Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-26
rwo KLNpb oF FREE. qRASs:

| It is claimed that Gen. Lawrence sui
liyan Ross is the free-grass candidate for
governor, and he seems TO have attracted
some support from the West on that is
sue. II Is not to be denied that Gen.
Ross has the right to announce himself q
convert to any political idea, even on the
verge OF gubematorial canvass, but
TRE GAZETTE, as the organ Of the actual
settler cause, feels 1t incumbent on Itself
to reclaim the general from certain here
sizes which are Inconsistent with genuine
free. grass doctrine,
The discussion Of the school land ques-
ton long ago brought out the fact that
there are two kinds Of free grass FREQ
grass for the few and free grass for the
many. One is the result Of the system of
herding, rigid line-riding and Illegal fenc-
ing, which was introduced into the West
by the cattle corporatlonsandla large cattle
owners; It's end is that the bullionaire's
cattle fatten on so-called public COM
mon, where the settlers COW is not per-
mitted to Craze. Free grass for all
can only be attained by the destruction
Of this system, which is the most
odious form of monopoly existing in the
state to-day, Haunting it's Chinese wall Of
Illegal fences In the face of settlement
and proclaiming the right of dozen in
dlyiduals to occupy exclusively the broad |
domain of the school fund without money
and without price.
Law has been battling with this monop-
oily for years. The Eighteenth legsla-
ture, at an expense Of $4,000 on a spe-
cial session, passed an act for the punish
ment Of unlawful Enclosure, and 1t has
been on the statute books two years
without causing the removal of single
panel Of Illegal fence. The inability of
The ordinary agencies OF justice to reach
.bese powerful offenders has time after
line been demonstrated. The only hope
II relief for the West Is the installation
II governor, with the courage to fol-
ow up his official vows and cause
he laws to be faithfully executed.
the local authorities are not
trong enough to enforce them,
hat duty should be delegated to the re-
erve constabulary of the state, and in
given to hew down, after due
Warming, every foet of illegal fencing
round the school lands mere warn
ne will be sufficient. Let the barons
understand that governor has been
hosen who proposes at any hazard to en-
orce the law, and they viii speedily
ield to It's DEGREES.
Gen. Ross has announced from the ,
lump policy which, If carried out, will :
FAKE the law against the Illegal Enclosure /
the school lands inopere We, and ena. |
le the cattle barons to pc letuate mo- :
opoly which has become so odious to ,
no people VI the state, ard a dangerous 1
lenace to its interests. As if any. :
'us TO parade his devotion to their
ause, the general declares that
nc destruction by regularly constituted !
hicers OF the state of illegal fences of the :
arons would be fragrant violation OF
constitutional rights. In return for this
ctlve championship of special interest.
en- Ross finds at his command all the
Ihnences of the powerful land and cattle
operations of the West. TuE GAZETTE s.
sists that they do not represent its true n
terests. What the West wants to &C. o
'mpllsh its full development, Is not v
&c grass exclusively for the bulllonalres a
Gen. Ross seems to advocate, but free. f
'ass In It's truest sense, which is free. g
Ass for all. y
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