Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-04
Views Of a Prominent Candidate for
Governor Upon the Leading
Issues Of the Day,
A Lease System by Which the State Can
Realize a Revenue aud Also Pro-
teet the Actual Settler.
No Convict Labor outside rrisone-Pr
i,Ion, Knights Of Labor. Parmera'
Alliance In Politics.
cnnc.nonaonee 81 the ea.elle.

AUSTIN, Tx, rep. Z.--lht tOlloWlnt
IA an interview had with Comptroller
Swain to-day;
Reporters The people are anxious e
have candidates 10 define their views upor
issues OF Importance, and as you ar,
recognized az prominent candidate foi
governor THIS GAZETTE would like your
views on few questions?
Col Swain, | know Of no reason why
should NOT answer your questions.
Reporter: win your name 30 before
the Democratic convention for nomlna-
tionf
Col Swain presume Il Will.
Reporter; VIII yon state specifically
What Ia your opinion should be the land
policy adopted by the next leglslaturef
Col swain. | will. The policy that
the Democratic party Endorsed AZ It's last
state convention Is the policy would
specify as the proper one to be adopted
by the Twentieth legislature. That
policy Is 10 lease the school lands
in such manner az not TO Interfere with
the settlement Of the country unfoFtn-
nately, the system Of land laws has been
so defective that the agency established
by tho legislature has been unable 20 car
~ Into full and effective operation the
policy that the party indorsed When
accepted the nomination made by the lato
state convention fully approved its plat
form. understand that platform, as
10 the public school lands, adopted the
wise policy OF leasing the lands and sell
ing at the same time 20 actual settlers
both the leased land and the lands
that were not leased. My expert
ence az member of the state land
board since that time has only con-
armed the opinion then entertained.
But that, mind you, is only an opinion as
20 the policy that shOnld govern, and does
not Include the enactments which we were
expected to execute In order TO carry out
the policy. believe yet the school lands
can be leased In such manner az 10 real
We large revenue, while at the same
time they may be sold 20 actual settlers
aud the country developed Arrange
ments are now in operation TO classify
these lands, and when that is done II will
20 long way towards solution OF the
question. The want OF classification has
greatly embarrassed the land board In its
operation,
Reporter BY what system can the
state realize a revenue from these lands
and at the same time protect The actual
settler against the evils OF land mOnop-
olyS
Col. Swain; would suggest that the
legislature place these lands IN the con-
troll OF a bonded officer; for instance,
commissioner OF school lands or under
the control OF the general land office, and
that the powers and duties OF this officer
10 respect TO these lands be strictly de-
fnod, but that within the scope OF the
powers conferred upon him his authority
should be absolute. | would advise also
that the legislature authoritatiyely declare
these lands shall not be trespassed upon;
that the state official In charge OF them
nave possession OF them, aud that the
governor OF tho state shall, at the request
OF this otllcial remove trespassers from
them and distractions that trespassers
may place upon them. This, | believe, is
oven now within the power OF the soyer-
eighty Of the people of Texas who own
these lands or hold them In trust for
their children, aud as In the case of an
individual land owner no may use such
force and power at his command as may
90 necessary TO remove distractions.
The state has the same right at least
as private person TO take posses
sion through Its chief agent, of
any property the state owns, and TO re-
move omitany fence OF other obstruction
which may be found upon II. Now, this
IS no new notion, as you know. adyo-
Gated Just such action not long since, In
order TO give effect to the land laws now
10 force, aud realize revenue from that
source, Unless this right, which exists
without any declaration of II, Is exercised
there Is mother revenue To be expected,
nor can we protect the actual settler
from the evils OF land monopoly. But |
would put an end to all doubt and eva
sion by advising Legislative enactment
which should clearly establish the doc
lrlno that the sovereign people OF this
state must be protected by the strong arm
OF the government In the fun possession
OF their property against the un-
lawful assumption of the veal
thy and the poor alike.
I would advise a system OF control OF the
lands that would encourage the farmer to
enter upon them and cultivate them. II
would also offer such reasonable Induce
ments To the stockmap TO lease them that
such as were not desired for the settler
would yield revenue for the schools.
AZ yon are aware, have contended that
the chief authority should step In and 70.
moyo the fences from the lands not leased,
but have not failed To- observe that
under The constitution given the present
enactment the lessee Ii subject TO great
annoyance add actual loss from trespass
ny pretended actual settlers AS you are
aware, She present law authorizes an |
actual settler 70 purchase one or more !
sections, even in lease, without condi- |
tons other than before he takes
possession he should build and |
fence, SO II he build cabin 1
aud fence it in he has substantially COM
Piled with the law as TO building and /
fencing. Here is pasture leased, paid I
for aud fenced by the lessee, winter
range for his cattle provided, and here
comes rowing stookman claiming to be
an actual settler-taking the prescribed /
oath--buys section IN the heart OF the
lessee's pasture, pays his tlrst payment OF
$40, and turns loose any number OF stock
upon the grass that the lessee has paid /
Tor This, sir, Is no protection TO the
stockman who leases, would remedy |
This evil by advising the recognition OF
the rights Of both the stockman and the
ioan with the hoe. would defne spocif-
ically the right Of each, how much fenc-
ing the settler should be required to put
upon his land, and how many head OF /
cattle or horses he could turn loose