The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-06-10
THEY MET.
GEN. ROSS DEMOLISHED BY
COLONEL SWAIN AT
CAMERON.
SWANS POPULARITY EVINCED
BY THE PEOPLE IN NAfI-
Gus WAYS.
Special Telegram to the Statesman.

Special Telegram to the Statesman.
C,vgnoy. June 5.-The weather to-day mas been
fair INT cool and it could not have behaved In d
manner that would have mad contributed more TO-
wards making the day more prOpltlous LOT the oc
ra-ion of the meeting for the first time OF Colonel
swain and General Ross in JOINT debate during
their canvass for the office Ot governor. large
crowd from over the county we're present, ana al,
though there was frequently to be found an olc
rumrade in arms who was over Jealous
in throwing up his hat and following
nUurrah for K ,ss.'' before the speaking, there
we're 10 he found men by the nuInOers VINO mad be.
come firm and solid supporters OF the cause OF
COMPTROLLER swain after the addresses mad been
made. ...,. . =,
WAS met at the depot by committee or Ross sup
porters Col. swain reached here this morning
about y o'clock, he having remained last nlgnt III
Rockdale, where he addressed fair audience.
Speeches were made this morning by rivals
for the Office of senator from this, the Fourteenth
district hon. Scott FIELDS, OF Robertson county,
and Hon DR.. CadIll, of BraZos county
All O'clOcK sharp the court house was PACKED
to its Utmost capacity OF eager anxious people, 10
hear and see the Two distinguished gentlemen VINO
were to measure swords in Il conflict Tor their sui
frapps for the highest office within their gift \
few minutes after /, Hon L. ;. Henderson stepped
upon the speakers stand with Col. swain, and
broke the suspense by introducing MN TO the
house. "
Col. Swain was greeted with tremendous APP
paIse and as soon the noise had subsidized sufti-
ciently, In a calm, clear voice he said:
IFeIlow citizens, ladies and gentlemen:-1Ou
have assembled here to-day for the first time in
twenty five years, for the purpose OF listening to
iOnt-debate between the candidates for governor,
and as a considerable amount OF our ume and pa
thence will he consumed by my opponent as well as
myself will proceed to present to YOU my views
upon the questions of vital interest.
"The land question is the question OF more mo-
ment at present than any other affecting the peo-
pie and place myself now upon nv record of the
favor of the lease system, with some amendments
and mOdncatiOns.
lie then, at length, in a comprehensive argu-
ment discussed this great question, al his views
upon the matter of the land board. Colonel
Swain was decidedly in favor OF aDolishing 1t, but
said he did not stand exactly upon the platform
that his opponent occupied. Ills opponent wanted
To abolish the land board, the lease law, and i'll
fact the whole thing, but he was not so
sweeping. lie was for tue lease law, because the
lease law was for the people, and when he could
draw upon his powers OF imagination shfhciently
to imagine General Ross governor, lie would con
ceiye a high wall drawn around the state s public
domain, and Us the man of the hue with his family
should come to that wall and knock tor
admitance for the purpose of set
ting home, General Ross, armed
battaons, would drive him back. lie was opposed
to the policy that would turn over any part of this
country to the cattlemen to the detrlment OF the
actnal settlers.
To the question propO lnded to Gen Ross
General, can you show me anywhere IN the en-
unciation of your platform where you would re-
strict the sales of the public lands to GAO acre
tracts Y'-the answer came:
"Did you show 1t in any OF your enunciations:
"Yes, sir; yes, sir; replied the colouel, to which
t lere was uproariOus applause.
Upon the convict system, Col. Swain favored the
confinement OF the CUnVlCt5 Wltnln tile walls as
soon as practicable.
Col. Swain, after speaking two hours, took his
seat amid the applause OF his admirers.
Alter music from the band, Gen. Ross was intro
duCed, ana said:
Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen: | have
been indulging to-day in pleasant reColections of
scenes and incidents in this beautiful town in the
days of my boyhood, before civilization had crowd
ed out the savages and the coyotes, and would
that could devote a portion of my time i'll refer
ring to some of them, but must devote my time
to the issues involved in this canvass. for the Office
of governor, between Col. Swain aud myself.
After the general had spun an anecdote or two,
and declared himself upon the question of railroad
legi laton, which was substantially the same as
that of Col. SWANS, he turned his battery upon
Col SWANS record in regard to the prohibition
question. He accused his opponent OF incOnsist-
ency, stating that he had canvassed an voted for
the local option law in Fannin county, but that he
took double summersault to the other side, r.
Gently, for popularity sake.
Gen. Ross declared, in no uncertain language,
that he was in favor of the land lease policy, and
to fortify himself upon that question
by stating, that when the lease law section was in
trOduced AS part of the constitution, at the con
convention he was one of the four that
voted for the clause. lie said he was simply OPP
posed to the land board and the management of the
lands. That was all. He denied the charge of
Col. Swain that he was a free grass man.
Gen. Ross then closed, and Col swain, in his re-
jonder occupied only few minutes. The colonel,
In reference to the charge of inconsistency upon
the prohibition question, stated he voted for local
option in Fannin county as an experiment, and
that since he had seen it tried he was sa listed that
it was impracticable, and was therefore opposed to
1t, but that he believed the measure was demo-
cratic, and if the people declared he wanted them
TO try it, and continued: "Ladies | have never
in my life made whisky speech, and with Gods
help never will"
This brought forth Hproarious and prolonged APP
pauss. The colonel then closed his remarks amid
the cheering of all.