REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS 
 The First 50 Years

WACO, August 11

About two hundred delegates attended this convention.

Officers: Chairman, George F. Rockhold, of Dallas. Secretary, Julius Oppenheimer, of Bexar.

Nominees for State Offices: Governor, John W. Philp, of Dallas ; Lieutenant-Governor, John Hall, of Lampasas ; Attorney- General, Jack E. Elgin, of Bexar; Comptroller, Austin Callan, of Val Verde; Treasurer, John C. Gibbons, of Lamar; Commissioner of the General Land Office, E. E. Misener, of Hamilton; Superintendent of Public Instruction, B. F. Crews, of Ellis; Railroad Commissioner, W. F. Connor, of Dallas; Commissioner of Agriculture, G. W. Eason, of Nacogdoches ; Supreme Court  J. Walter Cocke, of McLennan; Court of Criminal Appeals, 0. S. York, of Galveston; Congressmen at large, E. E. Diggs, of Childress, and Charles A. Warnken, of Harris.

Committee on Platform and Resolutions: 1st Congressional district, Tom Daley, 2. G. W. Eason, chairman, 3. C. D. Duck, 4. G. I. Barlow, 5. W. F. Connor, 6. S. Daniels, 7. H. L. Price, 8. C. A. Warnken, 9. P. D. Daniels, 10. W. B. Brush, 11. Dr. W. B. Renfro, 12. Lon Barkley, 13. T. A. Robinson, 14. J. D. Townley, 15. Austin Callan, 16. W. C. Kenyon.

PLATFORM

The Republican party of Texas, in convention assembled, at Waco, Texas, on August 11, 1914, hereby reaffirms its faith in the sound policies of government as expressed in the platform of the party and as carried out by the Republican National administrations. Its record of resistance to popular error has been as conspicuous as its constructive performance in developing the greatest Republic in all history. Today it reasserts its belief that the stability of a republican form of government is dependent upon the preservation of the constitutional guarantee of individual liberty and the protection of individuals in the enjoyment and ownership of property independent of any political administration in control of this government, socialistic or otherwise.

The Republican party opposes the subjecting of individual rights, granted under the Constitution, to the caprices and tyranny of temporary majorities; and it opposes changing the constitution so as to abridge individual property rights. It believes in a self-controlled, representative democracy which is a government of laws and not of men and in which order is the prerequisite of progress. The Republican party favors the continuation of policies of protection for American farmers, American wage earners, and American industries under which the country has grown prosperous and rich. We believe in the policy of keeping our money at home; for the purpose of keeping pace with the development of the country it favors the agencies of development; laws resulting in:

(a) A tariff commission to investigate and recommend just rates that business may be free from political and selfish influences as far as practicable.

(b) The enforcement and administration of Federal laws governing interstate commerce by a Federal trade commission, with clearly defined powers.

(c) An amendment to our anti-trust law clearly defining legal and illegal acts under same.

(d) The revival of our merchant marine, the necessity of which is forcibly demonstrated by the situation created by the war in Europe.

(e) The safeguarding of life and property by land and sea and the protection of our citizens wherever they may be found.

(f) The prevention of involuntary service by seamen.

(g) The continuation of a conservation policy to prevent waste and monopoly.

(h) The protection of wage earners in dangerous trades.

(i) Limiting hours and wages for labor of children.

(j) Limiting and safeguarding the labor of women.

(k) Just workmen compensation laws.

(1) Laws to encourage homeseekers, miners, and prospectors.

(m) The reclamation of arid lands and the protection of bottom lands from flood waters.

(n) The further development of rivers and harbors.

(o) The gradual development of government lands by lease in such manner as to prevent monopoly.

(p) Courts as established under the constitution and laws to have their authority, integrity, and independence maintained.

(q) The reform of the civil service laws; abolishment of bureaucracy form of government service; development of individuality among employees; prevention of perpetual office holding class interested only in positions, promotions, and pensions; limitations to periods of service in same position.

(r) Limiting officeholders to two successive terms in same office, eligible for reappointment or reelection after the lapse of one term, or promotion to another office for two terms without any lapse of one term.

Under the constitution, adopted under Republican rule in Texas, the land was conserved for actual settlers and for school purposes. For forty years the Democratic party has controlled the affairs of the State of Texas under the constitution and laws adopted by the Democracy, and the result is the land has been disposed of in large quantities. The most valuable part of the Texas domain is now in the hands of landlords with no constructive effort being made to develop the remaining lands belonging to the State. Legislation for the benefit of farmers and stockmen has been lacking. Opportunity for tenant farmers becoming home owners have not been fostered. The mineral resources of the State have been wasted. The oil lands, worth billions of dollars, have accrued to private owners. Politicians have run riot with the revenues of the State. Extravagant fees have been paid. The penitentiary system has been mismanaged. Schools have been neglected. Proper provision has not been made for the insane.

