The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-16

cradle of the issues OIL the coming
campaign will be the one respecting
the disposition of public lands. Already
the anti-Tribune country Doodle
press has opened up the batteries all
along the line on P. II. Lannan, &C
cusing him of being ambitious only to
secure the office of land commissioner
and use it for his own benefit, to the
detriment of the farming and stock
raising interests of the new state.
Some weeks ago intelligence came to
the party managers in several coun-
ties in the territory that the farmers
were talking of independent organiza-
tons to look after the interests Of
farmers exclusively. In many regions
the question of the handling of uni
versity, school and other public lands
outranks in Importance all questions
of tariff, bounty, finance or economy.
1t is a pure question of home.
There is a strong feeling among
those in anywise concerned in the dis
position OF public lands that it is of
the utmost Importance to them to see
that an honest, capable legislature and
all honest, capable governor are elected
this fall. The first legislature will pass
the laws in relation to the Disposal of
the public lands and the first governor
will have the appointment of the land
commissioners. The first administration
of public affairs win last for five
years Until the year 1900 there will
be absolutely no chance to work
change.
Possibilities For Corruption.
The people of Utah have not been
used to governing themselves. They
have not been given the opportunity
to see the vast harm that can be
worked by corrupt legislature and
administration in the space of five
years. Yet it is not too much to believe
that they will consider the subject
enough to realize that only the most
extreme vigilance will protect them at
this time.
With a dishonest executive and a
ring controlling the public lands there
would be unlimited opportunities for
oppression of the people. Farmers who
live on the university and school lands
expecting that they will be able to buy
them when the time comes for a rea-
sOnable amount will find themselves
subjects of blackmail. Sheep and cat
lie men who have the ranges now oDen
tribute to the ring or be shut out from
the privileges they have enjoyed. AL
ready some Of the expressions, in a
minor sense, have been felt in vari-
Gus parts Of the country, Richfield, for
instance, and the inhabitants have
found that they had nothing to do but
submit.
Control the Ranges.
Think of another possibility. Suppose
some large syndicate should secure
control of the ring, or suppose the ring
should form a syndicate, and suppose
this syndicate should secure through
the land commission control of water
ing places in desirable districts, or
should secure control OF great stretches
OF land through a low rental. What
would be the effect on the cattlemen
and sheepmen who already find the
ranges in Utah too small to accom-
modate their warning interests?
Syndfcates are not impossible. In
this time capital can easily be central
lied to secure such concessions as
could be given BY the land commits
sioners. corrupt administration of
our land affairs would mean ruin to
many farmers and stockmen, as it
would mean riches to those who cor
rupt!y controlled the peoples affairs.
The people of the territory cannot
too carefully scrutinize the record and
character OF the men who will legiS-
late and carry cut the legislation re-
garding public lands. Every candidate
Tor the legislature and every candi-
date for the governor should be able
10 pass the scrutiny. Can the present
Republican possibilities do so? The
evening Star, organ in this CITY of
the Crane Republicans, says this about
the Tribune outfit:
Trumbo-Crane blast.
The sheep and cattle interests alike are
involved. With the control Of the vast
acreage that will fall to the new state
IN the hands of such men, G.annan and
Thomas) what hope would come to the
owners Of floclHS and herds, who now.
with free public domain, find it so diff
cult to MAKE both ends Jneeto The lands
OF the state viii be rented where not sold
and as this commission will have the rem
tai of these lands, what may the smaller
sheep and cattle owners expect at the
hands of men appointed TO do the bid
aing OF those who are after what there
Is in the new state? Thomas IS the man
who while the Tribunes governor re-
fused 10 sign lien law for the protec-
ton of workingmen and also refused To
sign law prohibiting mining companies
from blacklisting miners. Is it safe TO
expect that such man, or those con-
nights, thinking how he could help small
sheep and cattle owners? On the con-
tfary, his election would be followed by
the formation OF companies of men pos
SaSSing large means. 90 lease from the
state and control the lands which are
now necessary 10 the maintenance of the
sheep and cattle industries. These COM
panies would undoubtedly control all the
desirable locations, becoming first pos
sesSed of the tracts Immediately sur
rounding springs and water sources
few acres of such land could be leased
and the balance left open, while those
who are the real cattle and sheep owners
would be debarred from using the water,
without paying such price as the corpo-
ration demanded.
At Their Mercy.
Thus, In large measure, the sheen and
cattle interests would be at the mercy of
the favOrires of a commission appointed
by the governor who is owned by the
spoiis hunters of the Tribune and the
fact that the state would also be a. sllf-
ferer would in no manner deter this work
Once let the lands surrounding the waters
necessary to supply sheep and cattle be
controlled by few persons, and the rem
tai value of all other lands would depend
wholly on the ability Of those needing
1 the lands to satisfy the aVarice Of the
water controllers, for the state lands
less This, then, would enable the veal
thy owners of watering tracts to secure
tie lands on their own terms. This. also.
would drive the small holders of both
sheep and cattle out of the husness and
their herds and flocks would have to he
sold al the price fixed BIZ those who had
forced them out of the business. and so
all the lands and two of the greatest IN
dustries in Utah would pass into such
hands as the Tribune might decree bv
the election of A. l.. Thomas as governor