Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-07-02
A Rather Large Assertion.

A Rather Large Assertion.
The most remarkable production OF
literature yet. evoked by the discussion
of the lease law Is this quotation, from
the Dallas M1rcury:
Mr.. W. II. McEntiro, one OF this larye cattle
men OF the West, aud also a citizen Of ralias,
having Just returned home from his ranch in
Tom Green county, in conversation with n
Mercury reporter, said that the agitation OF
the "nec-grassr question. was the work of
railroad corporations and big land syndic ties
and Indicated that their money paid for
most OF the newspaper notoriety which the
question was obtaining through few dailics
He says In the main that the cattemen arc
| satisfied with the lease law, having
purchased and leased very extensively
since II went into operation. That the
railroad companies and land syndicntes
are determined TO break down the lease law
and urge for a herd law That while the
state Ia getting nice revenue from the land
lease CORPORATIONS are not getting much. and
they want some legislation that will force
cattlemen TO lease their land also. That as
IL now Is every alternate section N railroad
land, and when party leases the state sec
lions ho Just takcs In the railroad lands too,
which really gives him l,2sO acres 10 every
section.
II IL TO he noted that this gentleman
IL lone Of the large cattlemen of the
West" His Partially for the lease
lawmust appear surprising TO people
who have had dinned in their ears by
the lease-law organs the assertion that
the big stockmen were the hackers of |
the fight against the lease law. They |
were hardly prepared to have one of
that class whom they have been taught
TO regard as a public enemy take the
wind out OF their sails by unfolding
that law and maintaining that "the
cattlemen are satisfied with the
lease law" If they are satisfied, what
will become of those organs which
have charged THE GAzErrE's attitude
to the influence of the big stockmen -?
The gentleman who furnished the
Mercury with It's information that the
cattle men are satisfied with the law ,
as IL stands made the further remarka-
able statement that IL is the railroad 4,
and land syndicates who :
are determined to break down the law; ,
that while the state Is getting IL reve- ,
nue. from the land lease, these corpora-
lions arenot getting much, and they ,
want some legislation that will force p
iattle men to lease their land also. :
Evidently the gentleman who is quoted Il
rs using such language IS totally Z
gnorant of the law, or he would not h
nave exposed himself to criticism in Il
10 reckless a manner. The fact Is that u
he lease law and the fence law as /,
passed at the late special session have {,
TO give TO railroads and land Ii
indicates the power to double their 8,
harge9 for leases. Ii Is an n
ndlsputable fact that there are Al
low thousands of acres of railroad Fl
aud leased at two cents an acre while n
he average will not, perhaps, exceed n
hree cents. These leases were made a.
eiore the passage OF the lease law and ia
Is adluvant, the fence law. But now g,
nder the operation OF those two laws.
and land syndicates are in
osition 10 charge what they will for
heir land. When stockman rents
Oxen sections of land from the state ',
hey inclose another dozen sections of /,
rivate land. II he would protect his p
'ocR he must fence his lease. But u
'ere the fence law steps in and tells II ~
nm he cannot inclose these private "a
ectiohs without the consent of the g
'wher. IL Is not very probable he can ,
o'ain 'hat consent except by leasing !,
he land, and nobody ever knew of n /
aliway company making n poor bar i
am when II had the power to drive n
'ood one. 1t certainly possesses that
'ower here, for the lessee must have
he land which his leased sections sur
ound, and he must get IL at the price
nut ON II by the owner. That price, I
Iepend upon 1t, will not be less than l
Int charged by the state.
Mr.. McEntire, II he said what the p;
'lercury credits him with, ought to be {
ure next dime that he is not handling d
boomerang.