Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-02
perpetual school
devoted by law to

devoted by law to perpetual school
fund. if necessary.
Tn INV Judgment the policy Of the
mast will much sooner advance, de-
yelop and populate the vast and I'M
frultful territory of Texas than the
nresent lease system. No structures
sbould he INDUCED in against the
leose system. These people count
among their number as patriots ana
understanding citizens as any within
her border. And that they avail them
selves of the benefits Of the lease sys-
tenn only bespeaks them men Of prog
ress and enterprise. Many OF them
who reap its benefits deny the sound
ness OF the lease system. For my part
/ want people in our state rs well as
millionaires, corporations or synui-
Gates. | think political economy places
every man, woman ana child' svalue to
the state at fifteen dollars per capita
from the moment they place "A perma.
uent foot on its soil. This state ana
especially that portion affected by the
lease system and present land policy,
is capable of accommodating several
millions of sturdy yeomen ana wo-
men. The fruits of their industry IN
the way of homes, farms, cities, towns,
manufactures, agricultures, horticul-
lures, stock cultures, etc., WOULD soon
swell this capita of SIS to many thous-
ands, thus aggreRating maDy millions.
On the other hand Il corporal's guard
of miilionaires, corporations and syn
c;icates may control all this territory
and with all their individual or col
lective wealth, the state will be poor
indeed.
The small stockmen have been the
pioneers of Texas, and there Is no de-
sire on the pare OF large stockmen 10
crush them out. They are not doing
so. 1t is a ruinous land policy and I'M
wise legislation that is doing it, Let
them alone AMI the large anil small
stockman will dwell together in
unity" in the future as In this past
They are all brave and honest men
and favor equal rights to all. These
views have long entertained ana
they are the subs ance of n series of
resolutions framed by me as chairman
of committee, aud adopted by a
meeting of stockmen held at this place
during the last special session of the
Iegs lature and forwarded to our rep
resentalives.
Now, il you should take such lib
erty with this letter as Under the cir.
cumstances you have the right TO take,
namely: give it TO the public, [ trust
hat the advocates of the lease system
will not construe this view into any
unfriendliness, and that all men will
bear in mind, that as judge Of hon
ored with the place., shall simply
impartislly and justly administer the
laws as fully as lies in my power TO do
AS for the tariff question, that Is one
I have not studied, and / can only say
that in view of the platforms of both
national parties, rs i understand
them, the necessity to foster and pro
tect for time longer at least certain
American industries aud American la
Dor seems to be conceded, and there /,
no danger of free trade becoming soon
u factor in the national administra
ton of legislation.
AS to my prospects, modesty forblds
that should say more than that
shall run the race through rs hopeful
as any of my competitors, and "God
speed the hindmost." have lived OF
this frontier for thirteen years, an,
have shared the hsrdships and tolls al
well as prosperous times of its people
and their choice shall be mine.
/ have the honor to be
Your servant,
WIN. HI. LESS ING.