Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-06-12
i SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
a LIBERAL TEXAN.
Attorney General Hogg on Railroads and
the Abuse of Land Monopoly.

A LIBERAL TEXAN.
Acknowledgement Hogg on Railroads and
the Abuse of Land Monopoly.
Attorney Hogg, of Texas
| who is running as Democratic candidate
for Governor, outlined his views on
various public questions in a recent ad-
dress. He declared himself in favor OF
State regulation of railways, and show
cd the analogy of railways to toll roads,
whore private corporation maintains
the roadbed and charges sum fixed by
law to all persons travelling over the
same.
Beginning with common earth roads,
graded and levcled, public highways
changed not in principle, but in condi-
ton and methods of use and enjoyment
Passing through many transmutations,
f:om the plain dirt road to the gravel
way. from the latter to the horSe-car
line, and from that to the steam rail-
way, the public highway developed. as
it is now, into the greatest civlllzer
known to civilization. indispensable to
commerce and to the wants Of the pub
lie, has never escaped the control of the
power that gave it life, SO long as they
were Simply earth or turnpike roads
but little or no question was raised as
to the right of the Government to con-
troll or regulate them, but since they
have become laid with post-oah slccpers
and steel rails, ballaSted with sea shells,
equipped with fine coaches propelled by
steam engines and controlled by mag
mates, pools and combines they arc de-
faint of law and revolt at control in all
respect They are now called ''private
enterprises"
Quite as striking was what Attorney
General IIogg said on the land question.
He spoke thus:
Our constitution further provides that,
"Perpetuities and monopolics are con-
trary to the genius of free government
and shall never be allowed" This pro-
vision was almost at corporate power in
all respects, but especially at their own
ership of lands. Under our present laws
land corporations are not prohibited,
nor are they expressly admitted; though
they are operating in our State by
kind of license and the law of comfy to
an alarming extent. They control and
own about one-fourth of all the lands
within the State. When title vests in
them, as they live on forever. it be-
comes perpetuity. In this way the
evils of the English laws of p-smogeni-
turc and entailment SO distasteful to
Americans will be surpassed By corpo-
rate estates The control of the prop
erty in large tracts is equivalent to a
monopoly. Many of them each own and
now have exclusive possession and en-
joyment of over a million acres of land
in one body. Go into the far West
through some of the richest counties of
our State and you will find great pas
lures and corporate estates wired in and
controlled exclusively from settlement;
their management committed to agents;
their titles in aliens, English lords, syn
dictates and corporations. The like has
never been known to any country that
guarded we'll it's institutions with re-
spect to the rights, liberties and privi-
leges OF the free people that compose it.
These large Estates control led now for
pastoral purposes, will soon be in de-
mand for settlement. AS time goes on,
within few years, as the demand for
homes becomes stronger. these prfncely
estates will be cut up into small farms
and rented or leased and operated by
foreign peasantry, uncongenial to our
people and under the absolute control
of men who do not understand or respect
the principles of our government In
time they will become voters, and cast
their ballots as free men according to
the will of their landlords and rulers.
In this way the time is not far distant
in Texas, if this condition of affairs
should be permitted to continue, when
our people will be met in their councils
by representatives of English aristocracy
elected by their serfs and poems.
While we have the powerin the legiti
mate exercise of our rights as citizens,
it is well not to overlook matters Of such |
serious Importance and threatening
danger to the welfare of ourselves and |
our posterity. This is country, not of
landed monopolies and estates in per-
petuity created and run for serfs and |
slaves, but is one of freemen that should |
be controlled in all things by and for |
them. AS tho title of land is concen- |
trated into the ownership of the saw, in |
that proportion patriotism is destroyed. |
The greater the number of homes, the |
larger the number of patriots. Deprive |
our people of lands and they become !
tenants subject to the will of those who |
own their homes. In time they grow
poor, diseased. degenerate and servile.
When that period is reached the under
lying principles of cur Government will
be only known by the blotched leaTes ot
history: and the thoughtless, inditfer-
ent people of to-day will be condemned
by the mourning millions who bear their
names. Cautiously observing vested
rights and principles of justice, if am
elected your Governor, l shall favor and
insist upon the passage of laws that will
prohibit the further operation of land
and to limit the tenure of
title in those now owning lands within
this State. Within a limited period of
years they can sell their lands, receive
their money for them and go elsewhere
if they choose to hold estates in per-
petuity. Such laws will not interfere
with the subdivision and sale of lands
by the corporations now in existence;
nor with the ownership of such real
estate as is necessary for the purpose of
other private corporations whose objects
are not the ownership of land
PERMANENT VALUE.