The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-08-29
4 SCATHING REVIEW.
THE GREER COUNTY lNloulTlEs.
The Outrages Perpetrated on Texas and
Our School Lands, and on Old Vet
erans-The Franklyn Land
CoAPany-Law Set at De-
fiancs by the Baroas.


State and to the ''Disnheritet
Knight" is from the pen of one of til,
very best citizens Of Texas, and is ad
dressed to the News, and viii appea
simultaneously with this:
AUSTIN, Aug. 81, 1SS5.--In your is
sue of the 22d instant you publish
communication over the signature o
"Disinherited Knight" In your edi
torial comments you say: "The lane
board is criticised at some length in
communication published elsewhere
Ihe author IS State senator, anC
understands thoroughly what he /.
driving at. He reviews incisivelv tn,
acts of the land board, and its author
lty under the law by which 1t wa,
created. Our correspondent, bv cita
tlon and argument from the record
SO Ems to provo pretty cOnclusiy ely
that the land board has exceeded iii
legal authority--in short, committed
usurpation. He calls attention in par
ticular to the leasing of Greer county
public lands, when the board was only
given power by tho Legislature *
lease school, university ana asylum
Iands. He takes pleasure in placing
the Inconsistencies of the boards act
ions in front OF each ether and com
pairing them in the light Of events. He
is not very tender in his references
and the sort Of Mosaic record he makes
up for Governor Ireland will scarcely
furnish q useful campaign 00cument
for candidate for tho United States
Senate"
You make other remarks IT, show
that you fully endorse every word Ut
tered by the "Disinherited Knight
and continue your editorial as follows:
"Governor Ireland receives tho Sc
Verest handling from the member of
the Legislative branch OF the govern
ment who discourses largely in The
columns Of the News this morning.
The same columns, however, arc open
70 the governor or any other member
of the board if he desires to 'get back
at She 'Disinherited Knight"
Now, Mr.. Editor, l am not the gov
ernor, nor am l member OF the land
board, but as my fellow-veteran and
myself who followed the lead of the
iuustrious Houston in achieving tho
independence of Texas, including
Greer county, have suffered more than
tho governor or land board, l feel de-
sirous, If | can, to "get back" at the
"Disinherited Knight" and the
wealthy cattle company that employs
him. /, therefore, respectfully request
that you will transfer the space to me,
as | feel perfectly satisfied from NV
knowledge of the men, that neither
one Of them will ever think of using 1t.
Taxing it for granted that you Will
give me the space | will proceed and
be as concise as possible. l will not
presume to criticise the beautiful and
poetic Language Of tho "Disinherited
Knight" as portions of il seem to suit
my side OF the question better than his.
L VIII not undertake to go over his
Criticisms OF Governor Ireland's "Mo.
sale record" but will rely on my CO.
pious extracts from your editorial
given at the commencement of this
paper for the charge brought against
the land board. His language
is about as sarcastic and full
OF ridicu.e and venom rs is often pub
nshed in the newspapers. And what
does 1t all amount to? Simply 20 o
confirmation or the fact that the "Dis-
inherited Knight" is not a bosom
friend of Governor Ireland, and in all
probability will not vote for him for
United States senator. In all OF hia
beautiful balderdash, no simply shows
that he differs with the land board in
its construction Of the different land
laws. lie seeks to ridicule the gov
ernor by giving extracts of his writ.
inga, made at different times, which
are dramatically opposite in senti-
ment. What do these amount tor
Simply that lawyers disagree, and
tina. times and events are changing;
and what may appear 20 DO right 10.
day may be wrong tomorrow. Per
haps If tho "Knight" was 8 member
of the land board, acting under tho
sanctity OF the oath OF
office, no might view matters
from a different standpoint, and agree
fully with the land board. John Ire.
land, governor; w. j. Swain, comp
troller; L. II. Lubbock, treasurer; w.
q. Walsh, commissioner.general land
Office; John ID. Temploton, attorney
general, comprise the land board.
They have all been elected by over
whelming majOrities for their two
terms, and some of thom for longer
periods.
For moral virtue and integrity thoy
are not exceeded In the State. They
are all qualified for the offices they
fill, and each one is ambitious OF leLV-
ing clean, clear record behind him.
/ feel perfectly satisfied that st least
nine-tenths OF the people of Texas are
fully convinced that the best interests
OF the State are safe in their hands,
the Galveston News" and the "Dis-
Inherited knighW included. Who is
tho ''Dlslnherited Knight" and what
In the cause ofhis attack on the land
board for
LEASING LANDS IN GREER COUNTY?
You will remember that in 1881 the
State authorized the issue of @ /, $50 acre
land certeriicate TO each or the sur
ViVing veterans and windows OF veter.
ans who served as much rs three
months between the first of October,
1885, and 3lst OF December, 1886. AS
tho public lands had become very
scarce, the veterans were compelled
TO sell their certificates ut whatever
they could get, not exceeding half the
Value, many Of them realizing not ex.
ceeding Sl75 10 500. Under these cir
cumstances | conceived the idea OF
getting as many of the veterans as
possible TO Join mo In locating our GER
tiiic6tes In Greer county, which was
also claimed by the United States.
acc ordingly Issued circular pro-
posing TO each veteran 70 pay all ex.
ponses OF acquiring title for one-hali
the land. By making advances to the
most INDECENT, | succeeded in obtain
county, making my locations, made
the acquaintance OF Colonel b. b.
Groom,of Kentucky, who was general
manager OF the Franklyn Land aud
Cattle company, of Now York. He
treated me very kindly, giving me the
best he had TO eat, and forcing me e
occupy his bed. He was engaged In 70
ceiving, marking and brandinl
a largo herd OF cattle, estimated a
10000, which he had recent,
purchased OF lizard & Harrell. i gavt
him my pamphlet containing tht
proofs / had collected concerning tn
TITLE OF TEXAS TO GREER COUNTY,
which he read carefully and expressed
the opinion that the United States die
not have tho shadow of a claim. Ill
made not the slightest objection TO IN,
locating his beautiful iranoh," and
promised that after / obtained m,
patents, II he wished TO purchase, b
should have tho preference over a