Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-01-04
THE EXTRA SESSION.
The Outlook for an Interesting anu
Disputatious Session.
Tho Assault on Ircland--Thc Coming
stockmen's Convention.
A Premium on Last Minute Bids Or
fered by the Land Board.
special 10 the Gazette.

Tho frnce-eutting issue Is being sharp
~ drawn, and discussion Is only less
Jagged than the menacing barb be-
cause disputants wait for reinforce
ments. 1t IL apparent that violent
legislation will be demanded by the
landed and pasture interests, while all
suggestions of moderation are dis
counted with suspicion or openly de-
nounced us sympathy with lawless-
ness.
There il q tremendous pressure for
the herd law policy, and strong. men
from all Eastern and southern Texas
sccm To regard an enactment compcll-
inp owners of stock TO fence the same
on their own lands as the only solution
of the disturbing problem. The few
that are here from Northern and West
crn Texas endravor To stem the herd
ing current, and urge, with much
force, the compromise argument OF
local OPTION They insist that while
the hcrding system may be "A very
good thing for agricultural sections, II
will he disastrous to the stuckincn In
that vast region of grazing territory
where agriculture is and must be, for
n decade or a score of years, incOnsid-
cradle ~ compared with the great in
dustry they represent. In vain they
instance the practice of older states in
their legislative methods on this sub
iect, and their appeals for the conserv-
alive system of herding only where
agriculture is the paramount interest
are met with the illogical and imprac
ticablo doctrine that the true ana only
panucea for the mOnstrous evil of lence-
cutting il Il herd law of universal
application, with penal provisions
making IL felonious TO permit stock to
run AT large and fcionious to cut a
fence.
This is at present the drift of infor-
NAL talk and irresponsible uttcrances
among those who have taken time by
the fnrelock TO get their views in nj
the beginning. II is proper to say,
however, that only "A few senators and
mem crs have arrived and that they
are listeners rather than blabbers.
Their reticence on this and other i'm
portant questions is not more nolicea-
bic than dignified and admirable.
They are here to legislate for and not
to wrangle with the people, and it is
To be hoped they will rise above the
clnng of the clipper and give heed To
tent of it's Just weight and measure
ment in the equities of the eXigency
While the stockmen have but little
to say with regard to the recent unbc-
coming and unjust assault upon Gov |
ernor ireland. yet there is some feeling |
on the subject and it crops out in
many unexpected places with emphat-
ic condemnation. These men have |
iV,t. ia hn tNs,a
aud the courage 10 character |
iAe the silly assault as IL deserves
The city is rapidly filling up with |
cattlcmen, and even at this early stage |
of tho gladiaturial asszes. the hotels
and boarding houses are
beginning 10 show full registers, !
and only standing room for tardy
corners.
IL Is believed the convention of the
Sth will he the largest and most iniiu- |
ential body of stockmen that ever As
sembled in Texas, and il Is folly to
doubt that their action will be rc5-
pccted 10y the lawmakers who assem-
bio on the same day, if indeed their
uttcrances do not give shape and COM
plexion 10 land aud stock legislation.
Tho land boaId this afternoon de
cided quest on, practically Offering II
premium for lust-ninute bidders, shut
ting out high competitive bids, and re-
sulting in u serious loss to the school
aud asylum funds. The bid was for
land in Shackellord county, and
bidder who claimed under an
actual settler was the highes;
bidder under the original rule OF the
board but, failing To BE- informed
IL 3 L..
rule postponing the closing of lands
till II latcr date, failed TO be informed
of the bid of n composition who de-
posted his bid at the last moment.
The application was to remove the
case 10 Shack,.lford county and reopen
the bidding, that fair opportunity
might be afforded the defeated
party and all others who
last minute and manifestly secret bid
WAS 80 80 ON one, whilst the aggrieved
party the next day put in bid of 81,
and stated 10 the board his readiness
topay s.. Gov Ireland and Comptroller
Swain favored rcmanding this and all
similar cases, Of which many were de-
veloped in the discussion; but Walsh.
Lubbock and Templcton voted
no, and the ! nd
was awarded to bidder foi So 80,
whom IA party apparently entitled to it
was present Offering 5000, or beggi ~
for n rchearing aud fair competition.
The large crowd of disintercsted but
very intelligent citizens present coin
cided with The equitable, cOm,non-
sense views expressed by Ireland aud
swain, and murmured disap-
ful Af &