Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-03
A TEXAN ABROAD.
HOW THE ALIEN LAND LAW
STRUCK CAPT. PADDOCK.
Millions of Dollars and Hundreds of Fam
lilies Kept Out of Texas by This
Piece of Foolishness.
NEW YORK. June GO. 1921.
To the Gazette:

NEW 1chh. June ~, 1871
To the Gazette:
Had you been sitting near. this morning,
when l opened THE GAZETTE of the oath
inst and my eye fell for the first time on
the provisions of the alien land law, you
would almost have felt the cold chill that
started down my back and wended its way
to my pedal eXtremities. Although care
fu! reader of THE GAZETTE. any notice of
the passage of such law had escaped my
observation, and it came upon me like the
traditional clap OF thunder from clear sky.
You viii not have labored under the i'm
preston that have been in voluntary exile
from my beloved home, the city In which |
feel SO much pride, for nearly year, ell
tirely for my health, which | am pleased to
assure you was never more robust. On the
contrary, have been asSiduously at work
for Texas and Fort Worth, with Incidental
benefits for yours truly. The alien land
law. conceived and adopted by the same
course of reasoning that brought forth
Hocg and commission, has knocked all my
calculations higher than Beecher's Life of
Christ and ! am more than ever convinced
of the truth of the axiom that whom the
gods would destroy they first make mad.
Early in the year ! formed the acquaint-
ance of the consul Of a ioreign country,
those people are known the world over for
their sobriety, industry and thrift, and
who make the best citizens of any that
seek in this land of the free, home and
prosperity.
After much effort and persistence l
finally convinced him that Texas offered
better facilities for the people Of his
country than the Northwest. Statistics
were showered upon hin, and the testi-
mony of RESPONSIBLE people obtained to
corrobOrate my statements. Finally lie
was convinced, and action followed con-
viction.
The plan was TO colonize large tract
of Panhandle land. One OF his countrymen
was TO purchase the land, and after sub
dividing 1t into tracts OF 100 acres, sell 1t
10 the people on long time.
The man who was to purchase the land
is now upon the high sea, bound for this
port. He will arrive here on the third
proX and was TO leave for Fort Worth on
the 9TH TO make an inspection of the land
The money for the land would have been
paid into one of the Fort Worth banks. and
swould have been used there in the develop
ment of Fort Worth.
What shall say TO him? Show him i
copy of The GAZETTE, and advise him to
take the next steamer to Europe, or to go
TO Minnesota with his colony!
More than hundred families that would
have been raising grain i'll the Panhandle for
shipment to Fort Worth in the next twelve
months will either remain abroad or go 10
less inviting but more hOspitable and APP
preclatlve states III the Northwest.
] am at loss to conceive what damage
the landed barons have been to Texas So
long as there remains millions of untitled
acres in Texas, the possessions of the Capt.
tol syndicate cannot retard the development
Of the state.
| have read the interview with Repre-
sentative Swayne, but derive no consolation
therefron. Texas lacks the capital to or
ganize companies as he suggests, TO take the
mortgages. and sell them TO foreign COM
panies. Let Mr. Swayne try his hand at
the organization OF such company and
then give the public the benefit of his expe-
rience. OF what use is it to main
tain the Chamber of Commerce. Why
pay out our money with one hand and slam
the door in the faces of those we invite to
oyr state with the othera | agree with Mr..
'S~ayne only in one thing. Hogg will not
submit to the extra session of the Iegisla.
ture proposition to repeal the obnoxious
law. There would be no votes for Hogg in
such course Of action, and it is the acqui-
stion of votes and not the prosperity of
Texas tnat occupies the mind of the gov
ernor of Texas.
Let Inc suggest that we suspend action
until the wave of madness passes away and
reason resumes its sway.
3. b. PADDOCK