Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-25
n FREE GRASS MEN.
4. uouston on the Work Of the Hous
= ton Convention,
r,.s Grass Men Made No stronge
Fight.
galveston News

h.A
temple Houston OF Wheeler
=. was one of the foremost advo.
"a the free-grass proposition, and
= manly course commended him
strong and hearty terms to the
nn,smbers of the Democracy. Mr.,
.an has been spending day or
his city, and as he is recognized
The free-grass men as one Of |
smost active young representa-.
a News representative inter.
"a him Yesterday on the subject |
= rout of his party In the state
0ntion. The following lie the re-
ef The interview. The reporter
=, do YOU free-grass men feel re-
w The action at the convention
Ssre prepared for any result and
more than we had halfway ex.
a II needed no seer to say that
ssre fated. Tho symptoms OF a
u.s., first asserted themselves AT
POO weeks ago, and the slim ut
. . IN our caucus ut Fort Worth
"a 18th was an alarming indica-
"A precursor of doom.
~ 40 YOU explain the total failure
e movement?
4 ia susceptible of a very easy en-
riiou, Undoubtedly there were
noes of q strength among us
\ warranted our making desper.
sbt. ]. II. Fleming of Eastland
p. Smith of Tarrant We're pre-.
Iii, ond above all Others the
rs Of this element, and were
a upon as the chief exponeuts
ideas. They both knew that
were so regarded. Fleming's SUI
career as Judge of an immense
ar district during the widest
nj of the frontier, and his subse-
record as n state senator,
cd him out fora chieftalncy. Mr.
IN with the splendidly handled
Isrv of THE GAZETTE, and hi.
Tremendous influence, leaguet
us aod was accorded
n place. Both of these gentlemen
srh interviews with metropolitan
nals declared for and vindicatec
doctrines. So far as | know, nei
of them arrogated any Leadership
imself. but each of them well knew
both the free-grass and lease men
krded them ~ the head and from
m movement. When the bugl
- the charge, you could not find eli
~ of them with a search warrant
IN had column which, well de
we'd. would have shattered the bal
Hons of the lease. but when both q
chieftans, who had stood in tn
bt of our council fires-who ha
ted us on the back and said, &c
boys,'-suddenly y and unez
tedly and without explanation di'
beared, all efforts to rally prove
lie. The free-grass men said 1t wa
back down; go did the lease mel
too, they played 1t pitilessly an
all it was worth. A panic seize
men. First. the unrestricted de
ltes, susceptible of conviction eith'
", went over to the enemy; nel
wavering men in our own rant
BIKE; general stampede FOLLOWED
was an utter rout. Only very te
US had gall enough to vote again
platform. That is the delicate su
loperation whereby the baekbon
axtracted from the movements,
Vow. If either of these distinguish
btlemen had written or teleeraphe
That they still stood with us, an
suggested some one to lead tie
umn or some plan Of actio
result would have been N1del
erent. But they did neither, an
were armed with no eNplan0tio
erewith to answer the carping
4 jeers of triumphant opposite
u was not acquainted with mere,
Frowfully and indeed 40 we kno
full Significance of the word crnS
Rw, do not place sinister 20
pction upon the very e0nspicDo
AlQence of either of these gentlene
imply say 1t was disastrous. Sor
pepPle have such peculiar notions til
1ney will not accept private busine
- nn excuse. If these gent enen ha
lvate business they have a right
yei t all the attention they m
em proper, but at the same til
fy should not accept the leadersl
movement fni then, IN au ,
me hour, 81, rre,,sdelce 10 priv.
biness over the performance of
by which had been intruated
I'm by noble and couiidiDg peof
DO had made both of them wi
BY are. l am willing ~ supp
ht both Of them being =. t at
me time was the merest c ,iden
neither or lot they saved Iilemsel
pm the pangs and odium Of del
their absence at II IL unh n
ncture matters not. The burt
upon those who did not hurt tn,
Ives in the estimation Of Tie
their unavoidable misfortune or
cir after conduct in the convent
nt by the calamitous ending of
ans we We're subjected TO "a degre
lief and humiliation, which
lould not have been made to b
e were not responsible for the de
pm or absence OF Others, and at
me time We were made to feel
uel modification of defeat and III
the triumphant shouts of the lie
zen. 1t is due to us to have the
eof our support TO arrive explain
ne News seems very exuitant. l
pt see with what degree If con
ncy you laugh At US about our q
an elaborate dish OF the article
yer served, surely the News has
the shape Of Irelnnd's nominal
ertainly, we were rat down on,
e are not alone. !.
What effect will the convent
ction have on your mpyemenG
MY dear sir, the movement Will
liter. OF course, the moral efiet
or defeat Is Tremendous, but IN
ineteenth legislature we hope 10
lch showing as will give US r
We will not despair. You have u
I'D free grass IL dead II is
Is strength In the Northwest u
haken--because we Were showed
er In the convention tiie great Do'
he people are not affected. Inc
lot an rran DIR IN air npit tpuS at u