The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-06-27
FREE GRASS.
COL. HAWKINS INTERVIEWED
Sought In Hls solitude, lie Talks to tn"
Reporters Hearts Content - Ills
Views on the Problem orlgi-
nal, to- say the Least,

SO many of our distinguished public
mon having expressed themselves on
tho question of the personal liberty OF
grass, II was deemed advisable 10y the
NERAip To- solicit AN announcement
or opinion from col. Hawkins, who rcp-
rcsentsso large AN element of the Re
publican party of the state. In pur-
ruancc of this idea, an accurate reporter
was selected for the delicate mission,
who nj once proceeded to business. The
Colonel was found In his library, nppa-
rCntly "wrapt in the solitude of his own
originality aud linen ulster.
Above his secretary was suspended
che great Father of His Country, be-
meath which was hung that of the Re.
publican nominee for President. dressed
In "a blue coat with brass buttons, red
vest and pair of ssn-green pantal looms,
presented 10 the Colonel 10y Il barber OF
chicago, In whose shop he saw Il during
thc convention, On the other size
was an admirable and lifc-likc cngrav-
ing of Hannibal the Carthagcnian, ter
rpr of Rome, under which WAS highly
colorcd picture of John \. Logan, Vice
Presidential nominee, In the net OF swat
lowing a distracted hay-mow. The rest
al the furniture in the room consisted of
n cuspidOr and u beer kcg. Seating him-
self upon the latter the reporter "oponod
al have been sent, Colonel, to enquire
IT YOU have any decided opinions on the
frec-grass issue. and II So whether YOU
arc willing that they should ho made
known
Col. H.-Why, yes sir, | have couyic-
tions on that subject ~ all thinking
men must, nor do | see any objection to
their being published, in fact | have
rather courtcd their publication by IRE
pucnt conversation on the question in
Solved, around the Grand Windsor cor
ners." (IIcre the Colonel drove oil some
lilies that had succeeded In getting under
his ulster, drew that Vcstmcnt more
closely obout him and fairly launched
FORTH
"Nou see. sir: must confess | was
very much Interested in the success of
ihis frec-grass business nj first, because
il held ont fair promise of beating the
Democrats. NV people were told that
with Wash Jones and free grass this
could be done. Well, we had all voted
for Jones once for no other reason, and
when We were told that great number
pf Democrats would vote for him this
Time who didn't when he ran before, the
thing began to be worth looking after
so without giving much attCn-
ton to the grass business Joined in and
footed loud for Wash Jones aud free
grass One day when ! was narrating
NOW ilil We MtIt Ell1E w 'l'ill VhA WV
Democrats. Elder tooncye, of the string
town chapel come along with his UNI
brclla under his arm and heerd me. lie
stopped and listened till ! was out ~
breath, and then SAYS he 'Bruddor llaw-
ains, ken have - few words of private
INTERPRETATIONS wild YOU" said
certainly, and he led me behind Il
ohickcn-coop and his first remark
was u sumner. 'Brudder Hawkins
saws he. Il never bnowcd hcfO that you
was u burned foolr What do you mean,
says |. Il mean, said he, dat you are
advcrcat'n not only the sale OF yoursel
fur u me-, of grass, but are hclpin to rob
the risin gcncrashun of niggcrs ov their
buthritc fira spoonful ov jest the weak
est kind of soup. What fur You gwine
10 gib all dis grass away when dc state
of Texas have sot II aside for dc cuucH-
tin de culrl childun? Free air ana Tree
water are monsous nice and you niggers
yos YOU bin made free by Linkun dun
nll gone crazy bout frccdum, but faint
the thing YOU want for chry thing to toe
free. You don't want your house To he
free, nur your wife, nur yur money,
does you? and whea you hear dis racket
bout free grass YOU jest purceN 10
smell ther is sumthing rotten 'roun.
What does desc white men want wild
free grass so bad? Dress your sole dcy
don't eat yarbs like Nebcrknce2y its
THAR STEERS WANTS
IL, sar!-and they wants to gorge 'om via
il fur nuthin and not pay de money
which dc Legislature has charged
'em fur il dat dc childun of de
culud man may git larnin! Does
yer foller me? Who is dis crowd %
white Dimocrnts dat ann 80 anxious fur
everything deyput in dair bulls pouches
to bo free? Why, sar, dcy ann dc men
which sells de beef aud don't want ter
pay fur der fatuin. Say | sar, TO you
sar, ken YOU vote for robhin black
chilun to fattcn bulls for Wash Jones
Dimicrats?'
"'rhe scales fell from my eyes, Mr. Ro-
porter, and Brother Cooneyc aninetcd
Them with the balm of knowledge. i
fell to thinking, and rs one judge after
another and colonel or two of the
Democrats who had been interviewed
and raised the cry of free-grass came To
NV recollection, / thought of their cattle
on "A thousand hills and shuddered NJ
the escape made in allowing my party
prejudices lead me almost To shut tho
light of education from my race, with
oil " hioh they must eyer be m humble
and degraded pcasantry.
."No, Mr.. Reporter, "Grass Is very
green. but that color is not within this
optic" said the Colonel as he minated
that the interview was ut end.