Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-10-16
FOR FLoATER.
Capt. NJ. s. Austin OF Rockwell County
In the Arena.

az iloater to represent Tar
rant, Dallas and Rockwell. His
announcement will be seen in the
advertising columns Of THE GAZETTE.
Capt Austin Is originally from the old
thr-heel state where he was born fifty
six years ago. He served in the Com
tolerate army and lost his right arm In
the battle nt Petersburg, Va, shortly
before the surrender. He moved to
Mississippi In the fall Of '65. and from
there to Dallas county, Texas, in III.
He removed TO his present home
In Rockwell county in ~,
and IN '76 was elected sheriff
of his county, which Office he has held
up to the present time, q period OF
eight years, and until he was Endorsed
by two precincts In his county and
urged TO submit his name rs caudi-
date for the legislature. He Is gem
tleman of considerable GOODNESS and
ability, and being farmer all his life,
is tower Of strength among the coun-
try voters. He has many friends in
the cities also.
For the purpose of giving the read
ers of THE GAZETTE an oppor-
tunity TO learn his views upon
state issues, a reporter OF THE GA
zErrE took advantage Of his presence
In the city To interview him. He was
perfectly willing 10 state his position
on all important questions, and when
asked rs to his position on the land
and grass questions, answered with
much eRrnestness:
III am i'm favor Of the lease law first,
last and all the time, | believe it Is
only right and prnper that we should
make these large s.Ockmen pay for
what grass their cattle eat. II is a
source of immenser evenuet TO the school
fund OF the state and IL assists Ia cdu.
eating our children. l regard the
school lands of Texas a sacred trust
Coniided to our keeping for the benefit
and use of the school children OF the
state, not only for the present time,
but through all time to come. II we
can enhance the value of these lands
we should do SO; II we can derive "a rev.
enue from usufructory use OF these
| lands the school children are entitled
TO the benefits accruing therefrom."
"But, captain, do you think it right
| to sacrifice the whole Northwest for
the sake Of the school children Is
| IL not unjust TO the struggling
| settlers OF Northwest Texas to deprive
them of the benefits of free grass until
such times as they are able TO live by
agriculture In short, don't you
think it unjust TO that vast undevel.
oped country west OF us to prevent the
occupancy by actual settlers by throw
ing impedimenta In the way of the
poor mans finding a home for him
| selfW
IF / believed that "a law could not
| be passed which wOnld compel the
cattle syndicate to pSy for the grass
eaten by It's cattle without at the same
time debarring the actual settler
would be less lease-law advo-
cate, but am not aware that
such Ia the case. Mind you, | do
not gay the present lease law
Is perfect in all its BEARINGS 1t Is sus-
| cepible Of notifications and amend
| ments, but maintain that law can
be passed which will conciliate all bu,
the foreign syndicates and / am not
anxious TO satisfy them. am a
farmer myself and have been all my
life; when you say you are in favor vi
free-Erass for the actual settler, the
man who goes West to find home
AKA dig support out OF the ground
then say am with you hart and
soul. No man is more in favor OF free
grass for the actual settler than am.
want 10 so far "a the toiler and tiiler o
the soil Ia concerned TO be "a free as II
ever was. | think every encourage
ment should be given TO men who de
sire to produce support from tn,
earth and enrich the country by Tho
fruits of their labor. Furthermore,
say | am opposed to the sale of III,
public lands 10 any but the actual set
tier who will purchase them in rea
sonable quantities, and To those who
are willing TO take up home
in the West the state should give al
possible Inducements In the way o
time and easy payments"
"Do you think II possible to frame
law 10 compel the stoekman TO pay 10
the grass and at the same time have
so the actual settler can have gras
free"
Most certainly; / am not the smart
est man in the state, but | think
could frame such q law, and when yol
get body OF earnest, honest III !
together who are anxiOu
that Justice shall be don
To all, their combined intelligence cal
find Il way out of worse difficulties thai
that. To say that the legislature ofth
state of Texas, composed OF men OfreI
resentative intelligence, cannot do thu
and 80 is nonsense. They can do any
thing that Is honest, honorable am
lust and they can find way out Q
this free-grass trouble without sacrlii(
ing any Interest of any section an
without bowling submissiyely {
large capitalists and cattle syI
dictates. want the Wes
settled up. want goo
citizens to find homes there, and
want To see nothing which will retar
the advance of civilization toward
the frontier; want the cattle int
ests to thrive also. out / do not wal
to see cattle monopolies dictate stat
policy, nor grow rich upon what the
{ can we'll afford TO pay for and what
: Justice they should pay for
= al see you are hrm in your eonvi
: tions and free tp express them. Han
I you any opposition in this race ~
Z ooh yes, have two opponents; OF
from your city, do you know him"
II have not seen anything Of IL
the papeIa vet and know of no on