Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-11
A WHAT is IT.
A Curious Political Find by an Intclli-
gent Deliver Into the Debris OF
the Land Board.
can Independent Lend Department." OF
which walAh wnl Decline TO no
tho Head Of. OF Cauras,

Houston Post
There has been some talk about the
Organization Of an independent land de-
partment TO have exclusive charge OF the
state school, university and asylum lands,
this department to be entirely distinct
from the general land Office Its adyo-
Gates have named Commissioner Walsh
for the head OF the proposed department
Ia fact, the gentleman has already been
written TO on the subject by quite num-
Der Of prominent gentlemen, including
several members of the legislature, In
which they solicited his Views as TO the
wisdom OF the plan as we'll as some ex-
preston from himself as 70 whether or
not no would agree 20 accept the place
Capt Walsh approves the scheme--in
fact, he proposed the same thing several
years ago--but has written 10 several q
his correspondents stating that he would
not, under any circumstances, consent TO
serve the state In the capacity named, HIS
reasons for this decided negative are that
his defeat at the Galveston convention,
however that defeat may have been ac-
compllshed, must be accepted by himself
at least as a population OF his land policy
by the people of Texas, lie urges that he
lpurposely made IA issue OF his land
policy, aud, having distiuctiyely gone be-
fore the people upon IT, his defeat was, so
far as he Is concerned, a settlement OF the
issue and he must in all things abide the
result,
Under these circumstances, and taking
the view he does Of the matter, Capt,
Walsh could not consistently with his
ideas OF representative government, ac-
: cept any position connected with the land
system OF the state. 1t ia very probable
that great many do not share Capt,
| Walsh's Ideas In this regard, but that
! fact will have not the slightest influence
! in changing his determination, and know.
| ing him as It does, tho Post
regards all talk OF school land
department with Walsh az us head
az wasted breath. No doubt an effort
will be made during the coming legisla-
| ture to win his acceptance Of the position,
but IL will fail, and the Post thinks II
ought TO fail. Capt. Walsh should refuse
10 accept any stub 10 whale" propoel-
| tlon. His pride as a man and his duty to
his friends forbid ". II the people per.
nit machine politicians aud schemng
manipulators In mother earth 20 slaugh-
Ter faithful public official, simply be-
cause he had dared to do his duty, they
| should not be allowed TO utilize his brain
and ability In u subordinate capacity.
| But 10 Is unnecessary 10 talk Of such u
thing. Walsh VIII not accept the post
! ton. He would not be "B II Walsh" II
he did, aud those who know him AZ all
know this. But VIII the school land dc.
partment be ostablishedP Capt Walsh
proposed the plan several years ago, and
bill was introduced IN the Eighteenth
legislature by MIR. Robertson Of william.
son county, which was understood 10
embody the commissioner ideas upon
the subject. This bill was sidetracked
at the time through being subor-
dinated TO the lease law and free gr iss
eight II the right man can be found for
It's head It win be a wise plan, but with
out such man II might prove risky
experiment. Land matters are 10 sucn
condition at preBent--the settled policy
Of the state having been, to some extent,
unsettled by the defeat Of Walshthat q
radical departure, such as the one pro,
posed, must necessarily be hedged around
with many uncertainties and dangers
But perhaps the man wanted may be
found. Who knows2