local option territory. Then you per-
mitted the entire Allison Bill both as to intrastate
lis well as interstate shipments to become a farce
and of no effe t whatever and worthless by let-
ling iu one little clause that was sneaked into it
by- the liquor interests of Texas ami you have
never offered one single bill or nude one single
effort to correct the defect and give it new life
again "
You voted against and helped to kill the full-
crew bill sought to be passed in the interest of
railroad employes and which was fought so siren-
uouslv by the railroad lobby you voting shoulder
to shoulder with your old friends Capt. Paddock
Louis J. Wortham and John TI. kirby.
Ou Thursday Feb. 0 1913; the Bill to estublish
Agricultural High Schools with departments of
agriculture manual training and domestic econo-
my in the interest of children in rural communi
ties caino un for final passage and was killed by a
vote of 39 to 03 your friends Capt. Paddock aud
John H. Kirby and others fighting it and you were
absent without excuse.
'Ou Feb. 12 1913 you joiuelt'your friends Louis
J. Wortham and John Henry Kirby in introducing
a bill protecting railroads in tliolr donations and
'bonuses providing for the sale of their securities
and concerning their rates but it got lost in the
shuffle. -
On motion to rescind tip vote which killed the
full crew bill you againvoted-with Capt. Paddock
Louis J. Wortham and John Henry Kirby and
thus buried it.
You succeeded in striking out that part of the
City Charter Bill which limited the term for which
public serviet franchises eould be granted to twen-
tv carb. Whvf You and your clients havi been
rf ' - mr -j
Itirgeh intert&teti in franchisee. Wasn t a 2U year
liiniiatiop to the best interest of tin people? But
you had to vott with your friends Louis J. Worth-
lam aud John Henry Kirby.1
You again voted with your friends Capt Pad-
dock. Louis J. Wortham ami John Henry Kirby
for Senate Bill No. 7 Jo permit moderations to
reinstate themselves and to renew Uieir right to
do business.
When provision was made for committee to Uit
in. such good shape tbat I could jeasiiv transact the convicts to aseertatiti who deserved pardons. ou
1iiiiiiss of tvo additional enmities niut still hae otid tu dron off the coiuinittpi' tin- tun P.Lilin
plenty of vacation and you gave me no more work Advisers wkp are already drawing salaries and!
put iu Uieir place iwo members of the legislature
and let them draw 0 per day and nil expenses.
You helped to ruin Rural Uank Bill No. B94 by
permitting 'amendment striking off alt appropria-
tion therefor.
You voted to permit the Penitentiary System to
vote 30000l in bond which later was reduced
10 $2000000. aud permitted thisNmoney to be spent
by the Commissioners without restrictions and
permitted Mr. Cope's amendment io be killed
which required all Accounts to be ilemked and ap-
proved by all Commissioners ami the Governor be
fore money could be pakl. As a result the peni-
teutiaryyhas lost over a million dollars each year
and is iipoiip of the worst muddles imacinable.
"While an effort has been made to get laborers to
believe that the Employes' Liability Statute be
ing Senate Bill No. 11 was passed in their behalf
and for their benefit it is a well known fact to the
practicing lawyers of Texas that said law was
drawn and passed in the interest of corporations
and concerns that employ numerous laborers and
to relieve such corporations aud concerns by shift-
ing Due of their greatest burdens upon the shoul-
ders of the Slate ond at the expense and to the
detriment of the laborers. 1 consider it a most vi-
cious law.
To illustrate what 1 mean suppose some deserv-
ing young woman is employed by n Steam Laundry
which bus become a subscriber under this law and
through the negligence of said Laundry she is ter-
ribly scalded with hot water and steam and forced
to suffer the tortures of Hell for four weeks but
she finally recovers and goes baek to work at the
end of the fifth week with her face disfigured
and features burned beyond recognition. The full
amount of damages she could recover would bo
lew than $100. She would get absolutely nothing
for her pain suffered and her permanent disfig
urement and the Laundry doesn't have to pay the
$100. The State pays the Chairman of this Acci-
dent Board $3000 per year and the other two mem-
bers $2500 each per year and a Secretary $2000.
per year and the Board is further allowed $3000
a year for clerical help and traveling expenses.
And the people of Texas are paying the bills.
