The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-07-16
GOV. HOGG TELLS col. B. ". EDGELL
THAT HE WILL CALL 1T.
Col b. Wilson Edgell Here in the Interest
of Donley County Landslide Asks
for a re-ClassifcatiOn in
Order to Give the
HOME SEEKER A CHANCE.

Col. B. Wilson Edgell, of the Claren
don Traveller, is in the city with a
petition from the people OF his county
to Gov. Hogg, Attorney General Cul-
berson and Land Commission Nc
Gaughey, asking that the school lands
of his county, which are now classified
as dry grazing" and leased to big
pasture concerns and withheld from
settlement, be reclassitied as agricul-
tural lands and placed within reach of
the actual settler.
Asked by STATESMAN reporter to
explain the cause of the present land
agitation in his county. Mr.. Edgell
said:
There is no conflict in my
section between agricultural and light
innate stock raising interests; but
there is conflict up there between
land grabbing pasture lords and those
friendly to the settlement and agri-
cultural development of the country.
The people want these public school
lands for homes and the land grabbing
pasture lords work with zeal WORTHY
of a better cause to SO manipulate
things as to ultimately procure all of
these lands for themselves. Their
first step in this direction is to lease
the school lands, under the four sec.
ton and dry.grazing act, and by
standing in with wron? out COW boys
and ranch employees, in such way as
to get the backing Of the state depart.
ment in their holding them to the ex-
clusion of their would-be actual set
tiers as homeseekers, and then at their
leisure gobble them up by various
methods we'll known to those who op-
crate in or connive at this nefarious
business"
But" said the reporter, sis not this
method of land grabbing contrary to
law2"
1.-The state land department seems
to think not" replied Col. Edgell,
leaning on the opinion that the lease
is absolute for term of years and not
subject to sale to actual settlers. Gov.
Hogg seems to entertain different
opinion, while Attorney General Gull
berson said he had not yet looked up
the law on the question. In the mean
time the land grabbing business is
going on and the deck, so to speak,
has been so stocked as to give the land
grabber four aces and a siX-sbooter,
and against which the home seeker
stands no more show than a cat in hell
without claws. And, be it said
to the discredit of Texas, that the
state, by the laxity of her laws and
seeming acquiesence of at least some
Of her officials, appears to be a party
to this practice so manifestly unjust
and injurious to every interest and
class except alien landlords and land
grabbers. For. be it remembered,
these lessees and land grabbers are
largely foreigners, who hold their citi-
zenship in England"
Speaking OF his interview with Gov.
Hogg, which, Col, Edgell said
was very pleasant indeed, he
said that Gov. Hogg had made
a statement to him which might be of
general interest "In speaking of the
needs of the West" said Col. Edgell,
Governor Hogg stated that he in
tended to call an extra session of the
legislature. Said he: Not only the
West needs the reapportionment out
the entire state needs and is entitled
to it, He did not tell me when he in
tended to call it,"