Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-19
W. ]. SWAIN.
His Speech Delivered at Alexander
Yesterday--His Position IN the
Canvass Defined.
Ross Failure 10 Declare In Favor OF
Same state Policy At Sulphur
Springs AIladed To.
Tno Record OF Ross Compared with hi'
own Difference IN Their Views on
tho Questions of tho Day.


ALEXANDER lEAsg way ~ h'N>"'t'-N'
had q grand barbecue and picnic to-day
Judge J. II. Jackson, state lecturer OF the
Knights Of Labor, addressed the people
and was then followed by Col. W. l.. Nc
Gaughey, our representative. Col. w. j
Swain arrived on the noon train, ant
after dinner made two hours speech u
an audience Of 5000 people. His speech was
listened to with deep interest, and his
views were generally Endorsed by our
people. He closed with beautiful trlb.
ute 70 the manhood and patriotism OF the
people, and expressed confidence In their
ability to sustain a local sell-goyernment.
Afcr opening the subject Of the guber-
Material canvass he alluded To the speech
OF Gen. Ross at Sulphur Springs, and
said he was surprised that, as q candi-
date for governor he did not discuss and
declare in favor OF some slate policy 70
be pursued by him In case Of his election.
But instead the general has assumed the
garb Of a ward politician, and has opened
old issues that have passed eleven years.
That he had told how he, with others OF
his associates In the constitutional con-
vention In 1875, set aside 100000 acres
OF the public domain IN one body for
the purpose OF building Il
Ross had not even tried to provide that
the land should be sold In small lots.
The only restriction sought TO be placed
upon II was that 1t should not be placed
upon the market under ten years. Swain
contended that II 1t was wrong to sell
100000 acres In one body the CONVEX
ton was the place to check II. But Gen
Ross did not tell his hearers that he had
voted n smoke-house and corn-crib tax
upon all the farmers of the state, which
cost the people $50, 900 to repeal. That
he aud his associates In that convention
authorized the general incorporation act
by Which the foreign and domestic cor
porations were Incorporated and have
taken possession Of the Panhandle to the
great detriment and annoyance OF the
actual settler, who desires to find home
in the West.
Answering Gen. Ross question as to
what part he (Swaln) took IN the senate
upon the capitol-land question, Col.
swain said that he had voted 10 sell In
small quantities, but failing In that IT was
ilnelly agreed that capitol board be es-
tablshed, consisting OF the five elective
officers, with Gov. o. NJ Roberts as
chairman, and that board was authorized
to utilize the land TO the best adyan-
direct. That that board made the contract
for the disposition of the land and the
building OF the capitol before he came
into Office. Col. Swan said that he should
not have alluded to these things, II Gen
Ross had not mentioned them. That the
questions involved had been discussed In
the press Of the state and he presumed
every intelligent reader understood them
Col. Swain said that he was well salts.
fled With his record on these questions
and especially the vote for a change In
the material from limestone to granite
That his vote on the Indiana limestone
propositlonandt those OF his two associates,
Walsh and Templeton, had been the
means OF securing the change TO granite,
OF which all the people In Texas should
be proud, He said that Gen. Ross had
shown as much ignorance when he said
the change would be million dollars adj
vantage TO the contractor, as he did when
he said that the new capitol would cost
only one and Il half million dollars; that
the best OF our architects Ind figured the
cost OF the bulldog to be near four mil
lions OF money, and that the cost In
granite over limestone would be over six
hundred thousand dollars. Regarding the
possession OF the capitol lands, Gov.
Roberts had long ago decided that the
contractor was entitled TO possession,
Holding under contract for purchase,
they were liable for taxes ON the same, as
well MS under lease of threeyears The
lands were leased az G cents per acre. and
500, 900 bond given to secure the pay
ment In case OF failure In the contract
The trade was a good one, and the inter-
est Of the state fully guarded, Referring
TO Gen, Ross allusiOn TO the use of the
state troops to suppress lawlcss-
ness and crime, Col. Swain
said that he had repeatedly declared that
II necessary he would use such force, and
any other at his command to enforce
obedience to law. That he would uphold
the constitution in all its meaning, and
that so FAR az he could do II would make
every man, woman and child In Texas
ieel entirely secure In both life and prom.
erB That the frontier battalion had
been used To arrest fonce-cutters and they
mad been used to arrest strikers, and he
could not see why they could not be
properly employed 10 prevent the illegal
fencing in the Panhandle. That some OF
that force was now every day going
over the state electloneering against him
for governor,
Col. Swain paid glowing tribute to
the law'abiding people of the state, and
said they paid taxes 20 support this bat.
TALON, and expected at least some pro-
lection at their hands, lie said Ross was
affected with constitutional qualms and
had become bald from superior
knowledge OF the constitution. That n
Ross was governor the law would have to
enforce itself, aud from recent demon.
STATIONS here, Texas would soon be in a
bad way He said that Ross had not as.
sumed 20 tell the people what he
would do II governor; he had only said
what no would not do. That he would
not disturb the cattle barons who have
the school lands fenced; that he would
not advocate the lease lazy, ard the re-
suit will be that the people OF Texas have
to foot the bills in the way OF taxes TO
keep up the schools.
Col Swain said he was In favor OF the
lease law, but he did not want any land
board a well-regulated lease law with
all the lands belonging 10 trust funds
subject to sale TO actual settlers alone on
long time and at low rate of interest
Referring to Gen. Ross claim, that |
10 sell would secure greater revenue TO |
all funds, Col, Swain showed that un-
NaNt Haa - ~ n