You permitted a law to be passed on March 31st
1913 making it a M1SDEMKANOR to steal anv
their mony.piud of an automobile which cost the State of
as a o 01 money and which you had to amend
in 1913. When it is a felony to steal a $3 goat or a
$30 bicycle you let a law pass milking it a misde-
meanor to steul 11 $0000 automobile
At the Ik-gularSewiimijnf the 33rd Legislature
you pejjnAU0WaiegisluTro to pass two vicious
he present susficnded sentence law.
permits almost any ThUg to escape punish
ment and the other the Indeterminate Sentence
Law which provides that if a man is tried for
murder and the jury assesses his punishment at 99
years he can't bo sentenced as the jury directs but
no must he sentenced to serve nTKKM. OF YEARS
NOT LKSS THAN IIVE AND NOT MORK
THAN 99. The suspended senteuce law should
apply only in a case where it is the first offense.
where tin defendant is under21 and pleads guilty.
'Concerning extravagance you voted to -allow
wneh member of the Legislature to subscribo to five
Daily Newspapers at the expense of thb State to
allow each member $30 in Stamps at the regular
session in 1913 $10. each iu stumps at the Special
sessions 1913 ami $35 each in Stamps at the Regu-
lar Sessi6n 1915. ami -$15 each in stamps at the Spe.
PEEKY FMT
FOUR GENERATIONS REPFIES6N-
TED AT FAMILY GATHERING
CHRISTMAS tAY.
FAMILY IS MY rtWHtfll
Have Been Residents for Twenty years
in Abilene and Tylr County
Rev. Dr. Gray Speaks.
At llio resldencfc of Hen L. Peevey
Christmas day there was a re-utilon ol
the t. L. Peovey family at which tour
generations was represented the tour
generations being represented by Mrs.
h L. I'eevey Mrs C. C. O'Neal Mrs.
Leroy Brown and Helen Maurlne
llrown. In Tour gonferatloris there has
been two deaths hi the family both
bcInK InfantB.
The family Is one of the most pronv
lno and respected In this section.
They have stood through nil their his-
tory for the best Interests of the com-
munity and have had & large part hi
shaping the history of the West For
twenty years Mr. and Mrs. Peevey and
their children have lived and labored
In Taylor county and In Abilene and
this 'feathering of thn family has pecu
liar significance to their many friends
who rojolco with them hi this Christ-
mas liome-comlng.
l)r I.. U. (J ray pastor of the Central
1'resbytcrlan church was present and
spoke In part as follows:
'The occasion whlcti brings Us to.
gcthcr itoday Is nn event of a lifetime
Seldom Is It the prHllcgtf ot entire
households to meet around one com
111011 table on Christmas Day especial
Iv when tho household has been divid
ed and subdivided and Increased until
tho numlor reaches forty-two rela
lives la this Christmas re-unlon. How
thankful to the good God wo nil should
be Hint yon the children grandchildren
and grcat-graud-chlldrcn of father and
mother 1'cevey are here together to
day. Tills in not n time for sadness
though the meeting may not occur
again on this earth. It Is n time for
the highest Joy! This Is tho Joyous
day of all tho year. Let its spirit come
Into your hearts and mako merry. Let
no thought of sadness ho harbored licr
forlhls Is Christmas- Day and you are
alfpresent together in this" good prov
idence of God. It is his goodness that
permits this gathering. It is ills good
ness that will lead you oh. So bo
hanDy today in tho love pf father. and
mother brothers and sisters husbands
and wives alnl little children. "This is
tho dny tho Lord hath made" and you
are to enjoy it. Adopt the Christian
phllosopliy or Kiln Wheeler WUcox
when Bhe snld
"Laugh and tho world laughs with
ypu.
WeeuT and you weep alone.
For this bravo old earth must -errw
Us mirth.
It has trouble enough for Us own!'
Sing and tho hills will echo!
. Sigh It is lost on the air.
For the echoes bound to a Joyful
Bdund
Put they shrink from a Voicing
care."
Now let's thank God for ills good
ness.
"Our gracious Heavenly Father we
thank Thee for tho. good providence
which brings us together today; foi
the preservation of (our lives foi
lieaitn ana atrcngtn ana joyous uearts
Wo thank Thee for bringing togethe
this large family these sons nnc
daughters to sit around this fital
board and comfort and cheer thla
father and mother. "We are grateful
for the holy Joy of Christmas; for Thy
Son.'whoHo coming into the world wi'
celebrate today; for the Joy of for
given sin; for the peace I In brought
tho calm consciousness of rlghtnesf
With the DivJno. ifay His Spirit be ll
our hearts today Danish care atic
sadness and let us revel in the sun-
light ot Thy love. Help !heav Thy
servants to enjoy themselves In the
innocent and happy associations ot
childhood and manhood nnd woman-
hood lay the sweet influence of this
holy occasion linger In our memorle'
like the aroma of a garden of flowers.
And may the star of Bnhleaem lend
us on Hless thl's father and mother
who ait in the midst of their children.
