The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-02-23
LAND REFORM AssocIATIoN.-Th course

LAND REFORM AssocIATION.-The course
heretofore pursued by Congress, in donating to
capitalists and corporations millions of acres
of the public domain, has of last aroused the
people and an association has been formed in
New York city in opposition to this wholesale
system of robbery. We received, several days
ago, a circular from the Office of the Land
Reform Association" inclOsing petition to
Congress asking the passage of law setting
apart forever the residue of the public domain,
for the exclusive use Of actual settlers, in linn
tied quantities, with q letter from Mr.. H.
Beemy, the Secretary of the Association. re-
questing us to call the attention of our readers
to the important question of Land Reform, and
to circulate the petition sent US. We cheer
fully comply with the request, and hope that
the numberless petitions upon this subject,
which will undoubtedly be laid before Con-
gress, may have more weight with that august
assemblage than has been the case with those
asking the aboishment of the franking priv
lege. We have always been opposed to this
outrageous and-grabbing policy pursued by
Congress, and believe that large majority OF
the people of the United States will cordially
endorse the objects of this new Association.
The petition, we have no doubt, will be more
generally signed than any that has ever before
been submitted to the people. Numerous bills
are now pending in Congress, asking donations
of whole territories, in fact, of the public
lands, and all the corrupt agents and tools of
these ovsrshadowing monopolies, who are in
reality highway robbers, are now collected at
Washington using their every exertion to lobby
through their grand larceny schemes, regard
less of the will or wishes of the people. Bribery
and corruption prevails to such an alarming
extent among Congressman that it is only by
means OF monster petitions, expressing une-
auivocally the wishes of the masses, that these
recalcitrant legislators are brought to realiz-
ing sense of their duty to their constituents.
In the face of the enormous frauds which have
been perpetrated, any Congressman, be he
Democrat or Republican, who would vote for
further alienation of the public lands to these
souless corporations should be kicked out of
Congress and forever retired to the shades of
private life. The reservation of the residue
of the public lands. for the exclusive use of
actual settlers, is question upon which men,
bers of both political parties can and ought to
unite. Protection against Gland sharks" and
capitalists. who are bent upon appropriating to
themselves all the valuable public lands, should
unite the masses throughout the length and
breadth of the land. The people are becoming
thoroughly aroused, and We hope to see the
petitions 20 unanimously that our public SER
wants may be compelled, for once at least, to
heed the voice of the people.
We have Left the petition at the Postoffice in
this city, and hope that everybody in and
around Idaho will sign it at an early day in
order that we may return it to the Association
from which we received it,