Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-02
REPRESENTATIVE SWAYNE
Defines His Position More Clearly on the
Alien Land Law

Defines His Position More Clearly on the
Alien Land Law
FORT WORTH, TEX, June 30. 1891.
Editor Gazette
As much as 1 have advised against the
constant agitation of the alien land law,
still. in justice 10 myself, | feel called upon
10 answer some of the misrepresentation
which have been made of me. Being the
. representative of one of the leading couI-
ties in the state, and representing one of the
most intelligent constituencies Of any lc%iS-
latOr in Texas, as long as ! hold my position
! will consider any reflection made upon me
, is also a reflection upon my constituents.
1t Is my duty to represent the whole people
of this county-the rich, the poor the nigh,
the low. the borrower, the lender. the CAPT
talist the laborer.
il | mistake not. the Democratic party
has for the last eight years declared in
favor OF an alien land law. In the conyen-
tion at San Antonio the party declared IN
favor Of an alien land law and demanded OF
the legislature that such law be passed.
was elected by the Democracy of this
county. and while in the service of the
state, did that which | conscieutiously
thought was for the best interest of the
state.
One of the first bills introduced was an
alien land bill; subsequently substitute
house bill was sent in by the committee
lOf lLlS Dill. Whitn became Il law. / he
whole people of this state had demanded an
alien land law, the committee had sent in
a bill to the house, there was no objection
from any one, not even the newspapers,
nor from the loan companies, nor from the
borrowers: and the surprise to the whole
legislature was that there was no objection
10 any OF It's clauses.
II is conceded by nearly all parties that
an alien law is for the best interests of
Texas. 1t is true that this law was dis
cussed but little from the fact that the
members We're all in favor of an alien land
law. and that there was no objection offered
10 this bill by the parties 10 be affected, and
the further fact that 1t was near the close
of the session.
have from the beginning contended that
the legislature did not Intend to prohibit
foreign loan companies from loaniug money
here. and do now contend that there is moth
ing III the law which should interfere with
them. 1t was the intention of the law to
keep aliens from owning the land. No law
has ever been passed Of SO much importance
10 state and so radical in its nature but
that il may need some amendments. have
always been in favor Of amending any law
which I may have assisted in passing so as
to conform with the intention of the legis-
latOrs. The loan companies are the judges,
they are the supreme court to decide
whether or not they consider the law as
not its provisions will preclude them front
making further loans 4
Mr. Roche seems 10 think. because for
sooth, ! may be willing to vote for arr
amendment TO this law, could not have
been conscientious IL my support of the
bill Let lis see: ! say that the law should
not affect loan companies, and show how it
will not stop money from coming TO Texas,
because honest men with money can form
loan companies in Texas, with no foreign
stockholders, and can and will make loans
in Texas, and when the home companies
need more money they can indorSe the
mortgage notes to foreign capitalists sAu
when the notes become due, if not paid. the
mortgage can be fOrecloSed, and the home
company, if the property happens not to
bring the amount of the mortgage, can buy
in the lands. Most loan companies are
operated this way This is no evasion OF
the law. nor would l have it eva1cd.
In making this statement before the
Chamber of Commerce, and not expecting 4
the same to go into print, also told them
that such men as the representatives, of
Dallas, PeXar, Harris, Galveston, Tarrant,
and others whose constituency might be
affected by this law as viewed by the loan
companies, would be the very ones who
would have 10 approach this matter in
gentle manner, would have to persuade,
would have to beg the members of the legis-
versely. said further, You cannot bull
doze them; they represent constituency
nine-tenths OF whom have no lands eXcepLs
their hOmesteads, which cannot be mort
gagged, and some of them represent a con-
Stituency where, on account of the home
stead law, there is hardly q mortgage in
their counties, and they only look at it that
the annual interest leaving our shores will
in few years, when all the loans have been
made that the lands will bear, be only that
much money taken out of circulation in the
state. To these legislators you people of
Tarrant, of Dallas, Galveston, Harris,
Bexar and others, will have to almost,
through your representatives, get down on
YOUR knees and beg some of them that a
small minority of the people be not crushed.
in order to carry out law, which may be
done without injury to any portion Of our
citizens
Would it not have been better for Mr..
Roche, who was chairman of the meeting
and vice-president of the Chamber of Com
merce, in all his dignity, to have condo
scended To have at least called some one else
TO the chair and have answered my arSu-
mentS upon the floor, and have shown my
Inconsistencies before the audience present,
instead of through the public prints build
ing man of straw and with one fell stroke
OF MS mighty arm sweeping him from the
face OF the earth.
Were these patriotic statesmen anarchists
who engrafted the clause in our censtitu-
ton making mortgage upon homestead
voidl Does not the homestead belong to
the owners If Herr Roche has no other en-
gagement he will answer Now l am
through with this alien land law so far as
newspapers are concerned, and hope my
friends may understand my position. Very
respectfully, JANRs w SwAYSE
Merit wins. as Vic marvellous success OF