Though strength may fail nnd uyea be
come dim and steps alow and feeble
grant to them O God hat as the sun
goes down At evening time. It mav
it light Give health and s'eroeth
where needed-strcngth divine to
bear life's hurdsus. May the benedh-
tlons of heaven rest upon these chit
dren of successive generations May
they all be pious arns3t members Of
thy church on earth and crowaed
with the life of Thy Son T-et all oar
pleasures oe earth be inneofeot. and
serve as .the happy eaiAest f bright-
er bliss aeove. At last receive us to
thyself In glory; and as -e St it h
marriage least sl the -Lamb sa sdll
Join to endless praUe to HIki thH idt-
teth upon the throne forever nn for.
ever. In Jesus name -we S It
Amen.'
Following were 1ho$ vho rere
present:
Mr. add Mrs. L. h. Peeveyjr Sfr. ad
Mrs. C. C. O'Neal; Mr. and Mm -Rov
Drown and Maurltw Drown: O- C
O'Neal and Tamtty; Mr md Mrs T t
Peevey; Mr. sad Mrs. 4. W. JPeevey.
Scott and 3. W. Peevey Sr. "VVflOrt-
bor$; Mr. and Mrs l J. pt Ua
Clay Pavi Tjoenie Pavfe Arth- T
vis. Palmer Bavte Mary -BwawThavl
iMnlial 4uvl lfiHinrtfcn tnk-i "f.ik
Yon are making a special appeal for the colored Jine and Odli mavis; Mr ubIJIh. R
vote of Abileive. Our State maintains an Omhmi.lO Peevey n o "Peem- c. Lne
iiire for white ehildron. Tin. nnlv hill i.. i;i 1.. e evey. Paul VaMfe 050a
eial Session 1U15. Some StampH anil Newspapers
the State pnul for wasn't itf You voted to in-
crease the pay of all stenographers from $-1 to $5
per uay.
Yjui voted against applying the law of neopotism
to the elections of pages and employees of Jhe
House and let the members have their sous up-
pointed to numerous positions and then passed a
law to preveut tho next legislature from doing
what you did.
You helped to kill the Hill prohibiting the hold-
ing of inaugural balls iu the State Capitol when
you know that such bulls nnd the incident expense
thereot is against the will ot the great majority of
fhe people of Texas.
.When Mr. Jewelling offered a resolution regret-
ung uie ileum 01 ur. ueo. u ttoukm; and extolluig
his life of. public service you tried to kill it
thiMrrrgJi teehnicar objection and it wfls delavud
and postponed but when through tho persistent
1 ttorts ot its proponents who would not let it die
you saw that it was going to pass it having had
four votes taken on it you finally voted for it.
It is interesting toVead Plank ;i in your platform
on usury and then read your votes on House Bill
No. 2-i and House Bill No. 255 iu the 34tlt Legisla-
ture. Under our present law.s if any per&ou or cor-
poration charges more thati IU per cent he forfeits
all interest and a party paying such usuroiis in-
terest may reeo-er hack twice the amount pnid.
A National Bank is under exuetlv the same penal
ty. Both House Bill No. 22 and No. 255 sought to
make usury ln criminal offense applicable to every
person or corporation except National Banks aud
you helped to kill both bills.
TTou voted agauiht and helped to kill House Bill
No. One to euforce collection of delinquent taxes.
Yon voted agaiust the student loan fund resolu-
tion which Bought to assist deserving Texas boys
and girls in finishing their edueatious.
In the University of Texas there are 2000 stud-
ents 500 of whom by reason of wealth social po-
sition or personal accomplishments qre permitted
only through invitation And not by application)
to join select societies known as Greek Letter Fra
ternities. The other 15UO 'lxas boys aud girls
ip;e not permitted to join aud by the others are
called Barbarians or 'Barbs" for short. Such an
existence ofelass distinction iu our University 1ms
eaiisetl muefi dissatisfaction over the State- You
voted against and helped to kill 11 Bill to abolbsh
such conditions.
colored people were specially interested fu during Mmm vey. Wt1Ul
the last legislature was IIouso Bill No. 281 to m- Peyey. Cha Cltatea ptdfi ijtgia
tablish a State Orphanage for colored children and PW Mf- Mm. & T e &.
you permitted this Bill to die for the rat of a JJ& "J- gjj
- - ' ! i"i 11 9al'MMMIIMnNIMiniltMKM
CoutinuetI ten page wx.
timv ir 4 K Vpm
NlsS Ada Ktrfc "
t
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.
The Abilene Semi-Weekly Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 101, Ed. 1 Friday, December 31, 1915, newspaper, December 31, 1915; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth314810/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.