The Marlin Democrat
Fifteenth Year   Number 17
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, June 23, 1904

FACTS ABOUT A. M. KENNEDY

     The voters are entitled to all the information possible about the candidates who are seeking their suffrage. Especially is this true of legislative candidates, who are chosen to make laws to govern the people.
     Believing that this is true, the friends of A. M. Kennedy, candidate for flotorial representative from this, the 69th district, announce the following:
     1. He stands for an equitable tax system that reaches all alike - whether individual or corporation. whether poor or wealthy-and contends that were the tax system laid on an equitable basis that the deficit in the state treasury, amounting to nearly a million dollars, could be eliminated without raising the rate of taxation. On the other hand, if the proper reform measures were adopted ill the matter of levying taxes and expending the money of the people that the state tax rate could be reduced.
     2. He believes that when an official is chosen by the people that-his highest aim should be to serve the people faithfully, honestly and efficiently and that he should not use the office given him, by the people, to farther his own political interests.
     3. He believes that insolvent corporations should not be permitted to prey upon the people of Texas at their own sweet will.
     4. He believes that the free pass system, by which a large number of people, including members of the legislature, are permitted to use the railway lines free of charge, is a public evil and should be abolished. He contends that were all made to pay alike that railway passenger fares could be materially reduced without injuring the railway lines, free of charge, is a public evil and should be abolished.  He Contends that were all made to pay alike that railway passenger fares could be materially reduced without injuring the railway lines, thereby benefiting the public instead of a favored few.
     5. Having been a member of the legislature he has had opportunities to see the evils of professional lobbying, and is opposed to the practice. Special interests with ample capital at their disposal, employ men of talent and influence to stay in Austin during the sessions of the legislature for the purpose of securing the passage of special measures in their own interest and, often, to defeat measures that are in the interest of the whole people. While all this does on the tax payers are at home, in their stores, offices, or in their fields, following their daily avocations in honest support of themselves and their families.
     6. A. M. Kennedy favors legislation that will insure better and more permanent public road.  He believes that short term convicts should be worked on the public roads and upon a plan fair to the several counties of the state.
     7. He believes that the time honored principle of "public lands for actual settlers" should be a fact in reality as well as in name. That millions of acres of the public domain have been frittered away, no well informed man will deny. That it was the wisdom and desire of the fathers that these lands be held and sold as homes of the people; or for grazing purposes where unsuitable for cultivation, is equally patent to all. That this rule has not been followed throughout, is a matter of record-be it said to the humiliation of fair Texas. If elected be will be found a "stumbling block" in the way of those who would make further grabs of the public domain, ever insisting that this heritage should be conferred only in the manner that the founders of our glorious state intended that it
should be.
     8. He believes that it is not fair to require the same franchise fee of a small corporation organized by Texas people as is required from a million dollar concern incubated in New Jersey, the hot-bed of the trusts. If a body of Texas people organize a $5,000.00 water company or light plant, or insurance company, they must pay the same franchise fee as the larger concerns whose stockholders are non-residents and in no way identified with Texas people, further than to collect their dividends.  He would hold out every encouragement to legitimate foreign institutions who desire to do business in Texas, but would not grant them more concessions that are granted in citizens of Texas.
     9. A. M. Kennedy believes the principle of local self government and rule is as sound today as it was a hundred years ago. That the people of grand and imperial Texas are fully competent to govern themselves, through chosen officers, without the intervention of commissions appointed by the governor or by any other power than the people themselves in their sovereign capacity.
     10. He believes that the brave and courageous followers of the "stars and bars," who left their homes and firesides to fight in defense of the honor and integrity of the states, deserve every consideration at the hands of the people of Texas. That those who are disabled, whether from the leaden messengers of war, or from disease contracted while in the army, should be adequately pensioned that the gaunt spectres of Hunger and Need may not haunt them in, their few and declining years.
     A. M. Kennedy was elected to the legislature a few years ago by the voters of Limestone county by a majority of 1000 votes out of 3300, over a distinguished and able opponent. While in the legislature he proposed measures that have been of great benefit to the people of Texas. One, a tax measure, that lessened the taxes of the people of this district $50,000; another that resulted in the investment, of a portion of the school fund by which said fund has been increased $150,000 annually since; another by which citizens of Texas collected from the national government $135,000 due them for supplies and money advanced to Texas soldiers at the beginning of the Spanish-American war; another by which speculating on the claims of disabled Confederate pensioners by smooth agents was immediately stopped.
     While a member of the legislature he was placed on several important committees; was chairman of the Committee on Contingent Expenses which had charge of the claims and accounts made by the legislature and for its account while in session. The records will show that while in this position he was instrumental in saving the taxpayers a considerable sum of money.
     In regard to appropriations, it was his rule to favor those that were meritorious and demanded by the growing needs of the state and her institutions, and consistent with the condition of the public treasury and the interests of the taxpayers. Those that smacked of extravagance found him a relentless opponent, both in the committee room and on the floor of the house.
     A. M. Kennedy has no personal fight to make on any of his opponents. They are good men and good citizens. He is simply presenting his own ideas of what a legislator ought to do, or try to do, for the people he represents, and upon the principles and policies set forth In this and other addresses to the people, coupled with some legislative experience and a record he is not ashamed for the world to know, he rests his case, with an abiding confidence in the integrity and patriotism of the people.

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Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.