The paramount political issue for many years has been prohibition and anti-prohibition, to the material neglect of the interests of our State. Therefore, the Republican party favors laws producing:

1. A thorough and economical system of handling public funds.

2. Enabling Texas to keep pace with other States in educational progress, and becoming the great State of Texas, and for the separation and divorce of the Agricultural and Mechanical College from the University of Texas. We favor compulsory education in the lower grades of our public schools, with free textbooks to be furnished by the State.

3. Making ample provision for our eleemosynary institutions that the blind may not be housed in fire traps and the jails crowded with the insane.

4. Promoting and perfecting a penitentiary system on business lines, and humane treatment of prisoners.

5. Simplifying, overhauling, and perfecting our entire system of civil and criminal procedure.

6. Abolishing the fee system.

7. Establishing a good State roads system.

8. Providing for rural credit, a good warehouse system, and a better land policy.

9. Conserving the remaining school lands of the State for home owners.

10. Conserving the mineral rights belonging to the State and pro viding for their protection and development.

11. Permitting the State to cooperate with the National government and the owners of property in arid and overflowed districts in providing for the control of the water supply to make the arid lands of Texas tillable and useful, the rich bottom lands available for bumper crops, and for the conservation and development of the water power of our streams.

12. Permitting the State to cooperate with the National government in making a preliminary survey and estimate for controlling by storage basins in States hereinafter mentioned, the flood waters of the Missouri river and diverting same to the arid lands of Western Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, under the plan developed by Captain John Hall and former Congressman Elaine.

13. Providing that amendments to the constitution of the State, and particularly those creating great public interest like the prohibition question, should be submitted to the voters at special elections on years that general elections are not held and that same may not be constantly agitating the public to the detriment of other important matters affecting the welfare of the State, and when submitted shall settle the question for a definite term of years.

Resolutions

Resolved, that we refuse to adopt and protest against the proposed reduction of representation of Texas in National convention as recom mended by the National committee at a recent meeting of said National committee.

We sincerely regret that the vacillating policy of the National ad- ministration has fostered and encouraged revolutions in Mexico, created a contempt for our flag, humiliated our citizens and humbled their pride on foreign soil.

We hope never again will we see our soldiers bottled up in a foreign port under conditions from which they can neither withdraw or advance.

Additional Resolutions

[A resolution was adopted expressing profound sorrow over the un timely death of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, wife of the President, and ex tending sympathy to the bereaved.]

We regret the dissensions that have arisen in our former united ranks, and, while we are firmly convinced of the justice and right of our cause, still we bear no malice or ill will towards our former comrades, and now here declare our readiness to extend to them the hand of fellowship and to welcome them back to a common party affiliation, since we look forward to a time in the very near future when we shall, Republicans and Progressives, present again a united front to our common political enemies.

We approve of the system of rural high schools and favor the enact ment of such laws as will fully perfect such system, to the end that residents of rural districts may enjoy educational advantages equal to those of the towns, and wherever necessary favor special State aid to such schools in erecting and equipping proper buildings.

We hereby indorse the administration and acts of our State chair- man, the Hon. Phil E. Baer, and of our National committeeman, the, Hon. H. F. MacGregor. Their zeal, energy, loyalty, and unselfish devotion to our interests are worthy of all praise, and we hereby tender them our sincere confidence and commendation.

MINORITY REPORT

We, the undersigned members of the committee on platform and resolutions, offer the following minority report:

Resolved, that the report of the majority of the committee be approved except that portion dealing with the proposed reduction of representation recommended by the National committee and that in lieu of that portion of said report, same be amended so as to read:

Resolved, that we approve of the proposed reduction of representation in National conventions, as recommended by the National committee at a recent meeting of said committee.

L. M. BARKLEY, G. J. BARLOW.

The minority report was tabled by a unanimous vote.

State Executive Committee: Phil E. Baer, of Harris, chairman; 1st Senatorial district, D. H. Morris, of Cass; 2. W. P. Harris, of Hopkins; 3. J. C. Gibbons, of Lamar; 4. J. L. Hickson, of Cooke; 5. C. A. Buck, of Hunt; 6. G. F. Rockhold, of Dallas; 7. J. H. Parker, of Smith; 8. blank; 9. A. M. Sommer, of Kaufman; 10. C. W. Beck, of Hill; 11. M. M. Patten, of McLennan; 12. J. W. Davis, of Freestone; 13. W. B. Rogers, of Anderson; 14. H. M. Smith, of Jefferson; 15. blank; 16. C. A. Warnken, of Harris; 17. H. A. Griffin, of Galveston; IS. blank; 19. R. A. Brooks, of Bastrop; 20. John Hall, of Lampasas; 21. A. L. Davis, of Gonzales; 22. and 23. blank; 24. J. M. Oppenheimer, of Bexar ; 25. C. L. McDowell, of Val Verde ; 26. G. H. Ray, of Erath ; 27. J. H. Burnett, of Bell ; 28. L. S. McDowell, of Howard; 29. E. E. Diggs, of Childress; 30. A. J. McCampbell, of Tarrant; 31. T. A. Robinson, of Denton.