The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-01-21
WEEKLY STATESMAN.
rnG srocKMENs' PLATFORM.

rs reported by Tue cOluHltaee " "HOii
was referred the whole question of leased
lands
The resolutions are published elsewhere
in the regular proceedings of the con
veutiou.
u was apparent that tho convention
planted itself firmly on the construction
Of the law passed by the Legislature, au
thorizing the establishment of the land
board, and directing that board to lease
lands 40 the minimum price of four cents
an acre
Il was evidently the unanimous opinion
OF the members Of the convention that
tee land board vas directed by that act
10 lease lands d four cents an acre, and
all the subsequent trouble on that point
arose from what the resolutions
termed the Facilitating policy of
the land board IN not accepting all bids
made AZ four cents an acre
II is a question that admits of cOnstruc-
tom whether or not the act limiting the
authority Of the land board to the mini
mum price Of four ceuts an acre, fixed
definitely the price at that minimum fig
ure, but it was very evident that the cattle
men Of the state regarded the law as fix
ing the lease If land at that minimum
price, and in The light of subsequent
events it is Obvious that the land board
AZ least errDd IN not fixing the lease of
land at the price designated by the legis-
lature.
I, WIS the unanimous sentiment of the
convention that IL the land board had fix
cd upon that price at first, that at least a
million OF dollars annually would have
been saved 10 the school fund of the state
Whatever may be thought as to the con
struction of the law, there can be no
doubt that the convention was right in
oondemning the policy of the land board
ON this subject as "vacillating."
The only issues made in the convention
were moro verbal than touching the sub
ject matter under discussion.
Mr. Simpson took the ground that
"usurpers' was mott proper title to apply
20 stockmen who held land in North Tex
as, and who had complied with the law
and offered -four cents per acre; and some
verbal changes we're made in Difference to
the opinions OF the stockmen of Mort h
Texas, aud Que Of the resolutions was ex-
Plunged with tho same view.
There was some expression of ridicule
OF the inability 10 execute the law, but the
convention seemed to think otherwise,
and embodied plank in their recon-
mendations, 20 the effect that if Justice
could not be obtained in one county, a
change of venue should be taken to an
other county whore the laws could be exc
cutod by tho civil authorities
In this the convention was also
right. If the laws are
not impeded in any county, there
viii be no necessity 70, change of venue,
bat il the laws IRE impeded, civil juris-
diction ought to be guaranteed by
change of venue to another county. 1t is
useless TO attempt to conceal the fact
that there are counties whose organization
was too much under the influence of free
grass men, that it is impossible to obtain
full and adequate justice against them. 1t
is well ksOwh that actual settlers or small
land holders have been intimidated and
driven oil by the more powerful cattle
berOns and the convention acted wisely
and magnanimously in their treatment of
this whole question, even going so far as
90 recommend the sale of land to Nctua
settlers and provision for their protec-
ton in the enjoyment Of the same
Perhaps the positive position taken on
this sub Jet by the cattlemen in conven-
ton will be regarded with some astonish-
nent, but il must be taken into considera-
tiou tina north Texas had hardly any repre-
sentation, in numbers, in the convention;
hNMtH'+F tN'AN NNAN HNNNldl NNONh men
present, who resided in south Texas, but
held large quantities of leased land in the
Panhandle.
Il is due to the latter to say that they
were IA full accord with the feelings and
opinions OF the convention on this sub
iect and Il may be nothing more than a
surmise, whom the intimation is made that
if a FUN representation of northern Texas
had been present, that the result would
have been different.
The spirit Of fairness in encouraging a
kind OF INNING ion, here tofore thought
prejudicil 90 the interest of cattle |
borons deserves he highest appreciation
and applause Of the people of the state.
While Che convention condemned the
"yacillating policy" of the land board
and very justly TOO, after the adoption
Of the resolutions yesterday, the cattle
men of the state can no longer be con
sdered rs grs ring monopoly unwilling
that the agricultural interests of the state |
,hould receive due consideration and ia .
play.
They haze distinctly declared their dis
,nprobetiou of all unlawful holdings