James Hogg's Role In Texas Politics

James Stephen Hogg, or Jim Hogg, was an ambitious Democrat who held many roles in Texas politics throughout his lifetime. He always had an interest in politics, because of his family background. His father Joseph Lewis Hogg was a representative for his district in the Eighth Texas Congress. Joseph also served as a state senator for the first Texas Legislature in 1846. James’ first job was working for a newspaper giving him first-hand experience with the current political on goings. During his years as a newspaper man he studied law and received his degree. Shortly after, he was elected as the justice of the peace in Quitman. In 1876, he ran for a seat in the Texas legislature but was defeated by John S. Griffith. However, he did not let

this defeat stop him. A few short years later he became the county attorney for Wood County. There were many areas of the law that he sought to change, but in his current position, he was unable to do so. With little deliberation, he ran for Governor and was elected in 1890. This paper is an outline of James Hogg’s political career and some of the important decisions he made.
After running a newspaper, serving as a justice of the peace, and finally earning his law degree Hogg’s interest in politics continued to grow. He turned this interest towards Wood County and made the decision to begin his political career by running for county attorney. With much diligence, he pulled through and won the election. He fought many cases and as his term came to an end he decided to run for district attorney. He was thereafter elected in the old Seventh District and pressed forward in his political career for four more years. Like most elected officials Hogg gained a reputation through his position and the research suggests that he was the most aggressive district attorney in the history of Texas.
By 1885, Hogg felt that he was ready for a state office and his friends had brought to his attention that he could be successful as Texas attorney general. He was able to gain the support of the Democratic Party due to his father being well respected during his time of office. With much effort and determination, he was inaugurated in 1886. He led many suits against the railroad industry, as well as insurance businesses. The governor at the time, Governor Lawrence S. Ross, supported his cause and some of the changes he was seeking to make. The most memorable decision he made as Texas attorney general was the recovery of land from the railroading industry. This land had been given to the railroad for usage of inputting more railways, but leaders in the industry made use of it in another way. Instead, they chose to sell the land without the approval of the state at astronomical prices. Hogg led the suit to recover this land and gained the respect of many fellow politicians in the process. He held this office for two-consecutive terms, but was still not satisfied. Yes, he had accomplished to make many changes, but at this level, he was still unable to affect many policies that he was passionate about.
While finishing his second term as Texas attorney general he began his first campaign for governor.

He was a prime candidate and was well respected by his associates. Nevertheless, his journey to becoming governor was not an easy one and there were many who opposed his ideas. His main concerns consisted of the railroad and the well-being of all Texans. As he traveled around Texas he gave his speech and revealed his standings to the many potential voters. These were the most difficult speeches he had to give as he was speaking to two audiences, the press and the local citizens. He also knew that many of the people who had heard of his idea for railroad reform were frightened by the thought. He hoped to justify his reasoning to them. Every speech that he gave consisted of the ideas he strongly supported throughout his life and political career. He was sure to use the fact that he was a native Texan himself to empathize with the people. The first belief was of course the need for reform of the railroad. He focused mainly on his plans to form a commission for the railroad and dividing its control. His minor points consisted of three secondary importance’s to him. He wished to reform the public education system to comply with the Texas Constitution. At the current time, school terms only lasted about four months where as in the Texas Constitution it specifically required terms of at least 6 months. Hogg, a strong believer in the Constitution wanted to follow the laws that had

already been written. Next, he briefly discussed the need for stipulations on the land corporations and who could and couldn’t own land in Texas. Finally, his last point was about the establishment of a confederate home. He believed that Texas owed its veterans. His solution was that a home be built for them and that the state maintains this residence. Even though he spoke about many great things the press remained focused on his ideas for the railroad. Leaders in the railroad industry saw Hogg as a threat. However, Hogg did not allow the ridicule he had received change his opinions on what he thought had to be done. Many times, he had referred to the railroad industry as an emerging backbone that was leading to civilize Texas civilization. He felt that the industry was essential for the growth of business within Texas as well as to satisfy the needs of the public. As his campaign came to an end he had gained a great respect among the people in Texas. That is why when election day had come and gone he had been elected the governor of Texas.
After his first term, Governor Hogg decided that he wanted to run for a second term. His second campaign went much smoother than his first. This election he was not fighting to get his name out to the people, because unlike his first campaign people knew now who he was and what he stood for. He had many successes in his first term as governor and he was not afraid to voice them to the public during his campaign. He shared his feelings on The Railroad Commission, but was also forced to express a strong defense in his public appearances. It had been 9 months since the beginning of its operation and various questions had surfaced. These questions had been debated by the press, in his opponent’s speeches, and he was sure they had crossed some of his voter’s minds. He spent most his campaign speeches defending and explaining the positive effects that had come from the commission. He then went into some of the new changes he wanted to implement. The first was a stock and bond law, the second was a municipal bond law, and the third was a corporate land law that had failed to pass in his first term. Governor Hogg closed his speech saying that the people would rule Texas as long as the law was enforced.
Over the course of his two terms as governor he helped to develop five of the major pieces of legislature at the time.

First, was the creation of The Railroad Commission. It was established in 1891 and Governor Hogg appointed the first chairmen to the commission. The creation of this commission was to allow a middle man to make decisions for the railroad, someone with a business background who was not directly associated with the industry. The bill gave the agency jurisdiction over the rates and operations of the railroad, airports, piers, and express companies. It was immediately a success within the first year of its existence and it went down in the books as one of Governor Hogg’s biggest accomplishments in office. Second, he created the law that would take legal action on the railroad and other companies for the issuance of a bond or stock that was valued higher than the total assets of the issuer. Next, Governor Hogg and his associates saw that the economy was lagging and there was a growing need for land to offer new coming citizens to Texas. The solution was to force land corporations to sell their holdings to the citizens within fifteen years. These holding included certain financial assets such as stocks, property, and bonds. After the previous law went into effect Hogg found that an increasing amount of the alleged citizens were foreigners and not truly citizens. Thus, the establishment of the Texas Alien Land Law. This law prohibited an alien or an alien

corporation to obtain land in Texas. It did not apply to individuals who had gained citizenship within six years after purchasing land. Immigrants who were not exempt were given six years to surrender their land. The goal was to get the land in the hands of the citizen settlers. However, it was declared unconstitutional in the court case Gunter vs. Texas Land and Mortgage Company. Governor Hogg was forced to call a special session of the Twenty-Second Legislature. In session, the bill was amended. The amendments allowed alien corporations to purchase land as well as adjusting the time limit for an individual to be pardoned from the law from six years to ten years. The bill has since then been repealed. Finally, one of the last laws Hogg was a part of during his governorship was an act dealing with indebtedness. This act restricted the amount of indebtedness by bond issues that county and municipal groups could legally undertake. Today, these five pieces of legislature are now known as “The Hogg Laws” to honor James Hogg and the important decisions he made to create them.
James Stephen Hogg was a true Texas man of many ambitions. He wanted protection for all Texans no matter their beliefs, religions, or the color of their skin. His political past helped him to be successful as the 20th Governor of Texas and to secure that position for two years. The decisions he made in changing the railroading industry, as well as the creation of The Railroad Commission, are especially his most memorable. There is a reason that some rank him among some of the top statesmen in Texas and many people of the time would agree to that statement.