The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-14
THE PRESENT LAND COMMITS
SIONER on THE ONE DE-
STRING TO BE.
EXPRESSES HIS OPINION OF HIM.
Mr.. Baker Says That He Is Very Much
Surprised That Sound Money
Man Should Run Against
Him for the Office.

\ Statesman reporter yesterday called
on Land Commissioner Baker for an
expression on Col. X. w. Stayton's race
against him for land commissioner. Col.
Baker said:
II do not know of any better man in
Texas than Bob Stayton, and if | am to
go down | would like for some worthy
man like him to beat me. No man has
any prescription on any Office in Texas.
Offices do not belong to office-holders but
to the people, and whatever officers they
wish they are entitled to have them.
All this stuff, however, about split with
the governor, if there is any truth in it,
is news to me. Owing TO our differences
on the money question and the multiplicity
of reports about it, our relations might
ut sometimes have appeared towards
each other as somewhat strained but no
expression of unkind feeling towards me
has ever been shown to me by him nor
have heard of such. On the other hand,
several members of the administration
have assured me that the governor desired
me to be reelected. and that he had said as
much to them. This fact, together with
the voluntary assurance of Mr.. Blake
and others of the most prominent free
silver wing of our party. that my lC-elec-
ton was desired by them was what
induced me to say that | expected to be
candidate for the denomination at the
Fort Worth convention in August next.
Since that time Judges Reagan and
Steadman have both voluntarily informed
me that they desired my reelection. Be
sides, Governor Hogg, in his recent
WaXahachie speech. endorsed the whole
state administration for denomination,
without exception. Only last week Gov
crnor CulDersOn and myself were en-
gagged together in Il common effort in
Angelina county, where Il fight was at
tempted against us, notice of the exist
ence of which was brought to my atten-
ton by the governor himself.
ut is true that / am a little surprised
that Il lawyer of such recognized ability
as Mr.. Stayton should be willing to ac-
cept this place, and l am also surprised
that sound money man should run
against me. All of this, however. is
none of my business. | am not yet in
clined to believe that the Hon. Jim Wells
has instituted any of this movement be-
cause he assured me some months since
that he was my friend for renomina-
ton; and his brother-in-law, Mr.. Klyber.
since Mr.. Wells was here, also reassured
me that | would have no opposition in
his county. From all of which | am in
clined to think that the whole thing is
II sensation"
Responding to the question if he
thought the land agents at Austin were
ut the bottom of it, Col. Baker said:
1T was common talk some months since
that some of the land agents here had
determined to defeat me if they could.
because | had refused to allow hem to
override the law and use this office to
exploit their private husiupSS rs thnv
had done at times before | came here.
and while, of course, L do not know what
they have done in that direction. it
would be the most natural thing in the
world for them to be DESTROYS of
change, whether that change would Sc
cure them any greater immunities here
or not"