The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-11-09

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tho great wrongs and expressions
self-indicted upon tie people Of this
nation, and one would naturally
suppose that her remotenees from
the thick Of social evils and disof-
ders, her natural Independence. the
inspiration Of her mountains, would
guarantee to the inhabitants Of this
state the perpetuity Of everything
Just and honorable and lovable
granted them BY the memorable
sires Of this republic.
Within tho borders Of Idaho and
the privileges Of her society are en-.
comprised every element essential
to the greatest possible degree OF
social and industrial advancement.
But unfortunately there are other
elements, the elements Of discord
and corruption. While We are prob
ably freer from the faint of social
disease than any other state in the
Union, that faint is nevertheless
present and spreading with q rapid
ity that challenges our manhood
and the honest functions OF our
citizenship. In a word, Idaho is
being surrendered to monopoly.
This is especially true Of our forest
and agricultural lands. Public land
grabs and private land "freeze outs
are the order of the day among the
classes specially favored By provls-
on of our statutes.
At the present rate of procedure
it will be but few years until our
prided farmers, the source and foun-
dation of our best citizenship, will
be degraded to q condition Of hope
less tenantry.
Let me cite you an instance:
A few years ago a well-known
citizen of Ketchum, firing of the
uncertain life of the mines and see
ing the approach of old age, betook
himself and family to the valleys
and with his meagre savings filed
upon a homestead in the vicinity
of Mountain Home. Every facility
to improve and plant his land was
afforded him. Water was obtained
in abundance. A large orchard
was set out and crops were raised
sufficient for livelihood and all
the unusual expenses attending the
of q home upon q new
piece of land.
Well, the orchard bore fruit and
the fondest hopes Of our friend
seemed to be dawning into happy
realization. He was the posseesor.
unincumbered, of q good we'll fenced
farm and orchard Of 100 acres,
suitable building improvements, a
good climate and prospects OF
speedy returns on the investment
Of time and labor. But somehow
or other the glory of this dawn
seemed all at once to fade away into
a twilight of despair. And this is
how it all occurred. The great ditch
corporation which had supplied
him with water coveted the fruits
of this mans labor. They bought
out his neighbors at their own fig
ures, and offered to buy him out In
the same manner, but he demurred.
"Very WE'LL" they said, 1--WE will get
your farm anyway" and forthwith
they shut off his water supply /!
That settled it. His beautiful farm
quickly withered away and every
prospect of remuneration for his
years of patient toll were destroyed.
He was compelled to abandon the
place to obtain a living, which in
his advanced years be finds very
difficult. He still has the alterna-
tive of relinquishing his farm at
the corporations price and will
probably do 80 soon and return to
Wood River.
This is but an instance of what
is going on all over our fair state
through the operation of class leg.
islation which can be corrected by
a single well-directed stroke of the
people. It is for the latter to decide
by their ballots which position they
will occupy in the future of this
state with reference to the corpora
tons which are seeking to control
our agriculture: vassalage or vic
tory! CITIZEN.